Juneau Black

#vacationread No 1: SHADY HOLLOW by @juneau_black, from Vintage Books

I just finished this cozy murder mystery and all I can say is it is paws-itively delightful! When Otto Sumpf, the curmudgeonly toad who lives on the millpond, is found dead by possible murder, it is up to Vera Vixen, star reporter at the Shady Hollow Herald, to piece the puzzle together and find answers before another beast falls to the same fate!

Shady Hollow is a small forest village inhabited by woodland creatures of every sort, living their lives in peaceful coexistence. The whole story and setting immediately put me in mind of Twin Peaks, with its quirksome characters juxtaposed against the hometown feel of Shady Hollow. Juneau Black does an excellent job of fleshing each character out, while leaving any necessary secrets to be found out at the appropriate time; I found myself wishing several times I could be sitting in Joe’s Mug, sipping a cup of coffee, listening to the town’s gossip with Vera.

The cover (and interior map) are by Perry de la Vega, and it perfectly captures the woodsy feel of the story; I love it!

Michelle at @greenhandbooks recommended this series to me, and she was spot on. It’s the perfect palette cleanser if you find yourself in a reading slump or just need something a little on the lighter side to read. I’ll probably be ordering the rest of the series, because who am I kidding? I can’t wait to see what the townsfolk of Shady Hollow are up to next!

🏷️ #ShadyHollow #JuneauBlack #PerryDeLaVega #cozymystery #murdermystery #VintageBooks #books #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookreview #frommybookshelf #frommybookshelfblog… (mehr)

#vacationread No 2: EVERGREEN CHASE by @juneau_black, from Vintage Books

As soon as I finished SHADY HOLLOW, I downloaded this short, as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Vera Vixen & Co quite yet, and I don’t have book two on hand, so…

It’s winter in Shady Hollow, and the townsfolk are preparing to celebrate the solstice by decorating a special pine in the town square, a pine that has been grown and nurtured for this specific honor. However, when the beasts of Shady Hollow discover that the celebratory pine has been absconded with, it’s up to Vera Vixen to take up the case and find the purloined pine in time for the celebration.

Technically, I think this story takes place before SHADY HOLLOW, but it can easily be read after the first book. With much of the main cast from the town, this quick read can work as either a charming introduction to Shady Hollow, or be enjoyed as a quick fix between books (like how I came to it).

While not a necessary read with the main books, if you’re a fan of Shady Hollow and the beasts that inhabit this quaint little town, you’ll find this quick tale a treat!

🏷️ #ShadyHollow #EvergreenChase #JuneauBlack #PerryDeLaVega #cozymystery #murdermystery #VintageBooks #books #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookreview #frommybookshelf #frommybookshelfblog… (mehr)