Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who Books in Order

If you’ve experienced frustration finding all of Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who books in order, then you’ve found the right place!

I consider this series featuring a reporter and his two Siamese cats to be one of the original cozy mystery series, spanning from the late 1960s to 2007.  Mysteries are solved with a cozy vibe, the very definition of cozy mystery.

With the two cat sidekicks, this series may have been the first to feature animals as main characters.  Perhaps this was the inspiration for future cozy mysteries to often feature animals! 

Below you will find the complete list of The Cat Who books in order for this series, from the very first book to the end of the series!

green background with book cover for the cat who books in order by lilian jackson braun.

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Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who Books in Order

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (Cat Who… Book 1)

From the Publisher

THE FIRST COZY MYSTERY IN THE BELOVED NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING CAT WHO SERIES!

The world of modern art is a mystery to many. But for Jim Qwilleran, it turns into a mystery of another sort when his assignment for The Daily Fluxion leads down the path to murder.

A stabbing in an art gallery, vandalized paintings, a fatal fall from a scaffolding—this is not at all what Qwilleran expects when he turns his reporter talents to art. But Qwilleran and his newly found partner, Koko the brilliant Siamese cat, are in their element—sniffing out clues and confounding criminals intent on mayhem and murder.

This riveting beginning to the Cat Who series is the perfect cozy mystery for cat lovers to start sleuthing!

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (Cat Who… Book 2)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his cat Koko get a taste of trouble in the second mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series.

Jim Qwilleran isn’t exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialties and now he’s supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the subject every week! But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory—the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarized and the lady of the house found dead.

Now Qwilleran and his brilliant Siamese cat, Koko, have their respective moustache and whiskers twitching. And when Koko starts pawing clues in the dictionary and sniffing designer furniture, Qwilleran finds himself doing a feature on a very clever murder…

The Cat Who Turned On and Off (Cat Who… Book 3)

From the Publisher

Brilliant Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum help reporter Jim Qwilleran solve a complicated murder plot in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series.

When Qwilleran decides to do a feature story on Junktown, he gets more than he bargained for. Not the dope den he anticipated, Junktown is a haven for antique dealers and collectors—as strange a lot as the crafty reporter has ever encountered. When a mysterious fall ends the career—and the life—of one of Junktown’s leading citizens, Qwilleran is convinced it was no accident. But, as usual, it takes Koko to prove he’s right.

The Cat Who Saw Red (Cat Who… Book 4)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum must solve a curious caper in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series.

Something is amiss at Maus Haus. Not just the mystery of an unsolved “suicide” which hangs over the old mansion, but something ominous in the present-day residence. When Qwilleran moves in to work on his new gastronomical assignment, strange things begin to happen. First it’s a scream in the night, then a vanishing houseboy. But when his old girlfriend disappears, something has to be done. Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum set out to solve the mystery—and find a murderer!

The Cat Who Played Brahms (Cat Who… Book 5)

From the Publisher

A murder leaves Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, feeling out of tune in this New York Times bestselling mystery in the Cat Who series.

Is it just a case of summertime blues or a full-blown career crisis? Newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran isn’t sure, but he’s hoping a few days in the country will help him sort out his life. With cats Koko and Yum Yum for company, he heads for a cabin owned by a longtime family friend named Aunt Fanny.

But from the moment he arrives, things turn strange. Eerie footsteps cross the roof at midnight. The townsfolk become oddly secretive. And then, while fishing, Qwilleran hooks on to a murder mystery. Soon Qwilleran enters into a game of cat and mouse with the killer, while Koko develops a sudden and uncanny fondness for classical music…

The Cat Who Played Post Office (Cat Who… Book 6)

From the Publisher

In this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series, Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, are living the high life—until things take a deadly turn…

Inheriting unexpected millions has left reporter Jim Qwilleran looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. While his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, adjust to being fat cats in an enormous mansion, Qwill samples the lifestyles of the rich and famous by hiring a staff of eccentric servants. A missing housemaid and a shocking murder soon show Qwilleran the unsavory side of the upper crust. But it’s Koko’s purr-fect propensity for finding clues amid the caviar and champagne that gives Qwill pause to evaluate the most unlikely suspects—before his taste for the good life turns into his last meal…

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (Cat Who… Book 7)

From the Publisher

In this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series, there’s something rotten in the small town of Pickax—at least to the sensitive noses of newspaperman Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum.

