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Shady Hollow #5
Summers End
A unique take on dark academia, featuring everyone's favorite vulpine sleuth, Vera Vixen.
It's late August in Shady Hollow, and the heat has intrepid reporter Vera Vixen eager to get away. She agrees to chaperone the annual field trip to Summers End, an ancient tomb built by an early woodland culture, along with her good friend Lenore Lee to come with her.
But when the two enter the tomb, they find bones that are distinctly more...modern. Digging a little deeper, Vera and Lenore discover that the deceased was involved in a recent excavation at the site, and very unpopular with their colleagues. Now the fox and raven have to delve into the dark world of academia and archaeology to determine which creature thought they were clever enough to get away with the perfect murder.
It's late August in Shady Hollow, and the heat has intrepid reporter Vera Vixen eager to get away. She agrees to chaperone the annual field trip to Summers End, an ancient tomb built by an early woodland culture, along with her good friend Lenore Lee to come with her.
But when the two enter the tomb, they find bones that are distinctly more...modern. Digging a little deeper, Vera and Lenore discover that the deceased was involved in a recent excavation at the site, and very unpopular with their colleagues. Now the fox and raven have to delve into the dark world of academia and archaeology to determine which creature thought they were clever enough to get away with the perfect murder.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
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December 4, 2023THERE'S ANOTHER ONE COMING!!!
June 29, 2024
I'm not big on cozy mysteries, but I do love clever little animals walking about, wearing clothes, and drinking tea—so I decided to request a review copy of Summers End. Also, the mystery here involves an ancient burial mound built by animals and the artifacts it contains, and little animals in clothes, plus archaeology was too tempting to ignore.
All and all, I found this book charming, if a bit twee. Juneau Black (actually a pen name for a pair of women who write this series together) has a deft hand with suspects and with herrings (red or otherwise), so the mystery has enough mystery to force one to do a bit of guessing.
If you're an adult who still finds Beatrix Potter's work charming, you'll be cooing over this series as you sip tea from your Benjamin Bunny mug. And, based on my experience, you can start with any volume you want in this series. There's backstory, but our author(s) introduce it nimbly.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
All and all, I found this book charming, if a bit twee. Juneau Black (actually a pen name for a pair of women who write this series together) has a deft hand with suspects and with herrings (red or otherwise), so the mystery has enough mystery to force one to do a bit of guessing.
If you're an adult who still finds Beatrix Potter's work charming, you'll be cooing over this series as you sip tea from your Benjamin Bunny mug. And, based on my experience, you can start with any volume you want in this series. There's backstory, but our author(s) introduce it nimbly.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
July 9, 2024
Summers End is the fifth book in the Shady Hollow series. After crime solving reporter Vera Vixen agrees to chaperone the annual field trip to Summers End, an ancient tomb and current archaeological site, remains are found--which is to be expected... except these remains are modern. As Vera works to solve the murder of one of the professors associated with the excavation, she digs up more than she anticipated.
As someone with a background in archaeology, this book felt right up my alley and just loved every minute of it. I loved the dark academia setting and while I absolutely love the town of Shady Hollow, the change in setting felt like a great way to switch things up while still staying true to the coziness found throughout the rest of the series.
Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to grab a physical copy for my bookshelf!
As someone with a background in archaeology, this book felt right up my alley and just loved every minute of it. I loved the dark academia setting and while I absolutely love the town of Shady Hollow, the change in setting felt like a great way to switch things up while still staying true to the coziness found throughout the rest of the series.
Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to grab a physical copy for my bookshelf!
April 17, 2024
I can not get enough of this series!
Summers End is the 5th installment of this series and just like the others, this was a fun, relaxing read and a much appreciated palette cleanser. One of the sweetest treats in this series is that all the characters are animals, usually a cozy mystery will feature an animal on the cover but they have no real importance, but nope! No people here! Anyone who knows me will tell you if there is a Raccoon involved, I'll be there, so I was over the moon to see Lefty make an appearance again as a core character in this world!
Once again we are following Vera Vixen (our favorite foxy detective news reporter) as she tries to find the truth.
