In Sarah Fox's intriguing cozy mystery novel, "Murder Most Owl," protagonist Georgie Johansen returns to her Aunt Olivia's animal sanctuary in the coastal town of Twilight Cove after many years, finding herself entangled in a puzzling murder investigation. Upon her arrival, she encounters the enigmatic farmhand, the eccentric Dorothy Shale, and the rumors surrounding her alleged witchcraft. When Dorothy turns up murdered and suspicion falls on Georgie, she embarks on a quest to clear her name and uncover the truth behind the escalating murders. With the assistance of Dorothy's two dogs and a great-horned owl, Georgie delves into the secrets of Twilight Cove, encountering an array of colorful characters and navigating the tensions between the townspeople and the animal sanctuary. As the body count rises, Georgie must race against time to expose the real killer before becoming the next victim. Fox skillfully weaves a captivating narrative that blends mystery, humor, and a touch of the supernatural. Her vivid descriptions of Twilight Cove and its inhabitants bring the setting to life, while her well-developed characters add depth and relatability to the story. The mystery is cleverly crafted, keeping readers engaged with its twists and turns, and the introduction of Dorothy's magical presence adds an intriguing element to the plot. Georgie's journey of self-discovery and her growing connection with the animal sanctuary provide a heartwarming subplot, adding emotional resonance to the story. Fox's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making the novel a delightful read for cozy mystery enthusiasts and those who enjoy a blend of mystery and magical realism.

Big thanks to both #Severn House and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Murder Most Owl. The expected publication date is April 2, 2024.

"With the help of the unusual powers of Dorothy's two dogs and great-horned owl, can Georgie uncover the truth before she becomes the killer's next target?"

Murder Most Owl is completely out of the genres I normally read and I. Loved. It. I opted to read it because of the dogs and then fell in love with the entire book. It's part cozy, part romance, and part paranormal. The characters were very likable, as were all of the critters at the animal sanctuary. No surprise, though, that my favorite characters were the dogs and the owl. I want them to come and live at my house!

I'm very happy this is going to be a series.

#Whodunit #SarahFox

Murder Most Owl by Sarah Fox is a first in a new cozy mystery series set in Twilight Cove. Georgie Johansen is a successful screenwriter for TV who lives in LA. Her expertise is in writing thrillers and mysteries. When she returns to Twilight Cove, Oregon to help her aunt, who has broken her ankle, at her animal sanctuary little does Georgie know she will be embroiled in a real-life mystery/thriller of her own.

I really enjoyed this book. Olivia is a very likable and believable character. She is someone who has suffered a lot of loss in her young life and even though she loved living in Twilight Cove as a teen, she hasn’t really been back to the area much after her dad moved her away. It was too hard to leave the first time around. But once back, she falls in love with the animals at the sanctuary and is intrigued by her aunt’s new farm manager, Callum, who seems to have some secrets of his own. When Aunt Olivia’s reclusive neighbor Dorothy is killed, Georgie volunteers to take in Dorothy’s two dogs Flossy and Fancy. Though Georgie learns from town gossip that Dorothy was a witch, it’s her two dogs who actually have special talents. I really appreciated the way this author handled that light fantasy element. She doesn’t have them act outside the realm of how a normal intelligent dog might behave, and manages to incorporate their abilities into their characters in a way that compliments their normal behavior. Their special qualities aren’t revealed right away either, which adds another element of intrigue to figure out in the story as it unfolds. I also enjoyed the owl Euclid, who was Dorothy’s friend, and who soon becomes Georgie’s friend and protector. Though for a nocturnal animal, he does seem to be awake in the daytime an awful lot, something even Georgie comments on.

In terms of Georgie as amateur sleuth, I appreciated the way Fox handles how Georgie becomes caught up in solving Dorothy’s murder. At first, it is her normal curiosity that causes her to become unwittingly involved. But as clues and even deaths begin to mount up, she can’t let the puzzle go and becomes more invested. She even motivates others like her aunt and her old high school friend, Tessa, to help. The clues add a fun element to the puzzle as I could tell when some were important to the plot, and had a suspicion of who the murderer might be, but couldn’t figure out the connections for all of the pieces provided until near the very end. Another thing I liked about the story was the building attraction between Georgie and Callum. It added a fun touch of romance to the novel, even though, like Georgie, you aren’t sure he’s trustworthy. Other secondary characters like Tessa, Aunt Olivia and her knitting circle, and other less likeable ones such as local journalist Byron Szabo and Shanifa and Mo, local food truck owners, fill out this cast and make Twilight Cove feel like a real place full of real, if sometimes offbeat, people. Something that I can relate to living in a small close-knit community myself. All in all, the only detractor I had for the story was the obvious antagonist at the beginning, the developer Ed Grimshaw. Fox made him a bit too bombastic and two-dimensional for me as a character.

However, if you like cozy mysteries with a dash of fantasy and a touch of romance mixed in, then I highly recommend you check out Murder Most Owl. It is a fun and easy read and I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Severn House for providing me with this ebook ARC to read in exchange for this honest review.

I have always enjoyed Sarah Fox as a writer so I was interested in this new series. I was not disappointed. It elements of paranormal and magic in it that wasn't overwhelming but added just a bit of intrigue and whimsy. The characters were so well developed that it was easy to imagine them within the story. I was drawn into the book and kept guessing- which is a good thing! It was an excellent read and well worth my time.

