Lilian Jackson Braun Books In Order

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Lilian Jackson Braun was one of the most prominent authors of America, well-known for writing light-hearted novels based on the mystery and thriller genres. She is mostly remembered for her exciting mystery novels, ‘The Cat Who…’ series.

Lilian was born on June 20, 1913, in Willimansett, Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, United States, and died on June 4, 2011. Her novels of the famous The Cat Who series revolve around the life of James Qwilleran, a former newspaper reporter, and a couple of his Siamese cats named Yum Yum and KoKo.

The series is set in the fictitious little town of Pickax, which is located in the Moose County. Lilian has described the place to be around 400 miles to the north of everywhere.

The counties, towns and lifestyles of her characters described in the series show a great deal of resemblance to Bad Axe, Michigan, where Lilian used to live, along with her husband for a number of years until the 1980s. However, she has never indicated any resemblance to a place like that. Many of her readers also believe that she has depicted the history and culture of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in her novels.

Lilian Jackson began her career as a writer when she was a teenager. At that time, she used to contribute sports stories in the Detroit News. Later, she went on to work as an advertising copywriter for a number of department stores in Detroit. This was followed by a job in the Detroit Free Press. There, she remained the editor for a period of 30 years and went on to retire in 1978.

While still working as the editor of the Free Press, Lilian began working on her famous mystery series. In fact, she published the first three novels of the series between 1966 and 1968, which went on to critical acclaim. Following the success of her initial novels, Lilian was labelled as the new detective of the year by the New York Times.

After that stint, she disappeared for a period of 18 years from the mystery novel publishing scene because of the fact that mystery novels were to begin focusing on sex, foul language, and violence at that time. Due to this, the later novels of Lilian were not appreciated in the changed market of the mystery genre.

Then, it was in 1986 when Berkley Publishing successfully reintroduced Lilian to mystery readers. Berkley published her new addition to The Cat Who series and within the next 2 years, they published four more of her novels. They also reprinted her earlier novels.

Lilian’s novels once again started to become instant bestsellers and this motivated her to complete a total of 29 books in the series. As far her personal life is concerned, she liked to keep it private.

The first novel of the series was published by Berkley Trade in 1966. It was titled ‘The Cat Who Could Read Backwards.’ The plot of the novel is set in the fictitious town of Pickax in Moose County, United States. In the opening sequence of the novel, Jim Qwilleran is shown as a former prizewinning reporter who has disappeared from the field for a short while. He comes back to the scene with a job as a feature writer for the Daily Fluxion, in the art section.

The art critic of the paper, George Bonifield Mountclemens, has the habit of writing hurtful and invariably scathing reviews about the local shows, despite being a credentialed critic. He is also known to deliver his views by a messenger. He lives alone, with only a cat named KoKo.

Even though he lives alone, his house is lushly furnished and is situated in a moldering neighborhood where he is believed to have a number of enemies, as well as others scattered around town. George offers a small apartment to Jim in his building at a very nominal rent, which he grabs with both hands. But, he later realizes that the deal involved cat-sitting, as well.

Another character named Earl Lambreth is introduced, who is described as the owner of a gallery, where George gives happier treatments to the artists. On one occasion, he praises the painting of an artist who likes to call himself a Thingist.

The reclusive artist from Italy works with the attractive wife of Earl Lambreth named Zoe. After a little while, Zoe discovers her husband stabbed to death and his gallery vandalized.

Shortly after, Jim Qwilleran and KoKo find the dead body of George Mountclemens lying on the patio at the back of his house. With the multiple deaths within a short span of time, the plot of the novel takes a mysterious and exciting turn.

The second novel of The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun was published by Headline Publishing in 1967. The plot is set in the same place as the first novel of the series and continues to feature the same set of primary characters.

In the opening sequence of the second novel, Jim Qwilleran is not too overwhelmed after receiving his new assignment at the Daily Fluxion. He has never liked the subject of Interior design and now he is asked to write a complete magazine on this subject every week. His dislike of the interior design specialty is also known by his colleagues.

Somehow, Jim completes the first issue of the Gracious Abodes magazine, featuring the interior design of a luxurious residence. The magazine has barely gotten off the presses when Jim finds himself in yet another murder mystery.

It is revealed that the exclusive residence that Jim featured in his magazine is burglarized and the owner is found dead. Now, Jim Qwilleran along with his Siamese partner KoKo, is required to carry out the investigation by himself and find the real murderer.

Soon after, KoKo begins to dig up some crucial clues by sniffing the designer furniture of the burglarized house. The mystery turns into yet another feature for Jim Qwilleran, in which he tries to follow the trail of a clever killer.

10 Responses to “Lilian Jackson Braun”

1. Dot Gabriel: 3 months ago

   I simply love these books. Read them a while ago and just re-read The Cat Who Had Sixty Whiskers. BUT I can’t seem to find out if Polly ever returned to Qwill. Can someone tell me? I’d greatly appreciate an answer

   Reply
2. Anita: 4 months ago

   I was introduced to Qwilleran (with a Q) when I was about 11 years old- immediately I was hooked. It’s exactly like coming home, to read these books. These books are like old friends that you can open again and again.

   Reply
   • Dot: 3 months ago

     Just re-read The Cat With 60 Whiskers and can’t believe the barn burned. Is it a total loss for Qwill? And has Polly ever come back to Pickax?

     Reply
3. PAT: 4 months ago

   I read these books when they first came out. Enjoying them then and even more on rediscovering a few at a yard sale. Am so sad for this lovely author to pass away but her last book ended well. My joy will be searching for them; then sliding under my warm electric blanket in the evening happily becoming lost in the world of two cats and their friend !!!!

   Reply
4. Barbara Van Vleet: 4 months ago

   My Christmas wish list was simple this year – as many Cat Who… novels as could be found in order to add to my collection of the series. A free box of books in a senior living community room originally provided my introduction to Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum. Over the past 3 years, every now and then another Cat Who… has mysteriously arrived in the free box again! I read them out of order in gratitude for my unknown benefactor.
   My Christmas wish was granted with 7 more books! I feel like family returning to visit a relative each time I re-enter Koko’s world. Koko and Qwill have improved my communication with my 3 cats and deepened our companionship. This has been even more meaningful during the lock downs and quarantines of the Covid-19 pandemic that began in 2020. I am grateful for my mysterious free book benefactor, to Lilian Braun and to her publishers.

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5. DeAngela: 8 months ago

   I love this collection. It is my favorite.
   I have read and own every book in the series.
   It took a lot of thrift store shopping to find them all,
   but I love a good treasure hunt.
   I love the fact that here books are not full of sex,
   drugs and graphic violence. They are written so well
   that they don’t have to have all of that junk.

   Reply
6. RoseMarie Martino: 9 months ago

   Terrific reading and they give you the warm fuzzies.

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7. Marian: 12 months ago

   I listened to all of these books years ago on cassette tape from the Library. Now I wish I could find them recorded as MP3 for my iPod that I use during my ride to and from work. I loved these books.

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8. Ann Johnson: 1 year ago

   I have started collecting all of her books and have all I think, but three. I have read all of them at least once and will be reading them over and over again.

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9. ROBOT: 5 years ago

   I’ve read 3 of these books. [Post Office, Cardinal, and Private Life of….] I MUST read them ALL. In chronological order.

   Reply