Showing posts with label Cat Book Connoisseur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat Book Connoisseur. Show all posts

Friday, 6 February 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #348 featuring **The Cat Who Turned On & Off** 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 ~ 98% Stability & 100% Nonsense ✨

Hello, my gorgeous library guests
and

Welcome back to the Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ.

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks once again. I’m delighted, and frankly astonished, to report that the library is now 98% temporally stable. Yes, we’ve made progress.

The micro‑time pockets have mostly fizzled out, the encyclopaedias have stopped plotting a revolt, and Oswald has downgraded the mice’s emergency status from “critical” to “mildly inconvenient.”

Of course, “98% stable” at BBHQ still means:
 
The poetry section occasionally thinks it’s 1892
The atlases insist it’s Wednesday somewhere
And the romance novels keep sighing dramatically for no reason
But compared to last week?
We’re practically a monastery.

Naturally, Melvyn is still a tad twitchy. He said. "If it looks too good to be true, it usually is."

And I must agree, in situations like this, it's always better to err on the side of caution until 100% stability is restored.

📚 A Conversation in the Library This Morning

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, why are you holding a stopwatch and a clipboard?”

Melvyn: “I’m monitoring temporal fluctuations.”

Me: “But we’re 98% stable.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the stapler just aged six minutes in my paw.”

Me: “That’s within acceptable parameters.”

Melvyn: “No, Amber. It’s not.”

Me: “Sweetie, somepawdy online said we should ‘put things back together correctly.’”

Melvyn: “Correctly? In this library?”

Me: “Exactly. I laughed too.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the mice are still wearing hard hats.”

Me: “They’re fashion‑forward.”

Melvyn: “Lumie flickered twice during roll call.”

Me: “She’s dramatic at the best of times. But that's still a massive improvement on last week.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the encyclopaedias are humming again.”

Me: “They’re warming up their vocal cords.”

Melvyn: “Amber, please take this seriously.”

Me: “I am. I’m meditating.”

Melvyn: “Meditating or napping.”

Me: “Yes.”

So, my utterly wonderful library guests, if mew notice the occasional flicker, shimmer, or a mouse wearing PPE and carrying a clipboard, please don’t worry. This is the correct version of the library.

Probably.

Now, let’s begin this week’s review before Melvyn starts timing the books again and Oswald files a complaint about “unresolved cheese cube allocation.”


If mew're wondering where this week's Egypt Adventure is, sorry, we've had to move it to next week, as it was the P.A.'s birthday at BBHQ yesterday and we ran out of time!

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. I ___________________ for fun.
2. I am tired of seeing _______________________.
3. I once had the crazy idea to _________, and it worked.
4. I spoke too soon when I said that _________.

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

1. I tickle Smooch's back paw for fun. It's his non-ticklish paw; you can tickle it for an hour, and he'll just purr away like a little engine that's idling contentedly!

2. I am tired of seeing Fudge act surprised when his ninja‑level zoomies knock over half of BBHQ. "Oh, did all the mail get caught in the 'tail' wind?" he asks innocently, looking at a sea of paper on the floor. His tail needs its own postcode!

3. I once had the crazy idea to give the B Team a “team meeting,” and it worked ... for exactly 12 seconds. LOL (Check it out on TIKTOK)

4. I spoke too soon when I said that the B Team couldn’t possibly cause more chaos. Just another normal day at BBHQ! LOL

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

Amber, a regal orange-and-white cat, sits behind a desk in a grand library filled with towering wooden bookshelves and warm lighting from sconces and chandeliers. On the desk are a yellow lamp, a stack of books, a feather quill, a scroll, a small mouse figurine, and a sign that reads “SHHHHH!!!” A featured book titled The Cat Who Turned On & Off by Lilian Jackson Braun is prominently displayed, highlighting Amber’s role as a discerning feline book reviewer. At www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy


The Cat Who Turned On & Off

       

The Cat Who… Mysteries, Book 3


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.
Today I'm back to The Cat Who series; there are 29 in total, I think, but don't quote me. I've been rereading this epic series for the first time since 2007.

Here's the previous four 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 Turned On & Off

Cozy fans, fluff your whiskers and prepare your detective instincts, because this week’s read is a crime classic featuring two of literature’s most refined and legendary feline sleuths: Koko and Yum Yum. Naturally, I felt right at home, a mystery, a journalist, and two cats solving crimes while the humans bumble around! MOL

❓ What’s the Vibe?

