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Meg Langslow #14
Some Like It Hawk
Meg helps run Caerphilly's summer arts and crafts festival while trying to smoke out a murderer—turn up the heat, because Some Like it Hawk!
The hilariously funny Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the award-winning New York Times bestselling series that has captured human and avian hearts alike. Meg Langslow is plying her blacksmith's trade at “Caerphilly Days,” a festival inspired by her town’s sudden notoriety as "The Town That Mortgaged Its Jail." The lender has foreclosed on all Caerphilly's public buildings, and all employees have evacuated —except one. Phineas Throckmorton, the town clerk, has been barricaded in the courthouse basement for over a year.
Mr. Throckmorton's long siege has only been possible because of a pre-Civil War tunnel leading from the courthouse basement to a crawl space beneath the bandstand. The real reason for Caerphilly Days is to conceal the existence of the tunnel: the tourist crowds camouflage supply deliveries, and the ghastly screeching of the tunnel's rusty trap door is drowned out by as many noisy activities as the locals can arrange. But the lender seems increasingly determined to evict Mr. Throckmorton—and may succeed after one of its executives is found shot, apparently from inside the basement. Meg and her fellow townspeople suspect that someone hopes to end the siege by framing Mr. Throckmorton. Unless the real killer can be found quickly, the town will have to reveal the secret of the tunnel—and the fact that they've been aiding and abetting the basement’s inhabitant. Meg soon deduces that the killer isn't just trying to end the siege but to conceal information that would help the town reclaim its buildings--if the townspeople can find it before the lender destroys it in a gut-busting caper that will have giggles and guffaws coming as fast as a four-alarm fire.
The hilariously funny Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the award-winning New York Times bestselling series that has captured human and avian hearts alike. Meg Langslow is plying her blacksmith's trade at “Caerphilly Days,” a festival inspired by her town’s sudden notoriety as "The Town That Mortgaged Its Jail." The lender has foreclosed on all Caerphilly's public buildings, and all employees have evacuated —except one. Phineas Throckmorton, the town clerk, has been barricaded in the courthouse basement for over a year.
Mr. Throckmorton's long siege has only been possible because of a pre-Civil War tunnel leading from the courthouse basement to a crawl space beneath the bandstand. The real reason for Caerphilly Days is to conceal the existence of the tunnel: the tourist crowds camouflage supply deliveries, and the ghastly screeching of the tunnel's rusty trap door is drowned out by as many noisy activities as the locals can arrange. But the lender seems increasingly determined to evict Mr. Throckmorton—and may succeed after one of its executives is found shot, apparently from inside the basement. Meg and her fellow townspeople suspect that someone hopes to end the siege by framing Mr. Throckmorton. Unless the real killer can be found quickly, the town will have to reveal the secret of the tunnel—and the fact that they've been aiding and abetting the basement’s inhabitant. Meg soon deduces that the killer isn't just trying to end the siege but to conceal information that would help the town reclaim its buildings--if the townspeople can find it before the lender destroys it in a gut-busting caper that will have giggles and guffaws coming as fast as a four-alarm fire.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2012
144 people are currently reading
1384 people want to read
About the author
Donna Andrews
101 books2,086 followersDonna Andrews was born in Yorktown, Virginia, the setting of Murder with Peacocks and Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos, and now lives and works in Reston, Virginia. When not writing fiction, Andrews is a self-confessed nerd, rarely found away from her computer, unless she's messing in the garden
http://us.macmillan.com/author/donnaa...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/donnaa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
January 7, 2022
Some like it Hawk by Donna Andrews is a 2012 St. Martin’s Minotaur publication.
Caerphilly is in a serious financial bind and is staving off ‘the evil lender’ as long as possible. With all the town buildings shut down, the town clerk has taken up residence in the basement of the courthouse.
A secret basement tunnel is helping the town bring in supplies they ordinarily wouldn’t be able to receive. Unfortunately, when a murder takes place, the evil lender very well may get the upper hand, which would cost Meg and her family all they hold dear. To keep the lenders at bay Meg must work doubly hard to solve the murder, all while juggling twins and participating in the Caerphilly’s Day Festival.
Well, I am right at the halfway mark in this series! Yay! I love pulling out a Meg Langslow mystery when the mood strikes and catching up with all the shenanigans in Caerphilly.
The funny thing about reading a series in order is that sometimes the next book in line has a holiday setting that is a long way off from the one celebrated in the current calendar month. This book was set around the fourth of July, and to be honest, it was kind of fun- instead of Christmas in July- it was Independence Day in December. Ha!
While this installment has Meg run down to a frazzle, as usual, the book was perhaps a little too busy, this time around. There were some odd omissions- like Timmy- for example. He was never mentioned, and while I realize that with such an array of characters in the series, they can’t all be in every single installment, but it seems strange that Timmy’s absence wasn’t explained. Was he away at camp or staying with a friend or what? - Because he certainly isn’t old enough to take care of himself and as far as I could tell he was not given one ounce of adult supervision in this book- and it kind of bugged me.
The story wasn’t flat by any means, but the characterizations were a little off, somehow, and the humor wasn’t as prevalent as usual, either. I did like the plot, though, Meg was almost hitting superhero status with twins, family, (sans Timmy), solving a murder, and saving the entire town of Caerphilly! I got tired just reading about it!!
Overall, this was another one of those installments that was certainly enjoyable- but not up to the usual standards of the series. Long running series like these do tend to fall short on occasion, but there’s always the next installment too look forward to- so on to the next…
3 stars
Caerphilly is in a serious financial bind and is staving off ‘the evil lender’ as long as possible. With all the town buildings shut down, the town clerk has taken up residence in the basement of the courthouse.
A secret basement tunnel is helping the town bring in supplies they ordinarily wouldn’t be able to receive. Unfortunately, when a murder takes place, the evil lender very well may get the upper hand, which would cost Meg and her family all they hold dear. To keep the lenders at bay Meg must work doubly hard to solve the murder, all while juggling twins and participating in the Caerphilly’s Day Festival.
Well, I am right at the halfway mark in this series! Yay! I love pulling out a Meg Langslow mystery when the mood strikes and catching up with all the shenanigans in Caerphilly.
The funny thing about reading a series in order is that sometimes the next book in line has a holiday setting that is a long way off from the one celebrated in the current calendar month. This book was set around the fourth of July, and to be honest, it was kind of fun- instead of Christmas in July- it was Independence Day in December. Ha!
