The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (1988)

I have read every one of Lilian Jackson Braun's CAT WHO series -- many, many years ago. I really enjoyed the ability to escape into this wonderful little community with James Qwilleran and the adventures of Koko. It almost made me want a cat... I'm still a dog lover though. ( )

This 7th entry of the adventures of former newsman Jim Qwilleran and his amazing siamese cats, Koko and YumYum, finds him settling into life as the wealthiest resident of Moose County.

A key event in the story: Jim has completed his plan to turn the fabulous, treasure-filled Klingenschoen mansion into a part-time museum, available for tours and private events. He still spends days there but prefers the cozy apartment he had created over the four car garage. The museum is soon to be open to the public, and a gala is planned.

This one moved at a leisurely pace, and there wasn't a hugely compelling mystery. It seems to be more about getting to know the characters and the setting. We find out more about the townspeople and the quirks of life in this place "400 miles north of everywhere." For example, Qwill doesn't take the winter weather warning seriously enough and is almost killed as a result. I enjoyed the passages where Qwill interviews the town's old timers on tape, to preserve their memories; and the troubled history of the local newspaper, the Pickaxe Picayune.

In terms of personal info, we learn that Qwill finally quit drinking when he fell off the platform onto the subway tracks. Also he's now established as "in his 50's." (So, he had a good run - he was 45 from 1968 when the series started, until at least 1987.) The unlucky-in-love Hixie Rice from "...Saw Red" has moved to Pickax with her chef boyfriend and is managing the Grist Mill restaurant. On the romance front I got my wish and Melinda Goodwinter is no longer his girlfriend; instead he is dating Polly, the town librarian. Mrs. Cobb, his housekeeper, mentions how glad she is that he's dating someone age-appropriate. I know from reading the books out of order that Polly sticks around for quite awhile. Mrs. Cobb also gets a boyfriend, with unexpected results.

As the title implies, there are many references to Shakespeare. Koko has taken to pushing volumes of plays off the shelves, and his selections would have saved a lot of grief if Qwill had been paying attention. The most sad and tragic figure in the novel is quite a surprise - not a who, but a what.

Originally published: 1988

Body Count: 5 Senior Goodwinter (murder disguised as a car accident); Gritty Goodwinter and Mr. Noyton (actual car accident); Antoine, Hixie's unseen chef boyfriend (freezes to death in her car, which he has stolen in an attempt to flee to Canada); the Herb Hackpole formerly known as Basil Whittlestaff (fatally successful arson)

Preceded by: The Cat Who Played Post Office

Next Up: The Cat Who Sniffed Glue ( )

So slow at the beginning. Not the pace I was expecting and the lack of emotions from the characters toward the developments of the story was irritating. Very little character development except for a handful of characters. Honestly, I was disappointed at the way the mystery turned out. ( )

The end was depressing, but I'm sure Qwill will bounce back. ( )

A nice little mystery with great characters, particularly the supporting cast. Although, I'm getting a little tired of bad things happening to my favorite characters and at the end of this one I had to remind myself it's just fiction and it didn't really exist in the first place, so you can't be sad it's destroyed. ( )