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Owce wracają!
Kontynuacja rewelacji literackiej „Sprawiedliwość owiec”, największego przeboju roku w Polsce 2006 w kategorii proza obca, sprzedanego w 70 tysiącach egzemplarzy.
Owce z Glennkill opuszczają bujne zielone łąki Irlandii i przybywają do zaśnieżonej Francji z nową pasterką Rebeką, córką zamordowanego starego pasterza George’a. Rebece towarzyszy jej matka, zwariowana tarocistka, uwielbiająca likierek i ciągle kłócąca się z córką. Zatrzymują się na zimowym pastwisku w pobliżu starego zamczyska, w którym kiedyś mieścił się zakład dla obłąkanych. Matka Rebeki wróży, że stanie się coś złego (czemu trudno się dziwić, bo w jej talii brakuje wielu kart zwiastujących dobre zdarzenia). I rzeczywiście zaczyna się coś dziać. Owce dowiadują się od swoich nielubianych sąsiadek kóz (które zdaniem owiec cuchną i są szalone), że w okolicy grasuje tajemniczy potwór zwany Garou…
Kim jest Garou?
Może wilkiem. Może wilkołakiem.
A może kimś znacznie bardziej niebezpiecznym…
Prawdę o nim odkryją owce po dramatycznym śledztwie.
I wtedy znowu będzie sprawiedliwość.
I triumf owiec.

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

197 people are currently reading
2113 people want to read

About the author

Leonie Swann

17 books476 followers
Leonie Swann (b. 1975 Dachau near Munich, Germany) is the nom de plume of a German crime writer. She went to school at Ignaz Taschner Gymnasium Dachau. She studied philosophy, psychology and English literature in Munich, and now lives in Berlin.

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5 stars
712 (24%)
4 stars
1,115 (38%)
3 stars
833 (28%)
2 stars
211 (7%)
1 star
44 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
Profile Image for Aura.
106 reviews8 followers
Want to read
May 24, 2025
Would love an English translation some day!!

Edit: I have my English copy! Huzzuh!!
Profile Image for L.A. Starks.
Author 12 books730 followers
August 11, 2025
I read this book (translated from the German) after seeing it recommended a few places, including by the WSJ mystery books columnist. Set in Europe and a very different take on the mystery genre (yes, you can tell a story through sheep 'voices'), but intriguing and fun.

I should have referred more frequently to the long list of characters at the front. Readers will find that fairly necessary.

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Marfita.
1,144 reviews20 followers
August 21, 2015
These sheep are so charming - and the thought of anything bad happening to them, say, being hacked to pieces by a werewolf, is anathema. I felt there were enough werewolf stories in the world these days, but I forgive Swann alles. As far as I'm concerned, she can drag these wollige wonders through every genre there is. Steampunk might be a bit of a stretch, but I'd read even that.

I found the story confusing at times, but try to remember I'm reading this in German, which is not even my second language. I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight, mostly because the sheep tend to have their own names for the two-legs. I love the way they think about things - and especially their complicated plans for foiling (at times literally) the werewolf. Oh, and the werechicken concept was priceless.

Swann mixes humor, slapstick, and tenderness into a thriller. Brava! It was a bit like History, tho' - just one thing after another. But I liked it and I recommend it.

Something that made reading this a bit easier (for when I wasn't near Google Translate) was shelling out for a German-English dictionary to add to my Kindle. It wasn't perfect, German having this tendency to portmanteau a half dozen old words to make a new one, but if you are as aware of the constituent parts as I am, it's easy to switch to the dictionary and look them up piece by piece if it just isn't coming to you by context. Otherwise, all I had to do was put my cursor in front of a word and got a definition - just like the English dictionary in the Kindle does. There was absolutely no fiddling around. It started working the instant it was uploaded. Heurekah! (Oh, this book is just too, too much!)
Profile Image for Marianne.
4,335 reviews332 followers
May 25, 2025
Big Bad Wool is the second book in in the Sheep Detective Story series by German author, Leonie Swann. It is translated by Amy Bojang. The audio version is narrated by Caroline Lennon. As stipulated in her father’s will, Rebecca reads to the flock every night, which they mostly love (Silence of the Lambs was too creepy and no sheep).

She has also taken them to Europe, as George Glenn had promised to do, but they’re not impressed: “The Europe George had told them about was full of apple blossom, with herby meadows and peculiar long bread. Nobody had said anything about honking cars, dusty country lanes and buzzing gnats, nothing of snow and ghost-sheep, let alone goats.”

They are in a snow-covered French meadow, flanked by an orchard on one side, and a field of goats on the other, and a strange unshorn ram hanging about. Rebecca’s caravan (wherein her Mum also resides) is parked close by, and they have a view of the woods and the Chateau, home to some unusual characters. When Cloud escapes the dreaded vet’s clutches and runs into the woods, Rebecca’s search yields no ewe, but a shocking sight: a mutilated deer.

Unaware, and with their need to avoid the vet prevailing, they manage a mass escape into the woods through the goats’ field, where they are warned of the Garou: a human who becomes a wolf. On their return to the meadow, the flock’s new lead ram, Othello is watching the reactions to this, and remarks “The humans around here, and the goats and the strange sheep . . . they remember something. And they’re waiting for something.”

He decides that, for Rebecca’s and their own safety, they need to leave, so while flock look for traces of the Garou, “Maude, Zora and Heather had set out to find the extra-large car that had brought the sheep here. Maude would pick up its scent. Zora would confront it. And Heather would convince it to take them away from this place.” The three are eventually joined in adventure by Aubrey, a little black goat who knows quite a bit about the Garou.

Before the dramatic climax and a very satisfying resolution, Rebecca’s favourite clothes are vandalised, a murdered man is hidden in the snow, Mum reads cards for locals, their old sheepdog becomes a victim, the workout the sheep get from the new sheepdog makes the goats jealous, Rebecca sets a trap, and three of the goats convince Mopple the Whale to join them in consulting the wise, wild old billy goat, Bernie, via the maze, just to make it interesting.

On their various excursions, different sheep observe or overhear different parts of the mystery and form conclusions naively based on innocent ignorance, but Miss Maple still proves herself to be the smartest sheep, often to the frustration of the flock when she casts doubt on their convictions. There’s a kidnapping, and quite a few of the flock display great courage, one even managing to defeat the Garou; the winter lamb decides on a name.

Swann prefaces the tale with character lists titled à la Shakespeare, not just Dramatis Oves, but also Dramatis Caprae, Dramatis Personae, and Dramatis Canidae, and so skilfully depicts the way sheep and goats behave that the reader can easily picture their reactions to what happens.

Swann has a lot of fun with wordplay: like woolpower for willpower, goodwool for goodwill, and the flock’s literal interpretations of English expressions provides plenty of humour: “The sheep were left a bit baffled at the thought of time flying. First pigs, now time! What was next?” and of the Garou, “’He’s afraid of silver – and holy water!’ Neither of them had ever seen water with holes in it – or did it mean bubbles maybe?”.

When Rebecca exclaims “’Holy cow!’ The holey cow was a very special cow that Rebecca invoked on special occasions. The sheep had never seen it, just like the flying pigs, and they hardly dared imagine what a cow with holes in it might look like but presumed it must drink holey water.” And of the gardener “The goats even claimed he had a house where it was always summer, and apparently, he secretly grew lettuce there.” This sequel is such an entertaining cosy that it’s sad there are no further books in the series.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allison & Busby.
Profile Image for Kirsty.
35 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2012
Following on from ‘Glennkill’, ‘Garou’ reunites us with George’s Irish flock of sheep, who have now embarked on their long-promised trip to Europe with George’s daughter, Rebecca, and her sheepdog, Tess. Their travels have led them to France, where they are currently spending the winter in a field next to a herd of goats, a spooky forest and a creepy castle. When dead deer begin to be found in the forest, rumours circulate that the ‘Garou’, a werewolf, is to blame. Should Miss Maple and co. heed the warnings of the mysterious ram who shares their field or the goats next door? Who or what is the Garou? And who is next on his list? To protect themselves and their shepherdess, Miss Maple and the gang decide to try and solve the mystery of the Garou once and for all…

I thoroughly enjoyed Glennkill, and Garou doesn’t disappoint, either. The tone is much darker than Glennkill as the story is packed with suspense, but the book still contains all the funny little sheepy quirks and wisdom that made Glennkill so enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loved the first book or is looking for something fun and different to read.
Profile Image for Matilda (booksinwildplaces).
400 reviews37 followers
May 21, 2025
Thank you to Leonie Swann, RBmedia & NetGalley for the audioARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Genre(s): crime, thriller, humour.

Overall impression: an unconventional and humorous murder mystery told from the perspective of a flock of sheep. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story but it exceeded all my expectations. The sheep were my favourite characters with their unique personalities and overly-literal way of interpreting the world. The goats provided plenty of sass and comic relief, and helped introduce some adventure and exploration into the story. The pacing was a bit on the slow side but I had a thoroughly enjoyable time listening to the audiobook on my commute.

