| Title | : | The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (Cat Who..., #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0747250359 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780747250357 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1967 |
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (Cat Who..., #2) Reviews
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Background
The summer after I graduated from college, I started missing regular reading... during school, I had less personal choice and recreational reads, as all the college textbooks and novels were the priority. I was an English major and rarely had time for adding in my own particular interests. The last course I had taken was an independent study that one of my professors and I had built the curriculum on together: Murder Mysteries. I learned all about the genres and sub-genres, authors and styles. One in particular I grew fond of was the cozy mystery. I also had a thing about wanting a Siamese cat. And so... my love affair with
Lilian Jackson Braun began. Finding myself without required reading, I selected a few books, including this cozy mystery series, and I read through a huge amount in the first few years.
Review
People either love or dislike the cozy mystery book. Sometimes it's too simple. I get that. But sometimes, it's exactly what you want to read before bed, when you need to relax, or because it's just fun and charming humor and easy story.
Braun started writing in 1960s and published a few of these books, then stopped writing for 25 years before re-igniting the series in the 1980s... producing another 25+ in the collection. This is book number two, and it is where Qwill, the main character, adopts his second Siamese cat when its owner... for reasons I cannot disclose... can no longer care for YumYum. And thus begins the life of these 3 primary characters in the entire series.
Qwill is a really likable character. He's about 60, a bit ornery, highly intelligent, very set in his ways, and the object of every woman over 60 in town. There are less male protagonists in cozy novels than female leads, which make this a bit of a unique series. It was one of the very first series that put the cozy sub-genre on the market. And the world that Braun creates in Moose County is just amazing.
In this book, Qwill hasn't yet moved to Moose County, so you're still learning background about him and his prior life before becoming sober and everything changing post divorce. And he's asked to write a story and column about home design, something he has very little knowledge of.
It's a very cute story with a cast of strong characters, a few of which move with him to Moose County along the path. This book establishes his relationship with the two cats, including their extra-strong senses when it comes to helping him solve crimes.
Yes, the cats come up a lot. Always funny. But the mystery is the focus, I promise. It's worth a shot to see if you're hooked on the series, but if you do... you have to read the first 3 or 4, so you can see his initial move to Moose Country where 90% of the books take place.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at
https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
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So, the return of Koko and Jim, sees them embroiled in the interior decorating business, and learning never to say drapes. Clues abound as Jim ably assisted by Koko set up a new magazine and surreptitiously investigate a theft and a murder.
Koko, is as ever on the ball and Jim’s moustache quivers at red herrings and false leads. All in all another enjoyable cozy cat detective novel. -
Book on CD performed by George Guidall
3***
Book two in the “Cat Who” cozy mystery series, starring journalist James Qwilleran and his Siamese Koko. Much to his chagrin, Qwill has been assigned to write pieces for a new interior design magazine insert for the Fluxion. There’s a tight deadline so he asks a couple of leading interior designers for a lead and goes to the home of a wealthy jade collector and his invalid wife. The home itself is interesting, but the jade collection is spectacular. Unfortunately, right after the story is published there is a burglary at the featured abode, and the wife dies of an apparent heart attack. Qwilleran doesn’t believe the article – or a stranger – was to blame and he begins to look into things.
I like this series, set in an unnamed northern-midwest city (possibly in Michigan, which is where the author lived). I like the way Qwill ferrets out information, and how he’s beginning to notice that his cat is quite astute. Love the dictionary game they play! The plot is full of twists and turns, as well as a colorful assortment of characters, good and bad. Photographer Odd Bunsen is an able sidekick.
I also like that Braun doesn’t anthropomorphize Koko. He’s a cat and behaves like a cat, though he has an uncanny ability to provide clues – like coughing up a bit of fabric, or insisting that Qwill retrieve his toy mouse from under a piece of furniture, where the journalist happens to also find a single gold earring.
I also like that the time frame is before internet or cell phones and old-fashioned detecting is required to solve the case. Qwill’s journalism background provides a great framework.
