Unmasked Jenifer Kanin: A Raccoon's Story

by Jenifer Kanin

Meet Gary. A very average raccoon of average intelligence. His daily concerns are where to get his next snack and how to remain unnoticed. When his friend Jenny notices he bears a strikingly similar appearance to the local cat, his quiet life is soon turned upside-down with a brazen plan to infiltrate the homes of the nearby humans in search of food.

Just when things seem to be going their way some of the local animals, both wild and domestic turn up missing or dead. The pair find themselves at the heart of the investigation, trying to uncover the truth of who is behind the mystery. As they work to save the lives of those around them, Gary must come to terms with his past and decide who he will become.

Genres: Humor

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[Michelle W. - Sweaters & Stilettos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a copy of the ebook to read and review.
This was an interesting premise. It’s told from the point of view of several animals in a suburban neighbourhood.
The characters were well thought out and definitely brought to life on the page. I was confused at the changing POVs though. It’s not that it didn’t add to the story, it was more that the plot lacked structure. It felt like one book until about halfway through. Then it veered more into a mystery, except without any real clues. Then the last quarter zoomed through all the reveals and the ending.
This book suffered from poor structure. There was so much information dumping, that didn’t feel like dumping (a positive), but then turned into not exactly critical information for the plot. It was already short, I feel like with a bit of condensing, this would have been a much stronger short.
It wasn’t really to my taste, which isn’t the author’s fault. I’m not super excited by a book about animals to begin. It was well written though and the characters really were well drawn.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unmasked by Jenifer Kanin reminded me of an adult version of The Wind in the Willows or Frog & Toad, not only because of the animals talking and acting like humans, even down to indoor plumbing, but because of the life lessons woven throughout the book.

It took me a bit to get into the flow of the book since the chapter jumps felt very abrupt to me. When I finished the first chapter and started the second, I turned the page back twice to make sure I hadn’t missed something.

The story is told by three different sets of characters; Gary and his bunny friend, the two detectives who are a fox and a chipmunk, and various humans. Although there is the mystery of who is killing various animals in the neighborhood, I felt that it took a back seat to Gary coming to terms with his life, including alcoholism and abuse in his family, and all the other life lessons that were in the book.

If you are looking for a sweet story with character growth and a happy ending, then Unmasked by Jenifer Kanin may be for you!

[maydevoursbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁."

Genre: Crime Fiction
CW: Violence, Alcoholism

🗒✒
A whodunit story which shows how certain incidents will endanger the lives of animals & disturbed the peaceful lives of humans.

We follow Gary, a raccoon, who wears masks & costumes to impersonate other animals to gain something in return with the help of a bunny. Its actions reflects what people do. We wear masks to hide something - our insecurities, fears, pain, sadness or anything that we wanted to conceal. At the end of the day when we unmasked, we are left with a lingering question: 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗺 𝗜?

It explores oneself & struggles of a family (parenting & marriage). It depicts the exercise of power in which the weaker animal is being preyed on. This is still rampant in our society until now. The rich vs the poor. How some people are only focused solely on their own advantages & interests :(( Also portrays how our decisions change the course of our lives amidst the challenges thrown at us & how we can come out victorious if we do the right thing.

Never thought I missed this genre until I read another one (the last was in July). I missed the slow buildup, the feeling of anxiousness when the MC does something dangerous, the thrill of solving the puzzle to know who the culprit is. And this story def serves👏🏻

If you are a pet-lover, you might want to check this out!🐶🐱🔎

-----
Thank you Ms Jenifer for giving me a soft copy in exchange for an honest review!😊

[Gabi Mecherkany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cozy read with a cute mystery from a racoon's perspective. I really enjoyed the relationship between him and the bunny, and I loved reading about him being disguised as different animals. I would've liked to hear more about that and less about the humans, and maybe add a little touch of fantasy to it. Also, I was very surprised at the twist at the end and loved that! Thanks to the author for sending me this e-book!

[Maria Motley-Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unmasked is a cozy mystery revolving around Gary, a ordinary raccoon, who with the help of his bunny friend Jenny discovers he can disguise himself as other animals to make his way easier around the neighborhood, Eleanor Place. Gary quickly gets tangled up in a mystery involving deaths of forest creatures and a family's
chickens.

This book was a quick read. The premise of having a raccoon as the hero to the story was cute and original. However I quickly found myself frustrated with the jumps in POV. Some chapters were info dumps dealing with the families that live on the cul-de-sac of Eleanor Place in 3rd person unlimited. Other chapters were 1st person from Gary. The world was a bit inconsistent and it had me scratching my head at times. (Ex Jenny had white boards in her burrow to help with planning disguises but Gary wasn't sure what antibiotics were. The Possum family had pictures in their home but Jenny wasn't sure how a trap worked.)

