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Shady Hollow #1
Shady Hollow
The first book in the Shady Hollow series, in which we are introduced to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony--until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead and the local reporter has to solve the case.
Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery, and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.
Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera's cunning and quickness to crack the case.
A VINTAGE CRIME/BLACK LIZARD ORIGINAL.
Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery, and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.
Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera's cunning and quickness to crack the case.
A VINTAGE CRIME/BLACK LIZARD ORIGINAL.
Paperback
First published October 21, 2015
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About the author
Juneau Black
11 books1,164 followersJoint pseudonym of Elizabeth Cole and Sharon Nagel. For works of these authors written under their own or other names, search also under: Cole, Elizabeth (Author of romance fiction) or Nagel, Sharon, 1966-
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,725 reviews
October 18, 2024
super cute!! fun and cozy murder mystery that takes place in a little town of woodland animals, can’t wait to read the rest! short + quick too, like 210 pages
February 5, 2023
Have you ever wondered what you'd get if Agatha Christie wrote The Wind in the Willows? That's probably the best I can do to describe the feel and premise of this book. Its a cozy village murder mystery in a world of talking, humanoid forest animals. Which is either going to strike one as kind of charming or absolutely bonkers.
It worked better than I thought it might, though it doesn't escape some of the flaws of the cozy murder mystery genre. But if you like cozy murder mysteries and are willing to accept a slightly fantastical premise, it's a quick, entertaining read. And I have certainly read a lot of mysteries I enjoyed less.
It worked better than I thought it might, though it doesn't escape some of the flaws of the cozy murder mystery genre. But if you like cozy murder mysteries and are willing to accept a slightly fantastical premise, it's a quick, entertaining read. And I have certainly read a lot of mysteries I enjoyed less.
February 3, 2022
The book has me smiling from the get go with the clever cast of characters who inhabit Shady Hollow, far from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Here woodland creatures from the teeniest mouse to large bears and a moose live mostly harmoniously. At its heart is the sawmill, overseen by its wealthy owner Reginald von Beaverpelt. One day, the peace is shattered when humming bird Gladys Honeysuckle, the town gossip, makes a startling discovery. Otto Sumpf, a curmudgeonly loner of a toad is belly up and quite, quite dead. Vero Vixen, The Herald’s ace reporter and who has a real nose for story, overhears Gladys and off she goes to investigate. Stop the press, Vero has a scoop! Otto has been murdered and this is just the start of Shady Hollows problems.
I so enjoy this mixture of a cozy mystery murder with humour and a fantastical concept. I love the woodland characters especially Vera, who is smart with a twitchy nose for the truth but there are plenty of others also to like. Lenore the Raven who owns the bookshop is a good loyal pal to Vera and there’s Joe the Moose who owns the coffee shop keeping everyone’s caffeine and sugar levels topped up and Sun Li the giant panda who owns the Bamboo Patch restaurant. You actually forget they’re woodland creatures as they have their own personalities and you just happily go with the flow.
It’s vivid, colourful, delightful and clever. It is a read that would appeal to most age groups (there is a murder so maybe not little ones!) as there are things to make everyone smile at some of the smart allusions. Some things make me smile, others a chuckle and some a real laugh out loud!! It has all the ingredients you’d expect from this genre with some surprises along the way.
Overall, it’s different, as it’s a sort of Beatrix Potter meets a ‘cozy’ with extra pepperings of humour giving it a fantastical charm and quirk all of its own. I’m looking forward to the second instalment of this entertaining series!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
I so enjoy this mixture of a cozy mystery murder with humour and a fantastical concept. I love the woodland characters especially Vera, who is smart with a twitchy nose for the truth but there are plenty of others also to like. Lenore the Raven who owns the bookshop is a good loyal pal to Vera and there’s Joe the Moose who owns the coffee shop keeping everyone’s caffeine and sugar levels topped up and Sun Li the giant panda who owns the Bamboo Patch restaurant. You actually forget they’re woodland creatures as they have their own personalities and you just happily go with the flow.
It’s vivid, colourful, delightful and clever. It is a read that would appeal to most age groups (there is a murder so maybe not little ones!) as there are things to make everyone smile at some of the smart allusions. Some things make me smile, others a chuckle and some a real laugh out loud!! It has all the ingredients you’d expect from this genre with some surprises along the way.
