Jim Qwilleran (Qwill) was a crime journalist in Chicago when he inherited billions of dollars from his mother's friend Fanny Klingenschoen. To receive the money Qwill had to move to the city of Pickax in Moose County, which is '400 miles north of everywhere.' So Qwill and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, moved into a converted apple barn in Pickax, and Qwill began penning a biweekly column for the 'Moose County Something.'
In Pickax, Qwill used his inheritance to set up the Klingenschoen Fund, which supports projects that benefit the community. Currently, the Klingenschoen Fund is supporting the foundation of a community college and overseeing other forward-looking endeavors.
The story opens in the month of June, with Qwilleran and the cats on their way to nearby Breakfast Island, a small islet also known as Pear Island, Providence Island, or Grand Island....depending on who you're talking to.
Until recently, the residents of Breakfast Island included an elite clique of wealthy families in an exclusive gated community;
and locals who were descendants of a shipwrecked crew - people who lived off the land and enjoyed their quiet lives.
Now, however, a corporation called XYZ Developers has purchased a large chunk of Breakfast Island and converted it into a vacation destination that boasts a luxury hotel, several B&Bs, restaurants, fudge shops, souvenir stores, and the like.
Qwill's friends, Lori and Nick Bamba, currently own Breakfast Island's 'Domino Inn', a rustic hostelry with domino games in each room.
Unfortunately, a guest at 'Domino Inn' was injured on a loose stair and other 'accidents' on Breakfast Island include food poisoning at a restaurant and a drowning. Lori and Nick Bamba speculate these incidents are deliberate sabotage, and ask Qwill - who has a nose for wrongdoing - to investigate. So Qwill agrees to stay at Domino Inn for two weeks, with the cover story of looking for interesting items for his newspaper column.
Once Qwill is settled in, he acts like a typical tourist, walking around to see the sights; hiking through the woods; dining in local eateries; purchasing a pair of comedy and tragedy masks from an antique shop; chatting with local residents; playing dominoes with fellow visitors; and so on.
During one of Qwill's excursions he happens to help a young woman called Elizabeth Applehardt, who's been bitten by a snake. It turns out Elizabeth belongs to one of the island's rich families, which provides an opportunity for Qwill to hobnob with the island's 'aristocracy.'
Meanwhile, Koko and YumYum are hanging out in their Domino Inn cottage, looking at the wildlife; being groomed and pampered; eating gourmet meals; and so on.
Moreover - as usual - the cats help Qwill investigate misdeeds. Koko is a psychic cat who has ways of providing information about crimes; and YumYum's kittenish nosiness unearths clues. This time Koko knocks PARTICULAR dominoes off a table and removes hazelnuts from a bowl of mixed nuts....which are hints about transgressors; and YumYum unearths a clue from behind couch cushions.
The harmful incidents escalate while Qwill is on Breakfast Island, and it appears a murderer is on the loose. It takes all of Qwill's (and Koko's) ingenuity to solve the case.
The usual recurring characters make an appearance, including: Qwill's childhood friend Arch Riker, who's now the publisher of 'The Moose County Something'; Arch's wife Mildred, a retired teacher and gourmet cook; Qwill's lady friend Polly Duncan, who's head librarian in Pickax; college student and amateur actor Derek Cuttlebrink - a 6' 8'' tall young man who's got a summer job on Breakfast Island; Pickax Police Chief Andrew Brodie - who knows about Koko's special abilities; and more.
I like this series and enjoyed the book.
Rating: 3 stars
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