While this installment has Meg run down to a frazzle, as usual, the book was perhaps a little too busy, this time around. There were some odd omissions- like Timmy- for example. He was never mentioned, and while I realize that with such an array of characters in the series, they can’t all be in every single installment, but it seems strange that Timmy’s absence wasn’t explained. Was he away at camp or staying with a friend or what? - Because he certainly isn’t old enough to take care of himself and as far as I could tell he was not given one ounce of adult supervision in this book- and it kind of bugged me.
The story wasn’t flat by any means, but the characterizations were a little off, somehow, and the humor wasn’t as prevalent as usual, either. I did like the plot, though, Meg was almost hitting superhero status with twins, family, (sans Timmy), solving a murder, and saving the entire town of Caerphilly! I got tired just reading about it!!
Overall, this was another one of those installments that was certainly enjoyable- but not up to the usual standards of the series. Long running series like these do tend to fall short on occasion, but there’s always the next installment too look forward to- so on to the next…
3 stars
October 28, 2021
In this 14th book in the 'Meg Langslow' series, Meg - wife, mother of young twins, blacksmith, and amateur sleuth - is trying to help save her town from predatory lenders when a murder occurs. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Meg Langslow and the other citizens of Caerphilly, Virginia are trying to stave off "the evil lender" - also known as First Progressive Financial (FPF) - that holds the mortgage on the town's buildings. Caerphilly, being in dire straits, had taken out a loan using the town's infrastructure as collateral, but the larcenous mayor ran off to Cancun with the money.
Since Caerphilly was unable to pay back the loan, FPF was going to confiscate the courthouse, which it planned to use for commercial development.
There's a fly in the ointment though. On the day of the takeover, Caerphilly's town clerk, Phineas Throckmorton, barricaded himself in the courthouse basement.....and he's been there for the past year!!
This would seem to be an untenable situation, but - unknown to the evil lender - there's a secret tunnel into the rear of the basement from Caerphilly's communal greens. Thus various townsfolk have been ferrying food to Phineas and keeping him company.
FPF suspects there's a hidden entryway to the basement, but can't figure out where it is. Thus they send in paramilitary security guards to patrol the courthouse, search for hidden passages, and keep an eye on the barricaded entrance to the basement. Of course the guards have no luck finding the tunnel.....and neither does the private detective retained by FPF.
Caerphilly and FPF are preparing to face off in court when a woman is shot in the courthouse lobby, right outside the blocked entrance to Phineas's domain. Phineas becomes the prime suspect, but Meg and her friends are sure he's being framed.....and set out to find the real killer.
While all this going on, the town is holding July's 'Caerphilly Days festival', a shindig that features all kinds of entertainment. The gala is held on the town's communal greens, which has a stage for the acts.....as well as tents for volunteers; performers; church groups selling food and beverages; and so on.
One of the tents covers the trapdoor leading to the hidden tunnel, and Meg and her cohorts occupy this 24/7.
A humorous trope of the story is a plan to replace the hidden tunnel's old trapdoor, a noisy enterprise scheduled to take place during the festival performances.....which are purposely VERY LOUD. There are also fun fireworks on the 4th of July, which make a good cover for clanging construction work.
Popular recurring characters make an appearance in the story, including Meg's extended family - who help with the detective work and the twins; the police chief - who's resigned to Meg's amateur sleuthing; the Shiffleys - who do the town's construction work; the family dogs - Tinkerbell and Spike; and more.
The title of the story refers to the fact that FPF brings in a falconer whose hawk will attack Phineas Throckmorton's pet homing pigeons, presumably to flush Phineas out of the basement. (Shame on FPF!)
I enjoyed the novel, but the mystery is given short shrift in favor of chapters about the pigeons; the tunnel; Meg's husband and 18-month-old twin boys; Meg's big new house; Meg's brother - who designs computer games; Meg's attorney cousin - who'll face off against FPF in court; a forensics expert who wears a gorilla costume; a coroner who's claustrophobic; etc. All of this is entertaining, but it makes the book more of a cozy story than a cozy mystery.
Nevertheless, fans of the Meg Langslow books would probably enjoy the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
July 19, 2012
I don't really read these books because of the mystery. (Um, remind me, who actually did get killed in this one?) I read them because of the zany-ness, the humor, and the likeable characters. Donna Andrews is what Janet Evanovich aspires to be - silly, fun and each book a fresh treasure. Not sure that the buying public agrees but they are just wrong.
This particular one should especially interest archivists and to a lesser extent librarians. Thank you, Ms. Andrews, for making the job relevent.
This particular one should especially interest archivists and to a lesser extent librarians. Thank you, Ms. Andrews, for making the job relevent.
January 27, 2024
Not a real surprise who the guilty parties are in the end but it is still a very enjoyable book.
May 16, 2016
Meg Langslow is like my “comfort-food” mystery. After I read tons of books that blend together I can count on these books to stand out and be easy reads that I love and enjoy.
In this (fourteenth) book in the series the town is still evicted from their buildings, but they’re making do and having a booming tourist business because of it. However, when a body shows up only a few steps from a man who barricaded himself in the courthouse basement the entire town’s facade might come crumbling down.
Meg is always an amazing, absolutey hilarious MC, and this book didn’t disappoint! I was disappointed because we didn’t seem to see as much of my favorite secondary character; Meg’s mom. However, she did pop in a few times. The rest of the quirky family and townspeople also returned for this book.
The setting was a nice change; unlike int he last few books where it almost entirely took place at or around Meg’s house, this one was primarily set in the town square.This book’s only real drawback was a transparent mystery. I identified the killer pretty early on, and the reveal fell flat to me.
Overall, however, this book was another amazing book in a series that I can’t get enough of. Highly recommend this book/series!
In this (fourteenth) book in the series the town is still evicted from their buildings, but they’re making do and having a booming tourist business because of it. However, when a body shows up only a few steps from a man who barricaded himself in the courthouse basement the entire town’s facade might come crumbling down.
Meg is always an amazing, absolutey hilarious MC, and this book didn’t disappoint! I was disappointed because we didn’t seem to see as much of my favorite secondary character; Meg’s mom. However, she did pop in a few times. The rest of the quirky family and townspeople also returned for this book.
The setting was a nice change; unlike int he last few books where it almost entirely took place at or around Meg’s house, this one was primarily set in the town square.This book’s only real drawback was a transparent mystery. I identified the killer pretty early on, and the reveal fell flat to me.
