Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Berkley (2002), Edition: Reissue, 304 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML:Jim Qwilleran and his extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum have more than one fire to put out when a deadly arsonist sets Moose County ablaze in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series. The way Jim Qwilleran sees it, there�??s nothing worse than being left high and dry. But that�??s exactly where he�??s been ever since a record-breaking drought hit Moose County. He�??s bedraggled. Beleaguered. And, following a rash of fires at local historic mine sites, deeply bewildered. Some blame the blazes on bad weather conditions, but Qwill�??s thinking arson. And when a mysterious explosion is followed by a blood-chilling murder, he starts seriously praying for snow�??and answers. Good thing Koko can smell trou… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member irishtiger
One of the more puzzling mysteries of the series, wonderfully played out through the plot.
LibraryThing member M_eTyler2400
Mystery, cat series of who dunit's - light amusing reading. Read, donated.
LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
A new neighbor moves in. Fires are starting near the old shafthouses. A murder. And everyone is waiting for the Big One to blow in. All the usual stuff.
On the one hand, this book includes the only time I can remember Braun actually calling Qwill Polly's boyfriend. On the other hand, he teases her
On the one hand, this book includes the only time I can remember Braun actually calling Qwill Polly's boyfriend. On the other hand, he teases her
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in some rather unpleasant ways, even more than usual. A light mystery as usual, but not among the best of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Abbess
BOTTOM LINE: an OK entry in this long series, filled with lots of folksy bits and a tiny glimmer of a sharp plot lurking in the background. Unfortunately, there's too much "folksy" and 'way too lilttle plot for my taste.
Wildfire season, arson settings, land speculation, undercover investigations,
Has “the usual” compliment of too many folk tales told to Qwill by old folks, lots of cute “doings” by the townsfolk, and seems to slip further and further into fluff. Yet there are glimmers of a really fine plot in this very slim book, especially concerning the demise of a close friend of Qwill; unfortunately this part of the story goes nowhere, with a frothy windup that ignores a good deal of the buildup, and goes for the “feel good” ending.
I’m getting tired of Qwill using his money to “make things nice” for all the good folks in Pickaxe, time after time after time. The format of these stories hasn’t changed in ten years, with the different bits seeming just plugged in, a very “templated” sort of novel. Too bad, Braun wrote three wonderful books in the 1960s and several very good ones in the early 80s, but the series has degenerated into a “nice visit with the home folks” thang only. I like keeping up with Qwill and the folks, but...
have reread this series a couple of times, this time in audio; George Guidall has narrated every book in this series, and does an excellent job with all of them, even the less entertainingly plotted ones, including this.
Wildfire season, arson settings, land speculation, undercover investigations,
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new inhabitants, and the death of an old friend, makes Qwilleran long for “The Big One” (the first snowstorm of the season) as it would mean a week of peace and quiet. And Polly’s jealousy of every woman in sight wears on Qwill’s (and our) nerves too. Has “the usual” compliment of too many folk tales told to Qwill by old folks, lots of cute “doings” by the townsfolk, and seems to slip further and further into fluff. Yet there are glimmers of a really fine plot in this very slim book, especially concerning the demise of a close friend of Qwill; unfortunately this part of the story goes nowhere, with a frothy windup that ignores a good deal of the buildup, and goes for the “feel good” ending.
I’m getting tired of Qwill using his money to “make things nice” for all the good folks in Pickaxe, time after time after time. The format of these stories hasn’t changed in ten years, with the different bits seeming just plugged in, a very “templated” sort of novel. Too bad, Braun wrote three wonderful books in the 1960s and several very good ones in the early 80s, but the series has degenerated into a “nice visit with the home folks” thang only. I like keeping up with Qwill and the folks, but...
have reread this series a couple of times, this time in audio; George Guidall has narrated every book in this series, and does an excellent job with all of them, even the less entertainingly plotted ones, including this.
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LibraryThing member nx74defiant
Another quick, fun quirky tale.
LibraryThing member FerneMysteryReader
I love this series!
I can hardly believe I've finished the 23rd novel in this series. Some might say that reporters have a nose to sniff out a story but James (friends call him Qwill) Qwilleran has twitches of his salt-and-pepper mustache with help from KoKo's (short for Kao K'o Kung and one of his
• Qwill is planning a book to be entitled, "Short and Tall Tales" with each tale having a legendary quality and a Moose County connection. As the stories are obtained the tales are shared over the course of several novels and each one is an amusing treasure.
• Qwill often visits different citizens of Pickax as part of his preparations in learning about new things that become interesting topics of "Qwill’s Pen." The twice- weekly column in the local newspaper, "Moose County Something" never fails to fascinate readers sometimes even engaging them in a contest. One of his visits to an artist in this book informed of the process of batik artistry. As Qwill learns about the topic I always learn something new even if I have some familiarity with the subject.
• As Qwill is out-and-about in the neighborhood running errands, frequenting local establishments for lunch, an afternoon treat, or dinner either alone or dining with friends, he will learn of someone that needs help with their business. Often he makes quiet recommendations for the next hire which the reader realizes picks up a thread from a previous novel in the series.
As always, I look forward to reading the next adventures of Qwill, KoKo, and Yum-Yum.
I can hardly believe I've finished the 23rd novel in this series. Some might say that reporters have a nose to sniff out a story but James (friends call him Qwill) Qwilleran has twitches of his salt-and-pepper mustache with help from KoKo's (short for Kao K'o Kung and one of his
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2 Siamese cats) exceptional intuition. It's the time of year prior to the "Big One" otherwise known as the first huge snowstorm of the season in Pickax in Moose County and this year everyone is anxious for the storm to commence to end a serious drought that is plaguing the area with the severe dryness causing fires. As the story proceeds I was reminded of three (3) pleasures of why I am so entertained by each book.• Qwill is planning a book to be entitled, "Short and Tall Tales" with each tale having a legendary quality and a Moose County connection. As the stories are obtained the tales are shared over the course of several novels and each one is an amusing treasure.
• Qwill often visits different citizens of Pickax as part of his preparations in learning about new things that become interesting topics of "Qwill’s Pen." The twice- weekly column in the local newspaper, "Moose County Something" never fails to fascinate readers sometimes even engaging them in a contest. One of his visits to an artist in this book informed of the process of batik artistry. As Qwill learns about the topic I always learn something new even if I have some familiarity with the subject.
• As Qwill is out-and-about in the neighborhood running errands, frequenting local establishments for lunch, an afternoon treat, or dinner either alone or dining with friends, he will learn of someone that needs help with their business. Often he makes quiet recommendations for the next hire which the reader realizes picks up a thread from a previous novel in the series.
As always, I look forward to reading the next adventures of Qwill, KoKo, and Yum-Yum.
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LibraryThing member talon2claw
Light little mystery.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
6.7 inches
ISBN
0515132268 / 9780515132267