Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

 

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Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Crime/Black Lizard for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death, murder, violence.

Journalist Vera Vixen has only lived in Shady Hollow for a few years. The town is small, quiet, and private -- not exactly an exciting beat for a reporter. But when a taciturn toad turns up dead, Vera immediately sniffs out a story, and her hunch turns out to be correct: murder has come to Shady Hollow. Eager to figure out who is killing residents, knowing that she needs to discover the culprit before they strike again, Vera is determined to make the report of a lifetime while also saving her new home. But underneath the surface, Shady Hollow hides many secrets...

If you're an animal lover like me, I have a feeling this cute, mysterious story will catch your eye. Set in a world where animals wear clothes, own shops, and have their own flaws and secrets, Shady Hollow is enchanting from its very first page. The writing is both simplistic and also flowing with cutely sharp witticisms, and the story itself is populated with a full cast of wonderfully drawn characters. Our heroine, Vera, is particularly likable, with a nose for mischief and a heart of gold.

Vera's relationships are all interesting, with varied dynamics, such as her friendship with Lenore Lee, a raven who owns a bookshop. They've been best friends for a while now, and Vera spends a lot of time bouncing her ideas and theories off of Lenore, who is an intellectual that always provides sound advice. There's also the budding friendship (and more?) with Orville, the police deputy, an onerous bear. The world of Shady Hollow is filled with complexity: although this is a cozy mystery, revolving around the lives of animals, there's also depth and darkness which only serves to add to the narrative.

The mystery isn't especially difficult to figure out, but it will keep you interested until the very last page, and there were certainly times when I began to doubt my theories. If you're looking for a book to read with a cup of tea on a wintry day, I can honestly not think of anything more perfect than Shady Hollow. Typically, I try to balance my reviews with both criticisms and praise, but in this case, I truly can't think of anything I didn't like about this novel!

Oh, and here's some good news: originally published years ago, these books have found a fresh life and wider audience with Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, and the second and third will, respectively, be coming out in March and April! I can't wait to read more stories about Vera, and the amazing world that she lives in. Mark your calendars, please! 

Highly, highly recommended, especially for those of us that love animals, mysteries, and exploring unique fantasy worlds!