The Cat Who Talked To Ghosts (1990) - Plot & Excerpts
I really liked this book; I liked the mystery, I liked Qwill, I liked the cats. What I didn't like:Qwill, who is a billionaire, is Morally Cheap. By that, I mean the guy has money, but he doesn't want to spend it. He has to buy a suit for a funeral, and doesn't want to pay the tailor. Does he think the tailor is free? Does he think the tailor has no employees to pay? He has the money, he should at least not begrudge the guy a living. I sure hope he's not this cheap in the rest of his books (I'm not saying give the money away, I'm saying recognize other people have to make a living).His girlfriend(?): She COULD be his girlfriend, I don't know. She's a librarian and wears grey tailored suits. I've yet to meet a librarian who dresses like that. It's not like she owns every library in the state. That's odd enough, but then she drives a separate car to their 'dates' because she doesn't want people to know. Really? They're both in their 50's and they have to hide it like one of them is married or something? If I was dating the richest guy around, I'd want everyone to know so that he wouldn't be chased by other women. That alone is just stupid.He eats at places that have 'meat you have to gnaw at but has really good flavor'. I'm sorry, but if the meat is chewy, it DOESN'T have really good flavor. It's a bad cut of meat and the people don't know how to cook. He's got the money, he can afford to eat at a decent restaurant. And a restaurant with 'chewy' meat wouldn't be in business long.Other than that, a good book.
Author Lilian Jackson Braun's 10th installment in her enormously popular "The Cat Who..." series, featuring middle-aged newspaperman Jim Qwilleran pits him against a murderous spirit. The only question is whether or not it belongs to this world or another. When long-time friend and former land-lady Iris Cobb, the resident-curator of the local historical museum, calls Jim in the middle of the night to beg for help from knocking ghosts, the seasoned journalist rushes to her aid, only to find Iris dead from an apparent heart attack. Qwill, as his friends affectionately call him, and his Siamese, Yum Yum and astutely observant Koko, move into the museum to track down a murderous ghost. Unearthing more than old ghosts, Jim rattles some bones by discovering secret documents concerning Moose County residents and families, as well as looking into some of the area's newcomers, most notably his neighbor's down the road at the historical but collapsing Fugtree Farm. Familiar characters from Pickax like librarian lady-friend Polly and journalist buddy Arch make repeat appearances however, as a mystery, a busy plot with clues too vague to properly connect left this installment in the series lacking the glow of the previous novels.
What do You think about The Cat Who Talked To Ghosts (1990)?
I decided to try another book by Lilian Jackson Braun and I was pleasantly surprised. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts was entertaining. Again you are introduced to Jim Qwilleran. He is just a local guy who writes for the local paper and has two Siamese cats, named Ko Ko and Yum Yum. Ko Ko and Yum Yum seem seem to have an uncanny knack for sensing trouble and solving crimes.Qwilleran receives a phone call from his old landlady, Mrs. Cobb. She is in a panic about noises she is hearing in the night. When he arrives at her place the house is dark. When he walks into the place he finds Mrs. Cobb's body in the kitchen. It is ruled a natural death due to a heart attack. Jim Qwilleran has mixed feelings about her death.The story was interesting in the fact that there is no formal investigation just Jim Q doing the solving by asking questions and just being nosy. I think I may try reading The Cat Who ate Danish Modern again.
—Monica
Jim and his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum have moved into the flat of Iris Cobb after she hears strange noises and dies of fright. Jim soon finds his neighbours, the Boswells are interested in him and the museum. Vince Boswell is making an inventory of the newspaper presses in the barn and is eager to take over the role of caretaker of the museum. Jim's other neighbour is a goat farmer and when her goats are poisoned the chief suspect is her ex husband who somehow ends up dead. With this mystery and the mystery of the inhabitants of the town on his brain, Jim ponders on what is going on and how to solve it.Another very enjoyable story to read.
—Carol
I liked the books right up to The Cat Who Smelled a Rat, No. 23. After that, the novels gradually get worse and worse until, by The Cat Who Talked Turkey, they're just unreadable.
—Una Tiers