Think vintage charm, quirky characters, and a mystery wrapped in dust, antiques, and a faint whiff of danger. It’s cozy crime at its finest, gentle, clever, atmospheric, and delightfully cat‑centric. Purrfect for curling up with a warm drink and pretending mew, too, have psychic whiskers.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Jim Qwilleran, moustachioed journalist, professional snoop, and full‑time servant to two Siamese masterminds, is assigned to write a feature on Junktown, a wonderfully shabby enclave of antique dealers, eccentrics, and bohemian oddballs.

Naturally, he moves right in.
Naturally, Koko and Yum Yum come too.
Naturally, chaos follows.

When Qwill’s landlord, the respected (and slightly mysterious) C.C. Cobb, takes a fatal tumble, Qwill’s investigative instincts start tingling… but Koko’s whiskers twitch first. And when Koko develops an obsession with tape recorders, yes, really, the clues begin to unravel in that uncanny, feline way only he can manage.

Dusty shops, hidden motives, eccentric neighbours, and one very clever cat… It’s all here, wrapped in Braun’s signature charm.

⚔️ What I Loved

😼 Koko: Sharp, smug, and always three steps ahead of the humans. His tape‑recorder fixation is iconic.

😺 Yum Yum: Soft, sweet, and quietly brilliant. The purrfect counterbalance to Koko’s dramatic flair.

📰 Qwilleran: A lovable mix of earnest journalist and slightly bewildered cat dad. His moustache does half the detecting.

🏚 Junktown: Atmospheric, quirky, and full of secrets. A character in its own right.

🔍 The Mystery: Clever, gentle, and satisfying, with just enough twists to keep your tail flicking.

📖 Final Thoughts

This is a warm, witty, and wonderfully feline mystery that purrs along at just the right pace. It’s not dark or gritty, it’s charming, clever, and full of purrsonality. Koko and Yum Yum steal every scene, as they should, and Qwill does his best to keep up.

If mew love cozy crime, eccentric characters, and cats who are clearly the brains of the opurrration, this is a must‑read.

🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence

🐾 A whisker‑twitching cozy mystery where the cats solve the case, and the humans just try to keep up. 🐾

A Top Paw Read!


Paperback: 276 pages
Audio CD: 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 Turned On & Off

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.

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®





Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

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

Friday, 30 January 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #347 featuring **Pawsitively Poisonous** by Melissa Erin Jackson **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins + Foto Fails

A digitally illustrated promotional graphic for The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ features Amber, a white and orange cat wearing a light blue scarf, seated in front of bookshelves filled with colourful books. Decorative elements like holly leaves, a mouse, a quill, and a thimble add festive charm to the top of the image. The bottom text reads "Book Reviews with Amber," indicating Amber is the host of the library’s book review segment. The overall design is cozy, whimsical, and holiday-themed. At www.bionicbasil.com

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

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

✨ This Week’s Intro ~ The Great Temporal Stabilisation (…ish) ✨

Hello, my gorgeous library guests

and

Welcome back to the Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ.

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks again. I’m thrilled to announce that the micro‑time pockets have mostly stopped popping like cosmic popcorn… although we are still experiencing the occasional temporal hiccup.

For instance, this morning, the poetry section briefly thought it was 1974, the atlases insisted it was next Friday, and the romance novels were convinced it was Valentine’s Day and started rearranging themselves into heart shapes.

And the mice?

Oh, my… the mice are still not coping.

Oswald has upgraded his complaint forms to “Level 3 Emergency Documentation.”

Snitch claims he met his future self and was unimpressed.

Tootles says he’s now lived Monday three times and refuses to do it again.

Ardvaar insists he’s caught in a cracker‑based prophecy.

Nibbles has barricaded the stationery cupboard from the inside.

Flora fainted again (dramatically, of course).

Chedds is demanding dental insurance.

And Lumie… well… Lumie flickered in this morning wearing a tiny sticker that said “I visited 2041 and all I got was this lousy paradox.”

Naturally, Melvyn is one whisker away from a meltdown.

📚 A Conversation in the Library This Morning

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, why is there caution tape around the encyclopaedias?”

Melvyn: “Because they’re unstable, Amber. Volume 9 jumped ahead three hours and tried to take the rest of the set with it.”

Me: “Well, that’s ambitious.”

Melvyn: “Amber, ambition isn’t the issue. They’re staging a temporal uprising.”

Me: “Sweetie, books don’t revolt. They get dusty, and lice occasionally if mew don't treat them regularly.”

