The Cat Who Blew the Whistle

I am more than halfway through reading "The Cat Who..." Series and it never fails as a pick-me-up for an enjoyable reading adventure! If characters can be thought of as old friends then I simply love spending time with these old friends from Qwill to Polly Duncan to Arch Riker and his wife Mildred to Fran Brodie and her father Andrew Brodie to Dwight Somers and in more recent offerings Celia Robinson and that's only naming a few. And of course, top billing to the paws of furry friends, Koko (short for real name Kao K’o Kung) and Yum-Yum who cohabitate with Qwill and a special place in the heart for Polly's Bootsie.

Polly, Arch, and Chief of Police Andrew Brodie have dismissed Koko's superpowers to such an extent in the past that now show more Qwill doesn't even share Koko's communications. However Qwill and all faithful readers of the series know that in each novel in the series Koko communicates to Qwill in various ways to help Qwill solve the murder mystery of the hour. I love matching wits with Qwill to understand Koko's clues but too often to count I'm with Qwill in only understanding all of Koko's clues when the mystery has been solved. Until the series comes to a close, I'll keep trying to stay in step with Qwill. I can't imagine which series might ever compare...

Until my reading of this series comes to a close, I will once again be enchanted by the author's dedication...Dedicated to Earl Bettinger, the husband who... show less

This book brought back what I like about the series, set back in Moose County and involving a lot of the old favorite side characters, as well as a few new ones. Like in at least one previous book, a play being prepared at the nearby theater becomes somewhat intertwined with the book's plot. It's enough to make me wish I'd read more Shakespeare in school (but not enough to make me want to read it now). There's some excitement here and there, and while it's not the most interesting story overall, I really didn't find myself bored while reading it. The pseudo-supernatural elements that usually involve Koko's abilities to unearth clues, predict tragedy, or even know the exact moment of a death, are turned up a notch in this book, maybe show more causing higher suspension of disbelieve than some would prefer. In the end, though, it's a solid entry to the series. show less

SPOILERS!!

I haven't read any Cat Who… mysteries in about a decade. I used to really enjoy these cozy mysteries with the uncanny Siamese and the mustachioed newspaper columnist. Qwilleran lives in Moose County (about 500 miles north of everywhere) with his two cats, the inheritor of an obscene amount of money he doesn't really want.

In this book, a train enthusiast has bought an old steam engine and refitted it for parties and receptions, etc. It's first journey is for charity and later that day the owner is audited at the bank he runs. No one sees him or his secretary again. Qwilleran's love interest is building a house near Qwill's property and getting seriously stressed over every little detail, much to Qwill's annoyance and show more concern. As usual, KoKo the Siamese cat hints at a few mysterious clues throughout the book and Qwilleran follows them up or misunderstands them completely.

As I said, it's been over a decade since I last read one of these mysteries and I found that my tastes have changed in that time: I'm no longer really able to buy into the premise of a psychic cat, and that kinda ruined the book for me. If my suspension of disbelief doesn't include prescient Siamese cats, then much of the cats antics are merely annoying. The fault here lies with me, I think, not the book.

However, there was one bit at the end which was a little too tidy. Months after the real killer had been identified, the cops had still not found her. It was at this point that Qwillleran realized that KoKo's interest in lions pointed to Lionella as the culprit. But he also tended to yowl whenever Qwilleran read Hermia's name when reading A Midsummer Night's Dream aloud to the cats. Will remembered that sometimes it's not the word itself that the cat is reacting to but the fact that the word sounds similar to the word that KoKo really means to point out. So Qwilleran pulls out a dictionary to see what other similar-sounding word would fit the bill and lands on "hermaphrodite." Lionella is now Lionel and this is why the police can't find her: they're searching for someone of the wrong gender. It's just a little too neat and today for my taste. Also, why wouldn't Qwilleran have pulled out the dictionary much earlier in the story. True, if he had, it's unlikely he would have connected the dots to Lionella/Lionel, but doing so at the end of the book merely serves to tie up a loose end in an almost lazy way.

Again, I really believe the problem with the book is me and they way my tastes have chafed. It's still kinda fun and has a few laughs. If you enjoy animals and are cool with psychic cats, and you like cozy mysteries, then by all means pick up this book or any in the Cat Who… series. Have fun. show less

In #17 ...Blew the Whistle, Qwill and the cats are fresh from their adventure on Breakfast Island and living in their actual home for a change. I noted in my review of #16 that Qwill was a real jerk, and it seems that even the author realized she took it too far because as this one opens, Qwill's character is given glowing reviews by various citizens of Moose County.

For a change of pace, Braun decides to make Polly the annoying one. We learn that she was named after Hippolyta from "A Midsummer's Night Dream," the latest production being put on by the Pickax drama club. (We also learn that Qwill's real first name is Merlin, so he goes by his middle name James, as any sensible person would.) Polly is having a house built on Qwill's show more property, near his converted apple barn. She proceeds to get all crazy and obsessed with it, which is totally understandable but not much fun to read about.

The builder of Polly's house is a young man whose family, the Trevelyans, once owned the property. His father is a wealthy man who owns a credit union and appears to have recently absconded with the money, leaving depositors high and dry.

Celia Robinson, who helped Qwill solve a murder in "...Went into the Closet," moves to Pickax and becomes his secret assistant again on this case. She befriends the widow and daughter of the missing man, and reports back to Qwill on the tidbits of information she gathers, which ultimately helps Qwill crack the case.

Unfortunately, the solution to this mystery was ridiculous. I was disappointed, as it seemed out of character with the low key earlier novels. Would the old man who loves trains really destroy a beautiful restored steam engine, and risk the lives of all his friends, to commit suicide? And hermaphroditism - really?

Body Count: 5 Ozzie Penn (suicide by train crash); Fred Trevelyan (murder by hammer); James Ducker (stabbing); Eddie Trevalyan (owl attack/tractor accident); Zak the dog (gunshot to the head)

Published: 1995

Preceded by: The Cat Who Came to Breakfast
Next up: The Cat Who Said Cheese show less

Another terrific installment in The Cat Who series. This time around Qwill is in Pickax hoping to convince Celia Robinson, his spy on a previous story, to move there from Florida. Polly is preoccupied with building her dream house on the old Trevalyn property just down the road from Qwill and he is having a tough time getting her to think of anything other than the house plans. In the midst of all this a local from Sawdust City brings a fabulous former train back to its old glory to make it into a party train and has a grand opening which Qwilleran attends. Things go a bit cockeyed the very next day and Qwill finds himself with another mystery to solve. Of course the darling Yum Yum and intuitive Koko are there every step of the way and show more good old James MacIntosh Qwilleran uses Koko's odd behavior and his friend Celia's spying to solve the case. An excellent read! show less

I remembered enjoying one of Rita Mae Brown's cat-involved mysteries a long time ago so when this book was donated I thought I'd give it a try even tho I am not a cat lover. Not terrible. A preponderance of sly amusements and literary hints. A problem I didn't really care that much about. Moving it on to the next donation pile. Likely to appeal to cat owners who are on vacation & need something quick and amusing to keep their mind busy. Likely came from a grocery store news rack.

Characters are likeable, especially Koko and Yum Yum. I wish I could semi-"retire" with plenty of cash, a large barn/house, and two cats for company in a smaller community where I have many friends! Easy mystery read. The hints Koko gives to provide clues for his sometimes clueless owner are sometimes a bit farfetched, even when accompanied with the explanation that "maybe this is just a catfit or some kind of weird cat-action." Nevertheless, I look forward to reading the next "The Cat Who..." book I have on my shelf.