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Sheep Detective Story #2
¡Que viene el lobo!
Tras el éxito cosechado con su primera novela, Las ovejas de Glennkill, Leonie Swann ha escrito una nueva entrega de las aventuras de ese entrañable rebaño de ovejas detectives, cuya aguda percepción de la realidad deja en evidencia las carencias de su primo lejano el hombre. En este nuevo caso, igualmente salpicado de un humor delicioso, Miss Maple y sus compañeras vuelven a exhibir capacidades que ya querríamos para nosotros.
Acompañadas de Rebecca, la hija del pastor George Glenn, las ovejas abandonan las verdes praderas de Irlanda y viajan al continente. Una vez allí, se instalan al abrigo de un remoto castillo francés, a primera vista un paraje ideal. Sin embargo, no tardan en percatarse de que algo extraño flota en el ambiente. Las cabras del prado contiguo parecen locas de remate y arman un jaleo tremendo. Entonces, una pequeña oveja negra surge de repente y alerta al rebaño de un misterioso peligro. Cae la nieve, su grueso manto lo cubre todo y un murmullo cada vez más persistente se extiende por todo el paraje: «¡Un hombre con piel de lobo! ¡Un hombre lobo!» El peligro se hace patente con el descubrimiento de un cadáver en los límites del bosque, y las ovejas, capitaneadas por la intrépida Miss Maple, se adentran en la oscuridad de la floresta en busca de las pistas que todo asesino deja tras de sí.
Acompañadas de Rebecca, la hija del pastor George Glenn, las ovejas abandonan las verdes praderas de Irlanda y viajan al continente. Una vez allí, se instalan al abrigo de un remoto castillo francés, a primera vista un paraje ideal. Sin embargo, no tardan en percatarse de que algo extraño flota en el ambiente. Las cabras del prado contiguo parecen locas de remate y arman un jaleo tremendo. Entonces, una pequeña oveja negra surge de repente y alerta al rebaño de un misterioso peligro. Cae la nieve, su grueso manto lo cubre todo y un murmullo cada vez más persistente se extiende por todo el paraje: «¡Un hombre con piel de lobo! ¡Un hombre lobo!» El peligro se hace patente con el descubrimiento de un cadáver en los límites del bosque, y las ovejas, capitaneadas por la intrépida Miss Maple, se adentran en la oscuridad de la floresta en busca de las pistas que todo asesino deja tras de sí.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Leonie Swann
14 books697 followersLeonie Swann (b. 1975 Dachau near Munich, Germany) is the nom de plume of a German crime writer. She went to school at Ignaz Taschner Gymnasium Dachau. She studied philosophy, psychology and English literature in Munich.
Her author profile with Allison & Busby states:
Leonie Swann’s debut novel, Three Bags Full, was an instant hit, topping the bestseller charts in her native Germany for months. It has since been translated into 26 languages. She lives in Cambridgeshire.
Her author profile with Allison & Busby states:
Leonie Swann’s debut novel, Three Bags Full, was an instant hit, topping the bestseller charts in her native Germany for months. It has since been translated into 26 languages. She lives in Cambridgeshire.
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May 24, 2025Would love an English translation some day!!
Edit: I have my English copy! Huzzuh!!
Edit: I have my English copy! Huzzuh!!
December 29, 2025
Fans of Leonie Swann’s debut novel Three Bags Full won’t be disappointed by this sequel.
This time Miss Maple and her flock and her shepherdess Rebecca have crossed the Channel from Ireland and are grazing over the winter in France. A slain deer is discovered in the snowy forest adjacent to the herd’s meadow, and the sheep soon learn that the deer wasn’t the first slaying. The French humans living in the chateau suspect a loup garou (a werewolf). But the danger is less supernatural and more frightening.
How wonderful, after all these years, to be reunited with Miss Maple, near-sighted Sir Ritchfield, brave and worldly Othello, Mopple the Whale, the headstrong Cloud (“wool power!”) as well as George’s daughter, the conscientious Rebecca. And Swann introduces us to some new characters, among them a yet-unnamed but intrepid winter lamb and Aubrey, a little black goat full of energy and some crazy ideas. Loved every moment of this slyly subversive mystery novel.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Soho Press in exchange for an honest review.
This time Miss Maple and her flock and her shepherdess Rebecca have crossed the Channel from Ireland and are grazing over the winter in France. A slain deer is discovered in the snowy forest adjacent to the herd’s meadow, and the sheep soon learn that the deer wasn’t the first slaying. The French humans living in the chateau suspect a loup garou (a werewolf). But the danger is less supernatural and more frightening.
How wonderful, after all these years, to be reunited with Miss Maple, near-sighted Sir Ritchfield, brave and worldly Othello, Mopple the Whale, the headstrong Cloud (“wool power!”) as well as George’s daughter, the conscientious Rebecca. And Swann introduces us to some new characters, among them a yet-unnamed but intrepid winter lamb and Aubrey, a little black goat full of energy and some crazy ideas. Loved every moment of this slyly subversive mystery novel.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Soho Press in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2025
I read this book (translated from the German) after seeing it recommended a few places, including by the WSJ mystery books columnist. Set in Europe and a very different take on the mystery genre (yes, you can tell a story through sheep 'voices'), but intriguing and fun.
I should have referred more frequently to the long list of characters at the front. Readers will find that fairly necessary.
Highly recommended.
I should have referred more frequently to the long list of characters at the front. Readers will find that fairly necessary.
Highly recommended.
August 21, 2015
These sheep are so charming - and the thought of anything bad happening to them, say, being hacked to pieces by a werewolf, is anathema. I felt there were enough werewolf stories in the world these days, but I forgive Swann alles. As far as I'm concerned, she can drag these wollige wonders through every genre there is. Steampunk might be a bit of a stretch, but I'd read even that.
I found the story confusing at times, but try to remember I'm reading this in German, which is not even my second language. I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight, mostly because the sheep tend to have their own names for the two-legs. I love the way they think about things - and especially their complicated plans for foiling (at times literally) the werewolf. Oh, and the werechicken concept was priceless.