All of that being said this is a hopeful story about Gary gaining confidence and becoming a hero. It leaves you with a message about overcoming a brutal childhood and making a choice to do the right thing.

[Jenelle Compton · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was an adorable little mystery. Who wouldn't love a raccoon main character, dressed up by his rabbit friend, sneaking around into peoples yards and houses? Seriously, adorable.
I didn't expect this to be so philosophical, raising questions about humanity and who we are, the decisions we make to get there. This was interesting. And adorable.
I really liked it.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unmasked is the perfect pick for cozy mystery fans looking for a fun, uplifting tale exploring who exactly a hero is and what it takes to be one.

Unmasked is told from the perspective of Gary, a raccoon, who is content spending his time hanging out with his best friend Jenny, a rabbit, and dreaming of food (same, Gary, same). When Jenny recognizes Gary's potential to do more for their fellow forest animals and comes up with a plan to do so, Gary is hesitant. Until he realizes Jenny's plan will give him prime access to tasty treats instead of the garbage scraps he usually eats. They better watch out though, because all over the forest animals are being found dead and nobody knows who, or what, is responsible. Readers get to follow Gary and Jenny on their adventures while also getting the tea on the various humans and domestic creatures that live in the neighborhood next to the forest.

I absolutely loved Unmasked and thought this was a very entertaining read! Jenifer Kanin does a fantastic job presenting the underlying themes of heroism and overcoming challenges in life in such an uplifting and humorous way. I laughed out loud several times while reading this and even highlighted a few sections that I know will bring a smile to my face on a bad day. The humor is beautifully woven into thought-provoking prose that left me asking myself many of the same questions Gary had for himself.

Other than the humor, the thing I enjoyed most about this book is the suspense. First off, it is a little ways into the book before the first murder victims are even discovered. I was so drawn into the setting of the scene, I had almost forgotten this was a mystery in the first place. The more I got to know about the history of Gary's life and the lives of the other characters, the more I wanted to skip to the end and see who the culprit was (I was way off, by the way). Kanin's attention to detail in creating character backstories was great and really made me feel like I was learning what drove each character and the motives for their actions. This made it especially exciting towards the end of the book when everything started coming together.

Overall, this is a memorable book that I don't think anyone will regret picking up. I mean, it's not often you're reading a book about forest animals so relatable you almost forget they aren't human! By the last page, I was sad to say goodbye to Gary and Jenny, but it's a comfort to know I can visit them again whenever I would like.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for the promise of an honest review. All opinions in this review are mine.

[Abigail Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d like to thank the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I felt this novel had a lot of promise, sadly it mostly didn’t work for me. What I struggled with most was how the novel seemed to often change POV and the chapters were a bit all over the place. For example, one chapter would focus on Gary the raccoon and Jenny the rabbit, then the next chapter would give random information on one of the human families that lived nearby. Several families were randomly discussed in different chapters but this had no relevance to the plot, in fact the novel probably would have worked better without these sections as they broke the flow of the novel. The best part of the book was the ending, I feel if the author removed most of the parts about the humans and stuck more to the animals it would have made a more enjoyable read.

Another issue I had with the mention of the human families was the fact that they were described in very stereotypical, heteronormative ways. This can be noted in how Ethan and Felicity Jackson are described as stereotypically good looking, and as being the cliché of the football star and cheerleader. Furthermore, once they have a child, they follow the gender normative stereotypes that the woman stays at home, and the man goes to work and expects everything to be done for him when he gets home. This just didn’t work for me as it depicted a rather dated view of family life.

What I did like about the book was how it was very unique with its focus on a murder mystery from the perspective of woodland animals. The author did a great job with describing the animals and she created a very likeable protagonist in Gary.

The book focused a lot on morals so I could see this as being more suitable for younger readers. The moral elements were good, however I personally feel the author tried too hard to add these elements to the book - sometimes they felt a bit too much and a bit forced.

I was sad I didn’t enjoy this book as the plot sounded so exciting! Hopefully others would get more enjoyment from it than I did.

[Readwithraisa]

This is a story about an average raccoon named Gary and his witty rabbit friend Jenny, who is always one step ahead of the game. They together devise a mastermind plan to disguise as pets of different human families that live in the neighbourhood called Eleanor Place. Gary, who was just any average raccoon, focused on making ends meet and living a simple life finds himself on an adventurous mission to help their animal community.

I have not read a story written in the POV of an animal. It's smart and witty and teaches you a lot of life lessons. This is a story about a hero being born. It makes you think about the type of person you are and what type of person you want to be. It was fun to read about the short stories about the humans who lived in Eleanor Place and other stories like the mystery that Max and Jonathan were trying to solve about the Possum family. Jenifer Kanin has a great way of using vivid descriptions to tell a story.

