Friday, 13 June 2025

**FELINE FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #326 featuring **To Conjure a Killer * by Clea Simon **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

Amber, the head librarian at The Mewton-Clawson Library, sits gracefully near a stack of timeless books in a warm, vintage library setting. Surrounded by rows of classic leather-bound volumes, her poised, scholarly presence invites readers into a world of insightful book reviews and lively literary discussions.

Hello meautiful library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and my goodness, what a busy week I've had! 

Firstly, I went and put the now extremely rare copies of Basil the Bionic Cat in a vault in the bunker, well, the Library Mice did under Parsley's supervision. I did keep one new copy to read again, as it's been such a long time.

And then, can mew believe it, the P.A. ambushed me to clean my eyes, ohhhhh, I wasn't expecting that, anyhoo, look now, it is much better! MOL

Amber the cat, a striking white and orange feline, sits elegantly on a textured beige carpet with a warm wooden floor in the background. Her upright ears and poised stance exude curiosity, making this cozy scene a perfect visual for cat-themed blogs, pet care discussions, and feline lifestyle content. Image courtesy of www.bionicbasil.com

So the P.A. is forgiven, but she'd better keep that soft, warm, damp flannel away from me for the next few weeks.

Oh, and I know mew really want all the goss on Prudence, so here mew are, and mew won't believe what happens in this episode. If mew missed last week's instalment, click here.

>^.^<

Part 14 (Just so I don't lose track of where I am in the story! MOL)

Willie’s grip on my paw tightened.

Her pupils darted toward the window, scanning the darkness beyond the ivy-covered glass. The thud had been no accident. Someone was watching us.

Hissy’s tail bristled like static, her ears swivelling, listening for any other movement outside.

“Mew said it was worse than we thought,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “What do mew mean?”

Willie took a breath, shaky, uneven. Then, she let go of my paw and pulled something from inside her coat pocket.

letter.

The edges were crumpled, the ink smudged in places. But one thing stood out, the lawyer’s name at the top.

My heart plummeted.

“It’s from him,” Willie murmured. “The lawyer. His office sent this before we left Australia.”

I swallowed. “And?”

Willie unfolded the paper, revealing a hidden clause in the prenup that no one had ever mentioned.

“It’s not just about Prudence’s inheritance,” she whispered. “It’s about a hidden estate deed, one that Clawdia’s been after for years, apparently. And as Prudence is older than me, she is the main beneficiary, and even though I live in the main house, it still belongs to Prudence.

My blood ran cold.

“What hidden estate?” Hissy rasped.

Willie inhaled sharply. “Amber, Clawdia isn’t just trying to take Fuskerton Grange. She’s trying to claim a forgotten royal land title, one that could make her one of the wealthiest felines in Europe.”

The room felt too small, the shadows outside too large.

Then another sound.

closer, heavier step, just beyond the garden door.

I grabbed Willie’s paw again, this time tighter. “Mew need to run. Now.

Because whoever was outside? They weren’t here to talk.A black star with a white background

Willie’s paw trembled as she held out the lawyer’s letter, its edges worn and fragile. The words inside contained the key to everything; a royal estate, a forgotten fortune, and the truth about Clawdia’s scheme, and it all hinged on Prudence's compliance.

But before we could read it, before we could even breathe, a thunderous crack split the sky.

BOOM!

The air ignited, a fireball streaking across the gardens like a comet, its trail burning bright. The firework slammed into the summerhouse, shattering the wooden panels upon impact.

deafening explosion followed.

Hissy yelped, shielding her face as sparks erupted into the night, embers fluttering like sinister fireflies. Smoke billowed, thick and suffocating, curling back through the gardens toward the marquee where guests screamed in shock.

Flames licked the ancient white painted walls, consuming the ivy, devouring the fragile wood.

grabbed Willie and pulled her back as the heat surged forward, threatening to consume everything.

“We have to move!” I shouted.

Hissy coughed, eyes watering. “The letter!

I glanced at the paper, its edges curling from the heat.

And then, I saw it.

The back side of the letter had a hidden scrawl, faint ink from another document pressed onto the page.

squinted, my pulse hammering as words emerged beneath the flickering firelight:

“WILLIE, LOOK UNDER THE IRON ROSE.”

My breath hitched.

Under the Iron Rose?

What in the fluff did that mean?

Willie saw it too, her eyes widening in shock.

“The statue,” she rasped. “The old iron statue in the courtyard gardens!

Hissy grabbed my paw“We have to get there before Clawdia does!”

But behind us, the summerhouse collapsed, sending a wave of fire rushing toward the estate.

And somewhere in the darkness, I swore I heard someone watching us.A black star with a white background

Smoke billowed across the estate. The summerhouse fire had spread, casting an eerie glow over Fuskerton Grange. But we couldn’t stop now.

Willie gripped the lawyer’s letter in one paw, the faint, hidden message our only clue.

Look under the Iron Rose.

We raced toward the courtyard gardens, dodging startled party guests, skipping over overturned chairs. The chaos from the flames had sent everyone into panic, giving us just enough cover to move erratically without suspicion.

The Iron Rose stood tall in the moonlight, a twisted sculpture of metal vines, its petals curling into elegant spirals. It had always been there, overlooked, gathering rust and bird poop.

Hissy caught her breath. “What if this is... it?”

Willie wasted no time. She pressed her paws to the base, feeling along the ridges, searching for a latch, a compartment, anything.

Then... a faint click.

The metal base shifted, revealing a hidden panel beneath the statue.

sucked in a breath.