Swann mixes humor, slapstick, and tenderness into a thriller. Brava! It was a bit like History, tho' - just one thing after another. But I liked it and I recommend it.
Something that made reading this a bit easier (for when I wasn't near Google Translate) was shelling out for a German-English dictionary to add to my Kindle. It wasn't perfect, German having this tendency to portmanteau a half dozen old words to make a new one, but if you are as aware of the constituent parts as I am, it's easy to switch to the dictionary and look them up piece by piece if it just isn't coming to you by context. Otherwise, all I had to do was put my cursor in front of a word and got a definition - just like the English dictionary in the Kindle does. There was absolutely no fiddling around. It started working the instant it was uploaded. Heurekah! (Oh, this book is just too, too much!)
I found the story confusing at times, but try to remember I'm reading this in German, which is not even my second language. I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight, mostly because the sheep tend to have their own names for the two-legs. I love the way they think about things - and especially their complicated plans for foiling (at times literally) the werewolf. Oh, and the werechicken concept was priceless.
Swann mixes humor, slapstick, and tenderness into a thriller. Brava! It was a bit like History, tho' - just one thing after another. But I liked it and I recommend it.
Something that made reading this a bit easier (for when I wasn't near Google Translate) was shelling out for a German-English dictionary to add to my Kindle. It wasn't perfect, German having this tendency to portmanteau a half dozen old words to make a new one, but if you are as aware of the constituent parts as I am, it's easy to switch to the dictionary and look them up piece by piece if it just isn't coming to you by context. Otherwise, all I had to do was put my cursor in front of a word and got a definition - just like the English dictionary in the Kindle does. There was absolutely no fiddling around. It started working the instant it was uploaded. Heurekah! (Oh, this book is just too, too much!)
May 25, 2025
Big Bad Wool is the second book in in the Sheep Detective Story series by German author, Leonie Swann. It is translated by Amy Bojang. The audio version is narrated by Caroline Lennon. As stipulated in her father’s will, Rebecca reads to the flock every night, which they mostly love (Silence of the Lambs was too creepy and no sheep).
She has also taken them to Europe, as George Glenn had promised to do, but they’re not impressed: “The Europe George had told them about was full of apple blossom, with herby meadows and peculiar long bread. Nobody had said anything about honking cars, dusty country lanes and buzzing gnats, nothing of snow and ghost-sheep, let alone goats.”
They are in a snow-covered French meadow, flanked by an orchard on one side, and a field of goats on the other, and a strange unshorn ram hanging about. Rebecca’s caravan (wherein her Mum also resides) is parked close by, and they have a view of the woods and the Chateau, home to some unusual characters. When Cloud escapes the dreaded vet’s clutches and runs into the woods, Rebecca’s search yields no ewe, but a shocking sight: a mutilated deer.
Unaware, and with their need to avoid the vet prevailing, they manage a mass escape into the woods through the goats’ field, where they are warned of the Garou: a human who becomes a wolf. On their return to the meadow, the flock’s new lead ram, Othello is watching the reactions to this, and remarks “The humans around here, and the goats and the strange sheep . . . they remember something. And they’re waiting for something.”
He decides that, for Rebecca’s and their own safety, they need to leave, so while flock look for traces of the Garou, “Maude, Zora and Heather had set out to find the extra-large car that had brought the sheep here. Maude would pick up its scent. Zora would confront it. And Heather would convince it to take them away from this place.” The three are eventually joined in adventure by Aubrey, a little black goat who knows quite a bit about the Garou.
Before the dramatic climax and a very satisfying resolution, Rebecca’s favourite clothes are vandalised, a murdered man is hidden in the snow, Mum reads cards for locals, their old sheepdog becomes a victim, the workout the sheep get from the new sheepdog makes the goats jealous, Rebecca sets a trap, and three of the goats convince Mopple the Whale to join them in consulting the wise, wild old billy goat, Bernie, via the maze, just to make it interesting.
On their various excursions, different sheep observe or overhear different parts of the mystery and form conclusions naively based on innocent ignorance, but Miss Maple still proves herself to be the smartest sheep, often to the frustration of the flock when she casts doubt on their convictions. There’s a kidnapping, and quite a few of the flock display great courage, one even managing to defeat the Garou; the winter lamb decides on a name.
Swann prefaces the tale with character lists titled à la Shakespeare, not just Dramatis Oves, but also Dramatis Caprae, Dramatis Personae, and Dramatis Canidae, and so skilfully depicts the way sheep and goats behave that the reader can easily picture their reactions to what happens.
Swann has a lot of fun with wordplay: like woolpower for willpower, goodwool for goodwill, and the flock’s literal interpretations of English expressions provides plenty of humour: “The sheep were left a bit baffled at the thought of time flying. First pigs, now time! What was next?” and of the Garou, “’He’s afraid of silver – and holy water!’ Neither of them had ever seen water with holes in it – or did it mean bubbles maybe?”.
When Rebecca exclaims “’Holy cow!’ The holey cow was a very special cow that Rebecca invoked on special occasions. The sheep had never seen it, just like the flying pigs, and they hardly dared imagine what a cow with holes in it might look like but presumed it must drink holey water.” And of the gardener “The goats even claimed he had a house where it was always summer, and apparently, he secretly grew lettuce there.” This sequel is such an entertaining cosy that it’s sad there are no further books in the series.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allison & Busby.
She has also taken them to Europe, as George Glenn had promised to do, but they’re not impressed: “The Europe George had told them about was full of apple blossom, with herby meadows and peculiar long bread. Nobody had said anything about honking cars, dusty country lanes and buzzing gnats, nothing of snow and ghost-sheep, let alone goats.”
They are in a snow-covered French meadow, flanked by an orchard on one side, and a field of goats on the other, and a strange unshorn ram hanging about. Rebecca’s caravan (wherein her Mum also resides) is parked close by, and they have a view of the woods and the Chateau, home to some unusual characters. When Cloud escapes the dreaded vet’s clutches and runs into the woods, Rebecca’s search yields no ewe, but a shocking sight: a mutilated deer.
