Lilian Jackson Braun and The Cat Who Could Read Backwards: A Cozy Mystery That Started It All
If you've ever wondered where the cozy mystery genre truly found its footing, the answer lies partly in the pages of a slim 1966 paperback about a down-on-his-luck journalist and a remarkably perceptive Siamese cat. Lilian Jackson Braun published this debut novel after the heartbreaking loss of her own beloved Siamese, channeling her grief into a story that would quietly reshape an entire genre. The New York Times called her "the new detective of the year," and decades later, readers are still discovering why that praise was so well-earned.
What makes this origin story even more remarkable is what happened next. After publishing two more books to critical acclaim, Braun stopped writing entirely for eighteen years — refusing to compromise her clean, character-driven storytelling when publishers began demanding more sex, gore, and sensationalism. Her eventual return in 1986 proved there was a massive, hungry audience for exactly the kind of mystery she had always wanted to write. In many ways, her stubborn artistic integrity helped draw the very boundaries that define the cozy mystery subgenre we know and love today.
Qwilleran, Koko, and a Cutthroat Art World: Plot and Setting Explored
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards drops us into an unnamed, gritty Midwestern city in the 1960s, where former award-winning crime reporter Jim Qwilleran has landed at the Daily Fluxion as a feature writer covering the local art scene. Qwilleran — Qwill to his friends — is a fascinatingly atypical cozy protagonist: middle-aged, slightly paunchy, divorced, broke, and on the wagon, with a bristly mustache that twitches like a compass needle whenever he senses a story worth chasing. His new beat throws him headfirst into a world of pretentious galleries, eccentric artists, and scathing critics, none more formidable than the notoriously acerbic George Bonifield Mountclemens III.
When a gallery owner named Earl Lambreth turns up murdered, followed by the death of Mountclemens himself, Qwill finds his journalistic instincts fully reawakened. The art world suspects list is wonderfully colorful: there's Zoe Lambreth, the gallery owner's attractive wife; Nino, an artist who calls himself a "Thingist" and works in junk; and Scrano, a reclusive Italian painter who doesn't exactly welcome visitors. Threading through every scene is Koko — Mountclemens's elegant Siamese cat, whose full name, Kao K'o-Kung, is a tribute to a real thirteenth-century Chinese artist — who becomes Qwill's unlikely investigative partner after circumstances place them under the same roof.
One of the book's most charming details is the literal meaning behind its title: Koko has a habit of tracing newspaper headlines with his nose from right to left, as though reading backwards. It's a small, whimsical touch that perfectly captures Braun's approach to feline sleuthing throughout the entire Cat Who… series. The art world backdrop, complete with a hilarious send-up of 1960s "Thingism" and the cutthroat rivalries between critics and creators, gives the mystery a vivid, time-capsule quality that feels both specific and endlessly entertaining.
First in a Beloved Series: Where The Cat Who Could Read Backwards Fits in the Cat Who… Universe
This is Book #1 in the long-running Cat Who… series, and it is unequivocally the best place to start. It establishes Qwill's backstory in full — his fall from journalistic grace, his fragile sobriety, his dry wit — and shows exactly how he and Koko first form their unlikely bond. Reading this novel first means you understand the emotional weight of their relationship as it deepens across subsequent installments, and that context makes everything that follows richer.
It's worth noting for readers who come to the series through later books that the setting here is quite different from what the Cat Who… series eventually becomes famous for. The charming fictional small town of Pickax in Moose County — memorably described as "400 miles north of everywhere" — doesn't become the primary setting until much later. These early books have a grittier, more urban newspaper atmosphere, which some readers actually prefer, while others are pleasantly surprised by the contrast. Yum Yum, Koko's eventual feline companion and a fan favorite in her own right, is also not yet part of the picture here, so don't go looking for her just yet.
The series ultimately grew to twenty-nine published novels, with a planned thirtieth, The Cat Who Smelled Smoke, left unfinished when Lilian Jackson Braun's health declined before her death in 2011. It's a remarkable legacy for a series that was essentially put on pause for nearly two decades. Ranked #11 on Goodreads' Best Cozy Mystery list and holding a solid 3.87 out of 5 across nearly 34,000 ratings, the Cat Who… series has clearly earned its place in the cozy canon.
Feline Intuition, 1960s Newsrooms, and Lighthearted Charm: What Sets This Cozy Apart
What genuinely distinguishes this book from the crowded field of animal-assisted cozies is how grounded Koko's "sleuthing" actually is. There's no magic, no talking, no paranormal sixth sense — Koko is simply a cat, behaving exactly as a highly intelligent Siamese would. He stares intently at a blank wall. He knocks a specific object off a shelf. He scratches an ear at a telling moment. It's Qwill's sharp, trained journalistic instincts that interpret these behaviors as clues, making the partnership feel organic and genuinely clever rather than contrived. Cat owners, particularly Siamese enthusiasts, consistently praise Braun's loving and accurate portrayal of feline behavior as one of the series' most authentic pleasures.
