Probable Caws: A Meg Langslow Mystery

Meg Langslow #39

by Donna Andrews

Listeners will flock to New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews's next installment in the award-winning Meg Langslow series.

Meg has finally found time to get some blacksmithing done when a call from her dad interrupts her—can she come out to Ragnar’s right away to help with the horses? Their friend Ragnar Ragnarsen, who is gradually turning the enormous house on his nearby estate into an authentic moated castle, has agreed to shelter nearly fifty horses for Hoof and Hearth, an equine rescue organization that has lost access to the farm where the horses have been living. The owner of the farm recently died without leaving a will, and while his older son Abel would be happy to let the horses stay, younger brother George wants to sell to a developer . . . and is suspected of sending a thug to harm the horses as part of his efforts to evict Hoof and Hearth.

That night, while Meg and her family are camping at one of Ragnar’s barns, to keep an eye on the horses, they discover that the thug has been murdered. Unfortunately George is alibied . . . but his horse-loving brother Abel is not. Neither are the hot-tempered founder of Hoof and Hearth or the passionately protective ex-jockey who serves as its stablemaster. Meg juggles helping keep the horses safe and doing what she can to help the chief solve the thug’s murder . . . all the while hoping that the killer won’t turn out to be one of the dedicated horse rescuers she has come to like and respect.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Humor, Animals, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Donna 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...

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is #39 in the Meg Langslow cozy mystery series by Donna Andrews. The large cast of characters bring warmth, quirky antics and feel like friends. It draws you in immediately and keeps you engaged with plot twists & "laugh out loud" moments. I received an advanced copy of the book, but my review is honest and voluntary. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, the author and Netgalley.
The horse rescue "Hoof and Hearth" has suddenly lost access to the farm where the horses were living. Meg and company are helping to care for the horses. The horses are caught in a property dispute between two brothers, Abel and George. Abel thinks George is sending thugs to harm the horses. When a thug is murdered, Meg gets involved in the case. Meg works side by side with Chief Burke and his deputies. She's always careful not to overstep her boundaries into work that only the police should handle. This is one of my favorite things about Meg. She's a smart sleuth and doesn't make silly or air headed decisions. I think fans of this series will be happy with the case resolution. I sure loved the ending!

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say, "Where there's a will, there's a way," while quietly thinking, "Where there's a will, there's relatives." What if there's no will and the surviving progeny cannot agree on asset distribution?

Someone's been harassing the rescued horse's at the Abernathy Farm, part of the estate in question. Abel Abernathy feels certain that the harassment is of his brother George's making and that the horses need to be relocated until the estate is settled. All hands are on deck as horses descend upon Ragnarshjem, the gothic Virginia spread of Ragnar Ragnersen. Our plucky blacksmith Meg Langslow is on site to help and soon other family members report for duty. Storms rolled over the land that evening unsettling the horses and awakening Meg. Leave it to her to be first on scene of yet another puzzling death. Was it accidental or pure murder?

Ms. Andrews is brilliant in her character creation: featuring a strong yet compassionate female lead with a highly eccentric family and great secondary characters makes for amusing reading. Her world building of Ragnarshjem is wonder-filled with its gothic theme and limited color palette. The writing is solid and quite amusing at times. There's a lot of interesting information regarding equine care and of other fauna throughout the story. When readers ask me for recommendations for a cozy mystery series, hands-down, it is this one. If you enjoy cozies, then this book could well be one for you.

I am grateful to Ms. Andrews and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: August 4, 2026
Number of Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-1250407320w.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to SMP & NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a long-time fan of this series and am always impressed by the breadth of the topics covered in a little Virginia-based cozy series. This time, we are again at Ragnar Ragnarsen's compound, Ragnarshjem (I *think* I spelled that all correctly?). A horse rescue has unexpectedly had to house their horses in Ragnar's massive barns and other outbuildings after their regular spot has had issues: the farm owner is in a legal dispute with his nasty brother after their elderly father dies intestate, and it's suspected that the brother and his "assistant" (read: criminal heavy) have been messing with the horses in order to force them off the land.

