This was an incredibly cute story! I am now sucked into the world of animal murder mysteries.
In the village of Shady Hollow, animals are showing up dead and the two police officers, who have never investigated a murder before, come up with no leads. Vera Vixen, a fox and the lead reporter at the local newspaper, uses her sleuthing skills to find clues that may or may not lead to the murderer.
This was a super quick read - I think it took me about 4 hours - but I loved every minute of it. Although the story is cutesy, it's definitely not for children as there's references to murder (duh) and affairs. The characters all have their flaws, but I fell in love with all of them, especially Vera. As a former journalist, her character made my heart happy. The story also had plenty of decent red herrings that threw me off. I did end up guessing the ending, but it took me a while to figure it out!
It's nothing mind-blowing, but a great read if you're looking for a cute, quick read!
Thank you to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a wonderful read. It was cosy and comforting with a mystery to solve and animals at the centre of it all.
Perfect if you're looking for a quick and fun book to read.

A murder mystery in a town full of woodland creatures? What else could you ask for?
This story and all of the cleverly named characters in it put a smile on my face and was a great pallette cleanser from the heavy subjects I usually read about. It was funny, but it was also stereotypical. I guessed the murderer pretty early on. The story was good, but felt it was a bit too long and repetitive. We followed Vera investigating the case and questioning other creatures in Shady Hollow day in and day out, and it got a bit boring by the end. Still a light, fun read!

Can we just take a second and talk about how adorable this cover art is? Anyone that knows me knows that cover art is my jam and what draws me to books and this art was STUNNING! And I am so glad this cover led to the delightful story inside held on these pages. Recommend!

Interesting cozy mystery with animals being all the characters. Moose, fox, bear, birds etc all interact. The first murder to ever happen in Shady Hollow and the chief of police is off fishing. Is that good or bad for the killer? Read the book and find out.
Goodreads

Talking animals that live in a diverse community? I’m in. A fun, quick read with an interesting cast of characters.

**I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

This is kinda like the Muppets, but with murder. Is it wrong that I now wish the Muppets had more murders?

Shady Hollow is a fun spin on the murder mystery genre, replacing human characters with a small town full of anthropomorphized animals instead. When a cranky but good-hearted Toad gets murdered (you’ll picture the illustrations from Wind in the Willows here whether you want to or not) it’s up to a plucky vixen and a well-meaning bear to solve the case.

The characters are cleverly written to both perform human actions and to retain traits typical of their species, and the blend works well to create some wry humor without veering off into the absurd or obnoxious.

The mystery itself is not especially original or even good, but that’s not really why we’re here. In my head this looked exactly like the world of Emmett Otter as I read it, which was delightfully escapist and fun.

A woodland murder mystery that is both cute and thrilling.

I just knew I had to read this book when I read the premise. A woodland setting with woodland creatures as the main characters? And a murder mystery? This had all my reader senses tingling for what was sure to be Beatrix Potter/Agatha Christie mash-up. Didn't think I'd ever be making that comparison!

I found this such an easy and delightful read, with our inquisitive main character, Vera, sniffing out the scoop and solving crimes like she was Sherlock Holmes.

It's quaint and idyllic, and I'd love to see artwork based on the concept of Shady Hollow. But when the murders begin, everything takes a darker turn.

I didn't see the killer coming so was pleasantly thrilled that such a seemingly innocent story could still pack a punch like that! The combination of genres, writing styles and themes was absolutely fizzing.

A short, happy and spooky (ish) read that's well worth it - grab a copy if you see it on the shelf and you won't be disappointed!

Cute, cute, cute!! Okay, so there are all of these anthropomorphic woodland creatures living in this little town in the woods, when, boom, MURDER.

We have the moose, Joe, who runs the coffee shop, the clever raven who runs the bookstore and the fox reporter who needs the truth! Of course, there are many more but you'll need to read the book to meet them. :)

It's an adorable murder mystery that immediately expects you to accept everything as truth and you know what? It was such fun to read! Highly recommended if you're looking for something unique, light and fun!

A nice cozy mystery. I wish the animal thing was even more embraced and part of the text; instead it comes off as something like a metaphor.

