Arriving home to her beloved farmhouse after a successful trip with her boyfriend, Callum, Georgie Johansen feels utterly contented. Until she discovers a dark figure watching her from the bushes!
A prowler on your property is creepy enough to warrant a call to the police, right? But when Georgie’s ID matches that of a body discovered the next day at Twilight Cove’s Seabreeze Motel, things take a bizarre turn. Especially when Georgie realizes she met the murder victim at the airport in Florida.
Why did the mysterious woman follow them all the way to Oregon? Why was she at the farm? And what could she possibly have done that led to her death?
Georgie—along with magical pups Flossie and Fancy—makes it her mission to uncover the truth. And time is of the essence as a second prowler stares through her window . . .
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.
Another lovely read in this Magical Menagerie series. This series is a big draw for anyone who loves animals, with its special pups, majestic owl, and all the various animals at the sanctuary. Just add an intelligent screen writer, a former professional baseball player, and a wonderful array of family, friends and helpful townspeople and you have a lovely physical setting, interesting characters and mysteries that pop-up from everywhere. In this case, the mystery follows Georgie and Callum home to the Oregon coast from a vacation in Florida to visit with some of Callum's former teammates during spring training. When Georgie is literally run into at the airport, she thinks nothing of it until the woman shows up dead at a bed and breakfast in town! Why did she end up in Oregon? Why had she asked about Callum before her death? Why was the Sanctuary and Georgie 's home being watched? Come along for this interesting mystery, you won't be disappointed! Special thanks to #Netgally, #SevernHouse, and the author for the opportunity to read! #TheBarkBeforetheDawn #TheMagicalMenagerieMysteries #SarahFox #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
I enjoyed this outing with Georgie, Callum, Auntie O, and the gang as they work to not only solve a murder, but also get things straightened out in all of their personal lives.
This book has a good mystery [with many twists and turns] that really features Flossie, Fancy, Euclid, and Starlight [Stardust? Star something - ergh. My apologies for forgetting that adorable kittens name] and their abilities [though none have yet shown up for the kitten, I figure it is just a matter of time] - the reveal at the end really showcases how amazing these animals are [and how much they absolutely ADORE their humans] and really make for a great reveal. I hope that if there is a book #5, we will see even more of their tricks and abilities [and hopefully more of Quackers - IYKYK].
This is such a great series and I am so glad that I took a chance on it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Fox, and Severn House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"The Bark Before the Dawn (A Magical Menagerie Mystery Book 4)" by Sarah Fox has Georgie and her boyfriend, Callum, returning to their Oregon farm after a vacation in Florida. Georgie keeps finding herself bumping into a mysterious woman, and then other people who seem to be trying to find her boyfriend. Someone seems to be stalking her farm as well.
Along with trying to work out the mysterious death of one of the people and then who broke into her farm, she's finally going to reveal her animal companions' magical abilities. Lucky for her, Callum is quickly accepting. The animals are also quick to start including him in their antics.
4/5 stars: This is Fox's fourth entry in the Magical Menagerie Mystery series, which is a Paranormal Cozy Mystery set in Oregon. Featuring a screenwriter who helps run her aunt's animal sanctuary and farm as she finds herself turning sleuth after a mysterious woman who seems to have followed her home from her Florida vacation only to turn up dead at a local motel. With help from her magical pups, she makes it her mission to uncover the truth despite repeated break-ins at her home. As she figures out what the thief's after, she'll have to work fast as it's put in the cross-hairs of a killer.
With plenty of twists and turns, Fox has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Fox's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.
• Paranormal elements: Animals with magical abilities. • For Animal Lovers: There are plenty, in particular: the MC's adorably magical English spring spaniels, her sweet cat and a very mysterious great horned owl.
Fox touches on some serious topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder Most Owl.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Severn House in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
This series is a lot of fun to read with all the animals, both magical and not. I think Euclid the owl is my favorite, even though his appearances are few and far between.
