Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #248 featuring **No Cats Allowed** A Cat in the Stacks Mystery - Book 7 by Miranda James PLUS Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello meautiful library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and mew may have heard some rumours or it may have been inferred or implied on yesterday's Midweek News regarding what happened at Fudge's 8th Birthday Rave on Wednesday.

So let me set things straight 

I wasn't tipsy, or even remotely off my chops at all. 

I didn't fall off the bar four times. 

I didn't trip over Melvyn's favourite Hubbly Bubbly nip pipe and break it. 

I certainly didn't push Posie into one of the kitty droids delivering a food order to Smooch, and the food went everywhere. 

I didn't accidentally go into the boy's litter cubical by mistake.

 I didn't lead a drunken kitty-conga line through the bunker. 

I definitely didn't take over the kitty karaoke and sing, 'I did it my way!' 

 I didn't suggest to Snowie that opening Basil's secret stash of Dom Purrignom vintage champagne was a good idea.

I definitely didn't tell Pandora and Parlsey to get the Hover Trikes out and go for a blast around the bunker. 

 I also didn't try to get Basil's tank fired up in the garage on level 2 of the bunker. 

I most certainly didn't take the drunken kitty-conga line down to level 10 into the new R & D (Research and Development) Laboratory which Humphrey has built, and whilst there encourage all the pawty guests to try out many of his new inventions, I didn't do that at all. 

I also didn't then lead the drunken kitty-conga line up to level 8 to see Horice in the Biosphere, that never happened.

I most certainly didn't encourage Fudge to drink the last of Basil's vintage Dom Purrignom - NOPE. NO WAY would I ever do that.

For the record, I never encouraged the library mice to go on a rampage in the cheese room, NOT GUILTY! 

And I'm most definitely NOT sleeping off the effects of too many Tangerine Blast nip cocktails. I'm just resting!

Purrlease don't believe any of the tall tails that may be spreading rather profusely around BBHQ.

Now all that's cleared up, I just need a quick catnap, as mew know how exhausting reviewing books is! MOL

Today the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. Never underestimate _________________________.

2. ________________makes me _________________________.

3. I need to _________ so that I can _________.

4. I didn’t realize _________ until _________.

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

1. Never underestimate a cat mum/mom or dad's love for their furbabies - this statement is true for most pet pawrents. Years ago, when Catkin went missing, and I was looking for him everywhere for two days solid, and asking anyone in the area if they'd seen him. One person said to me, "It's just a cat!" They just didn't understand, that 'that cat' meant more to me than anything. I did find him, he'd been hit by a car and someone had taken him to the local RSPCA. Luckily I'd already contacted that shelter the day before and they rang me to say they'd got him. You can read all about Catkin here, he was an incredible cat, but sadly he only lived until he was three and a half.

2. Chocolate cake (I've mentioned this before! LOL) makes me very happy. And even happier with ice cream! 

3. I need to get into the craft room so that I can make this year's Crafting For Your Shelters Day project, which will start on July 20th.

4. I didn’t realize it was nearly time for Crafting For Your Shelters Day until Ann from Zoolatry emailed me the other day to ask if it was on the schedule for this year - Thank you so much Ann for the reminder! 

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

This week's top book pick is...

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

No Cats Allowed

A Cat in the Stacks Mystery: 7

by

Miranda James

       Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

Springtime in Mississippi is abloom with beauty, but the library's employees are too busy worrying to stop and smell the flowers. The new library director, Oscar Reilly, is a brash, unfriendly Yankee who's on a mission to cut costs - and his first targets are the archive and the rare book collection.

As annoying as a long-overdue book, Reilly quickly raises the hackles of everyone on staff, including Charlie's fiery friend Melba, whom Reilly wants to replace with someone younger. But his biggest offense is declaring all four-legged creatures banned from the stacks.

With enemies aplenty, the suspect list is long when Reilly's body is discovered in the library. But things take a turn for the worse when a threatening e-mail throws suspicion on Melba.

This week I thought it would be nice to continue with the A Cat in the Stacks series, as it's been a while since I've reviewed any of Miranda James' furbulous novels. And if mew missed any of the previous reviews for this series so far, here are the links to catch up:

Murder Past Due ~ Book One - Reviewed by Humphrey

Classified as Murder ~ Book Two

File M for Murder ~ Book Three

Out of Circulation ~ Book Four

The Silence of The Library  ~ Book 5

Arsenic and Old Books ~ Book 6

So what did I think of this one? 

No Cats Allowed is the seventh instalment in the A Cat in the Stacks Mystery series by Miranda James. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters are well-developed and the plot is intriguing. The writing style is easy to follow and keeps mew engaged from start to finish, and keeps those pages turning.

In this book, we see Charlie Harris, a librarian and amateur detective, investigating a murder that involves the new library director, who is not fond of cats. And speaking of cats, his trusty feline companion, Diesel, is by his side to help him out when needed. This time, Charlie is a prime suspect, so he's on a mission to clear his name and find the real culprit.

One of the things I love about this series is how the author incorporates the kitty into the story, and although Diesel is a non-talking character, his presence is still very apparent and he's an integral part of the plot. In this book, we see Diesel helping Charlie in his investigation in his own unique way.

