The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (The Cat Who...) Reviews

• Siamese Sleuths

  
  By A161DK06JJMCYF on 2008-06-30
  This was the first Lilian Jackson Braun novel I have read. I loved it. I enjoyed reading about the cats and how smart Koko was. And how the cats knew the phone was going to ring 10 seconds before the phone rang.
  
  Qwill is called in the middle of the night by his former landlady, Mrs. Cobb. She has been hearing strange noises and was scared. He leaves to investigate and finds her dead. Many strange things are happening at the museum, and Qwill decides to move in and find out what really happened to his friend.
  
  Very enjoyable, this will not be my last Lilian Jackson Braun.
  
  

• Goat Cheese Anyone?

  
  By AN7LJWCGEWFYU on 2005-05-22
  Lilian Jackson Braun's tenth cat book starts off with the death of one of the most beloved long-time characters in the series. It is quite a testament to Braun's writing ability that I felt so saddened by this person's death and I was indeed quite upset. It is not clear early on if this death is a murder or a simple heart attack but as usual, Qwilleran is suspicious. Braun has the ability to make her readers feel as if they know the people of Moose County and have lived there for years and this is what is so endearing about this series. This story also starts out with Qwilleran telling the story in the first person which is a new twist and fortunately one that just sort of melts away early in the book.
  
  As in previous stories the mystery is mostly a background for another tale of Moose County but this time there are only two deaths to deal with. Among the more memorable characters to wander in and out of this story are ninety-four year old Homer Tibbitt and his slightly younger girlfriend Rhoda, who refuses to get her hearing aide fixed. One of their conversations culminates with Homer yelling at Rhoda, "I said potties-not poppies!" This conversation sent me into fits of laughter and is typical of Braun's wonderful writing style.
  
  Like all small rural communities, Moose County has it's secrets, one of which Qwilleran uncovers while puzzling over his friend's death. It turns out that one of the area's most famous incidents was all a fake and that at least one Moose County resident had lived long past his funeral. A secret that in the end will remain locked away in Qwilleran's mind and in the secret compartment of a Dingleberry desk.
  
  As is the case in most of these books, Koko tries to give Qwilleran clues but time and again the former reporter looks over the hints. Once the mystery is solved however, Qwilleran realizes once again that his highly intelligent feline has had things figured out for quite some time. If only Qwilleran could warm up to his girlfriend's new cat, who he refers to as Bigfoot, as quickly as he warmed up to the goat farmer next door. This tenth trip into the wild and wonderful world of Jim Qwilleran is a journey well worth taking, even if there is more Moose than mystery.
  
  

• These Cats will never get old

  
  By A2CT27O92OVYJB on 2007-08-29
  Ms Braun is a master writer. I have personally read almost all of her "cat" books and each one stands on its own.....however, you know the characters as your own neighbors.
  
  

• SCARED TO DEATH?

  
  By on 1999-02-09
  This is number 10 in "The Cat Who..." series. It was good but sad because Mrs. Cobb, a person who was introduced in one of the earliest books and reappeared after Qwill got rich, dies right at the beginning. Of course, Qwill doesn't believe she died of natural causes. Nobody ever dies of natural causes in Qwill's life. It's kind of like the television show, "Murder She Wrote," where you knew if this was real life, you would never want to be anywhere near Jessica Fletcher, because someone was always getting murdered around her. Speaking of "Murder She Wrote," these "Cat Who" mysteries are along the same lines as far as being light and not too gory and will appeal to the same audience. I want to see this or one in the series become a movie!
  
  

• This is such a good book!

  
  By on 1998-10-31
  Yet another exciting mystery of the Cat Who series.This is a great book,and I highly reccomend that you read it.The ending will surprise you--it surprised me,anyway.
  
  
• An intriguing, easy-reading murder mystery
  By on 1997-07-28
  I have noticed Mrs. Braun's series of books on "The Cat Who..." in Amazon's catalog, book stores, grocery stores and libraries but only recently did I actually read one of her books. Then, I read another and another and another. Once you start folks, you can't stop. You can't wait to read another book with her main character, Jim Qwilleran, affectionately known as Qwill or "Q". (Frankly, it took a couple of books for me to get used to that name.)

  Qwill is a reporter who always stumbles upon a mysterious murder and with the help of one of his two siamese cats, he finds enough clues to solve the mystery. You don't need to be a "cat" person to enjoy these easy-reading books. I think that's what held me back all these years. I like cats but I didn't want to read about cats solving crimes. Make no mistake, Qwill is the main character and the cats just enhance the plot.
  
  

• "Cat Who".... Presents Homey Atmosphere
  By AT375YKDU4KJA on 2000-12-21
  In keeping with traditional "Cat Who..." conundrums, this particular offering of feline intrigue ties with hushed family secrets in a light hearted mood sure to please fans and first timers alike. Its writing style is relaxed, the characters whimsical, and the setting so realistic, one might feel the nip of November's breeze in Moose or another county's quaint villa universally known as Pickax by any other name, Somewhere or Anywhere USA. The central appeal of small town life is a recurring theme, for the roots which have given us wings beckon now and again. Similarly, Don McClean's song "Castles in the Air" exemplifies perhaps the theme song of James Qwilleran, a divorcee and a recovering alcoholic who is indeed not a part of the cocktail generation, but a prying newspaperman/unlikely detective in mufti. "But how can words express the feel of sunlight in the morning, in the hills away from city strife? ... I'm city born, but I love the country life". A calmly paced mystery, "The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts" allows readers to enjoy the rural scenery, converse with the locals at the Dimsdale Diner and gather strains of gossip which just might reveal the details of a quietly arranged "accidental death". Iris Cobb, staple character of the series, has been hastily obliterated it seems, and the population of Pickax/Moose County/ Down Below has surely diminished since our heroine's arrival on the scene. However, for the sake of country charm and a predictable yet satisfying mystery, this selection is recommended for city folks from Down Home, those among us who drive our SUV's, drink decaf latte, and listen to Garrison Keilor hailing from Lake Wobegon.
  
  
• The Cat who talked to ghosts
  By A3HAOPVQEVEQXM on 2006-08-06
  The cat series are just a pleasure to listen to. Lilian Jackson Braun has captured the essense of a good mystery, and George Guidall brings the charactures to life. Easy listening.
  
  
• The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts
  By on 2005-05-02
  Qwilleran is sitting at home when he gets a call from one of his old friends. It's Mrs. Cobb and she sound really afraid. After asking many times, she says that she thinks there is a ghost in her house. Qwill decides to go and calm her down, but when he arrives, she is dead. After he and his mystery-solving cats move into her old house to try to figure out who or what killed Mrs. Cobb, strange things happen. He discovers many things about her odd house that he would never have guessed.
  Lilian Jackson Braun knows just how to keep a reader hooked. I didn't want to put the book down until I figured out who or what the killer was. I highly recommend The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts to teenagers and young adult readers who love a good mystery.
  
  
• A Wispy Mystery for Fans of the "Cat Who" Series
  By A3L9QN0YNV3PUG on 2006-03-18
  I received a hardbound copy of this book, signed by the author and the cat, Koko. For a cat lover, Koko's signature is very nice. Unfortunately, this tenth member of the "The Cat Who" series is the wrong place to start reading. If you have not read any of the series, it would be wise to begin with the first book and proceed through the ten books in succession. For fans of "The Cat Who" series, I suspect that this is another enjoyable story of the comings and goings of the citizens of Moose County, especially newsman Jim Quilleran and his cats, Yum Yum and Koko. For persons that have not read the previous books, it may seem like a talkative record of daily life in Moose County. The mystery in the story relates to the death of Iris Cobb from a heart attack. Was the heart attack caused by ghosts? It comes as no surprise that ghosts had nothing to do with it. My advice, if you have not read any books in the series, is to read the earlier ones first and don't expect a thriller. You likely will either love this book, or be bored by it.
  
  
• My Favorite Cozy Mystery Series!
  By A3W1130KUXGUDQ on 2006-09-30
  In the 10th book in the Cat Who mystery series, James Qwilleran aka "Qwill", is called late one evening by his dear friend, Iris Cobb. Iris has been frightened by some noises that she hears outside of her apartment at the Goodwinter Memorial Museum and begs Qwill to help her. Immediately throwing on clothes over his pajamas, Qwill rushes out to Iris' home, and arrives too late, only to find his former housekeeper already dead...apparently from a heart attack. Mourning the loss of his friend, Qwill agrees to move into her apartment and take her place until a permanent replacement is found. Moving into Iris' home also gives Qwill the opportunity to poke around in her sudden and suspicious death.
  
  Moving his adored cats, KoKo and Yum Yum, to the museum, Qwill begins to question his feeling about ghosts. Several influential members of the town claim to have seen them, and Qwill wonders if Iris had been frightened to death by a ghost's apparition. But redirecting Qwill's attention from the untimely death are several other strange occurances in Moose County. One is the annoying presence of Vince Boswell, the loud, brash man who lives up the lane from the museum and who is being considered to be the replacement for Iris, despite his lack of aptitude for the job. Another is an escaped felon that shows up in town...and shortly after his arrival, his ex-wife's goats are poisoned. Finally, many begin to wonder about the Goodwinter curse, and rumors continue to swirl regarding the death of Ephraim Goodwinter decades after his death. Qwill questions all of the facts, and in the end, finds that all of the pieces to this puzzle neatly tie together to spell murder.
  
  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. I must say that I was very saddened by Iris' death, as she was one of my favorite characters in this series. Many fans enjoy the homey, familiar feel of the town and the characters themselves, and Iris had become one of the favorites. I did, however, love this installment with all of its twists and turns!
  
  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!
  
  
  
• My First "Cat Who" Book
  By A30KEXFT9SILL6 on 2001-03-05
  And I think it shouldn't have been my first. The book has the feel of the latest in a looong series-- one that's really going to appeal to people already attached to the characters.

  The crusty local newspaperman Qwilleran (and naturally his two Siamese cats) is called to investigate ghosts when his ex-housekeeper is literally frightened to death. Is the supernatural involved, or is the haunting of a more earthly origin?
  
  

• So Sad....
  By A1702F6NX1F10W on 2007-07-31
  In the latest edition with Qwill and the gang of cats we see a major character killed off which is so sad cos she was one of the nices ones.
  
  Once discovered that Qwills old friend has been "scared to death" he moves in to the farm house, which doubles as a museum, and begins to sniff out possible explanations for his dear friends death. Again this leads to Ko Ko trying to state the facts from his point of view what is going on, even going as far as talking to ghost....or so it seems. And naturally what insues is fun new characters, more murders, and even more mayhem all leading to the killer in the end.
  
  If your looking for a really easy read this is definitly for you as long as you are a fan of the series because the murder mystery definitly takes back seat to the other story lines and new and familiar characters that pop up. If your new to the series I would recommend starting at the beginning to see how it all began. A must read for any Cat Who fan....
  
  
• Pretty Good
  By on 2000-02-27
  This was my first "Cat Who" novel.The book was well done.It was full of suspence, Mystery,and history.The characters were well drawn.It even scared me a little.The book just didnt have an unexpected ending like Agatha Christie,but I still recomend this book.
  
  
• The Cat who Talks to Ghosts is GHOSTLY great!!!!
  By on 1998-03-06
  I never was really into mystery books, but after reading one of L. J. Brauns I though, "WOW!" I absolutely love her books!!! This one was especially good as Jim Qwilleran and his irresistable cats Koko and Yum see ghosts, and many another strange things!!!!
  
  
• Good, but slow
  By ABIOOJORI2YFG on 2000-12-09
  The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts. The title catched by eye. The was very good and was about Jim and his two detective cats who have to solve a murder mystery! At points this book was quite boring but usually always picked itself up later.
  
  
• "Cat Who".... Series Presents Homey Atmosphere
  By AT375YKDU4KJA on 2000-12-20
  In keeping with traditional "Cat Who..." conundrums, this particular offering of feline intrigue ties with hushed familial secrets in a light hearted mood sure to please fans and first timers alike. The style is relaxed, the characters whimsical, and the setting so realisitic, one might feel the nip of November's breeze from Down Below in the Moose or any other county's quaint villa known as Pickax by any other name. The central appeal of small town life is a recurring theme, for the roots which have given us wings beckon now and again. As with the Tod Rundgren song "Castles in the Air", Qwill is not a part of the cocktail generation, but a newspaperman in mufti. A calmly paced mystery, "The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts" allows readers to enjoy the rural scenery and converse with the locals at the Dimsdale Diner while gathering strains of gossip which just might produce the clue to a quietly arranged "accidental death".
  
  
• Amusing and entertaining Cat book.
  By A32DM2HETO0DAN on 2001-05-28
  Just discovered this author with this book. Held my attention, provided humor, suspense and entertainment. The author's story is imaginative and the story line is just complicated enough to hold the reader's attention while not befuddling him. I look forward to reading another in the series.
  
  
• One of the best books i've read
  By AUSICSYVHV9II on 2004-04-01
  Quill and his cats move into Ms. Cobbs house after they find out she dies. They move there to try to find out why she died. Tis book was written very well. I liked it because it was suspenseful at some points but in other times you knew exactly what was going on. I recommend this book to any older teenagers.
  
  
• The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts
  By on 2004-10-24
  Two of the good parts were the death of Iris Cobbs
  and also the actual investigating by Qwill
  One part I did not like was there were too many "misleading stories"
  
  

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