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Shady Hollow #6
Mockingbird Court
In the latest installment in the beloved Shady Hollow series, everyone's favorite vulpine investigator Vera Vixen must contend with a cold-hearted killer—and the ghost of her own past.
It's a crisp, cool autumn in Shady Hollow, and preparations are underway for the annual Harvest Festival. Creatures have flocked from far and wide to partake in the seasonal festivities, from pumpkin carving to pie tasting to soup throwing. With all these new faces around town, it’s the perfect time for someone to slip in unnoticed.
Unless that someone is Bradley Marvel, the most famous author—and most noticeable personality—in any woodland warren. It seems the wolf is on the lam. Back in the city, a body was found in his penthouse apartment at Mockingbird Court, and Marvel skipped town before the questioning could commence.
Marvel claims to be innocent, and it's up to Vera and her friends to piece together what might have happened that fateful night so many miles away in the beating heart of the big city. But things get complicated when Vera learns that she also knows the victim ... and might even be implicated herself.
It's a crisp, cool autumn in Shady Hollow, and preparations are underway for the annual Harvest Festival. Creatures have flocked from far and wide to partake in the seasonal festivities, from pumpkin carving to pie tasting to soup throwing. With all these new faces around town, it’s the perfect time for someone to slip in unnoticed.
Unless that someone is Bradley Marvel, the most famous author—and most noticeable personality—in any woodland warren. It seems the wolf is on the lam. Back in the city, a body was found in his penthouse apartment at Mockingbird Court, and Marvel skipped town before the questioning could commence.
Marvel claims to be innocent, and it's up to Vera and her friends to piece together what might have happened that fateful night so many miles away in the beating heart of the big city. But things get complicated when Vera learns that she also knows the victim ... and might even be implicated herself.
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First published October 7, 2025
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About the author
Juneau Black
11 books1,141 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 325 reviews
August 4, 2025
This was such a cute cozy animal mystery! I really enjoyed this novel, from beginning to end. This book is the sixth book in the Shady Hollow series. It can be read as a standalone or in the series. This is my first book in this series and it won’t be my last! I found a new favorite cozy mystery book, that is unlike any other one that I have ever read. It made me feel lighthearted, joyful and comforting. I really enjoyed the autumn theme, the atmosphere and the small town setting!
This novel starts off slow, then starts to build up and unfold as the novel continues, then gradually turns into twists. The twists in this book aren’t fast, but more on the gentle side. The unraveling at the end was more of an ending of a journey. One of my favorite things about this book were the animal characters! The animal characters were all lovable! The main characters were strongly developed and I really enjoyed the side animal characters as well. My favorite character in the book would have to be the fox named Vera Vixen. I really loved the fox’s wittiness and determination. While this book is mostly cozy, it does come with some suspense! I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating!
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with character world settings! Content warnings include murder and violence.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Juneau Black and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for this eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on October 7, 2025!
This novel starts off slow, then starts to build up and unfold as the novel continues, then gradually turns into twists. The twists in this book aren’t fast, but more on the gentle side. The unraveling at the end was more of an ending of a journey. One of my favorite things about this book were the animal characters! The animal characters were all lovable! The main characters were strongly developed and I really enjoyed the side animal characters as well. My favorite character in the book would have to be the fox named Vera Vixen. I really loved the fox’s wittiness and determination. While this book is mostly cozy, it does come with some suspense! I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating!
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with character world settings! Content warnings include murder and violence.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Juneau Black and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for this eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on October 7, 2025!
September 25, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Life in Shady Hollow is as serene and beautiful as it ever was. Creatures are preparing for the annual Harvest Festival, and Vera Vixen is just happy to be back home after spending some time in the city. That’s until Bradley Marvel, a famous mystery author, shows up begging for Vera’s help after running away from a crime scene that happened in his own apartment at Mockingbird Court. He says he’s innocent, but evidence is proving otherwise. Vera and her friends set out to find out the killer, quickly realizing it won’t be as easy as it looks, especially when Vera finds out she knew the victim and is a possible suspect.