Tropes:
➵ Untraditional story
➵ Told through the eyes of animals
➵ Murder mystery
➵ Animal sacrifices
➵ No witnesses
➵ Superstitions
➵ Tarot reading
➵ Set in isolated village
➵ Everyone is a suspect
➵ Witty dialogue
➵ Unintentionally hilarious

Plot:
The story followed a fairly simple central plot - trying to discover who was killing animals, breaking into the shepherdess' caravan and threatening the safety of the flock. Because it was told from the perspective of the sheep, the story ended up taking lots of twists and turns making deciphering the evidence even more difficult. You have to really pay attention to keep up with what was going on because the characters often split up and there were a lot of moving parts. It was a very unconventional murder mystery and I had a lot of fun trying to solve it!

Characters:
Funnily enough, the sheep all had such unique personalities and it was the humans that all seemed to blend together to me. They were fiercely protective of their shepherdess (and their meal, TV and reading time), and worked together to solve the mystery of the werewolf. The goats also played a critical role - helping the sheep escape their pen to avoid seeing the vet and initiating their first adventure into the woods. They had sassy personalities and provided comic relief.

World-building:
Most of the book was set in the field overlooked by the shepherdess' caravan. But through the sheep's adventures, we got to explore the surrounding forest and chateau. The world-building was really nicely done and we got to see the landscape through a new animal-centred perspective. Their appreciation for nature was obvious and there were a few funny scenes where they interpreted things differently, like when they saw their reflection in a puddle and thought it was a fabled underwater sheep.

Writing:
The pacing of the story was a bit too slow for my liking. It was easy to follow but it seemed to take a while for anything to happen. The writing style made it easy to read for long periods of time and I was constantly wanting to know what would happen next.

Everything else:
The narrator was really good at voicing different characters and changed her accent/tone enough that I could picture the various animals and people while she was talking. The pacing of the story was really slow, so I probably wouldn't have rated it so highly or enjoyed it as much if I was reading the print format. The audiobook definitely made it more engaging!

Statistics:
➵ Date read: 12/05/2025-15/05/2025 (4 days).
➵ Page count: 12 hrs, 25 mins.
➵ Type: audiobook.
➵ Volume: standalone series.
➵ Special: NetGalley ARC.
➵ Challenge: Beat the Backlist 2025 Challenge 🍄, originally written in another language prompt (18/52).

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Profile Image for Booknblues.
1,498 reviews8 followers
May 25, 2025
Big Bad Wool is just as delightful as the first book, Three Bags Full. The flock has moved to France with their new shepherdess, Rebecca, George's daughter.

There could be new and unknown danger. It could be a werewolf. And what about these goats? Or perhaps the danger is coming from the chateau.

Things are strange here and cold and who can understand the Europeans and their honking?

But the gang or er the flock is up to it and ready to face down any danger together.

If you enjoyed Three Bags Full, you will love Big Bad Wool as well. Thankfully Leonie Swann has included a list of characters, sheep, goats, dogs and even humans.
Profile Image for Michael.
337 reviews38 followers
June 23, 2025
Leonnie Swann is one of my favorites as are books with animal protagonists, so I am totally biased. The mystery meanders all over the place and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, the sheep alone are at least 10 characters, plus goats, people and a few possible ghosts. The sheep “detectives” aren’t great at detecting, they eat clues, misunderstand most human actions, are prone to panicking- it’s all terribly endearing. Swann’s gentle humor is a delight. I hope we get a few more future books with our crime solving herd.
Profile Image for Annie.
734 reviews64 followers
June 29, 2018
Da ich gelernt habe, meine Lebenszeit nicht mit unbefriedigenden Büchern zu verschwenden, breche ich bei der Hälfte ab.

Ein Krimi aus der Sicht von Schafen - das fand ich beim ersten Buch ja noch sympathisch. Hier nervt es mich endlos. Nein, nerven ist das falsche Wort: es ödet mich an. Also auf zum nächsten Buch.
Profile Image for Caroline.
906 reviews304 followers
Read
July 2, 2025
A worthy successor to Swann's Three Bags Full.

Despite any three sentence summary of the plot, this is not a cozy mystery. Yes, it's quirky. Yes, the sheep are charming. But suggesting how sheep might think about what goes on their piece of the world provides much more challenging reading than the standard cozy. One is repeatedly asked to step back from using our human knowledge and customs to look at everyday behavior, and then is forced to reevaluate it from the viewpoint of an alien species. It's dark as well as funny.

