The Cat Who Wasn't There

1992, 1993 Jove Books edition
Lilian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who Wasn't There
Probably bought newish for $4.99
Worn paperback
B

The "there" where Koko isn't (neither is Yum Yum of course) is Scotland.  Qwill and other Moose-Countyites (plus photographer Bushy from Lockmaster) travel together, although their guide is soon killed.  There's a running semi-joke in these books about Qwill's mother being a Mackintosh, and people tell him he'd look good in a kilt, although he hasn't yet succumbed.  So Braun gets to present even more Scottish history than usual.  Oh, and the community theater is doing Macbeth this year.

Lady Macbeth is played by Dr. Melinda Goodwinter, who's returned after three years (more like four), following the deaths of her parents.  She wants to marry Qwill and resents Polly.  Meanwhile Qwill is very protective of Polly (except when they argue) because of the stalker.

This picks up right after Moved a Mountain, and continues to September of that year, which is a record for a time span in these books.  Oh, and we find out that Polly is a Virgo.  (Qwill is a Gemini.)  If Mountain is a whisker better than usual, this is a whisker worse, although not as bad as Read Backwards or Went Underground.  I did like the idea of Qwill buying capes for five women, who all end up at the same awards ceremony, and some other nice touches.