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The Cat Who Mysteries

© Terrie Lynn Bittner

Cozy mystery fans are picky about their books. They want great characters first of all, and then an entertaining plot. The Cat Who series, by Lilian Jackson Braun, is an outstanding example of the cozy at its best. It is one of the few cozies featuring a male sleuth, James Quilleran, better known as Quill or Mr. Q. He is the proud caretaker for two pampered Siamese cats, Koko, a brilliant detective in his own right, and cute and cuddly Yum Yum. The books are mostly family friendly and can usually be safely given to younger teens, although you will want to read them first. Sexuality is hinted at on occasion, but not expressed or shown. Violence is generally minimal. There are some occasional unnerving bits of information in a few earlier books.

Ms. Braun is rumored to have been born in 1926, but like most proper ladies, refuses to confirm or deny this date. She began her publishing career at the age of sixteen, writing on baseball using a male pen name. She later worked for the Detroit Free Press, giving her the background for Quill's early journalism career. Her first short story was therapy after her cat fell from a tenth story window, possibly murdered by another tenant. Writing about cats appealed to her and eventually led to one of mystery's most popular series.

She wrote three books in her series and then stopped for eighteen years because she was unwilling to put into her writing the sex and violence that was becoming so popular in the 1960s. In 1986, husband Earl Bettinger, an actor, read her books and encouraged her to begin writing them again. She did, and despite her insistence on ignoring the even more determined trend toward sex and violence, she has maintained her standards and succeeded. Her books are highly literate, with a large vocabulary and a focus on literature, particularly Shakespeare, art, classical music and other intellectual pursuits. For this reason, they appeal to educated readers looking for a brain-challenging puzzle.

Braun's genius for creating fascinating characters is her real strength. Quill is so interesting that one could happily follow him around all day without ever worrying about a plot. In fact, you could follow Koko the cat around all day for the same reason. Who isn't interested in a cat who can read and play the piano? Braun has not entirely given into this temptation, although characterization grows in importance in later books. She surrounds Quill with eccentric people and turns him loose to solve the town's growing crime problems.

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