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Bookmobile Cat Mystery #8
Gone with the Whisker
A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery...until murder stops them in their tracks!
It's the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library's most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.
But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile's most loyal patrons. And she knows she--and Eddie--will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime.
It's the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library's most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.
But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile's most loyal patrons. And she knows she--and Eddie--will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 31, 2020
About the author
Laurie Cass
13 books534 followersLaurie Cass is the national bestselling author of the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries, including Wrong Side of the Paw, Cat With a Clue, and Pouncing on Murder. She lives on a lake in northern Michigan with her husband and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
April 12, 2020
I have been reading the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series with a huge smile on my face ever since the first book came out in 2013. I'm not sure if it's the library bookmobile theme, the characters, or Eddie the Cat that makes these books some of my favorite cozy mysteries...most likely it's a combination of them all.
Gone With the Whisker is the 8th book in this series. It's summertime in Chilton, MI and Librarian Minnie Hamilton is busy! Not only is it the start of tourist season, but she's also dealing with lots of changes in her life -- her boyfriend's house renovation project, someone else running her aunt's boarding house, and her teenage niece has come to stay with her for the summer. Minnie isn't about to let anything ruin her summer.....not even a dead body. Yep. Another one. Soon Minnie, her niece and the usual cast of characters (even Eddie!) are all on the trail of a killer.....
As usual, this was a fun visit to Chilton! The mystery plot was entertaining....and there are plenty of suspects and sleuthing. I got a bit tired of Kate's constant angst....but by the end of the book, the character had grown on me. Eddie is his usual self. Another entertaining read in this series! The cover art is awesome as usual!
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series! It took my mind off being cooped up in the house for Easter weekend this year....
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Mrrr!**
Gone With the Whisker is the 8th book in this series. It's summertime in Chilton, MI and Librarian Minnie Hamilton is busy! Not only is it the start of tourist season, but she's also dealing with lots of changes in her life -- her boyfriend's house renovation project, someone else running her aunt's boarding house, and her teenage niece has come to stay with her for the summer. Minnie isn't about to let anything ruin her summer.....not even a dead body. Yep. Another one. Soon Minnie, her niece and the usual cast of characters (even Eddie!) are all on the trail of a killer.....
As usual, this was a fun visit to Chilton! The mystery plot was entertaining....and there are plenty of suspects and sleuthing. I got a bit tired of Kate's constant angst....but by the end of the book, the character had grown on me. Eddie is his usual self. Another entertaining read in this series! The cover art is awesome as usual!
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series! It took my mind off being cooped up in the house for Easter weekend this year....
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Mrrr!**
November 12, 2023
I am calling it, Gone with the Whisker by Laurie Cass is one of, if not THE, best book I have read so far in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. The ending left me with tears in my eyes and it was one of the more emotional reads so far. I loved that it is set around the 4th of July, and we get small-town summer holiday vibes all wrapped up in a murder mystery. Having Minnie's niece Katrina (AKA Kate) visiting and staying with her was great for adding just another layer to the story as well as the series as a whole, and it was like a guest appearance on a TV show for me.
There is basically nonstop action in this installment, and Minnie and Katrina find themselves in a bit of a pickle towards the end. But never fear, because you already know the extent of what will happen (it's a series and cozy so don't think this is a spoiler!), and Eddie is always around to help. 😉 I listened to the audiobook as usual, and Erin Bennett knocked it out of the park once again. She has the best Eddie mrrs and I find myself copying her even when I'm not reading these books. 😂 The humor and continuation of character arcs were also fantastic, and little by little I am getting to know these people better and love the cast even more. I highly recommend this entire series to all my cozy mystery lovers!
There is basically nonstop action in this installment, and Minnie and Katrina find themselves in a bit of a pickle towards the end. But never fear, because you already know the extent of what will happen (it's a series and cozy so don't think this is a spoiler!), and Eddie is always around to help. 😉 I listened to the audiobook as usual, and Erin Bennett knocked it out of the park once again. She has the best Eddie mrrs and I find myself copying her even when I'm not reading these books. 😂 The humor and continuation of character arcs were also fantastic, and little by little I am getting to know these people better and love the cast even more. I highly recommend this entire series to all my cozy mystery lovers!
