Showing posts with label Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozy Mystery Book 5.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozy Mystery Book 5.. Show all posts

Friday, 25 July 2025

**FELINE FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #332 featuring **Mayhem in the Mudroom ~ Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozy Mystery Book 5** by Leighann Dobbs **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins & Photo Fails Blog Hop **Starring Parsley**

The Mewton-Clawson Library blog header for BionicBasil.com featuring Amber, the head librarian cat at BBHQ, posed before a colorful bookshelf. Surrounded by whimsical flowers, butterflies, and a quill, this charming design welcomes readers to book reviews and literary adventures in the BBHQ universe.

Hello furbulous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

How lovely mew could join me for my furry last review of the current season. And DON'T PANIC, I'll be back in the autumn/fall with another selection of epic cat reads just for mew!

If mew remember last week, the Library Mice went on to another festival called Mousecapade Under the Moonlight, well, mew'll never believe it, they're still M.I.A.!!!

It turns out that there's an entire festival season, and now, they've moved on to the Gouda-bury Festival. Apparently, it's the ultimate mouse-sized Glastonbury, where squeak meets stage, and cheese fuels the soul.

 Main Stages

Stage Name

Headliners

Vibe

The Cheddar Pyramid

DJ CheddarTail, The String Quartet (of Mice), Brieoncé, The Cheese-Ups Band

Big sound. Bigger cheese. Electric tail-wagging energy.

The Mousetrap Arena

Pickle & the Crumbets, Rind & Rythym

Acoustic nibbles, poetic squeaks, soft moonlight vibes.

The Blue Stilton Tent

Feta Phonics, Ratatouille Blues Band, 

Underground funk. The scent? A little strong.

🎨 Themed Villages

Parsnip’s Patch – Eco-glamping nests with compostable woven meadow grass hammocks and seed snacks.
Rindtown – Cheese sculpting workshops, including how to carve your face into a wheel of Edam.
Crumbstock – Where mice activists and book lovers hold talks like “Mozzarella & Mindfulness.”

🧀 Legendary Festival Moments

🐾 The Great Cheddar Drop – A sky-high gouda wheel gently parachuted into the crowd at midnight.
🎶 Squeakstock – Crowd-wide harmonies powered by tail-thump percussion and kazoo choirs.
🕺 Silent Cheese Disco – Headphones on, paws up, dancing to provolone-powered playlists.

Souvenirs & Merchandise

Glow-in-the-dark whisker rings ~ Perfect for midnight maze runs.

“I Survived The Cheddar Pyramid” totes ~ Tail-proof stitching and brie-scented lining.

Kazoo + nibble combo packs ~ Make music, then snack. It's that simple.

“Tail Flamenco Champion” badges ~ Won during impromptu dance battles in The Blue Stilton Tent.

Scented Cheese Marker Sets ~ Available in Cheddar, Gouda, and Stilton. Great for diary doodles.

Miniature Acorn Lanterns ~ Glow near literature or live music.

Cheddar Pyramid Snow Globe ~ DJ CheddarTail spins inside beneath a glitter wheel of cheese confetti.


Honestly, I couldn't believe it when they sent me a postcard with the news! 

Front of the ‘Mousecapade Under the Moonlight’ illustrated postcard showcasing four anthropomorphic mice enjoying a whimsical forest gathering at night. Set beneath a glowing full moon and colourful fireworks, one mouse plays a trumpet, another operates a vintage record player, while two others sit nearby, one wrapped in a cosy cloak and the other beside a coiled rope. A striped tent peeks from the background, suggesting a festival atmosphere. The artwork features rich twilight colours, playful details, and woodland textures, ideal for fans of magical animal illustrations and nocturnal storytelling at www.bionicbasil.com

Back of a whimsical Mousecapade-themed postcard featuring a handwritten message from the Library Mice to Amber, Head Librarian at The Mewton-Clawson Library, BBHQ, UK. The message shares their joyful departure to the Gouda-bury Festival, with playful references to ‘tail flamenco,’ cheese wheels, catnip tea, and bookmark bunting. Addressed formally on the right, stamped with a 4p mouse stamp in the top corner, and postmarked '21 JUL 2025'. The postcard design includes tiny illustrated books, mouse doodles, and rustic parchment-style textures, capturing the charm of pet-led literary adventures at www.bionicbasil.com

Well, after receiving that, I needed a rather strong niptini and an entire pack of cheesy nibbles with catnip sprinkles! MOL

Sadly, I haven't got the latest update for mew in the Prudence Saga today, as it's been a total cluster fluff of epic proportions since the mice decided to go on their annual holiday, so this is what I'm proposing; Melvyn, my supurr duper library intern will run the last few episodes for me starting next week while I take my annual jollies.

