I surveyed my small kingdom and saw that all was not good. The bookmobile was crowded with patrons large and small, which was excellent, but the overall atmosphere was not filled with the laughter and cheery talk that normally accompanied a bookmobile stop.
The frowns and sighs could have been due to the non-arrival of a number of books that had been promised – shipping delays about which I could do nothing – or the long faces could have been due to the flu that was making the rounds in our part of northern lower Michigan. I was hearing lots of sniffles and coughs and the level in the hand sanitizer bottle was dropping fast.
Yes, either one of those theories could have been right, but I knew better. It was the weather. We’d had day after day after day of low, thick clouds. The only break in the unrelenting gray had been when it snowed, which sounded bright and perky, but the idea of more snow was getting a little old, now that it was March.
What we desperately needed was a cure for the winter blahs, but short of a quick trip to the Bahamas, I wasn’t sure how to help.
“What do you think?” I asked my companion.
Eddie, known far and wide as the bookmobile cat, blinked. He was sitting next to me and he’d also been surveying the uninspired activity of our patrons.
“Mrr,” he said. Yawning, he stood, stretched, then jumped down and made his way down the aisle.
I watched him go, wondering what he was up to this time. Eddie was a large-ish black and white tabby, going on three years old, and as dorky as a cat could be. He was loveable and communicative and had more personality than my boss, but he would never be known as graceful.
“Mrr.” With the top of his head, Eddie bumped a young boy’s leg. The kid looked down.
“Hi, Eddie,” the youngster said listlessly, and went back to perusing the selection of jigsaw puzzles.
But Eddie had already moved on to his next victim, a recently retired man whose new goal in life was to read everything on the bookmobile.
“Mrr,” Eddie said, as he used his head to thump the guy in the shin.
“What. . .? Oh. Hey, Eddie.”
His words, however, were delivered to Eddie’s aft end, since my cat was already thumping on the next person. Down the bookmobile he went, bumping everyone with either his head, his tail, his shoulder, his chin, or some combination thereof.
When he reached the far end, he scrambled to the top of the highest shelf, pushing aside any books in his way, and sat tall. He looked down the length of the thirty one-foot vehicle, and said, “MRRR!”
Every single person, including me, jumped. When our ears stopped ringing, the questions started.
“What’s the matter, Eddie?” someone asked.
“Is he all right?”
“What do you think he wants?”
The entire group clustered beneath Eddie, looking up at him with concern.
I watched from afar. Since there’d been nothing wrong with my cat three minutes ago, I was sure there was nothing wrong with him now. All he wanted was a little attention. And now, with the full population of the bookmobile focused on him, he was getting what he wanted.
“Listen,” a woman said. “I think he’s purring. Hear it?”
I mentally rolled my eyes.
“He is!” the boy said. “It’s really loud!”
As if by magic, smiles appeared on every face. Laughter, too. The blah doldrums had vanished and, with any luck, they wouldn’t be back for some time.
Eddie made one long leap to the floor, earning himself a round of applause, and sauntered up front, where he jumped onto my lap and plopped down without so much as asking for permission.
“You,” I whispered into his ear, “are a scammer. You’re also the best cat in the whole wide world, even if you are a dork.”
“Mrr,” Eddie said, and purred.
You can read more about Minnie and Eddie in Borrowed Crime, the third book in the “Bookmobile Cat” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first two books in the series are Lending A Paw and Tailing A Tabby.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on March 20 for the chance to win a print copy of Borrowed Crime. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Laurie Cass grew up in Michigan and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in the 80’s with a (mostly unused) Bachelor of Science degree in geology. Currently, Laurie and her husband share their house with two cats; the inestimable Eddie and the adorably cute Sinii. When Laurie isn’t writing, she’s working at her day job, reading, yanking weeds out of her garden, or doing some variety of skiing.
Visit Laurie at www.catmystery.com
Eddie sounds like an awesome cat! Sounds like a fun book! Thanks for the opportunity!
This is gonna be a great book. Thank you for the chance to win.
Moonbay7399@gmail.com
Borrowed Crime– a cat & a mystery–
Wonderful opportunity!
Eddie sounds awesome. I want to start reading this series.
What a fun series! I love kitties so this book is enticing yo me. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds interesting
Sounds like so much fun! Thank you !
Definitely a book I look forward to reading . Thank you.
would love to win and thanks for having the giveaway
Yay! I do enjoy a good pet mystery book, and the cover is gorgeous! Thank you for the chance to win.
I forgot to add my email address:
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a lot of fun , look forward to reading it
Lovely cover and what a great cat! Looking forward to reading this.
Gorgeous cover! Please enter me in your drawing.
And yet another good sounding on my wish list!!
Great title to read
This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds like a fun read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
A bookmobile sounds like a perfect backdrop to crime and mayhem. Add a cat to the mix, and I’m adding this to my TBR pile. Thanks for the spotlight!
Sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win!
This sounds like a fun book. Thank you for the chance to win
As a library worker, I love bookmobiles….and library cats. Thanks for the chance to begin a new series.
fun series to read, thank you for the chance to win
I would love to win this book.
Love this book series. The characters are really relatable. Love Eddie also.
This really sounds good. Would love to read it
This is a great series and can’t wait to read this one!
I have enjoyed the other books in this series, and this sounds like another winner. Eddie is a great bookmobile partner! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the book!
This sounds like a fun read! Thank you for the article and contest!
This sounds like a great book, would love to have a bookmobile in our neighborhood!
wfnren at aol dot com
Love all libraries/bookmobiles and mysteries. Would adore this book in particular.
Love bookmobiles,love cats used to vacation in northern Michigan so I think I should read this series.
Have not read the other books in the series but Eddie sounds delightful. Silly kitties are great in any storyline.
Awesome book. Would love to win!!
Can’t wait to read this one. Great series.
thanks.
A great feature and giveaway. Thanks.
I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to read this one. Thank you for the giveaway!
I love books, I love cats, sounds like a winner to me!
I have always wanted to be involved in a bookmobile. The thought of providing the ability to read to someone who may not have access to a book otherwise is the greatest gift anyone could receive. Thanks for the offer of receiving a copy of this book.
I always love a book with animals, especially cats
Love this series and can not wait to read this latest installment. Reading the Day in the Life of here makes me want to read it even more.
Love how Eddie saves the day with purrs! Thanks for the chance to win!
That is one smart and clever cat!
There is something fun about walking around inside a bookmobile! Would really love to read this one. Thank you for the chance.
I’m reading Tailing a Tabby right now and loving it, thanks for the chance to win this one.
This is so clever! Looking forward to reading it – and thank you for the chance to win a copy!
Eddie’s brilliant. Can’t wait to see more of him in this absolutely fabulous series. Thanks for the chance to win.
sounds great!
Thanks for the giveaway! We have a book exchange in our community but it would be even better if we had a bookmobile as well. I’m looking forward to reading this.
Eddie can make any cloudy week better! Love this series and can’t wait to read this latest book. Thanks for the chance to win!
It sounds like a great read. I love the pretty cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.
I so want to “meet” Eddie—I’ve got my fingers crossed that I win this contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I’ve not read this series yet but now would be good time to start
I have not read any books by this author. Thanks for this chance!
This is a GREAT series. The books just pull you in. I was first attracted to it because the main character works in a library but now when I think about the series, I think about how you cannot put any of them down until you have finished them completely. I am so happy to see another one out 🙂 🙂 🙂
Looks great. Thereadmaster@me.com
Sounds great, I can’t wait to read it.
Looks great!
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of “Borrowed Crime”. I’m looking forward to reading it!!
Looking forward to reading this one.
Eager to read it.
You had me at bookmobile!
With so many lures to this series, I am so anxious to get started on it. I will order the first two books in this series in preparation of the third which would be lovely to win, but everyone says that. 🙂 I love mysteries, especially cozies, and then add to that a story about books, and cats, and you have me hooked without even reading one sentence. I have heard great reviews on this book and would be delighted to win it, and so thank you in advance for that chance.
Sincerely,
Cynthia B.
You had me a cat & mystery. Love the cover,can’t wait to read!
Sounds like a fun book, and I love Eddie already. Thanks for the chance to win :).
WOW
New author to me – sounds like a fun book! Love bookmobiles – the cover art is great! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
I am a retired librarian and drove the bookmobile for awhile so I love the series title! Thank you for this giveaway!
As a cat loving librarian, I love this series. Looking forward to reading Borrowed Crime!
Books and cats, a perfect combination.
This little scene not only put a smile on my face, it made me laugh. Eddie is so cool, who wouldn’t want to read more about him? And I love the idea of a bookmobile.
Borrowed Crime sounds great; would love to have to add to my to be read list.
What a totally awesome cover on this book….I have read the other awesome books in this series and have loved each one. I love Eddie and the Bookmobile…it is such a neat idea to get books to people who can’t get out…..would so love to win a copy of this book!!!! Thanks for the chance!!!
Little things in life can change our attitudes. Eddie was able to do so with a purr. Look forward to reading more about Minnie, Eddie and the bookmobile.
Bettyjo.English@gmail.com
I would love to have this on my shelf…really I would!!
misstree1963@gmail.com
Bookmobile..love it for a plot and the Cover is so cute…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
We love Eddie! (and his “MRRR”s) can’t wait to read this one! Malka woofmew@aol.com
Wish I had a personal bookmobile to house my collection!
Another volume in this great series. Hip, Hip, Hurray
Love the cover. Sounds like a good, cozy read Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Contest is closed.