Summer is at it's close and where better to celebrate this change of seasons than in the town of Summers End. Summers End is a historical archeological site that would be comparable to Stonehenge. While the school is talking their field trip, Vera and Lenore decide they can volunteer to help keep all the littles ones in line. They are prepared for sneak outs and general trouble making, but what they are not prepared for is seemingly ritualistic murder.
While a few fan favorites critters are present, Vera and Lenore for the most part will have to navigate this mystery with new shop owners, new law enforcement, new towns folks and new suspects!
I enjoyed the new scenery presented in this title as well as the new cast of characters! It's always a delight to see this world expand.
I found the mystery itself to be entertaining and easy to read. These books are great for people looking for something lighthearted and simple. I had my suspicions but was pleased to be left guessing for the majority of the novel!
I will say I was delighted with what felt like a bonus at the end of this story. While I was excited to see who done it, I was also thrilled to see an extra discovery made before it's conclusion. No spoilers, but it was just a little treat in my opinion how things wrapped up.
Summers End is the 5th installment of this series and just like the others, this was a fun, relaxing read and a much appreciated palette cleanser. One of the sweetest treats in this series is that all the characters are animals, usually a cozy mystery will feature an animal on the cover but they have no real importance, but nope! No people here! Anyone who knows me will tell you if there is a Raccoon involved, I'll be there, so I was over the moon to see Lefty make an appearance again as a core character in this world!
Once again we are following Vera Vixen (our favorite foxy detective news reporter) as she tries to find the truth.
Summer is at it's close and where better to celebrate this change of seasons than in the town of Summers End. Summers End is a historical archeological site that would be comparable to Stonehenge. While the school is talking their field trip, Vera and Lenore decide they can volunteer to help keep all the littles ones in line. They are prepared for sneak outs and general trouble making, but what they are not prepared for is seemingly ritualistic murder.
While a few fan favorites critters are present, Vera and Lenore for the most part will have to navigate this mystery with new shop owners, new law enforcement, new towns folks and new suspects!
I enjoyed the new scenery presented in this title as well as the new cast of characters! It's always a delight to see this world expand.
I found the mystery itself to be entertaining and easy to read. These books are great for people looking for something lighthearted and simple. I had my suspicions but was pleased to be left guessing for the majority of the novel!
I will say I was delighted with what felt like a bonus at the end of this story. While I was excited to see who done it, I was also thrilled to see an extra discovery made before it's conclusion. No spoilers, but it was just a little treat in my opinion how things wrapped up.
March 15, 2024
Vera Vixen has done it again!! I absolutely loved this story because it was a fun twist on the usual mystery. This entire tale takes place at Summers End, so we get to meet almost an entirely new cast in a new, quaint location. I found that I really enjoyed this mystery and the lore that went into the event of Summers End. Another incredibly cozy read!! 🦊🐦⬛☀️
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for this ARC!!
5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for this ARC!!
5 ⭐️
June 27, 2024
Summer’s End is the latest cozy mystery in the Shady Hollow series, a grouping of novels with woodland creatures located in a special town of their own where murders sometimes occur. Once again we enjoy Vera the fox, a novice sleuth, running into a dead body. She uses her reporter’s instincts to flush out clues and the killer. However I enjoyed this installment less than usual because although Vera has one of her friends with her, this mystery does not take place in comfortable, familiar Shady Hollow. Perhaps the author felt the need to add more zip with characters and a town that were all new, but I missed the usual suspects, their comments, and the sweet locations where they usually meet. In addition, the occasion for the out of town visit of observing a burial site we a bit boring for me. We see Vera and her best buddy Lenora the raven get even closer as friends and there is an addition of a junior reporter who is a vole with the same inquisitive nature as Vera. The murderer was actually guessable early on in the story, totally based on the animal that died and the characters in the neighboring town. I will look forward to the next mystery in the series if it’s back in the town we know and where we feel at home. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this earc in return for my honest review.
April 24, 2024
ARC provided by NetGalley
THIS! WAS! SO! FUN!!!!! i already adore the Shady Hollow series but this one was so fresh and fun and NEW!!!! i loved meeting new characters and the setting for the crime was truly so original and made my history-loving self so happy. also, that plot twist????? i truly did not see that coming. probably one of the biggest “oh!” book moments ive had in a while!
