What do you think?
Rate this book
Meg Langslow #28
The Gift of the Magpie
New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews returns with another Meg Langslow mystery written "firmly in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie's Christmas books" ( Toronto Globe and Mail ).
The 28th book and the seventh Christmas mystery in the Meg Langslow series, The Gift of the Magpie is yet another wonderfully merry and funny book from New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews.
Meg’s running Caerphilly’s Helping Hands for the Holidays project, in which neighbors help each other with things they can’t do and can’t afford to have done. Her hopes for a relatively peaceful (if busy) Christmas vanish when someone murders Harvey the Hoarder, whose house the Helping Hands were decluttering. Was there any truth to the rumor that he had something valuable hidden beneath all his junk? Was one of his friends, neighbors, or relatives greedy enough to murder him for the rumored treasure? And what about the magpie that has been bringing her family bits of tinsel and costume jewelry—does the bird’s latest gift hold a clue to solving the crime?
Full of intrigue, this Christmas mystery will take readers home to Caerphilly, where the suspense falls as thick as the snow.
The 28th book and the seventh Christmas mystery in the Meg Langslow series, The Gift of the Magpie is yet another wonderfully merry and funny book from New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews.
Meg’s running Caerphilly’s Helping Hands for the Holidays project, in which neighbors help each other with things they can’t do and can’t afford to have done. Her hopes for a relatively peaceful (if busy) Christmas vanish when someone murders Harvey the Hoarder, whose house the Helping Hands were decluttering. Was there any truth to the rumor that he had something valuable hidden beneath all his junk? Was one of his friends, neighbors, or relatives greedy enough to murder him for the rumored treasure? And what about the magpie that has been bringing her family bits of tinsel and costume jewelry—does the bird’s latest gift hold a clue to solving the crime?
Full of intrigue, this Christmas mystery will take readers home to Caerphilly, where the suspense falls as thick as the snow.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2020
436 people are currently reading
1059 people want to read
About the author
Donna Andrews
103 books2,113 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews
December 19, 2020
This has to be one of my favorite Meg langslow mysteries. Such an amazing plot.
August 30, 2024
This year at Christmas, the churches in Caerphilly, Virginia have started a Helping Hands for the Holidays charity event, and Meg is right in the thick of it, organizing and helping. One of their projects is helping Harvey the Hoarder declutter and fix up his house before the county is called to intervene. Day one goes pretty well, but when Meg shows up for the second day, she finds him lying in a pool of blood in the garage. Are the rumors of a treasure hidden in the house true? Did that get Harvey killed?
I always enjoy visiting Meg, and this book was no exception. The sub-plots involving her large family slow down the main mystery early on, but as a fan of the series and the characters, that’s a minor complaint. Once the mystery gets going, it is strong with several good suspects and twists before we reach the great climax. The sub-plots still weave in and out of the main mystery, and I really enjoyed them and the Christmas spirit they give us. I didn’t find this book quite as funny as some of the others, maybe because it left me contemplating which side of the hoarder or collector line I’m on. If you are looking for an entertaining mystery set at Christmas, there’s still time this year to cozy up to the fire and enjoy this mystery.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I always enjoy visiting Meg, and this book was no exception. The sub-plots involving her large family slow down the main mystery early on, but as a fan of the series and the characters, that’s a minor complaint. Once the mystery gets going, it is strong with several good suspects and twists before we reach the great climax. The sub-plots still weave in and out of the main mystery, and I really enjoyed them and the Christmas spirit they give us. I didn’t find this book quite as funny as some of the others, maybe because it left me contemplating which side of the hoarder or collector line I’m on. If you are looking for an entertaining mystery set at Christmas, there’s still time this year to cozy up to the fire and enjoy this mystery.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 9, 2020
Okay, this may be my shortest review of a Meg Langslow book ever.
Why is that, you ask? I will tell you...
