Mortimer Says Nothing

The description of Archibald the cat sleeping on the painstakingly assembled meringues made me cringe and laugh. Then I howled when Archibald appears to Mortimer covered with sticky crumbs and feathers and they proceed to have a friendly tussle followed by an ecstatic grooming session. Tears of joy.

The fourth collection of stories about the adventures of a young girl named Arabel Jones, and her raven companion, Mortimer. In Mortimer Says Nothing, Mrs. Jones is thrown into a tizzy by the selection of her kitchen as the meeting place for the Rumbury Ladies' Kitchen Club. Needless to say, having Mortimer underfoot doesn't help matters... In Arabel's Birthday, Arabel's obnoxious cousin Annie comes to stay with the Jones family. In Mr. Jones's Rest Cure, a family trip to Wales provides Mortimer with the opportunity to help capture a vandal. And in A Call at the Joneses', Arabel puts an end to a series of crank calls.

This was the final collection of stories about Arabel and Mortimer published in the United States, although I believe show more that there were some further adventures published in Britain, and co-written with the author's daughter, Lizza Aiken. I also believe that there was a television series in Britain, based upon these stories. Like the preceding three collections, Mortimer Says Nothing is illustrated by Quentin Blake, and provides a wonderful reading series for the beginning chapter-book reader. There were some moments of real hilarity in this one, as when a foreign ornithologist fails to tempt Mortimer to croak his habitual "Nevermore" into a recorder. show less

Mortimer Says Nothing - Mrs. Jones is thrown into a tizzy when she learns that a group of judgmental housewives will be visiting her kitchen expecting coffee and cakes. Just as she begins a flurry of baking, Mr. Jones must be gone on a long cab job. To make matters worse, a large group of mice is migrating into the area and a bird-call expert has become obsessed with recording Mortimer's call. Zany adventures ensue.

Arabel's Birthday - This year, Arabel's birthday falls during the visit of her cousin. Even though they are the same age, they are very different. It's hard to get along with the spoiled, selfish girl who is never content with just one piece of cake. But when she makes an enemy of Mortimer, that's when the real trouble show more begins.

Mr. Jones's Rest Cure - Mr. Jones has been working too hard and he is taking his small family out of town for an extended stay at a bed and breakfast. Mortimer's mischief will be the cause of and solution to a number of troublesome situations.

A Call at the Joneses' - A crank-caller is causing trouble all over Rainwater Crescent by making vaguely threatening anonymous calls. Mr. Jones must take drastic action to combat the trickster, meanwhile Mrs. Jones is frantic to put the house in order before her Auntie comes to visit. show less

Four adventures of Arabel and her pet raven Mortimer: Mortimer Says Nothing / Arabel's Birthday / Mr. Jone's Rest Cure / A Call at the Joneses'.