George Guidall does a reasonably good job of performing the audio. There’s something about his delivery though … perhaps he sounds jaded or bored? … that initially put me off, but once I let myself focus on the plot I didn’t notice this so much. -
This was a cute cozy mystery. All I remembered from the previous book was quill and koko's twitching moustache/whiskers. Odd Bunsen's antics were hilarious, hope he continues to entertain just the same throughtout the series. The mystery was quite intriguing, I tried very hard to pin the killer and motive but I failed. And we're introduced to the second cat, yum yum, who becomes a part an integral part of the series in the upcoming books. That said, this is definitely a series I'm going to continue.
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In this second book, Qwilleran is back, now the official owner of the amazing Siamese cat named Koko, whose owner was murdered. This time Jim's beat is...interior design. Tasked with producing a weekly insert for The Daily Fluxion called, obnoxiously, "Gracious Abodes," Jim attacks the assignment with reluctance - he knows nothing about interior design. But he is soon immersed in design-world intrigue that includes, of course, murder. Again, the mystery here is almost beside the point.
This book as funnier than the first - I laughed out loud quite a few times. There is a running gag that designers refer to all colors as foods; a conceit which becomes more and more absurd: Parsley, Mushroom, Caramel Custard, Avocado, Poppy Seed, Dried Fig, Cream of Carrot.Suddenly, Qwilleran saw the color scheme of the office with new eyes. It was Pea Soup Green, and the walls were painted Roquefort, and the vinyl floor was Pumpernickel...
Odd Bunsen is back; in this installment we learn that he has six children and a fondness for strong drink (probably related concepts). Also Qwill's age is pegged as "over 45" which is a bit younger than I imagine him. He acquires a pretty younger girlfriend named Alacoque Wright, or Cokey for short. (I don't trust her. At one point, Koko bites her in the head, so the relationship is surely doomed.) Another important development is the appearance of Yum Yum. At the very end of the book, she plays an important role, and becomes a permanent fixture in the Qwilleran household.
First Published: 1967
Body Count: 3
Preceded by: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
Next up: The Cat Who Turned on and Off -
Half way thru the book I realized there was only Koko, and then I realized (after some googling) that this was the second book of The Cat Who series. Now I'll want to read the other two old ones too (already on the queue, and will probably read next). Three of the books were written in 1960s, (.. could read backwards in '66, this one in '67, and ..who turned on and off in '68). Then they resumed in 1980s with a lot of new ones. (Lilian Jackson Brown was apparently born in 1913, still lives and probably writes, and uses a typewriter for writing...)
Qwill gets an assignment to do some interior architecture for Fluxion, which is something he isn't too interested in. But then some strange things start to happen: a house that was just published in the magazine gets burglarized from some expensive jade collection, and someone is found dead. And for the next houses that are presented in the magazine, also then something goes wrong... Qwill's moustache gets itches and Koko helps him get some clues, and after more articles, meeting a lot of interesting people, they find out what happened. That's too shortly put: I love the mystery as it's so 1960s, and makes you realize how everything has changed (green telephones.. typewrites, color/b&w photos... how important the magazines and newspapers were back then etc), and yet how similar the people still are. Of all The Cat... books I've read so far, I liked the characters in this book the most. The humor also seems a bit different compared to the later books. A happy, light type of mystery, and perfect of that kind.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7... -
I first started reading this series when I was in college. There were only a few books at that time. Lillian Jackson Braun wrote the first 3 books in the 1960s, and then continued the series starting in 1986. I loved the early books! But life happened and I lost track of this series for a very long time.
Flash forward a couple decades. I decided to read my way through this whole series starting back at the very beginning! Loving it!
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern is book 2 in this series. Jim Qwilleran continues to work at the Daily Fluxion putting out a Sunday special magazine on interior decorating. The assignment isn't making him exactly happy because everytime he publishes an article on an art collection or a wonderfully decorated home...something horrible happens! A break-in and theft. A police sting. A murder. Jim just can't seem to catch a break! At least no matter what happens he still has his strangely intelligent sidekick -- his Siamese cat, Koko.
