This funny and surprising mystery stars a new breed of detectives you've got to read to baaaaa-lieve. Something is not right with George the shepherd. His sheep have gathered around him outside the cozy Irish village of Glennkill to assess the situation. George has cared for the sheep, reading them books every night, and now he lies pinned to the ground with a spade. His flock, far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep, sets out to find George's killer, led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world). Her team of investigators includes Othello, who was rescued from the Dublin Zoo; Mopple the Whale, who is always hungry and remembers everything; and Zora, an existential ewe, just to name a few. Together, the sheep discuss the crime late into the night, and their speculations vary wildly. Determined to unravel the mystery, they embark on furtive missions into the village, where they encounter a hoof-full of two-legged suspects. There's Ham, the terrifying butcher who smells of death; Rebecca, the secretive village newcomer; and Father Will, a sinister priest the sheep call God. With wit and heart, this clever international bestseller is a mystery to chew on and savor.
General Note
Adapted into a major motion picture released in 2026 -
The Sheep Detectives starring Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, and Emma Thompson.
Originally published in German in 2005 as Glennkill: Ein Schafkrimi.