[admin]

The world of modern art is a mystery to many. But for Jim Qwilleran, it turns into a mystery of another sort when his assignment to the art beat for The Daily Fluxion leads down the path to murder. A stabbing in an art gallery, vandalized paintings, a fatal fall from a scaffolding--this is not at all what Qwilleran expects when he turns his reportorial talents to art. But Qwilleran and his newly found partner, Koko the brilliant Siamese, are back in their element--sniffing out clues and confounding criminals intent on mayhem and murder.
Customer Review: My Favorite Series!
In the 1st book in The Cat Who...series, we are introduced to James Qwilleran, a newsman for the Daily Fluxion. Returning to writing for a paper after several years absence trying to get his life together in which excessive alcohol was a factor, Jim has sobered up and sought gainful employment. The only position open on the news desk is in the art section, and Jim is hired to do personal pieces on members of the art crowd. He soon learns that there is another controversial writer covering the art world, George Bonifield Mountclemens. The elusive writer seems to like no one, and when Jim is invited to Mountclemens' home to dine with him, Jim isn't sure whether to be honored or dismayed. He accepts, and quickly finds the man learned and an excellent cook. Jim also meets a Siamese named Kao K'o-Kung (Jim shortens it to KoKo), and an important longstanding friendship begins. When a member of the local art scene is stabbed, Jim starts to poke around to try to figure out the connection between the victim and the other artists he has met for his column. With the help of KoKo, Jim starts the long-running series with a whopper of a case. This is my favorite cozy mystery series! I had read all of the books in the past, and wanted to read them again for a second time. This time around, I have chosen to listen to them on CD, as I love the voice of George Guidall. This book introduces us to a few of the characters that will become permanent fixtures in the series, including Arch Riker, and of course, Jim Qwilleran and KoKo. Some of Jim's background is explained, and I love the history of KoKo prior to him adopting Jim. For those that have not read the series, I do recommend reading this book first. Many others can be intermixed, but this book offers good insight to the way that Jim and KoKo relate to one another in future installments. This is a great series by my favorite author! The next book in the series is called "The Cat who Ate Danish Modern". Enjoy!
Customer Review: Dramatic and Suspenseful
The Cat Who Read Backwards is an excellent beginning for an excellent series. James Qwilleran, main character and journalist extraordinare, has worked for many famous newspapers across the country as a crime reporter, an interior design critic, a food critic- and now, an art critic! Now, this isn't exactly Qwilleran's cup of tea, but he has bigger problems to worry about: like finding a place to live. In a fit of desperation, he rents a tiny apartment from a fellow art critc named George Bonifield Mountclemens, who adores giving artists hard times! Just when you think Qwill's life can't get and harder, Mountclemens is murdered, leaving Qwill with a cat smarter than he is and no place to stay, once again! This book is a perfect mix of genres; humor, romance, action, suspense, and even a bit of the supernatural! The Cat Who Read Backwards is hard to put down, and made it well worth the 30-year-wait for the second one!


More...