Unaware, and with their need to avoid the vet prevailing, they manage a mass escape into the woods through the goats’ field, where they are warned of the Garou: a human who becomes a wolf. On their return to the meadow, the flock’s new lead ram, Othello is watching the reactions to this, and remarks “The humans around here, and the goats and the strange sheep . . . they remember something. And they’re waiting for something.”
He decides that, for Rebecca’s and their own safety, they need to leave, so while flock look for traces of the Garou, “Maude, Zora and Heather had set out to find the extra-large car that had brought the sheep here. Maude would pick up its scent. Zora would confront it. And Heather would convince it to take them away from this place.” The three are eventually joined in adventure by Aubrey, a little black goat who knows quite a bit about the Garou.
Before the dramatic climax and a very satisfying resolution, Rebecca’s favourite clothes are vandalised, a murdered man is hidden in the snow, Mum reads cards for locals, their old sheepdog becomes a victim, the workout the sheep get from the new sheepdog makes the goats jealous, Rebecca sets a trap, and three of the goats convince Mopple the Whale to join them in consulting the wise, wild old billy goat, Bernie, via the maze, just to make it interesting.
On their various excursions, different sheep observe or overhear different parts of the mystery and form conclusions naively based on innocent ignorance, but Miss Maple still proves herself to be the smartest sheep, often to the frustration of the flock when she casts doubt on their convictions. There’s a kidnapping, and quite a few of the flock display great courage, one even managing to defeat the Garou; the winter lamb decides on a name.
Swann prefaces the tale with character lists titled à la Shakespeare, not just Dramatis Oves, but also Dramatis Caprae, Dramatis Personae, and Dramatis Canidae, and so skilfully depicts the way sheep and goats behave that the reader can easily picture their reactions to what happens.
Swann has a lot of fun with wordplay: like woolpower for willpower, goodwool for goodwill, and the flock’s literal interpretations of English expressions provides plenty of humour: “The sheep were left a bit baffled at the thought of time flying. First pigs, now time! What was next?” and of the Garou, “’He’s afraid of silver – and holy water!’ Neither of them had ever seen water with holes in it – or did it mean bubbles maybe?”.
When Rebecca exclaims “’Holy cow!’ The holey cow was a very special cow that Rebecca invoked on special occasions. The sheep had never seen it, just like the flying pigs, and they hardly dared imagine what a cow with holes in it might look like but presumed it must drink holey water.” And of the gardener “The goats even claimed he had a house where it was always summer, and apparently, he secretly grew lettuce there.” This sequel is such an entertaining cosy that it’s sad there are no further books in the series.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allison & Busby.
March 10, 2012
Following on from ‘Glennkill’, ‘Garou’ reunites us with George’s Irish flock of sheep, who have now embarked on their long-promised trip to Europe with George’s daughter, Rebecca, and her sheepdog, Tess. Their travels have led them to France, where they are currently spending the winter in a field next to a herd of goats, a spooky forest and a creepy castle. When dead deer begin to be found in the forest, rumours circulate that the ‘Garou’, a werewolf, is to blame. Should Miss Maple and co. heed the warnings of the mysterious ram who shares their field or the goats next door? Who or what is the Garou? And who is next on his list? To protect themselves and their shepherdess, Miss Maple and the gang decide to try and solve the mystery of the Garou once and for all…
I thoroughly enjoyed Glennkill, and Garou doesn’t disappoint, either. The tone is much darker than Glennkill as the story is packed with suspense, but the book still contains all the funny little sheepy quirks and wisdom that made Glennkill so enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loved the first book or is looking for something fun and different to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed Glennkill, and Garou doesn’t disappoint, either. The tone is much darker than Glennkill as the story is packed with suspense, but the book still contains all the funny little sheepy quirks and wisdom that made Glennkill so enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loved the first book or is looking for something fun and different to read.
June 23, 2025
Leonnie Swann is one of my favorites as are books with animal protagonists, so I am totally biased. The mystery meanders all over the place and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, the sheep alone are at least 10 characters, plus goats, people and a few possible ghosts. The sheep “detectives” aren’t great at detecting, they eat clues, misunderstand most human actions, are prone to panicking- it’s all terribly endearing. Swann’s gentle humor is a delight. I hope we get a few more future books with our crime solving herd.
May 21, 2025
Thank you to Leonie Swann, RBmedia & NetGalley for the audioARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Genre(s): crime, thriller, humour.
Overall impression: an unconventional and humorous murder mystery told from the perspective of a flock of sheep. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story but it exceeded all my expectations. The sheep were my favourite characters with their unique personalities and overly-literal way of interpreting the world. The goats provided plenty of sass and comic relief, and helped introduce some adventure and exploration into the story. The pacing was a bit on the slow side but I had a thoroughly enjoyable time listening to the audiobook on my commute.
Tropes:
➵ Untraditional story
➵ Told through the eyes of animals
➵ Murder mystery
➵ Animal sacrifices
➵ No witnesses
➵ Superstitions
➵ Tarot reading
➵ Set in isolated village
➵ Everyone is a suspect
➵ Witty dialogue
➵ Unintentionally hilarious
⤷ Plot:
The story followed a fairly simple central plot - trying to discover who was killing animals, breaking into the shepherdess' caravan and threatening the safety of the flock. Because it was told from the perspective of the sheep, the story ended up taking lots of twists and turns making deciphering the evidence even more difficult. You have to really pay attention to keep up with what was going on because the characters often split up and there were a lot of moving parts. It was a very unconventional murder mystery and I had a lot of fun trying to solve it!
⤷ Characters:
Funnily enough, the sheep all had such unique personalities and it was the humans that all seemed to blend together to me. They were fiercely protective of their shepherdess (and their meal, TV and reading time), and worked together to solve the mystery of the werewolf. The goats also played a critical role - helping the sheep escape their pen to avoid seeing the vet and initiating their first adventure into the woods. They had sassy personalities and provided comic relief.
⤷ World-building:
Most of the book was set in the field overlooked by the shepherdess' caravan. But through the sheep's adventures, we got to explore the surrounding forest and chateau. The world-building was really nicely done and we got to see the landscape through a new animal-centred perspective. Their appreciation for nature was obvious and there were a few funny scenes where they interpreted things differently, like when they saw their reflection in a puddle and thought it was a fabled underwater sheep.