This was such a charming and cozy mystery! I haven’t read the other books to this series, but I knew that I would like them the first time I heard about it. Who wouldn’t with a beautiful cover like that? 😍
Per usual, my mind was at work as I read, trying to figure out who is innocent or guilty. I had a hunch on who it could be, but once I read the end, I was shocked because 1) I was not expecting the culprit and 2) I was so, so wrong! 😂 It’s why I love mysteries. Although I have all the time in the world, I still feel like it is a race against the clock to piece together the clues of a crime. All the shows, movies, and books I’ve consumed are really coming in handy. 😉
The writing was splendid! I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery painted in my mind about the picturesque town of Shady Hollow. It sounds like a place I’d want to live in. The mystery, as you can imagine, kept me entertained the entire way through. The characters were charming, and it made me realize how much I like stories where the animals are the characters. I need to read more of them.
I definitely recommend reading this book, along with the other Shady Hollow mysteries because I’m sure they are as wonderful as this one! ❤
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder & mentions infidelity.
Swearing: No
Spice: No
#MockingbirdCourt #NetGalley
Life in Shady Hollow is as serene and beautiful as it ever was. Creatures are preparing for the annual Harvest Festival, and Vera Vixen is just happy to be back home after spending some time in the city. That’s until Bradley Marvel, a famous mystery author, shows up begging for Vera’s help after running away from a crime scene that happened in his own apartment at Mockingbird Court. He says he’s innocent, but evidence is proving otherwise. Vera and her friends set out to find out the killer, quickly realizing it won’t be as easy as it looks, especially when Vera finds out she knew the victim and is a possible suspect.
This was such a charming and cozy mystery! I haven’t read the other books to this series, but I knew that I would like them the first time I heard about it. Who wouldn’t with a beautiful cover like that? 😍
Per usual, my mind was at work as I read, trying to figure out who is innocent or guilty. I had a hunch on who it could be, but once I read the end, I was shocked because 1) I was not expecting the culprit and 2) I was so, so wrong! 😂 It’s why I love mysteries. Although I have all the time in the world, I still feel like it is a race against the clock to piece together the clues of a crime. All the shows, movies, and books I’ve consumed are really coming in handy. 😉
The writing was splendid! I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery painted in my mind about the picturesque town of Shady Hollow. It sounds like a place I’d want to live in. The mystery, as you can imagine, kept me entertained the entire way through. The characters were charming, and it made me realize how much I like stories where the animals are the characters. I need to read more of them.
I definitely recommend reading this book, along with the other Shady Hollow mysteries because I’m sure they are as wonderful as this one! ❤
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder & mentions infidelity.
Swearing: No
Spice: No
#MockingbirdCourt #NetGalley
Want to read
March 30, 2025Juneau Black could write anything set in this world and I'd read it. I hope this series NEVER ENDS.
November 12, 2025
I loved this book so much and this series is one of my favorite series. its sad that this is the last book in the series but I can always go back and reread those books. There wasn't any book in the series I didn't like or didn't love
August 14, 2025
I loved this!! Rtc!!
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So excited to be able to jump right into this without pausing in the story! I’m loving this universe so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Juneau Black for the arc!!🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
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No way I just got the arc for this! Now I have to actually read and catch up lol
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So excited to be able to jump right into this without pausing in the story! I’m loving this universe so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Juneau Black for the arc!!🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
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No way I just got the arc for this! Now I have to actually read and catch up lol
July 28, 2025
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Mockingbird Court takes us back to Shady Hollow in the autumn. Vera Vixen has just gotten back from a trip to the city and is ready to relax and recover. Unfortunately, those plans are scrapped when author and nuisance Bradley Marvel shows up at her door, revealing that his editor was murdered in Marvel's apartment. While fleeing the city isn't a good look for Marvel, Vera also gets put in the hot seat when it is revealed that said editor was her former lover and blackmailer. Vera also had motive and opportunity. With pressure mounting, Vera must find out what REALLY happened at Mockingbird Court.
Sadly, this installment of Shady Hollow fell flat compared to previous books. I was looking forward to exploring more of the world, but unfortunately NONE of this book actually takes place in the city that we've heard so much about! Vera and friends solve the mystery from Shady Hollow after conducting interviews of two witnesses that had then made their way to the quiet town and getting a few clues dropped by the city detective.
