After inheriting millions of dollars, former crime reporter Jim Qwilleran has started to make the far-north town of Pickax home. When a prominent local man dies, Qwilleran can't help but question whether or not it was really an accident. And is there a connection to the sudden rash of fires in the small town?

There is so much tragedy and loss in this book, it's a little heavier than other recent entries in the series. It was good to see some of the characters from previous books, like Hixie Rice from The Cat Who Saw Red, though not necessarily good to see her luck hasn't really changed. To be fair, it isn't as bad as poor Mrs. Cobb's luck with men. One thing is for sure—Braun does not let things stagnate in this series; one can never get too comfortable with anything, as it could change at any time.

I liked this book but not as much as the several preceding it. Part of my issue was that I was thrown off by the mention of Qwill having already lived in Pickax for over a year? Apparently a lot of time had passed between this book and the previous, or I'm remembering the previous one wrong, but I was really confused for a while and felt like I'd missed something. There is also a lot of off-mystery story in this one that I didn't feel were particularly interesting or worth including. Maybe it was meant to add some red herrings to the main mystery, but it felt detached to me. Still, I'm really into the series now and looking forward to reading more. ( )

This is a reread of an audio book that I listened to and loved back in the 1990's, this time I read the ebook. Hardly no mystery but great characters and the series just keeps getting better and better. ( )

I have read every one of Lilian Jackson Braun's CAT WHO series -- many, many years ago. I really enjoyed the ability to escape into this wonderful little community with James Qwilleran and the adventures of Koko. It almost made me want a cat... I'm still a dog lover though. ( )

This 7th entry of the adventures of former newsman Jim Qwilleran and his amazing siamese cats, Koko and YumYum, finds him settling into life as the wealthiest resident of Moose County.

A key event in the story: Jim has completed his plan to turn the fabulous, treasure-filled Klingenschoen mansion into a part-time museum, available for tours and private events. He still spends days there but prefers the cozy apartment he had created over the four car garage. The museum is soon to be open to the public, and a gala is planned.

This one moved at a leisurely pace, and there wasn't a hugely compelling mystery. It seems to be more about getting to know the characters and the setting. We find out more about the townspeople and the quirks of life in this place "400 miles north of everywhere." For example, Qwill doesn't take the winter weather warning seriously enough and is almost killed as a result. I enjoyed the passages where Qwill interviews the town's old timers on tape, to preserve their memories; and the troubled history of the local newspaper, the Pickaxe Picayune.

In terms of personal info, we learn that Qwill finally quit drinking when he fell off the platform onto the subway tracks. Also he's now established as "in his 50's." (So, he had a good run - he was 45 from 1968 when the series started, until at least 1987.) The unlucky-in-love Hixie Rice from "...Saw Red" has moved to Pickax with her chef boyfriend and is managing the Grist Mill restaurant. On the romance front I got my wish and Melinda Goodwinter is no longer his girlfriend; instead he is dating Polly, the town librarian. Mrs. Cobb, his housekeeper, mentions how glad she is that he's dating someone age-appropriate. I know from reading the books out of order that Polly sticks around for quite awhile. Mrs. Cobb also gets a boyfriend, with unexpected results.

As the title implies, there are many references to Shakespeare. Koko has taken to pushing volumes of plays off the shelves, and his selections would have saved a lot of grief if Qwill had been paying attention. The most sad and tragic figure in the novel is quite a surprise - not a who, but a what.

Originally published: 1988

Body Count: 5 Senior Goodwinter (murder disguised as a car accident); Gritty Goodwinter and Mr. Noyton (actual car accident); Antoine, Hixie's unseen chef boyfriend (freezes to death in her car, which he has stolen in an attempt to flee to Canada); the Herb Hackpole formerly known as Basil Whittlestaff (fatally successful arson)

Preceded by: The Cat Who Played Post Office

Next Up: The Cat Who Sniffed Glue ( )

So slow at the beginning. Not the pace I was expecting and the lack of emotions from the characters toward the developments of the story was irritating. Very little character development except for a handful of characters. Honestly, I was disappointed at the way the mystery turned out. ( )