⤷ Writing:
The pacing of the story was a bit too slow for my liking. It was easy to follow but it seemed to take a while for anything to happen. The writing style made it easy to read for long periods of time and I was constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
⤷ Everything else:
The narrator was really good at voicing different characters and changed her accent/tone enough that I could picture the various animals and people while she was talking. The pacing of the story was really slow, so I probably wouldn't have rated it so highly or enjoyed it as much if I was reading the print format. The audiobook definitely made it more engaging!
Statistics:
➵ Date read: 12/05/2025-15/05/2025 (4 days).
➵ Page count: 12 hrs, 25 mins.
➵ Type: audiobook.
➵ Volume: standalone series.
➵ Special: NetGalley ARC.
➵ Challenge: Beat the Backlist 2025 Challenge 🍄, originally written in another language prompt (18/52).
Social Media Links:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads
Follow for reviews, unboxings and book aesthetic videos.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Genre(s): crime, thriller, humour.
Overall impression: an unconventional and humorous murder mystery told from the perspective of a flock of sheep. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story but it exceeded all my expectations. The sheep were my favourite characters with their unique personalities and overly-literal way of interpreting the world. The goats provided plenty of sass and comic relief, and helped introduce some adventure and exploration into the story. The pacing was a bit on the slow side but I had a thoroughly enjoyable time listening to the audiobook on my commute.
Tropes:
➵ Untraditional story
➵ Told through the eyes of animals
➵ Murder mystery
➵ Animal sacrifices
➵ No witnesses
➵ Superstitions
➵ Tarot reading
➵ Set in isolated village
➵ Everyone is a suspect
➵ Witty dialogue
➵ Unintentionally hilarious
⤷ Plot:
The story followed a fairly simple central plot - trying to discover who was killing animals, breaking into the shepherdess' caravan and threatening the safety of the flock. Because it was told from the perspective of the sheep, the story ended up taking lots of twists and turns making deciphering the evidence even more difficult. You have to really pay attention to keep up with what was going on because the characters often split up and there were a lot of moving parts. It was a very unconventional murder mystery and I had a lot of fun trying to solve it!
⤷ Characters:
Funnily enough, the sheep all had such unique personalities and it was the humans that all seemed to blend together to me. They were fiercely protective of their shepherdess (and their meal, TV and reading time), and worked together to solve the mystery of the werewolf. The goats also played a critical role - helping the sheep escape their pen to avoid seeing the vet and initiating their first adventure into the woods. They had sassy personalities and provided comic relief.
⤷ World-building:
Most of the book was set in the field overlooked by the shepherdess' caravan. But through the sheep's adventures, we got to explore the surrounding forest and chateau. The world-building was really nicely done and we got to see the landscape through a new animal-centred perspective. Their appreciation for nature was obvious and there were a few funny scenes where they interpreted things differently, like when they saw their reflection in a puddle and thought it was a fabled underwater sheep.
⤷ Writing:
The pacing of the story was a bit too slow for my liking. It was easy to follow but it seemed to take a while for anything to happen. The writing style made it easy to read for long periods of time and I was constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
⤷ Everything else:
The narrator was really good at voicing different characters and changed her accent/tone enough that I could picture the various animals and people while she was talking. The pacing of the story was really slow, so I probably wouldn't have rated it so highly or enjoyed it as much if I was reading the print format. The audiobook definitely made it more engaging!
Statistics:
➵ Date read: 12/05/2025-15/05/2025 (4 days).
➵ Page count: 12 hrs, 25 mins.
➵ Type: audiobook.
➵ Volume: standalone series.
➵ Special: NetGalley ARC.
➵ Challenge: Beat the Backlist 2025 Challenge 🍄, originally written in another language prompt (18/52).
Social Media Links:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads
Follow for reviews, unboxings and book aesthetic videos.
May 25, 2025
Big Bad Wool is just as delightful as the first book, Three Bags Full. The flock has moved to France with their new shepherdess, Rebecca, George's daughter.
There could be new and unknown danger. It could be a werewolf. And what about these goats? Or perhaps the danger is coming from the chateau.
Things are strange here and cold and who can understand the Europeans and their honking?
But the gang or er the flock is up to it and ready to face down any danger together.
If you enjoyed Three Bags Full, you will love Big Bad Wool as well. Thankfully Leonie Swann has included a list of characters, sheep, goats, dogs and even humans.
There could be new and unknown danger. It could be a werewolf. And what about these goats? Or perhaps the danger is coming from the chateau.
Things are strange here and cold and who can understand the Europeans and their honking?
But the gang or er the flock is up to it and ready to face down any danger together.
If you enjoyed Three Bags Full, you will love Big Bad Wool as well. Thankfully Leonie Swann has included a list of characters, sheep, goats, dogs and even humans.
June 29, 2018
Da ich gelernt habe, meine Lebenszeit nicht mit unbefriedigenden Büchern zu verschwenden, breche ich bei der Hälfte ab.
Ein Krimi aus der Sicht von Schafen - das fand ich beim ersten Buch ja noch sympathisch. Hier nervt es mich endlos. Nein, nerven ist das falsche Wort: es ödet mich an. Also auf zum nächsten Buch.
Ein Krimi aus der Sicht von Schafen - das fand ich beim ersten Buch ja noch sympathisch. Hier nervt es mich endlos. Nein, nerven ist das falsche Wort: es ödet mich an. Also auf zum nächsten Buch.
Read
July 2, 2025A worthy successor to Swann's Three Bags Full.
Despite any three sentence summary of the plot, this is not a cozy mystery. Yes, it's quirky. Yes, the sheep are charming. But suggesting how sheep might think about what goes on their piece of the world provides much more challenging reading than the standard cozy. One is repeatedly asked to step back from using our human knowledge and customs to look at everyday behavior, and then is forced to reevaluate it from the viewpoint of an alien species. It's dark as well as funny.
The real treat is the wordplay. The sheep have unique personalities, from obtuse to unrealistically astute. Still their power comes from what we see as their weakness: their their tendency to follow the leader, to act as a flock. Although in this follow-up, it seems to me that the individual sheep act more independly at times. (Although I read Three Bags Full several years ago, so this might not be the case.)
