Murder Most Owl: A Magical Menagerie Mystery, Book 1

Magical Menagerie Mystery #1

by Sarah Fox, Hallie Bee Bard (Narrator)

The first in the enchanting new Magical Menagerie mystery series where things are not always what they seem. Georgie Johansen returns to the charming, coastal town of Twilight Cove and quickly finds herself in a whirlwind of romance, magic, and murder!

It's been years since screenwriter Georgie Johansen last visited her Aunt Olivia's farm in the coastal town of Twilight Cove, and things have certainly changed. First of all, it's now an animal sanctuary, and then there's the new farmhand who's as mysterious as he is handsome. Her first day on the farm, Georgie encounters the eccentric Dorothy Shale, an older woman who lives in a cabin in the woods. There are rumours that Dorothy's a witch, but Georgie doesn't believe that. Although, Dorothy does have an unusual magical presence around her…

When Dorothy ends up murdered, suspicion falls on Georgie—she was the one who found the poor woman's body, and being new in town doesn't help with the suspicion. Things only get worse when it turns out that Dorothy left her valuable plot of land to Auntie O!

Georgie must act fast to clear her and her aunt's names by finding the real killer. But as bodies start to mount up, the pressure rises. With the help of the unusual powers of Dorothy's two dogs and great-horned owl, can Georgie uncover the truth before she becomes the killer's next target?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Fiction, Animals

Audible Audio

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Sarah Fox, writer of cozy mysteries, was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.

Sarah is the author of the Literary Pub Mysteries, the Pancake House Mysteries, and the Music Lover's Mysteries.

Reviews

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the help of the unusual powers of Dorothy's two dogs and great-horned owl, can Georgie uncover the truth before she becomes the killer's next target?

Murder Most Owl is completely out of the genres I normally read and I. Loved. It. I opted to read it because of the dogs and then fell in love with the entire book. It's part cozy, part romance, and part paranormal. The characters were very likable, as were all of the critters at the animal sanctuary. No surprise, though, that my favorite characters were the dogs and the owl. I want them to come and live at my house!

I'm very happy this is going to be a series.

Big thanks to both #SevernHouse and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Murder Most Owl. The expected publication date is April 2, 2024.

#Whodunit #SarahFox

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent new cozy mystery series debut! Protagonist, Georgie Johansen moves from Los Angeles, CA to the lovely seaside town of Twilight, OR to help her Aunt Olivia care for her farm/animal sanctuary when her Aunt breaks an ankle. Georgie soon meets a strange neighbor and her two dogs and a mysterious owl in the wooded property next door. Tragically, there is a suspicious death, after which, Georgie learns of more than one person who wanted the victim dead.

Full of action, zesty characters (whether good or bad), a caring farmhand, magical dogs (which are really cool!), and a wise owl, plus multiple suspects, and multiple murders, and an old unsolved bank robbery provide hours of reading enjoyment! Follow the money, and you’ll figure out the killer….
I highly recommend this entertaining cozy mystery.

I honestly reviewed a digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Severn House. All opinions are my own.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Georgie has left LA for her Aunt Olivia 's seaside town in OR because Olivia broke her ankle and needs help with her animal sanctuary. She's only staying for a while, but events change. There is a murder and both of them are suspects!
This lovely book is part cosy mystery, part romance and a fantasy for all animal lovers. It's the first in a promising new series.
Can't wait for the next one!

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Most Owl is the start to a new cozy mystery series by Sarah Fox. It's a Magical Menagerie in Twilight Cove. Georgie Johansen has returned to help out on Aunt Olivia's animal sanctuary farm. Things have changed in the years away. There's a new farmhand who's as mysterious as he is handsome. Then Georgie encounters the eccentric Dorothy Shale, an older woman who lives in a cabin in the woods. There are rumors that Dorothy's a witch, but Georgie doesn't believe that. When Dorothy is murdered Georgie becomes a suspect. Can she find the real killer? Maybe with the help of a couple magical dogs and a great horned owl.

What a wonderful start to a new series! There is a lot to love about Murder Most Owl. Alpacas. A man that bakes. The best name ever for a stationery shop. The most well-behaved dogs I've ever seen. I'm not the biggest fan of owls but i wouldn't mind having Euclid around. So many delightful little things here!

But it's the story and the writing most of all. I really appreciate the description of the town. I was able to imagine the layout and the look. Sometimes I have difficulty with this but it's done really well here.