Of course, most of Caerphilly comes to help, as there are several horses who have just come from a livestock auction, and it's clear that they have not been well-treated or well-fed. There is a large cast of characters (larger than usual, even), among them Abel, the farmer; George, his dastardly brother; Lefty, George's henchman; Helena, the head of the rescue; and Tomas, her helper. It's not long before Lefty is found in one of the barns with his skull stove in from a large, chained metal hook used for hauling bales of hay to the loft. He is very dead, but who is responsible? It's up to Chief Burke - and Meg - to find out.

If you are a horse girl, this is for you. I'm not, really, so for me this was not as entertaining as some of the previous instalments. It does feature crows as well as horses (hence the "Caws"), so that particular itch is scratched for me. There was markedly less Grandfather than usual (thank jeebus), but many regulars are missing (Mother! Randall makes a brief appearance but the action plays out over a weekend so Meg isn't at work).

3.5 stars rounded up

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment of the long-running Meg Langslow series finds our favorite blacksmith and amateur sleuth on the case of a dead body at her friend Ragnar's castle. Ragnar has agreed to temporarily house some horses from a rescue organization that has recently been forced to move hem from the farm where they have been staying due to conflict between two brothers over their father's estate. When someone ends up killed during the night, Meg must help find out what happened and hope to keep both horses and humans safe while doing so.

This book is full of the same wit and charm that fans have come to expect from this series. Meg is such a well-loved and well-developed character at this point that fans are always happy to read about her escapades, and this one is particularly interesting because of the setting. I love the books that feature Ragnar and his eccentric castle with its black-and-white color scheme, menagerie of eclectic animals, and endless descriptions of the food and amenities he has for his guests. We also get to read about a range of new characters in this one that add a bi of intrigue. There are, of course, appearances by some of our much-loved, familiar side characters as well; although, Meg's crazy family does not feature as heavily in this one as they do in some of the other books.

The only part I wasn't sure about was the ending. I'm not sure how believable or satisfying I found it. However, I also don't think it detracted from the overall enjoyment I got from reading this.

Bottom line: Read this series if you are a cozy mystery fan, if you enjoy quirky characters, or if you are simply looking for a light, fun read with many more books in the series for when you've finished this one.

[Topo Chicas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Andrews is the queen of quirky, hilarious, and cozy murder mysteries! The 39th in their Meg Langslow series, Probable Caws, is as outstanding of a read as her first! It felt like a few more hours getting to hang out with good friends, while trying to figure out whodunnit, and enjoying a good giggle while at it.

Meg and her family were accidentally embroiled in another murder mystery that was once again set in her town of Caerphilly, VA. This time, instead of being mainly involving just birds, we found rescued horses to be thrown into the mix that Meg and her family and friends were scrambling to care for.

I could not put this book down until I had read every word from cover to cover (as is the case with every book that Andrews has written). I love how Andrews allows for realistic character development to happen in the background of each of her novels, and it is all linear and reasonable (for example, Meg’s twins didn’t just magically go from birth to being in school, only to regress for the sake of a plot device needed in a book). And her characters are rather rounded out, even if a few are meant as foils to the main cast of characters. Yet, even with all of this, one could still read the books in this series as stand-alones, and there would be very little confusion.

The plot is helped along by hilarious hi-jinx committed by animals, and even Meg herself, and suddenly, this edition of the Meg Langslow series was over, and I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for this fabulous ARC!!

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably Caws is wonderful! Donna Andrews kept me hooked and laughing even though the book has more serious moments and issues than her books usually do. As always, this 39th book in the Meg Langslow Mysteries series, touched my heart as much as it tickled by funny bone. Meg is not a horse person, but when the call goes out that a big group of rescue horses are heading to Regnor's place, she and the boys, who are thrilled to get to spend extra time with horses, head over there ready to lend a hand. The condition of the newest rescues is heart breaking as you would expect, but the hard work and hopefulness of everyone there keeps a positive air that makes it possible to keep reading. There is, of course, a murder with too many suspects, some of whom Meg has to root for, and a couple of real twists at the end to prove once again that Donna Andrews is one of the queens of cozy mysteries.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Probable Caws: A Meg Langslow Mystery by Donna Andrews: I was so excited to get it. I can't wait to share my enjoyment of the newest Meg Langslow with my friends and followers.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #AMegLangslowMystery #DonnaAndrews #ProbableCaws #ProbableCawsAMegLangslowMystery