The twist also didn't pack a punch like it has previously. While the culprit was predictable because we have a limited pool of suspects, the motive felt drawn out from nowhere. Overall, I'm hoping that the next novel brings the quality backup to what I'm used to with the first three installments.
Mockingbird Court takes us back to Shady Hollow in the autumn. Vera Vixen has just gotten back from a trip to the city and is ready to relax and recover. Unfortunately, those plans are scrapped when author and nuisance Bradley Marvel shows up at her door, revealing that his editor was murdered in Marvel's apartment. While fleeing the city isn't a good look for Marvel, Vera also gets put in the hot seat when it is revealed that said editor was her former lover and blackmailer. Vera also had motive and opportunity. With pressure mounting, Vera must find out what REALLY happened at Mockingbird Court.
Sadly, this installment of Shady Hollow fell flat compared to previous books. I was looking forward to exploring more of the world, but unfortunately NONE of this book actually takes place in the city that we've heard so much about! Vera and friends solve the mystery from Shady Hollow after conducting interviews of two witnesses that had then made their way to the quiet town and getting a few clues dropped by the city detective.
The twist also didn't pack a punch like it has previously. While the culprit was predictable because we have a limited pool of suspects, the motive felt drawn out from nowhere. Overall, I'm hoping that the next novel brings the quality backup to what I'm used to with the first three installments.
November 3, 2025
4.5* ... Sometimes I just feel like reading something lighthearted and whimsical, especially in the Fall when tackling a book with serious issues doesn't appeal to me. The Shady Hollow series fits that bill. This was absolutely an autumnal read ... but to be honest most of the books in the series have that vibe, really. In this latest installment Vera Vixen, the village reporter, investigates a murder that occurred in "The City" where she lived as a young kit. Oh yeah, she's a fox, just like all the other residents who are different forest creatures. However, they share the same problems as humans and it seems they get along well and live harmoniously ... well, with some exceptions, Lol. A murder mystery paired with the cozy setting is just delightful. If you feel like escaping to a sleepy village with lots of cute shops, a bookstore run by a crow and a diner run by a moose- this book supplies all of that. Here we are finally getting more of Vera's backstory of how she found herself in Shady Hollow and her relationship to the murder victim. Admittedly, I did guess the whodunit almost immediately which was kinda' disappointing. But that's not why I read cozies. Here I am prioritizing charming characters and atmosphere over complex plotting.
If you're someone who loved The Wind in the Willows as a kid and would like a more grown-up version (with a side of murder thrown in), I'd highly recommend this series. It was announced earlier this year that Mockingbird Court will be the final installment. This makes me so sad, as I've had such a good time with it. I will miss Shady Hollow and all my woodland book friends, but I also look forward to whatever Juneau Black creates next.
If you're someone who loved The Wind in the Willows as a kid and would like a more grown-up version (with a side of murder thrown in), I'd highly recommend this series. It was announced earlier this year that Mockingbird Court will be the final installment. This makes me so sad, as I've had such a good time with it. I will miss Shady Hollow and all my woodland book friends, but I also look forward to whatever Juneau Black creates next.
October 29, 2025
The final segment in this delightful cozy series of a town run by animals. I loved that the annoying Bradley Marvel showed up in town again!
November 6, 2025
This has been one of my favorite series and I’m so sad that this will be the end of the shady hollow series. Each book had a great mystery and cozy vibes. This one as well we saw all our favorite characters and more about Vera.
October 7, 2025
**Happy Publication Day!**
A cozy mystery series which utilizes anthropomorphism. Shady Hollow is a cute rural village where all the animals get along and help each other. Vera Vixen is a journalist who has just returned home from the big city where she conducted an interview. She soon learns she is a suspect in the murder of a book editor in the city and must prove her innocence. Her friends all pitch in to help.
