The murder mystery genre is one that is rife with intrigue and excitement, bringing readers face to face with wicked deeds and haunting killers. However, not all mysteries are so shocking and blunt in their examination of a murder. For those who seek a gentler read, there is an entire subgenre known as the “cozy mystery”. Often set in a small town or tight-knit community, the cozy mystery follows an amateur sleuth who ends up investigating a murder that has been committed in the community. What makes a cozy mystery different within this familiar set-up, though, is in the presentation. Murders happen off-screen, with the deaths generally being quick and not graphic. Sexual content is never presented, and merely alluded to with vague suggestion. Even language tends to not be more aggressive than the mildest profanity, if it goes there. In short, it is a subgenre that feels like a response to the more explicit tendencies of the “hardboiled mystery”. Juneau Black (the pen name for the duo of Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel) have arrived to make their own contribution to this subgenre, with an inspired idea: what if the setting for a story like Fantastic Mr. Fox or The Wind in the Willows were used for a murder mystery? The result is Shady Hollow, a murder mystery that earns its distinction as “cozy” through its use of anthropomorphic animal characters.
In the small town of Shady Hollow, a whole host of animals live together in relative peace. From the animals eager for a “pick me up” at Joe’s Mug (the local coffee shop) to the constant workers at the local sawmill owned by wealthy industrialist Reginald von Beaverpelt, the gears of this town turn at a steady pace. It makes it all the more shocking when an event rocks the community: murder! Otto Sumpf, a local toad who tended to live alone and bickered with everyone, is found dead with a knife in his back. Fox reporter Vera Vixen takes up a story about the case for the local paper, but as she writes, she finds that something doesn’t add up. Digging deeper to uncover the truth, she stirs up the calm waters of Shady Hollow and discovers there may be more happening in this community than expected. Soon enough, it becomes clear that someone wants Vera to stop investigating, and it will take all of her cunning to find the truth before she is silenced…permanently.
Shady Hollow is a delightful read, and certainly captures the spirit of the cozy mystery subgenre well. It unspools its mystery at a content but steady pace, offering good intrigue within its small-town setting with clues that can challenge the reader but still make for fair play in figuring out the mystery. Its small-town setting also offers a fun cast of characters who populate this mystery. From the work-focused brown bear deputy Orville Braun to gossipy hummingbird reporter Gladys Honeysuckle, they all offer fun textures to the landscape of this community. They also contribute well to the shadowy corners of this tale, with hints of dark pasts and judgmental mindsets building up among the townspeople as the mystery goes on. All of these, plus the gentler storytelling to this mystery, help to make this a great example of the subgenre. Now, if it had just had those pieces, it would still be fine. However, there is a hook to this novel that offers a little bit of spice to help it stand out on the bookshelf: namely, its choice to be about anthropomorphic animals.
Part of the appeal in a cozy mystery is in an orderly life momentarily torn asunder by the presence of a murder. It is trying to understand how an ordinary person could be compelled to commit such a horrible act, how they could let their civilized self go in a moment of primal hate. People forget about the animalistic side that can emerge, which is what makes it such an inspired choice to have the characters in Shady Hollow be animals. It does not just offer up some playful characterization using animal archetypes, such as Vera’s cunning as a fox or local criminal Lefty being a raccoon. It also offers a reminder of the fury that can lie within, as these “civilized beasts” are faced with such a cruel death in their community. Using anthropomorphic animals, it can be easier for that paranoia to creep in, wondering who among a close-knit community would be willing to kill. Of course, humans are just as capable of that ourselves. In fact, the book even opens with an author’s note that if you have trouble accepting the whole idea of this animal cast, you can instead think of them as “humans with particularly animalistic traits…just like you or me”. It is a playful but chilling reminder of a truth that lurks within the heart of the mystery genre: any personal can be an animal, and an animal trapped will do anything for its survival.
The cozy mystery subgenre is one that is filled with charm as it tackles the subject of murder, and Shady Hollow is a good reminder of that charm. It offers a whimsical touch with its cast of anthropomorphic animals, which all the while highlights the savagery that plays out in the shadows of its quaint small town.
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