Showing posts with label The Cat Who Lived High. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Cat Who Lived High. Show all posts

Friday, 3 July 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #369 featuring **The Cat Who Lived High** by Lilian Jackson Braun **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

A colourful, whimsical library scene featuring a cat sitting in front of bookshelves filled with books. The background is decorated with bright flowers, butterflies, and festive bunting. A large banner reads “Welcome to The Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ – Book Reviews with Amber.” The overall design is cheerful and inviting, blending a cosy literary setting with playful feline charm.
This review of The Cat Who Lived High by Lilian Jackson Braun is part of Book Reviews with Amber, the Cat Book Connoisseur at the Mewton-Clawson Library. Scroll to read.

The world’s leading feline literary critic

From the shelves of the Mewton-Clawson Librarya curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com
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SPECIAL BBHQ ANNOUNCEMENT

IT'S MELVYN'S BIRTHDAY TOMORROW

MEW WON'T WANT TO MISS IT! 

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✨ This Week’s Intro ~ 84% Pre‑Festival Frenzy, 10% Packing Panic, 6% “Who Put That in the Suitcase?” Energy ✨

Hello again, my gloriously adventurous library guests,

and

Welcome back to the Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ, where the atmosphere has shifted once more, not magical, not meditative, not even particularly cheesy - but something far more… logistically chaotic.

The library has officially entered Festival Prep Mode.

Yes, my furiends, the action has moved to Aisle D, and it's now become a bustling departure lounge, as the mice are in full packing‑and‑planning pandemonium. The scent of cheddar has been replaced with the unmistakable aroma of excitement, travel snacks, and mild panic.

Lumie is perched on her padded ladder, peering down at open suitcases and tiny labelled pouches. Her purple bow is tilted at a “deep organisational distress” angle as she mutters things like, “Where did I put the emergency brie?” and “Why do I have three compasses?”

Velvet has relocated her writing desk to the centre of the aisle, pink rosette glowing with determination as she drafts the official Festival of Cheese Itinerary. She insists it must be calligraphed, laminated, and scented with camembert. She’s on page twelve.

Tootles, clipboard in paw, is conducting a full‑scale audit of “essential festival supplies,” including:

cracker rations
glow‑in‑the‑dark whisker rings
cheese‑safe travel cloaks
and something he calls “emergency nibble contingencies”

His blue bandana is tied at the tight, serious angle that means he’s about to overthink everything.

Nibble’s has declared Aisle D “a strategic launch zone,” while Oswald is studying the highly regarded Mouse's Companion for Festival Season 2026 for cultural etiquette. Ardvarr and Snitch are mapping the Festival Grounds using a parchment that keeps changing its own layout. Flora is practising her festival pirouettes, leaving trails of glitter sparkles in her wake.

Chedds, naturally, is lying inside an open suitcase, claiming he’s “testing nap‑to‑travel compatibility!” MOL

The fax machine has entered full administrative overdrive, printing messages like:

“Festival Packing Checklist: 47% Complete.” “Do not forget the ceremonial cheese board and accessories.” “Hydrate before nibbling.” “Reminder: last year’s glowsticks are still missing.”

The thesaurus, meanwhile, has entered its dramatic festival era, whispering words like “pilgrimage,” “odyssey,” “jubilation,” and “chaos,” clearly auditioning for the role of Festival Bard.

The whole library feels warm, buzzing, and faintly electric, like a space that knows something big is coming and is trying very hard to look prepared while absolutely not being prepared.

The Cheese Era hasn’t ended. It’s simply… packing its bags.

And we’re ready, paws, whiskers, suitcases, and snack lists, for another week of pre‑festival magic, mayhem, and mildly questionable packing decisions.

