Three Bags Full

Without missing a bleat, Josephine Bailey shares the adventures of a flock of Irish sheep who discover their shepherd, George, apparently murdered in the meadow. George's flock decide they must solve the mystery--after all, he has read to them daily, including one unfinished detective novel. Swann's quirky premise is well-executed by Bailey, who develops the identity of each member of the flock, young and old, ram and ewe. Miss Maple, Othello, Cloud, and others even carry out a showdown at the Smartest Sheep in Glenkill contest in the local pub. The characters of the human villains and other village folk are neatly conveyed in Bailey's light Irish accent. Irreverent, comic, and touching fare is delivered with aplomb. D.P.D. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

April 9, 2007
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.

September 24, 2007
The mysterious death of their shepherd has sent a flock of sheep into a frenzy trying to piece together “whodunit.” Overcoming their “sheepish” ways, the members of the flock realize that they may be the only ones who can solve it. The more intelligent sheep, who have better retention or the intuition to ask the right questions, develop a list of potential suspects. As the investigation continues, the sheep quickly find the conspiracy is quite large, including a significant number of residents of Glennkill, Scotland. The delightful story is chock-full of metaphors and analogies about human behavior, interaction and memory that provide provocative insight. Bailey keeps an excellent pace and tone throughout in a light—almost benevolent—tone that keenly projects the slightly naïve perspective of the sheep. She makes indisputably clear voices for all her characters, including male voices that most would be hard-pressed to discern as coming from a woman. Tantor Media conveniently includes a handy pamphlet that lists the numerous sheep integral to the story along with a brief description of them. Simultaneous release with the Doubleday/Flying Dolphin hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 9).