At under 200 pages for the paperback edition, this book was a quick and very enjoyable read. The reporter/newspaper journalism portion of the plot is quite outdated, but the mystery is still spot on. I love how Koko seemingly gives Jim clues, and how Jim's mustache tingles when he's on the right track. Just a fun series to read! The series changes quite a bit when it hits the 4th book, published in 1986. I like the first three books, but I prefer the Qwilleran character once his life changes a bit in the 4th book.
Moving on -- The Cat Who Turned On and Off is next!! :) There are 29 books in this series, plus a couple short story collections. I'm going to be reading for awhile! But, I'm ok with that! Glad to finally be going back and reading this series! -
This book is Jackson's second of her series of many many books. She wrote it in 1967, and this starts to get the ball rolling. I have definitely read them all or just shy a couple. I love them, they are very entertaining for me.
When I found this one in the Library, there were so many of them that I didn't remember the title of this one, and my history states that I had read it the first time in 1992. Lilian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who..." series is a perennial favorite of mine. I read my first ones at about age twenty five or thirty years ago, and have been hooked on them since. My Mom and I read them at the same time and thoroughly enjoyed them. She's gone now, but she was an amazing reader and it was fun to share things we both liked together. In fact, the day she died, she had been to the library that morning. Came home and she was gone. My poor dad. They're all fairly quick reads, nicely paced whodunnits featuring a mustachioed former crime reporter and his genius cat Koko. Clean enough that all but the most squeamish can handle the content. Clever and fun with a few twists and turns along the way. Great for summer reading.
Lilian Jackson Braun (1913-2011) published three mystery novels between 1966 and 1968, works that established central character James Qwilleran as divorced, a recovering alcoholic, and a newspaper reporter who finds himself unexpectedly drawn to a pair of Siamese cats—and who uses their unexpected insights to unravel the murders he encounters in his work. Qwill is a very inteesting man. His career working on the newspaper crime scene has set the scene for the next book All three books were more about character than mystery, and they were popular bestsellers of the era. For reasons that remain unclear, Braun stopped the series at that point—and then unexpectedly revived it eighteen years later, ultimately producing 29 novels and several three related works.
In my opinion, the three early novels are the best in the series; while most of her books have tremendous charm, her later books are very loosely written (several of her final books so much so that they are extremely weak) and increasingly fanciful; her first novels, however, have a tighter construction and a more forceful narrative. The second novel, THE CAT WHO ATE DANISH MODERN, was published in 1967, and presents leading character Qwill as a recovering alcoholic trying to recover his career as a reporter at The Daily Fluxion—where he is now (much to his annoyance) ordered to produce a weekly tabloid on home decorating named “Gracious Abodes.”
Qwil’s first edition features George and Signe Tait’s high-tone estate in Muggy Swamp, and focuses on Mr. Tait’s jade collection. Unfortunately, the edition is scarcely out when the estate is burgled, the jade is stolen, and Mrs. Tait is dead of a heart attack. Along the way Qwil finds a new apartment, a second Siamese cat he names Yum Yum, and meets a good many unexpected characters in the home decorating field. Braun never competed with the likes of Agatha Christie, but she has a light touch, and when she is at her best her novels are compulsively readable. The notion of a cat who helps solve murders is extremely far-fetched, but in this particular title she carries it off with considerable aplomb, and the cast of characters, story, and atmosphere are extremely entertaining.
This book he is having the fun of getting his second cat YumYum. a sweet and small Siamese. Being only the second book of the series, I really have enjoyed reading them again. The first time I read them, Qwill had not inherited his millions and was not rich yet. He is starting at the beginning and building his career, friendships, etc. I recommend this series if you haven't read them. They stand alone, however there are characters you will get to know if read in order. Highly Recommend. -
I treasure books featuring cats. I’m thrilled Lilian Jackson Braun exceeds by far, novels that depict but barely mention them. Better than that, her hero Jim Qwilleran’s routine with them is presented the most realistically I’ve ever seen. You see the minute he arrives home, he checks for his young ones. He may exclaim at evidence of what they’ve done, which is truly the way it goes, sees to their needs, but a real animal person lives with them. You don’t drop off food and forget they communicate and interact. I applaud Lilian for this accuracy alone.