A warm, whimsical library scene shows a group of anthropomorphic mice busily preparing for a festival in a wooden “Aisle D Departure Zone.” The room is filled with books, crates, suitcases, cheese supplies, and colourful pens. One mouse reads a book titled “Emergency Brie,” another holds a sign about “Emergency Nibble Contingencies,” while others study maps, write notes, or organize travel items. A mouse in a tiny tutu floats or dances amid sparkling lights. A checklist on the wall reminds them not to forget a cheese board and glow whisker rings. The atmosphere is lively, charming, and full of playful detail, with a sign noting “Mouse’s Companion Festival” and ©BionicBasil® branding

📚 A Morning of Festival Fever & Mild Mayhem

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie… why does Aisle D sound like a suitcase convention?”

Melvyn: “Because we’ve entered Festival Prep Mode.”

Me: “Festival Prep Mode?”

Melvyn: “Yes. Everything’s buzzing, overpacked, and mildly snack‑motivated.”

Me: “Festival of Cheddar? Flora’s pirouetting behind Velvet again.”

Melvyn: “Yes, it's that time of year again! She’s practising her festival twirls. Her bow’s at a ‘sparkle‑distribution’ angle.”

Me: “And Velvet?”

Melvyn: “Writing the official itinerary. She’s on page twelve and insists it must be scented with camembert.”

Me: “Of course she does.”

Melvyn: “Tootles is auditing cracker rations. He says the data is ‘life‑changing.’”

Me: “He’s adorable. That clipboard looks very official.”

Melvyn: “Chedds upgraded it. He wrote ‘Emergency Nibble Contingencies’ on the back. Says it’s this week's new slogan.”

Me:Emergency Nibble Contingencies?”

Melvyn: “Crackers + cheddar + cheese board, the summer festival vibe is fully active.”

Me: “Naturally. And Nibbles?”

Melvyn: “Hiding behind the travel cheese board. Claims it’s ‘for research,’ but he’s nibbling.”

Me: “Classic Nibbles.”

Melvyn: “Ardvarr and Snitch are mapping the festival grounds. The parchment keeps changing its own layout.”

Me: “And Lumie?”

Melvyn: “Making checklists. Says it’s ‘good for morale.’”

Me: “And the fax machine?”

Melvyn: “It’s printing motivational packing notes. Today’s says: ‘Do not forget the ceremonial cheese board.’”

Me: “That’s oddly inspiring.”

Melvyn: “It’s been communing with the Calmness Tracker pens again.”

Me: “They’re glowing meautifully.”

Melvyn: “Neon red, orange, and chartreuse, the colours of organised chaos.”

Me: “And is the owl on the top shelf again?”

Melvyn: “Hootbert. He’s snoopervising the packing. He’s wearing a tiny festival badge.”

Me: “He's going too?”

Melvyn: “No, he said it's a mouse-only venue, so he's staying with me.”

Me: “Fair enough. So the whole aisle is… what? Departure‑centric?”

Melvyn: “Departure‑centric, cheese‑forward, and deeply excited.”

Me: “Time for a nibble then.”

Melvyn: “I thought mew’d never say it.”

🧳 General Library Status Update ~ Aisle D Departure Edition

Suitcases open, cheese rations packed, and travel cloaks folded with questionable precision Bunting shimmering under lantern light, fluttering like it’s already halfway to the festival. Hammocks packed. Calmness Tracker pens glowing neon red, orange, and chartreuse -pulsing with pre‑departure excitement

Velvet writing furiously at her desk, pink rosette radiant, itinerary pages multiplying by the minute Flora pirouetting behind her in full festival attire, scattering sparkles and optimism in equal measure Tootles checking off lists with clipboard authority, muttering about “emergency nibble contingencies” Chedds reclining in a suitcase, declaring himself “nap‑ready and snack‑compatible” Fax machine printing reminders faster than anypawdy can read them

In short:

The library is packed. Effortlessly packed. Packed with the quiet assurance of a space that knows it’s about to embark on something extraordinary -and possibly forget half its luggage.

And honestly? We’re all basking in the anticipation.

🎉 Calmness Tracker 3000 Recalibration ~ Festival Mode

The pens are glowing brighter than ever, their communiqué (via fax, naturally) reads:

“Recalibration at 98%. Festival Mode Activated. Cheese Board Secured.”

