Cat Who... books in order

Q: "What is the first Cat Who... book?"

"The first book in the series is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966), which introduces newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and a Siamese cat named Koko. The story is set in the art world, and Qwilleran investigates a murder at an art gallery."

Q: "Do you need to read the Cat Who... books in order?"

"Reading in publication order is recommended. While each book has a self-contained mystery, the characters and setting develop over time. Qwilleran's life changes significantly across the series, including his move to Pickax and his growing relationship with his cats."

Q: "How many Cat Who... books are there?"

"There are 29 novels in the main Cat Who... series. Lilian Jackson Braun published the first three between 1966 and 1968, then returned to the series in 1986 and wrote steadily until The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers in 2007."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Cat Who Could Read Backwards	1966	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
2	The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern	1967	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
3	The Cat Who Turned On And Off	1968	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
4	The Cat Who Saw Red	1986	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
5	The Cat Who Played Brahms	1987	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
6	The Cat Who Played Post Office	1987	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
7	The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare	1988	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
8	The Cat Who Sniffed Glue	1988	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
9	The Cat Who Went Underground	1989	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
10	The Cat Who Lived High	1990	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
11	The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts	1990	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
12	The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal	1991	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
13	The Cat Who Moved a Mountain	1992	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
14	The Cat Who Wasn’t There	1992	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
15	The Cat Who Went into the Closet	1993	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
16	The Cat Who Blew the Whistle	1994	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
17	The Cat Who Came to Breakfast	1994	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
18	The Cat Who Said Cheese	1995	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
19	The Cat Who Tailed a Thief	1997	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
20	The Cat Who Sang for the Birds	1998	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
21	The Cat Who Robbed a Bank	1999	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
22	The Cat Who Saw Stars	1999	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
23	The Cat Who Smelled a Rat	2001	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
24	The Cat Who Went Up the Creek	2002	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
25	The Cat Who Brought Down the House	2003	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
26	The Cat Who Talked Turkey	2004	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
27	The Cat Who Went Bananas	2004	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
28	The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell	2006	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy
29	The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers	2007	Lilian Jackson Braun	Buy

The Cat Who… series by Lilian Jackson Braun is a long-running cozy mystery series that spans 29 novels published between 1966 and 2007. The books star Jim Qwilleran, a seasoned newspaper journalist with an oversized mustache, and his two Siamese cats, Koko (Kao K’o Kung) and Yum Yum. Koko has a knack for drawing Qwilleran’s attention to clues, whether by knocking books off shelves, pawing at specific objects, or behaving strangely around suspects.

The early books are set in a large city where Qwilleran works as an arts reporter, but starting with The Cat Who Played Brahms, the action shifts to Moose County and the small town of Pickax, described as being “400 miles north of everywhere.” After inheriting a fortune, Qwilleran settles in Pickax permanently, and much of the series’ charm comes from the quirky townspeople and rural setting. Each book features a standalone mystery that Qwilleran investigates with help from Koko’s unusual behavior.

The series is best read in publication order. The first three books appeared in the late 1960s before an 18-year gap, and Braun then published regularly from 1986 onward. Character relationships, Qwilleran’s personal life, and the Pickax community all develop across the novels, making the reading order worthwhile for getting the full picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first Cat Who... book?

The first book in the series is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966), which introduces newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and a Siamese cat named Koko. The story is set in the art world, and Qwilleran investigates a murder at an art gallery.

Do you need to read the Cat Who... books in order?

Reading in publication order is recommended. While each book has a self-contained mystery, the characters and setting develop over time. Qwilleran’s life changes significantly across the series, including his move to Pickax and his growing relationship with his cats.

How many Cat Who... books are there?

There are 29 novels in the main Cat Who… series. Lilian Jackson Braun published the first three between 1966 and 1968, then returned to the series in 1986 and wrote steadily until The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers in 2007.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order