The Cat Who Sniffed Glue

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue by Lilian Jackson Braun is one of the earlier novels in the "Cat Who" series.

Although Qwilleran assures the Chief of Police that his cat cannot solve crimes, KoKo once again proves that a cat's intuition is right on target. It's just the humans who can't quite understand the message.

When a prominent member of Pickaxe society is murdered, along with his bride, the town is stunned. Who? Why? Eager to close the case, the police are satisfied when a carload of young rowdies is killed in a car wreck. Two of the occupants were high on their list of suspects.

But Qwilleran doesn't believe it, so he continues investigating, all the while wondering what KoKo is trying to tell him. Although he denied it to the Chief, he does know that KoKo knows the truth.

Qwill learns the truth in the shocking conclusion – and nearly loses his own life in the bargain.

I always enjoy the "Cat Who" books - they're well written, clean, and entertaining.

This 8th volume of the popular Cat Who series focuses on the production of 'Arsenic and Old Lace' that is being staged by the Moose County Theater Club. The play is cancelled when one of the cast members and his wife are murdered. In typical small town fashion everyone else in the book are related to, had dated, gone to school with, taught, worked with or in someway were related to the couple. Qwill, the richest man in Moose County (which is located 400 miles north of everywhere) and his cats Koko and Yum Yum, are soon on the case. This sleuthing does not come without peril to the trio but in the end they of course solve the crime.
This is a bit more of a mystery than others of the series (at least I didn't figure it out early as I usually do in this series). There is also more violence involving Qwill and the cats than usual. In light of this I think that this would be a better choice for a non Moose County groupie.
For those of us who are fans of the series we get to visit with many of our old friends including Alacoque Wright who was featured in an earlier book. Qwill has also found himself with a surplus of lady friends, a situation that he does not find to his liking! The cats are very much involved in the action here, more directly than in some other books in this series.
The book is divided not into chapters but into acts and scenes like a play.
This is one of the best of the series, both for those who are already fans of the series and those who are not (yet).

Jim Qwilleran, or Qwill, has recently left the big city to move to the city of Pickax in Moose County. Life is good. He is decorating a new space and has a lovely young decorator who seems to making plays for him. This is causing problems for Qwill's relationship with Polly Duncan, the town librarian.

Qwill joined the local theatre group. The play practice is going smoothly until one of the actors is murdered with his wife. Qwill begins to investigate the murder and finds out many new details about Pickax residents and Moose County.

The Cats, Koko and Yum Yum, begin to act strangely. Little does Qwill know they are working behind the scenes to solve a crime and repair a relationship.

I enjoyed this Lilian Jackson Braun novel. I plan to read them all. If you like enjoyable mysteries with cats you will love this book.

As I started this, the eighth book of this series I found that the author had decided to use a slightly different tact from that of her previous books. At the beginning of each chapter there are what amounts to stage directions that tell the reader about the location of the action to come and the characters involved. For someone who jumps into the series with this book these directions might be helpful but I found them very distracting.

The story itself revolves around the murder of the scion of a local family of bankers and his wife, of whom the family did not approve. Everyone immediately assumes that a gang of local hoodlums committed the murder but Jim Qwilleran is not so sure about that. By the time the dust has settled, Braun has killed off seven residents of Moose County as she continues to thin the population of this remote area. Through it all, Qwilleran senses that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye but he continually overlooks the clues that his cat Koko is trying to give him. To add to Qwilleran's woes, Yum Yum is behaving strangely and he is having serious women troubles.

The mystery is a little heavier in this book than in the previous installments and the clues are much harder to read. Until the very end, neither the reader nor Qwilleran will know whom the killer or killers are despite Koko's clues. It all just seems so improbable. Still, since the mysteries in these books are secondary to the story of Jim Qwilleran, his cats and the people of Moose County the odd solution to this particular mystery is not too disappointing. The reader should also be wary of fake leads that appear throughout this story.

