After starting “The Cat Who” books in 1968 Lilian Jackson
Braun took an eighteen year break from publishing. She resumed in 1968 with, “The
Cat Who Saw Red.” These novels follow Mr. Qwilleran and his
Siamese Koko and Yum Yum. You will find an alarming mystery inside this cozy book.
Qwill, as he’s often called, is a charming amateur
sleuth with a large mustache that twitches when he’s on to something. As a
reporter for the Daily Fluxion, he’s currently
on a new assignment to write a gourmet beat. Ironically this happens just as he’s told by
his doctor to lose 30 pounds.
His first story leads him to Maus Haus, a lawyer
known for his culinary skill and eccentric boarding house. Qwill decides to take
up residence in newly vacant #6 after finding that his old flame Joy is
residing there. Along with his new move, he discovers an unsolved “suicide”
from years past. While investigating the old, new questions start to arise. What
happened to Joy’s cat? Where is Joy? What happened to Koko and Yum Yum?
The young houseboy, William, brings about questions
of his own. Then he too disappears. Not only are people missing, Max Sorrel’s
restaurant, the Golden Lamb Chop, is being sabotaged. Sorel, another boarder at
Maus Haus, is concerned this could all be related.
These books have become so popular that, Robert
Kaplow wrote, “The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun,” in 2003. I recommend
this cozy little mystery set in a nondescript city by Chicago. I feel a connection
with the place Braun writes of, since I was born in that area. I also live in
the same county the author did, as she resided in Tryon, NC. My plans are to
enjoy the rest of the series.
There's loads of information to improve our lives. Sometimes, we get information overload. First, we need to figure out what is the most important to us. Then, we need to look at what is harming us the most. Last, we need to look at what is feasible for our families. It's important to incorporate these benefits without throwing our lives overboard, making us unable to follow through.
