Showing posts with label Meg Langslow series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meg Langslow series. Show all posts

Friday, October 6, 2023

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

A main reason I love these books is that Meg Langslow is just so darn pragmatic. Is she an amateur detective? Yes, she is. Does she share all of her information with the police chief? Does she actively hide evidence or mess up crime scenes? No she does not. She's smart, she solves crimes, and she does so without being an bumbling idiot. 
Even better, she's competent at any number of things (though she has her failings) and her blacksmithing, which sometimes takes a back seat, is out in full force during this book. There is a reality competition being filmed at Ragnar's estate and Meg is there as a general dogsbody. She has been asked to be in the show but prefers not to. However, when someone attacks her friend and mentor Faulk, Meg reluctantly joins so that he won't lose the investment money he and his husband put into the filming the show which was thought up by another one of Faulk's students. 

I got ARCs of both the ebook and audiobook. The ebook was not as good though I had some personal stuff going on which made it harder to concentrate. The audiobook, and Bernadette Dunn, were amazing as always. 

Meg Langslow #34
Four stars
This book comes out October 10, 2023
ARC kindly provided by MacMillan and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Meg is looking forward to a quiet afternoon in her hammock. Of course, that's not going to happen, she's got too much going on. Some of the new people moving in to Caerphilly have complaints (again) including against Edgar Brockton, the man who has been helping Meg's dad with his bees. Which is interesting because Meg herself has just gotten a new delivery. Her dad has come over to help get the hive set up when her grandmother Cordelia arrives with a journalist in tow. The journalist is following Cordelia around and that's going to include looking for a pre-Civil War graveyard. Too bad they stumble across a dead body.
If you are a regular Andrews reader, you can probably predict most of the beats of this story but that doesn't mean it's unenjoyable. It is a nice addition to the series.
I also got to listen to the audiobook and, as always, Bernadette Dunn only makes the story better. 

Four stars
This book comes out August 1, 2023
ARC of ebook kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
ARC of audiobook kindly provided by NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, October 7, 2022

Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

This reminds me of an early Langslow in the best of ways. Large ensemble of characters we know and love (though Michael and the boys weren't as prominent in this one, that's okay,) all of them gathered for holiday, getting glimpses of Caerphilly as Meg tries to solve a murder, and Mutant Wizards!
A Canadian genetics company has teamed up with Rob's computer folks to try and develop a better website. They are a small company currently headed by the owner's son, Ian. The son has decided that the entire genetics team needs to be in Caerphilly even though it means most of them will be missing Christmas with their families. Even worse, he did NOT plan well and they should up in town with no place to stay. In Caerphilly, known for their Christmas festival. So, once again, Meg and Michael are hosting any number of people in their house. 
At least the house is furnished and warm. And cousin Nora is there to feed everyone so all Meg has to do is keep her temper around Ian, even as she learns more and more and it makes her less and less impressed by the man. Of course, that means he's probably the one who will end up dead. 
Among the suspects are the young women Ian hit on, the woman who is stalking him, and a convicted killer who was released because their genetics company says that his DNA was not the one found at the scene.  

Four stars
This book comes out October 11, 2022
Followed by Birder, She Wrote
ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own


Reread December 2022 as audiobook

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews

Meg's nephew Kevin has started a true crime podcast with his friend Casey. Everything is going well, their audience is growing, but when Casey is nearly run over, they suspect that they may have stirred up a hornet's nest. They are able to narrow down the episodes most likely to have caused some problems to three. One is a rumor about cheating at the Caerphilly College Business School twenty years ago, a young woman who disappeared, and a man who was possibly wrongly convicted in Clay County. The last, Meg decides to leave to the regular police. After talking to the man, Lucas, Vern Shiffley is also wondering whether he got a fair shake. 
But that leaves two cases for Meg to chase down. 

stars
This book comes out August 2, 2022
ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own


Wednesday, October 13, 2021

The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews

If you've read Donna Andrews before, the beats of this book are going to feel very familiar including the victim and the murderer. It is a major holiday and Meg Langslow is busy. This time, Michael and the boys are skiing while she is left at home because of a severely sprained ankle. But that doesn't mean that life is any less busy. Rob and Delaney are almost back from vacation but Delaney's mother has arrived to confer with Meg's mom on how they can transform the upcoming nuptials from the small affair that Rob and Delaney want to something more grand. Meg is also hosting a visiting artist who is working on pictures for her grandfather's new book. Unfortunately, the artist, Castlemayne, is not only grumpy, he's a jerk. He's let birds out in the house that are now dive bombing people, he is smoking in the library, and the doorbell rings constantly from people trying to track him down. Mostly to pay his late bills. How do they know where he is? A new gossip blog that is spilling all of the town secrets.
Of course, Castlemayne is going to be the one who ends up dead. And there are plenty of people who might have wanted him that way including two ex-wives, a long-suffering assistant, and a reporter who wants the full scoop.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out October 19, 2021
ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own



Thursday, July 29, 2021

Murder Most Fowl by Donna Andrews

Something's afoot when Meg's twins find what appears to be a hand in the local woods. Thank goodness it just ends up being some interesting-looking mushrooms. She's already got a lot going on. Their rambling house is once again full of actors; this time Michael is directing Macbeth and some of the actors might be truly be trying to bring their roles to life. There's also a camp of medieval reenactors in the neighborhood who might be taking their vow to live like those in Macbeth's time a little too seriously, especially because they're not doing it well. Just ask the sheep they "liberated" from Seth Early's farm. 
To add on to everything else, there's a filmmaker capturing it all on camera and he's not just annoying because of his noise level, it seems like he's trying to film something more like an expose than a straight up documentary. When his first edit is screened in the library, somebody sees something they don't like and the documentarian ends up dead with his trailer trashed and all of the raw footage gone.
Another enjoyable book. Many mysteries overlap to make for many people but not overly complicated.

Four stars
This book comes out August 3, 2021
ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own
Reread January 2022

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow is once again embroiled in a Christmas mystery. This time, she is in charge of the Christmas pageant when a second baby Jesus shows up. But this one is a girl and the note that was left with the baby points at Meg's brother Rob as being her dad.
This is bad because Rob was planning on proposing to his girlfriend and, with a rash of past girlfriends popping up, Delaney doesn't seem like she's going to accept any time soon.
All of this is tied into a murder in nearby Clay County (often the bad guys in this series) and it will take Meg to tie it all together.

Three and a half stars
This book came out October 16th, 2018
Opinions are my own

Reread as Audible book December 2023

Sunday, July 4, 2021

The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews

Meg has her hands full, not only with her own twins but also Timmy, whose mother joined the army and is now stationed in Germany. So when she wakes up one night to the sounds of animals, she's confused. The only animal they have is her mother-in-law's (now her and Mike's) dog, Spike, and he's with her. When she goes downstairs, she discovers her father, grandfather, brother and the local vet moving animals into her living room. It seems the CORSICANs (Members of the Committee Opposed to the Ruthless Slaughter of Innocent Captive Animals) have broken into the local shelter after the news that the county manager and mayor have decided that it is too expensive to keep up the no-kill policy. This is only one of the most recent controversial decisions made by the new manager and mayor.
Then, the fifth member of the break-in crew turns up dead, some really hard questions have to be asked. Was it one of the many women that this fella was sleeping with? Or something more sinister?

Four stars
This book came out July 19th, 2011
Followed by Some like It Hawk
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own



Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews

Caerphilly College has no heat anywhere on campus which means that all of the students have been outsourced and Meg and her professor husband's house is a likely spot since it is large and rambling. That includes one student whose final thesis project is interpreting a Spanish play into English and then performing it. The 80-something playwright is discovered to be alive and has even flown over for the event. However, the head of the English Department (which oversees the drama students as well) has shown up with her minion from the President's Office saying that the thesis is unacceptable. Since this isn't the first time she has proved herself to be thoroughly unlikable, it's no surprise that she ends up dead. In fact, the bigger surprise is exactly how many people actually tried to kill her. 
There was a lot going on in this one but I think it is the basis for at least one of the twin's names.

Three stars
This book came out July 6th, 2010
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Thursday, June 17, 2021

Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews

Meg's parents have always been slightly eccentric and often pick up new hobbies (Meg's dad learning lockpicking has come in handy in more than one book). Now her parents are getting into the hobby of raising and showing roses. There's a lot that goes into the practice and a lot of rules around what kind of roses can be entered into competition. Putting together a show can be time consuming and Meg has been roped into being the lead on this particular flower show. She's having problems finding volunteers and it has quite a bit to do with the fact that she is dealing with Mrs. Winkelson. The woman has graciously allowed the show to be on her property. Well... "gracious" might be an exaggeration. The woman has tried to run the show according to her own rigid standards - standards that very much make it likely that she herself will be the winner. None of what she does makes life any easier for Meg. For instance, Mrs. Winkelson called up many of the competitors and told them only black and white roses (the color scheme of her entire property including all animals) will be shown. 
Because Mrs. Winkelson is so universally reviled, it should come as little surprise to the reader that she is the one targeted for murder. This time, Meg is more of an active sleuth rather than just a busybody or being pushed into it by her family. 
An okay story but not one of my favorites in the series. Mrs. Winkelson is kind of fun and I did like the flipping of some of the solution.

Three and a half stars
This book came out July 21st, 2009
Followed by Stork Raving Mad
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Reread July 2023 as Audible audiobook


Monday, June 14, 2021

Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews

Chosen to lead the local holiday parade (at least, it's the "holiday" now that she's in charge), Meg Langslow is wondering why she accepted. Well, she didn't exactly know that she was going to be in charge of everything. So that's why her house is teeming with most of the town of Caerphilly. Or so it seems. And many animals including donkeys, camels, elephants and more. Everything is chaotic and only made more so by the late appearance of Ralph Doleson who is playing Santa Claus. He is someone whom no one in town actually likes but yet somehow has a coveted role in the parade. He also has the temerity to kick Spike. True, the eight-and-a-half pound dog has a tendency to bite but that doesn't mean that he should be treated that way. It's just too bad that Meg's nephew is the one to find him murdered while in costume.
Regular readers will know who the murderer is pretty quickly but this is still worth reading.

Three and a half stars
This book came out October 28th, 2008
Followed by Swan for the Money
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Reread July 2023 as Audible audiobook

Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews

A woman drops off her two-year-old and then disappears.  Makes sense to me.  Okay, not really, but it's still a good story. Dealing with a child is scary but a great way to move along the character development in this series. We got to see Meg start dating Michael, get married, and now starting to consider whether or not she wants kids. This is a great practice run but a little scary since her friend Karen is no where to be found.
Added to that, Meg discovered that Dr. Blake Montgomery, well-known animal activist and TV personality, is actually her biological grandfather in the last book. Now her dad seems to be running around trying to impress his father: storing birds in the attic, helping snakes shed skins in the basement, and just generally being furtive.

Three and a half stars
This book came out July 8th, 2008
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Reread January 2023 as Audible book

Thursday, June 10, 2021

The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews

Not my favorite in the series but still entertaining.
Meg and Michael have finally gotten to move into their home. Too bad Meg's father is so hell-bent on saving the animals of the Caerphilly zoo since it seems like the owner, Patrick Lanahan, is nowhere to be found. Well, until he turns up in Meg's basement. When her father starts digging a pond for the penguins, he finds the body.
If that's not bad enough, he has told everyone that Meg would be happy to take any animals that they are tired of fostering. Soon her house and barn are filled with wolves, hyenas, lemurs, and more. And Michael seems strangely endeared by the llamas. Add to all of that, Dr. Montgomery is lurking about. He is a big name animal activist who supposedly is in town to help with the zoo or maybe take it over... but it seems like his motives might be a little shadier than what it looks like at first glance.

Three stars
This book came out August 7, 2007
Borrowed as hard copy from the library
Opinions are my own

Reread January 2023 as Audible book


No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews

This series continues its greatness.  I love that this book centers around extreme croquet.  I know I've played that way (putting wickets up all over and playing around whatever is in the way) but I didn't know anyone else did.
In this book, Meg has to figure out who killed a little-liked historian whose body she stumbles across as they're playing croquet. The lady's head is bashed in and, though the players all deny knowing her, she finds out that more than one is hiding the truth. Michael, Meg's fiance is not one of the people hiding the truth. He readily tells Meg that the woman, Lindsay, was someone he dated before they got together. Meg is incredibly pragmatic and not at all jealous that Michael dated before they met which I adore about her.
The how is fairly obvious but the who and the why have to be deciphered. Once Meg finds out that Lindsay once worked in the local college and was incredibly vindictive about perceived slights, she realizes that motives range from blackmail to revenge in the killing. 

