The world of modern art is a mystery to many. But for Jim Qwilleran, it turns into a mystery of another sort when his assignment to the art beat for The Daily Fluxion leads down the path to murder. A stabbing in an art gallery, vandalized paintings, a fatal fall from a scaffolding--this is not at all what Qwilleran expects when he turns his reportorial talents to art. But Qwilleran and his newly found partner, Koko the brilliant Siamese, are back in their element--sniffing out clues and confounding criminals intent on mayhem and murder.
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (Cat Who...)
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
The first book in Braun's beloved "Cat Who" series is being reissued in hardcover after a wait of over 30 years.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
A new hardcover edition (after Dutton's in 1966) of the first in a series that now totals 19 (The Cat Who Tailed a Thief, 1997, etc.). Here, Braun introduces Jim Qwilleran, a prizewinning reporter who's been on the skids but is now coming back with a job as feature writer (mostly on the art scene) for the Daily Fluxion. George Bonifield Mountclemens, the paper's credentialed art critic, writes almost invariably scathing, hurtful reviews of local shows; delivers his pieces by messenger; lives with his all-knowing cat Koko in a lushly furnished house in a moldering neighborhood, and has a raft of enemies all over town. He offers the newcomer a tiny apartment in his building at a nominal rent, and Qwilleran grabs it, surmising the deal will involve lots of cat-sitting. Meanwhile, a gallery whose artists get happier treatment from Mountclemens is owned by Earl Lambreth. The acerbic critic has praised paintings there by a reclusive Italian named Scrano; the junk assemblages of Nino, who calls himself a ``Thingist,'' as well as works by Lambreth's attractive wife Zoe. It's Zoe who, one night past closing, finds her husband stabbed to death in the vandalized gallery. Days later, Qwilleran, guided by an insistent Koko, finds Mountclemens's knifed corpse on the patio behind his house. It takes a while to put the meandering pieces together and to uncover an overriding motive behind the mayhem, but the best things here are Qwilleran's low-keyed charisma and the author's well- aimed, often funny barbs at the pretensions of the contemporary art world--as on-target today as they were some 30 years ago. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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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
65 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have been a Lilian Braun fan for so long I've managed to forget most of the stories, which is a perfect excuse to start rereading them. "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" is the first, written in 1966, starting a series that has run for over thirty years. Unlike most if the series, which takes place in the northern town of Pickaxe. These early books cover Jim Qwilleran's career urban career Down Below, working for the Daily Fluxion. While Qwill had once been a highly respected crime reporter, he had fallen victim to his drinking habits. Now, once again sober, he has accepted a job as art feature writer for the Fluxion, which already has the cities most controversial art critic - George Bonifield Mountclemens (the Third).
Other than the minor drawback of knowing nothing about art, Qwill is anxious to start. He quickly dives into the city's thriving art world, and discovers that all is not roses and harmony. Mountclemens is universally unpopular among most of the artists and galleries and is noted for scathing reviews. Cal Halapay, the first artist interviewed is one of Mountclemens victims, and almost all the artists Qwill meets have endures similar treatment. In addition, the city's artists are fiercely competitive. So it comes as a surprise that the first murder of the novel is not Mountclemens, but Earl Lambreth, the owner of the city's poshest gallery.
Despite Mountclemens' reputation, Qwill finds that he likes him. More important to readers of the series, Mountclemens' cat, Kao K'o-Kung, takes a liking to Qwilleran. Koko, as he become known, is "The Cat Who...", without whom few of Qwill's mysteries would ever get solved. Also introduced in this volume are many of the wonderful characters that go one to people many of Lilian Braun's efforts.
... Read more ›24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
My wife is a great lover of mystery books and she has been hounding me for a long time to read some of the books in the "Cat Who" series. I finally gave in and found that I enjoyed this first book of the series very much. Unlike many mystery novels this book is light reading with no sex, violence or profanity and the plot is not so laden with details that the reader gets bogged down with them. The plot is in fact just a little too light in some instances but I was so enthralled with the characters that I hardly noticed.
The best thing about this book is the author's engaging style of writing. Even without the kind of plot that draws the reader completely into the story the writing style makes this book hard to put down. Furthermore, the characters are so fun and realistic that the reader will quickly become attached to them, which is a trait quite necessary for a long running series like this one.
The primary human character is Jim Qwilleran, a top-notch investigative reporter who has apparently spent years in the newspaper business but because of his problems with alcohol has run out of job options. Having cleaned up his act he finds himself with a job offer from the Daily Fluxion but to his dismay finds that he will be covering the art scene for the features department. Soon he finds himself immersed in the art community, which is full of some very odd characters that don't like each other at all. Most importantly he meets his own paper's art critic whom almost nobody likes, including the bartender at the press club. It seems that the only being that likes the critic is his cat Kao K'o-Kung who also takes up with Qwilleran. Kao K'o-Kung or Koko for short is the cat of which the title speaks and he is an amazing cat indeed.... Read more ›
The best thing about this book is the author's engaging style of writing. Even without the kind of plot that draws the reader completely into the story the writing style makes this book hard to put down. Furthermore, the characters are so fun and realistic that the reader will quickly become attached to them, which is a trait quite necessary for a long running series like this one.