In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in an animal mindset. Just expect to be confused some of the time. Just go with the flow.
A bit of the story, as the sheep and the goats in the adjoining pasture discuss the wolves they are all afraid of. Mopple the sheep, dense, and huge because he eats everything, is telling the goats that the sheep are trying to get away from the farm because they are afraid. The goats' replies:
Despite any three sentence summary of the plot, this is not a cozy mystery. Yes, it's quirky. Yes, the sheep are charming. But suggesting how sheep might think about what goes on their piece of the world provides much more challenging reading than the standard cozy. One is repeatedly asked to step back from using our human knowledge and customs to look at everyday behavior, and then is forced to reevaluate it from the viewpoint of an alien species. It's dark as well as funny.
The real treat is the wordplay. The sheep have unique personalities, from obtuse to unrealistically astute. Still their power comes from what we see as their weakness: their their tendency to follow the leader, to act as a flock. Although in this follow-up, it seems to me that the individual sheep act more independly at times. (Although I read Three Bags Full several years ago, so this might not be the case.)
In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in an animal mindset. Just expect to be confused some of the time. Just go with the flow.
A bit of the story, as the sheep and the goats in the adjoining pasture discuss the wolves they are all afraid of. Mopple the sheep, dense, and huge because he eats everything, is telling the goats that the sheep are trying to get away from the farm because they are afraid. The goats' replies:
"Who still believes in wolves in this day and age?" The goats pulled enlightened faces.
"Wolves are made up by the herders," explained Amaltée.
"So that they can better oppress us," bleated Circe.
"Because goats aren't that easy to oppress."
The three goats rebelliously craned their necks
"Cassandra in turn claims that herders are made up by wolves," added Caliope.
"What does Cassandra know?!" bleated Circe and Amaltée.
July 15, 2012
Die Schafe - und das sind recht viele - beweisen kriminalistisches Gespür und helfen tatkräftig dabei mit, den Garou (einen "Werwolf") aufzudecken. So komisch wie das klingt, ist es auch. Und das meine ich durchaus positiv. Die Autorin schafft es, die Geschichte zugleich spannend, lustig und niedlich zu erzählen, hat mir super gefallen! Was mich nur ein wenig gestört hat, war die Vielzahl der Charaktere (Klar, es gibt nun mal eine SchafHERDE, trotzdem fiel es mir duch die vielen Namen manchmal schwer, zu folgen, wer nun gerade wo ist. Es gibt zwar eine Liste vorn im Buch, aber dauernd hin- und herzublättern hat nun auch nicht SO viel Spaß gemacht.) und Rebeccas Art (Warum war sie so naiv? So schwer von Begriff? So egoistisch? Und mir SO unsympathisch?). Diese Minuspunkte machten die Schafe und Ziegen (und natürlich die tollen Wortspiele!!) aber wieder wett und die Geschichte hat mir viel Spaß gemacht!
Ein sehr kreatives Buch - eine tolle Lesereise in verschiedene Schafsköpfe ;)
Ein sehr kreatives Buch - eine tolle Lesereise in verschiedene Schafsköpfe ;)
July 3, 2025
lowkey this was cozy horror?
I loved the sheep, as usual. It was a little hard to follow the narrative with the jumping around and the cast of new (and not very recognizable) characters, but still a solid read.
I loved the sheep, as usual. It was a little hard to follow the narrative with the jumping around and the cast of new (and not very recognizable) characters, but still a solid read.
July 18, 2025
Die Schafherde um Othello, Sir Ritchfield und Mopple the Whale, bekannt aus "Glennkill", ist mit ihrer neuen Schäferin Rebecca von Irland nach Frankreich gezogen, wo die Menschen (und der Ungeschorene, ein einheimischer Widder) unverständliches Europäisch sprechen. Das Heu und die Gräser dort sind aber genauso lecker wie zu Hause und alles könnte so schön sein, waberten nicht beängstigende Gerüchte über den Garou durch die Gegend, einen Werwolf, der im Wald schon mehrere Rehe getötet hat und einige Jahre zuvor eine ganze Schafherde sowie drei Menschen umgebracht haben soll.
Ist es ein Mensch, der sich als Wolf ausgibt, ein Wolf, der sich für einen Menschen hält oder doch ganz was anderes? Die Schäfchen jedenfalls sind in Alarmbereitschaft und versuchen auf ihre ganz eigene schafige Art Licht ins Dunkel zu bringen. Die Ziegen von der Nachbarweide sind dabei mal mehr, mal weniger hilfreich, und sicher ist zunächst nur eins: dass sich da so einige Menschen ziemlich seltsam benehmen.
Die Bezeichnung "Schafs-Thriller" auf dem Cover ist vielleicht ein wenig irreführend, ich würde es eher als recht gemütlichen Krimi bezeichnen, angereichert mit viel Humor und einer konsequent durchgezogenen Schafsperspektive auf das Geschehen. Wie die wolligen Protagonisten die Ereignisse und die Äußerungen der Menschen aus ihrer Sicht heraus interpretieren, ist ziemlich witzig beschrieben und führt nicht nur zur einen oder anderen Fehleinschätzung und skurrilen Situationen, sondern für die Leser auch zu netten Wortspielen. (Das Buch fängt schon hübsch an mit einer Auflistung der "Dramatis oves" und "Dramatis caprae" neben den "Dramatis personae".)
Die Handlung selbst plätschert zunächst trotz der schwebenden Bedrohung durch den angeblichen Garou so vor sich hin und es dauerte eine Weile, bis ich die Schafe und Ziegen und auch die Menschen voneinander unterscheiden konnte. Die einzelnen Fäden des Kriminalfalls fand ich bis etwa zur Hälfte einigermaßen verwirrend und es gab auch immer wieder ein paar Längen, die man ganz gut hätte straffen können. Aber das letzte Viertel wird dann doch noch richtig spannend und dramatisch, das hat den etwas langatmigen Mittelteil dann mehr als wettgemacht und mich richtig mitfiebern lassen.
