The Cat Who Saw Stars

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Summary: Where are the cats
Review: I've read all of the books in the series. After I read the first one I just kept going and read all of them in a year. I was very disappointed in the lack of including the "antics" of the cats. I have 2 cats also and enjoy reading about how they communicate to Quill. Hopefully her next book will enclude more about the cats.

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Summary: Reading Lilian Braun is like eating comfort food.
Review: I logged on to this site to confirm my opinion that Braun had written another successful "Cat Who.." book. Very surprised to see that I was probably in the minority. Come on folks! You read Lilian Braun to nestle in the world of Pickax and Mooseville and to let the real world disappear for a while. She's even gotten me to tolerate cats--at least literary ones. I hope the cat books go on forever. I need my yearly fix.

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Summary: Not even going to bother with it after reading all reviews.
Review: I have been a devoted fan of Ms. Braun's "The Cat Who..." series for years. I almost pre-ordered this book back in November, but something held me back. So today I read every review I could get my hands on for this book, and finally decided that it would not peak my interest and would probably only leave me in the dumps if the various sub-plots were not knotted neatly. So I decided to pass on it. Maybe Ms. Braun will recover from her slump or will develop some other twist for the series. Maybe the publisher WAS to blame for this "unsolved" mystery and lack of "parts" to be played by the hero's sidekicks. For whatever reason the book was not accepted well, I do believe that Whomever it was that allowed it to go into print as an UNfinished product needs a serious reprimand. I will await the next book by Ms. Braun.

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Summary: Great!
Review: Despite what some people say, I loved this book. Some of the mysteries never got solved, like the ending (read it and you'll see) and how the hiker was killed. Maybe it was that sand giant? I don't know. But it sure was suspensful! I waited so long for this to come out. Be sure to read her other books first so you understand what it's about. Great ending! A bit confusing though, as Qwill never found the answer to his questions.

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Summary: This book is more of an outline than a finished work.
Review: Lillian Jackson Braun latest in the Cat Who series is a real disappointment. The characters have nothing to do, including Koko and Yum-Yum, and Qwilleren himself is reduced to exhibiting unprovoked anger and plodding aimlessly through town. This book is nothing more than a preliminary sketch and sorely lacks the polish and charm of Braun's previous works. The early books when Qwill was still Down Below are by far Braun's best writing and are true to the mystery genre. Sadly,this book doesn't even resemble the same author.

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Summary: This series is now running on empty!
Review: I've read all of The Cat Who books and enjoyed most of them until The Cat Who Saw Stars. It was not well written (awkward dialogue and set up of dialogue, lack of atmosphere). When I finished the book I decided to reread an earlier one (The Cat Who Sniffed Glue) for comparison. I found the older book to be a more interesting story with better dialogue, more colorful characters and descriptions, AND, (a drum roll, please) the mystery was solved at the conclusion! My suspicion is that the author is finally near the end of her contract to produce stories of characters and a place that no longer interest her and I can understand that (although I sure will miss Qwill's keen observations of country folk and mores). Good grief, even Polly has turned into a Stepford girlfriend! Oh well, it was a very good series until the last two or three books and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know unforgettable folks like Amanda Goodwinter, Arch Riker and Hexie Rice.

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Summary: Amateurish....did Ms. Jackson Braun really write this?
Review: Having read all of the previous "Cat Who...." books, I looked forward to this latest edition.I had grown fond of the regular characters and light escapism that the rather gentle plots afforded.This latest effort is sorely in need of editing. I don't expect a new reader would become enamored of the series based on this book. Quite frankly, the story appeared to be thrown together (to meet a publishing deadline?) and certainly did not live up to the series' usual standards.

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Summary: A mystery without a mystery
Review: I was disapointed in this book- it was like she was sick of writing this series, and especially sick of the mystery part of it. The mystery details were lacking and incidental while Quileran plodded through his vacation with no conflict but a prolonged boredom. Koko should leave him and find a new master, one who is more active.

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Summary: Braun's losing interest in cats - or is it me?
Review: If I had bought this book I would have been yowling mad (especially if I paid full price!) But I borrowed it from the library (not being able to afford first editions as Qwill can), and even that was disappointing. There is very little about Koko and Yum Yum - if I hadn't read all the other books in the series I wouldn't appreciate the small tidbits about their personalities here. It was like "been there, done that." Qwill is becoming a bore with his only interests being in homespun activities that even people "400 miles from everywhere" never would think of doing. The one bright spot in the book was the absence of that sickenly sweet, insipid, bookish, and weak-hearted woman-friend, Polly. I personally wish the heart attack a couple books ago had done her in. Ms. Braun. Please return to your beginning allure, mystery, and documentation of the cats. Otherwise I'm switching to Brown's cats.

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Summary: The Cat Who...missed the boat!
Review: The previous reviewers seemed to be in two camps - those who thought that this book was great and of the quality of the previous twenty, and those who thought tha Ms. Braun missed the boat. I'm in the second group. What did happen to the backpacker? Who killed him and why? Who burried him in the dune? What mystery did the state investigators cover up? Koko didn't find anything of interest except a body. What was the deal with the postcards - that wasn't developed at all. And what was the idea of Koko looking at stars? The UFO thing wasn't developed either. The whole book didn't pull together. The cats didn't get enough time and Qwill didn't deduce anything. Sorry, but I want my money back. I will still be looking forward to the next book, hoping it will be "catty" and clever like the first twenty.