Imagine the quaintest small country village that you can. Quiet streets, most folks walking rather than driving. A friendly cafe where the locals hang out to share the gossip of the day. A multistory bookstore (because we all love books right?), and a laid back, mostly absent police force because there isn’t much for the police to do. That’s the village of Shady Hollow, tucked away in the north woods far from all the hustle and bustle of big city life.
Now imagine that quaint small town is populated by animals, or creatures as Juneau Black calls them in this first book of a series of cozy mysteries. The police chief and his deputy are bears. The ace reporter at the local newspaper is a fox, who works for a skunk of an editor. A raven runs the bookstore, a moose owns the cafe. Of course a family of beavers run the local sawmill, the economic engine of Shady Hollow.

The quiet life of this little village is disturbed one day by the discovery of the body of the town curmudgeon, an old toad of a creature. Vera Vixen, the foxy ace reporter, finds him floating face down in the millpond. When his body is pulled ashore it becomes clear that he’s been stabbed. A murderer is loose in Shady Hollow, and now Vera is hot on the trail.

Still with me? I know this isn’t the type of book I usually go for, but when I read the blurb I had to read it. Once upon a time I was a huge fan of mysteries. I favored the old time stuff - Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, Dashiell Hammett, Dorothy L. Sayers - that kind of thing. With the occasional Tony Hillerman thrown into the mix.

I supposed that I’d moved on from that type of book, but lately I’ve become intrigued with cozy mysteries. Throw in the almost fantasy element of a town populated by animals (sorry, creatures) and this book was speaking to me.
I’m not going to lie - this is a lightweight book that’s not going to change your life. I read it in one day. It’s an entertaining diversion, and I really liked it. Juneau Black gives us a well crafted, fully drawn world that will stick with me.

A couple of interesting bits of background on this book. For one, “Juneau Black” is the pen name of not one but two authors, Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel, who collaborated on this series. I’m not sure why they chose to write under a singular pen name, as they tell us who they are on the first page of the book.

And second, it turns out that the authors wrote this book during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) several years back. It was initially an indie published book that has only now been picked up by Vintage Crime. I love that an indie book (and series) like this has broken through with a national publisher.

Anyway, the authors who are Juneau Black describe their series as a mix of Agatha Christie and Beatrix Potter. It’s a fun cozy mystery. If that sounds like something you might like, go grab a copy. Like me, you’ll have a smile on your face as you race alongside Vera to figure out “who done it”. I give Shady Hollow Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

NOTE: I received an advanced copy from Netgalley and Vintage Crime / Black Lizard. I am voluntarily providing this review. This book was just released on January 25th.

Unfortunately this wasn't for me, and it was largely to do with the writing style. A cosy mystery involving animals? Heck yes! But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get into the story at all. In the beginning, the animals were introduced one by one in rather large introductions, which was also a bummer for me.

I absolutely loved this little mystery! It's very quick read with fun, quirky characters. Thanks to Vintage Crime/Black Lizard and Netgalley for providing this entertaining ARC.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It had a different twist, where the animals resemble people in the story. Set in the peaceful town of Shady Hollow, a murder has taken place. The curmudgeonly toad is found with a knife in his back. The whole town becomes involved in solving the mystery and for a time, everyone is a suspect. Vera Vixen, news reporter, is on the case, determined to rid her town of whoever might have committed this dastardly deed. We have a bear for sheriff (he'd rather be fishing), whose second in command is stuck with solving the crime. The owners of the paper mill, the Beaverpelts, are all suspects. The raccoon, well known for his thieving habits, becomes a prime suspect, but who really killed the toad? Joe Moose keeps the town fueled with coffee - all hours of the day and night - he certainly does not have time to go commit a murder.

This was a whimsical, fanciful story, and would be fun for people of all ages.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

I love a cozy mystery. With Shady Hollow I just had to read, I did not have to think hard, I did not struggle to follow the story line, I knew the characters and they were easily likable. I really enjoyed meeting the residents of Shady Hollow and solving their mystery.

Shady Hollow is a cute story. I felt like I was reading Frog and Toad books for the young adult with the cute village, the animal characters, and the fun storyline. The murders and mysteries kept me entertained and sure that I was not reading an elementary age book.

