I really enjoyed reading this first book in a new cozy mystery series by Sarah Fox! An intriguing premise, with great characters (both human and animal ones). Overall, I would definitely recommend trying this novel!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

This quirky paranormal cozy mystery by Sarah Fox was a fun read. I have read other books by this author but this one was the most whimsical and engaging. I love the premise of the book and the main character was engaging and made me want to learn more about her. I definitely plan on reading more in this series!

Such a charming book! I love a good cozy mystery with a punny title and this book certainly delivered. A little romance, a little magic, and lots of heart -- just what I needed.

Murder Most Owl is the first book in a new light paranormal cozy mystery series by Sarah Fox. Released 2nd April 2024 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in Dec 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a very light easy to read cozy romance mystery with significant paranormal elements. There are tie-ins to a long ago unsolved cold case, a current poisoning murder, and lots of animals on MC Georgie's aunt's animal sanctuary (which naturally comes equipped with a handsome mysterious ranch hand as a love interest).

It's written in first person PoV which is challenging, and there's quite a lot of "telling" instead of "showing" in the writing, but altogether, it's diverting, very light, easy to read, and fun. The language is squeaky clean with one tiny exception) and the violence mostly occurs off the page.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours 54 minutes and is capably read by Hallie Bee Bard. She has a well modulated, slightly breathy alto, and for this read, a sort of generic midwest American accent. There are some points where the more rapid dialogue exchanges get a bit confused as far as character delineation goes, but it's not egregious, and it is easy enough to tell them apart that it never becomes confusing.

Three and a half stars. It's a promising start to a new paranormal/magical realism mystery series. There is a strong element of insta-love between the MC and another character, but as long as that's not a deal-breaker, it's a fun read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is book 1 in the new series, Magical Menagerie series. I keep telling myself to not start any new cozy series but I'm glad I picked this one. Sarah Fox is one of my favorite authors. Georgie heads back to Twilight to care for her aunt with a broken foot. It's now an animal sanctuary and the neighbor, Dorothy Shale is happy to see her. When Dorothy is murdered the prime suspect is a real estate developer who was heard threatening her but as police investigate it seems Dorothy is not who she seems to be. Lots of mystery, a little romance and some great characters.

Sarah Fox writes excellent cozy mysteries and this was very very good. I was hooked since the beginning, loved the likeable and fleshed out characters, and was kept guessing by the twisty and solid mystery.
There's a paranormal aspect, there's a group of intriguing and fascinating animals (I want a horned owl).
A page turner that I loved, kept me reading and I hope it's the first in a long series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A nice well done cozy. This has all the cozy hallmarks: grown up returning to the home she left, older female relative, hot male co-worker, fun animals and a mystery from the past. If I have any quibble, it's that the magic element in this work is completely superfluous. The story would have worked just as well without it (in fact, it might have worked better). Other than that, however, this book was a good beach read.

A new series from Sarah Fox that I know that I am going to love...I already can't wait for the next one.
For those that enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, this is going to be right up your alley.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed, are mine and mine alone.

Georgie Johansen returns to her childhood home to help her aunt Olivia, but Twilight Cove, Oregon, is no longer so peaceful. MURDER MOST OWL is a slightly paranormal cosy mystery – with no ghosts, but some unusual occurrences. Since Olivia broke her leg, she’s glad for any help around the house and at the animal sanctuary she now runs.

Continued.

Murder Most Owl is book #1 in the A Magical Menagerie Mystery series by Sarah Fox.

This was such an interesting story. Georgie is back in Twilight Cove to help her Aunt Olivia while she is recovering from a broken ankle. I could relate to Georgie’s past. The characters are people I’d like to be friends with, at least most of them. The dogs, Flossie and Fancy, and the owl, Euclid, added an interesting twist to the story. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Georgie!

Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

It's not often I get attached to the murder victim so quickly in a cozy mystery, but I was genuinely sad even though I knew from the summary who died. Sarah Fox has written a vivid story that I just didn't want to end! I've never read a cozy mystery with just a hint of magic before and I have a feeling that Murder Most Owl may have spoiled any I read in the future because it set the standard so high. I do hope that there are many more sequels to come! Murder Most Owl had characters both likeable and despicable, a fantastic small town setting, and a comforting mystery.

When I found out Sarah Fox was writing a new series I knew I had to read it, and let me tell you it did not disappoint! It has all your classic cozy elements and with an added touch of magical mystery, and it is absolutely wonderful!
I love all of the animals, particularly the inclusion of Euclid the owl, that’s not something we usually encounter in a cozy.
I also enjoy the addition of the smaller side mystery, sometimes they can be a distraction, but this one is very well done.
Looking forward to my next visit to Twilight Cove and another adventure with Georgie and friends.

Thank you NetGalley for the e~arc which I voluntarily reviewed.

This was absolutely so good! I didn’t want it to end and loved how everything even the small side mysteries were nicely wrapped up and explained. I really love the dynamics that developed between Georgie and her new love interest. Olivia was an awesome character too, as I’ve found all the characters I’ve read in this author’s various series.

I loved the idea of the animals having special talents rather than the other way around. It was a fun change from the usual witch and talking familiars. Those dogs were just amazing and so lovable. I do love cats but having the dogs being the magical ones was extra fun. I’m not a fan of birds in general, but Euclid was a pretty awesome owl, and I’d sure never turn down his help in ditching bad people lol. I can’t wait for another book in this series! I sure hope the author and publisher have one or more planned!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley , and my opinions are my own.

I love Sarah’s True Confection series so it’s no surprise that I loved this book. The series title fits perfectly for a town in Twilight Cove with an animal sanctuary. I liked Georgie’s character instantly. The animals were my favorite part, especially Euclid, the owl.

