I was thoroughly hooked in by the side characters we meet along the way, and desperate to know more about Sun Li, Lenore, Chitters, BW, Joe and Orville (and everyone else too!). I was completely unable to guess at who the murderer might be, despite the relatively small community, as there is plenty going on in Shady Hollow – lots of secrets to uncover! – but I thoroughly enjoyed being along for the ride as this unique and well-written murder mystery played out. So we follow journalist Vera Vixen as she investigates the murder of literal toad and all-round unpopular citizen, Otto Slumpf, helped or hindered by police bears, belligerent beavers and a clever, book-loving bird. Described as ‘Beatrix Potter crossed with Agatha Christie’, this first book in the Shady Hollow series seemed right up my street, and I was right! You could also throw in Zootopia, and Beverley Nichols’ Magic Woodland series, but aimed at an adult, mystery-reading audience.Ĭlassic murder mystery tropes of dodgy business dealings, unhappy neighbours, suspicious incomers and secret liaisons are delightfully refreshed and invigorated by the clever hook of having all of the characters as anthropomorphic animals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |