I've been enjoying Ms. Braun's Cat Who series since I discovered it in the mid-nineties. At that time, I exhausted every installment my library carried. I've been reading and rereading the cozy mysteries over the years, certain in the assumption I'll have a light, feel good-read with a happy resolution.
I was surprised when I came across a bunch of unfamiliar titles in the series. Either I have a short memory, or I've missed half of them. I put three on my Christmas list and this is the first I've read.
The Cat Who Brought Down the House has a stranger returning from Hollywood to Moose County. Nobody remembers the older lady, the daughter of a potato farmer with a twin brother who recently met his demise. The story is a bit slower than normal, yet held my interest. I was disappointed in Ms. Braun's portrayal of her illustrious protagonist, Jim Qwilleran in this book. She has him ruminating over the details of women's fashion, intricate opera and antique knowledge, thus emasculating him. The implied romance between Qwill and the town librarian, Polly, over the series was so unattended to in this book, it almost seemed like a cover relationship. The stranger was entertaining, as were the effervescent townsfolk, Qwill's Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum and there was a nice twist ending.
I give The Cat Who Brought Down the House four out of five stars.