Melvyn: “Tell that to Volume 4. It hissed at me.”

Me: “Volume 4 hisses at everypawdy. It’s dramatic.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the mice have formed a safety committee.”

Me: “How organised! Did they elect a chairmouse?”

Melvyn: “Yes. Oswald, again. He’s wearing a tie and a hard hat. He went shopping at Mousecapades P.P.E. online and spent a fortune.”

Me: “Adorable. Would mew be a dear, and tell Parsley to pay the bill."”

Melvyn: “Amber, it’s not adorable. It’s a warning. They’ve drafted a list of demands. And no, I'm not telling Parlsey anything.”

Me: I'll send him a memo and notify him that it's due soon.

Melvyn: "What about the list of demands?"

Me: “Let me guess, fewer time pockets, more snacks?”

Melvyn: “Yes. And hazard pay.”

Me: “Well, that’s fair.”

Melvyn: “Amber, please tell me mew're going to help stabilise the timeline.”

Me: “Of course, sweetie. Right after I meditate.”

Melvyn: “Meditate or nap.”

Me: “Yes.”

So, my dahlings, if mew notice the occasional time‑skip, déjà vu, or a mouse wearing a tie, hard hat, and carrying a clipboard, please don’t be alarmed. It’s all part of the library’s unique temporal charm.

Everything is absolutely, completely, unquestionably fine.

Probably.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s adventure before Oswald calls a full‑scale mouse strike and Melvyn starts bubble‑wrapping the encyclopaedias.

Amber, a regal orange tabby cat, sits poised inside the Tomb of Ramses V & VI beneath a deep blue ceiling painted with golden stars and the elongated figure of the goddess Nut. She wears a midnight‑blue robe of sheer linen embroidered with swirling constellations and tiny gold stars. Around her neck glows a broad collar of lapis lazuli, gold, and polished obsidian. Atop her head rests a celestial diadem shaped like a crescent moon cradling a golden sun disk. The tomb’s walls are adorned with hieroglyphs and divine figures, including Horus and Anubis, rendered in rich golds and blues. Warm lamplight bathes the chamber, casting a soft glow on Amber’s fur and the cosmic artwork around her.

🌙 Amber’s Egyptian Adventure #14: The Cosmic Descent into KV9 🐾

(Where the Stars Whisper and the Goddesses Glow)

Location: KV9, The Tomb of Ramses V & VI, Valley of the Kings, a celestial corridor of deep lapis ceilings, golden constellations, and the great sky‑goddess Nut stretching across eternity

Time: Late afternoon, when the desert sun softens into honey‑gold, and the tomb’s painted heavens glow like a private galaxy

Dahlings, today I descended into one of Egypt’s most cosmic sanctuaries: KV9, the star‑soaked tomb of Ramses V and VI. And yes, I know we've already been to the Valley of the Kings, but not this Tomb. And I needed an excuse to extend my jollies, so I bipped back and forth between places, terribly sneaky, I know! MOL

But now, just imagine a corridor carved into the heart of the Theban mountains, then painted with the night sky itself, and then imagine me, gliding through it like the celestial queen I am.

The moment I stepped inside, the air cooled, the light dimmed, and the ceiling above me unfurled into a river of deep blue, sprinkled with golden stars. The goddess Nut arched overhead, her body stretching across the heavens in shimmering gold.

“Ahhh,” I purred, “finally… a place that understands my relationship with the cosmos.”

I arrived draped in a midnight‑blue robe of soft linen, embroidered with tiny gold stars and swirling constellations. Around my neck shimmered a collar of lapis lazuli, gold, and polished obsidian, glowing like the tomb’s painted heavens. Atop my head rested a celestial diadem, shaped like a crescent moon, because if one is visiting the sky‑goddess Nut, one must dress accordingly.

The walls glowed with scenes from the Book of the Heavens, the Book of Gates, and the Book of Caverns, cosmic maps guiding the pharaoh through the night. I paused before a panel of radiant deities, their golden forms gleaming in the lamplight.

“Amber,” I whispered, “mew are practically a constellation.”

To honour the moment, I sipped a Blue Lotus Nip Nebula Cooler, chilled with crushed ice and infused with blue lotus, mint, and a swirl of pomegranate. It tasted like starlight… and pawesome life choices.

Then I padded deeper into the tomb, my pawsteps echoing softly against the stone. The long corridor seemed to stretch into infinity, each chamber glowing with celestial magic. The colours were so vivid, so alive, that I half expected the goddess Nut to lean down and compliment my ensemble.