THIS! WAS! SO! FUN!!!!! i already adore the Shady Hollow series but this one was so fresh and fun and NEW!!!! i loved meeting new characters and the setting for the crime was truly so original and made my history-loving self so happy. also, that plot twist????? i truly did not see that coming. probably one of the biggest “oh!” book moments ive had in a while!
July 26, 2024
4.5 Love this series. Really enjoyed the crime in this one. It was so fun not being in shady hollow but still getting that low stakes woodland shenanigans. Heartedly recommend this whole adorable series.
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July 16, 2024What a freaking delight. These only get better.
June 24, 2024
I received an advance copy from NetGalley.
The joy of returning to the world of Shady Hollow, where various animals live in harmony (except for when they murder each other). Good thing reporter Vera Vixen, a fox, is on duty. In this book, she helps chaperone high school students on trip to Summers End, a vital archaeological site for sentient woodland creatures. There, a professor is soon found dead, and Vera has to delve through academic gossip and small town shenanigans to find out who the murderer is.
I don’t mind at all that I guessed the guilty party early on. This book is a joyous romp, everything a cozy mystery should be, and all the more charming because of its diverse citizens and unique setting. This remains one of my current favorite cozy series!
The joy of returning to the world of Shady Hollow, where various animals live in harmony (except for when they murder each other). Good thing reporter Vera Vixen, a fox, is on duty. In this book, she helps chaperone high school students on trip to Summers End, a vital archaeological site for sentient woodland creatures. There, a professor is soon found dead, and Vera has to delve through academic gossip and small town shenanigans to find out who the murderer is.
I don’t mind at all that I guessed the guilty party early on. This book is a joyous romp, everything a cozy mystery should be, and all the more charming because of its diverse citizens and unique setting. This remains one of my current favorite cozy series!
February 23, 2024
Vera agrees to chaperone a trip to Somers and with Lenore. Well, expecting to enter an ancient tomb, the women find what appears to be bones of a recent visitor. Can they find out what happened to the creature the bones belong to, will they follow and add to the pile of bones?
I absolutely adore this series with woodland creatures. It makes for a wonderful mystery, but also a great getaway from reality for a while. I’ve been reading this since the beginning and always look forward to new entry. I just can’t get enough of Shady Hollow and its residents.
I absolutely adore this series with woodland creatures. It makes for a wonderful mystery, but also a great getaway from reality for a while. I’ve been reading this since the beginning and always look forward to new entry. I just can’t get enough of Shady Hollow and its residents.
July 24, 2024
I loved this fifth installment in the Shady Hollow cozy mystery series. In this newest adventure we follow Vera and some of the Shady Hollow creatures on a trip to Summerhill. Vera has agreed to help chaperone a high school trip to the Summers End archaeological site (very brave of her, I have been a school chaperone and it's not for the faint of heart). We meet some new creatures as Vera unravels a mystery at the site and tries to figure out what is going on and who is behind the murder and other disappearances.
I worried briefly about this being set in another location, as I do love the stories set in Shady Hollow, but enjoyed this new setting and the new characters we get to know. I thought the mystery was clever and unfolded well. I also loved the summer setting (Vera sums that up perfectly in the first paragraph) and the folk tales surrounding the Summers End site.
I love that most of their conversations as they try to unravel the mystery take place over a cup of coffee and a plate of baked goods, there is no better way to solve a crime than with pastries. Although it was only briefly featured in this newest book, Nevermore Books is high on my list of fictional bookstores I'd love to visit. If you haven't yet visited the world of Shady Hollow I highly recommend you give it a try, and for fans of the series this newest installment is a great way to pass a summer day.
I worried briefly about this being set in another location, as I do love the stories set in Shady Hollow, but enjoyed this new setting and the new characters we get to know. I thought the mystery was clever and unfolded well. I also loved the summer setting (Vera sums that up perfectly in the first paragraph) and the folk tales surrounding the Summers End site.
