Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Bra
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Putnam (1997), 216 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML:THE FIRST COZY MYSTERY IN THE BELOVED NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING CAT WHO SERIES! The world of modern art is a mystery to many. But for Jim Qwilleran, it turns into a mystery of another sort when his assignment for The Daily Fluxion leads down the path to murder. A stabbing in an art gallery, vandalized paintings, a fatal fall from a scaffolding�??this is not at all what Qwilleran expects when he turns his reporter talents to art. But Qwilleran and his newly found partner, Koko the brilliant Siamese cat, are in their element�??sniffing out clues and confounding criminals intent on mayhem and murder. This riveting beginning to the Cat Who series is the perfect cozy mystery for cat lovers to start sleut
Subjects
Original publication date
1966
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Fantasma
Done! This was an easy and quick read, during a plane trip to Barcelona, at lunch times and all alone in my hotel room... :)
It was my first "cozy mystery" and now I understand the concept, there's no gory details about the murders, no autopsies or information about medical tests and stuff like
I was expecting that the "bad guy" was someone more important in the story, but anyway, now I'm doomed as I've another 28 books to read!
It was my first "cozy mystery" and now I understand the concept, there's no gory details about the murders, no autopsies or information about medical tests and stuff like
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that. It's more about the persons, how Qwilleran (and Koko, of course!) discover the truth. I liked Qwilleran a lot - except for that infatuation with Zoe, arghh - and *loved* Koko, there's so much things I recognize in my own cat. Unfortunately, mine can't read, backwards or otherwise ;o)I was expecting that the "bad guy" was someone more important in the story, but anyway, now I'm doomed as I've another 28 books to read!
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
It is a period piece with journalists using typewriters, but then again it was written in the 1960s. Jim Qwilleran has moved to a smaller town and is trying to find a job in journalism while trying to avoid drinking and and working on living as cheaply as he can. As he has burnt bridges he's
It's almost the definition of cosy mystery and it's not a bad read. I've read some later ones and you can see where the story came from. Interesting to see how things will develop and it is a very influential story.
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assigned to the art beat interviewing artists while another man, , Mountclements, criticises art itself. When murder breaks out in the art world he is drawn in and finds that a backwards reading cat can lead him to some answers.It's almost the definition of cosy mystery and it's not a bad read. I've read some later ones and you can see where the story came from. Interesting to see how things will develop and it is a very influential story.
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LibraryThing member goose114
Newspaperman Jim Qwilleran has just been hired to work at a local newspaper writing articles about local artists. This particular newspaper is notorious for an art critic that is mean, harsh, and controversial. Qwilleran soon becomes involved in the art culture when suddenly a murder takes place.
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With the help of Koko the Siamese cat, Qwilleran solves the mysteries surrounding this town’s art world murders. This was a great cozy mystery – an interesting story with unique characters. I will definitely read the second book in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member sarah-e
It's short. It's cozy. It's not entirely predictable. The cat is cute. The newspaperman/detective is fun to read about. It's one of those... if you don't like this sort of thing, you don't - but if you do, you can't ask for much more than this.
LibraryThing member BookReaderHere
I enjoyed this book, it kept me guessing until the very end. The main character was like-able and the mystery was interesting. I picked up a few more books by this author and look forward to reading them as well.
LibraryThing member riverwillow
I'm not sure what to make of this book. Its spawned several sequels which seem to be much loved, yet I found it in places stilted and, sadly, the book has not stood the test of time as well as other contemporary novels and so felt very dated in places. But Braun has created a interesting character
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in the feline protagonist Koko, who leaps off the page, but I'm just not sure about Koko's human companions who don't feel real. I will read the other two books in the series in my library which will hopefully help me decide if this is a series for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member carter_who
Not quite what I was expecting.
This had been recommended to me by my sister, who really enjoyed this series. I am a big fan of detective fiction, especially Sherlock Holmes and Ellery Queen, so this seemed to be right up my alley.
The plot is fairly simple, a writer for the arts section of a local
The pace of the story seemed to drag in places, there is a lot of plot exposition and character development, rather than a lot of action. I did enjoy the clever involvement of the cat, Kao K'o Kung "Koko" in the discovery of some of the clues, leading to the eventual capture of the killer.