The 1960s newsroom atmosphere is another element that gives this book a distinctive texture you won't find in most contemporary cozies. The Daily Fluxion buzzes with the energy of a golden era of print journalism — deadline pressure, editorial politics, the camaraderie of old friends like Qwill's editor Arch Riker and photographer Odd Bunsen. There's a nostalgia to it that feels earned rather than sentimental, and the art world setting adds a layer of wit and social satire that keeps the pages turning even during the quieter stretches. Reviewer Scott Rhee, who describes himself as not normally a cozy fan, called the book "irresistibly fun and adorable," which feels like a perfect encapsulation of its appeal.
One honest caveat: some readers find the pacing slow in the first half, noting that Qwill spends considerable time conducting art-scene interviews before the mystery fully kicks into gear. If you're the kind of reader who needs a body on page one, you may need a little patience. But for those who enjoy atmosphere, character development, and the pleasure of a world slowly and lovingly built, that first half is actually part of the charm.
Who Should Read The Cat Who Could Read Backwards: Verdict and Ratings in Context
If you love cats, classic mysteries, or the warm glow of a well-realized historical setting, this book was written for you. Lilian Jackson Braun crafted something genuinely special here: a cozy mystery with an unconventional male protagonist, a realistic animal companion, and a sharp satirical eye for the pretensions of the art world. It's a book that works beautifully as a standalone read but rewards you even more if you let it be the beginning of a long, comfortable series relationship.
The Goodreads rating of 3.87 out of 5 from over 33,000 readers is worth contextualizing honestly. Some of those lower ratings come from modern readers who find the 1960s pacing and gender dynamics dated, or from fans expecting the cozy small-town Pickax setting from the start. Readers who approach it on its own terms — as a witty, atmospheric, character-driven mystery from a genuine pioneer of the genre — tend to rate it considerably higher, with many awarding full five stars. One reviewer put it perfectly: among cozies, this is simply a top-notch read.
Whether you're a lifelong cozy devotee or a skeptic dipping a tentative toe into the genre for the first time, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards offers something rare: a book that feels both of its era and completely timeless. It's the kind of story you finish and immediately want to press into the hands of someone you love. Lilian Jackson Braun gave readers Qwill and Koko, and in doing so, gave the cozy mystery world one of its most enduring and beloved partnerships.
Quick Facts
- Series: Cat Who… (Book #1)
- Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
- Subgenre: Classic American cozy mystery / Ailuromystery (cat mystery)
- Setting: Unnamed Midwestern U.S. city, 1960s
- Main Character: Jim Qwilleran, a middle-aged ex-crime reporter turned art feature writer
- Goodreads Rating: 3.87/5 (33,886 ratings)
- Top 100 Rank: #11
- Best For: Cat lovers, fans of 1960s atmosphere, readers who enjoy flawed and unconventional protagonists
- Content Warnings: None — clean cozy read with mild mystery violence
- Bonus Content: N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards about?
Jim Qwilleran, a down-on-his-luck former crime reporter, takes a job covering the art beat for a Midwestern newspaper and finds himself entangled in a series of murders within the cutthroat local art world. With the help of Koko, an eerily perceptive Siamese cat belonging to the city's acerbic art critic, Qwill begins piecing together a mystery that runs deeper than anyone expected. It's a witty, atmospheric whodunit set against the backdrop of 1960s gallery culture and newspaper journalism.
Is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards the first book in the Cat Who… series?
Yes — this is Book #1 in the Cat Who… series and is the ideal starting point. It establishes Qwilleran's backstory and shows exactly how he and Koko first meet, laying the emotional foundation for everything that follows in the series.
How many books are in the Cat Who… series?
The series includes twenty-nine published novels, spanning from 1966 to 2007, with a planned thirtieth book left unfinished due to author Lilian Jackson Braun's declining health before her death in 2011. Check Goodreads for the full reading order.
Is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards worth reading?
For fans of cozy mysteries, cats, or classic crime fiction, absolutely yes. With a 3.87 out of 5 from nearly 34,000 Goodreads readers and a spot at #11 on the Best Cozy Mystery list, it has proven its staying power over nearly six decades. Readers who appreciate atmosphere, character, and a genuinely clever animal companion tend to find it a thoroughly delightful read.