The real treat is the wordplay. The sheep have unique personalities, from obtuse to unrealistically astute. Still their power comes from what we see as their weakness: their their tendency to follow the leader, to act as a flock. Although in this follow-up, it seems to me that the individual sheep act more independly at times. (Although I read Three Bags Full several years ago, so this might not be the case.)

In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in an animal mindset. Just expect to be confused some of the time. Just go with the flow.

A bit of the story, as the sheep and the goats in the adjoining pasture discuss the wolves they are all afraid of. Mopple the sheep, dense, and huge because he eats everything, is telling the goats that the sheep are trying to get away from the farm because they are afraid. The goats' replies:
"Who still believes in wolves in this day and age?" The goats pulled enlightened faces.
"Wolves are made up by the herders," explained Amaltée.
"So that they can better oppress us," bleated Circe.
"Because goats aren't that easy to oppress."
The three goats rebelliously craned their necks
"Cassandra in turn claims that herders are made up by wolves," added Caliope.
"What does Cassandra know?!" bleated Circe and Amaltée.
Profile Image for Carolin.
488 reviews99 followers
July 15, 2012
Die Schafe - und das sind recht viele - beweisen kriminalistisches Gespür und helfen tatkräftig dabei mit, den Garou (einen "Werwolf") aufzudecken. So komisch wie das klingt, ist es auch. Und das meine ich durchaus positiv. Die Autorin schafft es, die Geschichte zugleich spannend, lustig und niedlich zu erzählen, hat mir super gefallen! Was mich nur ein wenig gestört hat, war die Vielzahl der Charaktere (Klar, es gibt nun mal eine SchafHERDE, trotzdem fiel es mir duch die vielen Namen manchmal schwer, zu folgen, wer nun gerade wo ist. Es gibt zwar eine Liste vorn im Buch, aber dauernd hin- und herzublättern hat nun auch nicht SO viel Spaß gemacht.) und Rebeccas Art (Warum war sie so naiv? So schwer von Begriff? So egoistisch? Und mir SO unsympathisch?). Diese Minuspunkte machten die Schafe und Ziegen (und natürlich die tollen Wortspiele!!) aber wieder wett und die Geschichte hat mir viel Spaß gemacht!

Ein sehr kreatives Buch - eine tolle Lesereise in verschiedene Schafsköpfe ;)
Profile Image for gardienne_du_feu.
1,440 reviews12 followers
July 18, 2025
Die Schafherde um Othello, Sir Ritchfield und Mopple the Whale, bekannt aus "Glennkill", ist mit ihrer neuen Schäferin Rebecca von Irland nach Frankreich gezogen, wo die Menschen (und der Ungeschorene, ein einheimischer Widder) unverständliches Europäisch sprechen. Das Heu und die Gräser dort sind aber genauso lecker wie zu Hause und alles könnte so schön sein, waberten nicht beängstigende Gerüchte über den Garou durch die Gegend, einen Werwolf, der im Wald schon mehrere Rehe getötet hat und einige Jahre zuvor eine ganze Schafherde sowie drei Menschen umgebracht haben soll.

Ist es ein Mensch, der sich als Wolf ausgibt, ein Wolf, der sich für einen Menschen hält oder doch ganz was anderes? Die Schäfchen jedenfalls sind in Alarmbereitschaft und versuchen auf ihre ganz eigene schafige Art Licht ins Dunkel zu bringen. Die Ziegen von der Nachbarweide sind dabei mal mehr, mal weniger hilfreich, und sicher ist zunächst nur eins: dass sich da so einige Menschen ziemlich seltsam benehmen.

Die Bezeichnung "Schafs-Thriller" auf dem Cover ist vielleicht ein wenig irreführend, ich würde es eher als recht gemütlichen Krimi bezeichnen, angereichert mit viel Humor und einer konsequent durchgezogenen Schafsperspektive auf das Geschehen. Wie die wolligen Protagonisten die Ereignisse und die Äußerungen der Menschen aus ihrer Sicht heraus interpretieren, ist ziemlich witzig beschrieben und führt nicht nur zur einen oder anderen Fehleinschätzung und skurrilen Situationen, sondern für die Leser auch zu netten Wortspielen. (Das Buch fängt schon hübsch an mit einer Auflistung der "Dramatis oves" und "Dramatis caprae" neben den "Dramatis personae".)

