Wrong Side of the Paw: A Bookmobile Cat Mystery
By Laurie Cass
Berkley
July 25, 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

The assistant director of lower Michigan’s Chilson District Library, Minnie Hamilton is more than a little proud of the bookmobile program she has been running for the past year. She’s also grown accustomed to living on a tiny houseboat until the long winter sets in, at which time Minnie moves into her Aunt Frances’s unique matchmaking boarding house. It looks as though Minnie’s life may be in for another change though, as her aunt is getting married, Minnie has a new library director, and Minnie’s own relationship with deputy Ash Wolverson seems to be just…fine. And that’s all before her favorite feline and bookmobile cat, Eddie, wanders off to lead them to a body in a truck. The vehicle in question happens to be owned by elder law attorney Leese Lacombe, and the body is that of her estranged father. Dale Lacombe was not exactly beloved by anyone in Chilson, as the philandering owner of Lacombe Construction was renowned for his shoddy projects, numerous lawsuits, and explosive temper.

Minnie worries that Leese could still be a suspect in the eyes of Tonedagana County Sheriff’s Office, which means that Minnie is once again determined to risk everything to help a friend. Investigating a murder could actually be a welcome distraction compared to what is going on within the library, as Minnie’s new boss Jennifer Walker is an outsider intent on making waves. She is the epitome of a micromanager, demanding daily reports, slashes in budgets, and proposing a new – and expensive – catalog system. Minnie would be panicking over the threat to her beloved bookmobile program if her fellow coworkers and patrons weren’t already threatening to quit and boycott the library altogether. It will take all of Minnie’s stellar librarian skills to research and uncover information leading towards the reason behind Dale’s murder, especially when it seems clear that someone may be targeting the entire Lacombe family.

Eddie would be the most relaxed, perfectly content bookmobile cat if only he weren’t so frustrated with his owner’s obliviousness with clues. Eddie is very much a treat-motivated, lethargic feline, but he is also far savvier than Minnie can comprehend. Anyone familiar with library administration- or any bureaucracy for that matter - will sympathize with the frustration when faced with a numbers-focused authority who ignores the human element. Minnie’s own growth as a human comes into play as she must make decisions about letting go and cutting ties, and this vulnerability makes her all the more likable. What she may discover is that as difficult as change may be, the risks are more than worth the reward. Minnie’s future looks to be as promising and satisfying as this very entertaining fifth novel of the series, which is inundated with the quirky characters who populate a small town. An exasperated cat, plucky heroine, quippy dialogue, and library lore all ensure for the ultimate cozy book lover’s read.