March 28, 2020
Gone with the Whisker by Laurie Cass is the 8th A Bookmobile Cat Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not read the prior books in the series or skipped a book or two. Gone with the Whisker contains good writing with friendly characters in a charming small town. Minnie Hamilton is happy to have her niece, Katrina—aka Kate—visiting for the summer. She did not count on the teenage attitude nor Kate’s addiction to her phone. Minnie is busy driving her bookmobile providing books and other materials to those who cannot make it to the library in town. After enjoying a day celebrating the Fourth of July and her birthday, Minnie and her family are heading home. Kate suddenly trips and then lets out a screech. She stumbled upon bookmobile patron, Rex Stuhler who dead from a gunshot. Minnie and her sidekick, Eddie begin delving into the case and providing helpful information to Detectives Wolverson and Inwood. When a second bookmobile patron ends up dead, Minnie believes the cases are connected. She needs to prove it and then find the killer so her niece will stop having nightmares. Minnie comes up with several suspects and a variety of theories with the help of her niece, Kate. I thought the mystery suited the town and relates to an ongoing problem in our country. The whodunit can be solved before the tense conclusion (earlier if you are an avid reader of the genre). I loved Eddie’s part in aiding Minnie. It is cute how Minnie talks to Eddie and he responds with his adorable “mrr”. Anyone who has cats can relate. It is a good thing Eddie is around when Minnie needs him. There are enjoyable cozy moments in the story as Minnie spends time with her family and friends. The ending of Gone with the Whisker is special and will leave you smiling. I am curious when Rafe will finish the house and who will end up winning the pool. I believe everyone in town has placed a bet on the finish date. Gone with the Whisker is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a fun feline, bundles of books, fabulous fireworks, tasty treats, a bustling bookmobile, and continuous construction.
April 11, 2021
La storia sarebbe da 4 stelle e mezza, ma aggiungo mezza stella solo per Eddie (il gatto), che è favoloso.
July 21, 2020
I'm not sure which was worse between Kate the niece who's almost always whiney, self centered, over dramatic, and feeling sorry for herself or Minnie regularly allowing and essentially encouraging it. Then as a result Minnie kept feeling sorry for herself! I ended up wishing Kate would get hurt so she'd at least shut up if not go away. Also, at this point Minnie should know not to give theories without evidence or much reasoning to the police as if they don't already think of them. I hope she's not developing into one of those characters that thinks she has to solve the murders or that she's the only one who can. I'll continue to stick with the series though & hope that Minnie gets a bit stronger emotionally.
March 25, 2020
I love this book! Minnie and Eddie are my 2 favorite characters, they always bring a smile to my face.
As Minnie guides the bookmobile through town, down long, winding dirt roads, she wonders which library patrons will be waiting at the designated stop.
Accompanying Minnie is her cat pal Eddie, who delights readers of all ages.
When two library patrons meet an untimely death, Minnie finds herself wrapped up in another investigation, much to her dismay.
Minnie doesn’t mind looking for clues or asking questions, she just hates coming face to face with a killer.
I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with Minnie, Rafe, and Eddie.
As Minnie guides the bookmobile through town, down long, winding dirt roads, she wonders which library patrons will be waiting at the designated stop.
Accompanying Minnie is her cat pal Eddie, who delights readers of all ages.
When two library patrons meet an untimely death, Minnie finds herself wrapped up in another investigation, much to her dismay.
Minnie doesn’t mind looking for clues or asking questions, she just hates coming face to face with a killer.
I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with Minnie, Rafe, and Eddie.
April 1, 2020
I love Eddie the Bookmobile Cat! Minnie's niece Katie comes north to spend the summer, taking on three jobs. Rafe, Katie's boyfriend, works on the home he's preparing for them. In the meantime, Minnie lives on the houseboat. After Katie stumbles over the corpse of a bookmobile patron, Minnie promises to help catch the man's murderer. Eddie helps locate a second corpse later. He plays additional roles later. It's a fun read for mystery lovers who are cat lovers. I caught a couple of typos in the advance review copy that I hope an editor corrects in the final version. I received the advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. (3.5 stars)
February 27, 2021
4.5 stars
July 29, 2023
I never imagined that I’d see mention of one of my favorite series, The Chronicles of St. Mary’s by Jodi Taylor, in a different author’s book. That brought a smile to my face since I’m the only person I know who has read it. LOL!