Overall, however, this book was another amazing book in a series that I can’t get enough of. Highly recommend this book/series!
January 20, 2018
I've read a few of this series, in no particular order, and recently decided to try reading them in order, since my local library has them all. I cruised pretty happily through to this one, #14, and got stuck. I kept picking it up and trying to go on, but eventually at halfway though I just stopped. It's clearly not working for me and I see no reason to keep trying to force it.
Oddly enough a few weeks ago I picked up the next book in the series and read it happily in a couple of days. So I'd say it's this book that's not working for me, and not that I've burned out on the series. I've been thinking about why I don't like this one and I have two reasons. First - Meg pretty much does nothing but talk. The situation, a continuation of the previous book, is pretty complicated and requires a lot of plot exposition, which boils down to Meg explaining to people what happened in the previous story and why things are the way they are now and why everyone is doing what they're doing and who all these new people in town are and why this has to happen next... Lots and lots of talking. Blah blah blah. Add to that a situation which is so ridiculous and crazy even I can't suspend my disbelief long enough to buy into it and I find myself not caring about anything in this book. They could blow the whole town up and start over and I wouldn't care.
Which is my way of saying this one isn't working for me, so I quit reading. But the next one in the series was pretty good. :)
Oddly enough a few weeks ago I picked up the next book in the series and read it happily in a couple of days. So I'd say it's this book that's not working for me, and not that I've burned out on the series. I've been thinking about why I don't like this one and I have two reasons. First - Meg pretty much does nothing but talk. The situation, a continuation of the previous book, is pretty complicated and requires a lot of plot exposition, which boils down to Meg explaining to people what happened in the previous story and why things are the way they are now and why everyone is doing what they're doing and who all these new people in town are and why this has to happen next... Lots and lots of talking. Blah blah blah. Add to that a situation which is so ridiculous and crazy even I can't suspend my disbelief long enough to buy into it and I find myself not caring about anything in this book. They could blow the whole town up and start over and I wouldn't care.
Which is my way of saying this one isn't working for me, so I quit reading. But the next one in the series was pretty good. :)
April 7, 2023
This is a fabulous series. Clever, fun and twisty plot. I definitely recommend this one!
August 21, 2024
Fourteenth in the Meg Langslow usually much funnier mystery series revolving around Meg the blacksmith and her interfering family.
My Take
I can't wait for the funny bits to hit...and I'm, mostly, still waiting. Definitely not one of my favorites in this series. Although, I did enjoy the big Evil Lender getting theirs in the end!
I do love what everyone does to keep the entrance hidden. Andrews really did do a clever job on this one. I guess I just miss having so many of the family participating this time. It is pretty funny that Meg keeps inviting the opposition to stay at their house. The one where the public library is currently living in their former ballroom.
Too funny! I love the bit about Lad, Seth Early's border collie, "finding" lost children!
It is a tense situation. The Evil Lender seems to have it all on their side and Meg and Michael are worried that the county will seize their farm and land to pay them off.
The Story
The townsfolk of Caerphilly are working hard at raising funds for their bankrupt town. They have a festival to which everyone is contributing their time or a percentage of their sales right on the town square. The tour buses are that mixed blessing: lovely fat wallets that open but the wallets come attached to the people.
The festival also makes a good cover for the supply line the people have organized for the lone holdout in the City Hall basement. It helps that there is one major criteria the organizers have of participants: They have to be loud.
Big mistake when they tried to blow Denton up… Nuh-uh, he just doesn't take to that sort of thing and he's got a few of his own ideas about what's going on.
The Characters
Meg Langslow is a blacksmith with a keen interest in solving crime. She does come by it quite fairly; her dad, Dr. Langslow, is just as nosy, er, interested in crime. Josh and Jamie are her and Michael's eighteen-month-old twins. Michael Waterston is her husband and a drama professor at Caerphilly College. Spike is their fierce, evil, little, wonderful watchdog. Rob Langslow is Meg's brother and a big kid who hasn't really grown up yet. In spite of the fortune he's made as a game designer. Mother is a force of very efficient nature and designs interiors beautifully.
Rose Noire is Meg's very holistic cousin; Eric is the teenaged nephew conscripted for the summer to babysit—his sister Natalie broke her ankle; Tinkerbell is Rob's dog and she's helping Spike babysit as well; Cousin Festus Hollingsworth is an excellent lawyer on the case to battle the Evil Lender---and keep them from seizing Meg and Michael's farm under eminent domain; and, cousin Horace Hollingsworth prefers to wear a gorilla suit and is the crime scene investigator in Yorktown and Caerphilly when needed.
Caroline Willner is Grandfather's girlfriend and she runs a wildlife sanctuary near Caerphilly. She's definitely up for some B&E. Zeke is Dr. Blake's---Grandfather's---night watchman at the zoo. Zeke may be old, but he's steady.
Chief Burke is becoming resigned to Meg's interest and grateful to her dad; Dr. Smoot is the local medical examiner...sigh... Vern, Sammy Wendell, and Aida Morris are some of the local deputies; Debbie Ann is the police dispatcher.
Phineas K. Throckmorton is a pigeon-fancier and the basement holdout who has barricaded himself inside. Turns out to have been a brilliant idea. Shannon is...um...not yet dating one of the Flying Monkeys. Reverend Wilson has been reassuring the chief about lying and injustice.
The Shiffley family has certainly come into its own in this story. Their construction company is busy with maintaining the tunnel, erecting benches for the festival, and Randall is the new mayor very carefully appearing to cooperate. Judge Jane contributes her bit.
George Pruitt, a member of that family, is the reason the town is bankrupt. He pulled a runner and made off with the funds. Hamish Pruitt is the town's disgraced former attorney---the family is angry at him since he failed to stop the recall vote; he's now running a hamburger stand that's only good for a suicide run.
The Evil Lender, a.k.a., First Progressive Financial, has foreclosed on most of the town with the new mayor holding forth in a tent on the square. Mr. Fisher is one of the "civil" representatives from FPF while Colleen Brown is a vice-president who saw a bit too much. The townspeople call the security people the Evil Lender has hired the Flying Monkeys due to an uncanny resemblance to the Wicked Witch of the West's soldiers. Lieutenant Wilt and Officer Reilly are some of the overzealous ones.
