|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favorite Cozy Mystery Series!, September 30, 2006
In The Cat who Talked to Ghosts, 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.
In The Cat who Lived High, James Qwilleran aka "Qwill", is feeling the familiar wanderlust grab him as the threat of the first large snowfall descends on Moose County (400 miles north of everywhere). When he is summoned by an old friend from "down below" to help restore the old Casablanca building in Junktown, he agrees to visit the old apartment building that has lost most of its previous shining glory.
Once he arrives, he realizes very quickly that the old building is not in great shape, and that the tenants are an eclectic mix. He meets elderly folks, young artists, and one eccentric building owner who is called the countess and never leaves her suite. Qwill is assigned the penthouse apartment on the 14th Floor, and when KoKo starts sniffing a stain on the rug, Qwill's natural curiosity is raised. He learns that there had been a murder in his temporary residence, and as he decides whether to finance the restoration of the Casablanca, he also probes into the mysterious death. With the help of his two irrepressible felines, KoKo and Yum Yum, the unlikely detective threesome saves countless lives from the clutches of an evil, greedy killer.
In The Cat who Knew a Cardinal, James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats move into their newly converted apple barn, and are celebrating the successful first run production by the Pickax Theatre Club. When the entire cast (except for one) shows up at Qwilleran's new home for a wrap-party and informal housewarming, he is happy to entertain many of his close friends. The party lasts well into the early morning hours, and when the last guest drives away, KoKo starts his impressive "death howl". Walking outdoors, Qwilleran learns there has been a shooting on his property, and the controversial high school principle has been murdered. Qwilleran and his amazing cats begin to investigate, and quickly dig into some truths buried in the nearby town of Lockmaster. And when Polly returns a day late from a wedding she attended in the town, Qwilleran starts to get suspicious about what is happening in Lockmaster. In between bird watching with KoKo, a cat pageant to find a look-alike for Tippy's beloved mascot, and a steeplechase, Qwilleran puts the pieces together on another murder in sleepy Moose County.
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. Many fans enjoy the homey, familiar feel of the town and the characters themselves.
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!
|