The Cat Who Talked Turkey

Rating:
Summary: Talking Turkey is a turkey
Review: I have wanted to write for a long time that Ms. Jackson-Braun, or whoever is now ghostwriting for her, or her editor, should realize that Polly Duncan would make a far more interesting murder victim than Qwilleran paramour. That comment could apply to almost all the mysteries set in Moose County, not just this latest. Polly is tedious, boring, annoying, predictable, rigid and humorless; her jealousy isn't interesting, it just cramps Qwill's style. I am sick to death of her diet hangups, her endless tuna fish sandwich lunches and every other part of her. The earlier Cat Who.. books, in which he gets involved with an assortment of interesting younger women connected to the various mysteries, were more fun than the latter ones where his love life is dominated by that staid, hyperconventional librarian. (Since I am writing about a fictional character, not a real life human being, I don't feel evil in stating that I was sorely disappointed that Polly's heart attack of a few books ago didn't kill her.) A mystery surrounding her fervantly-yearned-for murder could combine Qwill, wracked by grief, confronting his old alcohol demons, perhaps unearthing a secret double life Polly leads, perhaps a new love interest working with or against him as he struggles to find out who bumped off his lady love. It would make a far more interesting mystery than The Cat Who Talked Turkey turned out to be. But I digress....

As a mystery, the Cat Who Talked Turkey is a very frustrating experience. I am still not clear WHY the stiff found on Qwill's property, or the other stiff in Northern Michigan were killed, although it was pretty obvious from the onset who-dun-it. A clear motive would have helped. I will probably continue to buy this series because I am fond of the whole Moose County scene,but I wish ... if Ms. Jackson-Braun is still really writing these, the publisher would hire a good ghostwriter and put her out to pasture. If the publisher is now using a ghostwriter to keep this lucrative series alive, surely it could find a better one! I mean, seriously, with all the hungry and TALENTED writers out there, surely the publisher could find just ONE willing to prostitute her talents to take over this rather lovable series.

Rating:
Summary: Turkey Turkey
Review: After reading the other reviews I was happy to know I wasn't the only that thought this could not have been written by Lilian Braun. I thought I was going crazy!!!!!!!!!!! The wording and places do not seem to be the same as she always uses.
The plot was not exciting and she could have developed the new bookstore and other events more and not spent so much time on his historical dramas that I find quite boring.
I own all of her books and have read every
one several times. I like some of them better than others but this one is defintely the least favorite.
I am certainly glad I bought a used copy and didn't spend a lot of money on it.