An accident has claimed the life of the local paper’s eccentric publisher, but to Qwilleran and his feline friends it smells like murder. They soon sniff out a shocking secret, but Koko’s snooping into an unusual edition of Shakespeare may prove CATastrophic… because somewhere in Pickax, a lady loves not wisely but too well, a widow is scandalously merry, and a stranger has a lean and hungry look. The stage is set for Qwilleran, Koko, Yum Yum, and the second act of murder most meow…

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (Cat Who… Book 8)

From the Publisher

When his cat Koko develops an odd obsession, Jim Qwilleran will have to sniff out the cause in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

Having inherited millions, Jim Qwilleran and his two feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, are preparing to settle down into a life of purrfect luxury in Pickax. That is, until the son of a rich banker and his wife are found murdered. To the police it looks like a robbery gone awry. But then Koko develops an odd appetite for glue. Qwill doesn’t spot the clue until his beloved Siamese’s taste for paste tangles them in a web of love, danger, and their stickiest case yet!

The Cat Who Went Underground (Cat Who… Book 9)

From the Publisher

In this delightful Cat Who mystery, Jim Qwilleran packs up his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, for a summer of fun at his log cabin and finds himself on a trip headed straight for trouble…

The trio’s vacation in Moose County starts out ominously with the disappearance of a handyman hired to patch up Qwilleran’s cabin. But the felines really start throwing catfits when they come across a dead body or two…

A serial killer may be right under Koko’s nose, and now this ingenious Siamese must dig deeper to clear poor Qwilleran of suspicion—and dig up the motive for a catastrophic crime.

The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (Cat Who… Book 10)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum try to solve a haunting mystery in a historic farmhouse in this New York Times bestseller in the Cat Who series.

When Mrs. Cobb heard unearthly noises in the antique-filled farmhouse, she called Jim Qwilleran for help. But he was too late. It looked as if his kindly ex-housekeeper had been frightened to death—but by whom? Or what? Now Qwilleran’s moved into the historic farmhouse with his two cat companions—and Koko the Siamese is spooked. Is it a figment of feline imagination—or the clue to a murder in Moose County? And does Qwilleran have a ghost of a chance of solving this haunting mystery?

The Cat Who Lived High (Cat Who… Book 11)

From the Publisher

When a glamorous art dealer is killed in Jim Qwilleran’s high-rise, he and cats Koko and Yum Yum reach new heights of detection in this mystery in the Cat Who series.

The colorful Casablanca apartment building is in danger of demolition—but not if Jim Qwilleran can help it. He’s determined to restore the building to its original grandeur. So he moves in with Koko and Yum Yum—and discovers that the Casablanca is steeped in history…and mystery. In Qwill’s very apartment, a glamorous art dealer met an untimely fate, and the veteran journalist and his crime-solving cats are about to reach new heights in detection as the evidence builds up…and the Casablanca threatens to crumble down around them!

The Cat Who Knew A Cardinal (Cat Who… Book 12)

From the Publisher

The stage is set for Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, to solve a puzzling mystery in this New York Times bestseller in the Cat Who series.

All the world’s a stage—and now Jim Qwilleran’s apple orchard has become the stage for a real-life murder scene. The much-disliked director of the Pickax Theatre Club’s Shakespeare production, Hilary VanBrook, has been found dead after the closing-night cast party. With the help of his super-smart Siamese, Qwill must cast a suspicious eye on all the players—especially the ones pussyfooting around behind the scenes…

The Cat Who Moved A Mountain (Cat Who… Book 13)

From the Publisher

A murder in the mountains has Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum feeling on edge in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series.

Qwill’s on top of the world when he rents a house on Big Potato Mountain. The owner, J.J. Hawkinfield, brought real estate development to the once-peaceful Potatoes. But Hawkinfield paid a steep price for his enterprise: He was pushed off a cliff by an angry mountain dweller. Qwilleran, however, suspects the man is innocent—and Koko’s antics have him convinced something’s wrong. He may be making a mountain out of a molehill…but he’s determined to find the truth. Even if it means jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!

The Cat Who Wasn’t There (Cat Who… Book 14)

From the Publisher

In this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series, Jim Qwilleran takes a trip to Scotland and brings home a case that only his cats Koko and Yum Yum can solve…

Qwill’s on his way to Scotland—and on his way to solving another purr-plexing mystery. But this time, Koko’s nowhere near the scene of the crime. He and Yum Yum are back in Pickax, being coddled by a catsitter…but Koko won’t sit still once Qwill’s traveling party returns—minus one member. He’s behaving oddly, and Qwill knows what that means: Koko may have been miles away from the murder scene—but he’s just a whisker away from cracking the case!

The Cat Who Went Into the Closet (Cat Who… Book 15)

From the Publisher

In this charming Cat Who mystery, a misused mansion sets the stage for a strange caper for Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum.

