THE CAT WHO SAID CHEESE

Millionaire (by inheritance) Jim Qwilleran (``Call me Qwill'') lives in northern Pickax City, writes a column for the Moose County Something, and shares his log mansion with Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum (The Cat Who Blew The Whistle, 1995, etc.). At the moment, Qwill's involved with the town's upcoming Great Food Explo, ignoring local gossip about the foreign mystery woman staying at the New Pickax Hotel—until a gift-wrapped bomb, accompanied by flowers, is sent to her room by an unidentified stranger. The ensuing explosion kills young hotel worker Anna Marie Toms, propels the foreigner to the first plane out of town, and, before long, florist Franklin Pickett, who provided the flowers, is dead, too. Meanwhile, Qwill is busy with visits to ailing girlfriend Polly Duncan, interviews with cheesemakers and mushroom growers, and a stint on the judge's panel in the contest for best pasty (a separate award for those with turnips). He also finds time for supportive chats with glum, slightly brain-damaged beekeeper Aubrey Scotten, who, as Qwill discovers after yet another death, unknowingly holds the key to the puzzle that has police chief Andrew Brodie stymied. Koko and Yum Yum have little impact on the mystery's solution in this 18th episode of the series, but their cutesy antics consume more space than ever. A nearly resolved plot and the warm, if idealized, small-town ambience save this one from total icky-poo. The author's legion of fans will love it—for sure. (Mystery Book Club main selection; Literary Guild alternate selection)