Probable Caws: A Meg Langslow Mystery (Meg Langslow Mysteries #39), by Donna Andrews

 

Publication August , 2026

First, a brief digression. When I sat down, I realized I had three reviews to do and was reaching for one when I happened to notice that this would be my 1000th review for the NetGalley review program. I immediately began to debate which review to give that distinction (which no one but me cares about, most likely) to and ultimately opted for "Probably Caws" by Donna Andrews. Andrews was one of the cozy mystery authors who hooked me on the genre and, if push came to shove, would be one of the handful of names I'd give as all-time favorite authors. Not to digress any longer, this book was certainly no exception to my enjoyment of this series. Picking up a Meg Langslow mystery is sort of like spending time with now old friends and enjoying the quirky but "got your back" town of Caerphilly, VA. People there pull together when the going gets tough for one of them and, oh, by, the arrival of some 50 rescued horses in various conditions with multiple needs at Ragnar's Gothic themed estate, and it really is an estate, seems to pull in everyone from school kids and neighbors to the police. Well, as it happens, the police aren't there just to help. Seems Meg, while checking on the horses in the midst of a thunderous rainstorm, finds another body. Nope, not pleasant but not a new thing for Meg, either. And, the investigation is off, albeit Meg is more in the right place at the right time than actually doing any serious investigating. One of the things I've always admired about Meg is that while she all too frequently finds herself in danger, she doesn't tend to go out of her way to dash into such circumstances. 

I'm not going to go into plot details but will note that there are several new to me at least new characters this go-round, primarily those involved in the horse rescue operation. A nasty dispute between brothers Abel and George and potential danger to the horses should they not be moved, has lead to a mass exodus to Ragnar's. And, oh, I'd so love to see some visuals of the settings Andrews describes. While I'm not big on his color scheme and "artistic touches" that seem like they'd suite Dracula's Castle, he's a kind, welcoming and even gentle man contrary to his appearance and the setting. He's also an avid animal lover, hence no hesitation at opening his property to the initial chaos...and some nasty souls who'd like nothing better than to create trouble, the eventual victim one of them. Alibis and evidence kept back from even Meg add to the mystery. And, oh, what happened to that deadly looking knife?

No more plot hints, so on to the characters. As noted, I've come to fully enjoy this cast, even when Meg's grandfather goes into one of his spiels telling us more than we could ever want to know about, uh, animal body functions, for example. That isn't to say we don't learn quite a bit about animals in the process. Being a horse loving kid, I did know much of the info shared about horses but still found it interesting to learn about their potential senses of smell as well as that, hope I'm remembering this right, only 20% of yellow cats are female? We also get info on the idea that the zebra's stripes are biting insect repellents, so to speak, and watch a fun scene of Meg's sons being enlisted to.... well, I won't tell but it's a fun scene. Another absolutely vivid scene involves swans, swans that are not happy to have their turf being invaded by humans. Let's just say the rescue scene involves everything from brooms and rakes to a make-shift....oh, again, I should leave that one for you to discover and chuckle over yourself. There are always such humorous scenes involved in this series and that was one of the big hooks for me. 

Rose Noire gets the spotlight a few times, her soothing manner and knowledge being helpful in many ways. She even manages to make one of the older, once neglected horses far more comfortable by the end. Do be aware, some of the descriptions of the horses and their probably past lives are at the very least mildly disturbing for not just animal lovers but horse lovers. Seeing not just Meg but her family (Mother and Grandmother are away this trip but do check in regularly via the internet) grow to care about these animals is heartwarming and, not really a spoiler, you'll like the ending. Kevin the computer wiz pops in an out albeit largely only at the other end of Meg's phone. Let's just say, while Meg wasn't a real horse person, Kevin is even less so. Fortunately Meg's boys are into horses and already have some background via working with Ragnar's horses. Husband Michael is in and out as he has a day (and, I guess, occasionally night) job, as is the police chief and his extended family and police force. 

And....oh, enough rambling. I obviously thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who likes well rounded/fleshed out characters and more that a touch of humor and family. In the process, you'll learn quite a bit about various animals and a bit of science. Horse fans may know much of the info shared on horses and will probably nod their heads knowingly at Trouble's not-to-be-desired skill with his nimble lips. Yep, been there. Know that. My thanks to #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for feeding my Meg fix early periodically. I loved the intriguing ending and was delighted to see Tomas's unexpected new friend. Nope, not telling, readers. Read the book. Grin. 

Between a Flock and a Hard Place (Meg Langslow #35), by Donna Andrews

 Publication Auguest 6, 2024

Donna Andres is my go to author for a "feel good" read. Her Meg Langslow series  has never failed me. Even now, in the 35th book of the series, the characters -- and there are many -- remain individuals with well-defined quirks and tendencies, albeit they do manage to surprise us from time to time. There seems to always be something going on in Caerphilly and Meg perpetually remains busy, busy, busy, but always seems to find time for a friend or to help out the Chief with problem solving or, oops, helping nab a killer. And, as always, I marvel that she seems to remain the calm in the middle of chaos, whether facing down attack turkeys or a murderer. More amazingly, Andrews fills her books with humor and laugh-out--loud scenes that you're usually just glad aren't happening to you.

I won't really detail the plot. It's a twisty one that, quite frankly, starts with the invasion of a hoard of feral turkeys. Yes, Meg encounters them. Seriously, was there any doubt she'd wind up in the midst of some homicidal turkeys? The real question, of course, well, after "How do we get rid of them?" is how and why they've invaded a neighborhood to begin with. Is there a connection to the, uh, remodel being down at the Smetkamp home? Never mind it's more like the destruction of rather than remodel. Who killed the not at all likable Mrs. Smetkamp? Murder aside, we become immersed in turkey control/removal efforts and all I can say is that Benny, the Amazon delivery guy, deserves a medal. I bet he'll especially relish his next turkey feast. 

And, there's more, much, much more. Let's see, I haven't mentioned the cyber crime, FBI involvement, unlikely cadaver/scent dogs, flatulence studies (Grandfather is always up to something scientific), sketchy reality show, out-of-work crews, stolen trucks, garden club, invasive plants, a quick history on state songs, Virginia's in particular, and, oh, so much, much more. There is rarely a dull moment in Caerphilly and Meg is usually right in the middle of it. 

Read this one if you need a laugh or simply enjoy a fun mystery with more twists and turns and distractions than you can count. You're going to love the characters, from Benny the Amazon delivery guy to Kevin the cyber genius who often helps Meg make sense of what she's seeing on her screen, even if she doesn't quite understand it all. Thanks #NetGally and #MinotaurBooks - #StMartin'sPress for the virtual invite to drop in on Meg again in the always charming but eccentric Caerphilly. Having had a domesticated turkey, thus far smaller than these, launch itself at my car tire once, I could relate all too well to the awe of being the target of homicidal attack turkeys. Needless to say, I didn't get out of my car. Grin. And, oh, yeah, a virtual "Yes!" for Vern's decision at the end.

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow!, by Donna Andrews AUDIO

 

AUDIO 10h, 32m, 16s     Available October 10,2023

I have come to find the audio book versions of this series addictive. Narrator Bernadette Dunne does an excellent job portraying not just Meg but the other characters, both new and old. I'm not quite sure why, maybe because I've already read the book and sorta recalled whodunit, hence not distracted by that need-to-know, but I found myself picking up more about Ragnor and his amazing gothic style castle from this narrative version than I did the print. I think where my mind is going with that thought is to remind you that just because you've read a book doesn't mean you won't find something new listening to those same words. Knowing whodunit didn't distract from the character driven story at all for me.

So, narration flows, with subtle changes of pace based on the action or relative calm at moments.... and those are usually scarce in Meg's life. Chapter changes are simply announced. Vocal differences are obvious and this book/series sports a large cast, so kudos to Dunne as a narrator for making it work. Now, true, I did sorta wish she'd tossed in an imitation of a crow at times but, hey, we can't have everything. In any case, the audio book is well worth a listen, or several listens. Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for making it available to me early. My original review of the ebook follows.

 ______________

"While I'm not so sure that Meg didn't so much catch the killer as the killer outed themself, this was still a fun read with humor and the characters long time readers have come to know. Meg Langslow is one of my favorite series characters and Donna Andrews never disappoints. It was great to see Meg back at her forge seriously for the first time in awhile, even if she had to be sort of roped into the competition that got her there. I'm not particularly a fan of reality shows but have to admit that it's always rather revealing to read about how they're really put together, so that made it interesting.

"Oddly enough, the expected murder doesn't take place until well into the book. We initially are focused on trying to find out who whacked Faulk aside the head, putting him out of the competition and Meg into it. Seems Faulk and Tad had invested money they really couldn't afford to lose into the show, the point that finally convinced the reluctant Meg to pick up her tools and substitute for him. The other contestants are an interesting mix, ranging from surly to friendly.

"So, who killed one of them? He seems to have had more enemies than friends, so the suspect list is long. Why is the production assistant so happy he's dead? How many people are actually living at Ragnor's gothic but, oh, so Christmas-y mansion? How smart are crows? Why is Horace so anxious about accompanying Meg to a site that may contain clues? How can anyone cheat in a contest when they are surrounded by a film crew almost constantly? Where is the Christmas music coming from? What do Michael and the boys find while horseback riding? Who . ..oh, enough teasers. Read the book. It's a fun, easy read full of humor and a bit of history of blacksmithing, not to imagine picturing the looks on people's face as they encounter one of Ragnor's lenticular portraits. Look it up. Grin.

"Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress- #MinotaurBooks for allowing me to hang out at Ragnor's mansion while Meg was pounding metal. It was nice to get a bit of a fuller tour than in previous books."

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

 

Publication October 10, 2023

While I'm not so sure that Meg didn't so much catch the killer as the killer outed themself, this was still a fun read with humor and the characters long time readers have come to know. Meg Langslow is one of my favorite series characters and Donna Andrews never disappoints. It was great to see Meg back at her forge seriously for the first time in awhile, even if she had to be sort of roped into the competition that got her there. I'm not particularly a fan of reality shows but have to admit that it's always rather revealing to read about how they're really put together, so that made it interesting. 

Oddly enough, the expected murder doesn't take place until well into the book. We initially  are focused on trying to find out who whacked Faulk aside the head, putting him out of the competition and Meg into it. Seems Faulk and Tad had invested money they really couldn't afford to lose into the show, the point that finally convinced the reluctant Meg to pick up her tools and substitute for him. The other contestants are an interesting mix, ranging from surly to friendly. 

So, who killed one of them? He seems to have had more enemies than friends, so the suspect list is long. Why is the production assistant so happy he's dead? How many people are actually living at Ragnor's gothic but, oh, so Christmas-y mansion? How smart are crows? Why is Horace so anxious about accompanying Meg to a site that may contain clues? How can anyone cheat in a contest when they are surrounded by a film crew almost constantly? Where is the Christmas music coming from? What do Michael and the boys find while horseback riding? Who . ..oh, enough teasers. Read the book. It's a fun, easy read full of humor and a bit of history of blacksmithing, not to imagine picturing the looks on people's face as they encounter one of Ragnor's lenticular portraits. Look it up. Grin.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress- #MinotaurBooks for allowing me to hang out at Ragnor's mansion while Meg was pounding metal. It was nice to get a bit of a fuller tour than in previous books.

Birder, She Wrote (Meg Langslow #33), by Donna Andrews AUDIO

 

AUDIO  Release August 1, 2023     10h 36m

First, I not only love this series, I've read the Kindle edition. I've found, however, that I have often missed nuances as I've read, usually in rush to find out whodunnit, so I thoroughly look forward to having a chance to review my memory via an audio edition. Narrated by Bernadette Dunne, this one is another winner. 

I'll share my original review below but, first, a few comments on the audio version. Kudos to Dunne for managing to differentiate a multitude of character voices in this installment. From the moment she introduces the book with a musical background, to the exciting ending, she was consistent and the voices largely matched the characters. There were many questions facing Meg, who always exudes what I'll call an almost zen-like calm, even when confronted by danger or a(nother) dead body. As her grandmother Cordelia notes, Meg copes with it all through action, revealing a character trait. The voices used for Meg's mother and Cordelia are particularly effective, I thought, and Britni's rather whiny tone was spot-on. Chapter changes were simply announced, nothing fancy, and background info was largely given via Meg's musings or within the dialogue, so while there are quite a few characters to sort out, new readers shouldn't be confused. It's definitely a book and series worth getting to know everyone, so don't hesitate to grab this one in any version and enjoy.

Thank you #NetGalley and #MacmillianAudio - #MinotaurBooks for allowing me to hang out at Caerphilly and eavesdrop on Meg's world of friends and neighbors. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to be diving into her Christmas offering asap. 

Original Review:

Publication August 1, 2023

I absolutely love this series. It's one of the ones that I'll put down whatever else I'm reading to read. There's so much packed into this installment that I won't even attempt to share the plot. Andrews is a master at weaving multiple plots lines together around multiple (and there are more than a few) characters, all with their own personalities and quirks. As usual, it's not just Meg who holds the Langslow Family together but at times seemingly the entire community, all of with admirable people skills, humor, patience, and intelligence. I've admired her and wished I had her for a friend for years now, so she and the entire family and community feel like ol' friends. That said, while I can certainly imagine the multitude of characters in and out of the story, most regulars, might initially confuse new readers, the book works nicely as a standalone. Wow, #33 and still going strong.

So, since I'm not delving into the plot, what can you expect to find in this book? First, of course, there's a murder victim. Meg doesn't find him but, well, she's on hand doing a good deed when the victim, a cranky NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) from the upscale neighborhood of the community is found. And, hey, did you know Poms make good cadaver dogs? You'll also get a wealth of info on raising and catering to another sort of resident, bees. I knew next to nothing despite some friends actually raising them, so this was interesting. Andrews either has experience with bees and/or did some meticulous research, that's for sure. And, oh, have you heard of bully hummingbirds? Apparently there is such a thing and you'll discover how to remedy that situation. 

Let's see, there's also the search for a lost African-American graveyard that dates perhaps to the Civil War. Never mind it sounds like it's mostly in a muddy bog. Land was precious back then and needed more for the living, after all. The modern world intrudes with mentions of drugs and extortion. Finally, there's the little matter of grandmother Cordelia tolerating Britni, an unlikable reporter for a story that sounds poised to present her as a snooty, pretentious socialite rather than the tough, outdoorsy type who harbors no fools. Somehow, Donna Andrews ties it all together smoothly, hopefully in time for Meg to squeeze in that relaxing session in the hammock she missed in chapter one. 

Bottom line, if you love character driven mysteries with multi-layer plot lines, you will love this one, Then, most likely, if you're new to the series, you'll quickly be on the lookout for the previous books to discover how Meg's life evolved to where we find her in this book. I've never been disappointed and frequently find myself chuckling as I envision some of the scenes playing out in front of me. My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for inviting me back to Caerphilly again to spend some quality time with Meg and the whole gang. Love the cover!

 

Birder, She Wrote (Meg Langslow #33), byDonna Andrews

 

Publication August 1, 2023

I absolutely love this series. It's one of the ones that I'll put down whatever else I'm reading to read. There's so much packed into this installment that I won't even attempt to share the plot. Andrews is a master at weaving multiple plots lines together around multiple (and there are more than a few) characters, all with their own personalities and quirks. As usual, it's not just Meg who holds the Langslow Family together but at times seemingly the entire community, all of with admirable people skills, humor, patience, and intelligence. I've admired her and wished I had her for a friend for years now, so she and the entire family and community feel like ol' friends. That said, while I can certainly imagine the multitude of characters in and out of the story, most regulars, might initially confuse new readers, the book works nicely as a standalone. Wow, #33 and still going strong.

So, since I'm not delving into the plot, what can you expect to find in this book? First, of course, there's a murder victim. Meg doesn't find him but, well, she's on hand doing a good deed when the victim, a cranky NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) from the upscale neighborhood of the community is found. And, hey, did you know Poms make good cadaver dogs? You'll also get a wealth of info on raising and catering to another sort of resident, bees. I knew next to nothing despite some friends actually raising them, so this was interesting. Andrews either has experience with bees and/or did some meticulous research, that's for sure. And, oh, have you heard of bully hummingbirds? Apparently there is such a thing and you'll discover how to remedy that situation. 

Let's see, there's also the search for a lost African-American graveyard that dates perhaps to the Civil War. Never mind it sounds like it's mostly in a muddy bog. Land was precious back then and needed more for the living, after all. The modern world intrudes with mentions of drugs and extortion. Finally, there's the little matter of grandmother Cordelia tolerating an unlikable reporter for a story that sounds poised to present her as a snooty, pretentious socialite rather than the tough, outdoorsy type who harbors no fools. Somehow, Donna Andrews ties it all together smoothly, hopefully in time for Meg to squeeze in that relaxing session in the hammock she missed in chapter one. 

Bottom line, if you love character driven mysteries with multi-layer plot lines, you will love this one, Then, most likely, if you're new to the series, you'll quickly be on the lookout for the previous books to discover how Meg's life evolved to where we find her in this book. I've never been disappointed and frequently find myself chuckling as I envision some of the scenes playing out in front of me. My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for inviting me back to Caerphilly again to spend some quality time with Meg and the whole gang. Love the cover!

Round Up the Usual Peacocks (Meg Langslow, #31), by Donna Andrews AUDIOBOOK REVIEW (plus original ebook review)

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW with original ebook review after

Duration 10h 33m

As I said in my ebook review, the Meg Langslow series never disappoints. This is also true of the audio version courtesy of #MacmilanAudio and #StMartinsPress - #MinotaurBooks.

Narrator Bernadette Dunn does an excellent job capturing Meg's often zen-like ability to stay cool, calm, and collected, even when faced with difficult, even wild situations. Since there is frequently a large cast in the series, I was particularly interested in seeing how Dunne differentiated voices. I was particularly fond of the voice she used for Meg's mother. She captured "mother" nicely, using that slightly exasperated, slightly uppity tone that conveys she can't imagine how anyone could argue, so why have you disappointed me, but I still love you voice well. The different voices add to the experience, I must admit. The audio version of the, well, let's call it "the llamas and guests meet the visiting peacocks" scene, definitely made it come alive for me, cheering the arrival of Border Collie Lad to save the day. Grandfather's voice is slightly impatient, while Michael remains the ever calm voice of sanity. Kudos to Dunn for her interpretation of characters.

To be honest, I'm amazed at how much a talented voice actor's change of pace, tone, or touch of "oh, wow" can add to the story. I will definitely continue to read and enjoy the print versions of this series but take every chance I get to listen to the audio, too. The plot moved along steadily, chapter breaks defined by a slight pause then simply announcing "Chapter (whatever)". Bottom line, a fun experience and nice diversion from reality.

EBOOK/Original review follows:

This series never disappoints.

Despite the chaos about her, Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow always seems to maintain her almost zen-like calm while dealing with the bad guys. In this, the 31st book of the series, she actually solves three cold cases. Her nephew Kevin and Casey, a friend, were doing a true crime podcast, a very modern touch to the plot, and had managed to rile up someone enough to make them attempt to run down Casey. Spooked and more at home in front of a computer than dealing with people, Kevin asks Meg to help investigate. Since helping Kevin sounds like a great excuse to avoid some of the wedding planning chaos going on, Meg readily agrees.

I won't detail the plot, it's readily available elsewhere, but will say that the wedding hoopla takes a backseat to the investigation although, quite frankly, is the source of some absolutely hilarious scenes involving Meg. Who knew herding dogs could herd peacocks? Or that peacocks make great watchdogs, er, watch...birds? Well, when they're not attacking you. Have you ever heard a peacock shriek? It isn't a pleasant sound, so just the image conjured up of their possible participation in the wedding program is amusing. Beautifully feathered, yes. Peaceful and serene, no.

So, first, what is the Clay County involvement in the cases? Why the heck are they stalking Meg's movements? Second, in this day and age, why would any college department resist converting its records to digital files? Could the answer to the death of a professor be hidden there? Third, what happened to the talented singer/college girl who simply seems to have disappeared? Did her stalker kill her? If not, could she still be around to be found? And, will Meg really wind up creating a gargoyle collection, so to speak, for Ragnor? Sounds like they're fit right in.

These questions are only the tip of the iceberg as Meg organizes and does errands for the upcoming wedding, listens to the previous podcasts, talks to Chief Burke, keeps her guests safe, wrangles peacocks, avoids Spike's bad tempered bites, and dodges bad guys. This is a can't-put-it-down read, full of both tense and hilarious moments with lots of critters. My friends who have herding dogs will love it, I'm sure. Lad, you're my furry hero in this one.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for my "wedding invite". It was fun to see Meg come full circle from the beginning as she dealt with a wedding, quirky relatives one can't help but love, and helps put the bad guys away.

Dashing Through the Snowbirds (Meg Langslow #32), by Donna Andrews

 

Publication October 11, 2022

As a fan of this series from the beginning, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed joining Meg's family for the Christmas run-up. I often wonder if I keep coming back as much for their antics and the animals as I do the mystery. In this case, the mystery is who killed the obnoxious, mean-spirited Scrooge, er, Ian The antics, oh, too many to mention although can't ignore that surprise ice rink in the back pasture. Humor, always. Meg has a zen like ability to face danger and remain calm or find the perfectly snarky comeback to someone's comments. Fortunately, we only "hear" most of them in her head though I did like the snarky, surely intentional misinterpretation of someone's comment about wanting to remain silent and a lawyer. Nope, not telling. See if you guessed right and read the book. Enjoy those accidentily gold sprayed Pomeranians, too, although they are now naked Poms dressed in an abundance of outfits supplied by friends and family. 

As for the crime, it kept me guessing. Just when you think Meg has rounded up the last of the suspects, another appears. Heck, they even toss in a cyber stalker for good measure who has decided Casey, half of the crime podcast team with Kevin, is her soul mate. Never mind she thinks he's a tall redhead, mostly likely Irish, and Casey is, well, not. The crime centers about a quite current topic, however, DNA testing and it's legit uses.

So, who whacked Ian with the hockey stick in the pasture at the ice rink? There are multiple suspects who'd wish him dead, that's for sure. Was the person in the silver car cruising past Meg and Michael's home involved? How many uses can you think of for a dumbwaiter? What happened to the soon-to-be mama cat in the manger at the church nativity? Can Juncos really predict the weather? Is it suspicious that Maeve planned to basically quit on Friday anyway? How much would it cost to outfit your town's police force with electric cars? Do you know what "curds and whey" is the ol' fashioned term for? Who is that supposed lawyer that is looking for Ian?  In fact, who are all those strangers that keep turning up? What mischief is Meg's grandfather into now that is annoying Caroline? And, oh, there is always more in a Meg Langslow story? Trust me, you won't be bored. Even now, on book 32, this series hasn't gone stale. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress - #MinotaurBooks for letting me spend some time hanging out with Meg's family and friends, not to mention the dogs, llamas, peacocks, oh, never mind. I'd be here all day listing all the much loved critters in their lives.

Round Up the Usual Peacocks, by Donna Andrews

 

Publishes Aug. 2, 2022

This series never disappoints.

Despite the chaos about her, Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow always seems to maintain her almost zen-like calm while dealing with the bad guys. In this, the 31st book of the series, she actually solves three cold cases. Her nephew Kevin and Casey, a friend, were doing a true crime podcast, a very modern touch to the plot, and had managed to rile up someone enough to make them attempt to run down Casey. Spooked and more at home in front of a computer than dealing with people, Kevin asks Meg to help investigate. Since helping Kevin sounds like a great excuse to avoid some of the wedding planning chaos going on, Meg readily agrees.

I won't detail the plot, it's readily available elsewhere, but will say that the wedding hoopla takes a backseat to the investigation although, quite frankly, is the source of some absolutely hilarious scenes involving Meg. Who knew herding dogs could herd peacocks? Or that peacocks make great watchdogs, er, watch...birds? Well, when they're not attacking you. Have you ever heard a peacock shriek? It isn't a pleasant sound, so just the image conjured up of their possible participation in the wedding program is amusing. Beautifully feathered, yes. Peaceful and serene, no.

So, first, what is the Clay County involvement in the cases? Why the heck are they stalking Meg's movements? Second, in this day and age, why would any college department resist converting its records to digital files? Could the answer to the death of a professor be hidden there? Third, what happened to the talented singer/college girl who simply seems to have disappeared? Did her stalker kill her? If not, could she still be around to be found? And, will Meg really wind up creating a gargoyle collection, so to speak, for Ragnor? Sounds like they're fit right in.

These questions are only the tip of the iceberg as Meg organizes and does errands for the upcoming wedding, listens to the previous podcasts, talks to Chief Burke, keeps her guests safe, wrangles peacocks, avoids Spike's bad tempered bites, and dodges bad guys. This is a can't-put-it-down read, full of both tense and hilarious moments with lots of critters. My friends who have herding dogs will love it, I'm sure. Lad, you're my furry hero in this one.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for my "wedding invite". It was fun to see Meg come full circle from the beginning as she dealt with a wedding, quirky relatives one can't help but love, and helps put the bad guys away.

The Twelve Jays of Christmas: A Meg Langslow Mystery (Meg Langslow #30), by Donna Andrews

Listened to the audio version and loved it. Publisher #StMartinsPress. I didn't get on #NetGalley soon enough to request this one so was delighted to find it available via my library, albeit I had to wait awhile for my turn. I considered it a belated Christmas gift that my turn coincided with New Year's Eve and listened to the bulk of it that evening while cuddling with the dog and briefly watching the local fireworks from my deck. Life is good. In any case, on with a review.....

Donna Andrews' #MegLangslow series has never disappointed. Good mood, bad mood, so-so mood, bored or whatever, I always find myself rapidly losing myself in the story. Meg is amazing and despite the often bizarre things going on about her, like wombats in the basement, never seems to be flustered or overwhelmed. BTW, did you know wombats glow? Sort of like my old black light posters, I guess. In any case, that's just the beginning of the adventure. There's a cranky, demanding artist in residence in the Langslow's library, too, doing some art work for the wildlife expert grandfather's next book. In the process, someone has set free the twelve jays of the title in the house. Blue Jays are obviously not an easy catch, either.

Then the artist's ex-wives show up, angry and in at least one case, fighting mad. The long suffering assistant isn't having an easy time of it, either, facing constant ridicule and belittlement from said artist and having to run back and forth between grandfather's zoo facility for items left there when the cranky artist refused to work in the small space set up for him. You see, cranky artist couldn't simply go back to his apartment because he'd been locked out for non-payment of rent. And, oh, yeah, he smokes in the library, too, which finally forces Meg to put her foot down and threaten he'll be tossed out of there, too. And, oh, it's almost Christmas.

I doubt it comes as any surprise to you when cranky artist winds up dead. Dead with a knife in his throat. The irate ex-wives are the logical immediate suspects but, hmm, could this be far more complicated than that? How about the landlord who was cheated out of payment for use of his facility? Other artists, perhaps jealous? What happened to Delaney's mother? Is that related? Why was a PI trying to serve cranky artist? How many red heads actually live in town? Will the 9-1-1 operator ever tire of Meg's calls at all hours? What are the mothers up to? Will or won't Spike bite Meg before all is said and done? Just how cranky are wombats anyway, even young ones? When will Michael and the boys get home with Grandma? Will the community come together to find a way that allows its main homeless resident to accept their help? Will..... Oh, surely you get my drift by now. There's a great deal going on, including a desperate visit to the zoo. And that's all before Rob's big announcement at the Christmas gathering.

Bottom line, I loved every second of this audio book. Narrator Bernadette Dunne is excellent, her voice seeming changing pitch and tone effortlessly as she narrates the story. Kudos to her for capturing the various characters so well. I'm already looking forward to Meg's next adventure.