Qwill’s moved into the old Gage mansion—and the cats are on a treasure hunt. The house’s fifty closets are crammed with several generations of junk, and while Qwill investigates two recent deaths—those of the mansion’s former occupant and a local potato farmer—Koko investigates the contents of the closets. Qwill and the cats wind up unearthing some surprising skeletons—and bringing long-buried secrets to light…

The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (Cat Who… Book 16)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his cats scramble for clues when peaceful Breakfast Island is turned upside-down by murder in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

Qwilleran and the cats are visiting an island known by many names. Qwill has always called it Breakfast Island, but to the taciturn natives, it’s Providence Island. To the rich summer resident, it’s Grand Island—and to the developers and tourists who are turning this once-peaceful place into a circus, it’s Pear Island. But when some odd “accidents” occur, including a fatal boat explosion, Qwill suspects sabotage and sets out to investigate—because murder by any other name is just as deadly…

The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (Cat Who… Book 17)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese sleuths, Koko and Yum Yum, investigate the disappearance of a wealthy railroad buff in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

Floyd Trevelyan’s historic steam locomotive, newly restored, is the newest attraction in Moose County. But the excitement is eclipsed by shock when Trevelyan disappears—along with millions of investors’ dollars. Puzzled and suspicious, Qwill’s trying to make a connection between the missing millionaire and a recent murder at a nearby railroad tavern. Now, with the help of his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, he’s about to prove that the police are on the wrong track.

The Cat Who Said Cheese (Cat Who… Book 18)

From the Publisher

In this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series, a murder sends Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, on a trail that will demand all their feline intuition and mustachioed insight…

With the Great Food Explo approaching, there’s a lot of scrumptious activity in Moose County. Residents can’t wait for the restaurant openings, the cheese-tasting, and the bake-off, among other festivities. But there’s nothing as tasty as a morsel of gossip, so when a mysterious woman moves into the New Pickax Hotel, the locals—including Qwill—indulge in lots of speculation. But then a bomb explodes in her room, killing the hotel housekeeper—and now Qwill and his kitty sidekicks, Koko and Yum Yum, must put aside the fun and figure out who cooked up this murderous recipe…

The Cat Who Tailed A Thief (Cat Who… Book 19)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran—along with his lovable Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum—follows a trail of clues as elusive as a cat burglar in the night in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling series.

There’s been a rash of petty thievery in Pickax—ever since banker Willard Carmichael and his flashy young wife, Danielle, moved in. But now Willard’s been killed in a mugging Down Below…or so it seems. Qwill’s suspicious, especially when Willard’s house-restoration project in Pickax falls into the hands of Danielle’s cousin—whose rich new wife then dies on her honeymoon! The clues are confounding. But with Koko’s help, Qwill intends to catch a thief—and a killer…

The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (Cat Who… Book 20)

From the Publisher

In this delightful Cat Who mystery featuring Jim Qwilleran and his lovable cats, Koko and Yum Yum, the rites of spring are celebrated with the fine art of birdcalling—and a fateful act of murder.

As early spring comes to Moose County, Jim Qwilleran is looking forward to the peaceful beauty of nature’s rebirth. What he gets instead is a chorus of noisy birds that constantly wakes him from a sound sleep—especially when Koko insists on joining in with his own feline version of birdcalling. But soon Qwill is wondering whether Koko is trying to say more than just “tweet tweet,” because a series of strange events—starting with an act of vandalism and culminating in a mysterious chain of death and disappearance—has Pickax in a similar uproar. It seems that this spring, a cat’s fancy may turn to crime solving…

The Cat Who Saw Stars (Cat Who… Book 21)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, have a close encounter with a killer in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series.

UFOs in Mooseville? Rumors abound that a missing backpacker has been abducted, and it looks like Jim Qwilleran’s sedate summer may be interrupted by an investigation—with the help of his own little aliens, Koko and Yum Yum. And when the backpacker’s body turns up—and transplanted Floridian Owen Bowen is found dead soon afterward—the search for intelligent life turns into a hunt for a murderer…

The Cat Who Robbed A Bank (Cat Who… Book 22)

From the Publisher

When a visiting estate jeweler is found dead, prizewinning reporter Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, must do their best to find the purr-petrator in this delightful novel in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

As the Highland Games approach, Jim Qwilleran and the citizens of Pickax, Michigan, prepare to celebrate their Scottish heritage with such evens as bagpipe skirling and tossing the caber. But the traditional revelry is marred by troublesome rumors when a visiting jewelery dealer, renowned for his romantic streak (and his mysterious cash-only policy), is found dead in his hotel room. His assistant is missing—and soon, the winner of the caber-tossing content disappears as well.