May 29, 2020
I like this series a lot. I’m not crazy about the romance between Minnie and Rafe. For the life of me, I don’t understand what Minnie sees in him. I also am sorry that her aunt no longer owns the boardinghouse. I did not like Minnie’s niece, Kate. Minnie should have been harder on her and not cared so much about what she thought of her. But I love Eddie!!! He is, by far, the smartest and most lovable character in the series!!
June 30, 2020
This is the 8th in the series and all have been fun until this one. It seems like a different writer. Minnie the librarian and her cat Eddie make their home on a houseboat and deliver books from the bookmobile. This story brings in her troubled niece and drags through half the book with their difficult relationship. All the fun friends and family are absent and her new boyfriend doesn't add much to makeup. It picks up toward the end when she sleuth's out another murder in her hometown.
May 9, 2020
In this latest book Minnie's niece, Kate, is visiting for the summer. Minnie is excited to have her visiting. That is until the Fourth of July fireworks end and Kate stumbles across the body of one of the bookmobile's patrons. Now Minnie has a murder to solve all the while trying to deal with Kate and her attitude. I enjoyed this book. This has long been a favorite series of mine and continues to be. I love Minnie's cat Eddie. He has such a personality. I loved that Minnie's niece was introduced and I hope to see more of her in future books, as I liked how her character progressed throughout the book. The mystery was well done and I liked how Minnie and Kate with the help of Eddie were able to solve the mystery. The only thing that I missed was I thought there should have been more of Aunt Frances.
April 29, 2020
Fun cozy mystery set in Northern Michigan with a bookmobile librarian and her cat! What is not to love. I have read another of Minnie's adventures and love that you can read these out of order and enjoy the story line.
January 23, 2021
Minnie's niece Kate trips over a dead body so now it's up to Minnie to investigate and find out who the murderer or murderers are. In doing so, Minnie and Kate get themselves in big trouble. But it's Eddie the cat who comes to their rescue.
August 8, 2023
Do you love the Fourth of July or are your eager for the lazy months of summer? If so, Gone with the Whisker is a cozy mystery that will meet those desires and more! Minnie is back and the bookmobile is just as awesome as ever but there have been a few changes this time around. The biggest being that Minnie’s niece, Katrina, has come to live with Minnie for the summer and Katrina has brought all the teenage angst that one could expect. This attitude has left Minnie questioning if she is Aunt enough to make it through the summer. Luckily, she has Rafe to keep her sane as well as her friends.
I am never one to enjoy teenagers in all their angsty glory, so, I can’t say that I completely loved having Katrina as part of the story but I did come to appreciate her by the end of it. The mystery was a great one for a cozy and although you could untangle the clues before the end it was still fun to sleuth out. I loved Eddie in this story and his involvement in the mystery had me laughing more than once. The ending was also very adorable and left me with a big smile on my face. Overall, Gone with the Whisker was a nice little whodunit that would be a welcomed addition to any reader’s cozy collection.
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Berkley Prime Crime. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
I am never one to enjoy teenagers in all their angsty glory, so, I can’t say that I completely loved having Katrina as part of the story but I did come to appreciate her by the end of it. The mystery was a great one for a cozy and although you could untangle the clues before the end it was still fun to sleuth out. I loved Eddie in this story and his involvement in the mystery had me laughing more than once. The ending was also very adorable and left me with a big smile on my face. Overall, Gone with the Whisker was a nice little whodunit that would be a welcomed addition to any reader’s cozy collection.
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Berkley Prime Crime. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
April 22, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/g...
Gone with the Whisker
A Bookmobile Cat Mystery #8
By Laurie Cass
ISBN 9780593100134
catmystery.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery…until murder stops them in their tracks!
It’s the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library’s most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.
But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile’s most loyal patrons. And she knows she–and Eddie–will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime. (from Goodreads)
Review:
There are many good cozy mystery series with cats, but only a few have captured my heart as Eddie has. This fabulous cozy is catnip for fans of cat-and-book-themed mysteries. I love the characters more with each new mystery. The setting of northwest lower Michigan in summer is wonderful, and this mystery is confounding and dangerous! It can be read as a standalone, and even more fun as part of the series.
Eddie is the popular bookmobile cat, best known for being Minnie’s best feline buddy. Eddie has one word, Mrr, varied primarily by tone and volume. They are almost inseparable, as Eddie is expert at getting into and out of things to get his way. He was on the maiden voyage of the bookmobile after slipping out of the small houseboat Minnie lives on and to the library. He gave her no choice but to take him along. Just once. The next time Minnie was at a certain stop, a tiny girl with leukemia wanted to know where the kitty was and insisted that Minnie bring him along again. Eddie became one of the library’s best kept secrets. Eddie has also been her companion in finding killers.