One of my favourite quotes from this book is:
"You do not need any superpowers to think about the world around you, to notice the needs of others and to reach out and help; to simply be good."

Thank you Jenifer Kanin for providing the reviewer's copy. I wish you all the best!

[Polina Kim (polinaspages)]

“It is a strange and exhilarating feeling to look in the mirror and know that you are looking at yourself, but not recognizing the face in front of you.”

Huge thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review. This was a story told from the perspective of several animals living in the suburbs. Gary is just a normal raccoon living his life, until together with his rabbit friend Jenny they discover that by dressing him up, he can pass for other animals. I would say this is probably a middle grade book although it does have a few graphic scenes, so age-wise- I think it depends on the kid honestly.

The book covers quite a few serious themes, like belonging, and how drinking can break up a family. It has an interesting premise- how masks and hiding your true identity, how this feeling of anonymity can make you feel like a completely different person. Perhaps this is particularly relevant, what with the ability to catfish in today’s word. The prose is humorous, although it leaves little space for the reader to infer something.

While I realize that perhaps for younger kids it could be hard to figure out for example murder, and the repercussions of humans hating the animals they cohabit with, this could have used less outright telling. Because of events being spoon fed to us, and the information dumps, it disrupted the pace a lot. Together with the POVs, it made for a lack of structure.

There were many switches between narrative styles that I found strange, and the chapter length, although it made for easy reading, threw the pace of the story off. That being said though, every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, and since the goal is to create a love for reading in middle graders (it doesn’t say what the age category is, but I’m going to go with middle grade, due to the simple prose and the overall themes) I think that part did it’s job.

I really don’t love animal stories, so perhaps that played a role in my lack of immense enjoyment towards this book. I’m keeping this review short, and not giving the book a rating, because I’m not the intended category for this book. That would be like me saying “the hungry caterpillar is too repetitive, and there’s too many pictures.” It’s not for my age category. Overall, I enjoyed the idea, the story kept you hooked the whole time, but the writing could have used a little work. Thank you once again to the author and their publishing company.

[Alexandra Mecherkany · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thank you to the author for sending me this e-book to read and review!***

This story was out of the norm for me. It had a cutesy feel to it as it followed the perspective of forest animals. I appreciated the unexpected pairs and what the book did for my imagination, picturing cute animal pairs teaming up for whatever their lives bring. Unfortunately there was a lot of information dumping for me, and was normally information that wasn’t super critical to the story line. I was definitely more interested in reading about the animals and agree with others in B&B Book Club about wishing there was more on the detective pair.

I think the author would make an excellent self help, street psychology writer. The deeper emotional parts stuck out and resonated with me. It almost felt like the author was trying to share her heart in a back ended way to people in her life...

Nothing to do with the book, but this was my first and last e-book! I much prefer reading actual books.

[Annapoorni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the author copy.
The setting of the story is described really well. I like how you populated it with different animals and gave the readers a peek into some of their lives, alongwith Gary's journey to becoming a hero.
The telling of the story was disconnected in some parts. Despite it being a relatively short read, the book did not grip me. I feel it could have been edited more. Also, I did find it a bit preachy; I mean, like in stories of childhood, how they end with a moral. I found that to be a put off. I mean, I am ok for there to be a message and lessons learnt, in a subtler way.
What I really appreciate is the growth of Gary as a hero. The costumes, the recce done before a mission, the preparation and behind the scenes activities that aid a hero, the crises, Gary's slips of indulgence and his realization thag this is larger than the self. These have been brought out well.

[Christina Tamboli · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to the author for a copy of the e-book to read and review.

3.3/5

Unmasked was an interesting, cute little mystery. Normally not the type of book or genre I would pick for myself to read; I was glad to read something out of my normal genre (mystery/thrillers).

This story follows a raccoon, Gary, trying to find his way in a life shared with fellow forest animals and humans alike.

Overall, this was a decent read. However, I felt
the same story could have been told with less; for example there was a lot of description of all the different humans which confused me and felt superfluous. It also felt like two different stories were being told. Out of the two plots, I would have loved to read more about the detective pair and animal relationships, exploring the uneven unspoken power dynamics throughout the forest / animals, rather than the focus being on Gary’s introspection.

[Srijoni Nandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. ❤

Our protagonist is a raccoon named Gary. With the help of his friend Jenny, a rabbit, he is on a mission to help his animal friends as well ass maintain peace between humans and the forest animals. But, a series of sinister killings is about to ruin everything.