 Great idea, hey? And it gives Melvyn a bit more responsibility as well. I like that a lot! MOL

Thank mew most sincerely for joining me every Friday since the review season started, mew don't know how much I love sharing my top book picks with mew every week!

A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com

Interior of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BionicBasil.com—an enchanting literary haven curated by the BBHQ cats. The image showcases soaring wooden bookshelves filled with colorful spines, vintage tomes, and feline-approved reads. A plush reading chair nestled in the corner invites cozy contemplation beneath soft ambient lighting. Delicate décor touches, including whimsical plants, collector’s knick-knacks, and a paw-sketched poster, add personality and warmth. This charming space is the headquarters for BBHQ’s literary adventures, lovingly overseen by head librarian Amber the cat, whose role is to archive cat-centric tales, interdimensional chronicles, and the occasional time-traveling manuscript
A minimalist black-and-white illustration of three stacked books with a whimsical twist—one tiny mouse perched proudly on the top book, while a second mouse stands on the ground gazing up with curiosity. The books are sketched with soft line detail, evoking the cozy charm of classic storybook illustrations. This gentle, literary-themed divider adds a playful pause between blog sections on BionicBasil.com
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.
A Blog hop badge featuring two cute cats for the Friendly fill-ins challange every Friday at 15 and meowing and four legged furballs

1. The best part of the summer is _______________.
2. I can’t believe that I ever ___________________.
3. I would happily _________ every single day.
4. I could use a break from _________.

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

1. The best part of the summer is the light nights, I love those, so uplifting for the soul. The darkness pushed away for those few short months, bliss!

2. I can’t believe that I ever thought I wouldn't be able to write another B Team adventure after Basil departed. It took a while, however, I got there in the end! Yep, the good old 'Claws of Terror' broke the long dry spell. It was supposed to be Mogwarts, but obviously that wasn't ready to be written. I've decided that Mogwarts will be an offshoot story like The Purrminator.

3. I would happily write every single day. Well, at the moment I am! LOL

4. I could use a (short) break from writing every single day - see #3 - but I want to get the book I'm working on finished (I started it in 2021 and stalled a few times), so I can get back to the next B Team adventure ready for the autumn/fall. Can you guess what that one will be about? 

A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com

As it's the last Friday of the month, we're also joining in the furbulous...


Go visit meowvellous Mudpie's blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

Parsley Sauce, the sleek black cat at BBHQ, stretched out gracefully on the soft landing carpet at the top of the stairs — his glossy fur and relaxed stretched out fully pose exude quiet confidence and feline comfort, perfectly capturing the calm ambience of a peaceful home moment in this creative space at www.bionicbasil.com

Here's Parsley from July 2020, doing his supurr cat impression on the landing! MOL 

A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com

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

A charming literary-themed blog divider featuring a vintage typewriter at its center with a sheet of paper displaying a paw print—symbolizing the creative spirit of BBHQ. Flanking the typewriter are two whimsical stacks of books. On the left stack, a tiny mouse stands alert on the top volume, while the right stack hosts another mouse lounging comfortably. The illustration is sketched in a detailed, hand-drawn style, blending cozy bookish vibes with playful feline flair—perfect for adding personality between blog sections on BionicBasil.com
Head librarian Amber, a ginger and white cat at BBHQ, proudly presenting this week's featured book: 'Mayhem in the Mudroom' by Leighann Dobbs — captured in a charming library nook with rustic wooden shelves, stacks of books, leafy green plants, and whimsical mouse decor, reflecting the cozy, literary vibe of www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Mayhem in the Mudroom


A Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozy Mystery Book 5

by

Leighann Dobbs


       Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

Murder strikes again at Moorecliff Manor and this time the stakes are higher than they have ever been. Araminta’s good friend, the famous jeweler Bertie Belamie, has been murdered in the mudroom and Jacob is the prime suspect.

Why was Bertie in the mudroom with his case of jewels and why is Jacob so close-mouthed about it? Why is Bertie’s assistant, Stella, so vague about which pieces of jewelry are missing? And is it any coincidence that the neighborhood crime boss, Stephen Roy and his fiancee Vivianne were in the house at the time of the murder?


I reviewed the first book in this fun series earlier in March, actually it was the same day the Prudence saga kicked up to Defcon 1! MOL 

And the second book, on the 2nd of May, can be read here. Next, I reviewed Book 3, which can be read here. And last week I shared book 4, which mew can read by clicking here.

So today, here's the final book in the series.

