Juneau BlackRezensionen

3.5 stars

#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

#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

The most PERFECT Halloween read. I think I’ll make it a new tradition to read this every year on or near Halloween now. I cannot express how much I love this whole series. All of the books are so cozy and warm (despite the grim topics!). Absolutely recommend this wonderful short story! Oh and you do not need to read the other books first to read this one! Maybe read the first book before it for some context but other than that go to town xD

Yet another phenomenal and cozy story from Juneau Black. Loved this so much.

aaAHHHHHHH so good so cozy 😭😭 time for book 3!!!!!

sHUT UP THAT WAS THE COZIEST CUTEST MURDER MYSTERY EVER WITH THE MOST WONDERFUL ENDING I DON’T THINK ILL EVER RECOVER *immediately buys the next three books*

DNF @page 116/53%

Just didn’t care after a while.

Summary
Shadow Hollow is a little village of woodland creatures, who live a happy life in harmony. Although they live a happy life, there are many characters who have unique and strong personalities. This first book from the series starts with a curmudgeonly toad who turns up dead in the local pond. Vera Vixen, the local fox news reporter, wants to get to the bottom of the case. Through her investigation she finds more than she expects and this Shadow Hollow town!

Review
This book was very cute. It has a light hearted tone that is unexpected for a murder mystery. The blend of fantasy characters and murder is unique. You can help but make predictions for what really happened as you are reading and rooting for Vera to crack the case.

As I was reading, I was trying to figure out the target audience. It is written very innocently and I think would be appropriate for upper middle grades through adults. I found the book on adult reading lists as well as young adults. Since it is a murder mystery, it makes the content automatically older, but its readability is younger. It was such a fun cozy read.

Hear me out: a mystery set in a small town in which all the inhabitants are animals. Vera Vixen, a fox and reporter for the local paper, investigates the death of a curmudgeonly toad since the police force (made up of bears) don't seem to have a clue about what to do. And then a beaver, owner of the local mill, also turns up dead. This could have been really clever or really bad. In the end, it was a little of both, and not enough of the former to make me want to try the next in the series.

3 stars
(According to my "new" rating system, 3 stars means "Some redeeming qualities, but I wish I’d read something else")

This was a delightful read and it wads the defination of a cozy read. I not only loved the unique concept of this read but also the soild mystery. This book had some many elements i loved small town vibes, gave me magical town vibes and it was super fast pace read!! I loved how the plot did not overtake the story!! I also am very excitd to read the sequel!!

This was a delightful read and it wads the defination of a cozy read. I not only loved the unique concept of this read but also the soild mystery. This book had some many elements i loved small town vibes, gave me magical town vibes and it was super fast pace read!! I loved how the plot did not overtake the story!! I also am very excitd to read the sequel!!

Book three has a gay mouse couple and vulgar language.

What a cute and charming cozy mystery! I absolutely loved the world of Shady Hollow and all of the animals living in it. The murder mystery was fun too. I am eager as Edith Von Beaverpelt to read the next installment! Ha!

It was a fun trip back to Shady Hollow for a new cozy mystery with Vera Vixen and all of her friends. In this installment we are introduced to a fancy mink and dive into Joe’s past when moose bones are unearthed. Quaint and simple, this was much like the first one in that the mystery is not hard to figure out, but the characters and the town have such charm that it makes for an easy enjoyable read.

Pretty sweet and light reading, something I'll forget immediately. I'm not a fan of the modern run of 'cozies,' and can I please have that word back, but I think this is probably better than average; certainly written by people who love literature. Honestly I think my biggest issue was that the animal metaphors were so on the nose. It's probably a very satisfying read for a specific type desire.

Election time in Shady Hollow. Police Chief Theodore Meade, who prefers fishing over law work, is up for re-election. This year he is being challenged by Deputy Orville Braun, who is serious about law enforcement — and Vera Vixen. The campaigning becomes fierce between the two.