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probable Caws is the 39th installment in the Meg Langslow Mystery series by Donna Andrews. Meg’s friend Ragnar agrees to shelter nearly fifty horses from an equine rescue organization called Hoof and Hearth. The horses have been caught in a property dispute between two brothers. Abel believes that his brother George is sending thugs to harm the animals. Ragnar rallies his friends to help move and care for the horses on his property.

When one of George’s thugs is found murdered not far from where Meg and her family are camping, Meg is drawn into the investigation. This case proves especially difficult, as the prime suspects are people she respects for their efforts to protect the horses.

With nearly forty books in the series, there is a large cast of recurring characters. If some, such as members of Meg’s immediate family, are absent, the reader is still kept informed about their whereabouts. Another strength of the series is Meg herself; she is not one of those characters who makes foolish decisions just to move the plot along. Although she often finds herself in danger, it is usually because she is in the wrong place at the wrong time or because the villain fears she will uncover the truth. By then, she has typically already shared her conclusions with Chief Burke.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of the Meg Langslow series I always look forward to each new cozy mystery. Last week, I was delighted to receive access to an ARC from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.

I think this book was a return to form for Donna Andrews. There were enough memorable check-ins with the ever-widening cast of characters in Caerphilly, but fortunately for longtime readers, no newly introduced characters seem to be taking up permanent residence.

Now to some spoilers:
This is a traditional murder-mystery it does contain a nice and believable twist that is well-developed throughout the tale. While I was not surprised by the final conclusion, I did find it charming. I believe this will be a well-received resolution to the central case for fans of Meg Langslow and the counties rotating menagerie of animals.

On a side note, this book re-energized my interest in the series. I had been less engaged in some of the more recent entrants, but I feel like Andrews introduced an interesting thread in this book that I hope is picked up in future adventures.

[ElinorsBookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun title in the Meg Langslow cozy mystery series!

Meg and a number of people from the community are coming together to help a horse rescue operation. When Meg comes across a dead body in one of the barns, the future of the rescue is in danger. Was this a case of “wrong place wrong time,” or is there more going on that Meg and the police don’t know about.

One of the things I appreciate about this series is the great relationship Meg has with the local law enforcement. They have a lot of respect for each other and Meg doesn’t (usually) go behind their backs as she looks into the various mysteries.

I also enjoy the slightly random situations Meg and company find themselves in. In real life, the settings would seem completely ridiculous but totally works for this series! In this case, there are dozens of rescue horses who need a temporary home and find one at the monochromatic estate of an eccentric heavy metal drummer.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg gets called to help out with an influx of rescue horses at Ragnar's farm. Some of them are in poor health condition some are frightened of men and some are not very nice. To add to the chaos, there are some not so nice men who may be attempting to harm the animals. Because of this Meg, Michael and their boys decide to camp out near the barn of some of the healthier horses that still need to be quarantined. Later when she hears the horses and the crows making a fuss, she and Michael go into the barn and discover one of then not nice men on the ground dead from a head wound. Now Meg is compelled to search for answers.
I really liked this book, it was true to form a good mystery and involved our regular characters. We get suspense and humor which I've come to expect from Andrews' books. I'm not sure how believable the cast of animals are; I'm not a horse or crow person, but I really enjoyed the book.
Thanks to netgalley.com for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[M Steinbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probable Caws is the 39th Meg Langslow mystery! The thing I love most about this series is that the stories have never become stale or repetitive. Although we get to revisit favorite characters and settings, every story is original, mysterious and so funny! I love Meg’s kindhearted family and town and I am so happy every time I get to visit them. This time the setting is her friend Ragnar’s castle and she and her friends help rescue a lot of horses while they solve a murder. I really enjoyed the way Meg and her family came together to help and I absolutely loved the ending. It was a great ending to the mystery and a sweet ending for animal lovers. I highly recommend this book and this series. Thank you Donna Andrews for another wonderful book!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest in the Meg Langslow series. In our latest installment we see Meg and family work to protect horses displaced from their rescue preserve. It's nice to watch the boys grow up and become a part of the story as well. Of course Meg finds another dead body. Meg and company must work hard to find out who the real killer really is. And maybe deliver a colt in the process. Once again the community comes together to help a good cause and take care of the horses at Ragnar's home. There are a few humorous animal research projects conducted by Grandpa and the boys. Find out how the crows and horses Spooky and Trouble help save Meg from the bad guys. Pick up this newest book in the series you won't be disappointed.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Meg’s friend Roger asks her f or help with fifty abandon horses that has been rescued and are staying at a shelter. Owner recently died without a will leaving one son want to sell the horses to a developer and the other wants to keep them. One night while Meg and her family are camping as they keep an eye on the horses someone is murder. Unfortunately one brother has an alibi while the other does not. Did either one had something to do with the murder or is it just coincident? Meg will have to figure out what s really going on in this delightful horse cozy.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re an animal lover, this cozy mystery series has your name on it! Not only is Meg a compassionate neighbor, daughter, etc. she’s an animal lover and every single entry has some type of animal in it that brings a smile to your face as she embraces them and helps them, no matter what the problems are going on in the books.

