The Cat Who Books in Order

The Cat Who is a 29-volume mystery series, written by the late Lilian Braun. The story revolves around Jim Qwilleran, a reporter, and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum-Yum.

‘The Cat Who Could Read Backwards,’ the first novel in the series, was written and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 1966.

Two other novels followed in 1967 and 1968, ‘The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern’ and ‘The Cat Who Could Turn On and Off’. However, the fourth novel only appeared 18 years later. The novel revolves entirely around Qwill and the story of his father, Dana. He was a very skilled theater actor who had the opportunity to tour the entire country but decided to relocate to Chicago after meeting Qwill’s mother.

His father is killed while attempting a robbery. Qwill is raised by a single mother, with no other family besides her and her close friend.

Qwill ends up joining the military at the age of 17. He later leaves the military, with an injured knee that keeps him away from baseball. He soon discovers that he has a natural talent for journalism. He pays a visit to the paper’s art critic, who lives a few streets away, where he meets Koko, a Siamese cat who can read backward. He ends up adopting Koko. As the story progresses, Qwill and his Siamese cat are assigned new tasks with each book.

The Cat Who Books in order 

Cat Who

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 (1994)
18. The Cat Who Said Cheese (1995)
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)

Cat Who Short Story

1. The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (1988)
2. Short and Tall Tales / Qwilleran’s Short and Tall Tales (2002)
3. The Private Life of the Cat Who… (2003)

Similar authors

• Magical Cats Mystery by Sofie Kelly follows Kathleen Paulson. She has to run her library, care for her felines, and occasionally solve murders.
• Cat in the Stacks by Miranda James follows Charlie Harris. Everyone knows the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat. He’s returned to his town to read as much as he can, but soon he’s caught in a real-life thriller. See Miranda James Books in Order.

Most recommended books

1. The Cat Who Turned On and Off (Cat Who…, #3) (3.98 Goodreads score)
2. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (Cat Who… #10) (3.96 Goodreads score)
3. The Cat Who Played Brahms (Cat Who… #5) (3.96 Goodreads score)
4. The Cat Who Saw Red (Cat Who… #4) (3.96 Goodreads score)
5. The Cat Who Saw Red (Cat Who… #4) (3.96 Goodreads score)

Latest releases

The latest book in the series, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, was released in 2007. It is the 29th installment in the series.

Book summaries

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966)

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 reporter talents to art. But Qwilleran and his newly found partner, Koko the brilliant Siamese cat, are in their element—sniffing out clues and confounding criminals intent on mayhem and murder.

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (1967)

Jim Qwilleran isn’t exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialties and now he’s supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the subject every week! But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory—the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarized and the lady of the house found dead. Now Qwilleran and his brilliant Siamese cat, Koko, have their respective mustache and whiskers twitching. And when Koko starts pawing clues in the dictionary and sniffing designer furniture, Qwilleran finds himself doing a feature on a very clever murder…

The Cat Who Turned On And Off (1968)

When Qwilleran decides to do a feature story on Junktown, he gets more than he bargained for. Not the dope den he anticipated, Junktown is a haven for antique dealers and collectors—as strange a lot as the crafty reporter has ever encountered. When a mysterious fall ends the career—and the life—of one of Junktown’s leading citizens, Qwilleran is convinced it was no accident. But, as usual, it takes Koko to prove he’s right.

The Cat Who Saw Red (1986)

Something is amiss at Maus Haus. Not just the mystery of an unsolved “suicide” which hangs over the old mansion, but something ominous in the present-day residence. When Qwilleran moves in to work on his new gastronomical assignment, strange things begin to happen. First, it’s a scream in the night, then a vanishing houseboy. But when his old girlfriend disappears, something has to be done. Qwilleran, Koko, and Yum Yum set out to solve the mystery—and find a murderer!

The Cat Who Played Brahms (1987)

Is it just a case of summertime blues or a full-blown career crisis? Newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran isn’t sure, but he’s hoping a few days in the country will help him sort out his life. With cats Koko and Yum Yum for company, he heads for a cabin owned by a longtime family friend named Aunt Fanny. But from the moment he arrives, things turn strange. Eerie footsteps cross the roof at midnight. The townsfolk become oddly secretive. And then, while fishing, Qwilleran hooks on to a murder mystery. Soon Qwilleran enters into a game of cat and mouse with the killer, while Koko develops a sudden and uncanny fondness for classical music…

The Cat Who Played Post Office (1987)

