Shady Hollow

One of the best cozy mysteries I've ever read. Juneau Blacks use of the creature's characteristics really enhance the reading experience.

I was so surprised at how much I liked these animals. It seemed like a wonderful woodland town. The solution had more layers than I expected. I appreciated that because it made the characters so much richer. This is was a wonderful cozy with a decidedly unique cast of characters!

2.75 - cute but overly simplistic. Ended up skimming the last fifty pages.

I LOVE the premise of this mystery. From the author's note at the very beginning, I knew I'd relish my time in Shady Hollow. The characters are perfect, the commentary is funny, and the setting is idyllic. Exactly what I needed!

[[slight spoilers!!]]On a plot note, I have to say that I did figure out the murderer, and I was a little disappointed there wasn't a more twisty twist, if that makes sense. This was the one weakness of the book, in my opinion. But it wasn't nearly enough to keep me from going on to the second book!

This was a quick, easy read. The characters, being animals, were fun with their personalities that matched up with their animal traits. The mystery wasn't very mysterious, but it was a well created world that kept me interested.