Braun had a thing for starting her books with some kind of shocking scene. While some of them don't work so well (like trying to make us think that Qwilleran—the main character of the series, mind you—was killed in a car accident), this one really got me. And it sets the tone for the rest of the book, which contained quite a bit of action compared to the rest of the series. Those action scenes are a good balance against the scenes in the old, dark mansion, where Koko's antics-of-the-moment provide Qwilleran with a plethora of clues. All of the elements in this story, from the main mystery to the side plots, came together to be one of the better installments in the series for me. ( )

I listen to these on audio. George Guidall is one of my very favorite all time readers. I listened to these many years ago back on CD and am having fun revisiting them. It's crazy though that Audible doesn't have the entire collection. This is top tier late night falling asleep material. ( )

Qwill has moved into the Gage mansion in Pickax for the winter. The owner has gone to Florida to live in a retirement community. When she dies from suicide, things don't seem quite right, and Koko helps prove they aren't! ( )

Another quick, fun read. ( )

The Cat Who Went into the Closet

In the 15th �Û_Cat Who‰Û_ book Qwill rents the Gage mansion in Pickax for the winter, feeling that the converted apple barn where he and the cats usually live will be too isolated when the ‰ÛÏbig snow‰Û sets in. The mansion‰Ûªs elderly but spry owner is Euphonia Gage, Junior Goodwinter‰Ûªs grandmother. She is now living it up at a high-end trailer park in Florida. While in residence in the mansion, Kato discovers that the closets are a treasure trove of interesting bits and pieces of the past. When the news comes that Euphonia has unexpectedly committed suicide, Kato‰Ûªs clues from the closet lead Qwill to suspect that something much more sinister happened to Euphonia.

This was probably not one of the stronger Cat Who books, but 15 books in I just enjoy hanging out in Pickax with these characters, I feel like I know them and I like hearing about what they all get up to: Arch and Mildred get married in a lovely ceremony on Christmas Eve. Junior and his wife have a baby. Qwill and Hixie put on a play about a historic fire in Pickax. We meet a cool old lady named Celia Robinson, who helps Qwill solve the mystery of Euphonia‰Ûªs death, and I‰Ûªm pretty sure she and her grandson become recurring characters.

Originally published: 1993

Body Count: Two Euphonia Gage (suspected suicide which turns out to be poison) and Gil Inchpot (bullet to the head).

Next Up: The Cat Who Came to Breakfast

Previous: The Cat Show Wasn't There
( )