Friday, 13 February 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #349 featuring **The Cat Who Saw Red** by Lilian Jackson Braun **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

A whimsical illustration of Amber, an orange and white cat, sitting in a cozy library filled with bookshelves and heart-themed decorations. A welcome sign at the top reads “Welcome to The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ,” adorned with illustrations of books, a quill, and a mouse. Below, a banner says “Book Reviews with Amber,” surrounded by red and pink hearts, setting the scene for a charming literary moment at www.bionicbasil.com

From the shelves of the Mewton-Clawson Library, a curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

✨ This Week’s Intro ~ 100% Stability (Allegedly) 0% Nonsense✨

Hello, my gorgeous library guests

and

Welcome back to the Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ.

I am delighted to announce that the library is now officially 100% temporally stable. Yes, you read that correctly. One hundred percent. Full stability. No flickers, no time pockets, no encyclopaedia uprisings. Melvyn nearly fainted.

Of course, “100% stable” at BBHQ still means:

  The thesaurus attempted to redefine itself

  The dictionaries staged a brief intervention

And the atlases insisted on being shelved by emotional longitude

But compared to the last few weeks?

We’re basically a spa retreat.

📚 A Minor Incident (Purrfectly Normal, Don’t Panic)

There was a small situation involving a thesaurus who became… let’s say overenthusiastic about synonyms. After it began aggressively offering alternative words to anypawdy within a three‑paw radius, we gently escorted it to the Level Six Archive “for its own safety.”

It’s resting comfortably and only occasionally muttering things like “calm, serene, tranquil, placid…”

Melvyn considers this a win.

📚 A Conversation in the Library This Morning

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, we’re at 100% stability. Mew can put the stopwatch away.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the thesaurus tried to bite me.”

Me: “It was offering mew options.”

Melvyn: “It hissed the word ‘alternative’ at me.”

Me: “That’s just its love language.”

Melvyn: “Amber, it followed me down the corridor whispering ‘variant… substitute… equivalent…’ in an increasingly threatening tone.”

Me: “See? It’s expanding your vocabulary.”

Melvyn: “It tried to expand my ankle.”

Me: “Sweetie, mew’re being dramatic.”

Melvyn: “No, Amber. Lumie is dramatic. I am traumatised.”

Me: “Mew’re fine. Mew’re breathing.”

Melvyn: “Only because I climbed onto the reference desk and yelled for Oswald.”

Me: “Oswald said mew overreacted.”

Melvyn: “Oswald was laughing.”

Me: “He laughs when he’s nervous.”

Melvyn: “He was eating a cheese cube.”

Me: “He stress‑snacks.”

Melvyn: “Amber, please take this seriously.”

Me: “I am. I’m meditating.”

Melvyn: “Meditating or napping.”

Me: “Yes.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the thesaurus is still outside the door.”

Me: “It just wants closure.”

Melvyn: “It’s spelling the word ‘synonym’ with its pages.”

Me: “That’s enrichment. We encourage creativity here.”

Melvyn: “Amber, please.”

Me: “Fine. I’ll have it escorted to Level Six for a calming period.”

Melvyn: “Thank mew.”

Me: “But only because it called me ‘idiosyncratic’ and honestly? I’m flattered.”

So, my wonderful library guests, if mew notice a slightly twitchy thesaurus being wheeled past on a trolley, please don’t worry. This is the correct version of the library.

Probably.

Now, let’s begin this week’s review before Melvyn starts checking the dictionaries for “signs of emotional instability”, and Oswald files another complaint about “insufficient cheese cube diplomacy.”

If mew're wondering where this week's Egypt Adventure is, many apologies. The P.A. had planned to share it today, but unfortunately, yesterday she had to attend an unplanned meeting that took up all her time, and when she got home, she flaked out on the sofa.

I will have a stern word with her and make sure there are no hiccups whatsoever next week!

