The town of Pickax, four hundred miles north of everywhere, is celebrating the sesquicentennial (a century and a half of existence) with plans being made for three parades, family-reunions, and two auctions (one centers on people bidding on kittens). Newspaper columnist Jim Qwilleran, the richest man in the northeast central United States and the owner of those adorable Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum, intends to immerse himself in the festivities so that he can write up articles for his column.

The wealthy Ledfields ask Qwill, through their attorney, if their nephew Harvey could sketch his barn for his college entrance portfolio. When Harvey arrives to do the designs, Koko leaps down three stories and lands on Harvey who hates cats. Koko also swipes a picture of Harvey and puts his claws through it. Qwill senses the cat doesn't like the man but wonders why. When the sesquicentennial activities begin, Koko gives a piercing yell in the middle of the night, which Qwill knows means someone was murdered; an out of town visitor was killed when he and his brother were hunting rabbits. During all the activities the Ledfields are in seclusion because their allergies are bothering them. First Mrs. Ledfield dies and soon Mr. Ledfield succumbs to the same ailment. Their deaths put a pall on the celebration.

After twenty eight "The Cat Who" books one would think that the series has run out of lives but nothing can be further from the truth. The CAT WHO DROPPED A BOMBSHELL is a purrfectly delightful cozy and Koko the cat with ESP delights the audience with his amusing antics. Readers who like a fun cozy with delightfully eccentric characters including the felines should look no further than Lilian Jackson Braun's latest novel.

Harriet Klausner

Summary

James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who . . . series. While the town of Pickax is swept up in its sesquicentennial celebrations, Koko has developed a strange new hobby: He drops himself from balconies, occasionally landing in the oddest of places. When a young man comes to visit his wealthy relatives, Koko plummets straight onto his head! Meanwhile, a hurricane is brewing, and the visitor's family members soon fall deathly ill. Qwill has his work cut out for him as Pickax-as foreshadowed by Koko-is about to be hit by a bombshell.