Lilian Jackson Braun Books in Order: The Cat Who Series
Lilian Jackson Braun created one of cozy mystery fiction’s most recognizable partnerships: newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. Set largely around the fictional Moose County, the series combines murder investigations with small-town characters, eccentric communities, humor, and the cats’ uncanny ability to lead Qwilleran toward clues.
The series has an unusual publication history. Braun published the first three Cat Who novels between 1966 and 1968, then disappeared from the publishing world for almost two decades. She returned in 1986 with The Cat Who Saw Red and continued the series regularly until The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers in 2007.
The Cat Who Books in Order
The best way to read Lilian Jackson Braun’s novels is in publication order. Although many individual mysteries can be understood on their own, Qwilleran’s life, relationships, Koko and Yum Yum, and the fictional community of Moose County develop throughout the series.
1. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966)
The first novel introduces Jim Qwilleran, a former big-city newspaper reporter who is sent to cover the art scene in a new town. When a series of disturbing incidents turns into murder, Qwilleran begins investigating with the help of Koko, a remarkably perceptive Siamese cat.
This is the natural starting point for anyone new to Braun’s world because it establishes Qwilleran, Koko, the mystery-solving partnership, and the series’ distinctive cozy atmosphere.
2. The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (1967)
Qwilleran investigates the murder of an interior designer while becoming acquainted with the world of modern furniture and design. Koko’s unusual behavior once again provides clues that help point Qwilleran toward the truth.
3. The Cat Who Turned On and Off (1968)
Qwilleran finds himself investigating a series of suspicious events involving a fashionable apartment building. The third novel completes Braun’s original 1960s trilogy before her long publishing hiatus.
4. The Cat Who Saw Red (1986)
After nearly two decades away from fiction, Braun returned to Qwilleran with this fourth mystery. Qwilleran becomes involved in a murder investigation surrounding a restaurant, while Koko once again seems to know more than he should.
This book marks the beginning of the much longer second phase of The Cat Who… series.
5. The Cat Who Played Brahms (1987)
Qwilleran moves into a more rural environment and becomes involved with the local music scene. A summer retreat that should be peaceful soon turns into another murder mystery.
6. The Cat Who Played Post Office (1987)
Qwilleran investigates after a body is discovered in a small community, with the clues gradually leading him into the complicated lives of the local residents.
7. The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (1988)
Qwilleran encounters another murder while spending time around a community filled with literary interests and personalities. Koko’s behavior again proves surprisingly relevant to the investigation.
8. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (1988)
A series of suspicious incidents leads Qwilleran into another investigation. The eighth novel continues the growing Moose County world and the increasingly important role of Qwilleran’s feline companions.
9. The Cat Who Went Underground (1989)
Qwilleran investigates strange events connected to an underground setting and discovers that seemingly unrelated incidents may have a common explanation.
10. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (1990)
A supposedly haunted setting provides the backdrop for another Qwilleran mystery. As usual, Braun mixes an apparently supernatural atmosphere with a very human murder investigation.
11. The Cat Who Lived High (1990)
Qwilleran becomes involved in a mystery surrounding a high-rise building. The investigation introduces another collection of unusual residents and suspicious circumstances.
12. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (1991)
A murder involving a respected local figure brings Qwilleran into another investigation. The growing Moose County community becomes increasingly important to the series.
13. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain (1992)
Qwilleran travels away from his usual surroundings and becomes involved in a mystery connected with a mountain community. The change of scenery gives the series a more remote and outdoors-oriented setting.
14. The Cat Who Wasn’t There (1992)
Qwilleran investigates a mystery involving a disappearance and a collection of suspicious characters. The novel continues Braun’s blend of traditional mystery clues and feline intuition.
15. The Cat Who Went into the Closet (1993)
A suspicious death leads Qwilleran into an investigation involving hidden information and secrets that have remained concealed for some time.
16. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (1994)
Qwilleran’s investigation takes him into the world of a resort community, where another death disrupts what should have been a peaceful setting.
17. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (1995)
A murder involving a railroad and local business interests gives Qwilleran another complicated case. The mystery also expands the series’ picture of Moose County’s institutions and residents.
18. The Cat Who Said Cheese (1996)
Qwilleran investigates after a murder occurs during a county festival. The familiar Moose County setting provides the backdrop for another mystery filled with eccentric suspects.
19. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (1997)
A series of thefts and a suspicious death bring Qwilleran into another investigation. Koko and Yum Yum remain important parts of his unofficial detective team.
20. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (1998)
Qwilleran becomes involved in a mystery surrounding a bird sanctuary and the people connected with it. The rural setting gives the story another distinctly Moose County flavor.