Overall, No Cats Allowed is a great addition to the series and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys cat cozy mysteries or just loves cats. Miranda James has once again delivered a well-written, entertaining story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Another Totally Paw Read!

Audio: 8 hours 24 mins

Paperback: 304 pages

My Ratings Scale

Ratings of:

No Cats Allowed

Overall Enjoyment

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

          Brian's Home   Catblogosphere    Feline Friday   Nature Friday    Flashback Friday   Friendship Friday       

I really hope mew enjoy the book as much as I did 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 

Follow me at angry_amber_badtemperedkitty

& @BionicBasil® on Instacat

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another review! 

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #359 featuring **The Cat Who Sniffed Glue** by Lilian Jackson Braun **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins & Photo Fails Blog Hops

This review of The Cat Who Sniffed Glue 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 Library, a curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com

✨ This Week’s Intro ~ 96% Calm, 2% Proactive Planning, 2% Fun & Frivolity ✨

Hello furbulous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and today I can report that the library is moving steadily into its fun era. Everything is buzzing with harmony, and the mice have upgraded from rollerskates to roller blades. The fax machine is still proactive and planning review titles two weeks ahead, which is truly delightful.

Frivolity is also the buzzword of the week, with all stationery and office equipment joining in the fun. So much so that even Clive the Paperclip has appeared from the Library Archive on Level Six in the bunker to coalesce in the main library.

The Unexpected Stationery Migration

The library has become a hive of cheerful chaos. Aisle P is now the unofficial party zone, disco lights courtesy of the Calmness Tracker 3000 pens, who’ve unionised and synchronised their glow to bounce off the newly installed disco ball, it's like The Nip Nirvana Lounge on Level 11! MOL

Clive the Paperclip has emerged from the depths of Archive Level Six, declaring himself “Head of Stationery Relations.” He’s currently negotiating break times for the pens and staplers, while the fax machine prints out the minutes of each meeting (complete with paw‑print signatures).

Melvyn, ever the voice of reason, has installed two Mouse Droids as bouncers to keep the encyclopaedias from gatecrashing. The thesaurus is writing limericks about the situation, one of which rhymes “roller blades” with “library parades.”

The stationery cupboard, meanwhile, has emptied itself entirely. Pens, pencils, sticky notes, and even the highlighters have joined the festivities, forming a conga line that stretches from Aisle P to the staff kitchen.

📠 The Fax Machine’s Latest Trick

It’s now printing party itineraries and snack schedules, complete with glittery paw‑print borders. The latest sheet reads:

10:00 - Catnip cocoa tasting (mini marshmallows optional)

11:30 - Roller‑blade relay (mice only)

12:00 - Biscuit appreciation break

13:00 - Calmness meditation (optional nap)

14:30 - Karaoke: “Don’t Stop Retrieving”

The pens glow approvingly. The fax machine hums contentedly. The library is alive with laughter, light, and the faint scent of catnip cookies.

And the mice, well, see for yourselves... yep, it really is that fun! MOL

📚 A Morning of Fun & Frivolity

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, how’s the library looking today?”

Melvyn: “Energetic. The fax machine printed a party itinerary.”

Me: “A party itinerary? For whom?”

Melvyn: “Everypawdy. Even Clive the Paperclip’s on the guest list.”

Me: “Clive? From Level Six? He hasn’t surfaced since the Great Stapler Shortage of December 2025!”

Melvyn: “He’s back and apparently leading the Stationery Union.”

Me: “Oh dear. What’s on the itinerary?”

Melvyn: “Catnip cocoa tasting, roller‑blade relay, and karaoke.”

Me: “Karaoke?”

Melvyn: “Yes. The thesaurus is performing ‘Don’t Stop Retrieving.’”

Me: “That’s… inspired.”

Melvyn: “The pens are glowing purple in support.”

Me: “They’ve unionised, haven’t they?”

Melvyn: “Completely. They’ve even mediated biscuit breaks.”

Me: “Smart. What’s the fax machine doing now?”

Melvyn: “Printing motivational posters. One says, ‘Mew can do it!’ Another says, 'Go Faster!'”

Me: “I love it. The library’s never been so lively.”

Melvyn: “It’s officially our fun era.”

Me: “Then let’s embrace it. Want to join the roller‑blade relay?”

Melvyn: “Only if there’s catnip cocoa at the finish line.”

Me: “Always. I'll meet mew at the finish line, I'll be on my meditation cushion.”

Melvyn: "Napping or meditating?"

Me: "Drinking cocoa and waiting for mew to break the current record of how fast a librarian can roller-blade around the library!"

📚 General Library Status Update

Happy roller‑blading mice Happy party vibes Happy fax machine (now event coordinator) Happy pens (glowing purple in solidarity) Happy thesaurus (singing karaoke classics)

In short:

The library is calm. Joyfully calm. Calm with a faint whiff of primo catnip, cocoa, and glitter‑infused triumph.

And honestly? I’m ecstatic.

