Three Bags Full (Leonie Swann)

If you have ever wondered what sheep think about throughout the day, Three Bags Full will give you an idea. This is a “sheep detective story”; in fact, it is probably the only sheep detective story you will ever read. Let’s face it, there aren’t too many flocks of sheep that are interested in solving murders.

This inquisitive and talented flock turns to investigation when their beloved shepherd, George, is found dead in their field, with a spade stuck in his guts. Organized by Miss Maple, an exceptionally clever sheep, the fluffy detectives proceed to watch and listen to the various living humans who come to the field to investigate, satisfy their curiosity, or cover their tracks. Through their combined talents the flock members begin to assemble the pieces of this puzzle. Their task is a difficult one because they are sheep and don’t understand the ways of humans (who does, really?); however, they also have an advantage in that most humans don’t take sheep detectives very seriously (who does, really?).

The mystery is eventually solved, and the sheep attempt to communicate their findings to the local humans in a brilliant and unexpected way. But the mystery was only part of the fun. Imagining life as a sheep was fascinating (was Leonie Swann a sheep in a previous life?), although I did have trouble following some of the sheepy thoughts. Perhaps I should have gone outside to graze for a while and get in touch with my inner sheep. Even with the occasional confusion, I found myself laughing out loud and turning pages madly. Three Bags Full is a fun read, well worth the effort. And from now on, whenever I see a flock of sheep I will wonder if one of them might be the clever Miss Maple, or perhaps even Mopple the Whale, the memory sheep.