Two views of The Mewton-Clawson Library showcase expansive white bookshelves filled with a vibrant mix of books. The top image features colorful spines, decorative items, and a cozy chair with a cat in the aisle, creating a warm, personal atmosphere. The bottom image highlights a section of classic and antique-looking books with darker bindings, adding a touch of literary elegance. A second chair reinforces the inviting charm of this well-organized personal library. Text reads “Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®.”
A whimsical black-and-white illustration of three upright books with a cartoon mouse standing on the middle one. Another mouse walks toward the stack from the right, creating a playful scene that blends literature and imagination.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.
A cartoon-style illustration titled “Friendly Fill-Ins” shows two animated cats sitting on a grassy field dotted with flowers. The orange cat on the left wears a red collar and winks playfully, while the black cat on the right sports a blue collar and wide-open eyes. A butterfly flutters above them, and the background features green hills under a blue sky. The image is framed with a brown border and includes the text: “Friendly Fill-Ins Hosted by Four-Legged Furballs & 15andmeowing.”
1. A Ted Talk that I found helpful was done by ______________________.
2. If I could make my own candy heart it would say ___________________.
3. I _________ early in the morning, but I _________ late at night.
4. _________ is what I love most about myself.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. A Ted Talk that I found helpful was done by ______________________. I've never listened to a TED Talk. Maybe I should. I will make a note to do so! LOL

2. If I could make my own candy heart, it would say Fluffing Epic! Well, what did you think it would say? LOL

3. I write early in the morning, but I also write late at night. Well, if I didn't, there'd be no blog, books, or anything.

4. _________ is what I love most about myself. I'd have to say I love that I can create absolutely epic adventures for The B Team. 

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

A black-and-white illustration of a vintage typewriter flanked by two stacks of books. A cartoon mouse stands atop the left stack, while a small cartoon elephant perches on the right. A paw print symbol decorates the typewriter’s paper feed, adding a whimsical touch to this literary-themed scene.

A cosy library scene with warm lighting and tall wooden bookshelves filled with books and plants. In the foreground, a desk holds a yellow lamp, a feather quill, a stack of books with a small mouse perched on top, and a sign that reads “SHHHHH!!!”. Behind the desk sits a white‑and‑orange cat, posed like a librarian or reviewer. In front of the cat is a red book titled The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun. A banner above reads “THIS WEEKS TOP BOOK PICK!”.
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy


The Cat Who Saw Red

    

The Cat Who… Mysteries, Book 4


by 

Lilian Jackson Braun

A symmetrical cartoon illustration featuring four mice—two on each side—facing two pieces of Swiss cheese in the center. The playful design emphasizes balance and curiosity, with each mouse appearing drawn to the cheese.

I'm back with another in The Cat Who series. I can't seem to stop now that I've started, and it's even better than I remember, getting better with every book!

Here are the previous reviews, fluff knows what I was thinking, jumping to the middle of the series, maybe it was the catnip, and I wasn't thinking straight:





The Cat Who Wasn't There ~ BK 14     

📚 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: The Cat Who Saw Red

Dahlings, prepare your whiskers for a deliciously twisty mystery steeped in culinary chaos, artistic intrigue, and the incomparable brilliance of the epic two Siamese sleuths who could out‑detect any human with half a brain cell. Yes, Koko and Yum Yum are back, and they are utterly furbulous.

❓ What’s the Vibe?

Think cosy crime with a gourmet twist.
A little art, a little food, a little danger, and a whole lot of feline intuition.
It’s atmospheric, quirky, and wonderfully old‑school, the kind of mystery that pairs meautifully with a warm blanket and a smug sense of superiority over the humans in the story.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Jim Qwilleran, moustache enthusiast, journalist, and loyal servant to two Siamese geniuses, is sent to Maus Haus, a boarding house full of culinary talent, eccentric artists, and more secrets than a catnip smuggling ring.

Among the residents:

🍲 Robert Maus, the restaurateur with a saucepan in every direction
🍰 Hixie, counting calories like her life depends on it
🎨 Joy Graham, Qwill’s red‑haired blast from the past and a gifted potter

Everything seems charmingly chaotic… until a scream slices through the night and Joy vanishes without a trace. Qwill is baffled. The police are baffled.

