Cat mystery writer, Lilian Jackson Braun, died on Saturday, June 4 in hospice in Landrum, S. C. just 16 days short of her 98th birthday.
Just ask any cat-loving mystery reader and they’ll be happy to recount their favorite Lilian Jackson Braun novel regaling the adventures of journalist-turned-detective Jim Qwilleran. His mere presence brought death and mayhem to those around him. But with the help of his Siamese cats KoKo and YumYum, Qwilleran always pinned the killer. Ms. Braun’s groundbreaking series created an entirely new genre when the first book, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, was released in 1966.
Although she wrote up until the end, her career in cat mysteries concluded after 41 years with publication of the 29th and final novel, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007.) According to her husband of 32 years, Earl Bettinger, Braun was working on her 30th Cat Who book at the time of her death. Sadly, The Cat Who Smelled Smoke, has been cancelled.
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (1967) and The Cat Who Turned On and Off (1968) quickly followed her first novel. However, the publisher wanted mysteries with plenty of sex and carnage. Ms. Braun’s GP-rated cozies didn’t fit in with the lusty late 1960s.
“By the time I had written the fourth one, tastes in mysteries had changed, Ms. Braun once said. They wanted sex and violence, not kitty-cat stories. Gore was not my style, so I just forgot about The Cat Who.
With the encouragement of her husband after her retirement from The Detroit Free Press (1984), she again tested the water bowl with The Cat Who Saw Red (Berkley Publishing Group, 1986.) G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Berkley went on to publish twenty-one more Cat Who novels. She wrote every one of her books in long hand and then typed them herself.
Ms. Braun’s books became staples on The New York Times bestseller lists. They have been translated into sixteen languages and are distributed worldwide, allowing readers everywhere to follow Qwilleran, his quirky friend and his feline companions. Ms. Braun often said her characters and settings were composites of people and places she knew. She created a male protagonist with a moustache so that people would not think her fiction was autobiographical. She described Qwilleran’s Moose County as “400 miles north of everywhere.” Often asked where the fictional Moose County really was, Ms. Braun would say, “In my head. It can be anywhere you want it to be.”
After working less than a week as a waitress, Ms. Braun went to work for Detroit department stores, beginning as a copywriter and eventually becoming the director of public relations. She took time off to write her first three books and then accepted a position with The Detroit Free Press where she wrote feature articles on interior design, art and architecture, as well as reviews of kitchen gadgets and other household products, for 30 years.
Toward the end Ms. Braun didn’t have cats of her own, according to her husband because she was losing her eye sight and nearly fell three times over her new kitten. The couple had about five cats over the years, all Siamese and all named either Koko or Yum Yum, he said.
Lilian Jackson Braun was preceded in death by her first husband, Louis Paul Braun; sister, Florence Jackson; and brother, Lloyd Jackson. She is survived by her husband of thirty-two years, Earl Bettinger. No memorial services will be held. Donations may be made to Hospice House, Landrum, SC, or the Polk County Public Library, Columbus, NC.
Thank you for such an informative article! I am new to her books, yes, can you believe my good fortune? I love cats too, and find these books to be so cute and yet well-written, so I’m really enjoying them.
Hi Caroline,
I’m also a huge fan of Carole Nelson Douglas’ Midnight Louie Mystery series. It’s a lot of fun.
I am so sorry to hear that Lilian had died. My very first book was the cat who said cheese and I have all of the cat who books. My mother had enjoyed the books too. My mom died back in 2004 when she was 90 years old. Again I ‘m so sorry. Death is an enemy.
She continued to write the Cat Who until she died. She never had a coauthor. Her husband said she was working on a new book when she passed. I read that he was going to destroy the manuscript. He didn’t want anyone else finishing her work. I certainly miss her.
I’m trying to complete my collection of The Cat Who books on CD. Some of the prices on Amazon & Ebay are outrageous — well, at least, out of my reach. Do you know of any source for audiobooks on CD besides these two?
I’m afraid Amazon and ebay are my go-to book stores. Anyone else have a suggestion?
Try audible from Amazon. They aren’t on CD but can be downloaded to phone or computer.
If you buy the kindle book, the audiobook is very cheap to add.
How about Thrift Books or Etsy?
Good suggestion. Thanks. Hope she sees this.
I also have all of the Cat Who books. I got almost all of them at Half Price books, either in the store or online.
I found a seller on ebay that sells the cat who books for between $3.50 and $4.50 in good condition. I have found good condition is fine to just read them. The neat part is they in addition to sellingbbooks they also purchase books. So you can read them and then sell them back. They even pay the postage. Also most of the books are buy 3 get 1 free or better. It’s kind of like renting them. Most of the books I received are hardcover and in good enough condition to keep as a set if you chose.
I’m new to the cat books and now I’m adding them to my list I found them on you tube audible books but of corse they are not in order I did find one I can’t number the cat who killed anyone heard of it ?
Bless you Lilian for your adorable imagination I will take your books over sex or volatile books any day I’m so sad you passed before I found you but you live on my dear in your loved work
Kim from Victoria Australia 🇦🇺
I’m new to the cat books and now I’m adding them to my list I found them on you tube audible books but of corse they are not in order I did find one I can’t number the cat who killed anyone heard of it ?
Bless you Lilian for your amazing imagination I will take your books over sex or volatile books any day I’m so sad you passed before I found you but you live on my dear in your loved work
Kim from Victoria Australia 🇦🇺
Hi Kim,
I am also a huge fan of the Midnight Louie mystery series by Carole Nelson Douglas. Sadly she passed away in October, but her books, are also fun and family friendly. Both Carole and Lilian were the founders of the cat mystery genre.
Another new to the cat who books. They’re just so engaging and the cats are funny. Been ordering 3 a month and reading them all too quickly. Thanks fir the article.
I’m new to the books too and I’m glad she didn’t budge and make books with sex and violence. I feel like sex and violence is cheap and tasteless. It’s funny, in 2022 that is all that is rampant on TikTok and instagram. People can’t do anything without over sexualizng EVERYTHING! And here I was thinking that it was just a 2022 thing! But it seems like it was everything in the 60s as well.
I’m no prude but when it’s everywhere it’s gotten to the point that it’s over saturated and unoriginal.
Just Google the title and you will find them. I have bought many hardback (used and without cover ) for $5. Can’t put them down.! I was born in 1960s and can’t believe I never heard of these. Love her even though I never knew her. I would like to see these books as a series with Christian Bale as Qwill (Watch the movie The Pale Blue Eye to see why I think Christian would fit the role) . Read in order and smile!
Try the local library for audible books. They may not have them all but they can request some and that’s how I have read 9 of them. Loved her writing! Sad she is gone