Georgie Johansen and her boyfriend, retired MLB player Callum McQuade, are returning from a trip to Florida where they enjoyed a vacation as well as some spring training exercises with Callum's old ballplayer friends. On the way home, Georgie notices a nervous looking woman who bumps into her at the airport but puts it out of her mind. Ultimately, she comes home with an expensive piece of jewelry that the woman must have slipped into her bag and now a group of people from Florida wind up in tiny Twilight Cove, OR all looking for the same jewels, including the redhead, who ends up dead.
After a series of break-ins far too close to home, Georgie is determined to get to the bottom of things and get her sanctuary back. While she doesn't try to put herself in danger, danger seems to find her.
I love the friend groups that are a cozy staple. It's almost always a tight knit group you just want to be a part of and this book is no exception. I love the day-to-day activities of a small-town life and the cozy feeling of businesses and friends and chance meetings. The magic of Georgie's dogs is delightful and the animals living in the sanctuary are charming. I was sad that the duck that was introduced went to a new home quickly but hopefully we will see more of Quackers in subsequent books.
I do hope there will be more books in this lovely series. I always look forward to reading Ms. Fox's work.
My thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
Georgie and Callum had a blast with his former team mates at the Blue Jays training camp. Just before they were ready for the flight back to Oregon, a woman bumped into Georgie. Apologies were made and she thought nothing more of it. That is until she got home and strange things started to occur including the arrival of the woman from the airport and her subsequent murder. Added to that was the sense that either she or Callum were being stalked which built into terror when it seemed she was no longer safe in her own house.
She makes some foolish decisions and her home is burgled and some very valuable items are stolen. But rather than have things settle down, it all excellerates into physical attacks. It is a good thing that she and Callum, who now knows the truth, have two magical dogs and a guardian owl looking out for them. The three are her secret weapons in finding evidence and helping to solve crimes. They do not let her down this time in spite a a harrowing bit of hide and seek with the villain. There is also just the right amount of romance in the air with some super payoffs.
If you enjoy animals with special powers and a heroine who still manages to get into interesting situations without being dumb, this is a series for you. I have enjoyed every outing. Five purrs and two paws up.
NetGalley Review — The Bark Before the Dawn by Sarah Fox ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fun and cozy read. I enjoyed visiting Twilight Cove this installment had the perfect mix of mystery, charm, and light paranormal elements.
I loved Georgie and the magical pups — they add so much warmth and personality to the story. The mystery kept me engaged the whole time, especially with the eerie feeling of someone watching and the connection to the murder victim slowly unfolding. It had that classic cozy mystery pacing where the tension builds steadily without ever losing the comforting small-town feel.
The coastal setting and familiar characters make this series such an easy, enjoyable escape. It’s the kind of book you can curl up with and get completely absorbed in while still having that suspense to keep you turning pages.
A really enjoyable installment and a solid 4-star read for me. Perfect for cozy mystery readers who enjoy a touch of magic, a lovable cast of characters, and an engaging whodunit.
Thank you to Sarah Fox, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The Bark Before the Dawn is the 4th book in Sarah.Fox's Magical Menagerie Mystery series and it is a great addition to the series. The characters are very likable and the cozy mystery was good, Georgie Johansen and her Aunt Olivia run an animal sanctuary in Twilight Cove, Oregon. Georgie's boyfriend Callum is a retired baseball player and is the farm manager. There is a dead body found at a local hotel and Georgie has seen her before. This leads to prowlers, break ins and secrets. Georgie has two dogs Fancy and Flossy who have special magical abilities and.Euclid the owl who also helps out. They add a fun paranormal element and Georgie has to decide whether to tell Callum about their abilities. Their relationship is supportive and really cute and there is some advancement which made me smile. The book has a good pace and the characters are wonderful. It was so enjoyable and even though I suspected the.culprit I wasn't sure until the end. This cozy mystery series is engaging and fun and.I look forward to more books. #TheBarkBeforeTheDawn #MagicalMenagerieMystery #NetGalley #SevernHouse
4th in the series, but I think it can be read as a standalone. I do recommend the series. This is the perfect time of year for this read. Callum and Georgie's sweet romance is moving forward in the story but that is a side story that fits in nicely with the plot. So don't worry, it's not all mushy. After a nice vacation together, they return back to their animal sanctuary with more than just a tan. Georgie's house is broken into and mystery begins as to why a woman that ran into Georgie in Florida has suddenly appeared in their hometown and is she connected to the house being broken into? A very well written story that was entertaining and dare I say sweet. But not too sweet because there is a murder to be solved. We get a little bit of thriller action for a satisfying ending. If you like cozy murder mysteries, I highly recommend this series and The Bark Before the Dawn. Baseball, a very tiny amount of mystical and magic, a sweet and loving romantic story that doesn't overwhelm, dogs, cats, and a duck, and a murder to be solved. Just an overall good story.