This was the first of its kind book I've ever read. I have watched animal movies, but this was the first time I read something like this and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Few aspects that I truly relished were the witty writing style. It was fun to read about humans from the perspective of a raccoon. 🤭🤭

Also, quite a few important topics were covered, like family issues and low self esteem. The raccoon in question, Gary, seems to spend a considerable amount of time in self introspection and self motivation. All of these would have sounded very preachy, if done by a human, but since it was a raccoon, I found it very funny as well as enlightening.

A huge thanks to the author, Jenifer Kanin, for sending this awesome book my way. This was definitely my one of the most enjoyable reads of 2021.

Lastly, if you enjoy movies like Kung Fu Panda or Ratatouille or The Lion King or Ice Age, you've got to read this book.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jenifer Kanin reached out to me to do an early review of her book, I leapt at the opportunity. I was already a follower and a fan of her Instagram account @garyunmask. At first for the adorable puppy pictures and scenes from her farm, but as she posted quotes from the book, I became more and more intrigued by her writing. The quotes she post speaks to the heart of many of the questions I have pondered over for years. In fact, there are so many great quotes, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that they are all original content coming from the same book. At the same time, when I received my copy, I really did not know what to expect as to the story and the plot lines.

As you start to read, you can immediately she that she has a gift in painting the most vivid of word pictures, and she engages all of your senses and emotions throughout the book as you read. You quickly get caught up in the world of Gary and Jenny as she masterminds a plan to improve their live and the lives of everyone they know. Gary’s journey from a sort of an everyday guy going through the motions of life without much thought, to reconciling with his past and his upbringing, and then confronting his future a who he wants to be is masterfully done.

Jenny had to be my favorite character. She always seems to be one step ahead of everyone in her thinking, and I will admit that when tragedy strikes, I shed a few tears for her.

The main story follows their adventure, interspersed with short stories about other characters in the book and flashbacks to Gary’s childhood and family life. In many of these chapters the author really digs in to the underlying theme of the book, and I tended to still be chewing on them for a few days after I read them. A few I even went back and reread after I finished the book.
In the final chapters, she brings us full circle to the opening of the book, and the ending does not disappoint. So often the formula for the ending of book or a movie these days if that the horrible violence of the villain is solved by an equally violent action from the hero – something we all cheer for. I really appreciated the way Jenifer Kanin ended her story. It stayed true to the themes of the book and was refreshing to read. The epilogue tied up the story nicely and I suspect, sprinkled in a few ideas that we will see surface in the next book.

I highly recommend that this one find its way to the top of your reading list! It is a hilarious and tender story that make you think about who you are and the kind of person you want to be.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully original. Thoughtful. Provocative.

Which of us does not, at times, wear a “mask”, sheltering us at our most vulnerable, and providing a liberating newness of face and of spirit?

What makes a true hero? Is it really nothing more than doing the best you can to process whatever terrible cards you may have been dealt, without bitterness or resentment, all the while holding onto your humanity and compassion and unshakeable need to be of service to others.

The key word here - as applied to this wonderful book, with gentle and inescapable irony - is “humanity”.

For Gary, our hero and the main protagonist of this book, is, after all, a raccoon.

A very “human” raccoon, in that Gary thinks and philosophizes and yearns and grieves and tells us his story, while at the same time living his life, a raccoon-y life, in a world that exists in unity with the forest, and plants, and birds, and other animal friends and foes, all of them living in and around the houses and humans in the quiet community of Eleanor Place, Rocky Pines.

As the story unfolds, - a totally engaging mix of murder mystery, hero’s quest, emotional journey, and quirky humor - it’s hard not to feel a soft place in your heart beat for Gary and his extended group of friends, including:

Jenny - Gary’s truest friend, a white rabbit, whose soft and lovely external appearance matches her gentle spirit and overarching love and support for her friend, Gary.

Max - an elegant fox, solver of crimes, who is wise and clever in unpacking the mysterious ways of both humans and other creatures

Jonathon - Max’s sidekick, flexible and curious, a lively chipmunk who is keen and can always be counted on

Mr.Pickles (cat) and Mitzy/ Lulu Belle (dogs) - the most enviable creatures of all, domesticated pets, who are loved and pampered by their humans, surrounded by “warm and cozy places to nap”, any time of the day or night.

I loved this book and marvel at the creative mind at work behind it.

No spoilers here - this story is one-of-a-kind and you will have to read this one to uncover the magic.

A great big thank you to the author, Jenifer Kanin, for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Rosemary Martell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Very unique, unlike anything I have read recently. Not your usual cozy, which tends to be a little simpler and straight forward, and I think it helps not to go into it expecting something like that. The mystery itself is more like an Agatha Christie, not really the trail-of-bread-crumbs-so-you-can-figure-it-out-on-your-own kind. I had my suspicions as to who it might be and why.... but was surprised at the ending - which I enjoyed.

