Product Description

Jim Qwilleran and his feline sleuths investigate the disappearance of a wealthy railroad buff--and alleged multimillion-dollar embezzler--a case that becomes complicated by red herrings, a tragic train wreck, and murder in a railroad tavern. 150,000 first printing. $85,000 ad/promo.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7609482 in Books
• Published on: 1995-06
• Format: Large Print
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 270 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Best of series, this 17th The Cat Who caper slyly creeps up on the reader. The newest delight in Moose County, "400 miles north of everywhere," is a railroad buff's refurbished locomotive, which is making its debut run. Floyd Trevelyan, the train owner, disappears just as the state closes down the credit union associated with his business. While others believe the man has decamped with investors' money, newspaper columnist Jim Qwilleran doesn't believe Trevelyan would abandon his railroad project. He persuades his friend and sleuthing cohort Celia, recently moved to Pickax City from Chicago, to go undercover to find the missing businessman. Meanwhile, librarian Polly Duncan, with whom Qwill has had a long-standing relationship, is becoming distraught about the house she is building nearby. After a carpenter on the project is stabbed in a barroom brawl and the contractor, Trevelyan's son, is seriously injured on the job, Qwill begins to fear for Polly's health. Qwill's Siamese cat, Koko, plays a central role in solving these puzzles as Qwill struggles equally to interpret the cat's hints and cope with those problems complicating his personal life. Literary Guild, Mystery Guild and Doubleday Book Club selections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Cat mystery lovers beware! Pickax's Qwilleran and Koko have returned for a go at catching a train fancier who has embezzled millions from Moose County investors. Another best seller from the prolific Braun.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
In the seventeenth book of her cat mystery series, which began with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966), Braun extends her North Country locale from Pickax to the whole of Moose County. When the discovery of embezzlement at the Lumbertown Credit Union in Sawdust City (aka Mudville, population 5,000) coincides with the disappearance of its wealthy president, who is also a model railroad buff and owner of a salvaged and restored steam locomotive, Moose County's best-known philanthropist, columnist, and amateur detective, Jim Qwilleran, decides to investigate the mystery--with the help of his two Siamese sleuths, Koko and Yum Yum. Financial fraud and, later, murder seem almost secondary, however, to the activities and attachments of familiar characters, for example, a local theater production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Qwill's genteel affair with head librarian Polly Duncan. The author provides enough background information to make new readers feel at home, and devotees of the series will applaud the added interest of railroading language and lore. As the communicative and prescient Koko would say, "Yow!" Barbara Duree

Customer Reviews

Wow! What a Neat Concept
This was my first journey into the world of Lilian Jackson Braun, and I have to say that I enjoyed it very much. It was unlike any other book that I have ever read. It was refreshing to read a story without the bad language, violence, and graphic depictions of male-female relations that seems to be required for today's novels. I do not object to, nor am I offended by these elements, but it's still nice to be able to enjoy a book without them present. Being a cat lover and cat owner did enhance my enjoyment of this book as well. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but overall it was an excellent light read. I plan to read many more of the books featuring the feline detective Koko, his little friend Yum Yum, and his sidekick Jim Qwilleran.

My Favorite Cozy Mystery Series!
In the 17th book in the Cat Who Mystery series, James Qwilleran aka "Qwill", is thrilled to be able to enjoy the latest economic development to hit Moose County (400 miles north of everywhere). It seems that a prominent local businessman, Floyd Trevelyan, has purchased and restored an old steam locomotive, and has plans to use it as a new attraction in town. Floyd has made money in both the building and banking industries, and when Floyd goes missing with the bank's funds right before a large audit, everyone assumes he has fled to avoid prosecution for fraud. Floyd has been seen around town with his beautiful secretary, leaving his ailing wife at home alone, and absconding with the money could give him a way to start a new life. But Qwill's suspicious mind does not immediately believe that this case is as simple as it sounds, and he is determined to poke around in the lives of the Trevelyan family. Hiring a friend from Down Below, Celia Robinson, to work with the sickly Mrs. Trevelyan, Qwill and his feisty felines put the pieces of this family puzzle back into place and solves yet another mystery in Moose County.

This is my favorite cozy mystery series! I had read all of the books in the past, and wanted to read them again for a second time. This time around, I have chosen to listen to them on CD, as I love the voice of George Guidall. Many fans enjoy the homey, familiar feel of the town and the characters themselves. I just love the character of Celia, and was glad to see a kindly elderly "replacement" for the dear Mrs. Cobb. I was shocked with the health issues of Qwill's love-interest, Polly Duncan, and touched to see his reactions to her health scare.

If you are looking for a hardcore thriller, this would not be the series for you. However, if you are a fan of small town cozies, give this series a try. You might just find that you have become an avid "Cat Who" fan before the book is even finished.

This is a great series by my favorite author!

The first book in the series is called "The Cat who Could Read Backwards". Enjoy!

It grows on you
Under normal circumstances I hate anything that can be described as "cute." That includes people, sculpture, movies, books, etc. "Cute" means stupid, shallow, superficial, and self-consciously pretty. At first glance, this book appeared to be merely cute--having a cat that solves crimes--and something I wasn't going to like at all.

But I was pleasantly surprised by the relaxing atmosphere of Moose County, somewhere in the northern part of the U.S. The characters were engaging. The plot is perhaps just a trifle weird. I still have a problem with the gimmick detectives, as opposed to the standard sleuth, i.e., the police detective or private eye vs. a cat, an antique dealer, a school marm, etc. The real detective here is, of course, the newspaper columnist who gets hints from Koko, his cat. I groaned a little at the concept, but the atmosphere and characters made me keep reading.

I wouldn't put this at the top of the list of mysteries, but the novel is a pleasant, light diversion, with "cute" being the major flaw.