Ein ganz herzallerliebstes Gimmick hat das Buch auch noch: ein Daumenkino mit einem kleinen Widder, der unbedingt einen leckeren Apfel vom Baum holen möchte.
Ist es ein Mensch, der sich als Wolf ausgibt, ein Wolf, der sich für einen Menschen hält oder doch ganz was anderes? Die Schäfchen jedenfalls sind in Alarmbereitschaft und versuchen auf ihre ganz eigene schafige Art Licht ins Dunkel zu bringen. Die Ziegen von der Nachbarweide sind dabei mal mehr, mal weniger hilfreich, und sicher ist zunächst nur eins: dass sich da so einige Menschen ziemlich seltsam benehmen.
Die Bezeichnung "Schafs-Thriller" auf dem Cover ist vielleicht ein wenig irreführend, ich würde es eher als recht gemütlichen Krimi bezeichnen, angereichert mit viel Humor und einer konsequent durchgezogenen Schafsperspektive auf das Geschehen. Wie die wolligen Protagonisten die Ereignisse und die Äußerungen der Menschen aus ihrer Sicht heraus interpretieren, ist ziemlich witzig beschrieben und führt nicht nur zur einen oder anderen Fehleinschätzung und skurrilen Situationen, sondern für die Leser auch zu netten Wortspielen. (Das Buch fängt schon hübsch an mit einer Auflistung der "Dramatis oves" und "Dramatis caprae" neben den "Dramatis personae".)
Die Handlung selbst plätschert zunächst trotz der schwebenden Bedrohung durch den angeblichen Garou so vor sich hin und es dauerte eine Weile, bis ich die Schafe und Ziegen und auch die Menschen voneinander unterscheiden konnte. Die einzelnen Fäden des Kriminalfalls fand ich bis etwa zur Hälfte einigermaßen verwirrend und es gab auch immer wieder ein paar Längen, die man ganz gut hätte straffen können. Aber das letzte Viertel wird dann doch noch richtig spannend und dramatisch, das hat den etwas langatmigen Mittelteil dann mehr als wettgemacht und mich richtig mitfiebern lassen.
Ein ganz herzallerliebstes Gimmick hat das Buch auch noch: ein Daumenkino mit einem kleinen Widder, der unbedingt einen leckeren Apfel vom Baum holen möchte.
April 7, 2026
Originally published five years after the first novel, “Big Bad Wool” follows our large of sheep again with their new shepherd who happens to be the daughter of their old shepherd named Rebecca. She and her mother have taken the flock to France, which is what Miss Maple and the sheep has been wanting to do for some time. The mysterious troubles begin when the herd discover a dead deer in a forest near the chateau they’re staying near and hear some of the humans talk about a possible “werewolf” creature being responsible for other dead animals. Now they’ll put themselves in possible danger to find out who the killer is.
It’s a sequel that delivers the same outlandish but cunning feel as the first one. We have our same flock of sheep who are still a charming bunch while we follow plenty of new characters. The story has a few more small surprises than the first, while it slowly blends a bit of thriller vibes to its mystery.
Plenty more wool flying again with something new and intense.
B+ (83%/Very Good)
It’s a sequel that delivers the same outlandish but cunning feel as the first one. We have our same flock of sheep who are still a charming bunch while we follow plenty of new characters. The story has a few more small surprises than the first, while it slowly blends a bit of thriller vibes to its mystery.
Plenty more wool flying again with something new and intense.
B+ (83%/Very Good)
August 6, 2026
Owieczki wracają i zgodnie z życzeniem George'a wyruszają do Europy, gdzie miały ich czekać owocowe sady i rozległe, zielone łąki. Tymczasem przyszła zima, a one wylądowały na skraju zamku i mrocznego lasu, w których grasuje... wilkołak.
Historia trochę bardziej pogmatwana niż pierwsza część i możnaby się przyczepić, że niektóre elementy zbyt dużym zbiegiem okoliczności się ze sobą schodzą. Drobny przesyt podejrzanych i gmatwaniną wątków. To wszystko obserwowane z perspektywy owieczek bywało meeeeczące... przepraszam, męczące.
Pojawiają się natomiast cudowne kozy spragnione szaleństwa i Mama, której należałoby zjeść wszystkie karty tarota.
Puchatość i miękkość głównych bohaterów nadal jest też na miejscu. Aż by się chciało kolejnej części.
Historia trochę bardziej pogmatwana niż pierwsza część i możnaby się przyczepić, że niektóre elementy zbyt dużym zbiegiem okoliczności się ze sobą schodzą. Drobny przesyt podejrzanych i gmatwaniną wątków. To wszystko obserwowane z perspektywy owieczek bywało meeeeczące... przepraszam, męczące.
Pojawiają się natomiast cudowne kozy spragnione szaleństwa i Mama, której należałoby zjeść wszystkie karty tarota.
Puchatość i miękkość głównych bohaterów nadal jest też na miejscu. Aż by się chciało kolejnej części.
August 30, 2022
עדר הכבשים האהוב נוסע לצרפת וחוקר שם מוות של חיות ושל אנשים ליד טירה מסתורית.
מעניין לקרוא על העולם והתעלומה מנקודת המבט של עדר הכבשים. הספר מעט איטי בקצב של כבשים ולקח לי די הרבה זמן לסיים אותו אבל נהניתי.
מעניין לקרוא על העולם והתעלומה מנקודת המבט של עדר הכבשים. הספר מעט איטי בקצב של כבשים ולקח לי די הרבה זמן לסיים אותו אבל נהניתי.
September 19, 2025
Tess (the sheepdog) dies
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
Since it's obvious there isn't likely ever to be an English translation, I bought a Spanish copy. Granted, my skills aren't perfect, but am giving up halfway through. Beyond the language issue, I just don't care about the characters; moreover, keeping track of the various goats in addition to the sheep is a lot of effort.
The book seems to go on and on ... and on!
Edited to add:
English translation hit the shelves in 2025. Maybe, just maybe, I'll give it a try as a library book ...
The book seems to go on and on ... and on!
Edited to add:
English translation hit the shelves in 2025. Maybe, just maybe, I'll give it a try as a library book ...