Overall, it’s different, as it’s a sort of Beatrix Potter meets a ‘cozy’ with extra pepperings of humour giving it a fantastical charm and quirk all of its own. I’m looking forward to the second instalment of this entertaining series!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 22, 2024
i just kno this author doesnt play about zootopia fanfiction
June 28, 2025
In Shady Hollow all the woodland animals live together in peace. When that peace is disturbed by the sudden and suspicious death of a cranky toad who loved to rant about everyone and everything, a foxy reporter tries to dig up the truth.
I like that the animals characters feel so different from one another. The beaver, the bear, the panda, … They all feel like individuals with their own personality. The fox protagonist is smart, but she’s not perfect. This makes her more relatable and interesting. We get some hints of history to make this fictional world feel more real. There are also some fun things to be found here, like the protagonist’s raven friend who runs the Nevermore bookshop. Though I have to admit, some characters could use a bit more fleshing out and the mystery plot is very light and straight forward.
Overall, it’s a quick and light read with a good collection of animal characters. Don’t expect too much from this story and simply enjoy this amusing cozy little mystery for what it is.
I like that the animals characters feel so different from one another. The beaver, the bear, the panda, … They all feel like individuals with their own personality. The fox protagonist is smart, but she’s not perfect. This makes her more relatable and interesting. We get some hints of history to make this fictional world feel more real. There are also some fun things to be found here, like the protagonist’s raven friend who runs the Nevermore bookshop. Though I have to admit, some characters could use a bit more fleshing out and the mystery plot is very light and straight forward.
Overall, it’s a quick and light read with a good collection of animal characters. Don’t expect too much from this story and simply enjoy this amusing cozy little mystery for what it is.
March 12, 2024
Charming, whimsical premise. Unfortunately the writing is flat and lifeless, and the "mystery" (lol) was thinner than a piece of paper - there is only one suspect and as soon as we meet them, we understand that they are the culprit.
March 23, 2022
Plot was weak, characters were one dimensional, and it never really got interesting. It flat lined the whole time in my opinion. I wasn’t able to become invested in the story or the characters. Maybe a middle schooler would like this. MAYBE. But if you’re looking for an exciting murder mystery, this is not it.
March 14, 2023
Just the read I needed
I picked this up because I was in the mood for a cozy read after a really rough speculative fiction. This was on my TBR pile for a while and I very much enjoyed it. The village of Shady Hollow was a very nice place to visit even with a murderer running around.
The creatures were fun to get to know. Reporter, Vera (a fox) was rootable as she chased down the facts for her story. Her best friend, bookshop owner, Lenore (a raven) was great and I wished she had more to do. Deputy Orville (a bear), Joe (moose) coffee shop owner, BW (a skunk) newspaper owner, the von Beverpelts (richest residents of Shady Hollow; own & run the sawmill), Sun Li (a panda) restaurateur among other things and others made this just a great reading weekend,
The mystery was well done and whenever I put this down, I looked forward to picking it up again. The map of the village was too cute. This cozy was just the bookish soft landing I needed.
I read this through the library and am looking forward to reading the next. Recommended.
I picked this up because I was in the mood for a cozy read after a really rough speculative fiction. This was on my TBR pile for a while and I very much enjoyed it. The village of Shady Hollow was a very nice place to visit even with a murderer running around.
The creatures were fun to get to know. Reporter, Vera (a fox) was rootable as she chased down the facts for her story. Her best friend, bookshop owner, Lenore (a raven) was great and I wished she had more to do. Deputy Orville (a bear), Joe (moose) coffee shop owner, BW (a skunk) newspaper owner, the von Beverpelts (richest residents of Shady Hollow; own & run the sawmill), Sun Li (a panda) restaurateur among other things and others made this just a great reading weekend,
The mystery was well done and whenever I put this down, I looked forward to picking it up again. The map of the village was too cute. This cozy was just the bookish soft landing I needed.
I read this through the library and am looking forward to reading the next. Recommended.
