The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern

Jim Qwilleran, a seasoned newspaper reporter, takes on a new beat covering interior design for his paper's home furnishings magazine. His Siamese cat Koko accompanies him as he profiles luxurious homes and interviews prominent decorators for feature articles. The assignment leads Qwilleran into the world of high-end interior design, where he encounters wealthy clients, competitive decorators, and valuable collections. When crimes begin occurring at homes featured in his articles, he must determine if the timing is mere coincidence. Qwilleran's keen journalistic instincts and Koko's unusual behaviors guide him through an investigation involving stolen artifacts, suspicious deaths, and hidden motives. During this time, he also meets Yum Yum, a new feline companion who becomes significant to the series. The novel explores themes of appearance versus reality, showing how carefully curated interiors can mask darker truths about their inhabitants.

Readers find this early entry in the Cat Who series lighter and more focused on interior design than later books. Many note it provides an interesting snapshot of 1960s home decor trends and magazine publishing. Readers liked: - Fast-paced newsroom setting - Period details of mid-century design and fashion - Qwill's character development - Koko's first real detective work Readers disliked: - Less mystery elements than other books in series - Dated references to design and decorating - Too much focus on magazine production details - Several found the ending rushed Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.89/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (240+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Not the strongest mystery in the series but fun for fans who want to see how Qwill and Koko's partnership began." Many note this book works better when read as part of the series rather than as a standalone mystery.

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🐱 The unique Siamese cat Koko is partly based on the author's own experiences - she owned several Siamese cats throughout her life and observed their intelligent, intuitive behaviors. 🎨 The book was published in 1967 during the height of Danish Modern furniture's popularity in America, when this clean-lined, functional style was revolutionizing home design. 📚 This is the second book in "The Cat Who..." series, which eventually grew to 29 novels - though there was an 18-year gap between the third and fourth books. 🏠 Many of the interior design details in the book accurately reflect the major trends of the 1960s, including the growing influence of Scandinavian design on American homes. 🖋️ Author Lilian Jackson Braun worked as a reporter and lifestyle writer before becoming a novelist, similar to her protagonist Jim Qwilleran, lending authenticity to the newspaper scenes.