Meanwhile Dorothy Springfield, considered a bit eccentric, is claiming her husband is dead and the rat claiming to be him isn’t her husband. Vera becomes very interested in Dorothy’s claims and starts investigating. Somethings don’t seem right, but is Dorothy right about her claims? Digging deep, Vera finds family history and inheritance matters may have a hand in Dorothy’s claims.

With a close election and a question of identity to be solved, Vera is a very busy reporter!

This is the third book, but I’m hoping there could be a fourth some time.

Fall has come to Shady Hollow and among the fallen leaves a shallow grave, containing the bones of a moose, is found.

Joe Elkin, owner of Joe’s Mug coffee shop, draws suspicion from Deputy Orville Braun. It seems that Joe’s wife, Julia, had walked out on Joe and their son, some years back and never has been heard from since. Could the bones be Julia’s? If so, who buried her and why?

Meanwhile a new resident has come to Shady Hollow, Octavia Grey, a silver furred mink. She is setting up Grey’s School of Etiquette. Bringing manner to the masses.

Vera Vixen is determined to prove Joe Eklin isn’t connected with the burial of the bones or the reason of their being there. Vera is also interested in why Octavia Grey feels Shady Hollow, a small village, needs an etiquette school. Could there be a connection between the bones and the school?

Book 2 in this series and another enjoyable visit to the world of Shady Hollow.

Shady Hollow and its inhabitants is not your typical village.

Reporter Vera Vixen is a reporter for the Shady Hollow Herald. When Vera gets word that Otto Stumpf was found dead by Gladys Honeysuckle, Vera head to the location to check it out. Something seems a bit off, but she isn’t sure what.

Vera’s investigation uncovers the possibility of murder and also connections to other crimes involving one of the most prominent families. Murder, adultery, blackmail and more become part of the web surrounding Otto Stumpf. Vera also finds herself in a precarious position that could lead to her own death.

It seems there is more beneath the façade of Shady Hollow. The resident creatures can be hiding secrets, deadly secrets, even if they are part of the upper class.

This is the first in the short series of the village of Shady Hollow. A very enjoyable read.

I greatly enjoyed Shady Hollow - it was exactly what I needed to escape the real world for an afternoon. Our heroine, a delightful investigative reporter fox, and her best friend, a whip smart raven who owns a bookstore, are probably two of my new all time favorite characters!

“In the woodland village of Shady Hollow, animals live side by side, predator and prey alike. Life is quiet, and the harmony is threatened by nothing bigger than local gossip. Reporter Vera Vixen is a recent transplant, and she doesn’t let anything stand in the way of getting the scoop. The most recent piece of news was the crowning of a new spelling bee champion, eight-year-old Ashley Chitters. When local grouch Otto Sumpf is found dead in the mill pond, the suspicious circumstances shake up the town and bring several issues to light. Vera is hot on the trail of the killer, putting herself in the direct path of danger. Has Miss Vixen met her match in murder, or will her nose for news solve the case before more bodies appear?”

I’m going to keep my spiel short and sweet, just like “Shady Hollow.” If you’re the kid who grew up watching Franklin and Little Bear on Nick Jr., this is the adult version with a pinch of murder and a dash of sleuthing. The setting is just as charming as the book cover advertises, and the story is the embodiment of cozy. Did I mention there’s a map of the town à la Hundred Acre Wood? My ideal day now has a new look: coffee at Joe’s Mug, hours of shopping at Nevermore Books, and lunch at the Bamboo Patch.

I flew through 219 pages and bought the other three books in the series before the ink had a chance to dry on Vera Vixen’s newspaper article. The pace is so soothing, and my only regret is picking this up during the heat of summer because it’s much more suited to a blanket nest and pumpkin spice latte; I would add chilly weather to the list, but I live in California so that only happens on one random week day in February, if we’re lucky. I’m struggling not to award this book with every star in existence, but the big reveal broke up the comfortable rhythm, not bad but more abrupt than it needed to be. My rating is an optimistic four stars, and I’m fully prepared for this to become a new favorite series and obsession I won’t shut up about. I’m dying from the adorableness as I speak so I’m leaving now to pick up the sequel because life outside Shady Hollow isn’t worth living.