I was able to jump into this sixth book in the series without any problem and would enjoy reading more. The fall season in the countryside is so beautifully described and the characters are interesting, likable and very 'humanlike' in their antics. The twist ending took me completely by surprise but was entirely plausible. BTW, Juneau Black is a joint pseudonym of Elizabeth Cole and Sharon Nagel, who also write books under their own names.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley and introducing me to the series. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
A cozy mystery series which utilizes anthropomorphism. Shady Hollow is a cute rural village where all the animals get along and help each other. Vera Vixen is a journalist who has just returned home from the big city where she conducted an interview. She soon learns she is a suspect in the murder of a book editor in the city and must prove her innocence. Her friends all pitch in to help.
I was able to jump into this sixth book in the series without any problem and would enjoy reading more. The fall season in the countryside is so beautifully described and the characters are interesting, likable and very 'humanlike' in their antics. The twist ending took me completely by surprise but was entirely plausible. BTW, Juneau Black is a joint pseudonym of Elizabeth Cole and Sharon Nagel, who also write books under their own names.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley and introducing me to the series. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 30, 2025
Another delightful addition to the Shady Hollow series! To be honest, I saw where the mystery was heading with this one right away, and it wasn't my favorite twist... still, I love this series so much. This book reveals some more insight into Vera's past, which I really enjoyed. The atmosphere of the small town, our cast of characters, and the nature of such a variety of animals living in harmony makes for such a charming series.
November 23, 2025
I have loved my time in Shady Hollow. These books are so cozy and fun and are a delightful armchair read. I’m sad to hear this is the final installment. They are really unique and I’ll have to find something to fill the Shady Hollow itch from now on.
September 29, 2025
The cutest, coziest mystery series ever I am so sad it’s over :(
August 5, 2025
Thank you to the Publishers and Net Galley for an e-arc! Once again the coziness in this series is unmatched! Mockingbird Court has a slightly darker tone in this book than the others but I still enjoyed every second of it and still got the cozy vibes that I was looking for. I need more Vera Vixen in my life. While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, it was still such a great time. I just love being in Shady Hollow with this cast of characters who I’ve gotten to know so well. I truly hope this series never ends.
October 28, 2025
Overall alright. I was personally a little disappointed in the twist of who the killer was. At least my annoyance of Orville and Vera's relationship wasn't as bad as some of the previous books.
June 22, 2025
I am a forever fan of Juneau Black's Shady Hollow series and the latest installment is no exception. While these books can be read as stand-alones, long-time readers of the series will enjoy the pay-off of getting a glimpse into Vera Vixen's past and how she landed in Shady Hollow. I am proud of myself for figuring out the story's antagonist (which is unusual for me with cozy mysteries) but the motives remained a mystery until Vera uncovered it all. While this book *could* be read as the conclusion to the series, I certainly hope it isn't. I really look forward to my time in Shady Hollow and hope that the authors share more installments with us in the years to come.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2025
One of my favorite cozy mystery series! Such a great and bittersweet final book ❤️
Extra points in my eyes for Chloe McKibben, the cat lawyer. I literally screamed with joy when I saw the name in the character list
Extra points in my eyes for Chloe McKibben, the cat lawyer. I literally screamed with joy when I saw the name in the character list
December 5, 2025
I can't believe this is the final book in the Shady Hollow series! I don't think I could ever get enough of this series honestly.
Overall, this was a solid conclusion. I loved being back in the world and seeing some of our favorite characters. This series is just so cozy and feels like a warm hug. I was a little disappointed with the reveal - mainly because I didn't want it to be that person but oh well. I also am not sure how I feel with how it wrapped up the story because I just wanted more. I did enjoy learning more about Vera and her past tho.
Again, I could have more in this series and so sad its over!
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc copy. All thoughts are my own.
Overall, this was a solid conclusion. I loved being back in the world and seeing some of our favorite characters. This series is just so cozy and feels like a warm hug. I was a little disappointed with the reveal - mainly because I didn't want it to be that person but oh well. I also am not sure how I feel with how it wrapped up the story because I just wanted more. I did enjoy learning more about Vera and her past tho.
Again, I could have more in this series and so sad its over!
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.
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 3, 2025
Honestly one of their more intriguing story lines! 3.5 rounded up, got a bit tired of the "true friendship and belonging" message being shoved down my throat lol
also yes i did solve this! wahoo!
also yes i did solve this! wahoo!
November 4, 2025
This is my comfort series 😌💕
November 24, 2025
So sad the series is done! ✅
I will miss this woodland and all of its inhabitants!
