So these need to be read in order?

I would, if possible. There's some character development, an unexpected event in book 5 that changes everything, girlfriends who come and go, friends who have backstory, events that won't really make sense if you don't know what happened in a previous book.  I'd read them in order if possible.

Plus, the writing and plot in the first, oh, say, 10 books are so very superior to the writing in the more recent books, you'll be giving yourself a real treat to start at the beginning.

I agree that you should read them in order.  It helps to have some background information on "Qwill" and how he got his fortune and his kitties. 

If you start with her most recent books, you won't want to go back and read anymore :(  The first books were very good!

Are you saying the most recent books suck? ha ha.

Thanks, I have some, I will go through and see which ones I have and get them in order.

i haven't completed the series and think I would be lost if I read them out of order. They are very good so far.

Well, Lillian Jackson Braun is in her 90's.  If she's still writing them (there's some rumors her husband has taken over the writing) I can understand why they would go downhill.

Stop You're Killing Me estimates her age at 95 and says that the book scheduled for release next has been cancelled.  I wonder if the series is over

I do agree about reading them in order.

I've never read the series but looking at SYKM I cannot believe that it's been going since 1966!  WOW!  I'm going to have to see if my library has them.   I've enjoyed seeing how Sue Grafton has progressed Kinsey without passing time.  Does LJB keep the book set in the 60's or has the character kept up with the passage of time?   :O)

Thanks Julie!  That makes sense.

I've read the first 10 or so, and you should read them in order.  For me, it is one of those series that you can read a couple in a row, then need to shift to something else. 

The first few are clearly set in the 60s and the rest are very vague as to time.  But for me, they still feel set in that time frame.

I am in mourning ... really!  I've been listening to the audio version of these book in publishing order over the last 3-4 years.     I just finished The Cat Who Dropped A Bombshell last month.    Even though the later books in the series weren't very good, I kept listening to them because the characters were like old friends and I love the narrator's (George Guidall) voice.  To me, George Guidall IS Qwilleran.

I had planned to read the latest published book in the series (The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers) despite hearing that some of the main characters do things in that book that are, frankly, very OUTSIDE of their normal character.    Was hoping that the upcoming book (The Cat Who Smelled Smoke) would explain those uncharacteristic moves or correct them.

But now that publication of The Cat Who Smelled Smoke has been pulled, I seriously doubt if there every will be another Cat Who book.   So I've decided not to read TCW Had 60 Whiskers after all.    Why ruin my perception of these beloved characters?

For me the series is over, and I feel a little bereft.   Sigh..............

I actually never read a book in this series but it always called out to me...