21. The Cat Who Saw Stars (1999)
Qwilleran encounters another unusual mystery, this time involving events that appear to have connections to the stars and unexplained phenomena.
22. The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (1999)
A bank robbery and a murder put Qwilleran on the trail of another criminal mystery. The book continues the increasingly interconnected world of Moose County.
23. The Cat Who Smelled a Rat (2001)
Qwilleran encounters a suspicious situation involving rodents, local politics, and a murder. As always, Koko’s behavior helps him notice details other people overlook.
24. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek (2002)
Qwilleran heads into another rural mystery involving a creekside community. The novel combines murder investigation with the distinctive local characters that have become central to Braun’s series.
25. The Cat Who Brought Down the House (2003)
A new mystery develops around a historic theater and the people connected to it. Qwilleran finds himself investigating another death while Koko provides his own unusual assistance.
26. The Cat Who Talked Turkey (2004)
Qwilleran becomes involved in a mystery involving a turkey farm and the eccentric personalities surrounding it. The familiar combination of murder, community secrets, and feline clues continues.
27. The Cat Who Went Bananas (2004)
Qwilleran investigates another strange case as unusual events unfold around him. The novel continues the series’ later Moose County setting and its ensemble of recurring personalities.
28. The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (2006)
A mysterious death and an explosive discovery give Qwilleran another dangerous case. By this stage, the series has developed into a large fictional community populated by recurring characters and institutions.
29. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007)
The final published Cat Who… novel brings Qwilleran, Koko, and Yum Yum to the end of Braun’s long-running mystery series. It was published in 2007 and remains the final numbered novel in the series.
The Cat Who Books at a Glance
| # | Book | Publication Year |
| 1 | The Cat Who Could Read Backwards | 1966 |
| 2 | The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern | 1967 |
| 3 | The Cat Who Turned On and Off | 1968 |
| 4 | The Cat Who Saw Red | 1986 |
| 5 | The Cat Who Played Brahms | 1987 |
| 6 | The Cat Who Played Post Office | 1987 |
| 7 | The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare | 1988 |
| 8 | The Cat Who Sniffed Glue | 1988 |
| 9 | The Cat Who Went Underground | 1989 |
| 10 | The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts | 1990 |
| 11 | The Cat Who Lived High | 1990 |
| 12 | The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal | 1991 |
| 13 | The Cat Who Moved a Mountain | 1992 |
| 14 | The Cat Who Wasn’t There | 1992 |
| 15 | The Cat Who Went into the Closet | 1993 |
| 16 | The Cat Who Came to Breakfast | 1994 |
| 17 | The Cat Who Blew the Whistle | 1995 |
| 18 | The Cat Who Said Cheese | 1996 |
| 19 | The Cat Who Tailed a Thief | 1997 |
| 20 | The Cat Who Sang for the Birds | 1998 |
| 21 | The Cat Who Saw Stars | 1999 |
| 22 | The Cat Who Robbed a Bank | 1999 |
| 23 | The Cat Who Smelled a Rat | 2001 |
| 24 | The Cat Who Went Up the Creek | 2002 |
| 25 | The Cat Who Brought Down the House | 2003 |
| 26 | The Cat Who Talked Turkey | 2004 |
| 27 | The Cat Who Went Bananas | 2004 |
| 28 | The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell | 2006 |
| 29 | The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers | 2007 |
The publication order is consistently listed as 29 novels, beginning in 1966 and ending in 2007.
The Cat Who Short Story Collections
Braun also published three collections of shorter Cat Who… stories and related material. They are not part of the 29 numbered novels, so readers can treat them as optional companion books.
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (1988)
This collection brings together fourteen shorter stories featuring the world and characters associated with The Cat Who…. It was published during the early period of Braun’s return to the series.
Short and Tall Tales: Moose County Legends (2002)
This collection offers shorter stories and legends connected with Moose County and the wider Cat Who… world.
The Private Life of the Cat Who… (2003)
This companion volume focuses more closely on the cats and their world rather than functioning as another numbered Qwilleran mystery.
These three collections are generally listed separately from the 29 main novels.
Do You Need to Read The Cat Who Books in Order?
You do not have to read every Cat Who… mystery in order to understand an individual case. Most of the mysteries are reasonably self-contained. However, publication order is still the best reading order for a first-time reader because Jim Qwilleran’s life, relationships, Koko and Yum Yum, and the development of Moose County unfold gradually throughout the series.
There is also a major reason not to skip the early books: the first three novels introduce Qwilleran and the series before Braun’s nearly 18-year publishing gap. Starting with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards gives readers the complete evolution of the series rather than dropping directly into its later, more established version.