But Koko?

Koko knows something is very wrong, and he’s determined to point his human in the right direction, even if he has to knock over every object in the house to do it.
Yum Yum, naturally, provides emotional support and adorable distraction.

⚔️ What I Loved

😼 Koko: Sharp, dramatic, and utterly unstoppable. His investigative methods may be unorthodox, but darling, they work.

😺 Yum Yum: Soft, sweet, and quietly brilliant. She’s the heart of the operation.

📰 Qwilleran: Forever confused, forever trying, forever outsmarted by his cats. A mood. Epic moustache.

🏠 Maus Haus: A deliciously atmospheric setting, part boarding house, part restaurant, part art studio, part mystery waiting to happen.

🔍 The Mystery:

Twisty, clever, and surprisingly dark in places. The clues are subtle, the tension builds meautifully, and the payoff is satisfying.

📖 Final Thoughts

This is one of the standout entries in the early Cat Who… series, rich with character, full of charm, and anchored by the brilliant feline intuition of Koko and Yum Yum. It’s cosy crime with claws, humour, and just enough emotional depth to keep your tail curled around your paws.
If mew love mysteries where the cats are the real detectives and the humans simply try to keep up, this one is a treat.

🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence

🐾 A deliciously twisty mystery where the Siamese sleuths shine brighter than ever. 🐾

A Top Paw Read!


Paperback: 257 pages
Audio Cassette/CD: Very Expensive
A whimsical black-and-white illustration of three upright books with a cartoon mouse standing on the middle one. Another mouse walks toward the stack from the right, creating a playful scene that blends literature and imagination.
My Ratings Scale

Amber’s book review scale illustrated with pink paw prints in a descending triangle pattern. Each row represents a different rating: • 	5 paw prints: “TOP PAW ~ READ IMMEDIATELY” • 	4 paw prints: “FURRY GOOD ~ READ AS SOON AS” • 	3 paw prints: “GOOD ~ PUT IT ON STAND-BY” • 	2 paw prints: “AVERAGE ~ EMERGENCY READING” • 	1 paw print: “MEH! ~ TAKE A NAP INSTEAD” The playful design uses pet-themed language to rank books by enthusiasm and urgency.

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Ratings of:

The Cat Who Saw Red


Overall Enjoyment

A row of five identical pink paw prints evenly spaced across a white background. Each paw print features a large central pad and four smaller toe pads, symbolizing a top-tier “five paw” rating in a pet-themed review system. The clean, symmetrical design conveys excellence and approval in a playful, animal-friendly style.

A black-and-white illustration of a vintage typewriter flanked by two stacks of books. A cartoon mouse stands atop the left stack, while a small cartoon elephant perches on the right. A paw print symbol decorates the typewriter’s paper feed, adding a whimsical touch to this literary-themed scene.

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

A banner featuring six square graphics representing themed blog hops and social media events. From left to right: 1. 	“Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop” with a cat silhouette and website link. 2. 	“CAT blogosphere” showing a globe with two cats. 3. 	“Feline Friday” with stylized black and gray cat illustrations. 4. 	“Nature Friday Blog Hop” with text on a stone surrounded by pebbles. 5. 	“Friendly Fill-Ins” featuring a cat and a person reading. 6. 	“Friendship Friday Create With Joy” showing two cats sitting together on a green background. The banner celebrates community engagement around pets, nature, and friendship.


Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

I really hope mew enjoy the book as much as I did if mew decide to read it.

It's time for me to say BFN or bye-for-now as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time, and I'll be back next week with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't forget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

Amber's Book Reviews Pink Review ©BionicBasil®





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Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®
 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

1 comment:

  1. Books can be so annoying, especially when they try to bite your ankles.
    Am pretty sure that if I'd watched a TED talk, it was long, long ago.
    The videos that I watch are haunted houses, some guys who thatch roofs, Irish Megalithic group, and kind folks in Namibia who help seals who have stuff wrapped around their bodies.

    ReplyDelete

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