Back in college I went through a huge classics binge, and read through the original Island of Doctor Moreau by HG Wells. While that is a chilling thriller, this novella is a fun cop drama/murder mystery with less of the creepy horror and more musical references.

The book is about a cop investigating the murder of “Dr. M”, the manager of WyldBoyZ, a boy band made up of half-human, half-animal singers. The WyldBoyZ are a huge act that sound like they’d rival BTS in our world, and after the last show of a tour and the wild booze and drug-filled night after, Dr. M is found murdered. Bobby the ocelot (the cute one), Matt the megabat (the funny one), Tim the pangolin (the shy one), Devin the bonobo (the romantic one), or Tusk the elephant (the smart one) are all suspects, as are his wife, and a few others in the orbit of the group. 

This was a very fast, but super enjoyable read. I’m not a mystery person, but as a novella the story was perfect for my tastes. I thought the author, Daryl Gregory, did a great job adding humour and playing up pop culture references, while also hitting the vibe of a whodunit. If you’re looking for a fun read. something that is fast paced, entertaining, and not mentally draining, definitely pick up this book. It’d also be great for those in a slump :)