August 8, 2018
I really didn't expected to appreciate those sheeps so much! I find the idea and the language quite entertaining
October 25, 2025
so focused on the sheep and goats, you forget there’s even a mystery going on.
August 16, 2026
Swann gave up on the more thought-provoking elements from the first book, returning with a sequel that's fun, with perhaps a slightly more traditional mystery, but very middle of the road in terms of quality. It's certainly readable, but not something that would reward revisiting.
The sheep are now on their promised tour through Europe, which I guess means just moving there? They've wound up at a chateau in France, which adds to the mystery since the sheep can't understand French, so they miss any important clues being shared by the humans.
And the story this time is...well, as the novel itself says near the end...rather messy. A handful of years earlier, there'd been a strange run of killings in the snowy woods: deer, a whole flock of sheep, then two children and a woman. Nothing was ever solved, and things were quiet until it snowed again - which took something like 5 years to happen? Does it really snow that infrequently in France?
Anyway, dead, mutilated deer start appearing in the woods again, then a dead human turns up in the pasture (shot with a silver bullet), and our sheep and their new shepherdess, Rebecca, are in danger too.
There were honestly way too many moving parts - trying to keep the suspect under wraps by throwing so many red herrings out that all of them ended up being guilty of something. And I don't buy that a plastic surgeon would be poverty-stricken.
The other big plot holes for me were the housekeeper - I don't understand how she ended up fitting into things, or what her motivation was? Was she expecting to inherit the chateau or something? Her involvement got weirdly dropped.
And what was the point of poisoning Tess and replacing her with a new sheepdog that was brought in specifically to protect the sheep? The dog was initially rather promising, but did absolutely nothing to stop the sheep from repeatedly escaping from the pasture, and then disappeared during the important bits right at the end. (Did it die?? Did it go to the next destination - and probably eventually the next book - with them?) Why bring the dog in at all if it was going to do nothing?
I'm also rather annoyed that Swann created such an interesting character with Melmoth and then had no idea what to do with him. He's only present in this book in Ritchfield's hallucinations, who for some reason has gone absolutely batty and mostly just shouts about whether various characters are sheep or not.
The most interesting characters this time around were Aubrey the little black goat, and the winter lamb, who finally named himself. Which, again, seems a little odd to me - is the traditional of not naming lambs a sheep one or a human one? In either case, I don't see Rebecca sticking to it, so he would've had a name by now.
But it did lead to the more thought-provoking parts of the story, which were about identity, and the concept of nurture vs nature...with Aubrey being too human because she was raised by the goat herder, and the winter lamb having a bit too much goat milk in him.
Mostly, though, this is a fairly ordinary beach read of a story. Enjoyable enough but kind of losing track of what had made its beginning seem special.
The sheep are now on their promised tour through Europe, which I guess means just moving there? They've wound up at a chateau in France, which adds to the mystery since the sheep can't understand French, so they miss any important clues being shared by the humans.
And the story this time is...well, as the novel itself says near the end...rather messy. A handful of years earlier, there'd been a strange run of killings in the snowy woods: deer, a whole flock of sheep, then two children and a woman. Nothing was ever solved, and things were quiet until it snowed again - which took something like 5 years to happen? Does it really snow that infrequently in France?
Anyway, dead, mutilated deer start appearing in the woods again, then a dead human turns up in the pasture (shot with a silver bullet), and our sheep and their new shepherdess, Rebecca, are in danger too.
There were honestly way too many moving parts - trying to keep the suspect under wraps by throwing so many red herrings out that all of them ended up being guilty of something. And I don't buy that a plastic surgeon would be poverty-stricken.
The other big plot holes for me were the housekeeper - I don't understand how she ended up fitting into things, or what her motivation was? Was she expecting to inherit the chateau or something? Her involvement got weirdly dropped.
And what was the point of poisoning Tess and replacing her with a new sheepdog that was brought in specifically to protect the sheep? The dog was initially rather promising, but did absolutely nothing to stop the sheep from repeatedly escaping from the pasture, and then disappeared during the important bits right at the end. (Did it die?? Did it go to the next destination - and probably eventually the next book - with them?) Why bring the dog in at all if it was going to do nothing?
I'm also rather annoyed that Swann created such an interesting character with Melmoth and then had no idea what to do with him. He's only present in this book in Ritchfield's hallucinations, who for some reason has gone absolutely batty and mostly just shouts about whether various characters are sheep or not.
The most interesting characters this time around were Aubrey the little black goat, and the winter lamb, who finally named himself. Which, again, seems a little odd to me - is the traditional of not naming lambs a sheep one or a human one? In either case, I don't see Rebecca sticking to it, so he would've had a name by now.
But it did lead to the more thought-provoking parts of the story, which were about identity, and the concept of nurture vs nature...with Aubrey being too human because she was raised by the goat herder, and the winter lamb having a bit too much goat milk in him.
Mostly, though, this is a fairly ordinary beach read of a story. Enjoyable enough but kind of losing track of what had made its beginning seem special.
December 15, 2024
I love the cover on this book. The shadow looks particularly wolfy, as in werewolfy.
Garou continues the story of the sheep of Glennkill (aka Three Bags Full in English) who have gone on their promised trip to Europe. The sheep are currently spending the winter in a pasture near a remote French castle, where the novel is set. I am apparently easily amused. Run-of-the-mill thrillers/mystery novels don't do much for me. But give me a (sort of) psychological mystery thriller with a fuzzy plot, an anthropomorphic flock of sheep as the protagonists (with a few goats), toss in the possibility of a werewolf, and I'm all here for it. For me, the murder and werewolf mystery took a back seat to the amateur sleuthing antics of the sheep, which were hilarious.
There doesn't appear to be an English translation of this novel, which is a shame.
Garou continues the story of the sheep of Glennkill (aka Three Bags Full in English) who have gone on their promised trip to Europe. The sheep are currently spending the winter in a pasture near a remote French castle, where the novel is set. I am apparently easily amused. Run-of-the-mill thrillers/mystery novels don't do much for me. But give me a (sort of) psychological mystery thriller with a fuzzy plot, an anthropomorphic flock of sheep as the protagonists (with a few goats), toss in the possibility of a werewolf, and I'm all here for it. For me, the murder and werewolf mystery took a back seat to the amateur sleuthing antics of the sheep, which were hilarious.