I look forward to more from this series.

A diverting little jaunt through a whimsical woodland world... with a dash of murder thrown in for good measure. It's like Wind in the Willows but for grown-ups. Don't expect the twistiest mystery you've ever read or amazingly complex characters and you'll enjoy it. I liked it enough that I may check out the sequels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Crime/Black Lizard for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death, murder, violence.


Journalist Vera Vixen has only lived in Shady Hollow for a few years. The town is small, quiet, and private -- not exactly an exciting beat for a reporter. But when a taciturn toad turns up dead, Vera immediately sniffs out a story, and her hunch turns out to be correct: murder has come to Shady Hollow. Eager to figure out who is killing residents, knowing that she needs to discover the culprit before they strike again, Vera is determined to make the report of a lifetime while also saving her new home. But underneath the surface, Shady Hollow hides many secrets...

If you're an animal lover like me, I have a feeling this cute, mysterious story will catch your eye. Set in a world where animals wear clothes, own shops, and have their own flaws and secrets, Shady Hollow is enchanting from its very first page. The writing is both simplistic and also flowing with cutely sharp witticisms, and the story itself is populated with a full cast of wonderfully drawn characters. Our heroine, Vera, is particularly likable, with a nose for mischief and a heart of gold.

Vera's relationships are all interesting, with varied dynamics, such as her friendship with Lenore Lee, a raven who owns a bookshop. They've been best friends for a while now, and Vera spends a lot of time bouncing her ideas and theories off of Lenore, who is an intellectual that always provides sound advice. There's also the budding friendship (and more?) with Orville, the police deputy, an onerous bear. The world of Shady Hollow is filled with complexity: although this is a cozy mystery, revolving around the lives of animals, there's also depth and darkness which only serves to add to the narrative.

The mystery isn't especially difficult to figure out, but it will keep you interested until the very last page, and there were certainly times when I began to doubt my theories. If you're looking for a book to read with a cup of tea on a wintry day, I can honestly not think of anything more perfect than Shady Hollow. Typically, I try to balance my reviews with both criticisms and praise, but in this case, I truly can't think of anything I didn't like about this novel!

Oh, and here's some good news: originally published years ago, these books have found a fresh life and wider audience with Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, and the second and third will, respectively, be coming out in March and April! I can't wait to read more stories about Vera, and the amazing world that she lives in. Mark your calendars, please!

Highly, highly recommended, especially for those of us that love animals, mysteries, and exploring unique fantasy worlds!

3.5, rounded up. This started off pretty slow and disjointed, but once Vera starts to investigate the story flows much better--it's easier to learn the names of the residents of the town. I was skeptical of the animal premise, but ultimately it's quite charming.

Shady Hollow is the first book in the Shady Hollow series by Juneau Black.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought I pictured the characters as they carried out their daily activities. I appreciated that a listing of the characters was included. The book has no humans, and the animals take on human characteristics.

Vera Vixen, a reporter for the local newspaper, learns that the dead body of Otto Sumpf, a grouchy toad, was seen dead in the millpond where he resided. Vera immediately heads for the pond, hoping to scoop anyone else and impressing her editor, BW Stone of the Shady Hollow Herald. She does find Otto, who has apparently been stabbed. Vera heads back to town to inform Deputy Orville Braun, a large brown bear seen at the millpond. Not confident in Braun or the brawny Chief Meade, she sets off on her investigation.

She will start with Joe, the giant moose who runs the local coffee shop, Sun Li, a panda and owner of the Bamboo Patch diner. Vera will soon head out to the local lumber mill and try to interview Reginald von Beaverpelt, owner of the lumber mill, and his accountant, Howard Chitters. Vera will soon call the wise owl, Ambrosius Heidegger, and Lenore Lee, the local bookshop owner, to help her sort through all the clues.

The story is amusingly told, well-written, and plotted. The characters interacting with each other was delightful and, at times, quite humorous. There may not be many times when readers will laugh aloud, but the readers can count on many chuckles.

This book reminds me of Susan Wittig Albert’s Beatrix Potter series, but without the humans.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Cold Clay, due out on March 1, 2022.