Stanley Denton is the hapless, but not helpless private investigator the Evil Lender hired to find out how Phinny is getting his supplies. Unfortunately, everyone immediately spotted who and what he is; fortunately, he's an intelligent man. And a new character added to the series. Muriel runs the cafe where Denton loves to eat pie. Charles Doane operates a natural pest control business, Some Like It Hawk, and has been hired to control a pigeon infestation in an environmentally responsible manner---they lied.
Kate Blake is a reporter from the Washington Star-Tribune and absolutely desperate to break out of human interest stories.
The Cover
The cover has a strong faded red...what a contradiction that is!...background and a tabletop fan blowing a collection of patriotic ribbons at an overheated hawk. Hmmm, definitely a metaphor for the heat hitting the townsfolk of Caerphilly as well as the Evil Lender.
The title is a cute play on how hot it is in Caerphilly over this Fourth of July holiday as well as bringing in Meg's grandfather's interest and a new employee of his with an interesting line of work whose business is hawks. Bring a fan and some lemonade to this encounter, 'cause Some Like It Hawk.
My Take
I can't wait for the funny bits to hit...and I'm, mostly, still waiting. Definitely not one of my favorites in this series. Although, I did enjoy the big Evil Lender getting theirs in the end!
I do love what everyone does to keep the entrance hidden. Andrews really did do a clever job on this one. I guess I just miss having so many of the family participating this time. It is pretty funny that Meg keeps inviting the opposition to stay at their house. The one where the public library is currently living in their former ballroom.
Too funny! I love the bit about Lad, Seth Early's border collie, "finding" lost children!
It is a tense situation. The Evil Lender seems to have it all on their side and Meg and Michael are worried that the county will seize their farm and land to pay them off.
The Story
The townsfolk of Caerphilly are working hard at raising funds for their bankrupt town. They have a festival to which everyone is contributing their time or a percentage of their sales right on the town square. The tour buses are that mixed blessing: lovely fat wallets that open but the wallets come attached to the people.
The festival also makes a good cover for the supply line the people have organized for the lone holdout in the City Hall basement. It helps that there is one major criteria the organizers have of participants: They have to be loud.
Big mistake when they tried to blow Denton up… Nuh-uh, he just doesn't take to that sort of thing and he's got a few of his own ideas about what's going on.
The Characters
Meg Langslow is a blacksmith with a keen interest in solving crime. She does come by it quite fairly; her dad, Dr. Langslow, is just as nosy, er, interested in crime. Josh and Jamie are her and Michael's eighteen-month-old twins. Michael Waterston is her husband and a drama professor at Caerphilly College. Spike is their fierce, evil, little, wonderful watchdog. Rob Langslow is Meg's brother and a big kid who hasn't really grown up yet. In spite of the fortune he's made as a game designer. Mother is a force of very efficient nature and designs interiors beautifully.
Rose Noire is Meg's very holistic cousin; Eric is the teenaged nephew conscripted for the summer to babysit—his sister Natalie broke her ankle; Tinkerbell is Rob's dog and she's helping Spike babysit as well; Cousin Festus Hollingsworth is an excellent lawyer on the case to battle the Evil Lender---and keep them from seizing Meg and Michael's farm under eminent domain; and, cousin Horace Hollingsworth prefers to wear a gorilla suit and is the crime scene investigator in Yorktown and Caerphilly when needed.
Caroline Willner is Grandfather's girlfriend and she runs a wildlife sanctuary near Caerphilly. She's definitely up for some B&E. Zeke is Dr. Blake's---Grandfather's---night watchman at the zoo. Zeke may be old, but he's steady.
Chief Burke is becoming resigned to Meg's interest and grateful to her dad; Dr. Smoot is the local medical examiner...sigh... Vern, Sammy Wendell, and Aida Morris are some of the local deputies; Debbie Ann is the police dispatcher.
Phineas K. Throckmorton is a pigeon-fancier and the basement holdout who has barricaded himself inside. Turns out to have been a brilliant idea. Shannon is...um...not yet dating one of the Flying Monkeys. Reverend Wilson has been reassuring the chief about lying and injustice.
The Shiffley family has certainly come into its own in this story. Their construction company is busy with maintaining the tunnel, erecting benches for the festival, and Randall is the new mayor very carefully appearing to cooperate. Judge Jane contributes her bit.
George Pruitt, a member of that family, is the reason the town is bankrupt. He pulled a runner and made off with the funds. Hamish Pruitt is the town's disgraced former attorney---the family is angry at him since he failed to stop the recall vote; he's now running a hamburger stand that's only good for a suicide run.
The Evil Lender, a.k.a., First Progressive Financial, has foreclosed on most of the town with the new mayor holding forth in a tent on the square. Mr. Fisher is one of the "civil" representatives from FPF while Colleen Brown is a vice-president who saw a bit too much. The townspeople call the security people the Evil Lender has hired the Flying Monkeys due to an uncanny resemblance to the Wicked Witch of the West's soldiers. Lieutenant Wilt and Officer Reilly are some of the overzealous ones.
Stanley Denton is the hapless, but not helpless private investigator the Evil Lender hired to find out how Phinny is getting his supplies. Unfortunately, everyone immediately spotted who and what he is; fortunately, he's an intelligent man. And a new character added to the series. Muriel runs the cafe where Denton loves to eat pie. Charles Doane operates a natural pest control business, Some Like It Hawk, and has been hired to control a pigeon infestation in an environmentally responsible manner---they lied.
Kate Blake is a reporter from the Washington Star-Tribune and absolutely desperate to break out of human interest stories.
The Cover
The cover has a strong faded red...what a contradiction that is!...background and a tabletop fan blowing a collection of patriotic ribbons at an overheated hawk. Hmmm, definitely a metaphor for the heat hitting the townsfolk of Caerphilly as well as the Evil Lender.
The title is a cute play on how hot it is in Caerphilly over this Fourth of July holiday as well as bringing in Meg's grandfather's interest and a new employee of his with an interesting line of work whose business is hawks. Bring a fan and some lemonade to this encounter, 'cause Some Like It Hawk.
May 30, 2014
I'm always amazed that I love these books because funny mysteries are not my thing. I gave up Evanovich. Why don't I give up Andrews? I may have figured it out--Andrews isn't going for the laugh. There isn't anything odd or amusing about Meg. She does have some eccentric relatives and a mother whose passion for decorating can drive her nuts. Still, we're within the bounds of normal. Somebody is going to get killed in each book--but in true Agatha tradition--it's never gruesome. Meg's level-headedness makes murder and finding the murderer relaxing. It would be amiss if I did not acknowledge that I am a sucker for puns. As long as Andrews continues to find more birds for her titles, I'll keep on reading.
