Probable Caws

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, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Animals

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!

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Probable Caws (A Meg Langslow Mystery #39)" by Donna Andrews takes place exclusively on Ragnar Ragnarsen sprawling gothic estate. He is fostering a very large herd of rescue horses and basically houses the whole town to help get them settled in and protected. Their previous foster had to move them quickly when his brother threatened legal action over a unclear inheritance situation.

Meg is on sight to help anywhere she can. She mostly seems to be in the right place at the right time to help investigate a mysterious death that happens in one of the barns. The outcome being not quite expected.

[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.

[S Mille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg has her morning planned almost planned out: she’s got her forge warming up and debating between making a candelabrum (as requested by her mother) and gargoyles (for Ragnar, the wealthy former heavy metal drummer with Goth sensibilities). Then her father calls, and she reluctantly shuts off the forge.

A horse rescue group, Hoof and Hearth, are having to relocate to Ragnar’s farm, and they need help (including some from Meg and her family) to get the horses settled. They had been using the pastures and barn at the Abernathy farm; unfortunately Mr. Abernathy senior who was in his 90s, recently passed away without a will meaning that ownership should be divided between his two sons. His older son Abel, had been working the farm and wanted to allow Hoof and Hearth to remain, but the younger son George wants to sell his half. In addition to legal issues, there’s been some acts of vandalism at the farm, leading Abel to conclude that the horses are no longer safe at the Abernathy farm.

In the middle of moving in, however, George and an 'associate' show up to ‘discuss the lawsuit’ with his brother. He’s shoed off back to his RV that’s parked in front of the New Life Baptist Church. Because of the implied threat from George, Meg and her husband Michael are camping near one of the barns with the boys (their twins Jamie and Josh and their buddy Adam) at the other end of the pasture. Meg’s rudely awaken in the middle of the night, first by a loud crack of lightening, then by the horses and crows (who like hanging out in the barn). She goes dashing off to see what’s wrong, only to find a body wearing the mustard colored windbreaker George was earlier.

So who dunnit? The good guys (as Meg thinks of the Hoof and Hearth people) Abel, Hannah, and Tomas don’t have alibis (but excellent motives) while the bad guys have a solid alibi in the form of Deputy Sammy who was checking on the illegally parked RV.

First, I’m a HUGE fan of Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow series. I think I’ve read every book at least twice, and a few more then that. I think Ms. Andrews would have to bump off Spike for me to not a like a book.

Having said that, this is one of my favorites! I loved the horses - Trouble and Spooky stole the show. Throw in Ragnar and the fact we almost get see Meg actually doing some blacksmithing makes this a total winner in my book. One reason I really enjoy this series is the sense of community and everyone jumps in to help with there’s a problem. I like the relationship Meg has with the chief - it’s a bit unique in that they’re just friends, although they’ve become closer as Meg’s twins and chief’s grandson Adam are good friends. And like many of the books in the series, there are a lot of characters, but I think Ms. Andrews does a good job of introducing them without out getting bogged down in details.


Highly recommended - along with the rest of the series. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

[Carol Blunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 I began reading this series back in the late 90s at its beginning and continued to read new releases for a number of years. However, I haven’t kept up with the series so when I saw this 39th installent available on NetGalley as an Advanced Listener Copy, I applied for it and was granted access in exchange for a review.
The characters are much the same as I remember them. This one was a little disappointing because some of the main characters were totally off page. The MC and her mother and grandmother exchange photos and videos by text but that’s it for them. She also did very little of her blacksmithing. There were references to it but almost no time spent in that activity. One thing I like about this series is that while she is nosy and asks some questions, it’s always a situation where she is then immediately informing the police about what she’s learned. She ends up in harm’s way in every book but it’s more a matter of timing rather than stupid decision. I’ve kind of been turned off on cozy mysteries because of the stupid decisions the characters frequently make but that doesn’t happen much with Meg. As a person who isn’t really into animals or especially horses, I’m sure I didn’t vibe with the situations here as much as someone else might. The writing is fina, although I found the chapter breaks were a little annoying since they frequently happen mid conversation. I also started rolling my eyes at the amount of times she used the word organic in describing all the food, even the horse treats. The ending was a bit weak but went along with some of the somewhat unbelievable ideas she’s set up throughout the novel.
My biggest irritation was with the narrator Meg has twins in junior high. If my memory serves, she wasn’t particularly old when she had them, so maybe mid-40s in age in this book. The first person narrator is done by a woman who sounds at least 60, with a gravelly voice. It just totally doesn’t fit the age of the main character. She does different voices for the various characters. It’s okay for some of them but she sounds like a weird old cartoon man for any of the older men. Every time I restarted the audio after a pause i had to get over the narration. I ended up speeding it WAY up to get through it. I didn’t mind the story but the narrator–Ugh. It’s weird too, because I usually like narrators from Macmillan Audio but this was a total miss. I also went to Audible and looked up the first book in the series, which is also narrated by this woman, and review after review said the same thing I’m saying here, yet they apparently ignored all reviews and stuck with the same person for book after book. It really lowered the whole experience.

[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.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Probable Caws
Author: Donna Anderson
Series: Meg Langslow Book #39
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
Publisher: Macmillan Audio-Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: August 4, 2026
My Rating: 4.4 Fun Stars
Pages 304


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?

Someone's been harassing the rescued horses at the Abernathy Farm. Abel Abernathy feels certain that his brother George is causing the harassment. The horses need to be relocated until the estate is settled. Ragnar Ragnarsen agrees to shelter nearly fifty horses for Hoof and Hearth, at his gothic Virginia estate aka castle. He has a theme of black- wears black and his own beautiful horse are you guessed it – black!

Meg and her twin sons get involved in helping Ragnar with Abel’s rescue horses. Of course, one dark and stormy night Meg finds someone dead in the barn!
The murder and other things are solved. Whodunit was a surprised but not a shock!

Although this is #39 in this series, I have not read even half of the books in this series but enough to get to know Meg and of course, love her, her family as well as her quirky friends.
I am always ready to go on the next one!

Donna Anderson uses a bird theme in her titles - such as Murder with Peacocks, Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos, Owls Well that Ends Well, Stork Raving Mad and #35 Between the Flock and a Hard Place.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/Minotaur Books for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 4, 2026.

[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!!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Andews' Probable Caws is another absolutely brilliant installment of the Meg Langslow Mystery Series. The book follows Meg as she helps rescue horses from a charitable organization. While taking care of them overnight she finds the dead body of someone who might have been there to cause them harm. There are many suspects and it is hard to find their alibis but she is tasked with helping the police with any clues she might uncover.

Anyone who knows me knows this is my favorite cozy mystery series so it is so nice to visit these characters again. I am always amazed at how Donna Andrews is able to weave these intricate and entertaining stories that are always heading somewhere. The ending on this one made me laugh a lot but it threw variety to the cozy mystery standard ending.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to find a nice cozy space in this chaotic world. If you want an uplifting and sweet mystery this one might be for you. While this is 39 in the series, I believe it is quite easy to read it as a standalone because the author does a great job at immersing you in the story. I also think that if you love an audiobook this one is absolutely perfect! The narrator does such a great job to bring the characters to life, I highly recommend immersive reading this book if you can.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Donna Andrews for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 39th Meg Langslow mystery begins with a phone call. Meg's father calls her to come to Ragnar's to help with the horses. When she arrives, she learns that Ragnar has volunteered to help Hoof and Hearth house their rescue horses. Abel Abernathy has been hosting them on his farm but his father recently passed away without a will and now the farm belongs to both Abel and his brother George. George wants the horses gone and the farm sold to developers.

Abel fears that his brother might do harm to the horses and wants them safe until the inheritance can be settled. The founder of the rescue is upset and testy because of it. She's more likely to be alienating donors than finding new ones.

When a man is found dead in one of the horse barns, at first it looks like it is George. It turns out the be George's chief henchman instead. It would be good if the killer turned out to be George, but he's alibied. Unfortunately, neither Abel nor the rescue founder have alibis.

This was another excellent episode in the series. There are lots of humorous moments including Meg's grandfather deciding to paint patterns on some of the wildlife to see if the patterns discourage flies. Meg's twins get into decorating the animals. Then there is the horse who is excellent at opening gates and untying knots. There are some heartbreaking moments too as the abused horses are described.

Fans of the series will enjoy this latest episode.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow series, I excitedly picked up this read and set aside all other obligations for a few hours. Meg, as always, is caught in the middle of a chaotic and emergent situation when 50 rescue horses are relocated to Ragnar’s property, the perfect place for this temporary solution with his expansive land and heart. Meg is rather lost and out of her element due to her very limited knowledge of horses, which was ideal for me as her learning tempered what would surely have been too much confusion for me. Of course, when she inevitably stumbles across a dead body, Meg finds herself in the center of the various aspects of the investigation using her unique skills to pull together the right combination of relatives and townspeople. Lots of new quirky characters join the host of those who are regulars in this series, and always relevant birds (in this book crows and swans) and Meg’s twins provide comic relief along with serving as catalysts for key events. The only reason I did not give this one five stars is that Meg was in her own head too much this time around and it got a little boring at parts for me. I still love her, and she will always be one of my go-to main characters.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this cozy mystery for horse lovers.

[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.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probable Caws is the 39th book in the Meg Langslow mystery series. In this book Meg, her family and friends are called out to Ragnar's castle to assist with a major horse rescue effort. Shady characters abound and it's not long before one of them winds up dead. Meg makes herself useful both caring for animals, solving problems, and snooping around for clues and alibis.

Even though this is book 39 I still love this series as much as ever. The cast of characters is delightfully quirky and each recurring character holds true to themselves. Peppered in to the fun story are plenty of interesting things to learn about animals both feathered and furred. Not only have I read the whole series multiple times I have also listened to each of the audio books multiple times. Bernadette Dunn returns as the narrator. Her voice is spot on and as I listen I know exactly who is speaking even before the words confirm it. I am so grateful she remains the narrator of the series.

There are just enough clues throughout the story that the ending makes complete sense even though it was a bit of a surprise. Just like the rest of the series, I finished the book with a sigh of contentment.

I received an Advanced Listener Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probable Caws by Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow, #39

I have read several books in this cozy mystery series and enjoyed every one of them. This one didn’t disappoint. I was hooked from the start. Trying to figure out who the killer was became a challenge for me. I took all the clues and tried to put them together before Meg figured it all out as I listened to this book.

There are lots of characters to suspect as the villain and to cross of the list as you go along and find they have an alibi. It helps that there are horses in this one and my love of animals came into the mystery as they are being cared for after being neglected.

Meg works along with Chief Burke and between the two of them they figure out who the killer is with a lot of investigating and some side trips along the way.

If you like a good cozy mystery, you will not be disappointed in reading this series. It will keep you wondering what is going to happen and how Meg is going to figure out the crime.

I want to thank Netgalley, Donna Andrews (author), and Minotaur Books (publisher) for this ARC audio book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery series I absolutely love coming back to. Characters are quirky, situations they get into are completely unexpected, the person murdered is always someone you aren't sad to see disappear from the page, you learn new facts about animals and their care, I laugh out loud at least once at something, and the whole town helps out in some way throughout the book to either solve the murder or make the town a better place.

This time we have 47 horses that need an immediate relocation because the original owner of the property passed away without leaving a plan for the horses. The horses are all in different levels of health and many had been rescued from various sad conditions. We also have, I can't remember 70? wild turkeys that are showing up places they should not be and the town has been trying to move them to more remote areas without luck.

The narrator has been the same over the course of the series, so you remember past characters just by hearing the voice the narrator has used in the past. It helps when there are so many characters to have an extra way aide your memory in the details of past books.

[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.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and you haven't read this series yet you need to start it, like, today. Right now. I'm a fan of cozies and I read a lot of different series but out of all the dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of series I read, this is one of the few that I anxiously await the next book in the series.

I started reading it in the summer of 2019 and that was a difficult time for me. I'd lost the job I'd had (and loved) for almost 10 years and I was having some issues with my health. I was frustrated and sad and just tired. And then I read Murder with Peacocks. Then Murder with Puffins. Then Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos. I would drink cup after cup of tea at my new job so I had an excuse to take lots of bathroom breaks where I could sneak in a few pages of the ebook. It got me through.

This book is light on the mystery and heavy on the cozy. And I loved it. I love this whole series and I hope it continues forever.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[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.