It was easy to get invested in the main characters, a raccoon (Gary) and a bunny (Jenny). The book's plot structure adds to the uniqueness, as the main story is told first person from Gary's perspective, and the other story lines (involving a fox and a chipmunk detective pair that move the mystery along, as well as short stories about the humans living in the area) are told by a neutral narrator.

At first, I wondered why the author spent so much time on the other characters and Gary's back story. I liked the Jenny/Gary story line so much, I kept wanting the book to get back to them and their adventure (it does in the last half of the book and unites the storylines in a way that left me satisfied). It was only when I took a step back that I could see the book really seemed to be more of a metaphor about the human condition, what makes a person good or bad, and what qualities should we should value as a society. Then all the characters throughout the story lined up as good or bad examples around that theme.

The author does and amazing job of blurring the lines between the humans and the animals. I think she intentionally tries to make you forget, so that she can pull you back in and show you how we can treat one another like animals. The relationship between Gary's parents is a good example of this:

"He would at first try to be aloof and evasive. Mom would just press harder for the
answers. He would then turn to a strategy of lying and denying. Mom
would counter with confronting and accusing. Then dad would do what
any raccoon does when he is backed into a corner. He would snarl and
hiss and the whole thing would explode into a full-on fight."

The book is beautifully written and uses humor and wit as a way to balance some of the more thoughtful parts of the book.

All and all I really enjoyed it, and applaud the author for writing something fresh and original.

Highly recommended.

[Elysian Bookgraphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Impressive and Exceptional!!

“You cannot control what the people around you are going to do or who they are going to be, even if they are the people we love the most. They may make choices we don’t agree with, and sometimes we even have to suffer the consequences of their bad decisions. But the only thing you can control is how you are going to react to those people and to the events that happen around you.”

“It is not the choice that is ultimately the most important thing, but it is our commitment and attitude after the decision has been made that will determine if we are happy and satisfied or not.”

Just finished reading this awesome piece of work called ‘Unmasked’ which is a debut novel of the author Jenifer Kanin.  Frankly on its first impression, a book which seems to be a light and fun read, surprisingly it is not just that.

This book is full of great life lessons, some of my favourite lines from it I mentioned above. To my surprise this book gave me a wonderful experience and was totally unputdownable.  A very well written, adventurous ride with a taste of suspenseful mystery that will surely make an impact on your way of living life and how you think in every situation.

Dive into the undaunted, exciting and an inspirational journey of Gary whom I must introduce you all with, is a Raccoon. Yes a Raccoon, who with his friend Jenny and their action-packed performance will make you fall in love with them. Jenifer has done a commendable job in writing such fun loving and at the same time very well determined characters.

I want to congratulate the author about how brilliantly she has spread this strong message through her book that we are living on the same planet and carry similar emotions whether it is an animal or a human. She beautifully broke the barrier between humans and animals, and has conjoined their lives, way of thinking, sense of righteousness and justice.  

This was totally worth it and I had a great time reading it.
Thank you Jenifer for this… Very Impressive and Exceptional!!
Highly recommend this to all.

[John Katsoulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal intelligence is underestimated by humans, and human intelligence is overestimated by animals, and in Unmasked, the animals act more human than animal, teaching the humans not to act like lesser animals.
Jenifer Kanin provides an insight into the forest world surrounding Eleanor Place. In suburbia, the animals watch the humans, and devise plans to enter their homes and forage. Everything is fine until a gruesome event changes everything.
Gary is the protagonist. He’s a racoon, you see? He, and Jenny the rabbit, Max the fox, and Jonathan, and many others, embark on an investigation which shifts the axis of the story, forcing them to deal with the pasts and states of their lives. I found it gripping to hear them speak. The whole forest came alive.
The cast, including the lovable cat, Mr. Pickles, takes us on a journey which turns dark, until Gary comes of age, you could say, and sees the light. This rascal is trying to do good, despite his insecurities at odds with forest politics. He never sees himself as a hero, until he’s called upon to act: “I would protect those who cannot protect themselves.” This got me. At this point, I forgot who spoke; animal was man, and man was animal, and each creature on this earth mattered.
The pages turned, and the chapters came and went, and I didn’t want to stop.
The writer’s style is clear and clean and concentrates on the story and emotional journey of Gary. It is the story everyone addresses at some point in their lives: Who are they? Does our past determine our future? What is courage? How will they act when the time comes to act?
We grow with Gary, and the writer allows the reader to become a child again without forgetting they’re adults. It’s a special place and is created with an expert hand. An odd thing happened at the end, I didn’t want to leave the world of Gary and his friends.
A must read!

