Book Review: The Cat Who Smelled a Rat

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Cat Who Smelled a Rat     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lilian Jackson Braun
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Cats
Series: Cat Who . . . # 23
Putnam, Feb 2001, $23.95, 240 pp.

Everyone in Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere, is waiting for the Big One, the first gigantic snowstorm of the season. It has been a hot dry summer with many brushfires occurring, especially near the stack houses aligning the ten abandoned mines.

Newspaper columnist and philanthropist Jim Qwilleran thinks it is strange that the fires seem so concentrated in one spot. His two felines, Koko and Yum Yum agree. Koko always uses her extrasensory abilities to alert Jim before a catastrophe occurs. The cat has already predicted two of the fires and gives out a howl when someone shoots a fire patrol volunteer. When a volunteer on fire patrol watch is murdered, Jim and his associates begin to investigate.

Fans of "The Cat Who" mysteries will want to read Lilian Jackson Braun's latest cute cozy, THE CAT WHO SMELLED A RAT. This novel targets an audience who wants no graphic violence in their literature while the felines' antics will warm the hearts of pet lovers. The twenty-fourth novel in this long running series retains the preciousness of all its predecessors and hopefully the author will provide her audience with another twenty-four novels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner