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

Follows Owls Well that Ends Well

Followed by The Penguin who Knew too Much

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Reread September 2022 as audiobook, Reread January 2023 as Audible book