Cold Clay (Shady Hollow 2), by Juneau Black

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I really enjoyed the first in the Shady Hollow series, Shady Hollow, by Juneau Black, when I listened to it a few years ago. Ever since then, I've had the rest of the series on my TBR list. I finally listened to Cold Clay. Autumn is the season in which Cold Clay is set, so it's perfect timing.

The creatures who reside in Shady Hollow are preparing for autumn, when a rabbit discovers the dead body of a moose. The identity of the deceased is not immediately known, but amateur sleuth/journalist Vera Vixen and the authorities are on the case. After the identity of the moose is revealed, Vera does not believe the authorities have the correct culprit and she is determined to speed up this case to bring the real killer to justice.

While I enjoyed the first installment in this series, I really loved this one! As with every book in the series, all of the characters are animals who reside in Shady Hollow. They are able to talk with each other and they all have human-like qualities. While I'm not usually a fan of injured or deceased animals in cozies, it works in this series because of the fictional world the author has created. The main characters are easy to fall in love with, even the ones with edgy personalities.

I did have a hunch who the killer was in this one, but not right away. Even though I thought I knew who it was and I ended up being correct, I still enjoyed following the clues with Vera. In addition to the mystery, there is a subplot with a bit of romance. Is it realistic? No. But the entire premise of this series is unrealistic, so I can suspend belief. I'm here for the fun, not reality.

Like the first installment, Cold Clay is written in the third person. Normally this is something that takes me a bit to get used to, as I prefer first person. However, I barely noticed it in this book. I will say that I listened to the audiobook, and I think that was to my advantage. Cassandra Campbell is the narrator and she does a flawless job voicing all of the characters, in addition to telling the story. I was completely engrossed in her narration from beginning to end. If there's any book I recommend on audio, it's this one! 

This is a series I will definitely continue listening to. I'm really looking forward to finding out what Vera's next case will be and to visiting with the residents of Shady Hollow again. The reason it took me took me so long to listen to this second installment is because the first library I became a member of didn't have it. Now that I've joined a second and third library system in my state, I finally found one that does carry it on Libby. 

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and you can suspend belief to enjoy a make-believe world, I highly recommend the Shady Hollow series. You will definitely want to begin with book 1, Shady Hollow, and read or listen to them in order so you can follow the ongoing subplot. Also, in Cold Clay, there is a reference to something that occurred in Shady Hollow. I have already put a hold on book 3, Mirror Lake. Based on the book cover, it looks like this one is also set in the fall. I hope to listen to it soon!