They refuse to elaborate. They say it’s “classified.” We respect their neon‑lit mystique.

Now, with the mice packing, pirouetting, and plotting their grand departure in glorious disarray… It’s time to wander, whiskers twitching and tails high, toward this week’s review.

A split image shows two sections of a large home library. The top section features long white bookshelves filled with colourful books and magazines, with a cat walking along the wooden floor in front of them. The lower section shows another area lined with shelves of older, leather‑bound volumes and encyclopedias, with chairs placed nearby for reading. Text in the centre reads “Part of The Mewton‑Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®,” highlighting the cosy, well‑stocked library setting.

A black‑and‑white line illustration shows three stacked books arranged like steps. A cartoon mouse with large ears stands proudly on the top book, while another mouse on the ground to the right looks up toward it. The drawing has a playful, storybook feel.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.
A cartoon illustration titled *Friendly Fill‑Ins* shows two cats sitting on a grassy field dotted with flowers. The cat on the left is orange with a red collar and a winking expression, while the cat on the right is black with green eyes and a blue collar. A butterfly flies above them, and rolling green hills and a blue sky form the background. Text at the top reads “Friendly Fill‑Ins — Hosted by Four‑Legged Furballs & 15andmeowing.”

1. I tend to forget _______________________.
2. I celebrate the 4th of July by _____________________.
3. I was a fan of _________ before it became popular.
4. I see _________ in my future.

The P.A.'s answers are...
1. I tend to forget to eat when I'm writing, yep, I get so engrossed and focused, lose several hours, then I suddenly think, oh, fluff, I need food! LOL

2. I celebrate the 4th of July by _____________________. We don't have 4th of July celebrations in the U.K., but what we do have is Melvyn's birthday tomorrow. Oh, yes, you know what's coming, don't you!!! LOL

3. I was a fan of _________ before it became popular. I can't think of anything for this. I'm not really a fan-type girl. I like what I like, whether it's popular or not, and my opinion on that isn't swayed by trends.

4. I see more B Team adventures in my future. In fact, I'm working on two now. I don't know when I'll serialise them, but hopefully not too long!

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

A black‑and‑white illustration features a vintage typewriter with a paw print on the sheet of paper. Stacks of books sit on both sides: on the left, a small cartoon mouse stands atop the books, and on the right, a cartoon elephant balances on the stack. The scene has a playful, literary feel, fitting as a divider for Amber’s book reviews.

A cozy library scene featuring a fluffy tabby cat sitting upright at a wooden desk, posed as a book reviewer. The cat is surrounded by tall bookshelves filled with books and green plants, with warm golden lighting from wall sconces and a yellow desk lamp. In front of the cat is a green mystery novel titled “The Cat Who Lived High” by Lilian Jackson Braun. A tiny mouse sits on a stack of books beside a small sign that reads “SHHHHH!!!”. Text at the top of the image announces “THIS WEEK’S TOP BOOK PICK! with Amber – The world’s leading feline literary critic & Cat Book Connoisseur – www.bionicbasil.com.”
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

The Cat Who Lived High


The Cat Who… Mysteries, Book 11


by 

Lilian Jackson Braun

A symmetrical black‑and‑white illustration shows four cartoon mice arranged in pairs on either side of two pieces of Swiss‑style cheese placed in the centre. Each mouse faces inward toward the cheese, creating a playful, balanced composition.
 I'm back with another book from the original The Cat Who series; there are 29 in total. 

FYI: I got the urge to reread this epic series earlier this year, for the first time since 2007.

Thirteen down, including today's review, and ONLY sixteen to go! MOL

Here are the previous reviews.













🐾 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Pick: 


Fluff your whiskers and settle onto a plush, feather-filled velvet cushion, my furiends, because this week’s read is a whisker‑twitching delight. The Cat Who Lived High is a cozy feline mystery full of curious clues, Art Deco glamour, and one very opinionated Siamese who always knows more than he lets on. If mew adore clever cats, quirky humans and a puzzle that unravels like yarn under determined paws, this one is a treat.