April 14, 2025
I love this series sooooooo much. On my fifth listen through and the humour and quirk never get old. This book really highlights of joy of all things Caerphilly. One of my favourite books in the series.
April 3, 2020
Meg is in charge of the Caerphilly summer festival in this one and the person locked under the courthouse to stop the bank from foreclosing on the government property has now been there a year. When someone from the evil lenders gets shot in the basement where the person is squatting, he is blamed and Meg needs to prove otherwise to save her house and her town.
I gave this a three because it just wasn't as good or as funny as the previous ones. Meg's extended family that provides lots of laughs was not in this one and she didn't use her notebook that tells her when to breathe enough. Her father, a major character in the previous stories did not play more than a passing part in this one. All in all, a good mystery but not what I expected.
I gave this a three because it just wasn't as good or as funny as the previous ones. Meg's extended family that provides lots of laughs was not in this one and she didn't use her notebook that tells her when to breathe enough. Her father, a major character in the previous stories did not play more than a passing part in this one. All in all, a good mystery but not what I expected.
February 9, 2015
One of my favourites in the series so far, possibly because it involves a festival specializing in loud sounds, a secret passage, a medical examiner dressed as Dracula, a forensic evidence technician dressed as a gorilla (how does he manage to keep fake fur out of the crime scene, anyway?), a bunch of (figurative) flying monkeys, a pig-calling competition, and a recalcitrant mime:
Need I say more?
I'm awfully curious about how Andrews comes up with such epic titles. I suspect she comes up with the title first, then weaves the plot around it. In this case, one character raises pigeons and the Flying Monkey guards bring in a hawk. The mystery's pretty weak (Doesn't matter), but at least for once, the book doesn't try to argue that the murderee "deserved it." As always, however, I don't read these for the mysteries; I read them for the characters, the crazy situations, and Andrews' mastery of hilarious dialogue.
After all, no book is perfect.
"I got a letter of complaint today. Someone threatening to sue Caerphilly Days for discriminating against her in our selection of entertainers.”
“Discrimination?” I exclaimed. “Good grief, we let nearly anyone perform who can walk, crawl, or roll onstage, and if they’re at all noisy, we ask them back. And we go out of our way to be multicultural. I can see the audience suing us for harassment over some of the acts but the entertainers? Who is it?”
“Lady named Heterodoxia Jones," Randall said. "Name ring a bell?"
"Oh, God," I said. "The mime."
Randall winced.
"Yeah, here it is," he said. "We're guilty of holding a disparaging attitude toward the ancient and honorable profession of the mime, and also restricting her right to self-expression. And she wants a hundred thousand dollars in compensation or she'll sue us for a cool million."
"Let her sue," I said. "Last time I heard, mimes were not a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities act. Or would they fall under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?"
"Whatever," Randall said. "Wouldn't hurt to let her perform. Not that I'm eager to see another mime on our stage, mind you. Just between you and me, I don’t consider shooing mimes away discrimination--more like pest control. But that’s my personal taste. Speaking as mayor of Caerphilly, I’d like to think we’re a mime-friendly town.”
“Save the mime, apple pie, and motherhood speech for the voters,” I said. “We’re as mime-friendly as the next town. What Ms. Jones doesn’t mention is that in addition to being a mime, she’s also an ecdyasist.”
Randall’s brows furrowed.
“A stripper,” I explained. “And while I’m more than a little curious to see what a combination of mime and striptease looks like, I thought we were trying to keep our entertainment at least PG rated.”
“I agree,” Randall said. “Okay, I’ll figure out how to get rid of the naked mime. Keep up the good work.”
Need I say more?
I'm awfully curious about how Andrews comes up with such epic titles. I suspect she comes up with the title first, then weaves the plot around it. In this case, one character raises pigeons and the Flying Monkey guards bring in a hawk. The mystery's pretty weak (Doesn't matter), but at least for once, the book doesn't try to argue that the murderee "deserved it." As always, however, I don't read these for the mysteries; I read them for the characters, the crazy situations, and Andrews' mastery of hilarious dialogue.
After all, no book is perfect.
April 17, 2019
The rumors flying as we finished THE LAST MACAW are true. The now ex-mayor of Caerphilly, Virginia did mortgage the town buildings. Now, a year later, the bank who loaned the money, which has been absconded with by the ex-mayor, has taken possession of the buildings! The library moved into Meg and Michael’s house where they eventually want their own library. The police department moved into Meg’s father’s barn, which is a delight to him since he loves to “help” out. All the town buildings stand empty except one. Phineas Throckmorton, the county clerk, is squatting in the basement of the courthouse behind barricades and hasn’t moved since the takeover. The lender cannot figure out how he is continuing to live there with no access to bring him food or supplies. A private investigator is hanging about trying to find out what the secret is. Worst of all a private security company has guards posted all over the town.
The bank who owns the town’s buildings has a few employees on site, only a couple of whom are liked by the town. One of them approaches the barrier in the courthouse basement and is shot. Looks like the guards got itchy fingers, but why, when they are working for the same “evil lender” as the victim?
The people of Caerphilly are pitching in to earn funds for the town by hosting Caerphilly Days. Local craftspeople are giving demonstrations; the Baptist Choir and the Episcopal Choir are giving performances; and every civic, religious, or artistic group is helping. Meg has moved her entire blacksmithing business to the town square in order to give demonstrations. The twins seem happy to spend their days in the tent next door.
At times there is a cacophony of sound between trades people and loud music. The fair’s planners made it so the greatest noise occured at certain times ,,, to cover the horrendous squeak made by opening a trapdoor to a tunnel which leads to the courthouse basement. This is how the clerk has survived. Only certain townspeople know about this, and they work hard to keep it secret.
Meg and other town leaders are meeting daily and have begun wondering why the evil lender needs Throckmorton out of the courthouse now. What is the urgency? The only thing stored there are original documents. Coincidentally Meg’s cousin, the lawyer handling the battle against the lender, has been looking for some particular documents as well. What is so important?
Once they answer that question, everything makes sense. The revelation is ingenious, both obvious and hidden in plain sight. Author Donna Andrews has manipulated us yet again in this hilarious and offbeat mystery. I cannot believe it is easy to take a murder, a mystery, and intrigue, toss them together, and produce the entertaining story that Ms. Andrews does so well. While remaining just as chaotic and riotous as the previous entries in this series, I am seeing a slight shift in the writing toward more complexity that gives the book more depth. I think it shows growth in characters and author.
