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notsogreen's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
*Sigh*…. I have loved this series since discovering it in middle school. I love the different topics you learn about for each mystery, the characters feel like family, and it’s so comfortable to fall into any book in the series. Except this one. Braun was clearly trying to set up her next book which never got published, but besides that, there is no plot in this one. There’s just a series of events that happen to the main character, and the characters you’ve spent over 20 books with act nothing like themselves. Either come up with your own ending, or skip this book entirely and just let the series end with everyone doing what they’ve always done.
ejpreads's review against another edition
2.0
I LOVE the Cat Who series. My experience with Lillian Jackson Braun has been one of delight. Vacations have been decorated by this fun mystery series for twenty years of my life.
I was SO disappointed with this book. The story line and writing were so disjointed... to the point that I began to wonder if she has someone else writing for her now.
I Cannot recommend this book, but I do recommend others that were written much earlier.
I was SO disappointed with this book. The story line and writing were so disjointed... to the point that I began to wonder if she has someone else writing for her now.
I Cannot recommend this book, but I do recommend others that were written much earlier.
moshalala's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
1.0
It is time for this series to die. I have obviously loved it, but it has outlived its originality and needs to be put down.
Koko's whiskers still quiver, and he still does his best to give clues and solve the murder, but Qwill is too busy being the eligible-bachelor-about-town to notice, at least until after someone else has solved the murder. Then he thinks, "So that's why Koko freaked out whenever so-and-so walked into the room. Hmmm. I wonder what [insert female character's name here:] is doing tonight?"
It's always fun to check back in with the gang from Pickax, but I give up. These are nothing more than catalogs of Qwill's latest columns and dates at this point.
Don't let me dissuade anyone from starting the series; they are really good cozy mysteries at the beginning. Just give up on them well before this point.
Koko's whiskers still quiver, and he still does his best to give clues and solve the murder, but Qwill is too busy being the eligible-bachelor-about-town to notice, at least until after someone else has solved the murder. Then he thinks, "So that's why Koko freaked out whenever so-and-so walked into the room. Hmmm. I wonder what [insert female character's name here:] is doing tonight?"
It's always fun to check back in with the gang from Pickax, but I give up. These are nothing more than catalogs of Qwill's latest columns and dates at this point.
Don't let me dissuade anyone from starting the series; they are really good cozy mysteries at the beginning. Just give up on them well before this point.
chazbot72's review
5.0
The only terrible thing about this book is, it's the last one. Wonderful series!
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
1.0
It's supposed to be a mystery, so I kept turning pages, waiting for the body. The corpse finally appears after over 100 pages of trite conversation and non-events. And then, about 80 pages later, after more trite conversation (With lots of exclamation points! Where there is no justification for them!), the book ends. Yes, there's a suspect, but she's never caught, given a persuasive motive, or tried. Doesn't matter, the evidence would never hold up in court.
About 20 books ago, this was an amusing, engaging series. But the cute cat antics and idiosyncratic protagonist take you only so far. They don't substitute for a story.
About 20 books ago, this was an amusing, engaging series. But the cute cat antics and idiosyncratic protagonist take you only so far. They don't substitute for a story.
jklbookdragon's review against another edition
1.0
Enjoy the rest of this wonderful series, but stop before reading this one.
luverbyrd's review against another edition
2.0
This was probably not the best in the collection for me to be introduced to this author. I read the reviews on it before reading and I wanted it to be good, so badly.
I'll start with the positive, I really enjoyed Qwilleran's "cat dad"-like interactions with Koko. As well as Koko being sort of the town's mascot and everyone loving him. But there wasn't enough of that to make me like this book.
It's very dialogue heavy, and I'm the type of reader who enjoys scenery description.
The main mysterious death doesn't occur until halfway through. The culprit is never explicitly said or figured out how it was done. It also ends oddly, like it's meant to continue.
Majority of this book I found myself wondering "why does this conversation even matter?"
I'll start with the positive, I really enjoyed Qwilleran's "cat dad"-like interactions with Koko. As well as Koko being sort of the town's mascot and everyone loving him. But there wasn't enough of that to make me like this book.
It's very dialogue heavy, and I'm the type of reader who enjoys scenery description.
The main mysterious death doesn't occur until halfway through. The culprit is never explicitly said or figured out how it was done. It also ends oddly, like it's meant to continue.
Majority of this book I found myself wondering "why does this conversation even matter?"
typewriters87's review against another edition
2.0
OMG. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT read this. It was a little off but I could see the author up until about page 110-113. Then it was like someone else was trying to fill in a plot outline. And what they did in the end? Incomprehensible. Just horrible. And I REFUSE to believe Lillian Jackson Braun had anything to do with the last half of this book. Someone wanted it finished and wanted to make sure nothing would come after. I got this to finish my collection but I refuse to hold it with the rest as cannon.
tobyyy's review against another edition
1.0
I’ll be honest: DNF around 60%.
I’m so glad to see that I wasn’t the only person confused, annoyed, bewildered, and befuddled by this book. And also glad — in a way — to see that there’s a consensus among LJB fans that she either didn’t write this or was senile when she did so.
I love the Cat Who series. They were some of the first “adult mysteries” I read as a kid, and Koko, Yumyum, and Qwilleran will always have a very special place in my heart.
That being said — this book SUCKS. There is no plot. There is also no mystery. No resolution. Characters are acting out of character. It’s extremely disjointed and honestly I can’t even describe the story to you because there was NO COHESIVENESS.
Do not read this. Pick up literally any other book in the Cat Who series instead.
((Initially I was worried that my dislike and sense of no plot was because I’ve been stressed lately and have been struggling to focus enough to read. Glad to see that it’s not that — or at least, not JUST that...))
I’m so glad to see that I wasn’t the only person confused, annoyed, bewildered, and befuddled by this book. And also glad — in a way — to see that there’s a consensus among LJB fans that she either didn’t write this or was senile when she did so.
I love the Cat Who series. They were some of the first “adult mysteries” I read as a kid, and Koko, Yumyum, and Qwilleran will always have a very special place in my heart.
That being said — this book SUCKS. There is no plot. There is also no mystery. No resolution. Characters are acting out of character. It’s extremely disjointed and honestly I can’t even describe the story to you because there was NO COHESIVENESS.
Do not read this. Pick up literally any other book in the Cat Who series instead.
((Initially I was worried that my dislike and sense of no plot was because I’ve been stressed lately and have been struggling to focus enough to read. Glad to see that it’s not that — or at least, not JUST that...))