The Peculiar Pawprints of Bramblewood

A Children’s Tale, The Books and Whiskers ChroniclesThe reviews are in . . .The Peculiar Pawprints of Bramblewood is a charming, whimsical mystery full of heart, humor, and old-fashioned adventure. When a curious boy and his delightfully sarcastic calico cat stumble into a hidden world of lost things, they uncover a story that is as magical as it is suspenseful. Warm, inventive, and brimming with cozy wonder, this tale is perfect for readers who love clever puzzles, lovable oddballs, and a touch of enchantment.- Vida ReviewEvery lost thing has a story, but some secrets are too big to stay hidden forever. Every lost thing has a story, but some secrets are too big to stay hidden forever.Nine-year-old Leo Higgins loves finding things. With his messy curls, permanently scuffed sneakers, and an oversized denim jacket packed full of paperclips, smooth stones, and odd buttons, he notices the tiny, quirky details that grownups completely miss. More than anything, Leo wants to prove to his older siblings and his sleepy town of Bramblewood that he can solve a real, live mystery all on his own.His chance arrives when his lucky baseball rolls under the sagging porch of the abandoned, mysterious Plum Estate. Crawling through the dirt, Leo uncovers a rusted tin box containing a heavy brass key that hums with a warm amber glow. Winston, a chubby calico cat with a notched left ear and a permanent look of mild judgment, takes an immediate interest, steering Leo toward the looming front door.Inside the dusty manor, the glowing key unlocks a tiny door built into a massive grandfather clock. When the clock strikes midnight at midday, a passage swings open to reveal the Library of Lost Things—a breathless, jaw-dropping room stretching wider than the estate itself. The shelves are packed with decades of the townspeople's lost wedding rings, teddy bears, and single socks. But it also holds Bramblewood's original founding charter. Without it, a greedy land developer named Mr. Grim plans to bulldoze the town's beloved historic park in the morning.When the room's security system of mechanical clockwork mice with glowing blue spyglass eyes awakes, a wild chase begins. Leo shoves the charter into his jacket, and alongside the clever Winston—who creates a brilliant marble avalanche distraction—escapes down a rattling dumbwaiter shaft into a cluttered basement workshop.There, they meet Professor Thaddeus Plum, a tall, reedy, forgetful inventor in mismatched socks who built the library to keep the town's history safe. When Mr. Grim tracks them down to destroy the charter, the eccentric Professor's memory fails him. Leo must use his sharp analytical mind to solve a bizarre riddle, activate the workshop's master lockdown, and outsmart the developer before time runs out.Can a boy with pockets full of trinkets and a very sarcastic cat outrun a swarm of mechanical mice and save the heart of their town, or will Bramblewood's history be lost forever? Read more