All in all, I would probably recommend this book to others. It's worth a few hours of your time to read.
This had been recommended to me by my sister, who really enjoyed this series. I am a big fan of detective fiction, especially Sherlock Holmes and Ellery Queen, so this seemed to be right up my alley.
The plot is fairly simple, a writer for the arts section of a local
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newspaper gets caught up in a couple of murders. First the owner of a popular art gallery is killed, then the paper's art critic is murdered at his home. I will admit that I was unable to discover for myself who the murderer was until it was revealed.The pace of the story seemed to drag in places, there is a lot of plot exposition and character development, rather than a lot of action. I did enjoy the clever involvement of the cat, Kao K'o Kung "Koko" in the discovery of some of the clues, leading to the eventual capture of the killer.
All in all, I would probably recommend this book to others. It's worth a few hours of your time to read.
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LibraryThing member Krumbs
This may have been written in 1966, but it holds up pretty well! The story is simple enough and the anachronisms are at a minimum. Not sure if it's been edited in later editions so as to speak to a more recent audience. If it has or not, the mystery is still quick and entertaining.
LibraryThing member AntT
I'm a cat lover, but these books are time fillers and no more in my estimation.
LibraryThing member victorianrose869
I realized recently that as much as I love these books, I’ve read relatively few in the series given how many there actually are (30 to date, if you include the one collection of short stories). Usually laughed off by the masses as kitschy ‘old-lady’ books, those who read them know they’re
This is the very first book in the series, written in 1966 and not, I believe, initially intended by Braun for serial-dom. The title was simply a wordplay on the central plot in which the owner of an elegant and mouthy Siamese cat is murdered, and I wonder if Braun ever imagined that the quirky title would explode into the near-phenomenon known as “The Cat Who…” books! I especially enjoyed reading this first one and being ‘introduced’ to Qwill from the beginning, because his situation changes so drastically in the later books that I’m more familiar with. Here, we find him in his big city setting (unlike the far-flung country setting of later books), having just accepted a new job as a feature writer on the Daily Fluxion. His first assignment is writing up the local art scene, which Qwill is not entirely happy about given that he’s accustomed to the more serious crime and political beats, but his position is precarious at the moment and complaining is not an option. At least things get a bit more interesting when the paper’s deeply despised art critic – and also Qwill’s temporary landlord - as well as a local art dealer are both murdered.
As is par for the course in all the books, Qwill’s past is something of a mystery, glimpsed in bits from time to time via the vague occasional comment alluding to an ex-wife, alcoholism and lost jobs, but never fully explained. Qwill himself is a guarded person, even to the reader, so he’s like that guy at work you want to know more about but is too prickly and private to draw out very easily.
I’m really looking forward to reading this series in order. As I understand it, the first three books were written in relatively quick succession, before a long and unexplained hiatus. After this first book, which was popular enough to generate a second and third (published in 1967 and 1968), Braun didn’t return to the story until almost twenty years later, in 1986. It was at that point the series really picked up and became – and remains - one of the most popular mystery series’ of all time. I can’t wait to keep going and watch the development of Qwill and the other recurring characters.
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quite the opposite and are actually some of the cleverest bits of reading around. Braun, a former journalist whose advanced age has no doubt contributed to the mistaken notion that these books are about old ladies and their cats, has a wit so sharp and a perception so keen that you almost never see her coming at you until it’s too late and it’s zoomed right past you. Her fondness for the mysterious and almost mystical Siamese cat is no different than Dean Koontz’s love affair with Golden Retrievers, and far less sappy and sentimental. Her human hero, Jim Qwilleran, remains one of the most enigmatic, fascinating literary characters I’ve ever encountered. This is the very first book in the series, written in 1966 and not, I believe, initially intended by Braun for serial-dom. The title was simply a wordplay on the central plot in which the owner of an elegant and mouthy Siamese cat is murdered, and I wonder if Braun ever imagined that the quirky title would explode into the near-phenomenon known as “The Cat Who…” books! I especially enjoyed reading this first one and being ‘introduced’ to Qwill from the beginning, because his situation changes so drastically in the later books that I’m more familiar with. Here, we find him in his big city setting (unlike the far-flung country setting of later books), having just accepted a new job as a feature writer on the Daily Fluxion. His first assignment is writing up the local art scene, which Qwill is not entirely happy about given that he’s accustomed to the more serious crime and political beats, but his position is precarious at the moment and complaining is not an option. At least things get a bit more interesting when the paper’s deeply despised art critic – and also Qwill’s temporary landlord - as well as a local art dealer are both murdered.