Qwilleran and his snooping Siamese are willing to go to any lengths to find the killer and set the town at ease. But first they’ll have to contend with a highjacked bookmobile and an attempted bank robbery. Qwill has a lot of mysteries to sort out—not the least of which is Koko’s sudden interest in photographs, pennies, and paper towels…

The Cat Who Smelled A Rat (Cat Who… Book 23)

From the Publisher

Jim Qwilleran and his extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum have more than one fire to put out when a deadly arsonist sets Moose County ablaze in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

The way Jim Qwilleran sees it, there’s nothing worse than being left high and dry. But that’s exactly where he’s been ever since a record-breaking drought hit Moose County. He’s bedraggled. Beleaguered. And, following a rash of fires at local historic mine sites, deeply bewildered. Some blame the blazes on bad weather conditions, but Qwill’s thinking arson. And when a mysterious explosion is followed by a blood-chilling murder, he starts seriously praying for snow—and answers. Good thing Koko can smell trouble a mile away…

The Cat Who Went Up The Creek (Cat Who… Book 24)

From the Publisher

Prizewinning reporter Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, must solve a complicated caper while on vacation in this charming cozy mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

Jim Qwilleran is enjoying his stay at the Nutcracker Inn in Black Creek. His two Siamese, Koko and Yum Yum, don’t seem quite as pleased with the accommodations…though Koko does enjoy keeping a keen eye on the squirrels and other local wildlife. Then, while Koko’s eagerly watching some jumping trout, he spots something else: a body floating downstream. When it’s revealed that the victim was a guest at the inn—and had nuggets of gold hidden in his shoes—Qwill dives into the case. And if he and the cats don’t solve it soon, they’re going to be up the creek without a paddle…

The Cat Who Brought Down The House (Cat Who… Book 25)

From the Publisher

Siamese cat Koko’s stage debut is postponed when Jim Qwilleran suspects the feline’s costar may be guilty of murder in this Cat Who mystery—the 25th in the New York Times bestselling series!

Jim Qwilleran lives in Pickax, a small town 400 miles north of everywhere, and writes for a small newspaper. He stands tall and straight. He dates a librarian. His roommates are two abandoned cats that he adopted along the way, one of them quite remarkable. Qwilleran has a secret that he shares with no one—or hardly anyone. His male cat, Koko, has an uncanny intuition that can tell right from wrong and frequently sniffs out the evildoer…

Retiring in Pickax, actress Thelma Thackeray has decided to start a film club and organize a fundraiser revue, starring Koko the cat. But Thelma’s celebrated arrival takes an unpleasant turn when the strange circumstances of her twin brother’s recent death seem suspicious to Jim Qwilleran. Qwill needs a helping paw in this case. But will Koko deign to take time from his stage debut?

The Cat Who Talked Turkey (Cat Who… Book 26)

From the Publisher

When a body is found on Jim Qwilleran’s property, he and his cats Koko and Yum Yum will have to determine who committed the fowl deed in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series…

The good people of Moose County are in a fever of excitement. It’s almost time for the gala groundbreaking for the Pickax bookstore—and the town of Brrr is preparing for its bicentennial celebration. All the festivities, however, are spoiled by the discovery of a man’s body on James Qwilleran’s property. Could it be the work of the killer who used the same MO in northern Michigan? To solve the case, Qwill and his feline pals, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to prick up their ears to find the thankless killer…

The Cat Who Went Bananas (Cat Who… Book 27)

From the Publisher

Siamese cat Koko finds a bunch of clues when an out-of-town actor dies mysteriously in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

With the opening night of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest fastapproaching—along with the dedication of the new bookstore in town—good times are ahead for the citizens of Pickax. But the merry atmosphere is dampened by the suspicious death of an out-of-town actor and the theft of a rare book. Qwill finds himself distracted from the recent events by his finicky pal Koko, who’s been acting more fishy than feline. Has Koko gone bananas, or is he trying to let the cat out of the bag to help Qwill solve the dual mysteries?

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (Cat Who… Book 28)

From the Publisher

When a wealthy couple dies, Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, must follow the case to its explosive conclusion in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series.

The town of Pickax is buzzing with excitement: its residents are about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. But in the midst of all the preparations, Qwill has to take time out to entertain aspiring architect Harvey Ledfield—and deal with Koko’s strange new habit. Because the Siamese star has started dropping from balconies and landing in the oddest of places, including on Harvey’s head! And now that Harvey’s aunt and uncle have mysteriously gone missing, Qwill better brush up on his paw language before Pickax is hit with a bombshell…

The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (Cat Who… Book 29)

From the Publisher

In this New York Times bestselling mystery in the Cat Who series, Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, sense that trouble is brewing in their small town…

Times are a-changin’ in Pickax, giving Jim Qwilleran some newsworthy notes for the “Qwill Pen.” A new senior center is in the works—as well as a frisky production of Cats.And a local mansion is being converted into a charitable museum. Good thing there’s lots to keep Qwill busy because Polly Duncan is off to Paris, temporarily leaving him without his lady companion. But when a mysterious death from a bee sting leaves everyone but Koko the Siamese in a state of confusion, the kitty with sixty whiskers will need to stop pussyfooting around and let Qwill in on the deadly secret…

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