About the Author

LEONIE SWANN earned degrees in philosophy, psychology, and communications from Munich University and has worked in journalism and public relations. Currently working on her doctorate in English literature, she lives in Berlin

Reviews

“An original and clever mystery, with a flock of endearingly woolly detectives. I may never eat lamb chops again.”—Carl Hiaasen
 
“Sheep make great detectives. I loved this book.”—Robert B. Parker

“Refreshingly, joyously different.”—Sunday Telegraph

“Moments of High Comedy come thick and fast. . . . This entertaining, lighthearted mystery is told from a refreshingly novel perspective.”—Daily Mail

“This sheepy society—sometimes touchingly naïve, sometimes surprisingly astute—has an inexhaustible, quirky charm.”—Salon
 
“Swann has written a surprisingly satisfying murder mystery that will appeal to PETA members and diehard crime novel fans.”—Post and Courier

“Genuinely odd and affecting . . . The best sheep detective novel you’ll read all year.”—Guardian

“It’s rather as if Agatha Christie had rewritten The Wind in the Willows, and I ended by loving it.”—Jane Jakeman, The Independent
 
“A completely original, sparklingly inventive, cleverly written story . . . Readers willing to accept the premise will find themselves engaged—rooting for the sheep, marveling at the ingenuity of the author, or simply enjoying the madcap story.”—Booklist

“[A] refreshingly original detective story . . . The author’s sheep’s eye view and the animals’ literal translation of the strange words and deeds of the human species not only create laugh-out-loud humor but also allow the animals occasional flashes of accidental brilliance.”—Publishers Weekly

In this refreshingly original detective story from debut German author Swann, a flock of sheep investigates the murder of their beloved shepherd, George Glenn. Leading the effort is Miss Maple, considered the cleverest sheep in the Irish seaside village of Glennkill. She slyly "pretends" to graze while eavesdropping on suspects who come to search George's caravan for something he may have died for. When a long-lost ram recounts an incident that occurred upon his departure years earlier, Miss Maple uncovers the catalyst for George's death. The wooly troupe reveals the crime's solution in a near-Shakespearean mime at the annual "Smartest Sheep in Glennkill" contest. The author's sheep's-eye view and the animals' literal translation of the strange words and deeds of the human species not only create laugh-out-loud humor but also allow the animals occasional flashes of accidental brilliance. (June) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

It's morning in the seemingly bucolic Irish village of Glennkill, and a flock of sheep has just come across the murdered body of its shepherd. Initial consternation (there's a bit of panic about wolves, although the crime was clearly committed by a human) gives way to resolve--the flock will solve the murder. Led by the very smart Miss Maple, Othello, Melmoth, Mopple the Whale, and the rest of the group struggle to understand who killed George and why. The sheep are not cuddly sweet or highly anthropomorphized; they approach each problem in the investigation from a sheep's point of view, which makes for a fresh take on the mystery genre. The outsider perspective is reminiscent of that portrayed by Mark Haddon in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time--often amusing but frequently hinting at a much darker reality, unlike Jasper Fforde's lighter nursery crime mysteries. Swann peppers the text with literary allusions that add humor and lighten the existential gloom of both people and sheep. An international best seller, this quirky philosophical mystery is highly recommended for all public libraries.--Devon Thomas, DevIndexing, Chelsea, MI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

"An original and clever mystery, with a flock of endearingly woolly detectives. I may never eat lamb chops again."-Carl Hiaasen

"Sheep make great detectives. I loved this book."-Robert B. Parker

"Refreshingly, joyously different."-Sunday Telegraph

"Moments of High Comedy come thick and fast. . . . This entertaining, lighthearted mystery is told from a refreshingly novel perspective."-Daily Mail

"This sheepy society-sometimes touchingly naive, sometimes surprisingly astute-has an inexhaustible, quirky charm."-Salon

"Swann has written a surprisingly satisfying murder mystery that will appeal to PETA members and diehard crime novel fans."-Post and Courier

"Genuinely odd and affecting . . . The best sheep detective novel you'll read all year."-Guardian

"It's rather as if Agatha Christie had rewritten The Wind in the Willows, and I ended by loving it."-Jane Jakeman, The Independent

"A completely original, sparklingly inventive, cleverly written story . . . Readers willing to accept the premise will find themselves engaged-rooting for the sheep, marveling at the ingenuity of the author, or simply enjoying the madcap story."-Booklist

"[A] refreshingly original detective story . . . The author's sheep's eye view and the animals' literal translation of the strange words and deeds of the human species not only create laugh-out-loud humor but also allow the animals occasional flashes of accidental brilliance."-Publishers Weekly