June 1, 2025
Very very very cute. - (edit from 4 to 3 stars) kinda shitty politics tho... not loving the bear sherrif in retrospect. also coziness is OUT funniness is IN, as Cari said!
September 9, 2025
very unique and freshing, exactly what i needed right now. i’m in shock that for once a cozy mystery worked for me! i also didn’t guess who it was mainly because i wasn’t even thinking about it because i was so enticed in the world.
September 30, 2024
4 ⭐
“It is often difficult to know what details make the pattern until one can step away from the whole thing.”
• It made me feel smiley, delighted, and comforted
• Filled with the most whimsical cast of woodland creatures, a clever fox reporter on the hunt to solve the town's latest mystery, lots of freshly baked pastries, a sweet friendship between a fox and a raven, the cutest local businesses located in giant sycamore trees
• It made me want to play a game of Clue, pick up an Agatha Christie next, look up fan art of Vera Vixen, bake a scone and enjoy it with a cup of tea on a rainy day, daydream about living in Shady Hollow
• Search "Fairy Village in the Forest" on YouTube for the perfectly paired reading vibe
• Listen to Tiger Striped Sky by Roo Panes after finishing the last page
• If this book was a food/drink, it would be the snap pea and forest mushroom special at The Bamboo Patch, or a walnut scone from Joe’s Mug Coffee and Diner
Good for book club - perhaps, especially if your club is a fan of cozy mysteries!
Good as a gift - please gift this to your cozy loving bestie ASAP
Should I get the physical copy - yes, that cover is just stunning
What season should I read it in - early to mid fall, spring would also be a lovely time to read it
Audiobook narration - 5/5, Cassandra Campbell killed it per usual
“It is often difficult to know what details make the pattern until one can step away from the whole thing.”
• It made me feel smiley, delighted, and comforted
• Filled with the most whimsical cast of woodland creatures, a clever fox reporter on the hunt to solve the town's latest mystery, lots of freshly baked pastries, a sweet friendship between a fox and a raven, the cutest local businesses located in giant sycamore trees
• It made me want to play a game of Clue, pick up an Agatha Christie next, look up fan art of Vera Vixen, bake a scone and enjoy it with a cup of tea on a rainy day, daydream about living in Shady Hollow
• Search "Fairy Village in the Forest" on YouTube for the perfectly paired reading vibe
• Listen to Tiger Striped Sky by Roo Panes after finishing the last page
• If this book was a food/drink, it would be the snap pea and forest mushroom special at The Bamboo Patch, or a walnut scone from Joe’s Mug Coffee and Diner
Good for book club - perhaps, especially if your club is a fan of cozy mysteries!
Good as a gift - please gift this to your cozy loving bestie ASAP
Should I get the physical copy - yes, that cover is just stunning
What season should I read it in - early to mid fall, spring would also be a lovely time to read it
Audiobook narration - 5/5, Cassandra Campbell killed it per usual
March 11, 2025
Cute and easy to breeze through. I doubt I'll continue with the series since it leans a little too heavily on characters.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
August 24, 2025
Such a fun and cozy mystery series with every character being animals. Looking forward to collecting the books and get to know the characters a lot more.
April 12, 2025
This whole book played out as Fantastic Mr. Fox in my head! 🦊
December 28, 2022
This was exactly the quick, cozy read I have been looking for. The story and the characters were so cute and funny and the ending put a big smile on my face :))
March 4, 2023
How did this author manage to make the book racist when it's about animals 😒
The author relies on some racist and sexist stereotypes and the characters that aren’t offensive are just boring. You’ve got the panda who runs a restaurant called “Bamboo Patch” and he used to be a doctor in his home country but now here he’s working a low-income job. He has special herbs from his homelands in a cabinet in his office (aka playing on eastern medicine). It all feels like low-hanging fruit, relying on surface level cultural information to recreate stereotypes.
Everything feels so predictable and neither the worldbuilding nor the writing made up for the lack of good characters. There's a bookshop and a coffee shop and I wanted these to be richly detailed, cosy, and memorable. They're so lack luster that they blend into the rest of the scenery which is also boring.
I only finished this to see how it ended (who was the murderer) and that was a disappointment reliant on stereotypes as well. It just flopped.