Inside? A sealed envelope, yellowed with age.

Willie’s paws shook as she pulled it free. “This was hidden right here all along,” she whispered.

Hissy narrowed her eyes. “And Clawdia never found it?”

Willie carefully opened the envelope, pulling out an ancient-looking document. The script was ornate, official. And as the words unfurled beneath the firelight, my fur stood on end.

By royal decree, this estate and its holdings are to remain in the possession of the rightful heir... forever undisputed.

We all froze.

Rightful heir?

Undisputed?

This wasn’t just a property title. This was a legal claim to Fuskerton Grange itself.

And the original signature at the bottom?

Baron Snozrazzle the First.

The name burned into history, forever binding the estate to one single successor.

turned to Willie.

Her paws tightened on the paper.

Then, a voice behind us.

Low. Dangerous.

“Well, well,” Clawdia purred, stepping forward from the shadows. “What have we here?”

My blood ran cold.

She knew.

And now? We were cornered, holding the very document that could destroy everything she had planned.

>^.^<

Until next week's explosive episode, when mew won't believe what transpired next; seriously, who knew a simple plan to save Melvyn could have unravelled a mystery like this?!!

Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®
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Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. ____________________ is my love language.
2. Never a dull moment with ______________.
3. I associate _________ with _________.
4. If I wanted to get to know someone, I would ask them _________.

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

1. ____________________ is my love language. I don't really have an answer for this, I will have to dwell deeply for some time... you see, I am a bit Vulcan, Spock has nothing on me! 

2. Never a dull moment with The B team at BBHQ. What can I say, it's just one fluffing epic adventure after another! LOL

3. I associate cats with independence, mystery and unmatched sass.

4. If I wanted to get to know someone, I would ask them _________.  This doesn't really apply to me at this point in my life. I'm like a snow leopard - solitary, hidden, and you only get to see me if I want you to. Otherwise, I'm invisible. 

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

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Amber, the head librarian at The Mewton-Clawson Library, sits proudly at her desk with this week's top feline fiction cozy mystery book pick, To Conjure a Killer by Clea Simon. Surrounded by stacks of books, a desk lamp, and a tiny mouse companion, she exudes scholarly charm in this inviting literary setting, perfect for book lovers and mystery enthusiasts
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

To Conjure a Killer 


Witch Cats of Cambridge, Book 4


by
 
Clea Simon

       Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

It’s kitten season in Cambridge, and the results can be murder.

Becca Colwin is coming home from her job at Charm and Cherish when she sees a tortoiseshell kitten run down an alley—leading to a dead body.

As a connection between Becca and that corpse is confirmed, Becca comes under suspicion—and is dragged into a cyberware scandal, thanks to her cheating ex, Jeff. The unfaithful computer geek and his high-powered investor were working on stealth software designed to record and transmit personal data—a new form of spyware that would be of interest to everyone from the police and security agencies to cybercriminals. And when Jeff’s former friends and colleagues approach her, Becca finds the police aren’t the only ones watching her.

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I did review another Clea Simon book, ages ago, way back in 2017, called: 


Cats Can't Shoot ~ A Pru Marlowe Pet Noir


This is the fourth book in the Witch Cats of Cambridge series, and yes, I know I'm starting with the final book in the series, but mew know how I like to mix things up! MOL

Mew know how much I love a talking cat, well, there's a lot in this one! 

Get ready to purr with excitement as Clea Simon takes us on a whimsical adventure in To Conjure a Killer, the fourth instalment in the charming Witch Cats of Cambridge series! (Cambridge, USA - just in case mew were thinking it was Cambridge, UK). This entertaining cozy mystery brings together a purrfect blend of feline fun, intrigue, and a dash of magic that will leave cozy cat mystery fans enchanted. Becca Colwin is our protagonist, and just when she thought life was going to be about adorable kittens and her whimsical shop, Charm and Cherish, things take a sharp turn... right into a dead body! Who knew that a mercy dash down an alley after a tortoiseshell kitten would launch her straight into a murder mystery and make her the chief suspect? But don’t worry; with three magically inclined resident cats by her side and the newly adopted tortie with her own mysterious powers, Becca might just find a way to clear her name and uncover the truth. As she navigates the choppy waters of suspicion thanks to her not-so-innocent ex, Jeff, who's tangled in a cyberware scandal, the stakes get higher. The clever writing expertly weaves a narrative filled with tension and twists that will keep mew guessing until the last page.

The interactions between Becca and her feline companions is particularly fun, showcasing the unique bond between humans and their pet partners in crime-solving. One of the highlights is the supurr cute tortoiseshell kitten! This little ball of fur makes the story even more entertaining. The plot supurrbly captures the essence of what it means to be a cat owner and the unbreakable bonds they create, while simultaneously exploring themes of trust, friendship, and redemption. If mew enjoy your mysteries laced with a sprinkle of magic and a healthy dose of humour, it is a must read. The witty prose and vivid descriptions make Cambridge come alive, not to mention the antics of Becca's magical furballs. This book is an adorable reminder that sometimes, the best detectives have paws, and every mystery can be approached with a little whimsy. So grab a cozy blanket, your favourite cup of tea, mine, catnip of course, and settle in as mew’re in for a delightful chase! Just be prepared for a few, sorry, a lot of meows along the way. 🐾✨🐾🐾

Available in hardback, paperback and audio versions. And yes, I will return to the start of the series very soon.

Paperback: 320 pages
Audio: 8 hours 21 mins
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Rating of:

To Conjure a Killer 


Overall Enjoyment

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Do enjoy the book 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 


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