The Cat Who Turned On and Off [Paperback]

Lilian Jackson Braun (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cat Who... | Publication Date: December 1, 1986

Qwilleran and Koko, the beautiful Siamese cat, are back on the mystery beat. When a mysterious fall ends the life of one of Junktown's leading citizens, Qwilleran is convinced it was no accident. And Koko is about to prove him right. Reissue.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lilian Jackson Braun began writing her Cat Who... detective series when one of her own Siamese cats mysteriously fell to its death from her apartment block. She and her husband, Earl, live in the mountains of North Carolina. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jove (December 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515087947
• ISBN-13: 978-0515087949
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Braun, Lilian Jackson
  • #59 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

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Those Magisterial Cats, April 4, 2005

By 

Dennis Phillips "The Book Friar" (Bulls Gap, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cat Who Turned On and Off (Paperback)

In this, the third offering in this series we find that our hero Jim Qwilleran has a new assignment with the Daily Fluxion. In the second book we saw him change assignments but for some reason there is no explanation for this change. Whatever the reason, Qwilleran is now a feature writer and has decided to do all that he can to win a writing contest sponsored by the Fluxion because he could really use the prize money to move out of the third-rate hotel he and his cats are occupying. A taxi driver mentions an area called Junktown to the writer who assumes that it is a high traffic narcotics area. That is just the kind of story that an old crime reporter can sink his teeth in to but alas, Qwilleran finds out that Junktown is really an antiquing area filled with junk stores.

Reluctantly Qwilleran heads out for Junktown and quickly finds himself intrigued with the area and it's colorful collection of characters. The development of quirky and fun characters is an area in which this author excels and she may have outdone herself with this group. He also finds that a prominent Junker recently died in what the police have called an accident but the veteran reporter's mustache tells him that it was no accident. Soon, Qwilleran is not only involved with the people of Junktown but he rents an apartment from one of the junk dealers and he and the cats move right in. The stories that he is generating from Junktown please his editor and he thinks that there is a good chance he will win the paper's prize money. But all the while he is still working to solve the mystery of the junk dealer's death.

Shortly after his arrival in Junktown, Qwilleran's landlord is killed in an apparent fall while scrounging for goodies in an abandoned house that is about to be torn down. Again the police call it an accident and again Qwilleran is not so sure that it was accidental. Finally the cats do their thing and the whole case is cleared up but not before the cats once again save Qwilleran's life.

This book, unlike it's predecessors is a little light on the mystery angle until the end of the book but as before, the clues are there all through the story. The reporter and the readers just seem to let them slip right by. Finally however, the reporter and the reader will began to put two and two together and figure out that there is definitely something fishy in Junktown.

Once again Lilian Jackson Braun has produced a delightfully lighthearted mystery that I suspect any mystery lover will fall in love with. If you don't fall in love with the story you will assuredly fall in love with Koko and Yum Yum, super cats par excellence.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful listen!, August 25, 2004

By 

NewMichele "Michele" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cat Who Turned on and Off (Audio Cassette)

I purchased this book on audiocassette and, as someone who enjoys both murder mysteries and cats, enjoyed it thoroughly. The author certainly is a cat person, and she spices the whodunit with humorous cat incidents. Each "kitty break" brought a smile to my face. It's also nice to enjoy a family-friendly story for a change.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reporter/sleuth solves a mystery with help of feline friend., November 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cat Who Turned On and Off (Paperback)

Certainly one of the best in the Cat series, and one of the earliest. Qwilleran and his feline companion Koko take on Junktown, an antique dealers' section of the city which has fallen into ruin and (eeekkk!!) murder. While living in Junktown, Mr. Q soaks up the local color, writes an award-winning documentary and solves a curious murder with the help of his faithful and brilliant sidekick Koko, and KoKo's favorite feline Yum Yum. Harkens back to the early series (pre-millionaire) phase of Mr. Q's career as a reporter/sleuth with lots of colorful characters, antique-collecting/urban renewal, and a delightful mystery. Very enjoyable reading!!