What I discovered about these works next, which languished in my home too long, is supremely well-written mysteries. Come book two, “The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern”, 1967, I noticed a different field being explored. We stroll a step from art, to interior design. As Jim amasses information about the trade, we do too. Fiction is often a teacher like that. I ponder the extent of research the author must have embarked upon, to present all of this flavour in her vast suite of books. It is amusing to observe, in the first four: Jim and the kitties have a different home every time! On television, we are anchored by a setting. Perhaps this is mute in literature. Kitties are territorial in some ways but remaining with those they love, is all that matters. Clever scenarios result in the availability of these homes.
Jim’s boss proposes a colour spread on designer homes of the city. Their rival newspaper is pleased the launch is bumpy because each house featured, fell victim to a crime. Their reputation warrants private perusal of clues. ‘Danish modern’ refers to couches but this story is adventurous. We meet Yum-Yum and the special, melodic inspiration of this sweetheart being renamed. -
This clever and amusing book features Jim Quilleran, journalist, amateur sleuth, and cat lover with his partner-in-solving-crime, the brilliant Siamese, Koko. Qwill gets a new assignment – covering the Interior Decorating beat! He’s not thrilled but in the course of his work he stumbles across murder. Interesting characters, spoofy décor details make this a fun read.
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The second of the Cat Who books is as satisfying as the first and third, with a real plot, a real mystery, and real heroics. Enjoy the first three books and then ask yourself: what happened with the rest of the series?
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Really enjoying this cute new mystery series! That's probably a good thing, seeing as there's about a hundred books in the series! :)
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'Gracious Abodes', the newspaper Daily Fluxion's new interior design magazine, opens up a new horizon and a new assignment for Jim Quilleran, and a new mystery for fans of Koko the psychic cat.
The dictionary is Koko's Ouija board and his claws are his planchette. Jim takes the hints from Koko's dictionary suggestions after the murder of a rich woman, whose house was featured in Jim's magazine, and he is soon following up clues. G. Verning Tait, besides the loss of his wife to an apparent heart attack, also has been robbed of his priceless jade collection. Surprisingly, Tait doesn't seem too upset about either. David Lyke, co-owner of a decorating studio, is very helpful to Jim, introducing him to suspects and inviting him to parties, but Lyke ends up paying a heavy price for his kindnesses.
Are the two cases linked? Koko knows, but he has issues of his own. He's taken a sudden liking to chair coverings and a dislike to Jim's new girlfriend, Alacoque 'Cokey' Wright.
Will Jim figure it out? -
Poor Koko's eating wool, and Qwill's at his wit's end. A Pyscatricist recommends a female companion, but first the pair have to solve a murder and a theft. In traditional Lilian Jackson Braun style, all the clues add up and the finger is pointed at the character you least suspect.
I enjoy this one because YumYum is first introduced, and she is in need of rescuing, in a way. I like that he's still writing for the Fluxion, and going to the press club. He hasn't inherited his millions yet, and Koko isn't living on his high diet. It's a very simple life, although he is staying in Harry Noyton's apartment and seeing how the other side really live for the first time.
Another enjoyable read, I read this one quickly. Very good indeed! -
probably a 3 1/2 star, but a comforting follow-up to the debut book in this series. unpretentious and doesn't try to stretch beyond it's limits, and I found it to be a little better written than I was expecting. some character development sacrificed for the sake of plot but so what, Christie built a legendary career using the same technique.a perfectly acceptable form of the cozy mystery.
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I got into this series when a friend gave? traded? me a copy of this book, which I’ve since read a few times. Good stuff…
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Riprendiamo le avventure di Koko e Jim da dove li avevamo lasciati.