The primary human character is Jim Qwilleran, a top-notch investigative reporter who has apparently spent years in the newspaper business but because of his problems with alcohol has run out of job options. Having cleaned up his act he finds himself with a job offer from the Daily Fluxion but to his dismay finds that he will be covering the art scene for the features department. Soon he finds himself immersed in the art community, which is full of some very odd characters that don't like each other at all. Most importantly he meets his own paper's art critic whom almost nobody likes, including the bartender at the press club. It seems that the only being that likes the critic is his cat Kao K'o-Kung who also takes up with Qwilleran. Kao K'o-Kung or Koko for short is the cat of which the title speaks and he is an amazing cat indeed.... Read more ›
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Movie-Maven
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I stumbled upon the "Cat Who" series of books when I picked up a very yellowed copy of "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" from a book-sharing box at work. I found the book (and all it's subsequent mysteries) delightful, devouring one each every evening after work. They're easy reads and safe for adolescents as they're not filled with gore, sex or profanity.
As a cat-lover and multiple-cat-owner, I found Mr. Q's and Koko's adventures especially entertaining. I don't know how many whiskers my cats have (they never sit long enough to let me count them) but I'll accept that Koko is a remarkable cat!
After reading this first book in the series I was hooked! I read every subsequent "Cat Who" mystery in order and am eagerly awaiting the release of the newest one next month. Though one can certainly read these books out of order, I think it's easier to remember who the characters are as they reappear in subsequent books in the series. I enjoyed following along, episode by episode, to see how things unfold.
Turns out this first book was originally published in the sixties. I found a lot of the references to now-extinct items and practices charming. I remember clackity typewriters and people smoking at their desks at work back then. This book reflects the times, as Mr. Q unabashidly loves to look at pretty ladies and admires the dimples in their knees (how very un-PC)!
I've noticed that the photo of Ms. Braun on the back cover of recently published editions in the series is the same as that on my 1960's copy. Either Ms. Braun is nearly 100 now and actively writing, or someone has picked up the reins as ghost-writer. If so, it's been done seamlessly and the new stories have the same style as the old except there are now cell phones and computers while Mr.... Read more ›
As a cat-lover and multiple-cat-owner, I found Mr. Q's and Koko's adventures especially entertaining. I don't know how many whiskers my cats have (they never sit long enough to let me count them) but I'll accept that Koko is a remarkable cat!
After reading this first book in the series I was hooked! I read every subsequent "Cat Who" mystery in order and am eagerly awaiting the release of the newest one next month. Though one can certainly read these books out of order, I think it's easier to remember who the characters are as they reappear in subsequent books in the series. I enjoyed following along, episode by episode, to see how things unfold.
Turns out this first book was originally published in the sixties. I found a lot of the references to now-extinct items and practices charming. I remember clackity typewriters and people smoking at their desks at work back then. This book reflects the times, as Mr. Q unabashidly loves to look at pretty ladies and admires the dimples in their knees (how very un-PC)!
I've noticed that the photo of Ms. Braun on the back cover of recently published editions in the series is the same as that on my 1960's copy. Either Ms. Braun is nearly 100 now and actively writing, or someone has picked up the reins as ghost-writer. If so, it's been done seamlessly and the new stories have the same style as the old except there are now cell phones and computers while Mr.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Everyone should read "The Cat Who..." series. They are great little mysteries. No blood, guts, or detailed sex scenes. Great!
Published 19 days ago by Naomi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rediscovering a great series
My plan is to read every book in the series, as I did years ago, and have just finished the first one. Read more
Published 1 month ago by L. M. Beyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Koko's supernatural abilities
Koko had been hinting at who was the murderer througout the whole book. From when we discovered Kao Ko Kung could read backwards he read something about murder looked at... Read more
Published 1 month ago by linda.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Introduction
In the beginning I wondered why I wanted to re-read this series again. I was bored. But then it came together and I realized Braun had successfully laid the foundation for James... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Betty Nola
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked the book
I have to get used to her style of writing. It didn't end the way I thought it should. I was looking for more pages.
Published 2 months ago by Lewis Tawney
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards...
I've got the entire collection of "The Cat Who.." books by Lillian Jackson Braun. There are 20+ books in the series, so that should say how much I enjoyed her writing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Carla Fabian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
I really enjoyed this book. I liked story and the idea of Koko the detective. The ending was a real surprise I hope the rest of her books are as good.
Published 2 months ago by Charlene
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everybody who loves mysterys love the "THE CAT WHO"
Read the series two times years ago. They are just as good on my Kindle now that I can't see small type.
Published 4 months ago by donald taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love Kao Ko Kung!
He's a witty and smart cat! i started to read the books when i was bout 13 im now 23 and i still am downloading these books on my kindle to read! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Leighann
5.0 out of 5 stars
A winner for a good read
Loved this book. I'm sort of reading the series backwards myself and it's great fun and discovery. Interesting to learn a bit about newspapers and other areas within the settings... Read more
Published 5 months ago by SadieShares