As is par for the course in all the books, Qwill’s past is something of a mystery, glimpsed in bits from time to time via the vague occasional comment alluding to an ex-wife, alcoholism and lost jobs, but never fully explained. Qwill himself is a guarded person, even to the reader, so he’s like that guy at work you want to know more about but is too prickly and private to draw out very easily.
I’m really looking forward to reading this series in order. As I understand it, the first three books were written in relatively quick succession, before a long and unexplained hiatus. After this first book, which was popular enough to generate a second and third (published in 1967 and 1968), Braun didn’t return to the story until almost twenty years later, in 1986. It was at that point the series really picked up and became – and remains - one of the most popular mystery series’ of all time. I can’t wait to keep going and watch the development of Qwill and the other recurring characters.
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LibraryThing member dukefan86
This first story on the series was okay, nothing exciting, but after listening to quite a few in this series already, it was nice to get a little more background info by listening to the first one.
LibraryThing member periwinklejane
I'm not usually a series-mystery reader, but my kitties gave me a litter of cat books for Christmas this year. I was very pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. I honestly did not expect it to be so well-written.
I also enjoyed the time capsule element, as the book was written in the
I'm torn between giving the book three or four stars. Among the books I've already read, I'd say this was at the top of the middle. If I were to pick up another light mystery to read on vacation, it would definitely be one of the next two "Cat Who" books.
I also enjoyed the time capsule element, as the book was written in the
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sixties and takes place in the same era. Most of the action centers around artists and gallery owners, so the 60's stuff is quite fun.I'm torn between giving the book three or four stars. Among the books I've already read, I'd say this was at the top of the middle. If I were to pick up another light mystery to read on vacation, it would definitely be one of the next two "Cat Who" books.
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LibraryThing member range8
The unusual detective team of Jim Qwilleran, a newspaper reporter, and Koko, an orphaned Siamese cat, comes together for the first time in THE CAT WHO COULD READ BACKWARDS. Qwilleran takes a job offer to write art columns for the newspaper a job he is neither qualified in or interested in. But this
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is a second chance to rebuild his life and he takes the job. Then events start happening to make it more like old times writing crime news as a gallery owner is murdered, a local artist falls to his death during an art exhibit, and a valuable painting goes missing. The antics of Qwilleran and Koko make great reading and the abscence of strong language, sex, and violence make this series suitable to mature high school readers. This is one of my favorite series that I read often. Each title can stand alone, but they make more sense when read in order. My favorites in the series are THE CAT WHO SAW RED and THE CAT WHO KNEW A CARDINAL. Show Less
LibraryThing member vmccaffrey
Interesting to read almost 30 years after it was first published and think about how journalism has changed. Engaging and kept my attention. Looking forward to the rest of them!
LibraryThing member benuathanasia
A cute, clever series that I truly enjoy. It's very definitely dated, but still good.
LibraryThing member CommunityBookstop
This was a great first read on the Kindle it’s the story of James Macintosh Qwilleran. He has had a hard life having a failed marriage drinking problems, but alas our hero comes out on top getting a job at the Daily Fluxion reporting art of all kinds. There he meets the art critique who’s out
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to score against all up and coming artists. Qwill as he prefers to be called has his first meeting with KoKo who is quite the crime sleuth. This book sets up alot of their history of how they interacted in the beginning. Show Less
LibraryThing member NashNordin
Jim Qwilleran was assigned as the art writer for the Daily Fluxion although he knew not much about it. Daily Fluxion had one art critique, George Bonifield Mountclemens.
As Qwilleran began to learn more of local arts, he discovered that not many of the artists like the art critique. Because of
When Koko's owner is found murdered, Qwilleran started to look after Koko. Qwilleran then started to find out who the murderer is that murdered Mountclemens and two other people with the help of Koko.
