THE CAT WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE

Guidall, the veteran audio reader who's read countless Cat Who books, returns for another foray into the goings-on in the tiny town of Pickax, "400 miles from anywhere." Guidall's versatile voice creates a whole town of characters: a glamorous, pretentious interior designer; a fluttery librarian; gravelly columnist James Quilleran (the protagonist); and a new character, elderly Thelma Thackeray, a former Moose County resident returning after six decades in Hollywood. As usual, the mild mystery (who kidnapped Thelma's prize parrots; and was the death of Thelma's brother, an elderly veterinarian, from natural causes or by murder?) takes a backseat to the pleasure of simply spending time in the company of dry, witty Quilleran, his clever cats Yum-Yum and Koko and his eccentric friends and neighbors. Fans of the series will happily settle down with headphones for this 25th entry. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Forecasts, Dec. 16, 2002). (Feb.)