I will miss this woodland and all of its inhabitants!
October 9, 2025
Very sad to have finished the last Shady Hollow book. This world was so well built, and I think this book did a really good job of wrapping up Vera’s story. However, I wish there had been just a bit more Orville and Lenore - they were there plenty for the story itself, but with it being the last book, I would have enjoyed more scenes with them. That being said, their “goodbyes” were really well done. The mystery itself wasn’t the best in Shady Hollow, but it did line up well with common Shady Hollow themes, and I do feel it did a good job at highlighting Vera.
November 11, 2025
I have to say I'm quite disappointed with this one...which pains me to say as such a fan of the series. It felt they went backwards, or the writing reverted or something. The mystery was so obvious it reminded me of the first couple books in the series, right down to the knife fight scenes with Vera in the woods with the respective killers. Which was endearing at first, but after the improvement with the last few in the series, this felt extra disappointing. It felt like most of the book was spent introducing new characters instead of spending time carving out exactly how our beloved characters of Shady Hollow are going to settle. So with this being the last in the series ("for now") that reaaaally disappointed me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
Very cute cozy vibes but nothing remarkable! The ending of this murder mystery kind of felt like the author was like “ok the book is ending, who should we choose to have committed the murder?” It was a little random.. and the justification was a little of a stretch, however, how can you be mad at a book when a fox is dating a bear and whose best friend is a raven? HOW FUN!
September 23, 2025
If you’re not familiar with Shady Hollow, it’s the “woodland community” featured in the cozy mystery book series by Juneau Black. What makes Shady Hollow unique among the countryside / small town settings of most cozies are the residents. You see, Shady Hollow is populated by animals, or “creatures” in the parlance of the book series. Mockingbird Court is the sixth and meant to be the final cozy mystery set there.
Part fantasy, part murder mystery, this book series has so far been a charmer, with all of the books garnering mostly four-star reviews on Goodreads for example. I’m a bit surprised the authors (Juneau Black is a pen name for a pair of authors) haven’t signed a deal for a TV series yet, but then taking their concept from the page to the screen may be a bit difficult to pull off. I’ve read two of the prior five books, the original Shady Hollow and the last one published, Summer’s End, and enjoyed both of them.
In Mockingbird Court the action moves between the woodland community of Shady Hollow and the unnamed big city. When the book opens our hero Vera Vixen, a fox and reporter for Shady Hollow’s hometown newspaper, is on the ferry leaving the city, headed upriver and back home, where the annual Harvest Festival is about to kick off. Once back in the comfort of her own home, in front of a warm fire and about to settle down with a good book, there comes a knock at her door.
It’s Bradley Marvel, the wolf who is both a famous author and a boor. It seems his editor has been murdered in Marvel’s big city penthouse apartment in the building called Mockingbird Court, and Marvel has fled the city fearing he’ll be arrested for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. For some reason he’s bound and determined that Vera Vixen is the only one who can prove him innocent.
So far so good, but what comes next is different than the books that preceded it, and the fact that it’s meant to be the last installment may have something to do with that. We learn more about Vera’s personal life in this book, including her own relationship with the murdered editor. Turns out the two were once lovers, though the circumstances were closer to what we might call workplace harassment, as the editor took advantage of Vera, then a naive young reporter.
This set of circumstances allows for a story arc where Vera has to take stock of her life and decide what comes next, a worthwhile exercise for the final book. But it also lends a darker tone to the story, which is further added to with revelations about others in Vera’s early life in the big city as the book proceeds. It all seems a bit heavy for a cozy mystery full of woodland animals.
Also, the mystery at the heart of the book does not seem as well developed as it could be. The staging of the murderer’s “reveal” was well handled, but the identity of the murderer, while not a shocker, seemed to come a bit out of left field, with crucial facts about the motive not having been laid out (or hinted at) beforehand.
You won’t be surprised when I say that, upon finishing this book I felt that of the three Shady Hollow books I’ve read this is my least favorite. I think what most put me off was the dark tone that felt to me like an intrusion into this well-constructed fantasy landscape.