•

Content Breakdown:

*Disclaimer: This section of my review is thorough and might contain SPOILERS.

Alcohol & Smoking: Mentions of Alcohol, Beer, Cigars, Cigar Smoking, Cordial, Intoxication, Liquor, Pipe Smoking, Spirits, & Wine

Blood, Death, & Violence: The murder investigation involves blood, drowning, a head wound, poison, stabbing by knife, & descriptions of dead bodies.

A character is revealed to be a former surgeon whose license was revoked after a patient died during what should’ve been a routine surgery.

There’s an attempted attack, the attacker loosening a boulder to roll down a hill & crush the victim; the victim suffers a few bruises from jumping out of the way.

During a knife attack, the victim suffers a paw wound & multiple cuts from broken glass after an escape attempt through a window.

Religion/Spirituality: Brief mention of spending one year living & praying in silence at a monastery

During Otto’s funeral at the cemetery, we’re introduced to Parson James “Dusty” Conkers, a clergyman from Shady Hollow Church.

Sensual/Sexual: There’s a character who’s treated with contempt due to her reputation as a serial dater who entertains many different men at her home, at least one of them married. Throughout the book, she’s referred to as “Home Wrecker,” “Hussy,” “Mistress,” & “Lover.”

Single Parenthood: Joe has been a single father to his son Joe Jr. ever since his wife left them without reason or warning.

I needed something a bit lighter than the thrillers I've been reading, and this really filled the bill. Still a mystery, but with animals as the main characters. I enjoyed the simple writing style and fast pace of the story. Who killed grumpy frog Otto Sumpf? Vera Vixen, journalist and amateur detective, is a curious fox who sets out to solve the crime. Lots of fun.

Mirror Lake is the third book in the Shady Hollow series by Juneau Black.

I love this “no humans allowed” series. I enjoy trying to imagine the various animals interacting with each other. The dialogue is top-notch, and it will sometimes bring a chuckle or laugh.

Vera, a fox and reporter for the Shady Hollow Herald, and her bear deputy Orville are enjoying strolling around the annual Harvest Festival, taking advantage of various food and drinks. Suddenly, Orville spots his boss, Chief Meade, greeting people. Orville is distraught as Meade said he would stay with and crew at the police station. Suddenly Orville calls for everyone's attention. The crowd begins to murmur, and some feel that he will propose to Vera. But Orville surprises everyone by announcing he will be running for sheriff of Shady Hollow. When Vera’s boss, BW, learns this, he wants Vera to start writing articles on the election, following Orville as he campaigns for sheriff.

Vera doesn’t feel BW’s request is proper and heads to the nearby community of Mirror Lake with a lawyer about what to do if her boss forces Vera to write articles. As Vera and the lawyer leave his office, they hear a terrifying scream from next door and immediately head towards the cry. They find Dorothy Springfield, a rat, screaming that her husband is dead and someone murdered him. But standing next to her is what appears to be her husband, very much alive. Vera decides that there might be a story here that, if she pursues, may keep BW from wanting her to report on the upcoming sheriff’s election. Vera will call on Lenore, owner of the Nevermore bookshop, and Lefty, the hapless raccoon, to help her in the investigation. Sui Lin, owner of a local cafe, will again have a paw in assisting Vera with her investigation.

This story is a very enjoyable, well-written, and plotted story. All the animals are interestingly presented and adorable. Most of the main characters of the previous books are back once again.

An entertaining series that I am looking forward to more books.

A nice cozy mystery. I wish the animal thing was even more embraced and part of the text; instead it comes off as something like a metaphor.½

> The Leveritt family had owned Cold Clay Orchards for generations—which wasn’t saying much, because the Leveritts were rabbits.

> He looked vaguely familiar to Vera, but as she only knew two moose in her limited experience, it was hard to be sure if they all looked the same, or if this photograph was of a creature she knew.