IF I write a typical review, I will give it all away and if I write a edited review, I will give enough away, that you would not be able to enjoy all the joys that come from reading this book with absolutely NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of the plot and if you are tempted to read reviews or blurbs, please let me suggest you don't. This one is best enjoyed going in blind. It is a beautiful story, full of fun and sorrow, topics that are difficult, but are handled with grace and caring [and we ALL should learn from how this imaginary community handles itself when presented with a difficulty that is extremely hard to deal with ]. I loved the whole book and just thought it was really well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Why is that, you ask? I will tell you...
IF I write a typical review, I will give it all away and if I write a edited review, I will give enough away, that you would not be able to enjoy all the joys that come from reading this book with absolutely NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of the plot and if you are tempted to read reviews or blurbs, please let me suggest you don't. This one is best enjoyed going in blind. It is a beautiful story, full of fun and sorrow, topics that are difficult, but are handled with grace and caring [and we ALL should learn from how this imaginary community handles itself when presented with a difficulty that is extremely hard to deal with ]. I loved the whole book and just thought it was really well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
*3.5 stars. Another amusing cozy mystery set at Christmas time; these books are fun, relaxing reads, perfect for the busy holiday season.
If you know Meg Langslow at all from this series, you know she's terribly organized and keeps a little notebook of jobs she has to tackle. This year she is involved with a church group called Helping Hands for the Holidays which is taking on projects for the needy in the community. They have a big job on their hands though when they begin tackling a hoarder's house. The man, Harvey Dunlop, has agreed to let them box up his 'stuff' and move it out so workers can make repairs on his ramshackle house.
Even Harvey seems cheerful when they drop him back at his house at the end of a long day of packing and moving. But when the volunteers return the next morning, they find him with his head bashed in. Who would want to harm the man?
There's a lot going on in the Langslow family, including a house full of visiting relatives, but somehow Meg seems able to keep it all running smoothly while still finding time to sort through Harvey's stuff AND investigate this crime. It all comes together nicely with an exciting conclusion. The focus on hoarding is cringe-worthy, sure to make the reader want to tackle their own messy basement. HA!
I received an arc of this cozy holiday mystery from the publisher via netGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
If you know Meg Langslow at all from this series, you know she's terribly organized and keeps a little notebook of jobs she has to tackle. This year she is involved with a church group called Helping Hands for the Holidays which is taking on projects for the needy in the community. They have a big job on their hands though when they begin tackling a hoarder's house. The man, Harvey Dunlop, has agreed to let them box up his 'stuff' and move it out so workers can make repairs on his ramshackle house.
Even Harvey seems cheerful when they drop him back at his house at the end of a long day of packing and moving. But when the volunteers return the next morning, they find him with his head bashed in. Who would want to harm the man?
There's a lot going on in the Langslow family, including a house full of visiting relatives, but somehow Meg seems able to keep it all running smoothly while still finding time to sort through Harvey's stuff AND investigate this crime. It all comes together nicely with an exciting conclusion. The focus on hoarding is cringe-worthy, sure to make the reader want to tackle their own messy basement. HA!
I received an arc of this cozy holiday mystery from the publisher via netGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
October 5, 2025
Sixth read through and I am just as charmed. (Make that fourth read through -- revisiting Meg and company's Christmas festivities each year has become a tradition. Thrilled that there are so many Christmas books in the series!
-----
Love, love, love Meg Langslow and her quirky clan! And I love listening to Bernadette Dunne's narration. This is the 28th book in the series and I've listened to them all -- some more than once. And the Christmas books are extra special because they embrace the heart of the season even in the midst of murder and mayhem. I am sooooooo happy because I discovered that there's going to be a 29th book coming out in the new year. :-)
-----
Love, love, love Meg Langslow and her quirky clan! And I love listening to Bernadette Dunne's narration. This is the 28th book in the series and I've listened to them all -- some more than once. And the Christmas books are extra special because they embrace the heart of the season even in the midst of murder and mayhem. I am sooooooo happy because I discovered that there's going to be a 29th book coming out in the new year. :-)
October 24, 2020
Good one! I'm thinking I may reread this entire series one of these days soon. I've kind of forgotten what Meg was like in the beginning (before marriage and children).
