This review of Six Cats a Slayin' by Miranda James is part of Book Reviews with Amber, the Cat Book Connoisseur at the Mewton-Clawson Library. Scroll to read.
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✨ This Week’s Intro ~ 72% Festival Euphoria, 18% Road‑Trip Ruckus, 10% “Did Anyone Pack the Cheese Board?” Energy ✨
Hello again, my gloriously adventurous library guests,
and
Welcome back to the Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ, now officially quieter, emptier, and faintly echoing with the sound of tiny wheels disappearing down the lane.
Yes, my furiends, the mice have departed! The Mewton‑Clawson Mouse Mobile (license plate LMC 1 ~ Library Mouse Committee) rolled out at dawn, luggage stacked high, snacks secured, and spirits soaring. The air still hums with the afterglow of excitement, and possibly the faint scent of camembert.
Oswald took the wheel, knit cap tilted at a heroic angle, navigating the winding lanes with the confidence of a mouse who’s read The Complete Guide to Cheese Festivals, Volume III. Velvet sitting beside him, pink rosette gleaming, clutching the laminated itinerary like a sacred text. Lumie’s purple bow flutters out the window as she waves to the library, declaring, “We’re off to make history... and possibly fondue!”
Tootles is already logging cracker consumption data, Chedds is testing “nap‑to‑travel compatibility” in the back seat, and Flora’s glitter pirouettes are leaving a trail of sparkle through the countryside. Nibbles, Ardvaar, and Snitch are arguing over the map, which keeps rearranging itself to include “Cheese Sampling Zone B.”
The fax machine, left behind but ever‑dutiful, printed one last message before they vanished over the hill:
“Festival of Cheese Departure Confirmed. Hydrate Before Nibbling.”
The Calmness Tracker pens pulsed neon chartreuse in approval, then dimmed to a gentle amber glow, the colour of contentment and well‑aged cheddar.
So now, the library rests. The thesaurus sighed dramatically, whispering “pilgrimage,” “odyssey,” and “legend.” The owl, Hootbert, watched from his perch, muttering something about “keeping the Tomes of Cheddar safe until their return.”
The Cheese Era hasn’t ended ~ It’s simply gone mobile!!! MOL
And so Melvyn and I are alone in the library with Hootbert, a fax machine that's wondering why it's so quiet, and a massive pile of books to catalogue.
🐾 Melvyn & Amber: Post‑Departure Library Debrief
(Aisle D is silent. The Mouse Mobile is somewhere between Mewton‑Clawson and Fuskerton. The library feels… weirdly roomy.)
Amber: “Good gravy… It’s quiet.”
Melvyn: “Too quiet. Suspiciously quiet. I don’t trust it.”
Amber: “It’s just because the mice have gone.”
Melvyn: “Exactly. That’s what worries me. They generate 84% of the library’s ambient chaos.”
Amber: “True. But look, we can actually see the floor. And the thesaurus isn’t muttering anymore.”
Melvyn: “It’s sulking. It wanted to go to the festival and become ‘The Bard of Cheddar.’”
Amber: “I’m more concerned about the fax machine. It keeps printing blank pages like it’s lonely.”
Melvyn: “It is lonely. It’s used to being worshipped by nine mice with clipboards.”
Amber: “And Hootbert?”
Melvyn: “He’s in full ‘stern librarian owl’ mode. He said, ‘Order must be maintained,’ then glared at a bookmark.”
Amber: “That sounds about right.”
Melvyn: “I also found a suitcase they forgot.”
Amber: “Oh no. What’s inside?”
Melvyn: “A single cracker. And a note that says: ‘For emergencies only.’”
Amber: “That’s very them.”
Melvyn: “I miss the chaos already.”
Amber: “Same. But at least we’re not tripping over luggage and festival supplies.”
Melvyn: “Give it time. They’ll probably send some back via pigeon post.”
Amber: “Melvyn … did you see the Mouse Mobile leave?”
Melvyn: “Yes. I took a picture. Oswald looked heroic. Velvet looked organised. Lumie looked sparkly. Flora looked airborne. Chedds looked asleep. Tootles looked stressed. Nibbles looked like he’d smuggled snacks. Snitch and Ardvaar were about to go to sleep in the back!”
Amber: “So … normal.”
Melvyn: “Completely normal.”
Amber: “Well, it’s just us now.”
Melvyn: “Us, Hootbert, the fax machine, and a mountain of books.”
Amber: “And total quiet.”
Melvyn: “Temporary quiet. The kind that comes before a very dramatic return.”
Amber: "I think a quick nap is in order, right after lavender catnip tea."
Melvyn: “Excellent idea, do mew want a chocolate brownie with catnip sprinkles? Hissy dropped some off earlier.”
Amber: “I thought mew'd never ask!”
🧳 General Library Status Update ~ Aisle D: Post‑Departure Quiet Edition
Aisle D is still warm from the whirlwind of tiny paws and festival excitement, but now the suitcases are gone, the bunting hangs in peaceful stillness, and the Calmness Tracker pens glow in a soft, contemplative amber, the colour of “they’ve left… now what?”
The fax machine, deprived of its usual audience, has printed only one message today:
“Festival Transit Confirmed. Library Quiet Mode Engaged.”
Hootbert has assumed full supervisory command, perched above the Tomes of Cheddar with an expression that suggests he’s ready to enforce alphabetical order with great seriousness.
The thesaurus is sulking.
The travel cloaks are gone
The last forgotten cracker has been catalogued under “miscellaneous emergency rations.”
