The Cat Who... Series: Difference between revisions

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''The Cat Who...'' series consists of a number of murder mysteries written by Lilian Jackson Braun, starring veteran crime journalist Jim Qwilleran [[Spell My Name With an "S"|(Yes, that's how it's spelled)]] and the two Siamese cats he adopts, Kao K'o Kung (abbreviated to Koko) and Yum Yum. The series begins with his life in an unnamed city as he is given assignments on odd beats, such as art or food criticism, and uncovers murders. Being what he is at heart, Qwill can never leave well enough alone once his mustache starts twitching....
''The Cat Who...'' series consists of a number of murder mysteries written by Lilian Jackson Braun, starring veteran crime journalist Jim Qwilleran [[Spell My Name with an "S"|(Yes, that's how it's spelled)]] and the two Siamese cats he adopts, Kao K'o Kung (abbreviated to Koko) and Yum Yum. The series begins with his life in an unnamed city as he is given assignments on odd beats, such as art or food criticism, and uncovers murders. Being what he is at heart, Qwill can never leave well enough alone once his mustache starts twitching....


After five or six books, though, the series moves away from the city and into the northern part of America, into an area known as Moose County. Initially, he's visiting for a vacation, but things [[It Got Worse|take a turn for the worse]] when [[It Was His Sled|his "aunt" Fanny Klingenschoen]] is the [[Body of the Week]]. He then, after solving the crime, inherits her money, with the provision that he live in Moose County for five years.
After five or six books, though, the series moves away from the city and into the northern part of America, into an area known as Moose County. Initially, he's visiting for a vacation, but things [[It Got Worse|take a turn for the worse]] when [[It Was His Sled|his "aunt" Fanny Klingenschoen]] is the [[Body of the Week]]. He then, after solving the crime, inherits her money, with the provision that he live in Moose County for five years.
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* [[Cool Old Lady]]: Fanny Klingenschoen, Qwill's mother's best friend, who leaves him her millions.
* [[Cool Old Lady]]: Fanny Klingenschoen, Qwill's mother's best friend, who leaves him her millions.
* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]: Don Exbridge, founder of XYZ Enterprises, is usually regarded this way.
* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]: Don Exbridge, founder of XYZ Enterprises, is usually regarded this way.
* [[Corrupt Politician]]: The mayor of Pickaxe, mockingly referred to as "Hizzonor" for most of the series. He's eventually voted out and replaced with Amanda Goodwinter, the local [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]].
* [[Corrupt Politician]]: The mayor of Pickaxe, mockingly referred to as "Hizzonor" for most of the series. He's eventually voted out and replaced with Amanda Goodwinter, the local [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]].
* [[Development Hell]]: ''The Cat Who Smelled Smoke'', the planned 35th installment (including special projects) in the series. Originally scheduled for 2008, then 2009, then canceled.
* [[Development Hell]]: ''The Cat Who Smelled Smoke'', the planned 35th installment (including special projects) in the series. Originally scheduled for 2008, then 2009, then canceled.
* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Qwill knows very little about his father, who died while his mother was pregnant. In one book, he learns what happened. {{spoiler|His father, an out-of-work actor with a penchant for alcohol, was shot by police officers while committing a robbery.}}
* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Qwill knows very little about his father, who died while his mother was pregnant. In one book, he learns what happened. {{spoiler|His father, an out-of-work actor with a penchant for alcohol, was shot by police officers while committing a robbery.}}
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* [[Early Installment Weirdness]]: The first three books in the series were written in [[The Sixties]], and then nothing else was done with it until almost 20 years after the publication of the third book. Those who were introduced to the series via the later novels may find the originals somewhat odd; the books were written to be contemporary, meaning that overnight Qwill jumped from 1968 to 1986.
* [[Early Installment Weirdness]]: The first three books in the series were written in [[The Sixties]], and then nothing else was done with it until almost 20 years after the publication of the third book. Those who were introduced to the series via the later novels may find the originals somewhat odd; the books were written to be contemporary, meaning that overnight Qwill jumped from 1968 to 1986.
* [[Embarrassing First Name]]: James Mackintosh Qwilleran had his name legally changed. Few characters - possibly none other than Arch Riker - know that his birth name was ''Merlin'' James Qwilleran.
* [[Embarrassing First Name]]: James Mackintosh Qwilleran had his name legally changed. Few characters - possibly none other than Arch Riker - know that his birth name was ''Merlin'' James Qwilleran.
* [[Everything's Louder With Bagpipes]]: Police Chief Andrew Brody, like many characters in the series, is of Scottish descent and is known to give stirring bagpipe performances at public events, weddings, and [[Always Murder|funerals]].
* [[Everything's Louder with Bagpipes]]: Police Chief Andrew Brody, like many characters in the series, is of Scottish descent and is known to give stirring bagpipe performances at public events, weddings, and [[Always Murder|funerals]].
* [[Exit, Pursued By a Bear]]: In ''The Cat Who Said Cheese'', {{spoiler|the murderer is killed by his accomplice-by-coercion's bees}}.