I love that most of their conversations as they try to unravel the mystery take place over a cup of coffee and a plate of baked goods, there is no better way to solve a crime than with pastries. Although it was only briefly featured in this newest book, Nevermore Books is high on my list of fictional bookstores I'd love to visit. If you haven't yet visited the world of Shady Hollow I highly recommend you give it a try, and for fans of the series this newest installment is a great way to pass a summer day.
June 24, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advance copy of “Summer’s End” by Juneau Black. This non spoilers review is of my own, honest opinion.
"A unique take on dark academia, featuring everyone's favorite vulpine sleuth, Vera Vixen."
Vera Vixen solves another mystery but this time in Summers End. Vera Vixen volunteered to help chaperone an annual student trip to an archeological site in Summers End. As they are entering a tomb on the morning of the special sunrise, they discover that one of the professors had been murdered! It's up to our woodland friends to catch the murderer before they can escape!
I'm a huge fan of The Shady Hollow Mystery series. These books have the coziest mystery vibes. They are hard to put down once you stop reading. I recommend these books to all of my reader friends. Make sure to get your copy when it releases July 9, 2024!
"A unique take on dark academia, featuring everyone's favorite vulpine sleuth, Vera Vixen."
Vera Vixen solves another mystery but this time in Summers End. Vera Vixen volunteered to help chaperone an annual student trip to an archeological site in Summers End. As they are entering a tomb on the morning of the special sunrise, they discover that one of the professors had been murdered! It's up to our woodland friends to catch the murderer before they can escape!
I'm a huge fan of The Shady Hollow Mystery series. These books have the coziest mystery vibes. They are hard to put down once you stop reading. I recommend these books to all of my reader friends. Make sure to get your copy when it releases July 9, 2024!
July 18, 2024
4 Stars
Yet another fun and mysterious romp through my favorite land of critters. This time we leave Shady Hollow, and head over to Summer’s End, which appears to be a cute village that has its own personal Stonehenge. We have a slight jaunt into dark academia, and the into the dark side of what happens when we find relics from our past. This provided us a bunch of fun, new side characters and I’m excited to see if the world of Shady Hollow gets expanded!
*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC and to PRH Audio for a free ALC an exchange for my honest and unbiased review*
Yet another fun and mysterious romp through my favorite land of critters. This time we leave Shady Hollow, and head over to Summer’s End, which appears to be a cute village that has its own personal Stonehenge. We have a slight jaunt into dark academia, and the into the dark side of what happens when we find relics from our past. This provided us a bunch of fun, new side characters and I’m excited to see if the world of Shady Hollow gets expanded!
*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC and to PRH Audio for a free ALC an exchange for my honest and unbiased review*
June 24, 2024
The Shady Hollow Mystery series is one of my favorites; it has all the cozy vibes and charm but also with a well-thought out mystery to hold your interest. This addition takes us outside Shady Hollow (or the surrounding area) for the first time, and to the archeological site of Summer's End. I really enjoyed the component of the dig site as well as the rival world of academia. There were concurrent plots going on with this one, but the authors managed to tie it all together in the end. Overall, it wasn't my favorite since I missed being in Joe's Cafe and the town of Shady Hollow, but I really did enjoy it. I can't wait to add this one to my collection when it's published in July.
Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy!
Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy!
June 20, 2024
Very fun, as always. I liked how much the authors invested in giving us Woodland lore this time around, especially the concept of Early Woodland Culture and the constructions of ancient structures and artifacts in this world.
July 18, 2024
3.75 rounded up bc while these books are so silly, I eat them up every time! Like what do you mean a ram was murdered and the potential suspects are a peacock, porcupine, owl, and a bearded dragon? Bonus points though for the porcupine being secretly queer with the woodland equivalent of a wife!!!
July 27, 2024
no surprise, i loved this!! I didn’t see the twist coming— at all— and I loved the archaeology aspect of the book (which was something i studied in school) and it was just a great book.
already stoked for the next one 👀
already stoked for the next one 👀
July 7, 2024
Another enjoyable entry in the quirky Shady Hollow series!
July 13, 2024
Cute!!
July 19, 2024
I think this series is the meaning of life.
July 22, 2024
Leftie is the best character.
July 29, 2024
4.5/5
I loved this premise, setting, and cast of characters— honestly this just rocked. Really love watching this series grow and continue and it maintains and strengthens its place in my heart!
