THE CAT WHO SNIFFED GLUE

by Lilian Jackson Braun ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 29, 1988

A nondemanding yet ingratiating eighth adventure for Koko and Yum Yum, indefatigable feline detectives, and their newspaperman owner, the biggish, 50-ish Jim Qwilleran, ""now heir to the Klingenschoen fortune."" When Pickax City police-chief Brodie first seeks the trio's help, it's to identify and deter a band of vandals; a few days later, however, there's a double murder to contend with: Who killed young, rich, ne'er-do-well Harley Fitch and his allegedly trampy bride Belle? Their bodies were discovered by Harley's clever, likable, also young and rich brother David and his wife, the socially well-connected Jill (she used to be Harley's girl), who stopped by to give the couple a lift to play rehearsal. Then: the boys' horrified mom has a massive stroke and dies; their father commits suicide; and Koko takes an extreme dislike to a local bookbinder; a maker of snowshoes; a paperhanger; and, surprisingly, brother David, whom everybody else likes, moustache notwithstanding. The Cain/Abel denouement occurs in the Fitch mansion library, and uncovers an overbearing mom; a young woman who changed her romantic inclinations twice; a staged burglary, and another name for one of the corpses. The author's deceptively innocent style turns smartly tart in outlining a middle-aged man's love-life. There are also edifying bits on how to make a pair of snowshoes; rebind a book; run a small-town newspaper. Overall: a most pleasant read.

Pub Date: Sept. 29, 1988

ISBN: 110121404X

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1988

Categories: FICTION