3.5 stars.

It's been more than 15 years since I read Three Bags Full, so when I picked this one up I had no recollection of what had happened in the first book. The sheep felt instantly familiar though, and for me they're the main attraction.

Rebecca and her flock of sheep have relocated to mainland Europe and soon it turns out there's some sort of werewolf situation going on. This time there's also goats who are... somewhat different from the sheep. (Note: many reviews will say it's hard to keep track of all the goats. You don't need to keep track of all the goats.) There's also a bunch of humans who pop in and out of the frame, and some of them are kind of hard to keep track of as well. Most of them seem sus.

While the sheep are actively trying to find out what's going on with the Garou, the sheep pov often makes the whodunnit part feel like a fragmented background thing and I didn't get that invested in it. The real appeal of the book is the sheep themselves: their adventures, their clever plans and misunderstandings, their banter. The winter lamb trying to find out who and what he is, the flock trying to find out who and what the unshorn ram is. Them laying traps for the Garou and their interactions with the neighbouring goats.

In the sequel to Three Bags Full, the sheep find themselves in France and trying to figure out the mysterious happenings that the nearby goats warn is from a Garou (werewolf).

I really liked Three Bags Full, and liked parts of this one, but overall found it harder to get through. It's been a long time since I've read Three Bags Full so I can't point exactly to the difference between the two. This one felt like there were too many things going on, which maybe if not told from sheep would be ok, but I feel like it could've been a little more simplified. *Spoilers and trigger warning ahead* I am also a little sad that Rebecca's dog was murdered. I think she could have just been made sick (and then we got the replacement, more vigilant dog) but then been ok at the end.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for the ARC SoHo Crime!! I always get excited when a SoHo Crime book comes my way because you know it's going to be something different, and interesting, and Big Bad Wool did not let me down. I wish I could read it in its original language, but I can't, and this translation works well. It felt natural and never like I was reading a translation, which is sometimes the case with these things. A fun read!

So strange, so much fun. A flock of sheep, threatened by a garou (werewolf) - or a human acting like a garou - set out to save the flock and their shepherd. I enjoyed following them around as they investigated, largely because it's intriguing to see our world from a sheep's perspective.

Charming story with lots of humour told from the sheep’s’ perspective! Enjoyable straightforward romp, didn’t have quite enough twists and turns for me, Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the punisher for an ARC.

After solving a murder in their Irish village, shepherdess Rebecca takes her flock to France for the winter. They were offered a nice meadow for the sheep, and Rebecca thought a change of scenery would do them all good after what they’d been through. Her mother also insisted on coming, and Rebecca struggles with both of them in such a small space. But Rebecca’s focus it to take care of the sheep, to keep them well fed and healthy and to read to them.

Right next door is a herd of goats who have information that they think the sheep need. Once they start talking, the goats tell the sheep about the what’s been going on. The sheep had been trying to pick up the information from the humans talking, but Rebecca and her mother were the only ones they could understand. All the other humans just sound like they’re honking. But the goats can understand them, all the humans except for Rebecca and her mother. And they’ve lived in France longer, so they had seen things.

There were some deer who had been killed lately in the nearby forest. And after that, a human. In years past, there were sheep who had been killed along, and other humans, and other animals. No one had been able to figure out who was responsible, but there have been rumors that it was a werewolf. The sheep aren’t sure what to believe. All they know is that one of their own, Cloud, is missing. The vet came earlier to give them shots, and she had run away and not made it back to the flock yet.

A couple of the sheep go looking for Cloud, with the help of an excitable goat, and the sheep and the goats form an unlikely union in staying safe from whatever is out there in the snow wanting to end them. And the sheep do need the help of the goats. They’re new to the meadow. They don’t speak (or understand) French. And sheep have died there before. But these sheep are smart, for sheep. They’ve caught a killer in the past, and they think they can do it again. But they’ll have to work fast when Rebecca goes missing, and it’s up to the sheep to save her and save themselves.

Big Bad Wool is the much anticipated follow-up to Three Bags Full, the debut of these crime-solving sheep. Each sheep (and goat) in this book has their own personality, and getting to spend time in their heads is a lot of fun. The sheep have to figure out what is happening by their own investigation methods, like trying to stay safe by using silver to protect them (it was a foil wrapper from Rebecca’s sandwich) or eating some of her mother’s tarot cards to try to find the answers. They lean into their sense of smell to figure out friends from foes, and they work with the goats to set a trap for the killer, be it wolf or human.

Leonie Swann has created this wildly creative universe where sheep use their limited knowledge of the world to ask bigger questions than just when they’ll get fed. It’s clever and interesting, but with dark overtones, as these characters are sheep and only have so much control over their environment. The viewpoints vary from sheep to goats to humans, which means readers have to figure out how reliable each narrator is. The plot is a delicate balance, and Swann nails it. I adored this book. I loved thinking about what sheep might think about, and having the French goats in the mix also added even more humor.