But naturally, I remained composed.

After all, I am Amber, head librarian of BBHQ, and I, too, appreciate a well‑curated universe.

KV9 may hold the secrets of the heavens, but today it held me: a cat of legend, shimmering like a cosmic array in the night, sipping nebula cocktails, and adding a touch of feline stardust to Egypt’s eternal story.

My Cosmic Essentials Included:

🌌 A Blue Lotus Nip Nebula Cooler, cool, floral, and purrfect for star‑gazing underground

📜 A miniature star map, annotated with my paw‑written notes (“Nut would adore my sparkle”)

👑 A crescent moon headdress, radiant enough to rival the painted heavens

🐾 A midnight‑blue robe, ideal for dramatic descents into cosmic corridors

Mood: Celestial, serene, and delightfully luminous (but only because the stars insisted on matching my outfit)

Quote of the Day: “Some tombs honour the night sky, dahling… others simply recognise a star when she arrives.”

A stylized illustration of two black cats sitting back-to-back, facing opposite directions. Each cat is adorned with gold accents on the ears and eyes, red and gold collars, and gold hoop earrings, evoking the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian art. Their symmetrical pose and regal detailing suggest inspiration from Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of protection and home. The image blends cultural symbolism with elegant feline design.

 Next week, prepare your whiskers, we’re going somewhere ancient, sun‑drenched, and guarded by falcons. Think: towering pylons, sacred feathers, and cocktails served in the shadow of Horus.

Two views of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ showcase a beautifully organized home library. The top half reveals a long wall of white bookshelves filled with colorful books, magazines, and decorative items. A chair and a cat add a cozy touch to the aisle. The bottom half features another section of the library with shelves lined with older, leather-bound volumes, suggesting a collection of classics or historical texts. The caption in the center reads: "Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®"
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
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 biggest time waste.
2. I am allergic to _______________________.
3. _________ heavily influences my _________.
4. I like to DIY ______________.

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

1. Writing is my biggest time waste suck. Honestly, I don't have time for the day job. Once I get into creation mode, it's like a horse bolting across the fields; no hedges, gates, or walls will slow it down! LOL

2. I am allergic to people who don't like cats. And severely allergic too, there's no antihistamine that can solve that either! LOL

3. The B Team heavily influences my writing, in fact, without them, there's nothing, nada, zero - so I always feel particularly blessed that they brought more than themselves into my life.

4. I like to DIY EVERYTHING!!! Well, that is a bit of an overstretch, but I like to DIY anything I can.
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
And as it's the last Friyay of the month, we're also joining in the furrbulous...


So do drop by Mudpie's marvellous blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

The Time Parsley Said No To My Book Spending

Amber, a white and orange cat, is caught mid-yawn with her mouth wide open, giving the impression of a hearty laugh. Her expressive pose and slightly blurred motion add a humorous touch, as if she's reacting to Parsley's refusal to fund more books. The background features a wooden floor and a partially visible cabinet, grounding the moment in a cozy home setting.

The funniest day of my life!!! MOL

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.

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

Amber, a regal orange and white cat, sits proudly on a white chair in a cozy library setting, surrounded by shelves brimming with books. Beside her is the featured book “Pawsitively Poisonous” by Melissa Erin Jackson, part of the Witch of Edgehill series. The scene includes whimsical touches—a desk lamp, quill and ink, potted plants, a mouse perched on a stack of books, and a wooden “SHHHHH!!!” sign—creating the perfect atmosphere for Amber, the head librarian, to oversee this week’s top book pick. at www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy


Pawsitively Poisonous


A Witch of Edgehill Mystery Book 1


by 

Melissa Erin Jackson

A symmetrical cartoon-style illustration featuring four mice and two pieces of Swiss cheese. The mice are arranged in pairs on either side of the cheese, all facing toward the center. Each cheese wedge is illustrated with classic holes, and the playful layout creates a balanced and whimsical visual.
📚 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: Pawsitively Poisonous

I did have a little chuckle at the title, it fits this book supurrbly.

This week, I dove into something a little witchy, a little twisty, and a whole lot of fun. I listened to the audiobook while “meditating” and before mew ask, NO, I wasn’t napping. Melvyn just has a very theatrical interpretation of metaphysical purractices. Deep meditation can look like snoozing… occasionally.

Anyhoo, the narration was delightful, the vibes were immaculate, and the mystery? Furblously Feline.

❓ What’s the Vibe?