The bank who owns the town’s buildings has a few employees on site, only a couple of whom are liked by the town. One of them approaches the barrier in the courthouse basement and is shot. Looks like the guards got itchy fingers, but why, when they are working for the same “evil lender” as the victim?
The people of Caerphilly are pitching in to earn funds for the town by hosting Caerphilly Days. Local craftspeople are giving demonstrations; the Baptist Choir and the Episcopal Choir are giving performances; and every civic, religious, or artistic group is helping. Meg has moved her entire blacksmithing business to the town square in order to give demonstrations. The twins seem happy to spend their days in the tent next door.
At times there is a cacophony of sound between trades people and loud music. The fair’s planners made it so the greatest noise occured at certain times ,,, to cover the horrendous squeak made by opening a trapdoor to a tunnel which leads to the courthouse basement. This is how the clerk has survived. Only certain townspeople know about this, and they work hard to keep it secret.
Meg and other town leaders are meeting daily and have begun wondering why the evil lender needs Throckmorton out of the courthouse now. What is the urgency? The only thing stored there are original documents. Coincidentally Meg’s cousin, the lawyer handling the battle against the lender, has been looking for some particular documents as well. What is so important?
Once they answer that question, everything makes sense. The revelation is ingenious, both obvious and hidden in plain sight. Author Donna Andrews has manipulated us yet again in this hilarious and offbeat mystery. I cannot believe it is easy to take a murder, a mystery, and intrigue, toss them together, and produce the entertaining story that Ms. Andrews does so well. While remaining just as chaotic and riotous as the previous entries in this series, I am seeing a slight shift in the writing toward more complexity that gives the book more depth. I think it shows growth in characters and author.
August 15, 2012
I received an advance reading copy through Goodreads First Reads. I was very excited because I had never won anything before, but my excitement soon turned to puzzlement. Imagine my surprise when, as I'm sitting on a plane trying to finish this book before we land, I hit page 312, Meg's about to crack open the whole mystery, and...my copy of the book ends.
Since all the previous books in this series didn't end on cliffhangers, I'm going to assume something was wrong with my copy. It's difficult to review an incomplete book, but I have to say that this newest entry in the series didn't grab me. Meg's immediate family barely shows up, and Meg just runs around a lot. I felt as though the author was so focused on getting the details of the murder/saving the town from financial ruin, that she didn't have time for character development.
For example, by page 312, I still hadn't found out why the murdered person was murdered. The victim was apparently mostly in the book as a way to get the rest of the plot going. Sometimes I prefer my murder mysteries to go a bit deeper, though - it's a shame that this victim is so tangential that I didn't even really care that I knew as much about the victim by page 312 as I did upon first meeting her.
Edited to add: I emailed the publicity department at St. Martin's Press, who confirmed that the author was NOT trying something new and experimental, and pages had indeed been accidentally left out of my ARC. They offered to send me a hardcover copy of the book which I received today and finished reading. The ending was a bit confusing and hurried, but I bumped up my review a star for the publisher's kindness and speed of response. If only people like that were allowed to work in customer service positions, the world would be a happier place
Since all the previous books in this series didn't end on cliffhangers, I'm going to assume something was wrong with my copy. It's difficult to review an incomplete book, but I have to say that this newest entry in the series didn't grab me. Meg's immediate family barely shows up, and Meg just runs around a lot. I felt as though the author was so focused on getting the details of the murder/saving the town from financial ruin, that she didn't have time for character development.
For example, by page 312, I still hadn't found out why the murdered person was murdered. The victim was apparently mostly in the book as a way to get the rest of the plot going. Sometimes I prefer my murder mysteries to go a bit deeper, though - it's a shame that this victim is so tangential that I didn't even really care that I knew as much about the victim by page 312 as I did upon first meeting her.
Edited to add: I emailed the publicity department at St. Martin's Press, who confirmed that the author was NOT trying something new and experimental, and pages had indeed been accidentally left out of my ARC. They offered to send me a hardcover copy of the book which I received today and finished reading. The ending was a bit confusing and hurried, but I bumped up my review a star for the publisher's kindness and speed of response. If only people like that were allowed to work in customer service positions, the world would be a happier place
June 13, 2018
In Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews, the town of Caerphilly has been fighting since the conclusion of the previous book in the series, The Real Macaw, to keep its public buildings. The previous mayor took out a large mortgage in the name of the city, using city property as collateral, and then “allegedly” took off with the money. Now “the evil lender” has repossessed the courthouse, jail, and other buildings. So the citizens of Caerphilly are staging a big public event they call Caerphilly Days to help the effort to fight the evil lender. But their assistance isn’t financial. Instead, they serve as a diversion to distract the evil lender. At the time of the sudden repossession, the city clerk, Phineas P. Throckmorton, barricaded himself in the basement of the courthouse. For the last year and a half, the man has been living in the basement, supplied by a tunnel from the Underground Railroad known initially to few, especially to the Pruitts, the corrupt family just kicked out of power. But the trap door, which they keep hidden by the bandstand, makes so much noise every time it is opened that they have to cover up the noise with loud entertainment and plan to replace it altogether during the loud July 4 celebration.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
April 5, 2018
Another Meg Langslow cozy. It is important to note that this series can be read out of order (which I am currently doing as I obtain the books from the library) or in order.
The town of Caerphilly, VA, is holding a tourist event all summer long to raise money to try and pay off the evil lenders who have brought their flying monkeys (the private security) to keep people out of the courthouse. In the basement of the courthouse, Phineas Throckmorton has barricaded himself for the past year and the town has been helping to keep him stocked with food and necessary items while he keeps all the papers safe and away from the evil lenders while the new town attorney, Meg's cousin, works to find a way to save the town from the evil lenders. While all this is happening, a woman from the evil lender has been murdered and it has been made to look like Phineas has done the deed. Meg and the rest of her family work very hard to find out who really murdered her and stop the evil lender from taking over the town and all the surrounding areas.
I really enjoy these stories and when my kids are in the car listening to the story with me, laughing at some of the things that happen in the story, I know it is a winner. My middle daughter has started hunting on the Kindle to find these books so she can read them, too.