December 20, 2024
Meg Langslow is running Caephilly’s Helping Hands for the Holidays program where neighbours help out with things people can’t do for themselves. Meg hopes for a peaceful Christmas helping Harvey sort out his issue with hoarding since neighbours and relatives have been complaining. And of course, there is a rumour that’s Harvey had something valuable hidden beneath all his junk? As Meg and her team are declutterring the house aiming to fix it up, a murder occurs.
And what is the story with the magpie that has been bringing Meg’s family little gifts of tinsel, costume jewellery. Does the latest gift from the magpie hold a clue to solving the murder?
This is book 28 and the 7th Christmas themed mystery in the Meg Langslow series. I have read several others in this series. They are always fun. This is no exception. It is not necessary to have read earlier book before diving into this one as it stands alone fine.
It was light, amusing and filled with interesting characters, many of them likable, others decidedly not. There is the murder and a hidden treasure mystery as the days count down towards Christmas. Although I admit there was one character who didn’t really seem to need to be in the book, I thought. Anyway, several suspects might keep readers guessing as well as the motive for the murder at that particular time.
A fun Christmas themed read.
And what is the story with the magpie that has been bringing Meg’s family little gifts of tinsel, costume jewellery. Does the latest gift from the magpie hold a clue to solving the murder?
This is book 28 and the 7th Christmas themed mystery in the Meg Langslow series. I have read several others in this series. They are always fun. This is no exception. It is not necessary to have read earlier book before diving into this one as it stands alone fine.
It was light, amusing and filled with interesting characters, many of them likable, others decidedly not. There is the murder and a hidden treasure mystery as the days count down towards Christmas. Although I admit there was one character who didn’t really seem to need to be in the book, I thought. Anyway, several suspects might keep readers guessing as well as the motive for the murder at that particular time.
A fun Christmas themed read.
September 3, 2020
Christmas in Caerphilly is always a spectacular event and in The Gift of the Magpie, it's even more - this year includes - murder, burglary, guard dogs, delicious food and a clash of the titans when Grandfather and Rose Noire each claim a flock of runaway Magpies! When the Helping Hands for the Holidays group, headed by Meg Lanslow, tackles the assignment of helping Harvey the Hoarder clean out his home, little does anyone know it will lead to murder!
The was my favorite of the Christmas books. The mystery, humor and interactions of family at holiday time was right on target. If I wasn't laughing, I was touched by the loving spirit of the book. It's the perfect cozy mystery for the holidays. I enjoyed seeing the twins growing up, the inclusion of Rob and Delaney and other family members in the series and it wouldn't be a Lanslow adventure without Spike and Tinkerbell!
It's a perfect Christmas present for yourself and other cozy mystery lovers!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The was my favorite of the Christmas books. The mystery, humor and interactions of family at holiday time was right on target. If I wasn't laughing, I was touched by the loving spirit of the book. It's the perfect cozy mystery for the holidays. I enjoyed seeing the twins growing up, the inclusion of Rob and Delaney and other family members in the series and it wouldn't be a Lanslow adventure without Spike and Tinkerbell!
It's a perfect Christmas present for yourself and other cozy mystery lovers!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 8, 2021
My interest wandered at times but overall a good story. I did get frustrated at how judgmental Meg was about hoarding. It is a difficult topic to understand and I get why people are so quick to judge and slow to have compassion but it made me think less of Meg. She did at least do some research, which I appreciated. The mystery itself did keep me guessing and the little history about banks that failed during the Depression was interesting. There was no character growth or development; Rose Noir, for one, has barely changed in 28 books. Meg and her brother Rob have changed the most but there was no growth in this book. A good story but not a must read.
December 6, 2024
Listened to audiobook. This series is so fun. The mystery/murder is not gory or gratuitous. To me, the best part of the books is the whole universe of characters and locales that have been built to carry the mystery along.