Die Handlung selbst plätschert zunächst trotz der schwebenden Bedrohung durch den angeblichen Garou so vor sich hin und es dauerte eine Weile, bis ich die Schafe und Ziegen und auch die Menschen voneinander unterscheiden konnte. Die einzelnen Fäden des Kriminalfalls fand ich bis etwa zur Hälfte einigermaßen verwirrend und es gab auch immer wieder ein paar Längen, die man ganz gut hätte straffen können. Aber das letzte Viertel wird dann doch noch richtig spannend und dramatisch, das hat den etwas langatmigen Mittelteil dann mehr als wettgemacht und mich richtig mitfiebern lassen.

Ein ganz herzallerliebstes Gimmick hat das Buch auch noch: ein Daumenkino mit einem kleinen Widder, der unbedingt einen leckeren Apfel vom Baum holen möchte.
Profile Image for Amiad.
465 reviews17 followers
August 30, 2022
עדר הכבשים האהוב נוסע לצרפת וחוקר שם מוות של חיות ושל אנשים ליד טירה מסתורית.

מעניין לקרוא על העולם והתעלומה מנקודת המבט של עדר הכבשים. הספר מעט איטי בקצב של כבשים ולקח לי די הרבה זמן לסיים אותו אבל נהניתי.
Profile Image for John.
2,142 reviews196 followers
June 23, 2025
Since it's obvious there isn't likely ever to be an English translation, I bought a Spanish copy. Granted, my skills aren't perfect, but am giving up halfway through. Beyond the language issue, I just don't care about the characters; moreover, keeping track of the various goats in addition to the sheep is a lot of effort.

The book seems to go on and on ... and on!


Edited to add:

English translation hit the shelves in 2025. Maybe, just maybe, I'll give it a try as a library book ...
Profile Image for Coconut skeleton.
105 reviews
August 8, 2018
I really didn't expected to appreciate those sheeps so much! I find the idea and the language quite entertaining
Profile Image for Elentarri.
2,025 reviews62 followers
December 15, 2024
I love the cover on this book. The shadow looks particularly wolfy, as in werewolfy.

Garou continues the story of the sheep of Glennkill (aka Three Bags Full in English) who have gone on their promised trip to Europe. The sheep are currently spending the winter in a pasture near a remote French castle, where the novel is set. I am apparently easily amused. Run-of-the-mill thrillers/mystery novels don't do much for me. But give me a (sort of) psychological mystery thriller with a fuzzy plot, an anthropomorphic flock of sheep as the protagonists (with a few goats), toss in the possibility of a werewolf, and I'm all here for it. For me, the murder and werewolf mystery took a back seat to the amateur sleuthing antics of the sheep, which were hilarious.

There doesn't appear to be an English translation of this novel, which is a shame.
13 reviews
July 3, 2025
lowkey this was cozy horror?

I loved the sheep, as usual. It was a little hard to follow the narrative with the jumping around and the cast of new (and not very recognizable) characters, but still a solid read.
Profile Image for aladyn.
45 reviews
March 26, 2024
owce absolutne idolki, trochę się dłużyło i zakonczenie nie było aż tak zachwycające ale nie wiem czy to czasem nie przez to ze nie czytałam pierwszej części??
Profile Image for Lata.
4,832 reviews256 followers
June 11, 2025
The delightful sheep author Leonie Swann introduced us to in "Three Bags Full" are back, but this time they're in France on the grounds of a castle. Their pasture borders one containing opinionated goats, and both these groups will be involved in figuring out the strange human happenings occurring that winter.

Their new shepherdess Rebecca (George's daughter) is reading to them, as stipulated by George's will. She lives in an RV/caravan with sheep dog Tess. Then her tarot-reading mother arrives, causing Rebecca some frustration.

The intelligent Miss Maple, Maude (best nose), Lane (the fastest), Zora (abyss-loving) and Mopple the Whale (keeper of the herd's memories), the new unnamed Winter Lamb, among other sheep in the herd, and the goats, watch the goings-on around them. Someone has been killing deer in the woods, and there is word that a Garou, werewolf, is responsible. Then a man is found dead in the woods…..

There are nefarious things happening amongst the humans, and Rebecca learns some details about the history of the castle, and there are some ever so slightly scary moments during the course of this novel.

I love the idea of sheep detectives, and though the sheep do make some strides in understanding what is going on, it's the misunderstandings they, and the goats, have about human actions that make this a funny story.

There are moments of sheer silliness, as the herd attempts to protect Rebecca with silver, and the discussions with the goats are terrific.

