This charming murder mystery was originally published in German in 2005. The Deluxe Edition that I read came out this year, and apparently an animated movie with Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson is due in 2026. I happened to see the sequel to this novel (Big Bad Wool) in Barnes and Noble, so I asked if they had the first book. If you enjoy cozy murder mysteries, look this one up. The action takes place in a quaint little Irish village called Glennkill, famous for its scenic views and the yearly “cleverest sheep” contest. Local shepherd George Glenn’s sheep never participate, but once they discover their shepherd dead with a shovel through his middle, they use their special skills to investigate the crime and find justice.
The very beginning of the story includes a “Dramatis Oves,” describing each of George’s sheep. They include Miss Maple, who is cleverest of the bunch and leader of the investigation; Mopple the Whale, who has the best memory; Othello, a four horned black ram who has been out in the world and seen some stuff; and Zora, a horned ewe who is fearless when it comes to heights and also rather philosophical. George’s flock loved him because he took good care of their needs and he read to them. While some of the flock feel as though they should just keep grazing and move on, Miss Maple and others are determined to find the truth. After George’s body is discovered in the field, a bunch of the Glennkill locals begin to come around, and while you might think it is to grieve and pay their respects, it becomes clear that something else is at play. It seems as though a number of Glennkill residents have secrets that George might have known about. Maple et al have to fight their fear of humans (especially the local butcher) and of working separately from the flock in order to find clues and evidence.
This novel has a lot of very amusing passages as the sheep try to make sense of the human world and human motivations. References to the local church and its less-than-holy priest (whom the sheep think is “God,”) and to the possibility that George was “dealing grass” lead to some pretty funny misunderstandings amongst the flock. While this is a murder mystery, it is also the story of George’s sheep learning to fight their herd mentality, to take risks, and to be brave. I especially enjoyed the scene near the end at the cleverest sheep contest. The flock’s interaction with other outside sheep is always a revelation. This was a clever, enjoyable read and I will probably pick up Big Bad Wool one of these days, too.
Bonus feature: there is a “flip book” in this edition on the right hand pages, lower corner, featuring a black sheep, crow and shovel