In short:
The library is calm.
Effortlessly calm.
Calm with the gentle assurance of a space that knows its residents will return, probably louder, sparkier, and cheesier than ever.
And honestly?
We’re enjoying the stillness… just until the next fax arrives.
🎉 Calmness Tracker 3000 Recalibration ~ Quiet Mode
Today’s communiqué (via fax, naturally) reads:
“Recalibration at 63%.
Ambient Chaos: Low.
Awaiting Festival Updates.”
They refuse to elaborate.
They say it’s “classified.”
We respect their amber‑lit mystique.
Now, with the mice officially en route and the library settling into its temporary hush, it’s time to wander, whiskers twitching and tails relaxed, toward this week’s review!
1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of _______________________________.
2. If I see __________________one more time I am going to lose my mind.
3. _________ is the strangest thing I believed as a child.
4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a _________.
The P.A.'s answers are...
1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of Ancient Egypt with a heavy focus on Bubastis... well, what else did you think I'd say!!! LOL Here's a fun fact: I always wanted to be an archaeologist specialising in Egyptology, but my careers counsellor at school said there are no courses for that and that it's not a job for girls - yep, true story. So I bought books when I was older and learned stuff anyway.
2. If I see one more cat hair tumbleweed drifting majestically across the floor, one more time, I am going to lose my mind. Especially when I've just vacuumed everywhere, including under the furniture. It's like they breed and multiply when you're not looking and ambush you the minute the vacuum has been put away! LOL
3. Other things other than humans and animals are sentient is the strangest thing I believed as a child. I wasn't wrong.
4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a cat. Well, let me elaborate: it would be Fudge with a really big gun, in a tank, oh, and a fully stocked picnic basket just in case there was a nice place to stop for snacks!!! LOL
See....
LOL! LOL! LOL!
Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy
Six Cats a Slayin'
Today, I am back with another in the A Cat in the Stacks series.
If mew missed any of the previous reviews for this series so far, here are the links to catch up:
🐾 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Pick:
Yes, I know this is Catmas themed, and that's months away, so here we are having Catmas in JULY!!! MOL
Fluff your ruff, settle into a velvet‑soft window seat, and prepare your whiskers for festive intrigue, my furiends, because Six Cats a Slayin’ is a holly‑jolly cozy mystery with enough cattitude, chaos, and Christmas charm to make any feline purr with delight. I'm reporting live from my tufted reading perch with a mug of catmint and juniper cocoa and a tail that won’t stop twitching from excitement.
🎄✨ If mew adore holiday cozies, neighbourhood drama, and one very distinguished Maine Coon who always knows when something smells off, this one is a seasonal treat. Get it now, ready for later! MOL
❓ What’s the Vibe?
Thinkfestive cozy mystery wrapped in tinselneighbourhood gossip with claws outa cat who observes everythingsmall‑town charm and holiday sparklesecrets tucked under the tree like unwanted giftsIt feels like curling up beside a crackling fire while Diesel gives mew a slow blink of approval for choosing such a delightful read.
🐾 What’s the Story?
Christmas is creeping closer, and Charlie Harris is enjoying a peaceful season with his beloved Helen Louise, until a new neighbour arrives with more ambition than manners. She wants Charlie’s house, his attention, and apparently the entire neighbourhood under her paw.
Her lavish holiday party should’ve been the talk of the town for its decorations alone… but instead, it becomes the scene of her untimely demise. And wouldn’t mew know it, several guests overheard Helen Louise having a heated argument with the victim.
Cue the whisker‑twitching tension.
With suspicion swirling like snowflakes and the sheriff’s eyes narrowing on Helen Louise. Charlie and Diesel must unravel the truth before the wrong purrson ends up wrapped in red tape. Diesel’s instincts, as always, are sharper than any hooman’s, and his gentle, steady presence keeps Charlie grounded as they sift through motives, mischief, and holiday mayhem.
⚔️ What I Loved
😸 Diesel’s Dignified Cattitude Calm, clever, and quietly judging every hooman decision. A true gentleman floof.
🎄 The Holiday Atmosphere Twinkling lights, festive decor, and a cozy Southern Christmas that feels warm enough to melt any frosty mystery.
🔍 The Neighbourhood Drama Petty grievances, whispered secrets, and a newcomer who stirs the pot until it boils over.
🐾 The Mystery Twisty, tidy, and full of clues that click together with satisfying catisfaction.
💞 Charlie & Helen Louise A sweet, mature relationship tested by tension... but strengthened by trust, loyalty, and Diesel’s steady presence.
✨ Tone & Style
whimsical
warm
festive
character‑driven
lightly humorous
feline‑forward (as all good things should be)
Purrfect for fans of cozy holiday mysteries, intelligent cats, and stories that feel like a sumptuous cocoon with gentle purring and soft meows.
📖 Final Thoughts
This is a delightful, fur‑tingling mystery full of charm, cattitude, and community spirit. The festive setting sparkles, the clues intrigue, and Diesel steals the spotlight with quiet brilliance. If mew love Christmas cozies with smart cats and heartfelt moments, this is a totally terrific read, any time of year! MOL
🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence
🐾 A festive, twisty holiday mystery where feline intuition, neighbourhood secrets, and Catmas charm lead to the truth. 🐾
Another Top Paw Read in the Series
And a purrfect addition to your future holiday TBR heap.
Paperback: 288 pages
Audio: 8 hours 40 mins
My Ratings Scale
Rating of:
Six Cats a Slayin'
Overall Enjoyment
Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today
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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