Minnie has finally discovered that Rafe, now a middle school principal, who she met when visiting Aunt Frances 20 years ago, is the love of her life. They are an adorable couple, and even Eddie tolerates him. When Minnie’s brother and sister-in-law send her 17-year-old niece to stay with her for the summer, Minnie hopes that she and Kate will grow as close as she and her aunt Frances have over the years. She wasn’t prepared for the mumbles and hostility of a teen missing her friends and seeking a summer job in a strange town.
Rafe, Minnie, and Kate went to the fireworks display on the Fourth. Afterwards, as they head back toward the houseboat, they talk about how Kate is starting a new job in the morning. Kate suddenly screamed. She has almost fallen over a dead body next to the lake. Minnie knew the man. Rex was one of her library bookmobile patrons, and he had been shot.
When they talk about the nightmares she is having, Minnie tells her that she has found someone dead in the past (an understatement, having found more than one). Kate is impressed that Minnie helped find out who the killer was and begs Minnie to help find the bad guy so she can sleep again. Determined to help her, Minnie agrees, despite having almost lost her life when “investigating” in the past.
Minnie’s friends and her co-workers at the library are used to her unusual questions; Minnie is a problem solver and will get to the bottom of any challenge. She and her bookmobile assistant, Julia, are saddened by Rex’s senseless murder and try to find a starting place to find the bad guy. Minnie and Rafe’s friend Ash is a deputy, studying to become a detective in the local sheriff’s office. Over the past couple years, he and Hal, an older detective, have learned to listen to what Minnie hears and observes while not encouraging her to get involved.
A few days later, Minnie and Julia are out on the bookmobile when Eddie throws a kitty fit. Minnie opened the door; Eddie dashed out and led them on a chase to where he found the body of Nicole, another bookmobile patron. Initially it was thought she drowned, but the autopsy showed she was murdered. The stakes increased, along with Kate’s nightmares, and an attempt is made on Minnie’s life.
I feel as if I know the delightful characters well, yet I learn more about them in each mystery. Minnie is a young woman with a big heart, intelligence, and the drive to find the truth. She is still willing to learn from Aunt Frances, especially when it comes to improving her relationship with Kate. Eddie is an adorable, opinionated boy who is fiercely loyal to the human who feeds him – as long as he gets to ride on the bookmobile! I also like Aunt Frances, who is adjusting to no longer running the boarding house across the street from her and her husband’s home.
This mystery, at first, seemed to have no easy solution. A bit of investigation opened a couple possibilities for Rex’s killer, but Nicole’s death changed everything. I enjoyed both Minnie’s daily life with Kate and Rafe, as well as the three of them putting ideas together of who the killer was. While I had an idea who was involved, I had no clue how or why. I was quite surprised at the root of the situation and the full resolution! The end includes several surprises and all loose ends are tied up; I highly recommend this best-in-series!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Gone with the Whisker
A Bookmobile Cat Mystery #8
By Laurie Cass
ISBN 9780593100134
catmystery.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery…until murder stops them in their tracks!
It’s the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library’s most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.
But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile’s most loyal patrons. And she knows she–and Eddie–will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime. (from Goodreads)
Review:
There are many good cozy mystery series with cats, but only a few have captured my heart as Eddie has. This fabulous cozy is catnip for fans of cat-and-book-themed mysteries. I love the characters more with each new mystery. The setting of northwest lower Michigan in summer is wonderful, and this mystery is confounding and dangerous! It can be read as a standalone, and even more fun as part of the series.
Eddie is the popular bookmobile cat, best known for being Minnie’s best feline buddy. Eddie has one word, Mrr, varied primarily by tone and volume. They are almost inseparable, as Eddie is expert at getting into and out of things to get his way. He was on the maiden voyage of the bookmobile after slipping out of the small houseboat Minnie lives on and to the library. He gave her no choice but to take him along. Just once. The next time Minnie was at a certain stop, a tiny girl with leukemia wanted to know where the kitty was and insisted that Minnie bring him along again. Eddie became one of the library’s best kept secrets. Eddie has also been her companion in finding killers.
