The Cat Who Moved a Mountain (1992)

The 13th in the series is a lucky one for James Qwilleran. Having fulfilled his 5 years living in Pickax as required by the will, he is now the sole and rightful heir in full possession of the billion dollar Klingenschoen fortune, and free to go wherever he wants. Now he has a decision to make �ÛÒ what‰Ûªs next? Does he stay on in Moose County? Move back to a big city? Buy a newspaper? Write a book?

Jim has recently heard about the unspoiled beauty of the Big Potato mountains, and he feels that this would be a perfect destination to get away from it all and think about his future. He loads Koko and YumYum and the infamous ‰ÛÏturkey roaster that serves as their commode‰Û into his clunker car and off they go to the Tiptop Inn, the only place he can find that will allow cats. He‰Ûªs not renting a room, he‰Ûªs renting the entire inn, which is empty and for sale. Koko begins acting strangely as soon as they move in and it turns out ‰ÛÒ surprise ‰ÛÒ that the inn was the site of a murder. Qwill soon suspects that the wrong man was convicted of the crime.

This was one of my favorites so far in the series and more tightly plotted than some of the others. The themes of economic growth versus conservation; locals versus newcomers; and wealth versus poverty are timeless and a bit more weighty than those that usually confront Jim and his sidekicks. I liked the way Jim becomes friendly with the mountain people (Taters) as well as the town dwellers (Spuds) and develops sympathy for both points of view, realizing that the issues they face will probably confront his beloved Moose County in another few years as progress and tourism increase.

I have a few minor quibbles. All this action is supposed to happen in one short week - why the rush? Also, the BIG CLUE that Koko uncovers to identify the murderer was, to me, ridiculous. A hairball of white hair. Really? Would this stand up in court? Finally, this is the first time that Braun deliberately dangles a cliffhanger for the next book, which I dislike. On the other hand, that situation lead directly to Jim firmly and clearly declaring, ‰ÛÏI love you‰Û to Polly which, as we long time Cat Who readers know, is BIG.




Originally published: 1992

Body Count: This is unique in The Cat Who‰Û_series as there are zero deaths that can be attributed to the cursed proximity of Qwill and the cats. Two old people die in Moose County while they are away in the Potatoes; the murder happened a year before they arrived and no new people go toes up during the investigation.


Preceded by: The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal

Next Up: The Cat Who Wasn‰Ûªt There ( )

I love this series! It never fails as a pick-me-up for an enjoyable reading adventure!

Qwill (as his friends call him) has decided to take a summer hiatus from Moose County and this decision by the author for her wonderful character and our longtime friend of this series provides Qwill and his Siamese companions, Koko and Yum Yum, the chance to meet a wealth of new characters in the mountains. It's also an opportunity for the author to provide thought-provoking conversations as Qwill learns of the changes that occur in small town America when real estate developers see the potential for land development. Koko's detective skills are ever present and may help result in the capture of the real murderer(s) and proof that an innocent man should be released from his prison sentence. ( )

This is only for the Audible version.

As always, a very good reading of a comfortable kind of book to read no matter what the weather. The only issue I have is with the stops and starts that occur suddenly after certain sentences. This doesn't seem to be when the scene or conversation changes, but randomly after a sentence. It's as if the narrator is taking a breath, and instead of cutting it out to keep it flowing, it was kept in. This is the first one in the series, from the beginning, that I've found this issue though it appears that it might have carried through on 'The Cat Who Went Into The Closet'; which is what I'm listening to now.

Otherwise, a brilliant read and would highly recommend ( )

Qwill has finally come into the Klingenshoen Inheritance. This huge change in his life makes him feel that he needs to take time away and do some thinking about his life. Hearing how great it was camping in the Potato Mountains, he decides to rent a house for him, Koko and Yum Yum. What he winds up with is a monster of a place that is not quite what he is used to, but it does have a killer view!

Qwill finds that all is not peace and beauty in the Potatoes. Big development is encroaching on this beautiful area. It was brought in by J.J. Hawkinfield, the man who owned the house Qwill and the cats are staying in. Also that he was murdered just the previous year, at the house. The man convicted of the crime is in jail, but many feel that he is innocent. Many feel the opposite. Qwill feels that the man was railroaded...and Koko's behaviour seems to back up that there are secrets within the house that point in the same direction.

Once again it is the team of Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum out to solve the crime.

This series is a quick and fun read, and luckily I haven't read all of them....yet. ( )

Qwill and his cats are in a house on Big Potato Mountain which is owned by a real estate developer who was killed when he was pushed off the mountain. Qwill thinks the suspect may be innocent and Koko agrees. ( )