[Lekha reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

We, human beings, must have read or heard this multiple times that we are the most powerful creature on this planet. But we often ignore the fact that - “With great power comes great responsibility’”. We continue expanding our civilisation to far and beyond; getting closer to the habitat of wild creatures by each passing day and several times stealing their right to live happily. How do these creatures feel about it? Do they also get agitated like us when their happy homes are ravaged? 

I feel they do! This debut novel by Jenifer Kanin made me realise that. The unique story revolves around a raccoon and bunny, who live near homes of human beings and make plans to get food from them for their families. These animals envy the pet dogs or cats of these human beings who have a comfortable home with easy access to food. In short, these wild animals have the same priorities as us and feel the same emotions like we do. One fine day, a heinous crime occurs and the creatures on both sides unite with their communities to get the bottom of that. Was the culprit a human or an animal?

I loved the writing style of the author; promising and beautiful. She gave voice to the animals but didn’t let them sound like a victim. They know what happened to them but they are smart enough to use their brain to adapt to their changing living environment. Overall, I loved the suspense part and ending of the book. The cover was absolutely brilliant and kudos to the author for telling a story which needs to be heard. I just have one problem with this book. The story of human beings, living in the neighbourhood, keeps popping between the exciting parts that hindered the flow and doesn't add much to the plot. Apart from that, it's a nice read and I absolutely enjoyed it.

[Tony Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked:

Original, creative, humorous, beautiful imagery, great characters, edge-of-your-seat storytelling, thought-provoking, heartwarming.

What I did not like:

More, please! Ended all too soon.

Once and a while you come across a book that is so unique and original you can honestly say you have read nothing quite like it. Unmasked is one of those books. It is much more than a book featuring the antics of adorable animals, it is a very layered story full of thought-provoking metaphors and some intriguing observations on human nature.

The structure of the book is also unique. Gary tells his story in the first person, but the events of the humans that he could have no knowledge of are told almost as a series of short stories (layers upon layers) by a neutral narrator. It all ties together in the end, and by the middle of the book we are moving in and out of the homes and lives of all of the people we meet at the beginning of the story.

The main story follows the lives of a raccoon names Gary and his bunny companion, Jenny. Jenny is the master-mind behind their adventures and comes up with a scheme to get Gary access to the human's houses and the food and resources inside. There are some close calls and Gary gets himself into some hilarious situations, mostly caused by following his belly instead of his common sense. He develops a nemesis in the local cat named Mr. Pickles, and the relationship between the two is so well written. One of my favorite parts is how Gary is constantly framing the cat to get him in trouble!

Just as the pair are perfecting their skills, more and more animals are turning up dead, and fear spreads among the animals as well as the humans that live on the cul-de-sac bordering the forest. Jenny and Gary find themselves in pursuit of the killer, with some heartwrenching consequences. I won't give any spoilers, but the ending did not disappoint.

The broader story involves a discussion of who we are as individuals and what qualities we are valuing as a society. It looks into how the past can affect us and the power of choice that we all need to examine how we are using.

Each glimpse into the lives of the humans we meet seems to explore one of these issues. The couple who learn to openly share their feelings without judgment or the man that chooses to act with compassion despite being mistreated by others stands in stark contrast to the vapid and image-obsessed family and Gary's own father, who uses his past problems as an excuse to be abusive to his wife. It reads so real that I wondered how much of these stories were autobiographical of the author's own experiences.

A highly recommended read!

[Dee-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Riveting and adventure packed!

The writing is crisp and clear, and the writer does a great job of creating tension, leading you to a cliff hanger and then making you wait to see what happens next.
The humor fits seamlessly with the story and the personality of the characters. The author draws so much imagery from the natural world that after reading the book found myself seeing the characters and scenery all around me. I have been giggling to myself every time I see a pinecone (which will make more sense once you read the book).

The story is built around a mystery, so I don’t want to reveal any spoilers; someone or something is killing off the animals and the pets in the area. While Gary and Jenny are the main characters, Max and Jonathan are introduced as a sort of a Sherlock Holmes and Watson pair that take the lead in the investigation, winding their way in and out of the story. I think Jenifer Kanin could create a whole spinoff series with just these two characters — Jonathan being my favorite of the two. The independent story lines merge together to set up the conclusion of the book, and as I read the final half, I could not put it down.