Il giornalista deve lasciare l’appartamento dove viveva e cercarne uno nuovo, si sente solo a parte la compagnia di Koko, non è soddisfatto del ruolo assegnatogli al Fluxion nella pagina artistica, e ritrova tutte le cravatte mangiate dalle tarme.
Sembra andare tutto male quando, d’improvviso, gli viene proposto di occuparsi dell’inserto Belle dimore sull’arredamento, conosce alcuni architetti e arredatori famosi tra cui uno che gli offre per un certo periodo il suo appartamento alla moda in una zona in della città, conosce una ragazza architetto con cui instaura una relazione positiva.
Purtroppo però a ognuna delle sue uscite sembra seguire un delitto o comunque un evento non esattamente positivo, e questo mette Qwilleran in cattiva luce e il suo direttore di cattivo umore nei suoi confronti.
Quindi l’uomo comincerà a cercare di capire chi cerchi di gettare fango sul giornale, indagando nella comunità in cui si è appena integrato, con l’aiuto delle intuizioni del siamese che però sembra mostrare qualche disturbo per cui sarà necessario chiedere l’intervento di una terapeuta per gatti.
Ho trovato questo caso molto più articolato e complesso del primo anche se un po’ più ingarbugliato.
È sempre tutto molto ben studiato, ma io mi sono sentita meno coinvolta rispetto al primo, non so bene dire perché, ma probabilmente perché leggere di arredamento senza vederlo è risultato per me meno interessante.
Inoltre avevo ipotizzato già quasi subito la soluzione del primo caso, e speravo in qualcosa di più per il secondo.
Il terzo per me è stato del tutto impensabile fino all’ultimo momento anche se poi, quando ho scoperto il colpevole mi sono detta caspita, avrei dovuto pensarci!
Come nel primo capitolo ho trovato comunque molto più affascinanti le vicende di Jim, del gatto e dei loro baffi che percepiscono le vibrazioni e danno intuizioni ai due portandoli sulla strada giusta nei casi affrontati. Ai due si aggiunge il fotografo Bunsen che ormai è diventato un componente fisso della squadra, con la sua originalità che lo rende simpaticissimo.
Riconosco come tipici dei felini, i comportamenti del micio.
In questo libro intravediamo marginalmente Yum Yum che purtroppo arriva subito in clinica veterinaria, perché maltrattata dal suo vecchio padrone che non ama i gatti. Con lei faremo poi conoscenza meglio dal terzo capitolo della serie.
Non mi convinceva dall’inizio e, nonostante gli sviluppi, continua a non convincermi la ragazza Cokey, e non per il nome come per Koko😆.
Se non avessi altri titoli a cui dare la precedenza proseguirei senza dubbio con la lettura dei casi seguenti. -
The mystery "cozy" is a departure from my normal reading fare, but I found The Cat Who... good enough to hold my interest to the end. It's simple and the who-did-it is pretty easy to figure out (of course hindsight is 20-20). And, it's a cute story.
Simple innocence thrives. Lillian Jackson Braun doesn't have to rely on violence, gore and mayhem to tell a story. Instead, she writes well enough to convey her ideas at a nice pace. One reviewer here made a good point. This is a good series to read at bedtime because it won't foster any nightmares or troubled sleep.
The book was written in 1967, but I found myself re-checking the pub date just to be sure. There's a timelessness to this story. Qwill smokes a pipe, a sign of the times of ago, I guess, but this could play at any decade. Braun writes with timeless wit as well. Qwill works for "Gracious Abodes," a design tab put out by his newspaper. She pokes fun at the design world: Note the different types of styles her designers use throughout the book. They are quick, one-line knockoffs, but they add to the flavor and humor of the book.
