Murder Most Fowl - A Spotlight

I'd like to wish a happy book birthday to Donna Andrews today. Murder Most Fowl is the twenty-ninth book in the Meg Lanslow Mystery series. 

Blurb:

Meg Langslow’s in for a busy summer. Her husband is directing a production of Macbeth, and most of the cast and crew are occupying spare bedrooms in their house. She also has to keep an eye on Camp Birnam, where a group of medieval reenactors are commemorating the real-life Macbeth by setting up what they fondly believe is an authentic medieval Scottish military camp.

And then there’s Damien Goodwin, a filmmaker who has been hanging around, trying to document the production. When Goodwin hosts a showing of some of the footage he’s taken, he manages to embarrass or offend just about everyone. The next morning Meg isn’t exactly surprised to find that someone has murdered him.

But who? Some people’s motives were obvious from the footage: the couple whose affair was revealed . . . the bombastic leader of the reenactors, who could be facing years in prison if the evidence from the video helps convict him of sheep stealing . . . the actress who’s desperately trying to downplay a health issue that could cost her the role of her life. Other motives are only hinted at―did the filmmaker have other footage that would reveal why one of the actors is behaving so furtively?

Unfortunately, whoever murdered Goodwin also destroyed all the electronic devices on which his video was stored. So Caerphilly’s chief of police―and Meg―must rediscover the same secrets the filmmaker did if they want to catch a killer.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Owl be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews. This book is the twenty-sixth book in the Meg Langslow Mystery series and was released yesterday.

It somehow seems only natural that Meg Langslow winds up managing her grandfather’s conference during a blizzard in Virginia just before Christmas. And what a conference it is. The ornithologists specializing in owls are a lively bunch having a wonderful time, except for one. Dr. Frogmore is the egocentric loudmouth that everybody hates. During the banquet, Frogmore stands and insults everyone, appearing to be in the midst of an apoplectic fit, before he collapses. Did he die by natural causes, or did one of the 200 people at the inn who disliked him finally have enough of the not so good doctor?

Terns of Endearment - A Review

Review

TERNS OF ENDEARMENT by Donna Andrews

The Twenty-Fifth Meg Langslow Mystery

Finally giving into requests Meg's grandfather has joined the cruise ship lecture circuit. With the offer of heavily discounted fares for family and friends, the whole clan has joined him for an environmental cruise to Bermuda. While Michael and the twins spend time playing miniature golf, her mother takes tea, and Rose Noir attempts to protect the ship and its passengers from the Bermuda Triangle, Meg befriends a group of writers. Events take a terrible turn as the ship stops during the first night and loses all power. The fancy shoes and clothing of the Diva hated by the authors are found along with a suicide note. And Grandfather's assistant has gone missing. Much to the amazement of Meg and her dad, the Captain has no intention of investigating. With nary a crew member in sight, temperatures rising, food going bad, and no way to flush the toilets, Meg's mother takes charge and all members of the clan begin, not only to investigate, but organize all of the passengers to fix the ship. Did the Diva truly commit suicide? Did Trevor merely miss the boat? Will they ever make it to Bermuda? Or are the passengers and crew in as much danger as the Bermuda skink?

Meg and her eccentric clan hit the high seas in this the twenty-fifth entry to the Meg Langslow Mystery series. I've never been on a cruise, and reading this book has ensured that I never will! What a nightmare. I thought seasickness might be bad, but toilets that don't flush? Incomprehensible! As horrible as the conditions thrown at our characters, the book is actually great fun (as long as I'm reading it in my stationary air conditioned home with functioning plumbing). I love how every member of the Langslow clan, including Grandfather's tech people, have such special areas of expertise and how they all join together to help everyone.

The story is compelling and the mystery intricately plotted. I was never sure exactly what was going on and how things were connected, if they even were connected. Lots of surprises kept me reading late into the night. And I loved the ending tern of events.

TERNS OF ENDEARMENT is a fun addition to this long running series. Always humorous with characters you must love I enjoyed the cruise despite, and in part because of, the mishaps and can't wait to see what this amazing group of characters does next!

Toucan Keep a Secret - Review

Review

TOUCAN KEEP A SECRET by Donna Andrews

The Twenty-Third Meg Langslow Mystery

With Reverend Robyn Smith on bed rest, Meg Langslow is on duty at Trinity Episcopalian. Loud banging interrupts her from securing the church for the night and leads her to the graveyard only to find Julius Hagley, one of the Muttering Misogynists, dead inside the vandalized columbarium. Did he interrupt an intruder or did the women in the vestry finally have enough of him? Or was his murder somehow connected to an old unsolved jewel robbery, an event that ties all the disturbed cremains together?

A return to Caerphilly, Virginia is a return to fun. Donna Andrews leads her zany cast of characters through a well plotted mystery filled with laughs.

It doesn't matter if you've read each previous book in the series, have been away a while and missed a few, or if this is your first Meg Langslow Mystery, you can jump right in and not feel lost or as if you had missed something. Despite being the twenty-third book in the series TOUCAN KEEP A SECRET remains fresh.

I quite enjoyed the tie in to an unsolved mystery. Delving into the past while seeing its effects on the present bring added dimension to the story. I also love how Meg gets the whole family and community involved, in helping the toucan, helping the Smiths, and solving the murder! TOUCAN KEEP A SECRET is a great addition to this long-running series.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews. This book is the twenty third in the Meg Langslow Mystery series and will be released August 7th.

With Reverend Robyn Smith on bed rest, Meg Langslow is on duty at Trinity Episcopalian. Loud banging interrupts her from securing the church for the night and leads her to the graveyard only to find Julius Hagley, one of the Muttering Misogynists, dead inside the vandalized columbarium. Did he interrupt an intruder or did the women in the vestry finally have enough of him? Or was his murder somehow connected to an old unsolved jewel robbery, an event that tied all the disturbed cremains together?