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Summary and Reviews of The Cat Who Smelled A Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who Smelled A Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who Smelled A Rat

by Lilian Jackson Braun
  • Critics' Consensus (3):
  • Readers' Rating (2):
  • First Published:
  • Jan 1, 2001, 256 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jan 2002, 304 pages
  • Rate this book

About This Book

Book Summary

Moose County is in the middle of a crime wave when the president of the curling club is pushed to his death down a flight of stairs, and it's up to Qwilleran & Co. to sniff out the rat who is responsible for it all.

October arrives in Moose County on the heels of a long drought, and the citizens of Pickax worry about wildfires.

Their fears are realized in an unexpected manner, with a case of arson-and the shooting of a volunteer fire-watcher as he is reporting the blaze. The crime wave continues as the president of the curling club is pushed to his death down a flight of stairs, and it's up to Qwilleran & Co. to sniff out the rat who is responsible for it all.

Chapter One

It was late October, and Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere, was in danger of being wiped off the map. In the grip of a record-breaking drought, towns and farms and forests could be reduced to ashes overnight—given a single spark and a high wind. Volunteer firefighters were on round-the-clock alert, and the congregations of fourteen churches prayed for snow. Not rain. Snow! Winter always began with a three-day blizzard, called the Big One, that buried everything under snow drifting to ten feet. So the good folk of Moose County waxed their snow shovels, bought antifreeze and earmuffs, stockpiled bottled water and flashlight batteries—and prayed.

Late one evening, in a condominium northeast of Pickax City, the county seat, a cat sat on a windowsill, stretching his neck, raising his nose, and sniffing. The man watching him thought, He smells a skunk. They had recently moved to the wooded area with its new sights, new sounds, new smells.

...

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Reviews

Media Reviews

Booklist - Jenny McLarin
Braun proves that her venerable series is far from getting stale.....Once again, Braun displays her talent at all aspects of the cozy. In fact, the feelings produced by reading about Qwill and his pals can best be compared to that coziest of feelings--having a purring cat on your lap.

Library Journal
This 23rd installment in the "Cat Who" mystery series is thin on plot but as strong as ever on character development, which is fine since one of the chief delights of these books is what they reveal about Qwilleran and Moose County.

Publishers Weekly
Regular fans will enjoy being back with old friends and will be intrigued by the eccentric new additions to Pickax.... With a solid bestseller track record for this series, this entry is sure to claw its way up the lists.

Reader Reviews

brian

Excellent book for those looking to escape in a world of peace, with fascinating characters and a thrilling yet revealing murder case. One of the best books I've read this year. Recommended to all!
laurcus

Too many characters and insignificant titbits on things nobody really cares about. First and last time I buy one of Ms. Jackson Braun's books.

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Read-Alikes

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