Juneau Black’s Cold Clay is the second in the Shady Hollow series, set in the small American town of that name. It’s apple-picking season and a skeleton is discovered under the last tree in a row of apple trees at Cold Clay Orchards. It’s a cold (!) case as the bone have been there over a decade. The bones belong to a female moose and gentle Joe Elkin, the moose that owns the town café, had his wife disappear eleven years ago. Naturally, the police arrest Joe because, as Chief Meade says, they have to arrest someone to show that the police are on top of things. Vera, the local paper’s investigative reporter, loves Joe and is deeply upset by this.

Simultaneously, a newcomer to the town, Octavia Grey, opens a School of Etiquette. Vera pops along to welcome her to the town and to write a piece upon the school. However, she and Ms Grey really don’t hit it off. When the owner of the paper arranges for Vera to have complimentary lessons at the school in order to write a series of pieces, you know that Vera won’t enjoy them.

Once again, it pays to watch out for the little gems of humour:
“Do you dance, Miss Vixen?”
“Only the foxtrot.”
It’s lovely to see the characters developing. The spoilt little rich girl in book #1, Esmeralda von Beaverpelt, is turning into a likeable waitress at Joe’s café in book #2. Lefty, the local small-time villain with a heart of gold, is back.

As my notes on the first book in the series, Shady Hollow, stated, these are perfect books for curling up with, preferably under a warm duvet, for a few hours. They really do cleanse my mind and refresh me. If anyone asks you to define a “cosy” mystery, give them a Shady Hollow book.

#ColdClay #NetGalley

Shady Hollow #2

3.5 rounded down

Vera Vixen is hoping for a bit of excitement to pep up her newspaper headlines. Her interest is distinctly piqued when a large group of ferrets are moving goods into a rental that has lain empty for a while. Who is moving in? Well, it transpires it’s Octavia Grey, a very grand and refined Mink who is planning to open “Grey’s School of Etiquette“. However, her attention is further snagged as an incident at Cold Clay Orchard, a collective run by rabbits. They produce high quality fruits and are currently picking the apple harvest. Peter and Ralph are removing a tree that hasn’t thrived when Peters shovel and covers… dun, dun, dun …some bones. Deputy Orville Braun (hotly pursued by Vera in more ways than one) investigates. Dr Broadhead, the adder medical examiner, pronounces the bones to be from a moose and wait for it, it’s another murder in Shady Hollow. Who is it? When? Why? Could this be Joe Elkins wife who walked out on him and Joe Junior eleven years ago and was never heard from again? Vera is on the scent!

First of all, I have to say it’s not as funny as the first book but it’s charming and sweet despite the murder! The characters are great, though Octavia Grey proves to be one very cool customer. I love Vera, she’s a very clever vixen and she has a real nose for a story and loads of gumption. Some characters back stories are really entertaining too. There are rather a lot of fortuitous finds in this one but the plot does start to connect well, thanks to Vera lies and nefarious deeds are uncovered. The tone is a delightful “old-fashioned“ one that I really like and I think the authors have hit on an excellent format for escapist reading in these uncertain times.

My only negative other than less humour, is there is some plot filling in this one which we don’t need, nice though they are.

Looking forward to number three which hopefully will have some belly laughs.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.