Customer Reviews

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(42)

 

 

0 stars for the book in relation to the rest of the series, 1.5 stars just in general...

The sad fact is that if Ms. Braun were still alive, she'd be over 100 years old now. So it's pretty clear this series is being ghostwritten. I wish the publisher would just admit it. But I think as long as this series remains a cash cow for the publisher, and we all keep giving this series a third, forth, and fifth chance, they'll keep churning out more. So it's my fault, too.

[SPOILER ALERT] I didn't HATE this book, but I checked it out from the library and read it in an hour. It was a whole lot of nothing. A lot of Qwill ambling around town, driving his SUV, feeding the cats. A few journal entries. Another long, long description of the apple barn that we've read 6 million times but still can't visually picture.

There was absolutely no mystery in the book at all, besides some weird little thing about fungus and about characters we've never met before (who were apparently VERY important to Moose County society, but not nearly important enough to mention, even in passing, in any of the other books...)

I found it very strange that they DID kill off a semi-main character that Qwill spent some time with several books ago and seemed quite fond of and it was barely discussed. Instead of making that the focus of the book, and maybe introducing the idea of foul play in association with that death, Qwill barely reacted to the news. The old Qwill would have said more, even if the person who passed wasn't someone close to him. His moustache would have twitched and he would have gone to town investigating what happened, even just to satisfy his own curiousity.

Another thing that bothered me, maybe more than anything, is that Qwill is suddenly not just a noted journalist, but a star. Instead of people saying hello to him, now people in town want his autograph and a snapshot with him. Women swoon when he appears. A pencil stamped with "Qwill Pen" emits shrieks of gratitude and bliss. COME ON!

It's just insane, and offensive to fans of this series who have stuck with Qwill through the good times and the bad.

Note to the publishers: either reward us with a decent writer who has actually READ the series and would know where to take it, or just move on. Give "Lilian Jackson Braun" a new project, maybe a spin-off series. Let "The Cat Who" rest in peace.

Whatever happened to the real Lilian Jackson Braun? She can't possibly be writing these books. I've always been a fan of this series and have read all the books, many of them more than once (that is, the early books) but I've been so disappointed with the last few. There were 4 deaths in this latest book, all of which were passed over like they were just 60 second sound-bites...except for the last double-murder which got maybe 120 seconds. There was a vague mention of a possible way the murders were accomplished, but no mention of an investigation or proof that this is what happened. Too much time was spent on Pickax details that we already know, yet the murders were passed over too quickly with no discussion of how they were solved. The first murder didn't seem to be covered well and the accidental death at the bridge didn't seem to bother Qwill very much, even tho' it was the death of a close friend. Come on! Let's get real! This series seems to have lost its speed. Even the author seems uninterested in it. Why not let it die with dignity rather than continuing it in such a painful manner!

The "Cat Who" mysteries are definitely petering out. The last few have been mere shadows of their former selves. While evacuated for Hurricane Katrina, I reread all of them and it was very evident how superior the older entries were. I love Quill and the cats, but it makes me sad to see something of this poor quality on the shelf. Let them go with dignity - they deserve it!

I checked this book out of the library after reading some of the reviews here, so I knew going into this that it wasn't one of the best Cat Who ... books written. However, I was not prepared for the book's overall lack of style or enthusiasm.

With the exception of the Cat Who Went Bananas, I've read all of the books in the series, including the first 3 written in the 1960s. It wasn't until I read The Cat Who Went Up a Creek that I began to notice a change in Ms. Braun's writing style. Suddenly, the stories became more predictable, her usual "keep you guessing until the end" style wasn't the same, and to be honest I began to wonder if she had someone else write the book. Her books since then (The Cat Who ... Brought Down the House; Talked Turkey; Went Bananas; and Dropped a Bombshell) have slowly descended into more fluff than stuff.

Over the course of the series, we've been introduced to a unique perspective of life in a small town contained in a fairly remote area. Having grown up in a small town, I can relate to all the concepts she presents -- the same 6 names which dominate the town because they are all involved in it to the Nth degree, the distrust of anyone new to the area until they prove themselves, and the roots that run deeper than the core of the earth. Part of that small town vibe is going downtown, everyone knowing you (and your business) and everyone discussing you. In most of the previous books, that has been kept at a minimum and in context with the mystery. In this book, it seems to be the main plot with the mystery being secondary. The shift in focus just doesn't work for me -- and as I can see out here, it doesn't work for most of Ms. Braun's devoted readers either.

(SPOILER ALERT) The epilogue of the interview for the Qwill Pen was just plain lame -- period. Whoever dreamed up that idea should have Cool Koko jump on their head! However, it also made me wonder if this might be a set up tied into the "Late Great" columns he's been doing. As many have speculated, Ms. Braun is well into her 80's (if not older), and I have noted that she does have another book coming out next year entitled The Cat with 60 Whiskers. Perhaps the Epilogue was a pre-curser to the next book being the final one in the series, which would make her the "Late Great" author of the Cat Who ... and Qwill, KoKo and Yum-Yum the "Late Great" characters who gave us a great ride of entertainment all of these years.