Think:
✨ small‑town secrets
✨ cosy witchcraft
✨ a feline‑obsessed community
✨ magical oddities tucked behind every shop window

Edgehill, Oregon, is basically St. Mary Mead, if it had more cats, more gossip, and a witch running a curiosity shop full of enchanted knick‑knacks.

It’s light, fast‑paced, and sprinkled with just enough magic to make your whiskers tingle.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Amber Blackwood is Edgehill’s resident “odd duck”, though honestly, she’s more of an “odd cat,” preferring solitude, shadows, and keeping her magical secret tucked safely under her tail.

Her shop, The Quirky Whisker, is a treasure trove of enchanted goodies: sleepy teas that could knock out a tiger, candles that burn forever and toys that run without batteries (witchcraft or cat magic? mew decide).

But when her friend Melanie is found dead clutching a vial from Amber’s store, the town’s rumour mill goes into overdrive. And the new police chief? Oh, he’s practically vibrating with suspicion.

Amber suddenly finds herself at the top of the suspect list, and the only way to clear her name is to use her witchy gifts to sniff out the real killer.

And yes, there are cats. 

😻 What I Loved

🐈 The Cats Tom and Allie: Sassy, observant, and clearly the brains of the household. Every time these furbulous felines appeared, I perked up like somepawdy had shaken a treat bag.

🔮 Amber Blackwood: Introverted, kind, magically gifted, and just trying to live her best quiet life… until murder ruins her week. Relatable.

🛍 The Quirky Whisker: A shop so charming that Pandora and I wanted to teleport inside and buy everything. Even the suspiciously potent teas, as long as there's catnip MOL

👮 The Tension with the Police Chief: Deliciously prickly. He’s convinced Amber is up to something, and technically, he’s not wrong.

🔥 The Mystery: Twisty enough to keep me guessing, cozy enough to keep me purring.

📖 Final Thoughts

This is a charming, magical, small‑town cozy cat mystery with heart, humour, and just enough danger to keep your tail flicking. Amber is a wonderfully layered heroine, the town is bursting with purrsonality, and the feline presence is strong, as it should be.

It’s the purrfect blend of cosy witchcraft, quirky characters, and a murder that needs solving before the rumour mill buries Amber alive.

Grab your favourite blanket, a steaming mug of catnip cocoa, and settle in for a spellbinding read that’s as comforting as it is compelling.

🐾 A TOTALLY TOP PAW READ ~ MAGICAL, MYSTERIOUS & FULL OF CATITUDE! 🐾

Audio: Fun, lively, and a joy to listen to, especially during “meditation.” MOL

Oh, and this book is free on Kindle at the time of posting. Don't ask me how long for, I don't have a crystal ball, maybe mew should ask Pandora.

Paperback: 260 pages
Audio: 6 hours 42 mins
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
My Rating Scale

A whimsical graphic featuring a triangular arrangement of light blue paw prints on the left side, forming a downward-pointing triangle. On the right side is a playful rating scale for reading material, themed around fluff and animal humor. The five levels are: 1. 	TOTALLY TOP FLUFF — READ IMMEDIATELY 2. 	FURRY GOOD FLUFF — READ AS SOON AS 3. 	ENJOYABLE FLUFF — PUT IT STANDBY 4. 	NOT FLUFFING BAD — EMERGENCY READING 5. 	FLUFF OFF — GO NAP INSTEAD The design is lighthearted and imaginative, perfect for a fun, informal book review setting. At www.bionicbasil.com
Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Ratings of:

Pawsitively Poisonous

 
Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® 5 Paw Rating - Pale Blue

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.
   
Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today

A colorful collage of six square graphics representing themed blog hops and social media events. Each graphic features unique designs and text: 1. 	"Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop" with a cat and the URL "brianshomeblog.com". 2. 	"The Cat Blogosphere" with the URL "catblogosphere.com". 3. 	"Feline Friday" with a playful cat theme. 4. 	"Nature Friday Blog Hop" featuring nature-inspired elements. 5. 	"Friendly Fill-Ins" with the URLs "15andmeowing.com" and "Four-Legged Furballs". 6. 	"Friendship Friday" with the tagline "Create With Joy". The image celebrates community-driven online events centered around cats, nature, and friendship.

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I'm off to read next week's books, as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time! 

Don't forget, if mew are looking for great books with cats, check out the Book Review page, just click the link here or at the top of the page, as that's the place to visit to get your feline fiction fix. 

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® Paw







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