December 2, 2020
The magpies--escaped from Meg's grandfather's zoo--really have very little to do with the plot, and the ominous gift they give, first to Rose Noire and then to Meg herself, has no relevance at all. Still, Meg and the usual suspects are back preparing for Christmas. It's a miracle that the stores and businesses in Caerphilly stay in business at all, since everyone is willing to donate time, goods and money to worthy causes like Helping Hands for the Holidays, organized by Meg, of course. As they try to help the man known as Harvey the Hoarder, they come to feel affection for him, and are doubly stunned when he is murdered. Is the killer found among his hateful neighbors, his on-line girlfriend, who arrives with a spurious will, or his own unpleasant (second) cousins? The police chief will find out, and if he doesn't, Meg will!
June 12, 2023
It was really nice to visit in Caerphilly, it's kinda like visiting old friends and family. Ms. Andrews did it again, and I loved the respectful way that the Hoarder in the story was handled. It was a fun read and an entertaining mystery!
December 5, 2020
Dear book,
It’s not you - it’s me.
Maybe I’m not a cozy mystery fan...
Sincerely,
Carol @on_a_sandbar
It’s not you - it’s me.
Maybe I’m not a cozy mystery fan...
Sincerely,
Carol @on_a_sandbar
January 1, 2022
I usually don't go for cozy mysteries, but I enjoy this series in small doses. The titles all refer to birds and this one is particularly clever. This installment focuses on a local group Helping Hands for the Holidays project that is helping g Caerphilly residents, especially senior citizens, with things they need help with, particularly around their homes. Harvey the Hoarder is someone whose neighbors are constantly complaining about the condition of his house and yard. Meg Langslow heads the clean up effort, and suspects there is more to this hoarder and his piles than just ordinary hoarding.
An effortless read/listen with enough interesting characters to keep me engaged.
3.5 stars keeping in mind that 3 stars is "Good".
An effortless read/listen with enough interesting characters to keep me engaged.
3.5 stars keeping in mind that 3 stars is "Good".
December 6, 2021
This is a cute, light Christmas cozy mystery. It is perfect for this time of year and if you are a cozy mystery fan I would say give this a read. If not, this is treading familiar ground. There are a lot of elements I hate - like mundane details I feel are unnecessary. Internal dialogue about how the protagonist dropped so-an-so off at the front of church then tried to find a decent parking space. Several paragraphs about quilting, I might have zoned out. "It was 8 o'clock, well actually it was 7:59, but close enough. I approached the steps to the house." I love this kind of daily mundanity in Hallmark movies but they don't translate well for me in books.
There were things I loved, in particular the compassionate way they handled discussions of hoarding. It didn't go terribly in depth, but attempted to humanize people who deal with hoarding tendencies. I was also elated with the ending of the book! Good things happen to good people in a cozy mystery, you can always count on that!
There were things I loved, in particular the compassionate way they handled discussions of hoarding. It didn't go terribly in depth, but attempted to humanize people who deal with hoarding tendencies. I was also elated with the ending of the book! Good things happen to good people in a cozy mystery, you can always count on that!
August 10, 2021
While I normally love this entire series, this one didn't provide me the literal laughing out loud moment I look forward to at least once per book.
Also, the dogs saving Meg's ass (again) from bad guys with a gun as a finale is getting old, and whodunnit was not surprising.
Even the antics of Meg's ridiculous family felt a little too predictable at this point. Not sure if I need to move on to a new series b/c this one has become formulaic or this one particular book was just not as good as some of the others.
Also, the dogs saving Meg's ass (again) from bad guys with a gun as a finale is getting old, and whodunnit was not surprising.
Even the antics of Meg's ridiculous family felt a little too predictable at this point. Not sure if I need to move on to a new series b/c this one has become formulaic or this one particular book was just not as good as some of the others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2020
Despite not having read any of the earlier books, this series was easy to jump into. I really enjoyed the storyline with the hoarder and the Helping Hands charity, although it takes a long time to get to the mystery, but I enjoyed getting there. I was also super happy with the ending and the surprise reveal. The culprit of the crime was fairly obvious, but Andrews does a great job of muddying the water and pointing out other suspects.