If you ever wanted to be one of those people who discovered a book before it became wildly popular or turned into a movie, you need to read this one now. I think it is only a matter of time before we see it on the big screen – maybe a Pixar movie

Put this one on your winter reading list! Five stars

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book really not knowing what to expect. I am not usually a fan of stories narrated by animals but I have enjoyed a few and this is definitely one of them. This is the story of a neighbourhood inhabited by humans and various animals including household pets and wildlife. It is the story of Jenny, a rabbit, and Gary the raccoon. Jenny has dreamed up a plan to get Gary in and out of the human homes in order to access food and stores whenever needed by any of the animals and to provide security detail so they understand what the humans and their pets are up to. Elsewhere, dead animal bodies are turning up - resident animal detectives conclude they have been murdered and something sinister is being played out. This book is absolutely unique. I am not sure what to compare it to but at times it felt a bit like Beatrix Potter and at others Animal Farm. The writing style is lucid and uncluttered and well matched to the content and message of the story. There are so many stories within the main story - little vignettes introducing the families in each home and little biographies of the animals.This is a book that is on one level a story about animals trying to exist in a precarious world where they are at the mercy of humans. On this level it is funny and hugely entertaining - an early episode where Gary dresses up as Mr Pickles the cat really made me laugh. On another level this is a book packed full of big messages about humanity, about being a hero - ‘The potential to be a true hero resides in all of us’ and about living in harmony. This is such a life affirming and special little story and has some wonderful messages. With grateful thanks to Jenifer Kanin for a digital copy of this lovely book.

[Hannah Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me by the author to review it. And my review will be 100% honest to what I think and feel after reading the book.

I liked the premise. An animal dressing up as other animals to steal food? Great concept! And I thought the final reveal of Who-Dun-It was set up quite well. But I'm going to be honest, it took a while to get into the book. I think part of my issue is I didn't know when everything was taking place. The book opens with a very dramatic hook, which was a great way to get into it! But then it goes to a flashback, which is fine. But it never flashes back forward. And in addition, we're given these expose's on the humans living near the forest that hop around in time as well, which further confused me. I didn't know if the Detective's scenes were taking place before or after the Opening Hook until the main character literally interacted with the Detectives.

I appreciate all of the great messages the author had sprinkled throughout the book, but sometimes it did feel a little preachy. When the characters broke away and had long monologues about abstract concepts, it felt out of place. Most people don't speak that way, in my experience.

Also, it bothered me a bit how the anthropomorphizing of the animals varied so much. When Gary eats butter for the first time and is describing it, but doesn't use the name for it (cause he wouldn't know the name for it as a forest animal), that scene is AMAZING! But literally in the first sentence of the next chapter, he calls it butter, which totally ruins it. And that sort of switching around happens a lot. Also, the use of "man" to describe male animals felt wrong, because animals aren't men. If there were only animal characters in the novel, I could let it slide as a stylistic choice, but since there were also human characters, it was weird.

Speaking of the human characters, I don't really know why we needed every human family's life story. The inclusion of the human backstory chapters made the first part of the book a bit of a drag to read. I honestly couldn't wait to get through them so we could get back to seeing what Gary and Jenny were doing.

Also, I'm not the writer, but if I was, I would've switched the first and second half of the Epilogue. Starting with Gary going back to Jenny makes a lot more sense to me because the entire time I read the first half of the Epilogue I was wondering what happened to her. And then having the "Events of that stormy night" until the "maybe that is my true superpower" section makes sense, because "Maybe that is my true superpower." is a much better ending line than "... and I fell asleep beside her". Plus, the "True Superpower" section goes beyond that night while Gary going back to Jenny is on the same night, so it makes more sense chronologically, but I digress.

[Nirmiti Mittal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is not about knowing what you are doing, it is about putting yourself in a place where good things can happen."
•••••
This is a debut novel by the author and it does portray her dedication and hard work behind it. It is well structured and quite a good effort from her end as she has been successful in making the reader feel varied emotions.
There are many lines throughout the novel that add meaning to what one is and what one can achieve in life.
Her picture painting is awesome, and the reader is teleported to the scene right away.
•••••
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Meet Gary. A very average raccoon of average intelligence. His daily concerns are where to get his next snack and how to remain unnoticed. Then suddenly, with the help of his plucky friend Jenny, he is thrust into a world of risk and adventure. He must confront his past and his own insecurities as he decides his future. As they work to save the lives of those around them, they learn about themselves and who they are capable of becoming.
•••••
The writing is crisp and clear and being a debut, this one has exceeded my expectations to some extent. The author has been successful in building up the tention and the suspense, even in the limited range of 200 pages, which in itself is commendable.
•••••
Highly recommended for people looking for a refreshing storyline with a mystery underneath.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you very much to the author Jenifer Kanin for kindly gifting me a copy of your book to read and review ✨

Have you ever read a book that’s written from a point of view from a raccoon? 🦝

This was a super sweet story by Jenifer Kanin, told from the perspective of Gary the raccoon, the woodland creatures and a glimpse of the human neighbours as they try to solve a series of murders sweeping through the forest. The story also focuses on Gary’s internal struggles of his identity and dealing with the after effects of experiences in his past.