Minnie has finally discovered that Rafe, now a middle school principal, who she met when visiting Aunt Frances 20 years ago, is the love of her life. They are an adorable couple, and even Eddie tolerates him. When Minnie’s brother and sister-in-law send her 17-year-old niece to stay with her for the summer, Minnie hopes that she and Kate will grow as close as she and her aunt Frances have over the years. She wasn’t prepared for the mumbles and hostility of a teen missing her friends and seeking a summer job in a strange town.
Rafe, Minnie, and Kate went to the fireworks display on the Fourth. Afterwards, as they head back toward the houseboat, they talk about how Kate is starting a new job in the morning. Kate suddenly screamed. She has almost fallen over a dead body next to the lake. Minnie knew the man. Rex was one of her library bookmobile patrons, and he had been shot.
When they talk about the nightmares she is having, Minnie tells her that she has found someone dead in the past (an understatement, having found more than one). Kate is impressed that Minnie helped find out who the killer was and begs Minnie to help find the bad guy so she can sleep again. Determined to help her, Minnie agrees, despite having almost lost her life when “investigating” in the past.
Minnie’s friends and her co-workers at the library are used to her unusual questions; Minnie is a problem solver and will get to the bottom of any challenge. She and her bookmobile assistant, Julia, are saddened by Rex’s senseless murder and try to find a starting place to find the bad guy. Minnie and Rafe’s friend Ash is a deputy, studying to become a detective in the local sheriff’s office. Over the past couple years, he and Hal, an older detective, have learned to listen to what Minnie hears and observes while not encouraging her to get involved.
A few days later, Minnie and Julia are out on the bookmobile when Eddie throws a kitty fit. Minnie opened the door; Eddie dashed out and led them on a chase to where he found the body of Nicole, another bookmobile patron. Initially it was thought she drowned, but the autopsy showed she was murdered. The stakes increased, along with Kate’s nightmares, and an attempt is made on Minnie’s life.
I feel as if I know the delightful characters well, yet I learn more about them in each mystery. Minnie is a young woman with a big heart, intelligence, and the drive to find the truth. She is still willing to learn from Aunt Frances, especially when it comes to improving her relationship with Kate. Eddie is an adorable, opinionated boy who is fiercely loyal to the human who feeds him – as long as he gets to ride on the bookmobile! I also like Aunt Frances, who is adjusting to no longer running the boarding house across the street from her and her husband’s home.
This mystery, at first, seemed to have no easy solution. A bit of investigation opened a couple possibilities for Rex’s killer, but Nicole’s death changed everything. I enjoyed both Minnie’s daily life with Kate and Rafe, as well as the three of them putting ideas together of who the killer was. While I had an idea who was involved, I had no clue how or why. I was quite surprised at the root of the situation and the full resolution! The end includes several surprises and all loose ends are tied up; I highly recommend this best-in-series!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
February 1, 2024
I feel like this could have been a novella.
April 17, 2020
This has been one of my favorite cat and library cozy series since Eddie uttered his first Mrr in Lending a Paw. This cozy mystery, Minnie, and Eddie are as fresh and exhilarating as in the first of the series, even better! If you enjoy a witty novel with a librarian who loves to drive the bookmobile around the county with her best feline friend, you might want to try this series!
Minnie is the assistant director of the library in Chilson, Michigan, in the upper northwest of the lower peninsula. She grew up downstate near Detroit and visited her Aunt Frances summers when growing up. She and Chilson have been good for each other. One accomplishment has been working to get the bookmobile for the library. One of the best things that happened since moving there is when Eddie adopted her. Eddie quickly became the adored friend of Minnie and the beloved bookmobile cat. And her partner in crime-solving. He has behaviors that many of us owned by cats can laugh – or cringe – at.
Minnie and Rafe, who she met the first time she came to Chilson to visit Aunt Frances, are now an item. It has taken many long years for her to realize she loves him, even as he somewhat patiently waited while she dated their friend and a local deputy, Ash. Rafe is the middle school principal and a man who loves to laugh and have fun while he is remodeling his home.
There are three ongoing events this summer. One, Minnie’s teenage niece Kate is staying with her for the summer with all the snark a teenager can muster. Two, Aunt Frances, recently married, is going through withdrawals after running her boardinghouse for decades and turning it over to a cousin. Finally, the library board is determining how to use a huge bequest made to the library by a man who valued the bookmobile. All of the staff has ideas of how to spend the money, but only the board gets the discussion and final say.
Oh. Kate follows in Minnie’s footsteps in one of the qualities she hadn’t shared with her family. After the Fourth of July fireworks, Kate found the body of a man who had been murdered. Sadly, he was one of the bookmobile patrons, Rex, who Minnie had just seen a couple days earlier. When Kate is tormented by nightmares, Minnie glossed over the number of dead people she found, simply telling her that she found one before. As she had helped the detectives find that killer, Kate wants her to help find whodunit to get rid of her bad dreams.
Rafe, ever the devoted boyfriend, will help Minnie find who the bad guy is, mostly by listening and sharing ideas. Before too many days went by, Minnie and her assistant Julia were on the bookmobile when Eddie started desperately yowling. When he got out of the bookmobile, the two women ran after him, where he led them to the dead body of another of their patrons, Nicole. Later, it was determined that she, too, was murdered. They need to come up with a new set of clues or accept that there are two killers on the loose.
Plot twists bring surprises, and the real whodunit and why were almost complete surprises! Chilson will no longer be a boring place for Kate to visit, as there are still a couple surprises coming. I highly recognize this to anyone who enjoys well-written cozy mysteries with cats, libraries, and a bookmobile.
Minnie is the assistant director of the library in Chilson, Michigan, in the upper northwest of the lower peninsula. She grew up downstate near Detroit and visited her Aunt Frances summers when growing up. She and Chilson have been good for each other. One accomplishment has been working to get the bookmobile for the library. One of the best things that happened since moving there is when Eddie adopted her. Eddie quickly became the adored friend of Minnie and the beloved bookmobile cat. And her partner in crime-solving. He has behaviors that many of us owned by cats can laugh – or cringe – at.
Minnie and Rafe, who she met the first time she came to Chilson to visit Aunt Frances, are now an item. It has taken many long years for her to realize she loves him, even as he somewhat patiently waited while she dated their friend and a local deputy, Ash. Rafe is the middle school principal and a man who loves to laugh and have fun while he is remodeling his home.
There are three ongoing events this summer. One, Minnie’s teenage niece Kate is staying with her for the summer with all the snark a teenager can muster. Two, Aunt Frances, recently married, is going through withdrawals after running her boardinghouse for decades and turning it over to a cousin. Finally, the library board is determining how to use a huge bequest made to the library by a man who valued the bookmobile. All of the staff has ideas of how to spend the money, but only the board gets the discussion and final say.
Oh. Kate follows in Minnie’s footsteps in one of the qualities she hadn’t shared with her family. After the Fourth of July fireworks, Kate found the body of a man who had been murdered. Sadly, he was one of the bookmobile patrons, Rex, who Minnie had just seen a couple days earlier. When Kate is tormented by nightmares, Minnie glossed over the number of dead people she found, simply telling her that she found one before. As she had helped the detectives find that killer, Kate wants her to help find whodunit to get rid of her bad dreams.
Rafe, ever the devoted boyfriend, will help Minnie find who the bad guy is, mostly by listening and sharing ideas. Before too many days went by, Minnie and her assistant Julia were on the bookmobile when Eddie started desperately yowling. When he got out of the bookmobile, the two women ran after him, where he led them to the dead body of another of their patrons, Nicole. Later, it was determined that she, too, was murdered. They need to come up with a new set of clues or accept that there are two killers on the loose.
Plot twists bring surprises, and the real whodunit and why were almost complete surprises! Chilson will no longer be a boring place for Kate to visit, as there are still a couple surprises coming. I highly recognize this to anyone who enjoys well-written cozy mysteries with cats, libraries, and a bookmobile.
April 10, 2020
It would have been a solid 4 stars without Katie but I'll give it a 3.7. Minnie's niece grated on my nerves. Plot-wise, this was a step up in my opinion. Good clues, reasonable solution, barring the typical "Minnie is about to die how can she escape" near the end. (Frankly I still don't see why the perp didn't just shoot them.) Eddie is more overtly helping solve the mystery, I really like Julia as a supporting character, love the relationship with Rafe, and am so glad to have a good director for the library. Definitely an improvement and I was glad to hear there are supposed to be two more.