The town of Caerphilly, VA, is holding a tourist event all summer long to raise money to try and pay off the evil lenders who have brought their flying monkeys (the private security) to keep people out of the courthouse. In the basement of the courthouse, Phineas Throckmorton has barricaded himself for the past year and the town has been helping to keep him stocked with food and necessary items while he keeps all the papers safe and away from the evil lenders while the new town attorney, Meg's cousin, works to find a way to save the town from the evil lenders. While all this is happening, a woman from the evil lender has been murdered and it has been made to look like Phineas has done the deed. Meg and the rest of her family work very hard to find out who really murdered her and stop the evil lender from taking over the town and all the surrounding areas.
I really enjoy these stories and when my kids are in the car listening to the story with me, laughing at some of the things that happen in the story, I know it is a winner. My middle daughter has started hunting on the Kindle to find these books so she can read them, too.
July 28, 2012
This adventure of Meg and company was quite a bit different but well drawn. I felt like I was in Meg's shadow as she tried to fight crimes, crawl tunnels, eat her way through the entire town's religious bodies and more!
I did like that the Chief of Police realized that he needed Meg's help. I was a bit surprised that Michael and the Twins weren't more involved in some way, although I can't see how, if we want to keep them safe. I guess I need a thousand pages so it is well that Ms. Andrews writes the novels and not myself.
I learned some valuable medical advice regarding heat and humidity that I actually implemented immediately in my own home that night. The crime was well presented and developed and solved. I did wish I had 'known' more about the victim earlier so that I could get more concerned about her death.
All in all, I'm nuts about this series and am already looking forward to the next volume.
I did like that the Chief of Police realized that he needed Meg's help. I was a bit surprised that Michael and the Twins weren't more involved in some way, although I can't see how, if we want to keep them safe. I guess I need a thousand pages so it is well that Ms. Andrews writes the novels and not myself.
I learned some valuable medical advice regarding heat and humidity that I actually implemented immediately in my own home that night. The crime was well presented and developed and solved. I did wish I had 'known' more about the victim earlier so that I could get more concerned about her death.
All in all, I'm nuts about this series and am already looking forward to the next volume.
July 31, 2012
While none of the Meg Langslow mysteries have quite matched the laugh-out-loud fun of the original Murder With Peacocks, Some Like it Hawk was a fast, enjoyable read. Meg and a cast of lovably eccentric characters are working to save their beloved Caerphilly from foreclosure by the Evil Lender. The city clerk has barricaded himself in the basement of the courthouse, aided and abetted by most of the townspeople, but their plans go awry when a bank official is murdered just outside the barricade. Now Meg and the police are rushing to solve the murder, amid the distractions of throngs of tourists, an escaped boa constrictor, the Flying Monkeys and a troupe of stripping mimes. A highly entertaining story.
June 2, 2014
This is the first i've read of Donna Andrews, but, rest assured, it won't be the last!!
She has a GREAT sense of humor and it shows through her cast of characters. The whole town, well, most of them, are just too funny!!
They all play a part in this mystery. Evan the kids are humorous. I can't tell how funny this story is...I smiled and chuckled the whole time.
A light mystery read for the summer...and then you'll read all year long!
She has a GREAT sense of humor and it shows through her cast of characters. The whole town, well, most of them, are just too funny!!
They all play a part in this mystery. Evan the kids are humorous. I can't tell how funny this story is...I smiled and chuckled the whole time.
A light mystery read for the summer...and then you'll read all year long!
August 5, 2021
Meh. Too confusing and unbelievable. Really? I mean, really???
Also Andrews, as delightful as her tone is, might benefit by re-adopting a secondary plot line. She used to but seems to have let that drop. As blah as Elizabeth Peters' Peabody series got(by book 20 or so), at least she had that skill.
I know that it seems harsh but I also know that Andrews can do better. She HAS done much better. So I don't think it's odd for me to have better expectations.
Also Andrews, as delightful as her tone is, might benefit by re-adopting a secondary plot line. She used to but seems to have let that drop. As blah as Elizabeth Peters' Peabody series got(by book 20 or so), at least she had that skill.
I know that it seems harsh but I also know that Andrews can do better. She HAS done much better. So I don't think it's odd for me to have better expectations.
July 25, 2012
If you've ever enjoyed an Evanovich, Stephanie Plum mystery you will absolutely love Donna Andrews and Meg Lanslow. It has all the eccentric characters (without being over the top)and all the zany situations (without the lack of realism and slapstick) and a mystery that is interesting. I love Meg and find myself thoroughly wrapped up in the plot. Always FUN, fairly light reading!!
March 24, 2020
Donna Andrews has written another in the humorous Meg Langslow mysteries. This one involves political intrigue, a hidden passageway, a loud Fourth of July, and her husband babysitting the twins most of the time!
January 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The ending was a little predictable, but it was still a very interesting read. I am going to see what else Donna Andrews wrote.
October 27, 2018
always entertaining, but a little bit goes a long way
October 24, 2022
I really love this series. The characters and plot are personable and down to earth. Great mystery and plot.
February 8, 2023
3.5 stars
Not my favorite in the series, but still well-done
Not my favorite in the series, but still well-done
January 26, 2025
So wacky and kooky I love it!!!
March 9, 2018
Another awesome Meg book. So things are progressing (good? bad?) in Caerphilly. The community is in a limbo/deadlock state. Public offices were kicked out of their buildings in town so are squatting in various other buildings throughout the county. But the town created Caerphilly Days, a summer festival in the town square to generate revenue. It's been turned into a tent community with a mayor's tent, police tent, various areas for displays and acts, and shows, food tents, vendor tents, etc. There are tons of tourists coming to see the strange town and their situation, so tourism is doing quite well. But the locals are doing their best to have the noisiest performances as possible, to hide the sound of the trap door.
So when everyone evacuated the building, one man refused to go. Phineas Throckmorton, the town clerk, holed up the basement of the courthouse and barricaded himself down there. What the evil corporation (and Pruett's) don't know, is there is a secret tunnel to the basement. So the citizens are able to provision Phineas to support his siege. The only problem is that the trap door is located under the grandstands and over the decades has warped so it's impossible to open without it screeching and making a ton of noise. So they have noisy events to cover it.
But then one of the evil lender's employees was shot and killed right in front of Phineas's barricade. The implication is that Phineas killed him. Meg's brother Rob was with Phineas for almost the entire time, but of course they can't say that or they will reveal the secret passage. So now they are rushing against the clock. If they don't find out who killed the woman ASAP, they may be forced to use force to remove Phineas to investigate properly for the crime.