I loved this premise, setting, and cast of characters— honestly this just rocked. Really love watching this series grow and continue and it maintains and strengthens its place in my heart!
July 30, 2024
I love this series so much! The murder mysteries are not mind blowing but these are the coziest murder mystery books I’ve ever read.
July 26, 2024
These books just keep getting better, I had such a good time with this one!
March 30, 2024
"Summers End" was an unusual, cozy mystery for me. All the characters are animals living in a world of animals—think modern-day Beatrice Potter creatures, Aesop's fables, or the Hundred Acre Wood without Christopher Robin. I was curious about this mystery because my local bookstore mystery book club selected another one from the same series (A Shady Hollow Mystery) for discussion. I decided to check out what it was all about.
Vera Vixen – a fox - is an intelligent reporter and detective who agrees to chaperone a group of students on their annual field trip to Summers End, an important historical place, a tomb with a significant meaning, especially on the day when the sun is in such a position that the rays enter the tunnel. It's a bit like the Stonehenge monument, but underground, a mystical and important landmark for the animals. Students are supposed to learn an appreciation for their ancestors; however, what awaits them at the underground stone altar is a body, obviously a recent murder victim. With her friends, Vera uncovers the mystery, not forgetting to discover all the charms of the local coffee shops; some descriptions of the excellent pastry in Summers End made me want to go to my local pastry shop.
I enjoyed this story very much. It's a cozy mystery with a good plot and a rather unexpected ending. Vera, a lady fox detective, is a great character. Other memorable characters include a grumpy professor, a poet peacock, a brilliant raven Lenore, and a deer chief inspector. Reading this novel feels fresh and relaxing, just what one expects from a good mystery.
Vera Vixen – a fox - is an intelligent reporter and detective who agrees to chaperone a group of students on their annual field trip to Summers End, an important historical place, a tomb with a significant meaning, especially on the day when the sun is in such a position that the rays enter the tunnel. It's a bit like the Stonehenge monument, but underground, a mystical and important landmark for the animals. Students are supposed to learn an appreciation for their ancestors; however, what awaits them at the underground stone altar is a body, obviously a recent murder victim. With her friends, Vera uncovers the mystery, not forgetting to discover all the charms of the local coffee shops; some descriptions of the excellent pastry in Summers End made me want to go to my local pastry shop.
I enjoyed this story very much. It's a cozy mystery with a good plot and a rather unexpected ending. Vera, a lady fox detective, is a great character. Other memorable characters include a grumpy professor, a poet peacock, a brilliant raven Lenore, and a deer chief inspector. Reading this novel feels fresh and relaxing, just what one expects from a good mystery.
March 31, 2024
Summers End is the fifth book in Juneau Black's Shady Hollow Mystery series. Vera Vixen is temporarily stepping away from her reporter duties to chaperone a school trip to Summers End with her friend Lenore. Summers End is an ancient tomb that is thought to have been built by the early woodland animals. It is the focus of study by many intellectuals in the animal community. While entering the tomb the group stumbles upon a body. Vera and Lenore must join together to solve the murder when Lenore's sister becomes a suspect.
I love this series so much. It remains so inventive and fun. I really look forward to getting new installments and was thrilled to be approved to read this one early. I can't wait to get my physical copy too. Aside from being fun books the artwork on the covers are always beautiful! Vera is one of my favorite leads out of all the cozy mysteries I have read. I loved getting a little insight into how this world of intelligent animals came to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series so much. It remains so inventive and fun. I really look forward to getting new installments and was thrilled to be approved to read this one early. I can't wait to get my physical copy too. Aside from being fun books the artwork on the covers are always beautiful! Vera is one of my favorite leads out of all the cozy mysteries I have read. I loved getting a little insight into how this world of intelligent animals came to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2024
We are back in Shady Hollow with Vera the newspaper journalist. She has signed up to be a chaperone from the local high school to go to Summers End, an archaeological site. They find a lot of professors fighting about everything. They also find a dead body.
Vera uses her sense of curiosity to investigate the murder. I really enjoyed this mystery and had no clue whodunnit. I love the quirkiness of each character. Overall, a fantastic cozy mystery.
