Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story--Book Review

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Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story. Leonie Swann. Dolphin Flying Press. Reprint edition. 2008.

Book review by Joel
I love books like Three Bags Full. I found this book at the University of Washington bookstore, surrounded by textbooks and jerseys, school mugs and magazines. This book is Leonie Swann's first novel and it has been translated into 20 languages! This murder mystery is set in the small Irish tourist town of Glennkill. George the Shepherd is lying dead with a spade stuck through him and no one knows what happened. It seems everyone is a suspect, but motives and reasons all seem muddled and unclear. But Miss Maple "the cleverest sheep in Glennkill and possibly the whole world" is up to the task--with the help of the rest of the flock. They need to figure out what happened to George not only to know but also to save their own flock from the "butcher".

Possibly the best book I have read this year; an easy read but layered with religious and philosophical ideas all from the sheeps' perspective. It seems I have created a buzz about this book at work. Everyone wants to read it. I can't blame them.

Highly recommended.

Joel.

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Do you like this book review? Joel has written for Book Reader's Traverse since its conception in 2004. He often finds his books in unusual places, including hometown shops where he visits, and even dumpsters at times. See his comical bio and picks--Joel's Picks.

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