❓What’s the Vibe?

Think classic cozy mystery feline intuition at its finest art deco charm and city nostalgia curious clues and whisker‑twitching secrets a human who tries his best and a cat who does better

It feels like curling up in a sunbeam with a vintage detective novel while Koko quietly judges your snack choices.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Qwill heads to the city, hoping for a simple stay in the once‑glorious Casablanca apartment building. Instead, he finds SOCK, a tenants’ group fighting to save the building from developers with no appreciation for its meauty. Mew can imagine the drama already.

But beneath Qwill’s penthouse rug lurk ominous bloodstains, and they are not just a spooky decoration. They are a message from Dianne Bessinger, a passionate defender of the building who met a tragic end. The official story claims a lovers’ quarrel gone wrong, yet Koko’s whiskers twitch in that special way that means trouble.

As Qwill digs deeper, he uncovers secrets, tangled motives and a suspicious suicide that smells fishier than Tuesday’s tuna. With Yum Yum’s sweetness and Koko’s uncanny instincts guiding him, Qwill follows the clues toward the truth. The question is whether they can save the Casablanca before its glory crumbles.

⚔️ What I Loved

😸 Koko’s Cattitude Sharp, smug and absolutely convinced he is the smartest creature in any room. He probably is.

🏙️ The Casablanca Atmosphere Art deco elegance, faded glamour and a building with more purrsonality than half the humans.

🐾 The Mystery Twisty, clever and full of little details that make mew purr with catisfaction when they click into place.

🧁 The Cozy Tone Warm, witty and purrfect for curling up with a blanket and a cup of something comforting.

🐈 The Human‑Cat Dynamic Qwill tries. Koko succeeds. Yum Yum snoopervises. A pawesome trio.

✨ Tone and Style

whimsical cozy classic mystery character driven lightly humorous feline‑forward

Furbulous for fans of gentle mysteries, clever cats and stories that feel like a warm paw on your heart.

📖 Final Thoughts

This is a charming, fur‑tingling mystery full of purrsonality, atmosphere and feline brilliance. The Casablanca shines, the clues intrigue, and the cats steal every moment. If mew love cozy mysteries with clever cats, vintage vibes and a puzzle that rewards curious paws, this is a delightful pick.

🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence

🐾 A cozy, clever mystery where feline instincts, art deco charm and curious clues lead to the truth. 🐾

Another Top Paw Read in The Series!!!


Paperback:  306  pages
Audio:  very expensive - eeek!!!
A black‑and‑white line illustration shows three stacked books arranged like steps. A cartoon mouse with large ears stands proudly on the top book, while another mouse on the ground to the right looks up toward it. The drawing has a playful, storybook feel.
My Ratings Scale

A simple black‑and‑white rating chart uses rows of pink paw prints to show five levels of book ratings. Five paw prints correspond to “Top Paw ~ Read Immediately,” four to “Furry Good ~ Read As Soon As,” three to “Good ~ Put It On Stand‑By,” two to “Average ~ Emergency Reading,” and one to “Meh! ~ Take a Nap Instead.”

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Rating of:

The Cat Who Lived High


Overall Enjoyment

A horizontal row of five identical pink paw prints representing the highest rating level in the pet‑themed book‑review scale, corresponding to “Top Paw ~ Read Immediately.”ook Reviews 5 Paw Rating ©BionicBasil®
A black‑and‑white illustration features a vintage typewriter with a paw print on the sheet of paper. Stacks of books sit on both sides: on the left, a small cartoon mouse stands atop the books, and on the right, a cartoon elephant balances on the stack. The scene has a playful, literary feel, fitting as a divider for Amber’s book reviews.

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

A horizontal row of six square graphics, each representing a different themed blog hop: “Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop” with a cat silhouette; “The Cat Blogosphere” with a globe and cat; “Feline Friday” with stylised cat drawings; “Nature Friday Blog Hop” on a stone background; “Flashback Friday” with a cat and dog; and “Friendship Friday” featuring two cats.


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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 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

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