May 19, 2020
Minnie’s teenage niece, “call me Kate, not Katrina,” is spending the summer with her, and Minnie is in over her head. The action starts early, when Kate literally stumbles over a body at the Fourth of July fireworks. It’s a rocky start to her vacation, and it only gets worse. Of course, Minnie gets involved in the murder, and puts herself and her niece in jeopardy. Thank goodness for Eddie, her cat! This series just keeps getting better and better. The characters’ lives change and develop. The mysteries are well thought out. And Eddie is the best of all. As cat cozies go, this is one of the best.
September 29, 2024
I just adored this instalment of the bookmobile murder mystery series! Minnie’s 17 year old niece is visiting for the summer and trips over a body at the 4th of July fair. Scarred and a bit traumatized the only thing that will ease her mind is getting the killer behind bars. So her aunt Minnie and her rescue cat Eddie take to solving the small town crime!
March 14, 2021
3.5 stars
Written by a Michigan author and set in Northern Michigan.
"I'd lost my tolerance for sitting in traffic five and a half years ago." This line made me laugh as it is exactly how people in Northern Michigan feel about expressway construction on I-75.
Written by a Michigan author and set in Northern Michigan.
"I'd lost my tolerance for sitting in traffic five and a half years ago." This line made me laugh as it is exactly how people in Northern Michigan feel about expressway construction on I-75.
April 1, 2020
Laurie Cass' latest book in the A Bookmobile Cat Mystery series is just as good as all of her others.
April 11, 2020
Eddy continues his cat-like ways as the bookmobile mascot, even when two patrons are inexplicably murdered.
October 16, 2020
This book is like a lifetime movie: cheesy in the best way possible PLUS there’s a CAT
May 28, 2024
Kate is annoying. But kinda wondering if we'll see her in a future summer. Loving the friendship between Ash and Rafe. Very entertained by it.
June 26, 2020
I am finding it very difficult to concentrate on this story. Bookmobile driver Minnie's niece, Kate, is visiting from Florida. At the Fourth of July celebration (which is also Minnie's birthday) Kate literally stumbles over a body and subsequently experiences nightmares. The teen is distant and uncommunicative with Minnie, so she believes that by solving the murder, Kate will find peace of mind and behave nicer towards her aunt, who very much wants to have a good relationship with her.
We don't know anything about the victims to start with, and three quarters of the way through the book we still know little about them and care less. There is nothing here to engage the mind - it is all about Minnie's poor relationship with Kate, although other seem to like her.
We don't know anything about the victims to start with, and three quarters of the way through the book we still know little about them and care less. There is nothing here to engage the mind - it is all about Minnie's poor relationship with Kate, although other seem to like her.
June 6, 2020
In this entry, Minnie must discover who killed a man during the Fourth of July fireworks in order to help her niece come to terms with finding the body. Meanwhile, Rafe is finishing the house, Minnie's aunt is concerned with how the boarding house is being run, and Minnie is trying to remain the "cool aunt" with her disagreeable niece who is boarding with her over the summer.
I was so excited to read Cass' 8th book in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series! Unfortunately, this entry disappointed me on multiple levels to the extent that I lost the desire to finish the book about halfway through. Cass is a talented author with a knack for weaving a fun cozy mystery. However, Gone with the Whisker did not deliver as her books usually do. I quickly got tired of Minnie's tolerance with her ill-behaved, rude, and snotty niece. Apparently, respect is not required of near-adults simply because they are teenagers and had a bad breakup. Another issue I had was the lack of Eddie in this book. He seemed like an add-in, his personality was downplayed, and his role in the mystery negligible. In addition, I suddenly became fed up with Minnie's inability to be an adult. She can't cook, she can't clean, she just prances around the town winning everyone over with her wit and dry humor. Which, incidentally, are apparently the primary traits of everyone in town now.) She eats terribly but still remains cute, spunky, and skinny. Her boyfriend is head over heels for her but they hardly even act like a couple – they still act like friends, except for her staying the night occasionally. Finally, the mystery was drawn out and hardly even expanded on. It felt like background, and I couldn't even remember what the crime was a third of the way through. I would pass on this one and hope Cass' next is not so dull.