Thank you #SevernHouse and #Netgalley for the eArc of this book.
The Magical Menagerie series continues with this fourth book, The Bark Before Dawn, and was a delightful addition.
Georgie and Callum have returned from a vacation in Florida when Georgie realizes that she's being watched. Who? Why? Flossie and Fancy are right by Georgie's side as the mystery heats up with a murder, two break-ins at the farm house, and several strangers from Florida that are visiting Twilight Cove just as the murder and break-ins have occurred. Ms. Fox's descriptive writing paints a clear picture of this small Oregon town and all of the characters provide valuable clues as the story speeds to the dramatic conclusion. The sweet relationship between Callum and Georgie grows with each book. An entertaining and fast-paced read that hooked me from the first chapter.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Something about the ending almost made it sound like the final book, but I sure hope that’s not the case. If it really is, it was wrapped up just perfectly, although I think Georgie and Callum along with two amazing spaniels still have lotsa mysteries to solve.
This was a stumper of a mystery and seemed multi-layered in some ways. There were definitely plenty of suspects to pick from but only one had killed someone, and as always, the spaniels along with awesome Euclid got to help with the takedown. I absolutely loved the ending and really, really hope there’s more books being planned!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House, and my opinions are my own.
This is the fourth book in the Magical Menagerie Mystery series! I definitely recommend reading the previous books before starting this one! Everything will make a lot more sense! This is such a fun, magical mystery series! I have really grown to love Georgie and her dogs! I’ve also really enjoyed the progression of her relationship with Callum. He’s such a sweet guy too!
The story has a little something for everyone- mystery, murder, romance, cute dogs, and magical realism. Flossie and Fancy, Georgie’s dogs really make the story in my opinion. They are an adorable pair!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries and animals, then I recommend you check out this series! Looking forward to hopefully more books in the future.
This book was fine. The dogs, and other animals, were cute, the main characters seemed like decent folks. The small town felt like the sort of place you might like to stay a while. well, aside from that pesky murder, of course.
The writing style didn't really gel well with me; It was a bit heavy on the tell, and light on the show. The plot moved at a decent pace though and, well, it was fine, nice bit of mystery to solve, some action in the climax.
It would've been nice if the dogs had more distinct personalities though.
Nothing ground breaking, but a perfectly reasonable read. I love the title.
The Bark Before the Dawn by Sarah Fox continues the Magical Menagerie Mystery series as Georgie and Callum return from a trip to Florida to their farm in Oregon. When a body turns up and it is someone Georgie recognizes from Florida, she is sucked into trying to find out why she would be targeted by someone she doesn't know. Of course her two magical pups Flossie and Fancy help with solving the mystery. This is another good addition to the series and the paranormal twists are very believable.
Georgie and Callum have visited his old baseball team in Florida and at the airport as they are leaving, a woman bumps into Georgie. Back in Oregon, Georgie hears about a murder in town and is shocked to find the victim is the same woman. Georgies two dogs have special, magical abilities, and there’s also an owl that helps with her investigations. The supernatural is not overdone and the animals are very sweet. The setting on the Oregon coast is lovely and I enjoyed the mystery, with its twists and turns. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.