What Is The Cat Who Series About?
At the center of the series is Jim Qwilleran, usually called Qwill, a former newspaper reporter who eventually settles in the fictional Moose County. His two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, become his constant companions.
Koko in particular seems to possess an uncanny ability to recognize important clues. He cannot literally speak to Qwilleran, but his behavior often draws attention to something Qwilleran has overlooked. That relationship is one of the defining features of the series.
The mysteries themselves are classic cozy mysteries rather than hard-edged crime thrillers. Small-town communities, unusual personalities, local businesses, art, music, food, animals, and eccentric traditions are often just as important to the atmosphere as the murders being investigated.
Why Is There Such a Long Gap Between Books 3 and 4?
Lilian Jackson Braun published the first three novels between 1966 and 1968. She then left the publishing world for almost two decades.
The series returned in 1986 with The Cat Who Saw Red. Penguin Random House notes that Braun was reintroduced to readers through that book after her long absence, after which publishers released new novels and reprints of her earlier books.
That means the fourth book can feel somewhat different from the first three, but it is still part of the same overall Qwilleran and Koko series.
What Happened to The Cat Who Smelled Smoke?
Readers sometimes encounter references to a supposed 30th Cat Who… novel called The Cat Who Smelled Smoke.
It was announced as a planned book, but it was never published. Braun died in 2011, and the proposed novel did not become part of the published series. Therefore, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers remains the 29th and final published novel.
This distinction matters because some older websites still list The Cat Who Smelled Smoke as Book 30 or describe it as forthcoming.
Who Are Koko and Yum Yum?
Koko and Yum Yum are Jim Qwilleran’s two Siamese cats and the feline stars of the series.
Koko is particularly important to the mysteries because his strange reactions frequently lead Qwilleran toward evidence or ideas he might otherwise have missed. Yum Yum is also a recurring presence and an important part of Qwilleran’s household.
The cats are not simply decorative side characters. Their relationship with Qwilleran is central to the identity of the series and is one reason the books stand out among cozy mysteries.
Where Should You Start With Lilian Jackson Braun?
Start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
For a first-time reader, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards is the obvious starting point. It introduces Qwilleran and Koko and establishes the basic formula of the series.
Start with the later books if you prefer classic cozy mystery atmosphere
Readers who are mainly interested in the fully developed Moose County setting may find the post-1986 books especially appealing. However, beginning with Book 1 gives you the complete progression of Qwilleran’s story.
Read the short-story collections afterward
The three companion collections are best treated as extras rather than required reading. You can read them after the novels or fit them into publication order if you want to explore every piece of the Cat Who… world.
About Lilian Jackson Braun
Lilian Jackson Braun was an American mystery writer best known for The Cat Who… series. Before becoming a novelist, she worked in journalism and wrote about subjects including home and lifestyle topics.
Her first Cat Who… novel, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, was published in 1966. She followed it with two more novels in the 1960s before returning to the series in 1986. She ultimately published 29 novels in the series, with the final book appearing in 2007. Braun died in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Cat Who books did Lilian Jackson Braun write?
Lilian Jackson Braun wrote 29 published Cat Who… novels. The series begins with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards in 1966 and ends with The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers in 2007. There are also three companion short-story collections.
What is the first Cat Who book?
The first book is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, published in 1966. It introduces Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cat Koko.
What is the last Cat Who book?
The final published novel is The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, published in 2007.
Is The Cat Who Smelled Smoke a real book?
The Cat Who Smelled Smoke was the planned title of an unpublished 30th Cat Who… novel. It was never released, so it should not be counted as a published book in the series.
Should The Cat Who books be read in order?
Publication order is recommended for new readers because the characters and Moose County setting develop across the series. However, many individual mysteries are sufficiently self-contained to be enjoyed without reading every previous installment.
Who is the main character in The Cat Who series?
The main human character is Jim Qwilleran, a former journalist who becomes involved in murder investigations. His two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, are central recurring characters.
Are The Cat Who books cozy mysteries?
Yes. The series is generally classified as cozy mystery, with an emphasis on character, community, setting, humor, and puzzle-like murder investigations rather than graphic crime.
Final Thoughts
The Cat Who… books offer a long-running cozy mystery journey centered on Jim Qwilleran, Koko, Yum Yum, and the fictional community of Moose County. With 29 published novels spanning more than four decades, the series gives readers plenty of room to settle into Braun’s distinctive combination of murder mysteries, small-town life, eccentric characters, and feline intuition.
For a first read, start at the beginning with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards and continue in publication order. The three short-story collections can then be added as companion reading, while The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers should be treated as the final published novel rather than looking for the never-released The Cat Who Smelled Smoke.
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