This is a good series to delve into if you want to stray from your normal reading genres, or if you are into cozies overall. A fun read that I am sure I'll return to soon just to see what the cats are up to next. -
Koko di petualangannya yang kedua! ଲ(ⓛ ω ⓛ)ଲ
Qwill si wartawan tetap tampil sebagai teman sekaligus pelayannya Koko, lengkap dengan kesialan dan keberuntungannya. Karena baik sebagai jurnalis profesional maupun sebagai detektif amatir, si Qwill ini sama sekali tidak bersinar. Ngga ada analisisnya yang bikin pembaca berdecak kagum, ngga ada juga dari sepak terjangnya yang bikin w(°ｏ°)w. Semua tingkah dan pemikiran Qwill benar-benar menampilkan standar "Manusia Rata-Rata". Tapi justru (mungkin) inilah yang bikin tokoh Qwill ini terasa dekat, karena toh aku si pembaca juga 'manusia-di-bawah-standar-motor-mio' (≧◡≦) //gepeng.
Jadinya, ini adalah kasus yang pemecahannya terasa nyaman dan mudah diikuti (o´▽`o) Setelah tau genre cosy-mystery ini, aku jadi semakin kesengsem. Apalagi Qwill sangat memuja Koko~ (=①ω①=)❤ -
A delightful one afternoon read. Reporter Jim Qwilleran has a new assignment: an interior design gig with the Fluxion. Except that some valuable antiquities go missing, and it's up to Qwilleran and his feline friend Koko to figure out what really happened. Add in two mysterious deaths and you've got a first rate mystery on your hands. This is also the book that introduces us to Yum Yum, Koko's female counterpart. Overall a very rewarding book and well worth the time.
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I just love The Cat Who books!!!
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Such a fun series.
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If you can make it through this book, you aren’t easily bored.
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I enjoyed this book, but I did have a hard time taking parts of it seriously. Yes, being a cat mystery, I've suspended disbelief when it comes to the super-smart cat helping with the murder investigation. But I can't easily get past the out-dated gender stereotypes, and the mustache getting credit for the main character's intuition is getting annoying instead of charming.
On the other hand, I do enjoy the wide range of colorful characters portrayed in the novel (and the series), and the cats are wonderful. (Especially since we have now met Yum-Yum. The cats are the reason I first picked dup this series long ago - I'm a G&S fan, so having cats named Koko and Yum-Yum was irresistible.)
But, I did know who did it before it was revealed. (I just realized, though, one of the mystery aspects was only kinda explained. Hmm.) At least, I knew who did part of it. The other part wasn't really related, but I was expecting it to be in order to tie things up neatly. (Instead things were tied up neatly on one front and quickly - therefore without much explanation - on the other front.) (Yikes, discussing the resolution of a murder mystery without spoilers is difficult!)
Anyway, it's a solid story, though a bit dated, and it has awesome cats. It's a solid three stars, but I don't think I can give it more than that in the modern era. -
Qwill is "promoted" to head of a new magazine focusing on interior decorating. After featuring the 1st mansion, there is a theft; after the 2nd feature of an upscale apartment, there is a murder. Qwill and Koko investigate. Also, Koko gets a female playmate named Yum Yum. It was entertaining and sometimes laugh out loud funny.
...you will enjoy meeting Natalie Noyton, She has all the gagging appeal of a marshmallow sundae."
...Koko arrived at the party...at his entrance, the noise swelled to a crescendo and then stopped altogether. Koko surveyed the scene with regal condescension, like a potentate honoring his subjects with his presence. He blinked not, neither did he move a whisker. His brown points were so artistically contrasted with his light body, his fur shaded so subtly, and his sapphire eyes had such unadorned elegance that he made David Lyke's guest look gaudily overdressed. -
This installment finds Jim Qwilleran taking over the interior design beat at the Daily Fluxion. The paper wants to publish a weekly supplement with feature stories and lots of photos. Jim had done such a good job on the Art beat (previous book) that the Editor promotes Jim from Senior Writer to Junior Editor for this assignment. The trouble starts right after the release of the first edition. The house they had featured reports a burglary and the wife is dead. Jim smells something fishy but presses ahead with the next weekly installment, only to have that one also result in bad publicity for the paper. He starts digging around, and with the help of Koko, determines what really happened. The second Siamese cat, Yum-yum, is introduced in this volume.
A fun light read that I read cover to cover in one weekend.
