Short And Tall Tales: Moose County Legends * Lilian Jackson Braun * The Cat Who... #SSC2

The Cat Who... Companion Anthology / Short Stories #2. Written from the unique perspective of a beloved fictional newspaper columnist, this delightful companion volume gathers twenty-seven amusing local yarns and offbeat local histories to catalog the eccentric lore of a legendary northern region located four hundred miles north of everywhere.

The Story: Conceived and framed by prominent cozy mystery pioneer Lilian Jackson Braun, this celebrated 2002 anthology serves as an essential, high-success companion piece to her globally famous Cat Who... universe. The narrative completely steps away from the standard structure of a single criminal investigation or standard police procedural. Instead, Braun establishes an imagination-heavy layout written in the warm, unmistakable voice of her fictional journalist hero, Jim Qwilleran, giving long-time readers a highly detailed look into the fictional regional background that his brilliant Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, call home.

The text takes mystery lovers, collectors, and fiction enthusiasts through a versatile literary landscape across its pages. The layout organizes its historical world-building into twenty-seven self-contained, humorous myths and legends detailing local ghost stories, early pioneer struggles, unusual architectural landmarks, and eccentric family lines that have shaped Pickax and its surrounding wilderness. The narrative unpeels how Moose County grew from a rugged logging and mining outpost into a colorful haven for artists and oddballs, tracking the historic gossip and tall tales that Qwilleran has gathered from local residents throughout his reporting career.

Rather than reading like a dry or abstract historical catalog, the volume is a deeply comforting, entertaining addition to any reading nook. Braun balances her trademark small-town wit with lighthearted humor, including an exclusive formal introduction that bridges the gap between reality and her beloved fictional world. This delightful chart-topper keeps the cozy energy at a comforting boil, proving exactly why reviewers from Publishers Weekly consider these amusing yarns a mandatory treat for old and new fans alike.

Perfect For: Devotees of traditional cozy mysteries, feline-centric fiction, and rich small-town lore; readers eager to complete their deep-dive into Jim Qwilleran’s fictional community; and vintage book collectors looking to lock in the ultimate reference piece for the fabled Berkley/Jove paperback collection.

First published 2002; this edition 2003 by Berkley/Jove.

Cozy Mystery Anthologies / Small-Town Folklore / Fictional Regional Histories / Short Story Collections / Feline Detective Companions