The mystery is good, and I loved the fun, crazy stuff that happened along the way to solving it. The side characters are charming and make for a great supporting cast. I was worried about how I would feel about the magic, but I shouldn't have. It's a charming element and I liked Georgie's reaction to it.

From beginning to end Murder Most Owl is a wonderful story with great writing. You will finish reading with a smile on your face and ready for the next one in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read. Murder Most Owl will be published April 2.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Murder Most Owl” by Sarah Fox the 1st instalment in the "Magical Menagerie Mystery series”. I love Sarah’s writing style and totally loved her Sweet Confections series, Literary Pub Mystery series as well as the Pancake House Mystery series, so knew I wouldn't be disappointed!

Things are not always what they seem. Georgie Johansen returns to the charming, coastal town of Twilight Cove and quickly finds herself in a whirlwind of romance, magic and murder!

What a great start to a new series! I loved it! I really enjoyed visiting Twilight Cove, Oregon and the animal sanctuary owned by Georgie’s Aunt Olivia. Sarah is very good at descriptive writing so you feel like you’re right there walking amongst the woods or walking main street and seeing the picturesque stores. I know I would love to live there.

Everyone knows I’m a sucker for furbabies in my cozies so when you have two magical dogs named Fancy and Flossie , along with a great horned owl named Euclid, I was okay I’m in love. Another thing I enjoyed was the relationship between Georgie and her aunt Olivia, as well her high school bff Tessa.

I wasn't surprised by what happened to Dorothy but having all those suspects drew me in and I had to find out what happened to her as she seemed pivotal to the story!

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Georgie did.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Sarah Fox, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley.

This is a simply delightful mix of cozy mystery and romance with a touch of magic. Georgie visits her Aunt Olivia to help with her animal sanctuary while Aunt Olivia recovers from a broken ankle. Pretty much a standard cozy mystery set up with a small town full of charming characters. What I loved about this was that 3 of my favorite charming characters weren't human. I love when animals participate in cozy mysteries, it adds charm and I'm usually delighted. Which is weird cause I avoid stories in which the main character is an animal🤷🏾‍♀️

One important aspect of a successful cozy for me is the setting. I have to like the physical town as much as I like the residents. The town or village itself needs to have an old school cutesy charm. I like a cheerful or quirky atmosphere along with the usual cast of colorful characters. This delivered in everyway. I look forward to returning to Twilight Cove for more of Georgie's adventures.

This audiobook is narrated by Hallie Bee Bard. Hallie does an excellent job with narration but I personally found her voice grating. I think it was me and not the narrator. It rarely happens but sometimes I find a narrators voice grating through no fault of the narrator. This is such a case.

Thank you to Sarah Fox, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been really reading quite a few cozy mysteries lately (of the paranormal variety), and I thought this sounded right up my alley. I am pleased to say that it definitely was. At first, I wasn’t sure, but by the time the end came, I was so in love with all the characters, including Flossie, Fancy, and Euclid that I was terribly sad I was at the end of the book. I had my suspicions about the villain, it was a little bit of a surprise to find out. Loved that! This series opener is a wonderfully written cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series from Sarah Fox that I know that I am going to love...I already can't wait for the next one.
For those that enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, this is going to be right up your alley.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed, are mine and mine alone.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder Most Owl (Magical Menagerie #1)" by Sarah Fox is a touch on the paranormal side. A few of the animals have a few extra talents/abilities that aren't typical of their species. Georgie is finally returning to Twilight Cove to help her Aunt Olivia (Auntie O) on her animal sanctuary farm while her aunt ankle is recovering. While there the neighbor, Dorthy Shale, mysteriously dies and her animals seem to attach themselves to Georgie. Plus her aunt inherits the land. Unfortunately, no wicked witch swooping in. There is an unfriendly land developer, an obnoxious journalist and a woman who may have gotten into it with the victim.

A few more people end up dead before Georgie accidentally discovers who the culprit is. I was sort of suspecting this person. However, I think they took Georgie totally by surprise.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpected surprise; I have really struggled with mysteries as of late and I was not really hopeful for this [though I love this author AND the narrator is a new-to-me favorite] and I ended up really enjoying this one and am now really looking forward to this series. How fun!!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet. As the genre goes…cozy. And how can you go wrong with super powered critters as main characters, really?