This is a long running series and I’ve been reading it for quite a while. I started with a book further down the publication line and it read fine as a stand alone. Best part? You have a slew of books to go back and binge on afterwards.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, entertaining read that works as a standalone despite being the latest in a long-running series. Meg investigates a possible murder while helping an animal rescue operation. Regular readers of the series will welcome the return of many recurring characters. Meg doesn't really solve the mystery, instead the solution rather lands at her feet, but reading about her investigation of numerous clues and suspects is still fun. 3.5 stars so rounding up to four. Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Becky Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probable Caws by Donna Andrews #39 in the Meg Langslow mysteries and this time Meg and her family are involved in moving rescue horses from the farm they have been living on to Ragnar Ragnarsen's property. Of course all of Meg's relatives, friends and the surrounding community are involved. When a body is discovered, of course Meg is involved with finding out what has happened. This is another fun story with a lot of information about horses to absorb and wonderful characters. These books just keep getting better and better and are a real joy to look forward to and read.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sudden phone call turns Meg's life upside down.
Her father needs her help, they have to relocate rescue horses due to a family argument.
Meg helps as best as she can, but a dead body suddenly puts her in investigative mode.
Two brothers, one farm, and heated arguments are just part of the problems Meg encounters.

I have been reading this series for a while and each book teaches me something new.
I loved reading about the horses, and how smart most animals are.

[MAB LongBeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horse emergency at Ragnar's place brings Meg and her family out for the weekend to help. When a thug is found dead in the satellite barn at midnight in a terrible storm, Meg is first on the scene. Of course she can't help snooping. A solid entry in the series.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jane Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I’ve always been a fan of this series and this offering is one of the best. It included two of my favorite minor characters, Ragnar and Clarence. As Ragnar opens his property to a displaced horse rescue, Meg agrees to help out, along with Dad, Grandfather , Michael and the boys. Of course a murder happens. Loved the lovely rescue horses and of course the crows.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story, the animal rescue plot line was well done. And the murder, heh, very clever. This series is still going strong, 39 books in. And yes, you can jump in at any time. Certain elements and characters are more enjoyable if you've read previous books but the story holds up well as a stand-alone.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Probable Caws, by Donna Andrews, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book thirty-nine in A Meg Langslow series. Meg has another mystery to solve. Inheritances and greed can definitely change people, not usually for the better. This was a good mystery.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

39 books! Donna Andrews is a real favorite. That said, this wasn’t one of the stronger in the series. Meg and her family get roped into rescuing horses at Ragnar’s house. That’s fine, but the crow motif is kind of shoe-horned in. Personally, i think it’s time for Meg and Co. to go on a trip. Vow renewal? Anniversary? Caerphilly had gotten a little stale, as much as I love it.

[Susan Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun, especially if you are a horse lover. Once again Meg ends up getting involved in solving a murder and I never would have guessed the culprit.