Vera uses her sense of curiosity to investigate the murder. I really enjoyed this mystery and had no clue whodunnit. I love the quirkiness of each character. Overall, a fantastic cozy mystery.
August 1, 2024
・❥・5 ✧.*
Wow okay so this was probably my most anticipated book of the year and it delivered exactly what I needed during the time I needed it. This has been a recurring cozy mystery book series for me that I have absolutely loved. Both authors have expanded the Shady Hollow universe with each book and short story that they have created. All the books have been unique in their own ways and have not disappointed with the vibes or the resemblance to Fantastic Mr. Fox, Zootopia, etc.
Summers End not only gave use more background about the general world but also gave history and details that have never been introduced before. I was in awe of what was added. This book is set in a whole new town farther down the river and focusses on a major event that happens each year at a historical monument. Vera is a chaperone for a school field trip with her friends and other cast members that we’ve seen before throughout the other books. The mystery I would say is very unique and different to any of the other mysteries that we’ve read so far within the book series. It was easy to understand all of the complexities while also making it difficult to figure out the culprit since there were so many new characters added.
My favorite parts were the historical additions of the monument, the folklore, the worldbuilding and the mystery as a whole. This whole book is based around this Summers End monument which was the calendar/burial ground/start to Shady Hollows civilization. Reminiscent of the Pyramids in a way or more like Mesopotamia-esque. No only did this give a historical account to how Shady Hollow began but also gave The Mummy-ish vibes by the fact that academics flock to this every year to discover more of its secrets. This is also heavily expanded upon more by the folklore we are given, the artifacts that we’ve seen or been told about as well.
The other large part this book gave was worldbuilding. I never thought I would read a cozy mystery that had such a detailed and intriguing world but here we are with this beautiful book! I want to know soooo much more about the universities, the cities and the other towns and such that surround Shady Hollow. I felt like every morsel we were given in this book just wasn’t enough. I am sooo excited for other books in this series (if there are some) because I think this series has so much potential and the authors have given a great start to an entire world of new areas. One part that seemed so small and miniscule was an offhanded comment about a part of the forest basically being unexplored and had no towns or civilization so like a giant unknown area. Like what!?! How can this not be a great mystery to add into the series for Vera.
The mystery as a whole was * chefs kiss * The intricacies this mystery took you on were so in depth and complex yet simple at the same time. I loved how it added even more detail without overdoing it. The ended was great. I loved that some key characters came into play. I cannot say too much otherwise it would spoiler it but I think it was a great journey.
The only part that left me sad was that we did not get very much Orville in this book at all :/ I see why but he is one of my favorite characters so I will always want to see more of him in these books. That was just a tiny and personal critique that most readers would not dislike.
All of this being said - this is a continuation of a series so if you weren’t interested in the other books then you definitely won’t be interested in this one. I think this is great for anyone who already loves the series and if you are a newbie then I think starting with the first book Shady Hollow is the best for you if you want to get into cozy mysteries or just love the whole Zootopia aesthetic.
Wow okay so this was probably my most anticipated book of the year and it delivered exactly what I needed during the time I needed it. This has been a recurring cozy mystery book series for me that I have absolutely loved. Both authors have expanded the Shady Hollow universe with each book and short story that they have created. All the books have been unique in their own ways and have not disappointed with the vibes or the resemblance to Fantastic Mr. Fox, Zootopia, etc.
Summers End not only gave use more background about the general world but also gave history and details that have never been introduced before. I was in awe of what was added. This book is set in a whole new town farther down the river and focusses on a major event that happens each year at a historical monument. Vera is a chaperone for a school field trip with her friends and other cast members that we’ve seen before throughout the other books. The mystery I would say is very unique and different to any of the other mysteries that we’ve read so far within the book series. It was easy to understand all of the complexities while also making it difficult to figure out the culprit since there were so many new characters added.
My favorite parts were the historical additions of the monument, the folklore, the worldbuilding and the mystery as a whole. This whole book is based around this Summers End monument which was the calendar/burial ground/start to Shady Hollows civilization. Reminiscent of the Pyramids in a way or more like Mesopotamia-esque. No only did this give a historical account to how Shady Hollow began but also gave The Mummy-ish vibes by the fact that academics flock to this every year to discover more of its secrets. This is also heavily expanded upon more by the folklore we are given, the artifacts that we’ve seen or been told about as well.