As is normal for these cat books, the characters are very well developed and interesting. Most of the people to be found in this book have shown up before but we are introduced to the bookseller Eddington Smith, who like Barney Fife carries a pistol with no bullets. We are also introduced to Smith's cat Winston, who dusts the booksellers inventory with his tail. Also intriguing is the bottled water Qwilleran likes so much and the reason that is finally given for it's pleasant taste.

Lilian Jackson Braun can weave a story like few other authors. Her mysteries are light and entertaining with just a little sex rolled in to keep things interesting. Even if you aren't a mystery buff, once you start reading this series you will not be able to stop because you will get very attached to the people and the cats. If there were really a Moose County I think that I would move there.

. . . try their hand at theater! The "K" mansion has burned down, and Qwill decides to donate the property to the theater club. Unfortunately, just before the first big show (Arsnic and Old Lace) the body of the one of the prominent members of the community is found, along with his new wife. Will Qwill and the cats be able to solve this one? Or will the murderer get off scot free?

There is a lot of good to be said for this installment of "The Cat Who . . .) series. We are re-introduced to an interesting character from "The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern" and to a charming new character, Eddington, the eccentric used book dealer. Arch Riker, Iris Cobb, and of course, Polly all have roles to play as well.

As an interesting note, the book is not divided into chapters, but rather into scenes and acts -- all part of the "theater" theme.

For fans of the series, this is one of the better ones.

Lilian Jackson Braun (June 20, 1913 - June 4, 2011) was an American writer, well known for her light-hearted series of "The Cat Who..." mystery novels. The "Cat Who" books center around the life of former newspaper reporter, James Qwilleran, and his two Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum-Yum, in the fictitious small town of Pickax located in Moose County "400 miles north of everywhere." Although never formally stated in her books, the towns, counties and lifestyles described in the series are generally accepted to be modeled after Bad Axe, Michigan, where Braun resided with her husband until the mid-1980s

I have just started to enrich myself in her great stories. I have read around five or six of her books. The reason that "That Cat Who Sniffed Glue" intrigue me because of the style of the book was in different form like it was a play.
The scenario seemed to flow through the pages. I also enjoyed how she divided into two parts or sort of gave time to review what happened in the first part.
I love all the unique style of names in the books. The cats are terrific even though their mischevious they are just sorting out important clues. I love how Jim Qwilleran puts the facts in the scenes of how the crime was solved. The End

Another interesting mystery with Qwilleran, the middle-aged news writer turned millionaire and his Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum. I listen to this series on my way to work since they are so light and enjoyable.
Qwilleran's mansion in Pickax has a famous library filled with antique and rare books. This time Koko becomes fascinated with them because of the glue used on the binding. Koko becomes obsessed with the smell of glue of any kind. As usual Koko's behavior helps Qwilleran solve the mystery...

After reading a complex volume or when in need of a little quiet therapy, I go to visit Qwill in Pickax. The Cat Who...books are all imaginative and funny, as well as clean and well-written. They are not earth shattering works, but more like a portal to a place that feels like home.
The cat who sniffed glue is no exception. I feel that this is one of the strongest books in the series, with an excellent and professional plot.
I do hope you'll get to know the characters in Moose County, and enjoy them as much as I do. None of the Cat Who books disappoint!

"The Cat Who Sniffed Glue" follows in its typically serial vein with the usual fluffy fodder of feline fancies, but enhanced with a more sinister plot. While most assuredly not bordering on lurid, it is a welcome spin on the usual "Cat Who..." entertainments. Written as a play, it is piquantly refreshing due to familiar characters but change of setting, hosting the thrillingly suspenseful atmosphere of the theatre. "The Cat Who Sniffed Glue" rises above preceeding installments with Braun's usual wit and the perpetual fascination of whodunit. Delightfully cunning!

Number 8 in "The Cat Who ... " series. Like in the last book, a family seems ill-fated. When a man and woman are killed, the police think the motive was robbery, but Qwill digs beneath the surface and uncovers some shocking skeletons in the Fitch family's closets. The ending will probably come as a surprise!