[Kcaroth1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probable Caws is the 39th in the series and still as enjoyable as ever. In this one, Meg and her family help out at the local castle as a large number of rescue horses need an emergency home. Along with a number of the regular local cast, there are some new folks from the rescue agency on hand. When a shady character dies from being hit on the head with a large, heavy hay hook, Meg is on the case to help.
I still love all of the nice people in Caerphilly, and all of the animals too. The writing and pacing are solid. The mystery is solvable if you are paying attention. However, this one, while still well plotted, was a little out there, and admittedly, I didn’t guess whodunit.
Meg and her family continue to develop and grow, and there are lots of horse facts too! This really is just an excellent cozy series, and it’s always great to read another installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
4.5/5 stars

[Marybeth Isle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg just wants to spend some quality time in her forge. But a phone call interrupts and she and her family are off to help neighbor Ragnar with his newest pet project. Hearth and Hoof, a horse rescue, has lost their access to pasture space and Ragnar is letting them move in temporarily. Soon Meg is leading horses to pasture, helping the farrier with specialized horse shoes, and trying to help a pregnant horse who won't let men near her. While camping out near the new arrivals, Meg is awakened by the horses and resident crows to find a body in the barn. Chief Burke will have his hands full sorting through all the alibis and threats that are associated with all the newcomers.

This book was just what I needed. Familiar characters whom I love, coziness, it was all just *chef's kiss*. But someone should take the time to find out why Meg keeps finding bodies...

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my favorite cozy mystery series, to the point my daughter bought me some paperbacks for when I travel even though I've read them all. Meg Langslow is a real person to me and I love her family, including her tall handsome husband and twin sons but also her mother and her father and grandparents and the uncle who wore a gorilla suit.
The mysteries are consistently interesting and there's always a new person who's so believably bad that multiple people are suspects in the death. But the other added ingredient that makes these so unique (besides that Meg is a blacksmith and always finds new ways to ply her skills) is the humor. This is the funniest one in a while and I was laughing out loud multiple times.
I actually read the print version first and then NetGalley allowed me to preview the audiobook. The narrator is a good Meg, I think, and does a great job telling the story without judgment even when people are acting in hilarious ways.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horse rescue group must relocate their horses after an inheritance dispute endangers the horses. The dispute is between brothers, one who has thug minions. Ragnar, the wealthy goth musician, has plenty of land and the horses are relocated there, with the help of many volunteers, including Meg, her sons, and her husband. Meg discovers a body in a small barn and now the police are involved. There are suspects, but no one wants it to be one of the ‘good guys’ who help the rescued horses.
The animals, as always, are important stars in the series. The ravens are brilliant and the black swans are hilariously aggressive. The swan scene is hilarious! The horses are lovely, showcasing each with their own unique personalities and abilities. Some were victims of abuse, but now they have loving care for the rest of their lives.
If you love animals and cozy mysteries with a dash of humor, Probable Caws is for you.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Andrews is an amazing storyteller! Thirty-nine books in and I am still looking forward to the next one. Probable Caws finds Meg Langslow in her forge ready to craft some new pieces. A call for help sends Meg and her sons out to Ragnar's property to help with an in-coming load of rescue horses. A visit with Ragnar at his estate is always a draw for me.

The story deals with people who do not value animals against those who do. It is such a great premise that meshes so well with the murder mystery portion .I enjoyed the horses with their quirky personalities. I think the animals are as much of a draw for me as the characters.

Readers who want warm cozies with heart will love this book as well as the series. I am already looking forward to the next book!
My thanks to #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MintuarBooks #DonnaAndrews #MegLangslowMysteries #ProbableCause

[A Reader's Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg and the gang find themselves at Ragnar's farm to care for a passel of rescued horses. When a dead body turns up, the crew must band together to protect the horses and find the killer in their midst.

This is the 39th installment in the series, so if you're picking it up you likely know what you're getting into. I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the others, which is probably because roughly the whole story is set in a single location and many of my favorite characters make brief cameos at best. However, there's nothing truly wrong with this installment; it fits in just fine with the 38 that proceeded it, and I'll certainly be picking up the next. As always, the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job.

3.5/5 stars rounded down. Thank you to Netgalley for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marty Doskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite cozy mystery series that I read. This book revolves around a horse rescue that has been displaced from the location they've called home for a long time. There are feuding brothers, lots of animal lessons, and, of course, a murder to solve.

Donna Andrews has created a wonderful world throughout this series. The characters are so vivid and interesting. The settings are brilliantly described without getting bogged down. And the stories are well-planned and plotted.

And since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention Bernadette Dunne who has been the voice of the series from the start. She does a great job with both the male and female voices and brings the characters to life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[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!