Four stars
This book came out May 8, 2006
Borrowed as hard copy from the library
Opinions are my own
Reread September 2022 as audiobook, Reread January 2023 as Audible book

Monday, June 7, 2021

Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews

I learned more about owls than I think I ever wanted to know.  However, setting up a murder in the midst of a yard sale? I can see it happening.  People are crazy.
Meg and Michael are organizing all of the junk in the house they recently bought. The Sprocket family let it go for a song because the aunt was a hoarder. But the Sprockets are sticking around to make sure they get their cut of the profit (10% of anything that they sell from the house goes back to the family). Then add the family members who have moved in so they can sell their own materials, or buy anything that's available, and the scads of early birds who can't understand why they can't go in early and you've got more people than Meg is really wanting around. She's just glad that two months of cleaning out the house is about to culminate in no more junk. Dreaming of a life of minimalism, she's not excited to find the body of a particularly nasty antiques dealer in a trunk. 
A fun mystery, very typical of the Andrews series. Meg is an incredibly competent, though reluctant sleuth. She is hesitant in this book to share with the police chief the things she learns though that changes in later books.

Four stars
This book came out March 7th, 2006
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Reread December 2022 as Audible book

We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews

This is of my favorites in the Meg Langslow series. There is the right amount of crazy antics and we get out of Caerphilly for a bit. We also get to see more about Michael and especially the cult show that he is currently a character on, "Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle."
In this book, Meg is heading off to a convention based around her boyfriend's television series. During the convention, someone lets loose a bunch of parrots and monkeys ('cause the show is set in the jungle) and the QB (Queen, um, Bee) is murdered. Meg has to figure out who, in a seemingly unending list of characters, wanted to kill this aging B-list star since Michael seems like he could be one of the top suspects.

Four stars
This book came out September 6th, 2002
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Reread December 2022 as Audible book

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews

In this book, Meg Langslow is involved with her brother Rob's burgeoning computer game company . He thinks there is something suspicious going on but he's not sure what. Since Meg recently hammered one of her hands, she isn't working her normal job so she's helping out while trying to figure out what is going on. If they could only keep a temp there long enough to answer the phones but they keep getting scared by the buzzard in the lobby and the pranks by the office workers. Then, one of the techies is killed and Meg has to help keep her brother out of jail.
Not my favorite book in the series but still good. The technology, of course, hasn't aged well but the rest of the story is good.

Three stars
This book came out September 6th, 2002
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Reread December 2022 as Audible book


Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews

Meg is caught up in another murder, this time at a historical reenactment where Michael's mother is in charge. It's already a little tense and then a man no one really liked is found dead. He had stolen software from Tad, seems to be getting ready to steal Rob's new game, and is generally upsetting people. So there is no shortage of suspects.
Andrews is still finding her footing with this book but it is a fun read and we start to see Meg and Michael getting closer as well as dealing with some of the obstacles in their way.

Four stars
This book came out October 12th, 2001
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Friday, May 28, 2021

Duck the Halls by Donna Andrews

Someone is pranking the churches of Caerphilly. It starts with some skunks at the Chief of Police's church, then there are the ducks at Meg's, and more. Everyone is getting harried but Meg is managing to keep all of the schedules straight. For the most part... But then there's a murder. And, while Meg doesn't officially want to investigate, she does her best to help.
I really enjoyed the light touches of adding the churches into the story. It's a part of day-to-day life and not just sermonizing. I did not enjoy the repetition of facts and ideas. It happened more than once and was fairly annoying.

Three stars
This book came out October 22nd, 2013
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

 Reread August 2023

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews

The second outing in this series takes place when Meg tries to take a vacation with her new beau... but her family decides to follow along.  When a sudden storm strands everyone on the island and a body is discovered, Meg has to take charge. But the mystery is complicated by the fact that her mother has a complicated history with the victim. And, of course, nobody liked him...
Andrews is building a lovely, cozy series with this book. Characters are starting to be really set in stone and subsequent books only build on this story.

Four stars
This book came out June 15th, 2001
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own