Lilian Jackson Braun (1913-2011) published three mystery novels between 1966 and 1968, works that established central character James Qwilleran as divorced, a recovering alcoholic, and a newspaper reporter who finds himself unexpectedly drawn to a pair of Siamese cats—and who uses their unexpected insights to unravel the murders he encounters in his work. All three books were more about character than mystery, and they were popular bestsellers of the era. For reasons that remain unclear, Braun stopped the series at that point—and then unexpectedly revived it eighteen years later, ultimately producing 29 novels and several three related works.