But having reflected on that, I think the authors had a reason for wanting to “pull back the curtain” so to speak. Cozy mysteries set in quant woodland settings have their place, they seem to be saying, but there is a real world out there, and for all its faults we need to get ourselves out in that world and get on with our lives. That is the lesson in this book for Vera Vixen, and for us. We’re just fortunate that Juneau Black has built this cozy little world that we can come back and dip our toes into from time to time.
Part fantasy, part murder mystery, this book series has so far been a charmer, with all of the books garnering mostly four-star reviews on Goodreads for example. I’m a bit surprised the authors (Juneau Black is a pen name for a pair of authors) haven’t signed a deal for a TV series yet, but then taking their concept from the page to the screen may be a bit difficult to pull off. I’ve read two of the prior five books, the original Shady Hollow and the last one published, Summer’s End, and enjoyed both of them.
In Mockingbird Court the action moves between the woodland community of Shady Hollow and the unnamed big city. When the book opens our hero Vera Vixen, a fox and reporter for Shady Hollow’s hometown newspaper, is on the ferry leaving the city, headed upriver and back home, where the annual Harvest Festival is about to kick off. Once back in the comfort of her own home, in front of a warm fire and about to settle down with a good book, there comes a knock at her door.
It’s Bradley Marvel, the wolf who is both a famous author and a boor. It seems his editor has been murdered in Marvel’s big city penthouse apartment in the building called Mockingbird Court, and Marvel has fled the city fearing he’ll be arrested for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. For some reason he’s bound and determined that Vera Vixen is the only one who can prove him innocent.
So far so good, but what comes next is different than the books that preceded it, and the fact that it’s meant to be the last installment may have something to do with that. We learn more about Vera’s personal life in this book, including her own relationship with the murdered editor. Turns out the two were once lovers, though the circumstances were closer to what we might call workplace harassment, as the editor took advantage of Vera, then a naive young reporter.
This set of circumstances allows for a story arc where Vera has to take stock of her life and decide what comes next, a worthwhile exercise for the final book. But it also lends a darker tone to the story, which is further added to with revelations about others in Vera’s early life in the big city as the book proceeds. It all seems a bit heavy for a cozy mystery full of woodland animals.
Also, the mystery at the heart of the book does not seem as well developed as it could be. The staging of the murderer’s “reveal” was well handled, but the identity of the murderer, while not a shocker, seemed to come a bit out of left field, with crucial facts about the motive not having been laid out (or hinted at) beforehand.
You won’t be surprised when I say that, upon finishing this book I felt that of the three Shady Hollow books I’ve read this is my least favorite. I think what most put me off was the dark tone that felt to me like an intrusion into this well-constructed fantasy landscape.
But having reflected on that, I think the authors had a reason for wanting to “pull back the curtain” so to speak. Cozy mysteries set in quant woodland settings have their place, they seem to be saying, but there is a real world out there, and for all its faults we need to get ourselves out in that world and get on with our lives. That is the lesson in this book for Vera Vixen, and for us. We’re just fortunate that Juneau Black has built this cozy little world that we can come back and dip our toes into from time to time.
September 27, 2025
I love this silly, whimsical, crime-ridden town of anthropomorphic animals, but this book was definitely one of my least favorite installments in the Shady Hollow series. I liked the new twist of the murder happening in the city and the potential suspect fleeing to Vera for help, but, by virtue of this, we never actually visit the crime scene and the pool of relevant characters is limited. For a story that focuses so heavily on Vera and her backstory, her interactions with her close circle of friends, namely Lenore and Orville, feel limited and surface-level.
Since the series continuously adds new locations and utilizes different tropes from the mystery genre, it's inevitable that not every book will appeal to me. Even though I found the main plot of this one lackluster, I still had fun and will definitely still read the seventh installment.
Thank you Vintage and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
Since the series continuously adds new locations and utilizes different tropes from the mystery genre, it's inevitable that not every book will appeal to me. Even though I found the main plot of this one lackluster, I still had fun and will definitely still read the seventh installment.
Thank you Vintage and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
August 27, 2025
In this sixth, and I was sad to read final, installment of the series we return to Shady Hollow just in time for the Harvest Festival. Vera returns to her beloved town from a trip to the big city, where she was working on a story, to learn that someone she knew when she was younger has been murdered. She works with her friends to solve the crime that she is now being accused of.