Georgie Johansen has returned to Twilight Cove to help out while her aunt recovers from a broken ankle. She had loved the time she spent there as a child, but her father’s jobs took her away from there far too soon. She’s back to help with the animals on her aunt’s rescue farm, but even as she starts to relax and enjoy being back, she meets a strange woman in the woods, and a greedy developer. And then there’s the farm manager who seems as wary of her as she is of him. And there are the animals. Specifically the owl and the two dogs who accompany the strange woman, who Georgie finds the next morning in her neighboring cottage, drawn there by the dogs.
This is a story steeped in relationships, new and old. There is a lot of peace and a lot of joy, even with the backdrop of several suspicious deaths. There is a charming and supportive community with the usual few outliers, who provide just enough contrast to remind us how lovely everyone else is. And the animals do play a central role, supporting and helping Georgie and her Aunt Olivia as much as the two women help them.
I really enjoyed this book, partly because of my own love for animals and rural life, but also because of the engaging characters, the well thought out backstories, the marvelous setting, and the deft misdirection provided just often enough to keep the reader wondering whether things are really as they seem.
My thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was everything I needed in my life and more. I honestly could not put this book down, from the beautiful descriptions of Twilight Cove to the antics of Fancy & Flossie this book was written to perfection. It was the coziest read and I never wanted it to end.

All the characters were written so well you couldn’t help but fall in love with them. I loved the way Dorothy was written, she gave me so many warm vibes I just wanted to hop into the book and have tea with her myself. I felt the same about Aunt Olivia, she was always so warm and welcoming & witty even when life threw her a curveball. Georgie & Callum were the best, I loved how well they worked together. There is so much more that I want to say but I don’t want to give too much away.

The storyline was so good, I love how it developed and the plot thickened with each turn of the page, it kept me hooked from page 1. The ending was SO good, I desperately wanted to find out the ending but at the same time I didn’t want the book to end. I really really hope that there will be more books to follow this one as I already miss Georgie and the rest of the gang. I also want to learn more about Fancy & Flossie, those gorgeous dogs have stolen my heart.

I can’t wait to recommend this book to more people as it was so amazing. 5/5 stars from me.

I have been really reading quite a few cozy mysteries lately (of the paranormal variety), and I thought this sounded right up my alley. I am pleased to say that it definitely was. At first, I wasn’t sure, but by the time the end came, I was so in love with all the characters, including Flossie, Fancy, and Euclid that I was terribly sad I was at the end of the book. I had my suspicions about the villain, it was a little bit of a surprise to find out. Loved that! This series opener is a wonderfully written cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Georgie has left LA for her Aunt Olivia 's seaside town in OR because Olivia broke her ankle and needs help with her animal sanctuary. She's only staying for a while, but events change. There is a murder and both of them are suspects!
This lovely book is part cosy mystery, part romance and a fantasy for all animal lovers. It's the first in a promising new series.
Can't wait for the next one!

Excellent new cozy mystery series debut! Protagonist, Georgie Johansen moves from Los Angeles, CA to the lovely seaside town of Twilight, OR to help her Aunt Olivia care for her farm/animal sanctuary when her Aunt breaks an ankle. Georgie soon meets a strange neighbor and her two dogs and a mysterious owl in the wooded property next door. Tragically, there is a suspicious death, after which, Georgie learns of more than one person who wanted the victim dead.

Full of action, zesty characters (whether good or bad), a caring farmhand, magical dogs (which are really cool!), and a wise owl, plus multiple suspects, and multiple murders, and an old unsolved bank robbery provide hours of reading enjoyment! Follow the money, and you’ll figure out the killer….
I highly recommend this entertaining cozy mystery.

I honestly reviewed a digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Severn House. All opinions are my own.

A great new start to the series - Georgie returns to get aunt's farm only to find her neighbor murdered. With the help of two magic dogs and an owl she sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding the neighbor's death and clear her name in the process. Fun, fast paced read with charming characters.

This is the great entry into a new series of cozy mysteries. The heroine is lovely and the cast of characters around her has plenty of room to grow as the stories progress. This initial entry was a perfect combination of small town and a hint of magic. The magical aspects are subtle but definitely increase the story. The mystery is well done, with enough twists to keep you guessing but not be completely unbelievable at the resolution. I can't wait to read more in this series!

#MurderMostOwl #NetGalley is the first in a new series by Sarah Fox.
Georgie has returned to her aunt's home to help her as she heals from a broken ankle. Georgie hasn't been there for awhile, but she finds herself enjoying the quiet that surrounds her.
Georgie meets a neighbor, Dorothy, who seems a bit strange, but Georgie finds comfort in her brief time with her. Fancy and Flossie are Dorothy's dogs, who really add a lot of fun to the story, and the dogs seek out Georgie, causing her to follow them through the woods to their house, where she finds Dorothy, unresponsive.
In due time a murder investigation is underway and Georgie finds herself trying to find out who killed Dorothy and why.

I had an immediate connection with Georgie, her Aunt Olivia, Callum, and Tessa. Fancy and Flossie wagged their way into my heart, and I found myself loving everything about this book. The owl, Euclid added a fun dimension to the story. Twighlight Cove sounds like a wonderful place to live.
I can't wait to share this book with other people who love a good, solid cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.