So Meg does her thing where she listens and talks to people. She ultimately learns that the woman was killed because she learned that the ex-mayor may have forged papers signing over the town. These papers could hurt the evil lenders and the Pruitts. Meg had just about figured it out (with the help of a PI, Stanley Denton, who was hired by the evil lenders, but changed sides after he learned what was really going on). Meg and Phinny were captured, learned that the courthouse was rigged to explode, but Meg escaped and stopped them from setting off the bomb in time. (Hamish Pruitt and Mr Wilt (flying monkey/security guard) were guilty of the bomb. Hamish and Mr Fisher were guilty of doctoring the contract, also with George Pruitt (former mayor I believe). And Hamish killed the woman.
BTW, Jaime and Josh are now 18 months old. And during the loud events the Shiffley's were able to replace the trap door so it no longer makes noise when opened. Looking forward to see how this part of the story wraps up in the next book!
So when everyone evacuated the building, one man refused to go. Phineas Throckmorton, the town clerk, holed up the basement of the courthouse and barricaded himself down there. What the evil corporation (and Pruett's) don't know, is there is a secret tunnel to the basement. So the citizens are able to provision Phineas to support his siege. The only problem is that the trap door is located under the grandstands and over the decades has warped so it's impossible to open without it screeching and making a ton of noise. So they have noisy events to cover it.
But then one of the evil lender's employees was shot and killed right in front of Phineas's barricade. The implication is that Phineas killed him. Meg's brother Rob was with Phineas for almost the entire time, but of course they can't say that or they will reveal the secret passage. So now they are rushing against the clock. If they don't find out who killed the woman ASAP, they may be forced to use force to remove Phineas to investigate properly for the crime.
So Meg does her thing where she listens and talks to people. She ultimately learns that the woman was killed because she learned that the ex-mayor may have forged papers signing over the town. These papers could hurt the evil lenders and the Pruitts. Meg had just about figured it out (with the help of a PI, Stanley Denton, who was hired by the evil lenders, but changed sides after he learned what was really going on). Meg and Phinny were captured, learned that the courthouse was rigged to explode, but Meg escaped and stopped them from setting off the bomb in time. (Hamish Pruitt and Mr Wilt (flying monkey/security guard) were guilty of the bomb. Hamish and Mr Fisher were guilty of doctoring the contract, also with George Pruitt (former mayor I believe). And Hamish killed the woman.
BTW, Jaime and Josh are now 18 months old. And during the loud events the Shiffley's were able to replace the trap door so it no longer makes noise when opened. Looking forward to see how this part of the story wraps up in the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2018
Some Like It Hawk is a Meg Langslow book that didn't read like a Meg Langslow book. I usually expect more zaniness and less actual mystery and evil doing in this series, and usually that's the case. Sure, there's quite a bit of the evil part because there's a dead body, but it's not usually harped on. However, in this one, Meg and the Caerphilly townsfolk face off a truly evil corporation. There's also the lesser evil of the greedy Pruitts, and it turns out to be not so less after all.
The Caerphilly county lost its public buildings a year ago, and one member is the lone holdout. Phineas Throckmorton has locked himself up in the basement of the city hall and the Evil Lender wants him out. The townsfolk are keeping him in supplies by way of a secret tunnel and to keep from the Evil Lender and the eviler Pruitts from finding the tunnel, they've deviced a summer town program called Caerphilly days. It involves a lot of noise, and a lot of tourists. But there's a murder and it has been made to look like Mr. Throckmorton did it from his basement hideaway, and Meg has to find out who is responsible before the County ends up paying through their nose.
It's one of the more serious books I've read in this series. There aren't too many of Meg's extended family making an appearance, and very few animals. In fact, one of the first fits of giggles I had was when a dead people tracking vulture was a plot point. This was more than halfway into the book. But it's still fun, and watching Meg work is great. She's good at this, and everyone in Caerphilly, even the Chief, knows it. It's also kind of nice that these books progress in time, Meg isn't stuck, she's grown as a person. She is married, she has two kids who are grown noticeably from the last book, she has family watching these kids, they are factors in her decisions. Even her horrible dog has mellowed because of the kids. This is rare enough in cozies that I appreciate it even more when I do encounter it. Love this series.
The Caerphilly county lost its public buildings a year ago, and one member is the lone holdout. Phineas Throckmorton has locked himself up in the basement of the city hall and the Evil Lender wants him out. The townsfolk are keeping him in supplies by way of a secret tunnel and to keep from the Evil Lender and the eviler Pruitts from finding the tunnel, they've deviced a summer town program called Caerphilly days. It involves a lot of noise, and a lot of tourists. But there's a murder and it has been made to look like Mr. Throckmorton did it from his basement hideaway, and Meg has to find out who is responsible before the County ends up paying through their nose.
It's one of the more serious books I've read in this series. There aren't too many of Meg's extended family making an appearance, and very few animals. In fact, one of the first fits of giggles I had was when a dead people tracking vulture was a plot point. This was more than halfway into the book. But it's still fun, and watching Meg work is great. She's good at this, and everyone in Caerphilly, even the Chief, knows it. It's also kind of nice that these books progress in time, Meg isn't stuck, she's grown as a person. She is married, she has two kids who are grown noticeably from the last book, she has family watching these kids, they are factors in her decisions. Even her horrible dog has mellowed because of the kids. This is rare enough in cozies that I appreciate it even more when I do encounter it. Love this series.
January 18, 2015
Donna has developed an expertise with aviary references as well as a wonderful, flowing, entertaining narrative. And the story isn't half bad either! Another fun book devoured.
The miracle for me is that this story, like the others in the series, is overflowing with people. I admire her ability to come up with so many amusing and fictitious festival acts. She throws everything together into this huge salad of people and events and it comes out perfectly organized. I normally have trouble keeping the characters straight in highly-peopled stories. Donna keeps them all straight for me because, in part, they all have well-defined functions. None of the characters are what I tend to think of as doubles. Even her groups are well-defined and purposeful.
The miracle for me is that this story, like the others in the series, is overflowing with people. I admire her ability to come up with so many amusing and fictitious festival acts. She throws everything together into this huge salad of people and events and it comes out perfectly organized. I normally have trouble keeping the characters straight in highly-peopled stories. Donna keeps them all straight for me because, in part, they all have well-defined functions. None of the characters are what I tend to think of as doubles. Even her groups are well-defined and purposeful.
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