As many others, I have been reading this series for years and have enjoyed doing so. This book seems to have lost its stuffing. Usually devoting hours to reading a book, I spent hardly any time at all with this one, leaving me with time to cook supper, do the laundry, wash dishes, and yes, clean the litter boxes.
How does it happen that Homer Tibbett dies and only three words are spoken about it? There is no actual storyline, even when there is murder afoot. Understanding how gutsy "Koko" is, I'm surprised he didn't pounce on "Qwill" trying to get him out of this comfortable, middle-aged rut and contribute to the story.
I will read the next book (glutton for punishment, I guess) in hope that it will actually have a storyline. As for the author, being able to write into one's 90s is quite a feat, but all of these years should have taught her the mystery formula...

I own and have read all of Ms. Braun's "The Cat Who..." books. I am loyal to authors who continue to produce products of enjoyment. To say that I was disappointed in this book is an understatement. As several other reviewers have mentioned, the last three books have not been up to her past standards. My purpose for reading these books has never been for intellectual stimulation; real life offers enough of that. This series was (and I do mean was) an escape to a simpler time and place. I am from a small town; I could relate to the small-town life described. Some of the characters were "familiar" to me. If Ms. Braun is actually responsible for these last three books, I sincerely hope she will stop disappointing her fans. If, in actuality someone(s) else is responsible, get a clue - loyalty only goes so far. Your writing is atrocious; my middle school students could produce better. Why is it so difficult for people to know when to quit? I have seen several different accounts of Ms. Braun's birth year - anywhere from 1910-1916; we can do the math. I hate to give up on something that has provided such a pleasant and anticipated escape for me all these years, but I do not enjoy being taken for a fool.

If you haven't bought the book - don't; check it out from the library. It isn't worth the money you'd spend; to me, it wasn't worth the time to read.

Alas, I must concur with previous reviewers. As yet another Moose County vicarious resident, I was looking forward to the latest escapades of Quill, Koko and Yum Yum. I was hoping for Koko's latest psychic quirk, Yum Yum's latest pilfer, and Quill's latest romantic caper with Polly -- IN DETAIL! The details, along with Braun's wonderful subtle humor, are what have made this series such a success. When I need to escape, I reread one of the books and escape to Pickax. Hithertofore we've gotten wonderful descriptions of what people wear, what people eat, little running gags between characters -- oh, and that wonderful thing called "character development." I don't mind ghostwriters -- so long as they have blood in their veins, passion in their prose, and know their subject. An excellent editor helps, too. Lilian Jackson Braun has created too wonderful a series to have it bomb like this.

It is clear that more than one writer is involved in the assembly of these books, maybe three or four within each book, and clearly, they have not bothered to read the early titles nor are they familiar with Ms Braun's original style. It is too bad the publisher persists with the fraud that that one little lady,now well over 100 if she is indeed around (and if she is,and is writing these books herself with increased senility, more power to her but gee maybe they'd like to update her photo which is the same as it has been for more than 20 years), is still pumping out a mystery novel a year. Those of us who liked the originals keep hoping the vitality will return to the series, as it could if some ghost writer who knows the characters would write it. Instead the errors and inconsistencies crop up in every chapter. WHy the publisher wont own up to the truth is a sin, they are taking money under false pretenses (paging James Frey, maybe this is the kind of fiction you could write; paging Oprah, why not blast LJB on your show?). Just re-read one of the originals; forget these blatant knockoffs. I keep hoping Geraldo or 60 Minutes will rip the lid off this publishing fraud!

I have read every one of Braun's books, but I think it is time for her to put down the pen. The last two have been pitiful.

the 28th book in the Cat Who series is a frustrating one to read. If, like me, you have kept up with the series for its whole length, you will probably like the fact that it revisits old and familiar haunts and people. Koko is back to his familiar tricks (minus the one where he pushes a book off the shelf which contains a clue to the murderer) with both death howls when a foul murder occurs as well as otherwise helping the dense human figure out what is going on. Yum Yum is there as the demure female feline who likes to be petted by only some people. Qwill and Polly's romance is back on line, and various other denizens of Pickax make appearances in familiar roles.

On the other hand, there is also much to dislike about this book. First of all, there is absolutely no mystery about the main murders and who did them. Secondly, there is a series of four deaths that are probably due to foul means yet two of them are simply brushed by. Now, one of those is of a character that had appeared in several previous books and so I was shocked to see that it was practically ignored. Thirdly, while Ms. Braun creates the impression that there were going to be three different sets of crimes, and creates the opportunity for all kinds of plot twists, she basically lets them all fall apart and the ending is completely flat. I mean the book felt like it is unfinished and left to drift off. Maybe she reached the page count goal and simply stopped writing? Fourthly, there are some unbelievable gaffes in the storyline. Can you believe that the fames apple barn is 400,000 sq ft in size? That's not a house, that's bigger than some large factories that I worked in! Next, Homer Tibbit, the town historian dies in this book from natural causes but this does not cause much more of a stir than a passing mention in one of Qwill's tribute columns(???); Finally, how come there are so many very rich families in this town that is "400 miles north of anywhere"? Oh, I know that she writes that there were many mine owners who made money over a century before, but come on! Another family that leaves bequests in the billion (that's right BILLION) dollar range?

This is definitely a quick read, I think I spent maybe two hours on it in total. I believe it is of interest only to those of us who read the series when it was in its prime. Unfortunately, it seems that Ms. Braun has not retained the magic. Too bad.