I knew I have to read this book the minute I saw the title (it's catchy!). Besides, I think I've seen Gosho Aoyama (creator of Detective Conan) featuring Koko as a detective at the back cover of Detective Conan volume 61. And I thought that this book is probably going to be good.
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards was a fun, cozy mystery read. I love Braun writing style. It's relaxing and not boring at all. But I love the book (and Koko!) I enjoyed the book and look forward to read the continuation of the series.
As Qwilleran began to learn more of local arts, he discovered that not many of the artists like the art critique. Because of
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that, he was curious to know who the art critique is and wanted to meet him. Soon, he started to befriend with the Mountclemens and his Siamese cat, Ko K'ao Kung or Koko. Koko is a really smart Siamese cat who could read newspaper headline backwards.When Koko's owner is found murdered, Qwilleran started to look after Koko. Qwilleran then started to find out who the murderer is that murdered Mountclemens and two other people with the help of Koko.
I knew I have to read this book the minute I saw the title (it's catchy!). Besides, I think I've seen Gosho Aoyama (creator of Detective Conan) featuring Koko as a detective at the back cover of Detective Conan volume 61. And I thought that this book is probably going to be good.
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards was a fun, cozy mystery read. I love Braun writing style. It's relaxing and not boring at all. But I love the book (and Koko!) I enjoyed the book and look forward to read the continuation of the series.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Short and Sweet.
Jim Qwillian of the silly name, is an ex-newspaper man recently moved to an unnamed new town (possibly immidiately following a divorce this like much of his background isn't clear). He is inteviewed for and decides to join The Fluxion a local newspaper with a name almost as silly as
This is not in any sense high literature. Unlike Agatha Chrisite of Conan Doyle it will not be passed onto future generations as the pinacle of a genre, indeed it already feels dated, and in places stilted. But it is plesant read, cosilly enjoyable for a few hours. Jim's calm personallity hides any of the messier details of crimes, and the various women manage not to extrude hystrionics in his presance. There is little description, and all the characters apart from Jim are thin or very thin, and even Jim's occasionaly musings are hardly deep or meaningful. However as the clues and the body count mounts, we are gently guided through an enjoyable if somewhat obvious puzzle.
Oh and there's a cat. Probably cute. If you like cats.
Jim Qwillian of the silly name, is an ex-newspaper man recently moved to an unnamed new town (possibly immidiately following a divorce this like much of his background isn't clear). He is inteviewed for and decides to join The Fluxion a local newspaper with a name almost as silly as
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his. And despite being a crime/investigative reporter in his early life, is given the job of feature writer in the art section. Not as Art Critic for that post is already filled by an abrasive recluse but as general lifestyle coloumnist. An opportunity to meet,chat and profile the various artists and gallery owners in this small town, somewhere in America. When the local gallery owner turns up dead, Jim's investigative senses start twitching and he soon comes across some clues.This is not in any sense high literature. Unlike Agatha Chrisite of Conan Doyle it will not be passed onto future generations as the pinacle of a genre, indeed it already feels dated, and in places stilted. But it is plesant read, cosilly enjoyable for a few hours. Jim's calm personallity hides any of the messier details of crimes, and the various women manage not to extrude hystrionics in his presance. There is little description, and all the characters apart from Jim are thin or very thin, and even Jim's occasionaly musings are hardly deep or meaningful. However as the clues and the body count mounts, we are gently guided through an enjoyable if somewhat obvious puzzle.
Oh and there's a cat. Probably cute. If you like cats.
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LibraryThing member taz_
Light, quick and enjoyable, the mystery in this late '60s period piece takes a back seat to the characters of the hardboiled reporter who's emerging from a rough patch and the cat who steals his affection - as well as the small town atmosphere where backbiting is a sport.
The most vivid writing is
The most vivid writing is
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often in minor details that seem to be written from life - especially descriptions of the cat (surprise!). Who isn't absolutely certain that Lilian Jackson Braun must have had a special cat pillow on the top of her fridge for her own "Koko"? I think I'll be reading some more of these, to see how Qwillian and the cat get on. Show Less
LibraryThing member AntT
I'm a cat lover, but these books are time fillers and no more in my estimation.
