The Cat Who Lived High (Cat Who..., No 11) [Paperback]

Lilian Jackson Braun (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1991

Jim Qwilleran with his two cats, Yum Yum and KoKo help to solve the mystery case behind the Casablanca apartment buildings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With this 11th entry, the popular Cat Who series ( The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts ) begins to flag, its charms growing tatty and listless for even the most steadfast cat-and-mystery lovers. Ex-newspaperman James "Qwill" Qwilleran and his Siamese Koko and Yum Yum leave Moose County for the big city Down Below to help old friends save the Casablanca, an aging and elegant apartment building threatened with demolition to make way for profitable development. Qwill decides to spend the winter in the Casablanca to determine if it might make a project for the philanthropic Klingenschoen Fund, which he controls. Ensconced in a 14th-floor penthouse, he discovers that its previous tenant, Dianne Bessinger, head of the group trying to save the building, was an art dealer ostensibly murdered by a jealous protegeok . Qwill also plays Scrabble with the building's owner, the eccentric and reclusive Countess; he teaches the game to Koko, who thereby provides him with clues in his investigation of the murder, which he suspects is tied to attempts against the Casablanca. Braun's latest pleases with its descriptions of gentrification and development, but the book ends abruptly, leaving too many loose ends, and central characters Koko and Yum Yum develop no further at all.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-- They're back--the noble Koko, the charmer YumYum--and their wealthy retired owner, Quill. Here, the benevolent benefactor of Moose County packs the Purple Plum--his small, energy-efficient car--with the two inquisitive and endearing Siamese and leaves his cozy home for the winter. This newest addition to the series is a delight that will enchant long-time followers of the irresistible trio as well as first-time readers.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Jove (May 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 051510566X
• ISBN-13: 978-0515105667
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Braun, Lilian Jackson
  • #62 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Cats

More About the Author

Lilian Jackson Braun is the author of twenty-nine bestselling Cat Who . . . novels and three short story collections.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MURDER AT THE CASABLANCA, April 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cat Who Lived High (Cat Who..., No 11) (Paperback)

Great book. In this 11th entry in The Cat Who... series, we get another change of location as Qwill and the cats go back "Down Below" to possibly help save an old apartment building from destruction. I actually was able to pick up some of the clues and knew who didn't commit the murder, but not who did!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meeting of the old and the new, June 16, 2000

By 

Atheen M. Wilson "Atheen" (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cat Who Lived High (Cat Who..., No 11) (Paperback)

I enjoy murder mysteries in general, especially the "who dunnit" type, of which this is one. Since I was also "raised" by a Siamese cat named Impy, and kept in line over my life time by a series of his successors, I especially enjoy this series. The author definitely has an appreciation for the character of the breed. This book is no exception. The antics of KoKo are always a joy and remind me of one of my own early pets, Mr Sin. This particular volume is especially fun as it partakes of some of both of Quill's lives: that of down and out reporter from "Down Under" and that of the recluse multimillionaire from "up North." Since much of the description fits the Minneapolis and Northern Minnesota area from which I come, I also feel a certain resonance with the characters and their settting. The story is an elaborate one with a slightly macabre twist. I actually figured it out because I had a small bit of information from my own experience that helped me do so, but I still found the book a satisfying read

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great start but poor finish, January 14, 2004

By 

Jeanne Tassotto (Trapped in the Midwest) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Cat Who Lived High (Cat Who..., No 11) (Paperback)

The story begins with Moose County's reaction to the death of Jim Qwilleran, heir to the vast Klingenschoen fortune, beloved columnist in the Moose County Something, companion to Koko and Yum Yum and the hero of this series of books. The action then flashes back to the events that led Qwill and the cats to the 'Big City Down Below'. We learn that he had been contacted by a voice from the past, Amberine, one of the Weird Sisters, who was urged by their mutual friend, Mary Duckworth (both featured in The Cat Who Turned On and Off) to ask him to buy and restore the historic Art Deco era Casablanca apartment building. Qwill is both intrigued by the prospect of returning to city life, at least for a time,and eager to escape another long Moose County winter.

After arriving in the city and establishing himself at the Casblanca Qwill begins to catch up with old friends, visit old neighborhoods and delve into the issues surrounding the Casablanca. Of course once Qwill and the cats are on the scene the suicide and murder scandal that had rocked the community a few weeks before is discovered to be even more scandalous than previously thought. In the end Qwill and the cats unravel the plot.

This is one of my least favorite books in the series. The beginning is riveting, the opening scenes of the warnings Qwill receives from his Moose County friends and his re-introduction to city life are all very well done. It is also great for fans of the series to travel back to Junktown and see how it and some of its residents have changed since we last saw them (The Cat Who Turned On and Off and The Cat Who Saw Red). Many of the characters we meet at the Casablanca are also interesting and cause us to hope we will see more of them but about half way through it is as if the author has begun to lose interest in the story. Details are glossed over, things move much quicker until the last couple of chapters seem to be little more than glorified outlines. This book does not have an ending so much as it just ends.

If you are a fan of the series of course you'll want to read this for the news of old friends if nothing else. If you are new to the series do NOT start with this one and if you are just looking for a good mystery, cozy or otherwise, keep looking because this isn't it.