So, my meowvellous library guests, if mew spot roller‑blading mice or purple‑glowing pens zipping past the main desk, don’t worry, it’s simply the library celebrating its newfound sense of fun.

Probably.

Now, let’s see what this week’s top book pick is!

The P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. Have you ever noticed _____________________?

2. Would you choose ________________ or ____________________?

3. Do you think it’s possible to _________?

4. What _________ would you recommend for _________?

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

1. Have you ever noticed how the moon pops up in all the wrong places at all the wrong times?

2. Would you choose endless snacks or endless naps?

3. Do you think it’s possible to terraform Mars?

4. What bunker upgrade would you recommend for The B Team? They’re planning an expansion, and I’ve been asked to gather… suggestions! LOL

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

Do stop by Mudpie's meowvellous blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

Smooch in April 2022, keeping the catnip plant warm... so he said at the time! MOL

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

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue

The Cat Who… Mysteries, Book 8

by 

Lilian Jackson Braun

Today I'm back with more from the original The Cat Who series; there are 29 in total, but don't quote me. I got an urge to reread this epic series earlier this year, for the first time since 2007.

Ten down, including today's review, and ONLY Nineteen to go! MOL

Here are the previous reviews.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards ~ BK 1

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern ~ BK 2

The Cat Who Turned On & Off ~ BK 3

The Cat Who Saw Red ~ BK 4

The Cat Who Played Brahms ~ BK 5

The Cat Who Played Post Office ~ BK 6

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare ~ BK 7

The Cat Who Moved a Mountain ~ BK 13

The Cat Who Wasn't There ~ BK 14    

🐾 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Pick: The Cat Who Sniffed Glue

Dahlings, gather round and twitch those whiskers, because this week we’re heading back to Pickax, where the snow is deep, the gossip is deeper, and Koko’s whiskers are tingling with trouble, as is Qwill's moustache! MOL

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue is classic Braun: warm, witty, and sprinkled with just enough danger to make your tail puff just a touch.

❓ What’s the Vibe

A cozy crime with small‑town charm, eccentric locals, and a mystery that creeps up on you like a cat on silent paws.

Expect:

quirky characters
a double murder
a dash of vandalism
and Koko being an absolute furry genius

It’s comfort reading with claws.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Pickax has been enjoying its usual sedate calm, the kind only a small town full of nosy neighbours can maintain, when a string of petty vandalism begins to ruffle the community’s fur. Paint splashed here, a bit of mischief there… nothing too serious.

Until it is.

Young banker Harley Fitch and his new bride, Bella, are found murdered, and suddenly the quiet town is buzzing like a startled beehive. Qwilleran’s moustache twitches (always a sign), and Koko becomes obsessed with glue, books, and anything remotely sticky.

Coincidence? Of course not. Koko never does anything by accident.

As Qwill digs deeper, he uncovers a tangle of secrets involving:

a soft‑spoken librarian with musty old books

a taxidermist with questionable hobbies (Smooch knows all about questionable hobbies! MOL)

intricate marine models

and a family history that’s anything but tidy

Koko, naturally, is several paw‑steps ahead.

⚔️ What I Loved

😸 Koko’s Sticky Obsession: His fascination with glue is both hilarious and oddly prophetic. Only Koko could turn a pot of adhesive into a clue.

🐈‍⬛ Yum Yum: Our dainty queen continues to be adorable, adding sweetness to balance Koko’s intensity.

🕵️ Qwilleran’s Moustache: The moustache is practically a character at this point; twitching, tingling, and guiding Qwill toward the truth.

🏘 Pickax’s Community Chaos: The locals are as eccentric as ever. Braun’s small‑town atmosphere is comforting, familiar, and full of personality.

📚 The Library & Bookish Clues: Old books, hidden motives, and literary breadcrumbs? Yes please.

✨ Tone & Style

cosy
clever
gently humorous
lightly suspenseful
purrfect for snuggling up on a comfy sofa with a nice cuppa - my preference catnip, of course
Braun’s writing is like a warm blanket: soft, familiar, and always welcome

📖 Final Thoughts

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue is a delightful entry in the series, not the darkest mystery, but one of the most charming. The murders are intriguing, the clues are satisfying, and Koko is in top form, proving once again that no crime is too sticky for a determined Siamese.

If mew love cozy mysteries with feline flair, quirky characters, and a plot that unfolds at just the right pace, this is a purrfect pick.

🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence

🐾 A witty, warm, and wonderfully sticky mystery where Koko’s instincts shine, and Pickax’s secrets unravel. 🐾

A Top Paw Read!

Paperback:  292 pages

Audio:  1 x used CD on Amazon

My Rating Scale

Ratings of:

The Cat Who Sniffed Glue

Overall Enjoyment

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

          Brian's Home   Catblogosphere    Feline Friday   Nature Friday    Flashback Friday   Friendship Friday          

I really hope mew enjoy the book if mew choose 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

Follow us @BionicBasil® on Instacat

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another review! 

Copyright Notice

© [2026] BionicBasil®. All Rights Reserved. No part of this post, characters, or lore may be reproduced, scraped, or rewritten in any form (including AI) without express written permission

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com