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I enjoyed it, it's a fine cozy mystery story and it had some fun aspects.

I loved the animals. They were delightful characters and really added to my enjoyment of this book. The mystery and its solution were cleverly conceived and well-written.

Georgie as our main character was okay, but for some reason I can't even put my finger on I just never really connected with her. She's fine I just didn't love her.

I got this from my library so it was free and I won't complain about it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but it is a perfectly good entry into the cozy mystery genre.

[Kerryiscurrentlyreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc of this book. The below is definitely my opinion freely given.

I cannot overstate how much I disliked this book.

The dialogue was uninspired and juvenile. The author should look into a thesaurus and a better wardrobe for her character ("My thin t-shirt fluttered in the breeze" - Why are all her T-shirts so thin?)

I think my mine gripe of many is that's its first person. And there is a reason that not many authors end up going with a first person narrative. It makes it much harder to show and not tell. All this book does is tell. And its tells in a boring, predictable way.

Its the worst kind of insta love going....I bought his favourite beer....HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT HIS FAVOURITE BEER IS MA'AM? You have only had 3 conversations.

She's so weak willed and ridiculous. He says one mediocre line to reassure her and he 'slips past her defense's?' What defense's? She only just thought of the concern (with zero evidence 🙄) and he says one thing and its all good? Infuriating

The fact that this is marketed as a cozy fantasy is offensive. There's as much fantasy in this as there are aliens in The X Files. The magic is as ridiculous as the premise of the mystery.

Her 'investigation' amounts to a bunch of gossipy and overheard conversations and a few trips to the woods.

If I was a teacher and this was homework, it would be a D- with the comment 'Did you even try'.

Grrrr. This made me angry. I definitely rage read to the end. I should have dnf'd when the author used the phrase 'in broad daylight' about 4 times on one page and not ironically.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#MurderMostOwl #NetGalley is the first in a new series by Sarah Fox.
Georgie has returned to her aunt's home to help her as she heals from a broken ankle. Georgie hasn't been there for awhile, but she finds herself enjoying the quiet that surrounds her.
Georgie meets a neighbor, Dorothy, who seems a bit strange, but Georgie finds comfort in her brief time with her. Fancy and Flossie are Dorothy's dogs, who really add a lot of fun to the story, and the dogs seek out Georgie, causing her to follow them through the woods to their house, where she finds Dorothy, unresponsive.
In due time a murder investigation is underway and Georgie finds herself trying to find out who killed Dorothy and why.

I had an immediate connection with Georgie, her Aunt Olivia, Callum, and Tessa. Fancy and Flossie wagged their way into my heart, and I found myself loving everything about this book. The owl, Euclid added a fun dimension to the story. Twighlight Cove sounds like a wonderful place to live.
I can't wait to share this book with other people who love a good, solid cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

[ColleenSC (colleenallbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

This is an exciting start to a new series. It is an idyllic seaside town, great side characters, and especially lovable cozy companions - two adorable dogs and an owl! The main character is likable, and we have an extra swoony love interest too! I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading about animals because the MC lives at an animal sanctuary and there’s lots of detail about caring for animals. Another unique twist is that our cozy companions have some special abilities and seem to help the MC solve the case. I think this series has so much potential and I look forward to more books.

[Rina Riedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC.

This is a fun cozy mystery set in a small ocean-side town. The vibes are immaculate. I loved the tight-knit community and the heartwarming relationships of the townsfolk. The mystery is quite complex and has its twists and turns that keep you engaged in the story. I liked the FMC, a screenwriter from LA who moves in to help her aunt on a farm for a while to find herself in the midst of a mystery that shook the town. I enjoyed the slow-burn romance story, even more so because it was not the main focus of the book but rather added to it nicely.
The doggos in this book! They are just precious, I loved every interaction with them.
The narrator Hallie Bee Bard is amazing, I want to give a separate shout-out for the dog sounds she does, it was darling.
This book is witty and funny and well written. The author keeps you invested in the characters and the story the whole time. I could not put it down and devoured it in one go. I'd love to see the continuation of this series.

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical Doggos and a Mystical Owl! What more do you need in a new paranormal cosy? Oho, lets just give you a cinnamon roll farmhand, a seaside town, and a cracking mystery!