This is not a fast-paced novel, and though I said it was funny, it's mostly gentle humour, instead of belly-laughs. Having read the first book, I knew that what makes the premise of this novel so enjoyable is the many conversations amongst the sheep as they attempt to puzzle out human actions and motives, many of which seem bizarre and silly to the animals.

I listened to this book, and the narration was wonderful. Caroline Lennon's voicing of the sheep and goats frequently had me smiling: I loved her Miss Maple, and Mopple. The standout for me was Lennon's Aubrey the goat, whose madcap ideas had me laughing -- he's such a delight, and brought so much energy to every scene he was in.

I do hope the sheep get a chance to use their talents for detection again, wherever they end up next. Their woolly logic and beliefs (woolpower!) are amusing and endearing, and I would love to spend more time with them.

Thank you to Netgalley and to RBMedia for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for Wortmagie.
526 reviews79 followers
February 28, 2017


Als ich „Garou“ von Leonie Swann aus dem Regal zog und aufschlug, segelte mir ein altes Lesezeichen entgegen. Ich habe die Fortsetzung des erfolgreichen Schafskrimis Glennkill„Glennkill“ vor Jahren schon einmal begonnen, dann aber abgebrochen. Ich meine mich zu erinnern, dass das Buch ein Fall von „Nicht auf den Bauch gehört“ war. Ich nahm es mir vor, obwohl ich eigentlich keine Lust darauf hatte. Das war ein Fehler, denn dadurch bildeten sich in meinem Kopf negative Assoziationen, die mich lange Zeit davon abhielten, es noch einmal hervorzuholen. Glücklicherweise habe ich meine Vorurteile letztendlich doch überwunden und fühlte mich bereit, „Garou“ eine zweite Chance zu geben.

So hatten sich die Schafe von Glennkill ihre lang ersehnte Europareise nicht vorgestellt. Die Europäer verstehen offenbar nichts von schaflicher Gastfreundschaft. Sie müssen ihr Winterquartier im Schatten eines französischen Schlosses mit einer Ziegenherde teilen. Ziegen! Jedes Schaf weiß, dass Ziegen verrückt sind. Dass sich Menschen ihrer Verrücktheit anschließen, ist allerdings neu. Hinter vorgehaltener Hand flüstern sie von einem Loup Garou, einem Werwolf, der auf dem Schlossgelände sein Unwesen treiben soll. Ein Wolf im Menschenpelz? Ist das möglich? Die Glennkill-Schafe wollen nicht so recht an die unheimliche Legende glauben, doch als sie eine Leiche im Schnee entdecken, bleibt ihnen keine andere Wahl, als die Dinge selbst in die Hufe zu nehmen. Motiviert durch Kraftfutter und ausgestattet mit solider Schafslogik beginnen sie zu ermitteln, um die Herde und ihre Schäferin Rebecca zu schützen. Die Spuren führen tief in die Geschichte des alten Schlosses. Handelt es sich tatsächlich um einen Loup Garou oder verbergen sich hinter den dicken Mauern weitere Geheimnisse?

