If you were murdered and then reincarnated as a feral kitten, what would you do first? The answer for William Hawkins is simple: solve your own murder. With this one-of-a-kind premise, C. Stewart brings a fantastical twist to the murder-mystery genre in Crow River Justice, a humorous yet heartfelt novel that reframes ideas of nature and morality through the eyes of man’s second best friend. After three decades of defending all sorts of shady people, retired lawyer William Hawkins finds himself the sudden victim of a violent murder. Except, what comes next is not a white light, but a brand new body—that of a six-week-old kitten. Armed with a sleek pelt and a transformed outlook on life, William takes on the case of his murder, and two others, with the help of some furry frenemies. With the new name Buddy (which William adopts after moving in with his unsuspecting daughter, Jules) and a new body, he certainly has his work cut out for him. And so begins a mystery where claws, corruption, and reincarnation collide. Crow River Justice shines because of its charmingly eccentric cast, where familiar human archetypes take the form of feral animals, each with a distinctive voice and personality. Of particular note are Everett, the smooth-talking literal silver fox; Everett’s vixen admirer, a reincarnated former client of William’s; and Buddy’s stoic feline mentor, Karl, whose motives remain intriguingly murky. And, of course, there is the congress of crows quietly observing it all from above. It becomes abundantly clear that every creature in Crow River seems to know more than they’re willing to say. In a novel littered with death, the narrative remains witty and empathetic. There is plenty to enjoy in Buddy’s bumbling escapades, as he balances self-discovery with a familiar thirst for justice. Though you may have to suspend your disbelief when this kitten starts “googling with surprising ease,” Stewart keeps readers firmly invested through Buddy’s earnest and amusing perspective. Buddy may have nine lives, but he’s still carrying the baggage of the first one. Dropped into an animal terrain where prejudice, vengeance, and murder are as common as in the human one, Buddy doesn’t abandon his mortal instincts entirely. Rather, his previous life experience proves key to unmasking the hidden malevolence surrounding Crow River, including a clowder massacre and the shady dealings of a drug kingpin. What begins as a quirky reincarnation mystery gradually sharpens into something darker, stranger, and unexpectedly moving. Stewart’s writing is particularly strong in the way it balances humour with emotional weight. With sharp dialogue, inventive worldbuilding, and a clear affection for its characters, Stewart crafts a story that feels both wildly imaginative and emotionally grounded. However, although the buildup to the climax is engaging, the ending doesn’t quite reach the full potential of the premise. Stewart ties everything up neatly but perhaps too hastily, forcing the reader to rely heavily on suspending their disbelief. Expanding certain character relationships and allowing more room for plot developments to breathe could have delivered a finale as memorable as the novel’s central concept. Still, Crow River Justice is a true delight for mystery lovers seeking something genuinely fresh. Fans of Richard Adams’s Watership Down will appreciate its blend of hard-hitting animal-world politics, danger, and fantastical intrigue filtered through a feline perspective. Part murder mystery, part animal fable, part existential identity crisis, Crow River Justice is as strange as it is entertaining. Across these pages, readers will find timely escapism, an uplifting sense of community, and a vivid reminder that the worlds of humans and animals may not be as different as we like to believe. The symbiotic relationship between human and animal is the beating heart of Crow River Justice, which provides a distinctive, riveting take on our neighbouring animal kingdom—teeming with life, but always tinged with danger. —CANREADS BOOK REVIEW www.cstewartauthor.ca