FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
It's no vacation for ex-crime reporter James Qwilleran (the richest man in the northeast-central U.S.) and his feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, when they go to stay at the historic Nutcracker Inn in Black Creek. From the first, Qwill and his pair of pampered pets encounter suspicious occurrences -- from the reputed haunting of the old inn to a series of disturbing incidents involving the occupants of the creekside cabins at the lovely resort. Of course, for Qwill and his cats, mysterious events are pretty much business as usual¿¿¿. Bestselling author Lilian Jackson Braun has created some memorable characters here -- some quirky, some cantankerous, others secretive or charming -- each adding something special to The Cat Who Went up the Creek. Of course, it's Qwill's job to dig up the true stories that are going on behind the scenes while navigating the confusing flood of clues his perceptive Siamese, Koko, sniffs out. It's not always easy for Qwill to fit investigating into his busy schedule -- and this time that includes pursuing pirates and prospectors, attending a Gilbert & Sullivan production and a rowdy historical reenactment, evaluating antiques, interviewing interesting folks, and distributing unexpected largesse. But Qwill has learned (as have cat lovers and mystery fans everywhere) that wherever the Cat Who¿¿¿ leads, it's best to follow. Sue Stone

FROM THE PUBLISHER

James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved, bestselling Cat Who . . . series.

The game is afoot at the Nutcracker Inn in the village of Black Creek, famous for its black walnuts and for its squirrels, which keep Koko endlessly entertained as he fences with them. Joining the usual cast of characters are gold prospectors, wildlife photographers, pirates, and-oh, yes, the game: bears! This varied mélange conspires to keep Qwilleran and the cats on their toes as they face their latest challenge in Braun's seductively charming style.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In Braun's 24th Cat Who... mystery (after 2001's The Cat Who Smelled a Rat), journalist James Mackintosh "Qwill" Qwilleran ("the richest man in the northeast central United States") and his two Siamese cats, Kao K'o Kung ("Koko") and Yum Yum, find themselves in the thick of another light and lively murder investigation in rural Moose County. When Lori Bamba, the new manager with her husband of the Nutcracker Inn in Black Creek, complains that the old place is haunted and making her feel gloomy, Qwill agrees to spend several nights with his cats at the converted Victorian mansion. Koko's noise gets them moved from the turret room, where the cats like to watch squirrels, to a cabin recently vacated because its occupant was murdered. Koko stumbles on a clue to the murder, while Qwill locates the source of the inn's haunting. In the meantime, Qwill's need for material for his newspaper column prompts him to help promote many local activities: the production of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, a historical re-enactment of a lumberjack's rowdy evening, the opening of an antiques fair and mall, the launching of a book of photographs of scenic Moose County, the adoption of a boy orphaned by a suicide and another murder. As usual, the various mysteries and their ultimate solutions matter a lot less than the smalltown doings of the author's irresistible characters, both human and feline. This gentle, entertaining tale is proof once again that Braun reigns supreme as the queen of the cat cozies. (Jan. 14) Forecast: A consistent bestseller, Braun should once again climb the charts with her winning combination of cats and crime. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Now on their 24th case, James Qwilleran and smart kitties Koko and Yum Yum find no peace at lovely Nutcracker Inn, where more than wild beasts are afoot. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.