Es war richtig, dass ich „Garou“ eine zweite Chance eingeräumt habe. Obwohl meine Lektüre des Vorgängers Jahre zurückliegt, fand ich den Einstieg in das neue Abenteuer der kriminalistisch begabten Schafherde aus Irland sehr schnell und erinnerte mich sofort daran, warum ich Glennkill damals mit vier Sternen bewertet hatte. Schafslogik ist bestechend. Ihre Denkweise ist erfrischend simpel und gradlinig; komplizierte oder abstrakte Denkmuster sind ihnen völlig fremd. Sie übertragen den Horizont ihrer Erlebenswelt auf alles um sich herum und finden für jedes Phänomen und Ereignis Erklärungen, die sich direkt aus ihren eigenen Prioritäten und Bedürfnissen ableiten. Ein Auto muss mit einer schönen Geschichte überredet werden, zu fahren und einen Werwolf kann man mit einem Stück silbrig glänzender Alufolie abwehren. Interessanterweise befinden sich die Schafe in einer den Menschen überlegenen Position, denn während sie die Sprache der Zweibeiner verstehen (zumindest Englisch, Französisch weniger), haben Menschen keinen Schimmer von schaflicher Kommunikation. Das heißt allerdings nicht, dass die überdurchschnittlich intelligente Herde stets begreift, was unsereins sagen möchte. Beispielsweise nehmen sie Sprichworte grundsätzlich für bare Münze. Dadurch entstehen (ungewollt) komische Szenen, die den gesamten Krimi unbestreitbar amüsant gestalten. Leider gerät der Kriminalfall selbst neben all den witzigen Schaf-Momenten etwas in den Hintergrund. Ich hatte das Gefühl, die Suche nach dem Loup Garou bzw. dem Mörder ist lediglich Mittel zum Zweck, um die tierischen Protagonist_innen möglichst effektvoll in Szene zu setzen. Deswegen schreiten die Ermittlungen nicht so rasch voran, wie ich es mir gewünscht hätte. Hin und wieder wirkt die Handlung langatmig; Leonie Swann kommt eher gemächlich zum Punkt. Selbstverständlich passt dieses gemäßigte Erzähltempo durchaus zum Wesen der Schafe, doch für meinen Geschmack fehlt der ganzen Konstruktion etwas Pfeffer und Zugkraft. Der Fall an sich entpuppt sich am Ende des Buches als recht verschachtelt. Tatsächlich bekommen es die Leser_innen sogar mit einem Fall im Fall zu tun, wodurch ich die Puzzleteile nicht allein zusammensetzen konnte. Ich bin nicht darauf gekommen, was in diesem alten französischen Schloss nun wirklich vor sich geht und gebe zu, dass ich teilweise selbst ins Zweifeln kam, ob die Legende des Loup Garou vielleicht nicht doch wahr ist. Hinsichtlich der Auflösung empfand ich die begrenzte Auffassungsgabe der Schafe als Handikap. Die Details des Falls sind ihnen nicht so wichtig, für sie zählt nur, dass die Gefahr gebannt ist. Ich hingegen hätte eine explizitere Aufklärung der Ereignisse sehr begrüßt, um besser verstehen zu können, was abseits der Schafweide vorgefallen ist. Aber gut, wenn Schafe die Hauptfiguren eines Romans sind, muss man wohl mit gewissen Einschränkungen rechnen, also will ich mal nicht so streng sein.

Es ist schwer zu sagen, ob ich „Garou“ nun besser oder schlechter als Glennkill fand. Es ist so viele Jahre her, dass ich das erste Mal mit der gewitzten Schafherde in Kontakt kam, dass ich das unmöglich beurteilen kann. Dementsprechend muss ich die Fortsetzung eigenständig bewerten.
„Garou“ ist ein solider Krimi, der sich eindeutig stärker auf die ungewöhnlichen Protagonist_innen fokussiert als auf die Ermittlungen. Da ich kein großer Krimi-Fan bin, kam mir diese lockere Herangehensweise definitiv entgegen – ich lache lieber über schaflichen Charme, als einen ernsten Kriminalfall zu lösen. Ich muss jedoch gestehen, dass die Geschichte daher ein wenig unausgeglichen ist und es ihr etwas an Spannung mangelt. Selbst die klügsten Schafe verlieren nach einer Weile ihren Reiz und können meine Aufmerksamkeit eben nur über einen begrenzten Zeitraum hinweg fesseln. Sollte Leonie Swann allerdings irgendwann einen weiteren Schafskrimi veröffentlichen, würde ich trotzdem nicht zögern, diesen zu lesen, denn Schafslogik ist einfach unwiderstehlich. Oh, und natürlich sind Kommoden die Lämmer von Schränken.
Profile Image for David Raz.
550 reviews35 followers
February 23, 2020
Having fond memories from the first book I was looking forward to this one, and I'm happy to say it was just as good. First of all, the sheep themselves remain goofy, witty and fresh, providing their sheepish view of the human world's oddities. The addition of goats into the mix makes things even better.
Like the first book, the story is a twisted mystery, this time with more suspense and a little less detective work, but just as much charm.
If there is one thing I didn't like, it is that the end came rather surprisingly and did not match the tempo of the rest of the book. It felt like the author came to a place in the book where she needs to quickly wrap things up. I'm not sure how it could have been done better, but it felt out of place.
Having read the first book adds a layer of complexity and interest, but I think this one pretty much stands on its own. All in all, thoroughly enjoyable, especially if you liked the first book, four stars out of five.
Profile Image for Síle.
566 reviews
July 30, 2025
Leonie Swann, you’ve done it again! And my heart is so full!

There’s something truly magical about a crime story told through the eyes of animals, especially when it’s this tender, quirky, and quietly brilliant. Add in the fact that the audiobook is narrated by the same voice that brought Three Bags Full to life? I was smiling the entire time.

This time, it’s not just detective sheep. We’ve got goats, wolves, and the whole curious herd. Each animal brings their own charm, their own monologue, their own little spark to the tale. The mix of heart and mystery is just chef’s kiss.