One of the more quirkier books that I’ve read so far this year, it was easy to forget that this is a story told from animals as Jenifer Kanin gives the animals realistic human characteristics and packs a punch on the delivery of the more philosophical questions: What does it mean to be a hero? How much does the impact of the past affect our future? What leads us down a different path to those experiencing the same situation?

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read (I finished this in one sitting!) that goes more deeper than your usual cosy murder mystery ‘who dunnit’ novel - 4 stars from me!

“It is all too easy to romanticise one’s own past. The roles of hero and villain are neatly ascribed, as are the motives of the players involved. Complex interactions are reduced to mere good or evil.”🦝

[Ramona Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unmasked by Jenifer Kanin was such an amazing read and will be loved by mystery lovers looking for a fun page turner. I really got into this book and couldn't wait to find out how it ended.

The writing was fantastic! Like really great writing!
There was humour, well developed characters, heroism and overcoming the overall life struggles. Both the animal and human characters throughout the book were well developed and relatable.

The book is told from the perspective of Gary, a raccoon. Gary is easy going and loves his simple life until his friend Jenny opened his eyes to the possibilities and the things he could accomplish while helping others. I forgot so many times that the main characters were animals, that's how great it was.

I liked that it wasn't super predictable as I was not able to predict who the killer was, which is not often the case when I read books in this genre.

I was hesitant about this book because of the imagery on the cover. I expected lots of blood and gore but thankfully that was not the reality.

I highly recommend this book. It was very entertaining. I look forward to reading more from Jenifer.

Thanks to the Author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unmasked by Jenifer Kanin is a charming tale set from the perspective of a forest racoon named Gary. After Gary’s adorable bunny friend, Jenny, sews up some masks and teaches him how to impersonate other animals, the two set off on a series of exciting- and potentially dangerous- adventures. In the end, Gary must ask himself what it truly means to be a hero. Will he let his past dictate his future?

Unmasked is ultimately a murder mystery, but at the backdrop are beautifully descriptive accounts of the community of Eleanor Place and the humans residing just beyond the forest. At times I felt as though I were a fly on the wall, observing the personal lives of very real families and individuals. These sections of the novel are not only fascinating, but crucial to understanding the players as the story moves forward.

Overall, I absolutely loved Unmasked. I found it to be a delightful, captivating novel with a heartwarming message about heroism and discovering one’s true purpose in life. In addition, I very much enjoyed reading a story from the perspective of the forest animals!

Thank-you very much to author for sharing Unmasked with me in exchange for a fair and honest review. My views and opinions are my own.

[Sarah Butland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is much more than I bargained for, in a variety of ways. Simply put - I adore this story and Kanin's ability to weave life lessons, human development and the perspective of a raccoon and other forest creatures into a tale of wisdom.

I picked up this book, admittedly, because it was on sale and the cover struck me. I was hesitant to read it when I had so many others I knew would be good, but am so so so very glad I was pushed to prioritize reading it. At first it was a challenge to get into the mind of a raccoon and understand it but it didn't take me very long. Gary is such a loveable creature with a sense for adventure while being a cautious participant.

There was a lot more personification than I would have loved, with woodland creatures having items and knowing things that seem farfetched but Jenifer still made it all work. And work well, in my opinion.

There is a lot of value throughout this story that every reader, young and old, can take away. While there are some graphic concepts, as they didn't get too obscene I wouldn't hesitate to let a teenager read this collection of life lessons mixed wonderfully with a murder mystery that also made me laugh.

I will definitely look forward to more of Kanin's stories!

[ralph holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unique and creative book. At first glance you might think it was written for younger readers, but the story is written in a way that the underlying theme is certainly meant for someone who has lived a few years and had a few regrets.

The main story centers around a raccoon and a rabbit, and it is easy to get emotionally invested in the characters. The author does a good job of blurring the line in a way that you forget you are reading a story about a raccoon, only to tease you back into the animal world with humor or some other kind of animal imagery.

At first glance some of the chapters go into great detail about the people who live on the street named Elanor Place, and it had me wondering why so much time and detail was given to them. By the end of the book it was clear the writer was developing the over all themes of identity, who we are in relation to the others around us and what it means to be a good person (or a hero). Each of the little side stories contributed to this theme in one way or another.

A very unique and enjoyable read. Quite unlike anything I have read recently. Will be looking for any more books by Jenifer Kanin.