December 20, 2020
The unflappable Meg Lanslow is one of my favourite characters in cozy fiction. Whatever the problem, Meg can handle it will cool, calm efficiency.
Meg's twins are now pre-teens, and as delightful and thoughtful as any kids you would ever meet that age. When the church starts an organization called Helping Hands, the boys are quick to pitch in and help clear the clutter in the home of Harvey the Hoarder.
More about Helping Hands: you do not have to be short of money, you only need to need a little help. Whatever the problem, and seemingly whatever the cost, this group will take it on. Need a lightbulb in a high place replaced, the group will send it someone to replace it at no cost, need help finishing a quilt started by your grandmother, no problem, there are lots of sewers in the area. Need fertilizer for your rose garden? Meg has llamas, grandfather has a zoo that can supply plenty of exotic and organic dung.
Harvey the Hoarder presents the biggest challenge. He is a sweet and gentle man who is not popular with either his neighbours or his only family - three praying mantis resembling cousins. There is also a woman from his online hoarding forum who later claims that she will inherit the estate. Harvey hesitantly allows the HH to move his things to a former furniture factory while they completely renovate his home, down to the ceiling and floorboards. When there is concern about people who seem far too interested in his house, HH considers that they should install a security system. Where is all this money coming from? Only days before Christmas, everyone in town has the time to provide free labour to help out.
This is a magical town where most people are incredibly nice and kind, except for the occasional curmudgeonly murderer. It is fun to watch Meg's large, quirky family in action. There are always interesting events happening in the small town of Caerphilly.
Unfortunately, Harvey the Hoarder is bashed in his own garage with an antique spittoon and the town mourns his death before he even got the chance to enjoy his renovated and clutter cleared home. Was there something of value buried in all the mess? Maybe his death had something to do with the fact the his family once owned a local bank that was closed during the depression. Virginians have long memories, and perhaps someone resented the family for having lost all their money.
Anyway, this is a Meg Lanslow Christmas story and you are sure to be happy with the ending.
Meg's twins are now pre-teens, and as delightful and thoughtful as any kids you would ever meet that age. When the church starts an organization called Helping Hands, the boys are quick to pitch in and help clear the clutter in the home of Harvey the Hoarder.
More about Helping Hands: you do not have to be short of money, you only need to need a little help. Whatever the problem, and seemingly whatever the cost, this group will take it on. Need a lightbulb in a high place replaced, the group will send it someone to replace it at no cost, need help finishing a quilt started by your grandmother, no problem, there are lots of sewers in the area. Need fertilizer for your rose garden? Meg has llamas, grandfather has a zoo that can supply plenty of exotic and organic dung.
Harvey the Hoarder presents the biggest challenge. He is a sweet and gentle man who is not popular with either his neighbours or his only family - three praying mantis resembling cousins. There is also a woman from his online hoarding forum who later claims that she will inherit the estate. Harvey hesitantly allows the HH to move his things to a former furniture factory while they completely renovate his home, down to the ceiling and floorboards. When there is concern about people who seem far too interested in his house, HH considers that they should install a security system. Where is all this money coming from? Only days before Christmas, everyone in town has the time to provide free labour to help out.
This is a magical town where most people are incredibly nice and kind, except for the occasional curmudgeonly murderer. It is fun to watch Meg's large, quirky family in action. There are always interesting events happening in the small town of Caerphilly.
Unfortunately, Harvey the Hoarder is bashed in his own garage with an antique spittoon and the town mourns his death before he even got the chance to enjoy his renovated and clutter cleared home. Was there something of value buried in all the mess? Maybe his death had something to do with the fact the his family once owned a local bank that was closed during the depression. Virginians have long memories, and perhaps someone resented the family for having lost all their money.
