Title: The Cat Who Went Underground
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
First published March 22, 1989
281 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 3.93
Overview
Jim Qwilleran, the owner of two beloved Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, heads to his log cabin in Moose County for a relaxing summer vacation. However, things take a dark turn when a handyman hired to fix up the cabin goes missing, and Koko and Yum Yum stumble upon not one, but two dead bodies.
As suspicions begin to point towards Qwilleran, Koko takes matters into his own paws and sets out to uncover the truth. With his feline intuition and sharp mind, Koko must solve the mystery before it’s too late.
Will he be able to clear Qwilleran’s name and reveal the true culprit behind the gruesome crimes?
About the Author
Lilian Jackson Braun, a celebrated American author, is best known for her charming series of mystery novels called The Cat Who… These books revolve around the life of James Qwilleran, a former newspaper reporter, and his two Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum in the make-believe small town of Pickax located in Moose County, which is said to be modeled after Bad Axe, Michigan where Braun lived with her husband until the mid-1980s. Although the books never explicitly mention this, readers believe that the towns, counties, and cultures described in the series are inspired by the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Braun’s writing career started early when she contributed sports poetry as a teenager. Later, she worked as an advertising copywriter for several department stores in Detroit.
She also served as the “Good Living” editor at the Detroit Free Press for three decades before retiring in 1978. Braun published three novels, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and The Cat Who Turned On and Off, between 1966 and 1968, which received critical acclaim.
The New York Times labeled her “the new detective of the year” in 1966. However, she disappeared from the publishing scene for 18 years as the mystery genre shifted towards sex, violence, and foul language.
Braun’s light-hearted books were no longer in demand. It wasn’t until 1986 that the Berkley Publishing Group brought her back with the publication of The Cat Who Saw Red.
Within two years, Berkeley released four new novels in paperback and reprinted the three mysteries from the sixties, which became instant bestsellers. The twenty-ninth novel in the series, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, was released in hardcover by the Penguin Group in January 2007.
Braun was a private person, and not much is known about her personal life. Inaccurate accounts of her year of birth were published until she revealed her true age in an interview with the Detroit News in January 2005.
Editoral Review
The Cat Who Went Underground: A Review
Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who Went Underground is a cozy mystery novel published on March 22, 1989. It is part of Braun’s famous “The Cat Who” series.
Braun, who passed away in 2011, was an American writer famous for her mysteries that featured the investigative skills of the journalist James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. The series has inspired a legion of fans and critics who appreciate Braun’s clever plotting, lively wit, and vivid storytelling.
The Cat Who Went Underground features Qwilleran and his feline friends as they journey to Moose County, where they vacation in a rustic cabin during the winter. However, the peace and quiet of the remote location are disrupted when a series of mysterious accidents occur.
Qwilleran begins to investigate, using his journalistic instincts to uncover the truth behind the suspicious incidents. Meanwhile, Koko and Yum Yum add their own unique talents to the quest for justice.
The novel combines elements of a traditional whodunit with the charm of a cozy mystery. The setting of Moose County is vividly described, evoking a sense of isolation and rugged beauty.
The characters are quirky, endearing, and memorable, with Koko stealing the show with his keen intuition and mischief. The mystery itself is well crafted, with red herrings and plot twists that keep the reader guessing until the end.
However, while the novel is entertaining and engaging, it does suffer from some flaws. The pacing can be slow, with some scenes dragging on longer than necessary.
Additionally, the characterizations can be somewhat shallow, lacking the depth and nuance of more literary works. Finally, some readers may find the cozy format too light or predictable, with few surprises or challenging themes.
Despite these limitations, The Cat Who Went Underground is a delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries and cat lovers alike. It provides a cozy escape to a simpler time and place, with charming characters and a satisfying mystery.
The novel can also be viewed as a commentary on the changing nature of small-town life, as Moose County grapples with the challenges of modernization and development. This theme has resonated with readers across the decades, as many communities continue to navigate the tensions between tradition and progress.
Overall, The Cat Who Went Underground receives a score of 7 out of 10. While it may not be a literary masterpiece or groundbreaking work of genre fiction, it remains an enjoyable and well-crafted novel that has stood the test of time.
Recommended for readers who crave a cozy mystery with a dash of feline companionship.