The other large part this book gave was worldbuilding. I never thought I would read a cozy mystery that had such a detailed and intriguing world but here we are with this beautiful book! I want to know soooo much more about the universities, the cities and the other towns and such that surround Shady Hollow. I felt like every morsel we were given in this book just wasn’t enough. I am sooo excited for other books in this series (if there are some) because I think this series has so much potential and the authors have given a great start to an entire world of new areas. One part that seemed so small and miniscule was an offhanded comment about a part of the forest basically being unexplored and had no towns or civilization so like a giant unknown area. Like what!?! How can this not be a great mystery to add into the series for Vera.
The mystery as a whole was * chefs kiss * The intricacies this mystery took you on were so in depth and complex yet simple at the same time. I loved how it added even more detail without overdoing it. The ended was great. I loved that some key characters came into play. I cannot say too much otherwise it would spoiler it but I think it was a great journey.
The only part that left me sad was that we did not get very much Orville in this book at all :/ I see why but he is one of my favorite characters so I will always want to see more of him in these books. That was just a tiny and personal critique that most readers would not dislike.
All of this being said - this is a continuation of a series so if you weren’t interested in the other books then you definitely won’t be interested in this one. I think this is great for anyone who already loves the series and if you are a newbie then I think starting with the first book Shady Hollow is the best for you if you want to get into cozy mysteries or just love the whole Zootopia aesthetic.
July 9, 2024
I read the first three books in this series and thoroughly loved them. Then, for some reason, I thought the series was three and done. Imagine my horror when I discovered this, the FIFTH book. So, I duly went back and played catchup with the ones I had missed, which turned out to be two in-betweenie shorts as well as Twilight Falls. That done, I was then ready to crack on with this book.
And oh boy had I missed the wonderful characters I met way back when in Shady Hollow. I'm going to assume that you are already familiar with the delightful cast of characters that are contained herein - their anthropomorphic nature - and are comfortable with all that. Me I think it's genius! How the author matches the traits and characteristics of each animal species with the characters and their positions, or jobs, in the books. Wonderful!
Anyway, this, the fifth book sees reporter Vera Vixen playing chaperone to a bunch of school kids from Shady Hollow who are attending the annual field trip to Summers End, a mystical place where, on the last day of summer, the sun rise hits an ancient tomb in just the right place for a spectacular sight... Although, this time the sight wasn't as expected...
I loved this book, as I have loved all the ones before it. I love the characters, the stories, the style of writing, the whole shebang. And the humour! I remember in my review for book one where I likened the series to Wind in the Willows crossed with Agatha Raisin and I stand by that comparison still. The main story contained herein was also well plotted and, although I did guess early, that in no way compromised my overall enjoyment of the book.
Still kicking myself with dropping the ball with this series, but happy now I have all caught up again, and I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for book 6.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
And oh boy had I missed the wonderful characters I met way back when in Shady Hollow. I'm going to assume that you are already familiar with the delightful cast of characters that are contained herein - their anthropomorphic nature - and are comfortable with all that. Me I think it's genius! How the author matches the traits and characteristics of each animal species with the characters and their positions, or jobs, in the books. Wonderful!
Anyway, this, the fifth book sees reporter Vera Vixen playing chaperone to a bunch of school kids from Shady Hollow who are attending the annual field trip to Summers End, a mystical place where, on the last day of summer, the sun rise hits an ancient tomb in just the right place for a spectacular sight... Although, this time the sight wasn't as expected...
I loved this book, as I have loved all the ones before it. I love the characters, the stories, the style of writing, the whole shebang. And the humour! I remember in my review for book one where I likened the series to Wind in the Willows crossed with Agatha Raisin and I stand by that comparison still. The main story contained herein was also well plotted and, although I did guess early, that in no way compromised my overall enjoyment of the book.
Still kicking myself with dropping the ball with this series, but happy now I have all caught up again, and I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for book 6.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
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