The Cat Who Went Underground

While the 10th entry in the ``Cat Who'' series is enjoyable and has its charms, it is less a mystery than a recital of how veteran reporter and millionaire Jim Qwilleran and his feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, spent their vacation, and an account of the people they encountered. Moreover, most of the plot development occurs near the end, so the denouement appears contrived. Fiftyish bachelor ``Qwill'' decides to spend the summer at a lakefront cottage near the resort town of Mooseville. His vision of an idyllic respite is shattered from the moment he arrives. Almost everything in the house needs repair and Qwill could use more space; adding a wing is the logical solution, but he learns that most such jobs are done by itinerant builders. Fortunately, Clem Cottle, a local handyman, accepts the project, but he soon disappears, the third carpenter in recent months to vanish; two others met with fatal freak accidents. When Clem's replacement, Iggy Small, misses work, and his corpse is found in Qwill's basement, our vacationing hero suspects a serial killer and begins to investigate. Of course, the intelligent Koko helps solve the crime. For inveterate Braun ( The Cat Who Sniffed Glue ) fans only. Mystery Guild main selection, Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternate selections. (Mar.)