Anyway, this is a Meg Lanslow Christmas story and you are sure to be happy with the ending.
January 1, 2022
This is a very cozy mystery series. The characters are all pretty likable. Set in a small town in Virginia, the townspeople are quirky but mostly good-hearted.
I would recommend this series to someone who wants a fun, light mystery that doesn't get too intense. Meg, the main character, is a professional blacksmith by trade and the hyper-competent busybody who helps everyone else. It's best to read the series in order as Meg's life progresses: she meets her husband in book 1, they marry, they have kids in later books, long-lost relatives are found, etc. The cast of characters grows throughout the series. Each could technically stand alone but they are a continuous tale of the woman who manages to find every dead body in town and solve every murder before the Chief of Police does.
This book is a bit of a departure from the formula I've come to expect from these. Generally they start and Andrews introduces a new character, an unpleasant person who would be anyone's choice of victim if a victim must be found. This book's victim initially appears to fit the profile, but turns out to be a nice person, someone the reader cares about by the time of the attack. And the Meg-in-peril scene that always shows up about 50 pages from the end seems somewhat less perilous this time.
This book concentrates a lot on the victim and his surroundings and gives more time to the townspeople in general (in the form of the Helping Hands) so we see a little less focus on Meg's whacky family. It's still a nice, pleasant read for a winter's night. One of the things I enjoy about this series is that while it humorously pokes fun at some characters, it never is mean-spirited. There is always love there, and that's something we can all use more of.
I would recommend this series to someone who wants a fun, light mystery that doesn't get too intense. Meg, the main character, is a professional blacksmith by trade and the hyper-competent busybody who helps everyone else. It's best to read the series in order as Meg's life progresses: she meets her husband in book 1, they marry, they have kids in later books, long-lost relatives are found, etc. The cast of characters grows throughout the series. Each could technically stand alone but they are a continuous tale of the woman who manages to find every dead body in town and solve every murder before the Chief of Police does.
This book is a bit of a departure from the formula I've come to expect from these. Generally they start and Andrews introduces a new character, an unpleasant person who would be anyone's choice of victim if a victim must be found. This book's victim initially appears to fit the profile, but turns out to be a nice person, someone the reader cares about by the time of the attack. And the Meg-in-peril scene that always shows up about 50 pages from the end seems somewhat less perilous this time.
This book concentrates a lot on the victim and his surroundings and gives more time to the townspeople in general (in the form of the Helping Hands) so we see a little less focus on Meg's whacky family. It's still a nice, pleasant read for a winter's night. One of the things I enjoy about this series is that while it humorously pokes fun at some characters, it never is mean-spirited. There is always love there, and that's something we can all use more of.
May 22, 2021
Meg is running Helping Hands projects for the holidays, helping those less fortunate, with odd jobs that they need help with.
Mr Dunlop, is a self admitted hoarder, but, it seems to Meg that the problems is an inherited issue of his fathers. Back in the hay day, Mr Dunlops family owned a bank and it was shut down by the government.
So Helping Hands decides to assist in the decluttering of his home, by moving everything to an empty furniture store that Randall has purchased. His cousins insist that his famiy and Harvey have been hiding the money that belonged to everyone else.
Meg finds Harvey in the garage the day after they start the decluttering of the house and he is rushed to hospital with an attempt to save him.
Harvey*s three cousins are all hovering like vultures, both his next door neighbors are also hovering, and suddenly a young woman has shown up stating that Harvey has willed his estate to her.
Meg has plenty of suspects and catches four of them in one night, all trying to break in and endanger her life to boot.
A great story and page turner.
Mr Dunlop, is a self admitted hoarder, but, it seems to Meg that the problems is an inherited issue of his fathers. Back in the hay day, Mr Dunlops family owned a bank and it was shut down by the government.
So Helping Hands decides to assist in the decluttering of his home, by moving everything to an empty furniture store that Randall has purchased. His cousins insist that his famiy and Harvey have been hiding the money that belonged to everyone else.
