Read: Checking out Crime (#70-2022)

Checking Out Crime by Laurie Cass

(Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, Book 9)

Significant life changes are sort of, kind of happening for Minnie in this one.  One being the relationship with Rafe that she absolutely didn't see coming in the last book. But there is of course another mystery to solve and Rafe wants to be involved, at least to try to keep Minnie out of trouble.  

It's not the ideal crime-fighting duo when Rafe is also trying to finish the house he's been building so that Minnie can move out of her houseboat before it's too cold to stay there. And Minnie is not terribly helpful at making the choices she needs to make to expedite that process. Some of her phobias are absolutely ridiculous, but they are also endearing, so I won't critique them too much. 

This is the last of the series at the moment - a new one comes out in October and I'm kind of excited about it.  Let's see what future mischief Minnie and Eddie can get into. 

(#70-2022)

Read: Gone with the Whisker (#69-2022)

Gone with the Whisker by Laurie Cass

(The Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, Book 8)

It's summer season in Chilton, and Minnie has taken in her niece for the summer.  Katrina is an interesting addition to the dynamic of Minnie's life and her roommate doesn't exactly fit into the idyllic aunt/niece summer fun expectation that Minnie held for the event. 

Especially when Katrina haphazardly comes across a murder victim at the 4th of July celebrations.  We see how Katrina copes with trauma (and how similar she is to her aunt) while both of them try to solve the mystery and come to terms with some significant changes in their lives. 

This is the novel that really turned me around on Minnie.  She's been growing on me novel by novel, but this one really made her feel like a person.  There are some pretty significant changes to her life here, and the way she deals with them and still keeps things stable on some level are telling.  She acted like a real person, rather than just a character in a book. 

The events are still a bit outlandish, but I wouldn't want to read the story if things weren't at least a little bit crazy. 

(#69-2022)

Read: Booking the Crook (#67-2022)

Booking the Crook by Laurie Cass

(The Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, Book 7)

A new library Board Chair may throw a wrench into Minnie's days of spreading reading and cheer aboard the Chilton Library Bookmobile.  

And then, of course, there's the murder of a Bookmobile regular. Minnie, Eddie and friends need to find out what happened, and why at the same time as they try to save the Bookmobile from whatever fate could be heading its way. 

There are always a lot of conclusions that are needlessly jumped to in a cozy mystery novel, and this book is absolutely no different. Minnie is the queen of assumptions and jumping ahead to get where she wants to be. But in the safest, least athletic way possible. 

In almost all cases, it turns out the right way for her and that's just part of what makes these a joy to read. You might not always be stumped by the whodunit portion, but it very rarely gets there in a way that you'd expect. 

(#67-2022)

Read: Wrong Side of the Paw (#61-2022)

Wrong Side of the Paw by Laurie Cass

(The Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, Book 6)

Another crazy caper for librarian Minnie Hamilton and her cat, Eddie as they travel around a region of Northern Michigan on the Chilton Library Bookmobile. 

This time around, we widen Minnie's circle of friends and benefactors and also negotiate Minnie's relationships.  I've gotten used to some of the quirks about Minnie that used to make me dislike the character and now find her endearing. Most of the time.  

The mysteries get stranger and stranger and this one is no different. The comparisons between Minnie and Aurora Teagarden (Charlaine Harris' librarian crime-solver) are still very obvious, but the addition of the Bookmobile and of course Eddie make this series just different enough to keep my attention. 

(#61-2022)

Read: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: The Original Screenplay (#58-2022)

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling & Steve Kloves

(Third in the Fantastic Beasts series)

I can't possibly write my thoughts on this without ruining the movie, so let's just say that it lives up to the rest of the series. I'm interested to know where they'll take certain characters and stories moving forward, and of course, it's the Harry Potter world, so despite any misgivings about the author, I will continue to follow the story. 

(#58-2022)

Read: Cat With a Clue (#57-2022)

Cat With a Clue by Laurie Cass

(The Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, Book 5)

Minnie Hamilton once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation - this time when she finds a body in her very own library. Chilson also experiences a number of very strange break-ins so Minnie, and of course, Eddie, find themselves doing whatever they can to solve the crime and stop terrible rumours swirling around town. 

Read: The Final Trial (#54-2022)

The Final Trial by Kelley Armstrong

(Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, Book 4)

Rowan's final expedition, meant to prove that she's worthy of being called the Royal Monster Hunter. With the resources provided by her friends and companions and the knowledge she's gained from past trials, Rowan will surely escape the final trial unscathed and victorious. 

