The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare

Now that I'm really invested in the series, and recognize the characters weaving in and out of the different novels, I have a real affection for Qwill, the cats and his entourage. This was a slower story, more geared around the curious comings and goings of the various characters, with a catastrophic ending (which I found thoroughly unnecessary!).
I really do enjoy the world that Braun has created in all its coziness and curiosities.

Another charming Cat Who book. Qwill and the kitties are in Pickax at the K mansion waiting for The Big One, a snowstorm reluctant to show. The Pickax Picayune newspaper and the family that owns it are involved in all sorts of mayhem ... and ..... murder, perhaps. It's always a delight spending time with these characters, especially darling Koko and his amazing psychic abilities and lovable Yum Yum. A really great read that makes me want to find out what's up with this trio next!

After inheriting millions of dollars, former crime reporter Jim Qwilleran has started to make the far-north town of Pickax home. When a prominent local man dies, Qwilleran can't help but question whether or not it was really an accident. And is there a connection to the sudden rash of fires in the small town?

There is so much tragedy and loss in this book, it's a little heavier than other recent entries in the series. It was good to see some of the characters from previous books, like Hixie Rice from The Cat Who Saw Red, though not necessarily good to see her luck hasn't really changed. To be fair, it isn't as bad as poor Mrs. Cobb's luck with men. One thing is for sure—Braun does not let things stagnate in this series; one can never show more get too comfortable with anything, as it could change at any time.

I liked this book but not as much as the several preceding it. Part of my issue was that I was thrown off by the mention of Qwill having already lived in Pickax for over a year? Apparently a lot of time had passed between this book and the previous, or I'm remembering the previous one wrong, but I was really confused for a while and felt like I'd missed something. There is also a lot of off-mystery story in this one that I didn't feel were particularly interesting or worth including. Maybe it was meant to add some red herrings to the main mystery, but it felt detached to me. Still, I'm really into the series now and looking forward to reading more. show less

An incredibly light read, The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare is written in such a simplistic manner that it read almost like a young adult novel. If it weren't for (very mild and oblique) references to sexual activities, I would have thought it aimed at ten year olds. The prose is pretty cheesy and clichéd, the characters undeveloped, and the 'mystery' not really one at all—in fact, there isn't really any detective work done. The main character does some mild nosing around other people's business, but that's about it. I can't believe that this series has at least twenty books in it. Unless you're a true completist afficionado of cosy, Golden Age-style detective stories, this is not recommended.

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.

I am new to this series but have finally read this one that I borrowed from my folks, who delight in reading every new one that comes out. (It might have something to do with the fact that they have had only Siamese cats all their lives.) Koko and YumYum are two Siamese cats owned and adored by Jim Qwilleran, a prizewinning reporter who has recently inherited a huge fortune and moved to a mansion in Moose County. Soon after arriving there a friends father, a publisher, is killed in an accident. Very soon after his widow is seen around town with a new man and wants to sell the business. Jim becomes suspicious of the widow’s behavior and his quest to solve the apparent mystery of his friend’s father’s death starts. Throughout the show more entire time, Koko the cat has taken to pushing Jim’s rare, antique books off the shelves. One unusual edition of Shakespeare plays that Koko dwells on proves to have the keys to solving the mystery. This book was much less about the mystery than about the quaint small town characters and their dramas. This book is a quick read and thoroughly enjoyable. I particularly liked reading about the two cats idiosyncrasies. This book is appropriate for all ages 10 or so on up to 80 year olds looking for light reading. show less

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 show more 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 show less