There’s merry mischief aplenty in Donna Andrews’ latest avian-themed Christmas mystery!
The Christmas season is underway in Caerphilly. The members of the Hollingsworth clan, Meg’s mother’s family, are beginning to arrive in force, and Mother has several special projects underway this year. One is the playhouse she’s having built for Brynn, her two-year-old granddaughter. Brynn is a bright, lively child who loves animals, especially a wounded jay that she and Meg are trying to rehabilitate. She’s also hoping to play matchmaker and set up her cousin with an old friend of hers who was recently widowed.
But all is not going smoothly in Caerphilly. Someone vandalizes the playhouse and sets a dangerous trap that injures and could have killed Mother. She reveals that she has been getting nasty anonymous letters, and it’s obvious that someone is targeting her. Meg realizes she has to do something to figure out who could possibly have it in for her mom.
Meg juggles holiday preparations and celebrations while investigating these potential enemies – not to mention helping repair the damaged playhouse, taking her turn at nursing the wounded jay, and trying to coax Mother’s elderly cousin into a reunion with his long-lost love. When one of Meg’s suspects is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the family rejoices that Mother is out of danger. But Meg isn’t quite sure they’re out of the woods just yet.
My Review:
It wouldn’t be Christmas without another unique Meg Langslow twist to the festive season. This time it is Meg’s mother who is in the crosshairs of an unknown enemy bent on doing her harm. I think this is the first book in the series without a murder which makes it a ‘gentler’ read for the holidays. Lots of intrigue though and plenty of hijinks as Meg’s extended family descend upon Caerphilly for Christmas.
Andrews signature dry wit is woven throughout an entertaining mystery with plenty of plot twists. I enjoyed meeting up with favourite secondary characters from previous books and I especially appreciate how certain characters remain ageless (‘Great’, Caroline, even Meg’s parents and, of course Spike who is just too ornery to get passage across the Rainbow Bridge!) As always, the author has managed to create some heartwarming seasonal moments in the midst of all the bedlam which makes this read pretty near perfect…
Well, listen, actually, since I enjoyed Bernadette Dunne’s narration. She has been the voice of this series since the very beginning and has contributed to my love of theses characters. Unique voices from crusty Great’s harumph to the twins’ boyish enthusiasm and everything in between. I collect print copies of the Meg Langslow series for my keeper shelf, but I always return to my audible collection for a re-listen.
My thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.
