[.ca] Cat Who Came to Breakfast (ISBN 0747245134)

There's More Than Fudge Fumes on Breakfast Island!:
Hardcore mystery fans may find it a bit of a stretch, but if your taste runs to expertly written and very light fiction, you can't do better than Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series. Her detective, reporter James Qwilleran, investigates crimes with the aid of his Siamese cats--and the solutions to the crime inevitably rest more upon intution than actual deduction. While the premise sounds farfetched, Braun's work is actually less fanciful than you might expect, and she presents her eccentric characters and stories with great charm. Braun's writings frequently address ecological issues, and THE CAT WHO CAME TO BREAKFAST takes on over-development--in this case the rape of Breakfast Island, now renamed Pear Island and outfitted with a large scale resort, tacky tourist attractions, and at least two fudge shops. Qwill disapproves... but even fudge fumes can't mask the scent of a good story, and he sets off with his cats to investigate a series of unfortunate island accidents... and stumbles into murder. THE CAT WHO CAME TO BREAKFAST is a particularly memorable title in the series, for it provides Braun ample excuse to write with the faintly satirical edge that she handles so well. Recommended to old fans and newcomers alike.

The Cat...Came To Breakfast Makes Anyone Hungry For Mystery!:
The Cat...Came To Breakfast was the first book of Braun's series I have ever read. Afterwards, it made me go crazy for The Cat Who series. Her characters, Jim Quilleran and his cats, Koko & Yum Yum, help the story create its interesting qualities. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast brought me right into the story. I felt as if I too was on Pear Island. Great job, Ms. Braun!!

On vacation with Qwill and the cats:
Qwill, AKA James Qwilleran, wealthy semi-retired journalist and companion person to two Siamese cats, has just expressed his total disdain for the newest Moose County (400 miles north of everywhere) enterprise - Pear Island AKA Breakfast Island AKA Grand Island AKA Providence Island when he discovers that his long-time lady friend, Polly will be vacationing in Oregon and without him. He reconsiders his options and decides to visit this island but on his own terms. In a short time he becomes entangled in the local politics and begins to suspect that all is not as it seems on the island, no matter what name is being used. Of course there is a death and Qwill's suspicions prove correct. By the end of the book Qwill and the cats have had yet another vacation that did not go according to plan but instead solved some mysteries. This was a good entery into the series but I did miss some of the Moose County regulars. The one that were present,the ever-growing Derek and the delightful Bamba family make up for the absence of so many others however. The newest addition to the County, Elizabeth Cage is intriguing, another poor-little-rich-girl like Mary Duckworth of earlier books, but with a charm of her own. This is a must for fans of the series but would also be enjoyable for any fan of the 'cozy' mystery genre.

My Favorite of the series:
Of all of the books of the series this one is my favorite. I love the setting, and all the characters that are introduced. The natives to Pear Island (Breakfast Island) are charming and add a lot to the ambiance of the story. The Bambas have always been some of my favorite characters and I enjoyed seeing so much of them in this book. When I want a light hearted read I always grab this one first. I'd suggest it to any one who likes to read mysteries.

An enjoyable way to spend a little time:
I enjoyed this book, and I especially like reading the details of how Qwill dotes on Koko and Yum Yum. Tales of traveling with the cats, and their turkey roaster(!) were so amusing. The mystery didn't grip me, though. In fact, at times, I completely lost track of why Qwill went to visit Breakfast/Pear/Providence Island. Still, the book is low on violence and the pace is leisurely. If you are looking for something witty and pleasant, but not necessarily a page turner, pick this one up.