I listened to the audio book, narrated beautifully by Caroline Lennon. Her Irish accent brings the sheep’s voices to life, and her French accent adds playfulness to the voices of the goats. I loved listening to this book, with all the twists and secrets, and trying to put together all the bits and pieces of information into a cohesive theory of the crime. Anyone looking for a crime novel with a fresh point of view will definitely want to check out Big Bad Wool.

Egalleys for Big Bad Wool were provided by Soho Press and a copy of the audio book was provided by RB Media, both through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

Big Bad Sheep is the highly anticipated follow up to Leonie Swann's Three Bags Full where reader's were first introduced to the flock of sheep known as the sheep detectives. Rebecca, George's daughter, who has recently inherited her father's flock of sheep, has finally undertaken the long promised trip to Europe as stipulated in her father's will. Accompanying her on the trip are the Glenkill sheep detectives as well as her sheep dog Tess. There they are spending the winter in a pasture alongside a herd of goats near a remote and rather creepy French castle. What is especially unsettling to the sheep is the spooky forest that abuts the pasture. When dead deer, rabbits, and finally a human begin to surface in the forest, rumors of a werewolf, Garou, begin to swirl. The sheep decide to put their detective skills to use once again to get to the bottom of these most gruesome deaths once and for all.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading the Big Bad Sheep and getting to spend some quality time catching up with Miss Maple and the others in the flock. The story is once again told from the perspective of the sheep, providing a look into the world and the workings of the human world from a sheep's eyes. The story is slow-paced much like first in the series however this mystery is more suspenseful, with a darker tone overall. The addition of the goats into the mix offset much of the darker moments of the story with moments of wit and charm. I highly recommend the second in the delightful Sheep Detective series for those looking for a charming, suspenseful read.

Admittedly, t did take me a while to get into Big Bad Wool, mostly because getting accustomed to the sheep narration, or perhaps it was just the sheep POV, posed an initial struggle for me. Although I have read other Leonie Swann novels and found them engaging, I had not read the first novel in this sheep series and thus felt a bit lost at the beginning of the novel. There are humans in Big Bad Wool, such as Rebecca, the shepherdess, and her mother and the vet, who seems to be regarded with deep suspicion by the sheep., There are quite a few funny moments, especially when a sheep plays dead, which is described as readers would expect of a sheep in a cartoon--on the back and legs up. As is the case elsewhere in Big Bad Wool, I laughed aloud.

The sheep are Irish, although travel to France does not seem to create any language translation difficulties. Goats as sheep and sheep as detectives create their own appeal. I discovered it was best just to enjoy Swann's novel and not look for metaphors or hidden meanings. The sheep are inclusive in welcoming the goats as sheep. There is no manufactured bias in Big Bad Wool, except perhaps toward some humans, who are untrustworthy. In general, everyone is welcome on their adventure.

Big Bad Wool has been translated from German into English, but although readers are reading a translation, I could not detect a problem. I have read Swann's Agnes novels and found them very entertaining, with humor, danger, and mystery in equal measure. The sheep endure the same rewards and trials, as Agnes and friends. Just enjoy it. There are quite a large number of characters and names to remember. There is a list, a who's who, at the beginning of the book, but since I read this novel as an ebook that list was not as helpful to me as I would have liked.

Thank you to Soho Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. Readers should take their time reading Big Bad Wool. Just get to know the characters and enjoy them. There is much to enjoy in the world of sheep detectives.

4 stars

3.5 stars. Thank you, Netgalley and Soho Press. I was delighted to receive an early digital copy of 'Big Bad Wool', Leonie Swann's sequel to 'Three Bags Full'. I have also read her two books featuring Agnes Sharp and have enjoyed them all. The 'Big Bad Wool' was entertaining and humorous. I loved how the story was told from the sheep's perspective. The flock's thoughts and logic were presented strictly literally, unlike the way most stories narrated by an animal are anthropomorphic, resembling human thought processes and speech. This book was initially written in German, and the English translation has finally arrived. It was a compelling and enjoyable story, and can be read as a standalone. I recommend reading the previous book to get to know the individual sheep better. This book is due to be published on May 6/2025.

Their new shepherdess, Rebecca, is bringing the flock on a European tour and reads to them at night, as stipulated in her late father's will. He was their previous shepherd who was killed. The flock were in Ireland and are spending the winter in France. Nearby are woods, a field of goats and a chateau with many inhabitants. Jessica lives in a trailer with her mother, who tells fortunes with cards.

A couple of years ago, sheep and some humans disappeared from a nearby area, and this mystery has never been solved. When a mutilated deer and small animals begin to be found, a small black goat informs the sheep that a Garou (werewolf) is lurking about and has now returned and is dangerous. The sheep find a dead human in the forest, which results in a police presence. They decide they must urgently hunt the Garou to protect Rebecca and themselves. The sheep display their unique thought patterns to understand human behaviour. They pursue the villain with courage and woolpower. Why is a locked wardrobe standing in the meadow?