The author relies on some racist and sexist stereotypes and the characters that aren’t offensive are just boring. You’ve got the panda who runs a restaurant called “Bamboo Patch” and he used to be a doctor in his home country but now here he’s working a low-income job. He has special herbs from his homelands in a cabinet in his office (aka playing on eastern medicine). It all feels like low-hanging fruit, relying on surface level cultural information to recreate stereotypes.
Everything feels so predictable and neither the worldbuilding nor the writing made up for the lack of good characters. There's a bookshop and a coffee shop and I wanted these to be richly detailed, cosy, and memorable. They're so lack luster that they blend into the rest of the scenery which is also boring.
I only finished this to see how it ended (who was the murderer) and that was a disappointment reliant on stereotypes as well. It just flopped.
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January 22, 2025
—— 𝟺 ✰ 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤. 🦊🔍
📖: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
「 “The first book in the Shady Hollow series, in which we are introduced to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony--until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead and the local reporter has to solve the case.”」
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★☆
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🌷🍂
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴀ ᴄᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ & ꜱᴄᴏɴᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴊᴏᴇ’ꜱ ᴍᴜɢ ☕️
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 📻 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴏᴅꜱ ♪ ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ʏᴇꜱ!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🦊 ᴢᴏᴏᴛᴏᴘɪᴀ
🔍 ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴢʏ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🦊 ᴡᴏᴏᴅʟᴀɴᴅ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ
🔍 ʟɪɢʜᴛ, ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ
🦊 ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏɴ’ᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴀɪɴ
💭: Cozy mysteries aren’t usually a genre I tend to reach for, but I figured I needed something easy & lighthearted after the last book I read. This book was such a delight. I loved the whimsical world & all the different woodland creatures. Super random factoid about me, but some of my favorite animals (foxes, owls, deers) are “woodland creatures Everything about Shady Hollow was comforting, even the murder mystery aspect of it. It made me want to go live in the woods with all the critters. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this adorable series.
*Let’s play a game; take a shot everytime you see “woodland creatures” mentioned in this review 😅😂
✒️ᝰ
❝𝚄𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑, 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚟𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜, 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍. 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚢𝚙𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜, 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎, 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢.❞
📖: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
「 “The first book in the Shady Hollow series, in which we are introduced to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony--until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead and the local reporter has to solve the case.”」
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★☆
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🌷🍂
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴀ ᴄᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ & ꜱᴄᴏɴᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴊᴏᴇ’ꜱ ᴍᴜɢ ☕️
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 📻 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴏᴅꜱ ♪ ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ʏᴇꜱ!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🦊 ᴢᴏᴏᴛᴏᴘɪᴀ
🔍 ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴢʏ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🦊 ᴡᴏᴏᴅʟᴀɴᴅ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ
🔍 ʟɪɢʜᴛ, ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ
🦊 ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏɴ’ᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴀɪɴ
❝𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚜—𝚘𝚑, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗.❞
💭: Cozy mysteries aren’t usually a genre I tend to reach for, but I figured I needed something easy & lighthearted after the last book I read. This book was such a delight. I loved the whimsical world & all the different woodland creatures. Super random factoid about me, but some of my favorite animals (foxes, owls, deers) are “woodland creatures Everything about Shady Hollow was comforting, even the murder mystery aspect of it. It made me want to go live in the woods with all the critters. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this adorable series.
*Let’s play a game; take a shot everytime you see “woodland creatures” mentioned in this review 😅😂
✒️ᝰ
❝𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚡, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚙 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚠𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚊𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔…𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚎.❞
August 28, 2024
oh to be a woodland creature in the town of shady hollow solving mysteries
December 30, 2021
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't read a lot of mysteries, but I do prefer cozy mysteries when I do read them. This fits that description. What drew me to this book was the idea of a small community of animals living together -- it reminded me of any number of animal fantasies I read when I was younger. Unfortunately, the authors rely too heavily on stereotypes to create these characters, which took away from my enjoyment of what would otherwise be a simple and fun quick read.
I don't read a lot of mysteries, but I do prefer cozy mysteries when I do read them. This fits that description. What drew me to this book was the idea of a small community of animals living together -- it reminded me of any number of animal fantasies I read when I was younger. Unfortunately, the authors rely too heavily on stereotypes to create these characters, which took away from my enjoyment of what would otherwise be a simple and fun quick read.