Inheriting unexpected millions has left reporter Jim Qwilleran looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. While his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, adjust to being fat cats in an enormous mansion, Qwill samples the lifestyles of the rich and famous by hiring a staff of eccentric servants. A missing housemaid and a shocking murder soon show Qwilleran the unsavory side of the upper crust. But it’s Koko’s purr-fect propensity for finding clues amid the caviar and champagne that gives Qwill pause to evaluate the most unlikely suspects—before his taste for the good life turns into his last meal…

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (1988)

An accident has claimed the life of the local paper’s eccentric publisher, but to Qwilleran and his feline friends, it smells like murder. They soon sniff out a shocking secret, but Koko’s snooping into an unusual edition of Shakespeare may prove CATastrophic… because somewhere in Pickax, a lady loves not wisely but too well, a widow is scandalously merry, and a stranger has a lean and hungry look. The stage is set for Qwilleran, Koko, Yum Yum, and the second act of murder most meow…

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (1988)

Having inherited millions, Jim Qwilleran and his two feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, are preparing to settle down into a life of purrfect luxury in Pickax. That is until the son of a rich banker and his wife are found murdered. To the police, it looks like a robbery gone awry. But then Koko develops an odd appetite for glue. Qwill doesn’t spot the clue until his beloved Siamese’s taste for paste tangles them in a web of love, danger, and their stickiest case yet!

The Cat Who Went Underground (1989)

The trio’s vacation in Moose County starts out ominously with the disappearance of a handyman hired to patch up Qwilleran’s cabin. But the felines really start throwing catfits when they come across a dead body or two…A serial killer may be right under Koko’s nose, and now this ingenious Siamese must dig deeper to clear poor Qwilleran of suspicion—and dig up the motive for a catastrophic crime.

The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (1990)

When Mrs. Cobb heard unearthly noises in the antique-filled farmhouse, she called Jim Qwilleran for help. But he was too late. It looked as if his kindly ex-housekeeper had been frightened to death—but by whom? Or what? Now Qwilleran’s moved into the historic farmhouse with his two cat companions—and Koko the Siamese is spooked. Is it a figment of feline imagination—or the clue to a murder in Moose County? And does Qwilleran have a ghost of a chance of solving this haunting mystery?

The Cat Who Lived High (1990)

The colorful Casablanca apartment building is in danger of demolition—but not if Jim Qwilleran can help it. He’s determined to restore the building to its original grandeur. So he moves in with Koko and Yum Yum—and discovers that Casablanca is steeped in history…and mystery. In Qwill’s very apartment, a glamorous art dealer met an untimely fate, and the veteran journalist and his crime-solving cats are about to reach new heights in detection as the evidence builds up…and the Casablanca threatens to crumble down around them!

The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (1991)

All the world’s a stage—and now Jim Qwilleran’s apple orchard has become the stage for a real-life murder scene. The much-disliked director of the Pickax Theatre Club’s Shakespeare production, Hilary VanBrook, has been found dead after the closing-night cast party. With the help of his super-smart Siamese, Qwill must cast a suspicious eye on all the players—especially the ones pussyfooting around behind the scenes…

The Cat Who Moved a Mountain (1992)

Qwill’s on top of the world when he rents a house on Big Potato Mountain. The owner, J.J. Hawkinfield, brought real estate development to the once-peaceful Potatoes. But Hawkinfield paid a steep price for his enterprise: He was pushed off a cliff by an angry mountain dweller. Qwilleran, however, suspects the man is innocent—and Koko’s antics have him convinced something’s wrong. He may be making a mountain out of a molehill…but he’s determined to find the truth. Even if it means jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!Qwill’s on top of the world when he rents a house on Big Potato Mountain. The owner, J.J. Hawkinfield, brought real estate development to the once-peaceful Potatoes. But Hawkinfield paid a steep price for his enterprise: He was pushed off a cliff by an angry mountain dweller. Qwilleran, however, suspects the man is innocent—and Koko’s antics have him convinced something’s wrong. He may be making a mountain out of a molehill…but he’s determined to find the truth. Even if it means jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!

The Cat Who Wasn’t There (1992)

Qwill’s on his way to Scotland—and on his way to solving another purr-plexing mystery. But this time, Koko’s nowhere near the scene of the crime. He and Yum Yum are back in Pickax, being coddled by a catsitter…but Koko won’t sit still once Qwill’s traveling party returns—minus one member. He’s behaving oddly, and Qwill knows what that means: Koko may have been miles away from the murder scene—but he’s just a whisker away from cracking the case!

