by Lilian Jackson Braun
For a place "400 miles north of everywhere," as it is often described, fictional Moose County has a body count that just won't quit. Fortunately it also has the independently wealthy philanthropist and newspaper columnist James "Qwill" Qwilleran and his sleuthing Siamese, Koko and Yum Yum, who can sniff out a killer the way other cats find tuna fish. In their 20th adventure in Braun's popular The Cat Who...mystery series, Qwilleran and gang are investigating the death of a 93-year-old neighbor in a suspicious fire and a break-in at the county's recently opened art center. As with all Braun's mysteries, there's no gore, no violence and no big surprise in store. But a healthy peppering of cat shenanigans and some interesting trivia (like the folklore behind the traditional Scottish song "Loch Lomond") make it an enjoyable way to while away a winter afternoon, particularly with a lap cat of your own. (Putnam, $22.95)
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