Most of the sheep have returned from the previous novel. There are so many names, not only of individual rams and sheep but also of goats and human residents of the chateau. A list identifying the many human and animal characters is provided to lessen confusion. I found it awkward and time-consuming to use on my Kindle, but solved this problem by keeping the list open on my phone while reading on the Kindle. The book would have been improved if unnecessary characters had been eliminated. The book would have proceeded at a steadier pace. It was slow and confusing in parts, but always amusing.

Some examples of the sheep's unique perspective: When seeing their reflection in a stream, they believed they were 'sheep from the depths', which provided them with courage and protection. They thought that eating tarot cards would help in the upcoming search.
There was a hilarious section when they wanted a drive in a vehicle, and requested that the car start its engine. When that failed, they told the vehicle a story about a car family, but it didn't seem appreciative.

The investigation was complex, and another death followed. The police untangled personal motives, plots, and a conspiracy with hired hitmen. Many arrests were made. Both the sheep and the police force were satisfied that justice was accomplished. The sheep were moved to summer quarters among some ponies. Two of the friendly goats travelled with them, and the sheep decided that now the goats would be regarded as sheep.

Prospective readers who enjoy stories told from an animal's point of view and engage in a complicated and humorous plot should be entertained. I hope that another book in the Sheep Detective series will be forthcoming.

This one was so good! Reading from the pov of the sheep was not just intriguing but fresh and funny from time to time. The characters were so well written and layered, especially the animals. This book turned out to be a lot more intense than I expected it to be. Despite being a translated work, it did not detract from my enjoyment. The mystery itself was fresh and very unique, unlike most cozy mysteries. The stakes were really high and it increased my blood pressure from time to time. ((Full rating; 4.5 out of 5 stars).

Who doesn't love a good Sheep Detective story?? Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann is an entertaining mystery told through the eyes of a flock of sheep. This is the second book in the Sheep Detective series. It continues from where Three Bags Full ends but stands perfectly well on its own. I haven’t read the first one, but I’ve enjoyed a few of Swann’s books, so I knew I was in for a good time—and boy, was I right.

Rebecca inherits her father George’s Irish flock and, per his will, continues reading to them and takes them to Europe. The flock now arrives in France with their new shepherdess and settles near a haunted French chateau. Rebecca lives in a shepherd’s wagon with her card-reading mom and sheepdog, Tess.

The flock is full of unique characters: Miss Maple – the smartest sheep; Sir Richfield – the old leader ram; Lane – the fastest; Othello – the new ram; Maude – the best nose; Zora – obsessed with abysses; Mopple the Whale – the memory sheep; and a young, nameless Winter Lamb who insists on getting a name. They’re joined by an “unsheared” sheep and a little black goat with wild ideas.

And beyond the fence? Goats. Herds of sheep and goats don’t get along very well. The sheep think the goats are smelly and reckless. The goats don’t understand the sheep. And of course, there are also people, dogs, and the Garou – a wolf-turned-human (or a human-turned-wolf).

Life in rural France becomes strange and frightening when deer, rabbits, and finally a human are found dead in a meadow and the nearby forest. It turns out this is not the first time—and the “Garou” is believed to be responsible for all of it. The flock of sheep embarks on a mission to expose the “Garou” and protect their shepherdess.

The sheep try to make sense of the human world using sheep logic, courage, and lots of grass-licking. The plot thickens with quirky humans, animal and goat characters, and even a mysterious wardrobe standing in the middle of the meadow. Woolpower will save the day!

I enjoyed the book very much—the humor, the atmosphere, the unique perspective. The storytelling is a bit slow-paced, fitting the rhythm of the sheep. I loved their sense of community, the simple way they interpret things just as they are, and that they are always together. I loved the way the mystery unfolded and how everything becomes clear in its own time.

Time spent with Miss Maple and her flock is time worth spending. I hope there is another book coming. The way they attempted to change their fortunes by eating tarot cards or took everything literally was hilarious. Fans of books written from animals’ POV will do well to read this book. Recommended, of course!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Wonderous! Returning to the world of Three Bags Full felt like reuniting with oddly wise old friends who just happen to chew cud and solve crimes. This time, Miss Maple and her friends are wintering in France, surrounded by eerie forests, mysterious goats, and the possibility of a werewolf.... somehow, it works.

The idea of anything terrible happening to these sheep is awful. They are so charming, so oddly noble in their fluffy fuzzy world. But Leonie Swann is at it again—dragging these adorable sleuths into yet another mystery that veers wildly from ridiculous to folklore to full-on thriller!

Swann balances humor, slapstick, folklore, and real tenderness seamlessly. The mystery is also compelling. Sheep noir if yoyu will!

Highly recommended for anyone who likes their murder mysteries seasoned with moss, mischief, and a animal sensibilities.

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