LibraryThing member JBarringer
This book is a fun, fast read, that reminds me a bit of the TV series State of Play. This novel has a journalist on the art beat stumbling on several linked murders in the course of his seemingly easy new job. The story is well paced, and while the characters are a bit flat, for a short novel they
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are pretty decent. The artists in this story were pretty realistic, at least, and reminded me of people I knew in art school. Show Less
LibraryThing member ccookie
First line:
~Jim Qwilleran, whose name had confounded typesetters and proofreaders for two decades, arrived fifteen minutes early for his appointment with the manging editor of the Daily Fluxion~
Light, easy read. Enjoyable and well written. If you like a cozy mystery and cats, you will like Koko
~Jim Qwilleran, whose name had confounded typesetters and proofreaders for two decades, arrived fifteen minutes early for his appointment with the manging editor of the Daily Fluxion~
Light, easy read. Enjoyable and well written. If you like a cozy mystery and cats, you will like Koko
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and Jim Qwilleran. I understand that they make great team in the rest of the books. I picked up several and look forward to reading the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmScape
Jim Qwilleran is an aging newsman who's had some down-and-out years and is now pretty desperate for a job. He reluctantly takes a gig at a "midwestern" newspaper as its Art Features Writer. The exact city is never explicitly named, but it seems to be large enough to have a thriving art scene, but
I had read some of these when I was a teenager and remembered liking them, so thought I'd start at the beginning and consume the whole series. This first book, as an introduction, is good for developing Qwilleran's character, introducing us to the cat, Koko. Braun does not reveal all of Qwill's past and what drove him to his current circumstances, but drops hints here and there (he doesn't drink, he's divorced). The secondary characters both in the art scene and at the newspaper were fun and quirky, but still pretty realistic. I'll definitely keep reading these, although I can see that they might become pretty repetitive after a while.
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small enough to walk pretty much everywhere because Qwilleran doesn't have a car. Anyway, Qwill starts hanging out with the art crowd, and then a gallery owner gets murdered. Having formerly worked the crime beat, he can't help but try to investigate. Meanwhile, he's moved in to the downstairs apartment of a home owned by the newspaper's extremely controversial art critic and develops a relationship with the critic's extremely intelligent cat. I had read some of these when I was a teenager and remembered liking them, so thought I'd start at the beginning and consume the whole series. This first book, as an introduction, is good for developing Qwilleran's character, introducing us to the cat, Koko. Braun does not reveal all of Qwill's past and what drove him to his current circumstances, but drops hints here and there (he doesn't drink, he's divorced). The secondary characters both in the art scene and at the newspaper were fun and quirky, but still pretty realistic. I'll definitely keep reading these, although I can see that they might become pretty repetitive after a while.
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LibraryThing member FerneMysteryReader
From my own reading records, it appears that I discovered this series in 2013 and then read #4, #5, #6, and #7 over a 3-month period of time 24-Feb to 24-Apr. In review of #5, I shared the following:
"I so enjoy Mr. Jim Qwilleran or just Qwill to his friends, and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum. It's a
Now I've had the opportunity to read the 1st novel in the series and what a special delight to learn how Jim initially met Koko and the beginning of their life adventures in their shared pleasure of reading to solving murders. I can't wait to "catch up" now and read #2 and #3 and then continue on my way through even more titles in the series. They're a refreshing joy to read.
"I so enjoy Mr. Jim Qwilleran or just Qwill to his friends, and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum. It's a
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light, fun read and I think I enjoyed this adventure even more than the last one I read, The Cat Who Saw Red. If you love cats and adventures, this is a "don't miss" series of fun! Enjoy, I'm ready to find the next title!" :)Now I've had the opportunity to read the 1st novel in the series and what a special delight to learn how Jim initially met Koko and the beginning of their life adventures in their shared pleasure of reading to solving murders. I can't wait to "catch up" now and read #2 and #3 and then continue on my way through even more titles in the series. They're a refreshing joy to read.
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LibraryThing member hopeevey
The mystery was better than I feared it would be. Koko's clues were very neatly woven in. Did koko know? Or was it coincidence that he led Qwilleran to the right clues? The reader can't be sure, which lends the story the charming possibility of a cat that can read, without insisting on it.
Mr
Mr
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Guidall read the novel beautifully, of course. I adore his narration every time I hear it :) Show Less
Pages
216