August 24, 2024
Una lectura muy ligerita y rápida con ese punto cozy por su ambientación en el pueblecillo que lo hace todo más entrañable (la protagonista reportera, su mejor amiga librera, todos los vecinos cotilleando en el bar...).
Eso sí, el misterio es más simple que el hidrógeno y la historia está para mi gusto demasiado centrada en el "quién lo hizo", si se hubiera incidido más en la ambientación y personajes creo que me hubiera gustado bastante más, pero bueno a mi las novelas de misterio me suelen aburrir así que seguramente esto sea cosa mía.
Eso sí, el misterio es más simple que el hidrógeno y la historia está para mi gusto demasiado centrada en el "quién lo hizo", si se hubiera incidido más en la ambientación y personajes creo que me hubiera gustado bastante más, pero bueno a mi las novelas de misterio me suelen aburrir así que seguramente esto sea cosa mía.
August 3, 2022
this murder mystery set in a town full of talking animals is the healing bandaid i needed right now :”) will definitely be visiting shady hollow again <3
April 7, 2023
when i saw this pitched as zootopia meets gossip girl and then my friend said also meets gilmore girls, i was sold. this was the epitome of adorable & cozy & im absolutely finishing the series!
March 2, 2022
Talk about a cozy mystery! This is an animal story. Shady Hollow is a delightful little village complete with a sawmill, a newspaper, and a coffee shop. Now a murder has happened. Otto Stumpf, the curmudgeonly toad has been found dead, with a knife in his back. Sure, he was a bit unpleasant, but who wanted him dead? This is the first book in a series of three novels. Very enjoyable!
April 14, 2022
the lack of world-building made it hard for me to get into this book. I know the author says at the beginning to just go with it but that seems a cop out. Plus, the panda character struck me as problematic.
Plus plus how do a bear and a fox date ????
Plus plus how do a bear and a fox date ????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
Oh, I loved this!! What a wonderful woodland world🥺🦊
This book felt like diving into The Wind in the Willows with its cosy atmosphere, but with a touch of murder mystery✨
This book felt like diving into The Wind in the Willows with its cosy atmosphere, but with a touch of murder mystery✨
June 10, 2022
While this was definitely a cozy mystery, I never quite got cozy with it. The story takes place in a woodland community made up of all different species of animals. Who lived like humans, drinking coffee, wearing clothes, working in bookstores and newspapers and mills. Yes, I know it’s fantastical, but I just had too many questions and I couldn’t block them out to enjoy the story. Plus, they call handkerchiefs pawkerchiefs. Surprisingly, the word is used more than once.
How does the raven stock her bookshelves?
How does a moose pour coffee? Or make coffee, for that matter?
How big are the muffins? How big is the newspaper?
Where do they get their clothes? A moose and a mouse definitely can’t shop in the same place. And of course, why do they wear clothes?
How does this dating cross species work? Can a bear and a fox really date?
And,
And so many many more.
How does the raven stock her bookshelves?
How does a moose pour coffee? Or make coffee, for that matter?
How big are the muffins? How big is the newspaper?
Where do they get their clothes? A moose and a mouse definitely can’t shop in the same place. And of course, why do they wear clothes?
How does this dating cross species work? Can a bear and a fox really date?
And,
And so many many more.
October 25, 2022
Sweet mystery! Loved the cozy setting and the woodland creatures who populate the sweet town of Shady Hollow. Will pick up more in the series!
September 27, 2025
Every once in a while, a book comes along that reminds you exactly why you fell in love with reading in the first place. These types of books don’t just entertain you; they remind you why stories matter. Shady Hollow is one of those treasures. Juneau Black has spun a world brimming with imagination and charm.
Imagine a woodland village straight out of a storybook - where the residents just happen to be foxes, owls, beavers, and toads….and you’ll have the charming backdrop for this little murder mystery. At first glance, it might sound whimsical or even a bit too quaint, but Black pulls it off with wit, warmth, and just enough edge to keep you turning the pages.
The cast of town residents are irresistibly characterized: the clever and determined fox reporter; the thoughtful bear detective; the elegant and wise raven bookseller; the vibrant, ever-curious hummingbird; the mysterious panda that moved from the far east, and a delightful chorus of other animals, each with their own quirks and charms.
The story kicks off when a curmudgeonly toad, Otto Sumpf, turns up dead. Our amateur sleuth is Vera Vixen, a sharp and curious fox who works as a local reporter. Vera is clever, resourceful, and braver than she gives herself credit for, and she’s the perfect lens through which we explore both the mystery and the small-town dynamics.
The woodland setting is vivid and endearing, but there are still secrets, rivalries, and scandals beneath the surface; because even in a town of woodland creatures, small-town drama is alive and well. I really enjoyed how the book balanced lightheartedness with genuine suspense. There’s humor and whimsy, yes, but the murder mystery is treated with sincerity.
While it’s not a hard-boiled, gritty whodunit, it’s more of a gentle, character-driven mystery that’s let perfect for readers who love cozy mysteries, anthropomorphic tales, or just a comforting story with a clever puzzle at its heart.
This book is a celebration of imagination. It left me so thankful for the magic books bring into the world. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
5 stars 🌟
PS: The author’s note is a treat, offering insight into how these animal characters can be metaphors for the many kinds of people we meet in real life. The characterization of various kinds of animals with distinct personalities matching human experiences was so cleverly done.
🎧 The audio narration by Cassandra Campbell was exquisite and made the experience even more effervescent.
Imagine a woodland village straight out of a storybook - where the residents just happen to be foxes, owls, beavers, and toads….and you’ll have the charming backdrop for this little murder mystery. At first glance, it might sound whimsical or even a bit too quaint, but Black pulls it off with wit, warmth, and just enough edge to keep you turning the pages.
The cast of town residents are irresistibly characterized: the clever and determined fox reporter; the thoughtful bear detective; the elegant and wise raven bookseller; the vibrant, ever-curious hummingbird; the mysterious panda that moved from the far east, and a delightful chorus of other animals, each with their own quirks and charms.
The story kicks off when a curmudgeonly toad, Otto Sumpf, turns up dead. Our amateur sleuth is Vera Vixen, a sharp and curious fox who works as a local reporter. Vera is clever, resourceful, and braver than she gives herself credit for, and she’s the perfect lens through which we explore both the mystery and the small-town dynamics.
The woodland setting is vivid and endearing, but there are still secrets, rivalries, and scandals beneath the surface; because even in a town of woodland creatures, small-town drama is alive and well. I really enjoyed how the book balanced lightheartedness with genuine suspense. There’s humor and whimsy, yes, but the murder mystery is treated with sincerity.
While it’s not a hard-boiled, gritty whodunit, it’s more of a gentle, character-driven mystery that’s let perfect for readers who love cozy mysteries, anthropomorphic tales, or just a comforting story with a clever puzzle at its heart.
This book is a celebration of imagination. It left me so thankful for the magic books bring into the world. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
5 stars 🌟
PS: The author’s note is a treat, offering insight into how these animal characters can be metaphors for the many kinds of people we meet in real life. The characterization of various kinds of animals with distinct personalities matching human experiences was so cleverly done.
🎧 The audio narration by Cassandra Campbell was exquisite and made the experience even more effervescent.
December 28, 2022
Such a cozy, cute read with amazing characters and immaculate vibes! I loved everything about this book and the ending was so wholesome :)
December 3, 2025
I started this book and realized I wasn’t in the right mood for it, so read another book and then returned to it. Shady Hollow is a village inhabited by a variety of animals, living human-like lives. Vera Vixen is a fox-y reporter who is determined to follow the leads and solve the recent murder of a toad. There are bears in the police department, a scholarly owl, a promiscuous sheep, and many more. As she investigates, more crimes are discovered.
I’m not sure if it’s the writing style or the fact that these are animals, but somehow it seems lighter than most murder stories. It’s very unique and it as a fun listen that was well narrated. 3-1/2 stars rounded down, but still very enjoyable.
I’m not sure if it’s the writing style or the fact that these are animals, but somehow it seems lighter than most murder stories. It’s very unique and it as a fun listen that was well narrated. 3-1/2 stars rounded down, but still very enjoyable.
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