A lazy weekend and a good book. This one was exactly what I needed. It’s a wonderful addition to an already fantastic series. The story quickly pulled me in, and once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. This cozy mystery is a perfect blend of murder and intrigue, filled with likeable characters, a hint of the paranormal, just the right touch of romance and the pacing keeps you engaged. I highly recommend it. I received an advance review copy via NetGalley/Severn House and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I was so curious to know what is going on. Why are these women asking about Callum? I was holding my breath anxiously waiting.
One of the best things I love about the books is not even the mystery- it’s the relationship between Georgie and Callum. So many moments that put a smile on my face!
Between the tension, the questions, and everything slowly coming together, this one definitely kept me on edge and fully invested.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for a review.
The Bark Before The Dawn is a cozy mystery with magically-gifted animals helping the main character solve the mystery. I really enjoyed reading how Flossie and Fancy’s skills came in very handy and Euclid the owl dropped in to provide hints every so often. The main characters, Georgie and Callum, have such a sweet relationship. The ending was fabulous!
Georgie and Callum are investigating another murder, along with the magical pups and their group of friends. I enjoyed the mystery, and Georgie and Callum taking their relationship to the next level. This was a solid read, looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
I've enjoyed this sweet cozy mystery series more and more with each new book. This one was really fun and brought us even more into the lives of our main characters. Paired with an interesting mystery and the cute cute animals (who have magical powers!), it's a winner all around. I can't wait for the next one! Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the advance digital copy!
Another great book from the series. I love the relationship between Georgie and Cal and how it has built through every book. Through each novel my love for other people in town has grown as well. But the relationship between the dogs and the development of their abilities adds such a fun back ground to the solving of murder mysteries. I can’t wait for the next installment.
I really enjoy this series. It is well written with a solidly mystery in each entry. What I love even more than the solid mystery are the animals, especially Flossie and Fancy. It’s always an enjoyable read for me with this series.
This cozy mystery features dogs. Seriously, what’s better than that combination? This was a fun read, and I look forward to reading more from the author!
“ The Bark Before the Dawn” by Sarah Fox the 4th instalment in the "Magical Menagerie Mystery series”. Sarah’s books are an automatic preorder even without reading the blurb on what the book is about, I just love her writing style. I’m hoping there will be more of her other series in 2026. (Sweet Confections series, Literary Pub Mystery series as well as the Wyatt Investigations Mystery series)
Ever get the feeling you’re being watched?
I loved it! I really enjoyed visiting Twilight Cove, Oregon and the animal sanctuary again. This time someone is prowling around the farmhouse and following Georgie, (what a creepy feeling that must be )
Sarah is very good at descriptive writing so you feel like you’re right there walking amongst the woods, on the beach or walking main street and seeing the picturesque stores. I know I would love to live there and be part of Georgie’s friend group.
Who wouldn’t want to hang out with two magical dogs named Fancy and Flossie, a kitten named Stardust, a great horned owl named Euclid, and all the Sanctuary animals. Another thing I enjoy is where Georgie and Callum’s relationship is heading.
The story 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 5 to come out!
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Severn House and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Any book by Sarah Fox is a must read for me, but I find this series to be extra special because of the light paranormal twist involving Georgie's two sweet dogs, Fancy and Flossie, and the Great Horned Owl, Euclid, who watch out for her and on more than one occasion, lead her to clues. In this installment, Georgie and her boyfriend, Callum, have just returned home from vacation. After a series of strange and scary events, including a few break-ins at her home, they realize Georgie's being watched. But why? The mystery is fast-past, engaging, and filled with loveable characters. Another delightful book in the Magical Menagerie Mystery series! Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this great book.
Even missing a book in this series, I have enjoyed every other one, including this latest in the series. Georgie and Callum are on a vacation visiting some professional friends of Callum’s when a strange event happens at the airport and they continue when they get home. What follows is an interesting mystery with many twists and turns, and I just enjoyed the heck out of this installment, and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next for our characters, especially with what happens at the end. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.