Read: Kristy's Big Day (#51-2022)

Kristy's Big Day by Ann M. Martin

(The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 6)

The last book in the first Baby-Sitters Club Book Collection tin is the ending we were all looking for.  Kristy's mom is marrying Watson. And while not everyone in the family is entirely excited about all the changes that the event brings, they do manage to make it through the weeks leading up to the big day with minimal disruption.  And the Baby-Sitters Club remains intact. 

(#51-2022)

Read: Dawn and the Impossible Three (#50-2022)

Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin

(The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 5)

Dawn is the newest member of the Baby-Sitters Club. She also might be hated by the club President. But Mary Anne is her friend and Dawn is willing to work, so she takes on a new client, whose kids just might be impossible.

Read: Wicked Villain Shorts (#49-2022)

Wicked Villain Shorts by Katee Robert

(anthology of short stories related to Wicked Villain Series)

I didn't really need to read these.  I didn't gain anything from it.  Usually, I enjoy the extra glimpses into the lives of the characters I've read, but this one just felt redundant, unfortunately. 

(#49-2022)

Read: Queen Takes Rose (#48-2022)

Queen Takes Rose by Katee Robert

(Wicked Villains, Book 6)

The series closes with a twist on Sleeping Beauty.  This one was probably the most unique take on the story it's meant to relate to.  It may actually be my favourite of the series. 

(#48-2022)

Read: The Sea Witch (#47-2022)

The Sea Witch by Katee Robert

(Wicked Villains, book 5)

The twisted, dark and dirty Little Mermaid variation. Once again, highly adult but quirky and kind of fun. 

(#47-2022)

Read: Mary Anne Saves the Day (#46-2022)

Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin

(The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 4)

Mary Anne saves the day in more ways that one in this novel.  The Baby-Sitters Club is falling apart due to a disagreement between friends. Mary Anne is left to fend for herself at school, and while babysitting. When her charge gets sick, she's left to her own devices, and maybe to a new friend that she's met along the way. 

Read: The Beast (#44-2022)

The Beast by Katee Robert

(Wicked Villains, Book 4)

The ultimate twist on Beauty and the Beast. I wasn't looking forward to this one because the glimpses we'd had of these characters earlier hadn't attracted me at all. But it turned out all right. Definitely not for the faint of heart (or pearl clutches.)

(#44-2022)

Read: The Truth About Stacey (#43-2022)

The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin

(The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 3)

Stacey is hiding something. Not just that she has diabetes, but her parents aren't handling it well, and won't let Stacey learn to live with it before bringing her to every doctor they can find who might magically fix everything.  Stacey's tired of it.

Read: Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls (#42-2022)

Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin

(The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 2)

The second book in the original Baby-Sitters Club series has Claudia going through what every babysitter goes through at least once in their sitting career.  Not that everyone got hangup calls, but everyone let their imagination run away with them in scary ways. The resolution of this is cute, and very middle-school appropriate. Still a fun story.

(#42-2022)

Read: A Worthy Opponent (#41-2022)

A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert

(Wicked Villains, Book 3)

So, the twisted version of Captain Hook and Tinkerbell. I kind of loved the characters in this one, even if I never imagined them in quite this way before. 

Definitely adult. Definitely a fun book.

(#41-2022)

Read: Kristy's Great Idea (#40-2022)

Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin

(The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 1)

I read this series, fairly religiously, when I was a middle-schooler.  So when I found the collector's tin with the original 6 books in the series, in their original format I was absolutely going to buy it. 

The story actually still holds up quite well - except that technology plays NO part in these stories. It was a big deal that Claudia had a phone of her own in her room!

Otherwise, the themes and ideas are still relevant. I'm enjoying the re-read down memory lane. 

(#40-2022)

I Read: Learn my Lesson (#39-2022)

Learn my Lesson by Katee Robert

(Wicked Villains, book 2)

This is an interesting series. Definitely adult - don't think this is going to hit the spot for anyone looking for Disney villains. 

In this one, we find out more about Hades, and his furies, but especially Megaera. Plus a little extra Olympus added in. 

(#39-2022)

I Read: A Rip Through Time (#38-2022)

A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong

(A Rip Through Time, book 1)

A Homicide detective from Canada, who is visiting Edinburgh to be with her dying grandmother, is somehow transported in time to 1869.  She has to figure out how she got there, who she even is, and hopefully, how to get home.