I must admit that I zipped through this cozy which isn't fair because it is absolutely fantastic! I wanted to give it more time! I will be putting it back on to my read again pile because I zipped through due to it being fun, well written and the character building was delightful as was the scene setting

Sarah Fox is definitely an author to follow and I recommend Murder Most Owl very highly!

Thank you to Netgalley, Severn House and Sarah Fox for this lovely ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

[Megyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Most Owl is a new start to a cozy mystery series. Georgie is coming back to help her aunt out at the farm when she breaks her ankle. When her aunts neighbor is found dead, she is on the hunt for the killer.

This book was just ok for me. I loved the setting and the animals throughout. There was a very whimsical feeling to this cozy town. There were a lot of cute animals described as well.

I didn’t quite connect with any of the characters though. I feel like everyone was a bit flat and I didn’t connect. I also feel like it was a slow read and it kept dragging for me.

I probably won’t be continuing with this series. It wasn’t bad but wasn’t amazing either. Thanks so much to netgalley and Severn house for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Julie Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy mystery with a hint of paranormal - magic animals! Georgie has returned to her aunt's animal sanctuary on adorable sounding Twilight Cove and boom, murders. She is a suspect, and while she tries to solve the crime, she also finds romance. It was a sweet little story and I loved the dogs magical abilities. Georgie doesn't really solve the crime , but the killer is found, the ending was good and I would read more books in this series.

Like most cozy mysteries, I find some of the description super unnecessary. Do I need to know that you drove to town and got a good parking spot? Do I need to know everything you ate each day? Probably not, but in general the book was setting us up for more in the series and now we know the town a little better.

The narration was great. I appreciate the ARC!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series! The characters were intriguing, particularly Dorothy, who unfortunately doesn’t make it, and the mystery had me investigating along with Georgie as she uncovered clues and followed them. There were a few unbelievable moments, which are to be expected, and one break-in scene, which I am not a fan of, but other than that, I enjoyed getting to know Georgie and the rest of the residents and look forward to visiting with them again.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.

[Renee Leeann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a new cozy mystery series! It’s a quick, easy read but really enjoyable. I couldn’t put the book down - there was never a dull moment. Great characters both human and animal! Loved the magical element. I was smiling as I finished the book and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Melanie Lafortune · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book with a bit of magical realism to it. This book fit the bill. I loved Georgie’s relationship with her aunt and with the dogs. I enjoyed the first hints of romance for Georgie while she investigated the murder. This was a fun listen. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced audiobook.

[Debra Jo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery with magical animals. The dogs are incredible.

The story is easy to read while being just detailed enough.

Even though this is a murder mystery, it’s very heart warming with a family element and budding romance.

Fiction, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Animals

Listened on audible.

[Kelli Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this first book in the Magical Menagerie Mysteries! I've enjoyed Sara Fox's other series, and wasn't quite sure where this was going to go, and it was so much fun. An LA screenwriter returns to help her aunt in a small PNW town, and we meet the interesting townspeople, intriguing mysteries, and sweet sweet animals. The characters and setting were great. I can't wait for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for the advance digital copy!

[Lauren Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Great start to a new series. Love the touch of magic in here with the super sweet dogs. Well written and narrated good too. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars. Cozy mystery? A little bit. Paranormal? Not so much. Mostly about animals.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute series intro.

This is a cute introduction to this series! The animals are fun and really are the stars of the story in many ways. This cozy mystery was entertaining.

[Chrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really entertaining read, this ticks all the cosy mystery boxes and has the added bonus of a hint of magic and romance.
The discovery of a dead body in a small costal town leads to a riveting whodunnit, I couldn’t put this down.
I’m excited to see what happens next and am looking forward to the next in the series.

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy set in a seaside town in Oregon with engaging characters and some critters that have unusual talents.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely so good! I didn’t want it to end and loved how everything even the small side mysteries were nicely wrapped up and explained. I really love the dynamics that developed between Georgie and her new love interest. Olivia was an awesome character too, as I’ve found all the characters I’ve read in this author’s various series.

I loved the idea of the animals having special talents rather than the other way around. It was a fun change from the usual witch and talking familiars. Those dogs were just amazing and so lovable. I do love cats but having the dogs being the magical ones was extra fun. I’m not a fan of birds in general, but Euclid was a pretty awesome owl, and I’d sure never turn down his help in ditching bad people lol. I can’t wait for another book in this series! I sure hope the author and publisher have one or more planned!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley , and my opinions are my own.