The Cat Who Went into the Closet (1993)

Qwill’s moved into the old Gage mansion—and the cats are on a treasure hunt. The house’s fifty closets are crammed with several generations of junk, and while Qwill investigates two recent deaths—those of the mansion’s former occupant and a local potato farmer—Koko investigates the contents of the closets. Qwill and the cats wind up unearthing some surprising skeletons—and bringing long-buried secrets to light…

The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (1994)

Qwilleran and the cats are visiting an island known by many names. Qwill has always called it Breakfast Island, but to the taciturn natives, it’s Providence Island. To the rich summer resident, it’s Grand Island—and to the developers and tourists who are turning this once-peaceful place into a circus, it’s Pear Island. But when some odd “accidents” occur, including a fatal boat explosion, Qwill suspects sabotage and sets out to investigate—because murder by any other name is just as deadly…

The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (1994)

Floyd Trevelyan’s historic steam locomotive, newly restored, is the newest attraction in Moose County. But the excitement is eclipsed by shock when Trevelyan disappears—along with millions of investors’ dollars. Puzzled and suspicious, Qwill’s trying to make a connection between the missing millionaire and a recent murder at a nearby railroad tavern. Now, with the help of his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, he’s about to prove that the police are on the wrong track.

The Cat Who Said Cheese (1995)

With the Great Food Explo approaching, there’s a lot of scrumptious activity in Moose County. Residents can’t wait for the restaurant openings, the cheese-tasting, and the bake-off, among other festivities. But there’s nothing as tasty as a morsel of gossip, so when a mysterious woman moves into the New Pickax Hotel, the locals—including Qwill—indulge in lots of speculation. But then a bomb explodes in her room, killing the hotel housekeeper—and now Qwill and his kitty sidekicks, Koko and Yum Yum, must put aside the fun and figure out who cooked up this murderous recipe…

The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (1997)

There’s been a rash of petty thievery in Pickax—ever since banker Willard Carmichael and his flashy young wife, Danielle, moved in. But now Willard’s been killed in a mugging Down Below…or so it seems. Qwill’s suspicious, especially when Willard’s house-restoration project in Pickax falls into the hands of Danielle’s cousin—whose rich new wife then dies on her honeymoon! The clues are confounding. But with Koko’s help, Qwill intends to catch a thief—and a killer…

The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (1998)

As early spring comes to Moose County, Jim Qwilleran is looking forward to the peaceful beauty of nature’s rebirth. What he gets instead is a chorus of noisy birds that constantly wakes him from a sound sleep—especially when Koko insists on joining in with his own feline version of bird calling. But soon Qwill is wondering whether Koko is trying to say more than just “tweet tweet,” because a series of strange events—starting with an act of vandalism and culminating in a mysterious chain of death and disappearance—has Pickax in a similar uproar. It seems that this spring, a cat’s fancy may turn to crime-solving…

The Cat Who Saw Stars (1999)

UFOs in Mooseville? Rumors abound that a missing backpacker has been abducted, and it looks like Jim Qwilleran’s sedate summer may be interrupted by an investigation—with the help of his own little aliens, Koko and Yum Yum. And when the backpacker’s body turns up—and transplanted Floridian Owen Bowen is found dead soon afterward—the search for intelligent life turns into a hunt for a murderer…

The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (1999)

As the Highland Games approach, Jim Qwilleran and the citizens of Pickax, Michigan, prepare to celebrate their Scottish heritage with such events as bagpipe skirling and tossing the caber. But the traditional revelry is marred by troublesome rumors when a visiting jewelry dealer, renowned for his romantic streak (and his mysterious cash-only policy), is found dead in his hotel room. His assistant is missing—and soon, the winner of the caber-tossing content disappears as well. Qwilleran and his snooping Siamese are willing to go to any lengths to find the killer and set the town at ease. But first, they’ll have to contend with a highjacked bookmobile and an attempted bank robbery. Qwill has a lot of mysteries to sort out—not the least of which is Koko’s sudden interest in photographs, pennies, and paper towels…

The Cat Who Smelled a Rat (2001)

The way Jim Qwilleran sees it, there’s nothing worse than being left high and dry. But that’s exactly where he’s been ever since a record-breaking drought hit Moose County. He’s bedraggled. Beleaguered. And, following a rash of fires at local historic mine sites, deeply bewildered. Some blame the blazes on bad weather conditions, but Qwill thinking of arson. And when a mysterious explosion is followed by a blood-chilling murder, he starts seriously praying for snow—and answers. Good thing Koko can smell trouble a mile away…

