Customer Reviews

The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (Unabridged Audio)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

The Cat Who... books are the only mystery series I read. I'm really not a mystery fan, so I probably judge them differently than someone would who cares a lot about the quality of the mystery---to me, that is a secondary or less concern! I really enjoyed this entry into the series. It's like visiting friends you haven't spent time with in a year or so to read each new Cat Who book. Several things stood out for me in the entry. I felt like I really got to know Qwill better, as he got to know himself and his past better. I got the feeling his relationship with Polly is deepening, and I love reading about that, as unlike some Cat Who fans, I really like Polly! As always, there were many great food descriptions, always a highlight of these books for me! And the mystery itself was well done, although the outcome wasn't too much of a surprise. Another enjoyable thing about this book---more focus on the cats! It seemed like they came into the story more than in some recent entries into the series, and Koko had more of his mystical talents showing! I know there are those who will say this doesn't live up to the early cat books, and they are probably right, but for me, it's enough that I can read more about the little world of Pickax, and feel relaxed and happy spending some time there!

Through the year, we look forward to the cat who books. My wife reads them aloud by the fire. As this one went on and on with no mystery, no humor, no irony and none of the subtle sexiness of the past books, we sadly realized that either Ms. Braun would never again be able to give us the pleasure we looked forward to or someone else is writing these books. Topics were brought up and dropped i.e. Amanda Goodwinter's race to be Mayor and humor, so loved in the past, is sadly nonexistant. What we had were thick pages, wide margins, and a drone of day to day activities. The villans and town characters had no character and we were depressed instead of elated. Come on, if the publisher is doing this, they should get a better ghost writer. If it's Ms. Braun, it's sadly time to retire. Of course, we will buy the next one and my wife will read it aloud by the fire. We will always have hope that it will be as joyous as the great Cat Who Books we remembered.

Moose County lies 400 miles form everywhere. The county seat is Pickax, a thriving town with a population of around 3000, including the wealthy Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, the mind reading Koko and the lovely Yum Yum.

>Qwill, a reporter, has a genuine interest in crime and has even solved several cases. Pickax has a lot happening now such as the reopening of the hotel, the Scottish Festival, and an eccentric jeweler coming to town. Qwill is not thinking of felonies until someone kills the jeweler. As the townsfolk are outraged, Qwill vows to uncover the truth even though he and his two feline partners have some strange incidents get between him and his goal.

THE CAT WHO ROBBED A BANK is the twenty-third entry in this popular series, but the story line retains the freshness and charms that is a trademark of the novels. The plot is delightful when focusing on the antics of a clairvoyant cat and his preening companion. Qwill remains an engaging individual who more than just marches to a different drum. He is the drummer. The mystery is enjoyable, but as usual Lilian Jackson Braun's tale belongs to two cats and their pet human.

Harriet Klausner

I have been reading this series forever, and I think it's about time for the publisher to admit that Ms. Braun is no longer writing the series, or if she is still writing (which is highly doubtful considering the time frame of the entire series from book one) she is being aided by a ghostwriter. There is no possible way that this book could have been written by the same author who was writing the series five years ago. Very boring and cluttered with detail. Those of us who have come to know "Qwill" and his two cats feel a great loss within the pages of this book- their personality, humor, and warmth. The cats became merely grunting pets in this book- and that's the "clue" that Ms. Braun has passed on her pen. How truly sad :(

The Cat Who Robbed a Bank was not a bad book, it just wasn't a great book. I have to say it was an improvement on The Cat Who Saw Stars, the prevous book; where as that book had no mystery, this had one, as small and predictable as it was. After reading Braun's lastest books, I must agree with those who suspect that someone other than Braun is writing them. The books have always had a certain feel to them, a way everything fit together, but the past two or three have odd aftertaste, so to speak, to the the devoted reader. It just isn't Braun's style. The plot was weak and seemed almost forced. To those who are thinking about starting to read this series, do not start with this book! It isn't that first-timers wouldn't "get" it, The Cat Who Robbed a Bank explains everythig a little too much, but because this book doesn't do the series justice. I recommend starting at the begining, with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, or some of the other good ones are The Cat Who Saw Red, The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts, The Cat Who Lived High, and The Cat Who Wasn't There. Even though this book was not what I expected, I am still a devoted fan who eagarly awaits the hopefully-better next book.