Heartwarming, clever, and delightfully odd. If you like your mysteries on the softer, more whimsical side, with animals that feel more human than most characters out there, don’t miss this.
Profile Image for Guillermo.
844 reviews32 followers
June 29, 2022
Que ovejas tan simpáticas. Son puro encanto.
Además de la enorme gracia que da cada integrante del rebaño, es una novela policial en toda la regla.

Y quien espere una novelita fácil que vaya a buscar a otro lado. Aquí hay más de diez ovejas llenas de personalidad, cuatro cabras locas, perros también, y seis o siete sospechosos.
Tampoco la autora lo pone fácil, relata capítulos donde intercala dos episodios que pasan en el mismo momento pero separados en el espacio. Hay algunos sueños para confundir. Además las cabras están locas, y el viejo carnero tiene un poco de Alzheimer, y el carnero antiguo sufre estrés postraumático.


Profile Image for Josef Komensky.
580 reviews13 followers
October 4, 2022
" kdyz je karta spatna musi pryc "Moby

Ovci banda z minluleho dilu se presunula z Irskeho podhuri na francouzky venkov. Hotova pohadka pastviny....skrin,....zamek... Vlkodlak ...pockat tady neco nesouhlasi!

Zaklety zamek, proklety majitel, krev, zlocin, vrazda a tregedie.

Ovce musi opet vysetrovat temny zlocin a k Tomu Jim sekunduji Kozy!

Nejzabavnejsi z nich je malicka cerna kozicka Medoux ( cti Meduk ) a jeji imaginarni genialni pritelkyne Kirke.

Co se v Tomto pribehu naucime ?

Ctenar dostane rychlokurs ve vykladani tarotovych karet.

Vicero druhu vlku.

A specialni vycvikove stredisko pro vycvik zvlastnich agentu.

Vrele doporocuje deved z deseti prednich psychiatru.
Profile Image for Regine.
2,371 reviews11 followers
June 6, 2025
Rebecca and her flock of detection-minded Irish sheep are wintering in France on the grounds of an old château/ asylum/ hotel in France. The residents are close-lipped about a local history of predation that smacks of werewolf, and the bait-like appearance of the visitors.

The police, Rebecca, and the sheep manage to disentangle crimes past and present. A ram stops living as a memorial to his friends who had been killed and joins this new flock, as does a frisky young goat whose losses have made willing to try the life of a sheep.

As one would expect, the detecting sheep come by quirky ways to the truth. And the fun is in following along with them, grinning.
Profile Image for Dee.
577 reviews4 followers
June 7, 2025
When a Kirkus review starts with "Not by any means for everyone, but likely to warm the hearts ...of readers who opt in." you know the book is different. This is a sequel, and the sheep are now in France, where they need to solve serval mysteries.

Is this the best mystery I have ever read? Er, no, but it was a delightful change from daily news. I did think it could have been edited down, but since this is a translated work, who knows? So, for now, baaarillant with wool power!

I did prefer the first book, Three Bags Full which is being filmed with Hugh Jackman for a movie.

3.5 rounded up to a 4
Profile Image for Barbm1020.
287 reviews16 followers
November 8, 2017
"Garou" is Léonie Swann's marvelously entertaining tale of the curious herd of Irish sheep which first appear in "Glennkill." In this book they spend a winter in France, where tales of a Loup Garou are widely told among the people at the nearby Castle (once a ghastly mental hospital, now an hotel) and among the goat herd in the next pasture. Mystery, intrigue, some laughs and a lot of suspense. It's not available in English, so I had to shore up my very weak German vocabulary with a dictionary. But it's a very good book.
Profile Image for myreadingescapism.
1,208 reviews14 followers
May 16, 2025
3.5

This was actually fun to read, I enjoyed the sheep banter a little too much.

Was it corny? 100%
Did it drag on entirely too long? 100%
Was this a (dare I say?) cute, murder mystery with the wits of some cute and corny banter between the sheep, decent? 70%

It got boring in the middle and I was losing interest, but the sheeps witty and fun banter kept me listening.

Will I pick up the first book? No.
Profile Image for Gosia.
101 reviews11 followers
February 4, 2019
Specyficzna książka. Trochę humoru, kryminału, dreszczyku emocji, a przede wszystkim innego spojrzenia na świat. Można się z nią zapoznać w wolnej chwili, ale trzeba poświęcić trochę czasu, żeby przez nią przebrnąć.
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