On a list of cozy mysteries, Shady Hollow is the coziest of them all! Imagine an idyllic town similar to Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls but all the townsfolk are animals like in Fantastic Mr. Fox and Zootopia. When the normally peaceful Shady Hollow is disrupted by the murder of a curmudgeon old toad, newcomer Vera Vixen has to use her reporting skills to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer strikes again. I absolutely loved the adorable setting, the quirky characters, and the clever names of the villagers. Looking forward to reading more of Vera’s sleuthing adventures!

Brigid says: How I simply adore this series and its adorable community of creatures! This festive short story is an excellent place to meet (or reacquaint yourself) with the delightful townsfolk of Shady Hollow. The Winter Solstice evergreen tree has been stolen so it is up to local reporter Vera Vixen to find it before the holiday arrives. Luckily she has the help of her kind friends and a few clever hunches to go on. A mystery without a murder, this cozy tale is just perfect with a cup of coffee and a slice of pie on a cold winter afternoon.

Brigid says: Mischief night has arrived in Shady Hollow! An evening full of seasonal candies, scary stories, intricately carved gourds, and frightful tricks. The next morning, townsfolk are shocked to learn that a young squirrel named Hannah never returned home from the festivities. Clever fox reporter Vera is on the case with her bookseller bestie raven Lenore and both are determined to find Hannah. If you are interested in the Shady Hollow series, this short story mystery with no murder is a fabulous place to start! It truly is a lovely series where Zootopia meets Gilmore Girls with a generous pinch of Murder, She Wrote.