I have all of the "Cat Who" books and this was my favorite....especially liked the insights into Quilleran's family history. Braun knows how to keep her readers happy and looking forward to Koko and Yum Yum's next sleuthing adventure.

I have read every Cat Who book written by this author, and I feel this is the weakest book in the series! All of the other books had twists and turns in the plot, and all of the other books had the ability to keep you guessing until the very end. Unfortunately, in this book, the author chooses to dwell on character development and background material. As a fan of the series, I did not need this additional information - I already love Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum, without knowing the ins and outs of Scottish games or mechanical banks! I hope that the next book in the series sees a return to a real mystery, and not just a walk down memory lane! If you have enjoyed the other books in this series, you will find this entry acceptable, but it will probably not be one of your favorites. If you have never read one of the Cat Who books, or if you have read only a few, I would recommend reading the earlier books before this one.

The Cat Who Robbed A Bank is the latest edition in Lilian Jackson Braun's Cat Who mysteries. The book takes place in (where else) Moose County and tells the tale of the Jeweler who came to town and ended up being murdered for his trouble. The book also throws,the Highland Games, the grand reopening of the Pickax Hotel renamed after Qwill's Mother and a Mark Twain Festival among other things, in for variety. The Cat Who Robbed A Bank is a nice addition to the series but it is rather superficial at times because the characters are not always explored in depth and the author seemed to flit from one thing to another rather abruptly at times. The last few chapters of the book are by far the best because they answer alot of questions about Qwill's parents and the role of Qwill's Aunt Fanny in his Mother's life. This is a good read, not the best of the series, but a good book to read on a lazy afternoon.

LJ Braun''s latest book is like a Whitman sampler, you know what you're getting, but it's still delicious. Compared to the previous book's (Cat Who Sang for the Birds) disappointment, I approached this with caution, and found it a pleasant jaunt thru Moose County. This time, the actual murder, of a noted visiting Chicago jeweler, is more prominent; at the same time, all the wonderful details LJB is known for, florish. Still, the Actual Murder never truly dominates. SPOILER ALERT! The case itself is quite routine, tho I don't think it's too much a surprise as to who the culprit is. Oddly, many of the various subplots are either missing or too neatly tied off, the marraige of Celia Robinson to a town local, for example, while Polly's famous jealousy has gone dormant. Qwill himself has maybe too well settled into his role as town benefactor; he has lost much of the "Jed Clampett" charm. Even the famed Siamese cats have settled down; Koko's clues are few, if helpful. Are they simply getting old? Koko's age, at least ten years, can be roughly guessed at; I see nothing wrong with his teaching Polly's Bootsie-Brutus, and Catta, also Siamese. There is also quite a lot of looking backwards in odd places; long-time readers will note many little references to the evens in previous books. There is even a long look at Qwill's mother, the famed Mackintosh maiden who married (it turns out) a Scandinavian. None of this really distracts from the charm of Ms. Braun's Moose County, but the books are beginning to sound akin to the famed Lake Woebegon, if with a higher mortality rate. I kept hoping there would be more details on the town and the people; the Actual Murder didn''t see so important anymore. Whether this is a failing or a success is for every reader to decide.

I was so happy to see George Guidall return as the reader of Jackson's "Cat Who..." series. If you are an avid fan, try the un-abridged editions, they are wonderful and entertaining. Right now the only place I can find them (un-abridged)is the local library, and there is always a long waiting list, but worth the wait. Please continue with George Guidall, he IS Qwill.