I was so excited to read Cass' 8th book in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series! Unfortunately, this entry disappointed me on multiple levels to the extent that I lost the desire to finish the book about halfway through. Cass is a talented author with a knack for weaving a fun cozy mystery. However, Gone with the Whisker did not deliver as her books usually do. I quickly got tired of Minnie's tolerance with her ill-behaved, rude, and snotty niece. Apparently, respect is not required of near-adults simply because they are teenagers and had a bad breakup. Another issue I had was the lack of Eddie in this book. He seemed like an add-in, his personality was downplayed, and his role in the mystery negligible. In addition, I suddenly became fed up with Minnie's inability to be an adult. She can't cook, she can't clean, she just prances around the town winning everyone over with her wit and dry humor. Which, incidentally, are apparently the primary traits of everyone in town now.) She eats terribly but still remains cute, spunky, and skinny. Her boyfriend is head over heels for her but they hardly even act like a couple – they still act like friends, except for her staying the night occasionally. Finally, the mystery was drawn out and hardly even expanded on. It felt like background, and I couldn't even remember what the crime was a third of the way through. I would pass on this one and hope Cass' next is not so dull.
April 18, 2021
I have loved this series from the opening pages of the first novel in the series! Minnie is a wonderful librarian and assistant director of a public library in Chilson, Michigan who cherishes every patron that she can assist particularly via the bookmobile.
Minnie met her handsome cat during one of Minnie's walks to a local cemetery and they've been inseparable ever since. [Minnie explained why she visits cemeteries and how the cat came to be named Eddie in the 1st novel in the series, "Lending a Paw."] It was no surprise to many cat lovers and reader fans that Eddie decided he was going to accompany Minnie on the bookmobile's maiden voyage in that same 1st novel in the series. However, Minnie was rather shocked but she had never had a pet growing up as her father was allergic to pet dander. As this is now Book 8 in the series, Minnie has learned a lot about living with an extraordinary cat. Eddie's communications never fail to delight.
Minnie and Eddie are sharing the houseboat with Minnie's 17-year old niece Katrina visiting for the summer from Florida. Minnie's birthday is on the 4th of July so she's ready to invite her niece to spend the day celebrating her birthday and the holiday in her favorite ways. No one could've imagined the surprises the day would hold for them both.
If you enjoyed this novel, you might also like to discover the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series by Eva Gates, or the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James. A trio of wonderful authors with exquisite series that should not be missed by readers loving stories about libraries, librarians, and cats. Purr-fect reading selections. :)
Minnie met her handsome cat during one of Minnie's walks to a local cemetery and they've been inseparable ever since. [Minnie explained why she visits cemeteries and how the cat came to be named Eddie in the 1st novel in the series, "Lending a Paw."] It was no surprise to many cat lovers and reader fans that Eddie decided he was going to accompany Minnie on the bookmobile's maiden voyage in that same 1st novel in the series. However, Minnie was rather shocked but she had never had a pet growing up as her father was allergic to pet dander. As this is now Book 8 in the series, Minnie has learned a lot about living with an extraordinary cat. Eddie's communications never fail to delight.
Minnie and Eddie are sharing the houseboat with Minnie's 17-year old niece Katrina visiting for the summer from Florida. Minnie's birthday is on the 4th of July so she's ready to invite her niece to spend the day celebrating her birthday and the holiday in her favorite ways. No one could've imagined the surprises the day would hold for them both.
If you enjoyed this novel, you might also like to discover the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series by Eva Gates, or the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James. A trio of wonderful authors with exquisite series that should not be missed by readers loving stories about libraries, librarians, and cats. Purr-fect reading selections. :)
April 5, 2021
Many decades ago I read almost nothing but cozy mysteries. Then I switched to other genres, and I've never really gotten the cozy love back. This is one of the few series I read these days, and I'll admit I thought it was getting stale. This book is a positive change, though. First of all, Minnie's young niece is living with her for the summer, so Minnie has someone besides Eddie the cat to talk to. And her relationship with Rafe is moving along. I'd like to see them together more, because I think it's a good way to give the books more depth, but at least we got a couple of scenes with them.
The mystery was fine - all the clues are there for you to follow - and if I figured it out early on I don't consider that a problem. What I liked about cozies was the uusual settings, lack of violence, and interesting characters. Unfortunately most of the ones I try to read these days only have one dimensional characters and rely on setting to carry the story. This series has been above average and I'm glad to see it's still going strong.
The mystery was fine - all the clues are there for you to follow - and if I figured it out early on I don't consider that a problem. What I liked about cozies was the uusual settings, lack of violence, and interesting characters. Unfortunately most of the ones I try to read these days only have one dimensional characters and rely on setting to carry the story. This series has been above average and I'm glad to see it's still going strong.
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