Mythic Melee Murder

Merry Wrath Mysteries #27

by Leslie Langtry

Ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout Leader, Merry Wrath is wondering if maybe it was a bad idea to have her girl scouts over for a Lord of the Rings marathon...because now they’ve signed the entire troop up for a LARP (Live Action Role Playing Game) event in Des Moines. The girls have decided they are the Skullcrushers from the country of Skullgraviastan—a land made up of mercenaries from other nations. They will be part of the Realm of Ulm for a weekend, fighting pirates, Mongols, Romans, and Vikings for supremacy!

Okay, so maybe it’ll be fun, Merry thinks. No real dead bodies, her husband dressed in a kilt as a Highlander, and she gets to be General Dorcas the Dark One. But things don't stay innocent for long as Andy the Necromancer tells them Steve the Sorcerer was murdered a month ago and the police are convinced it was an accident... even though Andy isn't so sure. Against her better judgment, Merry and her homicide detective husband Rex take up the cold case. Between epic battles, eccentric suspects, and a cranky local detective who’s really close to retirement, the duo have their work cut out for them.

Can Merry get to the truth... before this live action event turns deadly?

Genres: Mystery

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2023

About the author

Leslie Langtry is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Merry Wrath Mysteries and the Bombay Family of Assassins Greatest Hits series. She lives in the Midwest with her family and is an active Girl Scout volunteer. Her dream is to someday invent calorie free cake.

Reviews

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got such a fun vibe from this newest Merry Wrath book! I almost expected Monty Python characters to come popping out to join the melee any moment. What starts to be a LARP/battle reenactment by 5 very unusual (and historically mythical) groups, turns in to a weekend of solving a murder with girl scouts at their finest plus CIA (former and current) operatives plus a police detective plus 2 Chechnya hit men AND LARP battles. Somehow a Lord of the Rings moviethon inspired the troop to join in, and hijinks and hilarity followed.
Wonderful cast of characters was enhanced by having everyone working together instead of Merry and the troop trying to stay under Rex's radar. Restraining Hilly from being too realistic was one of the fun highlights of the plot. A surprisingly good mystery made this particularly good as well. I have to say it's one of the best yet, and I loved how the team members were all equal. Except Lauren who turned out to be exceptional! Don't miss this fast paced summer weekend of fun! It was fantastic!

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get so tickled when I read a Merry Wrath mystery. This one was one of the best! Such a good mystery and then add in the usual high jinks and shenanigans that you expect from Merry and her troop and it all comes together in another hilarious romp. The setting this time was out of town. All of Merry’s friends, her husband and her Girl Scout troop travel to a LARP (live-action role-playing) event, that includes pirates, Romans, mongrels, knights, a Scotsman, witches and more. The LARP last the whole weekend and they are kept busy strategizing their actions for winning the event. Plus, of course, they discover a mystery to be solved. There are lots of twists, turns and surprises in this one! A must read if you like quirky, funny, strange mysteries.

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry and the girls are back again with one of the funniest books yet! The girls sign the troop up for a live action role playing game. Kelly, Rex, Riley and Hilly round out the character roles. Toning Hilly down from reality to fantasy is a little challenging! The other teams vary in their capabilities, but the scouts run true to form. Merry then discovers that there was a death in the group about a month ago. Of course, she feels the need to investigate as things appear to be suspicious. There seems to be some discrepancy as to whether it was an accident or murder. There are a lot of suspects from the players to the sheriff. Between the death and the game, I couldn’t stop reading this book!

[Carole Craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! The whole gang, including the girls, Merry, Kelly, Rex, Riley, and Hilly attend a Live Action Role Playing game for a weekend, just for fun. However, this was not an event for kids, and the other participants were much older, even adults. They did not appreciate being out played by a bunch of little girls! I found myself chuckling often throughout the book as they progress through the game. But, when they learned about a possible murder the previous game, Merry, Rex, and the others are determined to find the murderer by the end of the weekend. A very nice addition to an awesome series.

[Anne Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite often lengthy series dwindle in quality, but not this one. This is one of the best books in the series. I especially enjoyed seeing Merry interact with her husband, Rex, outside of a murder investigation. I loved seeing them as a happily married couple. When a murder inevitably appears, they were able to work together without Merry needing to hide her snooping from Rex. The girls and the usual crew were as entertaining as usual, and they provided plenty of chuckles. The murder was a tricky one that I could not figure out before the end.

