cover image The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers

The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers

Lilian Jackson Braun. Putnam, $23.95 (208pp) ISBN 978-0-399-15390-7

Diehard fans will best appreciate Braun's meandering 29th ""Cat Who..."" mystery (after 2006's The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell). Series hero Jim ""Qwill"" Qwilleran, columnist for the Moose County Something in remote Pickax City, Mich., gets involved in the local literary club, a new senior center and an absurdist play called The Cat Who Was Elected Dogcatcher. When Polly Duncan, ""the chief woman in his life,"" goes off to Paris, Qwill is left without a companion for his various social outings. Incidental criminal activities include arson, missing funds and death by bee sting. Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum add the usual feline fun.