There doesn't appear to be an English translation of this novel, which is a shame.
June 1, 2026
this deserves 3.5 stars & i‘m mad we don‘t have half stars on here.
i did appreciate this book a lot in terms of it bringing back the silly sheep plotting and being totally wrong in their scheming. that‘s by far one of my favourite aspect of this series so far. the new characters were goated (pun intended) and i liked the way the second part had more changes in setting than the first.
felt like it had an extremely slow start though & i struggled to keep up with all that happened from time to time,, BUUT it was tons of fun reading anyways and i‘d for sure recommend picking this up
i did appreciate this book a lot in terms of it bringing back the silly sheep plotting and being totally wrong in their scheming. that‘s by far one of my favourite aspect of this series so far. the new characters were goated (pun intended) and i liked the way the second part had more changes in setting than the first.
felt like it had an extremely slow start though & i struggled to keep up with all that happened from time to time,, BUUT it was tons of fun reading anyways and i‘d for sure recommend picking this up
January 9, 2026
True rating would be 3.5 stars. Slow to get into but ultimately an easy read. The plot is confusing at times but purposefully so & done well. Reading Three Bags Full before this probably would have made following the flock’s characters much easier & lessened confusion at times.
March 26, 2024
owce absolutne idolki, trochę się dłużyło i zakonczenie nie było aż tak zachwycające ale nie wiem czy to czasem nie przez to ze nie czytałam pierwszej części??
February 12, 2026
12 February 2026
I easily understand the disappointment of the sheep finding themselves in a Europe that wasn't at all like the Europe of novels. It's an anti-Mortshire book in its 21st century setting, although, as a work of fiction itself it does have much that Gorey would find familiar, too.
The world needs more novels about a cooperative herd of crime solvers.
Library copy
I easily understand the disappointment of the sheep finding themselves in a Europe that wasn't at all like the Europe of novels. It's an anti-Mortshire book in its 21st century setting, although, as a work of fiction itself it does have much that Gorey would find familiar, too.
The world needs more novels about a cooperative herd of crime solvers.
Library copy
June 11, 2025
The delightful sheep author Leonie Swann introduced us to in "Three Bags Full" are back, but this time they're in France on the grounds of a castle. Their pasture borders one containing opinionated goats, and both these groups will be involved in figuring out the strange human happenings occurring that winter.
Their new shepherdess Rebecca (George's daughter) is reading to them, as stipulated by George's will. She lives in an RV/caravan with sheep dog Tess. Then her tarot-reading mother arrives, causing Rebecca some frustration.
The intelligent Miss Maple, Maude (best nose), Lane (the fastest), Zora (abyss-loving) and Mopple the Whale (keeper of the herd's memories), the new unnamed Winter Lamb, among other sheep in the herd, and the goats, watch the goings-on around them. Someone has been killing deer in the woods, and there is word that a Garou, werewolf, is responsible. Then a man is found dead in the woods…..
There are nefarious things happening amongst the humans, and Rebecca learns some details about the history of the castle, and there are some ever so slightly scary moments during the course of this novel.
I love the idea of sheep detectives, and though the sheep do make some strides in understanding what is going on, it's the misunderstandings they, and the goats, have about human actions that make this a funny story.
There are moments of sheer silliness, as the herd attempts to protect Rebecca with silver, and the discussions with the goats are terrific.
This is not a fast-paced novel, and though I said it was funny, it's mostly gentle humour, instead of belly-laughs. Having read the first book, I knew that what makes the premise of this novel so enjoyable is the many conversations amongst the sheep as they attempt to puzzle out human actions and motives, many of which seem bizarre and silly to the animals.
I listened to this book, and the narration was wonderful. Caroline Lennon's voicing of the sheep and goats frequently had me smiling: I loved her Miss Maple, and Mopple. The standout for me was Lennon's Aubrey the goat, whose madcap ideas had me laughing -- he's such a delight, and brought so much energy to every scene he was in.
I do hope the sheep get a chance to use their talents for detection again, wherever they end up next. Their woolly logic and beliefs (woolpower!) are amusing and endearing, and I would love to spend more time with them.
Thank you to Netgalley and to RBMedia for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Their new shepherdess Rebecca (George's daughter) is reading to them, as stipulated by George's will. She lives in an RV/caravan with sheep dog Tess. Then her tarot-reading mother arrives, causing Rebecca some frustration.
The intelligent Miss Maple, Maude (best nose), Lane (the fastest), Zora (abyss-loving) and Mopple the Whale (keeper of the herd's memories), the new unnamed Winter Lamb, among other sheep in the herd, and the goats, watch the goings-on around them. Someone has been killing deer in the woods, and there is word that a Garou, werewolf, is responsible. Then a man is found dead in the woods…..
There are nefarious things happening amongst the humans, and Rebecca learns some details about the history of the castle, and there are some ever so slightly scary moments during the course of this novel.
I love the idea of sheep detectives, and though the sheep do make some strides in understanding what is going on, it's the misunderstandings they, and the goats, have about human actions that make this a funny story.
There are moments of sheer silliness, as the herd attempts to protect Rebecca with silver, and the discussions with the goats are terrific.
This is not a fast-paced novel, and though I said it was funny, it's mostly gentle humour, instead of belly-laughs. Having read the first book, I knew that what makes the premise of this novel so enjoyable is the many conversations amongst the sheep as they attempt to puzzle out human actions and motives, many of which seem bizarre and silly to the animals.
I listened to this book, and the narration was wonderful. Caroline Lennon's voicing of the sheep and goats frequently had me smiling: I loved her Miss Maple, and Mopple. The standout for me was Lennon's Aubrey the goat, whose madcap ideas had me laughing -- he's such a delight, and brought so much energy to every scene he was in.
I do hope the sheep get a chance to use their talents for detection again, wherever they end up next. Their woolly logic and beliefs (woolpower!) are amusing and endearing, and I would love to spend more time with them.
Thank you to Netgalley and to RBMedia for this ARC in exchange for my review.
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