The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
About The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
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!
What readers say
The book that introduces Qwilleran and Koko, set in the 1960s art world, and readers enjoy the clever cat, vivid descriptions, quirky characters and humor. Critics note casually sexist attitudes of its time, a light mystery and a large cast to keep straight. Many say it's a good foundation but that the series hits its stride a few books later in Moose County.
Best for: Readers who enjoy vintage mysteries and want to start this long-running series from the beginning.
Summary of public reader reviews, updated October 2026.