The Reading Bud

Book Details:

Author: D. E. Carr
Release Date: 28 July 2026
Series:
Genre:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 347 pages
Publisher: She Writes Press
Blurb:
For fans of Connie Willis, Lucy Lyons, and Janet Evanovich, a debut cozy mystery with a speculative bent, set in Ann Arbor, that’s replete with wormholes, incorrigible pets, and delightfully quirky characters.
When Allie Caldwell gets a rambling middle-of-the-night call from her very excited aunt Mel, she initially curbs her concern; her aunt has always been a bit eccentric, after all. But when Mel disappears before telling anyone what has her so worked up, Allie drops everything –even her better judgement—to fly to Ann Arbor and find her.

Review

When Squirrels Fly by D. E. Carr is a warm, whimsical, science-kissed mystery set in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where missing goggles, migraine research, neighborhood gossip, flying squirrels, family secrets, and a hidden wormhole come together in a story that is far more charming than its premise initially suggests.

The novel follows Allie Caldwell, a psychology professor from Colorado, who arrives early for a visit after a strange late-night call from her Aunt Mel. The story begins as concern over her aunt’s disappearance but soon turns into a much stranger investigation involving Dr. Camille Jackson’s migraine-aura research, Mrs. Oakley’s supposedly haunted yard, George Bennet’s suspicious helpfulness, and a trellis that may be more than an ordinary garden entrance.

The book’s greatest strength is its tone. Author Carr balances mystery, speculative science, romance, and neighborhood comedy with a light touch. The Old West Side of Ann Arbor feels alive with eccentric charm while also providing the book with a delightful sense of comic unpredictability. The humor is gentle but consistent, and the novel has a pleasant, conversational rhythm that makes it easy to settle into.

Allie is a compelling protagonist because she is intelligent, skeptical, funny, cautious, and emotionally guarded. Her academic background in neuroscience and cognitive psychology makes her a strong lens through which to explore the book’s scientific oddities, especially the idea that migraine auras might reveal something unusual about perception and reality. Her dynamic with George is one of the most enjoyable parts of the novel. Their banter, mutual suspicion, growing attraction, and reluctant teamwork give the story both momentum and warmth.

The speculative element is handled in an accessible way. Author Carr introduces concepts such as quantum entanglement, Einstein-Rosen bridges, perception, and wormholes without making the narrative feel cold or overly technical. The science is playful rather than intimidating, and the mystery of Mrs. Oakley’s trellis works because it is grounded in ordinary domestic details.

What I particularly appreciated is that When Squirrels Fly does not rely solely on the wormhole for intrigue. The larger plot involving migraine research, pharmaceutical competition, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Berry, BLA, and the missing prototype goggles gives the book a sharper mystery spine. The final explanation ties the danger back to research rivalry and corporate interference, while still leaving room for the wonder and secrecy of the wormhole itself.

Overall, When Squirrels Fly is an engaging, funny, and affectionate novel about curiosity, family loyalty, scientific wonder, and the strange secrets that can hide in familiar places. It is best suited for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, light speculative fiction, quirky neighborhoods, intelligent heroines, and stories where the extraordinary appears just across the street.

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