The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal

I typically read the "Cat Who. . ." books when I need some light reading, such as at an airport or when waiting for a car repair. As such, "The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal" served its purpose very well. The mystery itself is passably interesting (a murdered school principal) and it's fun to follow along as Qwill visits his way around the town of Pickax and neighboring Lockmaster, sleuthing his way to discovering 'whodunit'. It's not great literature or anything, but effective at helping to pass the time.

Sometimes I wonder why Qwill has to be so negative about everything. If he were a real person, I doubt whether I would want to be that great of a friend of his. Lillian Braun writes his attitude to be that he is always wonderful, and everyone else grows boring and tiresom. Instead it is Qwill who grows boring and tiresom. In the later books, this deficiency is corrected, but when I go back and read the earlier books, I always wonder where Qwill gets off.
As with all the books, Qwill and Koko find the killer in the end, though Qwill's life is put in grave danger to do so. There is a little character development, especially in the relationship between Qwill and Polly, and we learn a little more about Bushy the photographer and Derek Cuttlebrink finally comes into play.
Over all, it is a necessary book to read if you are intent on reading the series, but you could probably skip it.

This twelfth "Cat Who ..." mystery is terrific. I've read them all from the first and they keep getting better. I was really impressed with this one. Good characters, interesting plot twists. But I definitely wouldn't want to live in Moose County - they must have a really high murder rate since Qwill moved in!!!

Another enjoyable quick reading mystery story by Lilian Jackson Braun featuring Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum. In this episode, Hilary VanBrook, the disliked Principle of PickAx is found murdered in Qwilleran's orchard the morning after a cast party is thrown. Koko was the one to find the body and Qwilleran begins to piece together the clues. A cardinal singing outside the window holds the key to the suspect.

This series is so enjoyable, I'm listening to them on audiobook and I love the interesting plot which really centers around the people and is not that much about the mystery. You enjoy the characters and how Koko helps Qwill figure out each crime. It's a feel-good mystery series that I highly reccomend.

I really think that Lillian Jackson Braun enjoys the color red.
This is the second book of hers that I have read, and the plot thickened because of the color red!
This was a great book. I loved it so much it took me two days to read! VanBrook is a mean principal and director with many mysteries. When he is found dead in Qwill's apple orchard, shot in the back of the head, it takes Qwill's brilliant sleuthing (and a little help from Koko and Yum Yum) to uncover this Man of Mystery's secret murderer!
This book takes you on a dectective's delight through rabbits, horses, cardinals, and, of course, cats. I suggest you read this wonderful book!

classic the Cat Who with every aspect you need....crime of murder, a hint of love with Qwill and chief woman in his life, the local color and characters of Pick Axe, and the playful and intriguing nature of the Siamese..............loved it......so will you

I like this book because you would never suspect who the killer actually is. It was exciting all the way through the book. Now since I've read this book I'm thinking about reading all the other Cat Who mysteries.