The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts

1990, Jove Books edition from later that year
Lilian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts
Probably bought newish for $4.99
Very worn paperback with broken spine
B

This is set in October of the same year as Went Underground, since Arch asks Polly about her summer trip to England.  Qwill is "fifty," yet the "same age" as 55-year-old Mrs. Cobb, who's the murder victim this time.  Her son Dennis Hough, who appeared briefly before, arrives and seriously considers a move to Moose County.  He's about 24.  Robotic ex-principal Homer Tibbitt is 94.

Although the murderer seemed pretty obvious (he's the most unpleasant person in the story), the book still works, better than its predecessor.  I would've liked to have seen more grief from Qwill over the loss of his former landlady/housekeeper/friend, but he does tend to be emotionally reserved, except when it comes to the cats.  He hypocritically disapproves of Polly's fondness for her new kitten, Bootsy, forgetting that he feeds his cats gourmet food, and calls Yum Yum his "little sweetheart."  (And as for Bootsy being a silly name, it's honestly no worse than Yum Yum or Koko, Gilbert & Sullivan notwithstanding.  In fact, Bootsy Collins is an awesome name.)

The book ends with the opening of the next book, as Qwill gets a phone invitation to spend the Winter in a penthouse Down Below....