Mayhem in the Mudroom, the fifth instalment, delivers another captivating and suspenseful tale that pulls mew right into the heart of a luxurious yet treacherous world. This time, Araminta faces one of her toughest challenges yet as her dear friend, renowned jeweller Bertie Belamie, is found murdered in the mudroom of Moorecliff Manor. From the first page, which carries straight on from the previous book, mew are drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue. The plot is wonderfully enticing: a murder, a stash of jewels, and a prime suspect in Jacob, who is uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Bertie’s death. The plot thickens with the inclusion of Bertie’s assistant, Stella, whose vagueness only deepens the mystery, and the presence of neighbourhood crime boss Stephen Roy and his fiancée, Vivianne, at the scene adds layers of complexity that keep you guessing. In this instalment, the worldbuilding continues as the vibrant setting of the manor is expanded and detailed delightfully. The interactions between Araminta and her clever Siamese cats, Arun and Sasha, inject a playful charm into the story; these two are epic, of course they are, they're the reason I'm reading the book! Their antics and intuition provide not only comic relief but also crucial insights which guide Araminta through the investigation. The balance between humour and mystery, combined with the enigmatic atmosphere, purrfectly complements the series' light-hearted yet serious undertones, and the writing is infused with wit and sparkle, making the entire experience supurr enjoyable and engaging. The dialogue and the dynamics among the characters is well-developed, and enriches the overall narrative.
As Araminta races against time to clear Jacob's name, mew will find yourself immersed in a web of clues and red herrings, all leading to a finale filled with unexpected twists and turns. This is a furbulous addition to the Moorecliff Manor series, and if like me, mew love this genre, try it. It's the purrfect read for anypawdy looking to curl up with a cozy mystery on a lazy summer's afternoon!

Another pawesome book in this highly entertaining series!
 
(In book 2's review, they were available on Kindle Unlimited, but it seems NOT anymore)


Paperback: 106 pages
Audio: 2 hours 46 mins
A minimalist black-and-white illustration of three stacked books with a whimsical twist—one tiny mouse perched proudly on the top book, while a second mouse stands on the ground gazing up with curiosity. The books are sketched with soft line detail, evoking the cozy charm of classic storybook illustrations. This gentle, literary-themed divider adds a playful pause between blog sections on BionicBasil.com
My Rating Scale
Amber’s Paw Print Rating Scale from BionicBasil.com – a humorous, pyramid-style visual used by head librarian Amber at BBHQ to rate books in the Mewton-Clawson Library. The chart features descending rows of bold purple paw prints, forming a five-tier rating system with playful labels for each level: •	5 Paws – “TOTALLY TOP FLUFF ~ READ IMMEDIATELY!” – the highest honour for truly unputdownable feline fiction or pawesome adventures that leave tails twitching and whiskers wide with excitement. •	4 Paws – “FURRY GOOD FLUFF ~ LICKED ALL THE PAGES!” – thoroughly enjoyable reads with great character whisker-work and plot twists galore. •	3 Paws – “ENJOYABLE FLUFF ~ WOULD READ AGAIN” – solid stories with charm and enough intrigue to warrant a repeat nap-time read. •	2 Paws – “NOT FLUFFING BAD ~ NOT THE BEST BUT OKAY” – mildly entertaining tales that may appeal to some kitties, but lack a little purrsonality. Emergency reading. •	1 Paw – “FLUFF OFF ~ GO NAP INSTEAD” – reserved for disappointing reads that failed to capture even Amber’s keen librarian curiosity. This quirky BBHQ-exclusive scale brings feline-approved humour and charm to every book review post on BionicBasil.com, offering readers a quick glance at a book’s fluff factor in true pawsitive style.
A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com
Rating of:

Mayhem in the Mudroom


Overall Enjoyment
5 Paw Rating – “TOTALLY TOP FLUFF ~ READ IMMEDIATELY!” – the highest honour for truly unputdownable feline fiction or pawesome adventures that leave tails twitching and whiskers wide with excitement
A charming literary-themed blog divider featuring a vintage typewriter at its center with a sheet of paper displaying a paw print—symbolizing the creative spirit of BBHQ. Flanking the typewriter are two whimsical stacks of books. On the left stack, a tiny mouse stands alert on the top volume, while the right stack hosts another mouse lounging comfortably. The illustration is sketched in a detailed, hand-drawn style, blending cozy bookish vibes with playful feline flair—perfect for adding personality between blog sections on BionicBasil.com

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

Friday Blog Hop Banner featuring hops at Brian's Home - The Cat Blogosphere - Feline Friday - Nature Friday - Flashback Friday - Friendship Friday - with all the links displayed below.
A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com

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 in the autumn with more specially paw-picked books 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 

A cute purple paw print to sign off Amber's Book Review post on www.bionicbasil.com



A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com

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A whimsical floral blog divider featuring a vibrant stretch of green grass adorned with tall, delicate purple flowers. Among the blossoms, butterflies in soft hues of blue, lilac, and white flutter gently, creating a dreamy, summer-like atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of tranquility and gentle movement—an ideal natural break between blog sections or story chapters on BionicBasil.blogspot.com
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