I love the way these books are written, with the creatures of many different walks of life and personalities filling the pages. I was drawn into the mystery and enjoyed the investigation, but thought the mystery fell apart for me somewhat toward the end. Overall, I really enjoyed it as I have all the other books in the Shady Hollow series.
The fall setting was laced throughout the book - from the Harvest Festival events, to the quiet walks admiring the fall leaves. This makes Mockingbird Court the perfect cozy read to add to your fall TBR. 🍁
I love the way these books are written, with the creatures of many different walks of life and personalities filling the pages. I was drawn into the mystery and enjoyed the investigation, but thought the mystery fell apart for me somewhat toward the end. Overall, I really enjoyed it as I have all the other books in the Shady Hollow series.
The fall setting was laced throughout the book - from the Harvest Festival events, to the quiet walks admiring the fall leaves. This makes Mockingbird Court the perfect cozy read to add to your fall TBR. 🍁
September 1, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
I love the Shady Hollow series. This is the sixth volume, and I've read most of the others. This is a setting where anthropomorphic animals live together in cities and village quite peacefully... except for the occasional murder.
In this book, reporter Vera Vixen returns to Shady Hollow after a visit to the city. She's stunned by the arrival of obnoxious famous author Bradley Marvel. He has come to her for help because he found a dead body in his apartment... and to make things more complicated, Vera realizes she knows the victim, too.
I actually identified the murderer quite early on, but that didn't dim my enjoyment of the book, as there were still other surprises through the end. This series is the epitome of cozy: diverse animals, vivid characters, scrumptious food, quaint town. If you haven't read the previous books, you likely won't have any trouble reading this as a stand alone.
I love the Shady Hollow series. This is the sixth volume, and I've read most of the others. This is a setting where anthropomorphic animals live together in cities and village quite peacefully... except for the occasional murder.
In this book, reporter Vera Vixen returns to Shady Hollow after a visit to the city. She's stunned by the arrival of obnoxious famous author Bradley Marvel. He has come to her for help because he found a dead body in his apartment... and to make things more complicated, Vera realizes she knows the victim, too.
I actually identified the murderer quite early on, but that didn't dim my enjoyment of the book, as there were still other surprises through the end. This series is the epitome of cozy: diverse animals, vivid characters, scrumptious food, quaint town. If you haven't read the previous books, you likely won't have any trouble reading this as a stand alone.
November 2, 2025
I think this was an absolutely lovely conclusion to finish up the Shady Hollow series. Finally getting to know Vera's past was so satisfactory. It's been something I've been curious about since starting this series. Solving the mystery and being suspicious of the murderer before it's revealed is always so fun. I think this series does such a good job of leaving you enough clues to start to piece things together without making it too predictable, feeling more satisfied that you put the puzzle they laid out for you together. Once again, the environment was perfect and I loved reading it during the season it occurred, seeing the same beautiful natural sights Vera loves right outside my window. There was some absolutely beautiful prose woven within that just made me feel so at peace, an odd feeling while reading a murder mystery, but very typical while curled up with a Shady Hollow book. Definitely going to miss this world, but will for SURE be returning to the other books so I can come back to the world of Shady Hollow and Vera Vixen.
September 27, 2025
I love the Shady Hollow series for its coziness, charm, and characters and I was so happy to be back in this world. Vera Vixen needs to solve yet another murder but this time she’s one of the primary suspects in the crime! As her mistakes in the city come back to haunt her, Vera must face her past and save her future in Shady Hollow with the help of her friends.
I wish this series would never end, but sadly this is the last book per the authors’ page. I enjoyed every minute of this final book although I was a little disappointed with how quickly the killer became obvious. The charm of this series will last forever and I will be excited to reread this in the future after I add this one to my shelf.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy! All opinions are my own.
I wish this series would never end, but sadly this is the last book per the authors’ page. I enjoyed every minute of this final book although I was a little disappointed with how quickly the killer became obvious. The charm of this series will last forever and I will be excited to reread this in the future after I add this one to my shelf.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy! All opinions are my own.
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