The romance between Georgie and farmhand Callum was the right amount. His character starts off mysterious and has you wondering why. This book kept me on my toes and had me trying to guess what would happen next. I cannot wait for the next book so we can dig deeper.

This makes me want to push the author’s other series up higher on my TBR list! I love her writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this first book in the Magical Menagerie Mysteries! I've enjoyed Sara Fox's other series, and wasn't quite sure where this was going to go, and it was so much fun. An LA screenwriter returns to help her aunt in a small PNW town, and we meet the interesting townspeople, intriguing mysteries, and sweet sweet animals. The characters and setting were great. I can't wait for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for the advance digital copy!

This was the first whodunit in a long time that made me go "WHAT?!" when all was revealed. That's impressive since I can usually figure it out about halfway through the book.

Georgie Johansen has returned to Twilight Cove, OR to help on her aunt's farm while Auntie O recovers from a broken ankle. Memories from her high school days in the small town come back in a flood and she realizes how much she has missed what she had there. In her ramblings through the woods to the beach from the farm, she meets Dorothy, a woman who is rumored to be a witch by some of the townsfolk due to her preferences of living alone in the woods and communicating with animals including her two dogs and a horned owl named Euclid. Add in the nasty developer who keeps hounding Dorothy to purchase her land and when Dorothy dies under mysterious circumstances, he is the prime suspect... or so one would think.

This is a charming new cozy series from Sarah Fox, who has written multiple other cozy series I adore. I liked the supernatural aspect of this cozy because it was subtle but I am certainly intrigued to see more from this series. I look forward to returning to Twilight Cove, OR, hopefully very soon!

My thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC.

NOT RATED. I did DNF this title at 40%. I was interested in the premise and the setting, but I found the story telling a bit repetitive and flat. Even through a cozy mystery lens I did find it was slow to gain any traction and I couldn't seem to connect to the characters. I think it fell victim to over description of settings and characters which took away from advancing the plot at a decent pace. I've seen many positive reviews so perhaps this pacing just wasn't for me. The writing was high quality and, as I said, the premise was good. I would definitely check out another of the author's titles and give it a shot.

This is a cute start to a new series. If you’re an animal lover this is the perfect one for you. Georgie inherits a trio of very interesting pets. The mystery was a good one, I really enjoyed the ending & the lead up was appropriately twisty. Not sure yet how I feel about it the love interest, future books will tell. Overall a nice start. Definitely read the authors other True Confections series, it’s really good!

Author Sarah Fox’s new cozy mystery series Magical Menagerie Mystery starts off strong with this first installment Murder Most Owl. Georgie Johansen, a screenwriter from Southern California, has come back to Twilight Cove, OR to help her injured aunt Olivia with her animal sanctuary. Shortly after arriving Georgie meets her aunt’s neighbor Dorothy and the two click quickly over their love of animals but just a few days later Georgie finds Dorothy dead in her cottage. Our amateur sleuth must relearn the town from her youth and figure out who could possibly be a murderer, with the help of Dorothy’s loyal, and as it turns out magical, pet dogs and a rather special local owl.
A brilliant start to a new cozy mystery series. I love the way Fox was able to make the town of Twilight Cove feel both new and familiar to our main character, Georgie, mainly through the other characters in this novel. I loved how Flossie & Fancy were incorporated into Georgie’s life to give her a closer connection to the murder victim, plus the reveals and reactions to the dogs’ magic was delightful. The mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end, and the eventual reveal was quite crafty. Overall a fantastic start to a new cozy mystery series and I can’t wait for the next installment.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

Murder Most Owl
(Magical Menagerie Mystery 1)
Sarah Fox



Georgie Johansen is finally back in Twilight Cove, Oregon. This little seaside town holds Georgie’s most cherished childhood memories. Georgie is a successful screenwriter living and working in Los Angeles. She drops everything after a call for help from Auntie O. Aunt Olivia had an accident and broke her ankle, because of this Georgie returns to the only home she’s ever known.

Aunt Olivia has turned her hobby farm into an animal sanctuary. Since breaking her ankle she has had to move from her farmhouse to her small Carriage house. She is also unable to help with the animals any longer. After the ranch manager retires, she hires Callum as an interim manager. Georgie is suspicious of him, but she also loves how he’s so great with the animals.

While chasing after a trespasser in the woods, she runs into an old lady and her dogs. They are soon joined by the great horned owl she had admired earlier. After admonishing her to be careful, she tells Georgie she’ll see her later. While taking a walk in the woods later that day one of the dogs show up in front of her. She decides to follow the dog which leads her to where the old woman is being accosted by a man in a suit. After intervening, she is invited inside for tea, Dorothy introduces herself and her companions, Flossie, Fancy & Euclid. Afterward, she receives an Amethyst stone to help with her migraines.

When Flossie and Fancy show up at the farm alone, urging her to follow them the next day, Georgie is worried.

Few things have changed in the small town she fell in love with years ago… until she comes upon a Murder!

This amazing book pulled me in from the first chapter. Trapping me between the pages and ensuring I never wanted to leave for even a moment. Beginning to end the only negative I have is that it ended! Even with every question answered, and every secret told I still wanted more. This book is going in my top five for 2024!

5*****
Amazing book I can’t wait to see when book two is coming.

Location: Twilight Cove, Oregon
Aunt Olivia - Carriage House
Georgie – Farmhouse
Euclid – great horned owl
Flossie & Fancy – English Springer Spaniels dogs
Callum – Cottage
Tessa Ortiz – Bestfriend
Byron Szabo – Reporter
Isaac Stratton – Police Chief



#MurderMostOwl #MagicalMenagerie #AnimalSanctuary #SarahFox #Mystery
Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Fox, and the publisher for the ARC.