The Cat Who Went Up the Creek (2002)

Jim Qwilleran is enjoying his stay at the Nutcracker Inn in Black Creek. His two Siamese, Koko and Yum Yum don’t seem quite as pleased with the accommodations…though Koko does enjoy keeping a keen eye on the squirrels and other local wildlife. Then, while Koko’s eagerly watching some jumping trout, he spots something else: a body floating downstream. When it’s revealed that the victim was a guest at the inn—and had nuggets of gold hidden in his shoes—Qwill dives into the case. And if he and the cats don’t solve it soon, they’re going to be up the creek without a paddle…

The Cat Who Brought Down the House (2003)

Jim Qwilleran lives in Pickax, a small town 400 miles north of everywhere, and writes for a small newspaper. He stands tall and straight. He dates a librarian. His roommates are two abandoned cats that he adopted along the way, one of them quite remarkable. Qwilleran has a secret that he shares with no one—or hardly anyone. His male cat, Koko, has an uncanny intuition that can tell right from wrong and frequently sniffs out the evildoer… Retiring in Pickax, actress Thelma Thackeray has decided to start a film club and organize a fundraiser revue, starring Koko the Cat. But Thelma’s celebrated arrival takes an unpleasant turn when the strange circumstances of her twin brother’s recent death seem suspicious to Jim Qwilleran. Qwill needs a helping paw in this case. But will Koko deign to take time from his stage debut?

The Cat Who Talked Turkey (2004)

The good people of Moose County are in a fever of excitement. It’s almost time for the gala groundbreaking for the Pickax bookstore—and the town of Brrr is preparing for its bicentennial celebration. All the festivities, however, are spoiled by the discovery of a man’s body on James Qwilleran’s property. Could it be the work of the killer who used the same MO in northern Michigan? To solve the case, Qwill and his feline pals, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to prick up their ears to find the thankless killer…

The Cat Who Went Bananas (2004)

With the opening night of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest fast approaching—along with the dedication of the new bookstore in town—good times are ahead for the citizens of Pickax. But the merry atmosphere is dampened by the suspicious death of an out-of-town actor and the theft of a rare book. Qwill finds himself distracted from the recent events by his finicky pal Koko, who’s been acting more fishy than feline. Has Koko gone bananas, or is he trying to let the cat out of the bag to help Qwill solve the dual mysteries?

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (2006)

The town of Pickax is buzzing with excitement: its residents are about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. But in the midst of all the preparations, Qwill has to take time out to entertain aspiring architect Harvey Ledfield—and deal with Koko’s strange new habit. Because the Siamese star has started dropping from balconies and landing in the oddest of places, including on Harvey’s head! And now that Harvey’s aunt and uncle have mysteriously gone missing, Qwill better brushes up on his paw language before Pickax is hit with a bombshell…

The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007)

Times are a-changin’ in Pickax, giving Jim Qwilleran some newsworthy notes for the “Qwill Pen.” A new senior center is in the works—as well as a frisky production of Cats. And a local mansion is being converted into a charitable museum. Good thing there’s lots to keep Qwill busy because Polly Duncan is off to Paris, temporarily leaving him without his lady companion. But when a mysterious death from a bee sting leaves everyone but Koko the Siamese in a state of confusion, the kitty with sixty whiskers will need to stop pussyfooting around and let Qwill in on the deadly secret…

The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (1988)

Filled with furballs like a courageous Siamese who bags a cunning cat burglar, a country kitty who proves a stumbling block in a violent murder, and an intuitive feline whose premonition helps solve the case of the missing antique dealer, this collection will delight cat lovers and mystery aficionados alike!

Short and Tall Tales / Qwilleran’s Short and Tall Tales (2002)

Fictional columnist James Qwilleran has finally completed his book showcasing the stories related to him by residents of Moose County—that famous region 400 miles north of everywhere. With an introduction by Lilian Jackson Braun, this delightful volume that reveals the offbeat “history” of Moose County is a treat for old and new fans alike.

The Private Life of the Cat Who… (2003)

What could be more purrfect for fans of the Cat Who series than an intimate look at the private lives of those extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum—the most unlikely, most unusual, most delightful team in detective fiction! In this charming collection of feline antics, you’ll discover why Jim Qwilleran considers Koko a veritable clone of T.S. Eliot’s Rum Tum Tugger, how Yum Yum was rescued from a burglar who is not above a spot of catnapping, and many more fascinating catly facts…