* [[Exit, Pursued by a Bear]]: In ''The Cat Who Said Cheese'', {{spoiler|the murderer is killed by his accomplice-by-coercion's bees}}.
* [[Fictional Document]]: The ''Moose County Something'' and its predecessor, the ''Pickaxe Picayune''; also ''City of Brotherly Crime,'' the book Qwill wrote when he was younger.
* [[Fictional Document]]: The ''Moose County Something'' and its predecessor, the ''Pickaxe Picayune''; also ''City of Brotherly Crime,'' the book Qwill wrote when he was younger.
* [[Franchise Zombie]]: The series continued for years despite overwhelming agreement that the quality of the novels had greatly declined, and many suspected [[Executive Meddling|publisher interference]].
* [[Franchise Zombie]]: The series continued for years despite overwhelming agreement that the quality of the novels had greatly declined, and many suspected [[Executive Meddling|publisher interference]].
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* [[Kindhearted Cat Lover]]: Qwilleran, as well as many of the other cast members. The author counts as well.
* [[Kindhearted Cat Lover]]: Qwilleran, as well as many of the other cast members. The author counts as well.
* [[Long Runners]]: The series has nearly 30 books, plus a handful of side volumes.
* [[Long Runners]]: The series has nearly 30 books, plus a handful of side volumes.
* [[Man in A Kilt]]: Probably inevitable, given the Scottish history that was built for Qwilleran's character. Despite this, he resists for a long time, but eventually buys one in a moment of weakness after getting a scare regarding Polly Duncan's health.
* [[Man in a Kilt]]: Probably inevitable, given the Scottish history that was built for Qwilleran's character. Despite this, he resists for a long time, but eventually buys one in a moment of weakness after getting a scare regarding Polly Duncan's health.
* [[Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane]]: Applying to both Qwill and Koko. Qwill's pepper-and-salt moustache bristles occasionally, and he sees it as a sign of raw intuition picking up on something suspicious. Koko at times ''appears'' to be psychic, but it's always left ambiguous as to whether or not his catty antics are just what they seem to be or not.
* [[Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane]]: Applying to both Qwill and Koko. Qwill's pepper-and-salt moustache bristles occasionally, and he sees it as a sign of raw intuition picking up on something suspicious. Koko at times ''appears'' to be psychic, but it's always left ambiguous as to whether or not his catty antics are just what they seem to be or not.
* [[Meaningful Funeral]]: It's frequently mentioned that the funeral of Ephraim Goodwinter, the patriarch of the well-to-do Goodwinter family, was extremely large and of great significance to the people of Moose County. Of course, since most of the people in Moose County kind of ''hated'' him, it was meaningful for the wrong sort of reason.
* [[Meaningful Funeral]]: It's frequently mentioned that the funeral of Ephraim Goodwinter, the patriarch of the well-to-do Goodwinter family, was extremely large and of great significance to the people of Moose County. Of course, since most of the people in Moose County kind of ''hated'' him, it was meaningful for the wrong sort of reason.
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* [[Sesquipedalian Smith]]: Eddington Smith, the soft-spoken bookstore owner.
* [[Sesquipedalian Smith]]: Eddington Smith, the soft-spoken bookstore owner.
* [[Shaggy Search Technique]]: Koko is often responsible for unintentionally revealing the culprit or final clues... or is he? One of the ongoing themes for the series is the question of whether or not the Siamese is psychic.
* [[Shaggy Search Technique]]: Koko is often responsible for unintentionally revealing the culprit or final clues... or is he? One of the ongoing themes for the series is the question of whether or not the Siamese is psychic.
* [[Shout Out to Shakespeare]]: Both Qwilleran and Polly are big Shakespeare buffs and the series includes everything from minor Shakespeare references to entire Shakespeare plays being performed by the Pickax Theatre Club.
* [[Shout-Out/To Shakespeare]]: Both Qwilleran and Polly are big Shakespeare buffs and the series includes everything from minor Shakespeare references to entire Shakespeare plays being performed by the Pickax Theatre Club.
* [[Spy Fiction]]: Played with using the Celia Robinson character, who does missions for Qwilleran ("The Chief") as his "[[James Bond|Secret Agent 007 1/2]]."
* [[Spy Fiction]]: Played with using the Celia Robinson character, who does missions for Qwilleran ("The Chief") as his "[[James Bond|Secret Agent 007 1/2]]."
* [[Stalker With a Crush]]: Qwill's one-time love interest, {{spoiler|Melinda Goodwinter}}, who goes so far as to try to have his serious girlfriend murdered in an attempt to get him back.
* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: Qwill's one-time love interest, {{spoiler|Melinda Goodwinter}}, who goes so far as to try to have his serious girlfriend murdered in an attempt to get him back.
* [[Talk About the Weather]]: Considered simple politeness in Moose County before getting down to more serious subjects.
* [[Talk About the Weather]]: Considered simple politeness in Moose County before getting down to more serious subjects.
* [[Twin Switch]]: A dark example in one book, when one brother murders his identical twin and then takes his place.
* [[Twin Switch]]: A dark example in one book, when one brother murders his identical twin and then takes his place.
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