[Candy Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my kind of Girl Scout troup

Merry Wrath is a really fun troup leader. She and her best friend have been in charge of this group of awesome girls for quite some time. Kelly gets worried about what the girls are learning from Merry and her CIA training, but Merry loves the girls and has the best time with them. Betty is hysterical. Each girl has her own talent and this series is simply fun. I can’t wait until Merry starts a family with Rex. I always look forward to the next book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry and Kelly have their hands full corralling their overzealous Girl Scouts and some imprudent adults at their latest activity, a live action role-playing weekend. However, the make-believe world is becoming a little too real.

Add this to a long line of creative, crazy and entertaining stories in the Merry Wrath Mystery series. They are always a fun read. Thanks to Gemma Halliday Publishing for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Bernadette Cinkoske]

Mythic Melee Murder is a twisty, fun, LARP weekend, cold and present day cozy mystery! I always enjoy my time with Merry and her family, friends and scouts but this book is one of the best! The scouts signed up for an LARP weekend where there is a cold case mystery to solve as well as a present day one. Everyone is at their finest and the laughs, antics and sleuthing just keep coming. You will not want to put this one down.

[Bonnie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from the publisher.
This was such a fun read. Merry and the Troop are signed up for a weekend LARPing event. The female warriors are joined by Merrys husband, Rex, her brothers in law and some CIA folk. They decide to solve the cold case mystery that occurred a few months ago. This was so much fun to read with many laugh out loud moments. The mystery with a twist was a bonus. The series just keeps getting better and better.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book, Even teens will enjoy it. This mystery is action packed!
With lots of comical antics thrown in the mix, as a group of Girl Scouts partake
Inn a LARPS game. They open a can of but whupping on the guys as only girls outs can. As their leaders are busy solving a old murder mystery. That happened at the
LARPS game. A who dun it mystery, that gets every one riled up. A very fun read.
Well written, kudos to the author.
Debra H.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh where do I start this book is so darn good. As if the humor and antics aren’t high enough they really get taken up to a whole new level in this book. I can always count on this series to brighten my day. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Sharon Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, NO ONE can get through a Leslie Langtry without laughing out loud...and this book is no exception! Girl Scouts, LARPers (live action role play), and the CIA, what could possibly go wrong when you put them all together? Delightful book with Lauren now conjuring up things with wild animals, throw in Betty, Ava, and Kaitlyns and you'll laugh at their antics.

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny

These books are so funny, Merry and her band of girl scouts go live role playing in the park with a few others. Of course there is a murder to solve but it's an old murder and it has a few weird complications. The girls cause chaos as usual. Well worth five stars. I can't wait to read the next book.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. I don’t know how the author does it. This is # 27 and the series is still fresh and unique. Fantastic writing, quirky characters and many laugh out loud moments make this one a must read. Highly recommend.

[Georgia A Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Series NEVER Disappoints Me!

I’ve loved every single book in this series. The storyline is always unique and Leslie just kind of makes you feel like you’re in the story. I can’t wait for the next one!!!

[Diana Kudsk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazier and crazier!

[Heather R · Rating 5 out of 5]

as usual… another great Merry Wrath story!

Merry Wrath is a great character surrounded by a hilarious cast. Leslie’s creativity is spot on for a fun, laugh-out-loud story.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the series—I loved seeing Rex involved in everything and having fun!

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action from everyone in this book. The girls are growing up.

[Sondra Wayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not serious but fun! Her and her Girl Scout trip and her fun friends! And of course Rex! So relax and enjoy!

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining

[K Huskić · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story, and a little different in that Merry was investigating the murder of someone who had passed previously, and didn't happen right in front of her.

The group was at a LARPing event, which was a fun time. The groups were strange, but that made it an interesting time. Betty was her usual awesome, slightly unhinged self, as was Hilly. These two will forever be my favourite characters.

I enjoyed this installment in the series.

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that I will never engage in a LARP activity, at least without Betty by my side.
This is one of the best adventures of Troop #0348. It's funny and crazy. The murder is secondary to the great war between the factions. The adults have as much fun as the girls.

[Charles Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it but not as much as some of the others in the series.