Meg finds Harvey in the garage the day after they start the decluttering of the house and he is rushed to hospital with an attempt to save him.
Harvey*s three cousins are all hovering like vultures, both his next door neighbors are also hovering, and suddenly a young woman has shown up stating that Harvey has willed his estate to her.
Meg has plenty of suspects and catches four of them in one night, all trying to break in and endanger her life to boot.
A great story and page turner.
March 2, 2021
Meg has got her hands full this Christmas (when does't she?). In addition to all the relatives in town, she's wrangling the Helping Hands project. Anyone who has a project that needs doing can ask for their help. There's the little old lady who has a quilt she wants finished, the family who needs a ramp for the wheelchair bound mother-in-law who's coming to stay with them, the lady who needs her roses manured and the hermit whose hoarding clutter is causing problems with his family and neighbors. Meg, as usual, rises to the occasion. And when the hermit is assaulted, she's on the mystery as usual with help from her ME father, her conservationist grandfather, and all the other family members and friends in Caerphilly. I love the humor in Ms. Andrews' Meg Langslow series and her strong blacksmith heroine. Highly recommended.
December 1, 2020
I am currently a hoarder (mostly books) .. had to 5 star this one.
Meg Langslow you exhausted me in this one
.. wow! I admire your energy and accomplishments.
All my favorite characters were here and there are LOTS in this delightful Christmas tale.
And all the animals were great .. loved the magpie sub-theme and the dogs.
Write on DA ! and thank you for these great bird-titled, humorous mysteries.
Meg Langslow you exhausted me in this one
.. wow! I admire your energy and accomplishments.
All my favorite characters were here and there are LOTS in this delightful Christmas tale.
And all the animals were great .. loved the magpie sub-theme and the dogs.
Write on DA ! and thank you for these great bird-titled, humorous mysteries.
January 6, 2025
These characters though! 😂😂 WILD. I definitely enjoyed coming across this author and these holiday books because these people had me captivated.
The FMC, she had the patience of a saint cuz let me tell you. If it were me? I would have tapped out long ago. 🤦🏽♀️ Some people are just exhausting!
As for the mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed it and some of the bits of history that I learned about. 😍 This is a fun series full of very normal humans and intriguing mysteries. 😃
The FMC, she had the patience of a saint cuz let me tell you. If it were me? I would have tapped out long ago. 🤦🏽♀️ Some people are just exhausting!
As for the mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed it and some of the bits of history that I learned about. 😍 This is a fun series full of very normal humans and intriguing mysteries. 😃
September 8, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book in the series. Things have mellowed in the family, although strange things still go on. The mystery was entertaining and a lot of good feelings going on since the book takes place at Christmas.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2020
Have yourself a merry magpie! Magpies are not too involved in this story. But Helping Hands have a task to help a hoarder. Meg and her horde at times reminds me of reading an adult version of a Richard Scary book. So much always going on! Who would want to kill Harvey the hoarder?
I just loved the ending!
I just loved the ending!
November 26, 2022
I’d actually give this one a 2.5 a bit better than the last cozy Christmas mystery I read. I mean these books are written where everything is just too perfect and to me it makes it unrealistic. So, I get it…it’s me, not you. Cozy Christmas mysteries are just not for me.
January 21, 2024
Another fantastic book from Donna Andrews. Sometimes I feel like Meg is reading my mind! She says what I was thinking! The author shines a light on how we can help and support each other without being judgemental. Bravo!
December 26, 2020
The funniest one in this series to date.
July 25, 2021
I don't know why but I'm enjoying the Meg Lanslow series more and more these days. I loved the atmosphere, humour and characters in this book, in particular. My heart went out to the hoarder in the story. The twist at the end of the book was perfect, as well. All in all, a very well written cozy mystery!
December 19, 2021
Adorable. I really enjoyed this installment and now will plan to add this series to my TBR listing. Though I wish the publisher would do a better job of final edits. At least 5-6 places where words were omitted or out of sync. Nice way to deal with the issue of hoarding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews