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 26th book and the sixth Christmas mystery in the Meg Lansglow series, Owl Be Home for Christmas is yet another wonderfully merry and funny book from New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews. It’s … Times bestselling author Donna Andrews.
It’s a few days before Christmas, and Meg’s grandfather is hosting a scientific conference on owls at the Caerphilly Inn. Most of the family are there, helping out in one capacity or another, including Meg’s grandmother, Cordelia–invited by Grandfather in rare gesture of peace-making, to share her expertise on rehabilitating large birds, including owls. An unexpectedly severe snow storm traps the conference-goers in the hotel, and one of the visiting ornithologists is murdered. Even if Caerphilly is able to clear the roads in time, Chief Burke doesn’t want the various suspects to scatter to half a dozen continents before he identifies the killer, so there’s a very real possibility that none of them will make it home for Christmas . . . at least not unless Meg comes to the rescue.
Full of intrigue and snow, this Christmas mystery will take readers home to Caerphilly for Christmas.
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It’s a few days before Christmas and Meg Langslow and much of her family are at the Caerphilly Inn for Owl Fest 2019, a conference being put on by Meg’s grandfather. Unfortunately, the worst winter storm in decades has also decided to visit, trapping the attendees in the hotel and possibly keeping them from going home for Christmas. As the snow continues to fall, tempers continue to rise. Owls are not without their controversy, but Dr. Frogmore seems to be at the center of much of the arguments breaking out. No one much likes him, but for some, the problems with him go much deeper. However, when Dr. Frogmore drops dead, Meg’s father suspects that it wasn’t natural causes. Are they trapped at the inn with a killer? Can Meg figure out what is really happening before the snow ends so the conference attendees fly home?
This novel uses a classic mystery trope – everyone trapped someplace with a killer. I’m a little disappointed since it’s been used twice in a row in the series now, and the result was me beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic while I was reading. The mystery itself was solid. It’s obvious early on who the victim will be, and we learn about motives and suspects even before he drops dead. The further complications after the murder takes place kept me guessing until the end. As much as I enjoy spending time with Meg’s family, they aren’t as funny as they used to be. The new characters do provide some laughs, but there are some serious issues in the book that dampen some of the humor. All told, this is still a fun entry to the series that will please Meg’s many fans.
Oh how I love this series, even 26 books in. These books are a rarity – they never get old, never feel like the same story over and over again with just new suspects and NEVER fail to amuse the heck out of me. The author, Donna Andrews, has such a way with words and it never fails that some character says something that makes me chuckle for long after the book is finished.
In this book, Meg and her family are at the local Inn with her Grandfather, helping him host an OwlFest – problem is, they are snowed in. The biggest blizzard ever to hit Virginia has trapped them all at the Inn for an indeterminate amount of time. WHICH would not be a hardship [as this is a very nice Inn] in most cases, but when murder becomes the focus over owls and when the victim is a man who is universally disliked, the whole conference becomes suspects. And even though the conference is about owls, there are PLENTY of red herrings to throw Meg and Horace and the crew off course.
Such an excellent read!! Cannot wait for the next one!!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In this 26th book of the series everything has gone to the owls! Let’s grandfather is the most of A science conference and the subject is owls. Things are going well with the exception of the weather but even that isn’t stopping the group from talking about everything that has to do with owls. When one of the visiting bird experts is murdered and a freak storm traps them in the Inn Meg worries about what will happen next. She knows she.must put her detective hat on and figure out who the killer is because the police aren’t able to help out in this situation. As the weather begins to subside and the roads get cleared everyone worries that a murderer will get away. Follow along as Meg asks questions, keeps the conference going, and does her best to come to the rescue. This was a fun holiday mystery that will get you in the mood for Christmas and have you seeing owls!!!
Donna Andrews’ 26th Meg Langslow mystery (and 6th Christmas book!) finds half of Caerphilly and an entire contingent of owl enthusiasts snowed in at the inn when the biggest snowstorm in recent history arrives right before the holidays. After a pompous professor is murdered at the banquet, Meg and her cousin, Horace, must discover whoooo the murderer is. A very nice cozy mystery with lots of holiday spirit along with several twists and turns, Owl Be Home for Christmas was a delight to read! A+++
If its Donna Andrews, its got to be funny!
I love the names of these books and can’t wait for the next in the series.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a new adventure for Meg and family. I like all Donna Andrews’ mysteries, but her Christmas stories are the best!
Donna Andrews is a delightful author. She takes fun twists and turns with her delightful characters.
Hard to believe that Owl Be Home for Christmas is book #26 in this wonderful series. I have been a fan from day one, the day Murder With Peacocks was published. I was hooked. Twenty years and going strong. For those counting, this is the 6th Christmas mystery and, okay, I have to say it, it’s a hoot. A local hotel hosting a group of ornithologists, many of whom brought owls with them – against the hotel rules and a major snow storm keeping them all indoors and at each others throats, it seems. Nobody is going out for a walk to calm down and refocus. Add to that are some guests who didn’t heed the weather reports to get out while they had the chance and are well and truly grounded. What could possibly go wrong? Considering this is a conference being chaired by her wonderfully eccentric grandfather, you can bet your bottom dollar things will go pear shaped and at least one homicide will occur. It’s not just Meg who is a magnet for murder, it’s pretty much her whole family. May it never change.
I’m not going to give anything away. All you really need to know is this is another funny, punny mystery full of twists, turns, red herrings and enough laughs to cure the worst case of the winter Blues. So set aside a block of quiet time, brew up your favorite hot beverage, settle down in a comfy chair or sofa and dive into Meg’s latest investigation. Let the fun begin.
puntastic, situational-humor, verbal-humor, amateur-sleuth, family-dynamics, murder-investigation, blizzards
Come for the laughs and puns, stay for a good mystery, and perhaps to learn some things!
It’s nearing Hanukkah and Christmas and India holidays, plus Japanese and vegetarian interests when everyone wants to be with their friends and family in their own homes in the US, Australia, Japan, and elsewhere. But instead they are stuck in a five star resort in Caerphilly, Virginia snowed in by an unexpected pair of blizzards while attending a scientific conference, Owl Fest, for ornithologists and others chaired by Grandfather Montgomery Blake, the acclaimed zoologist. It’s a good thing that Cousin Horace is there with the Langslow family since he is a Crime Scene Tech and the only law enforcement on scene because the landlines and cell phones are out and there are only two satellite phones. Of course Dr Langslow is there, and that’s a good thing because he’s also the county’s Medical Examiner and the death is not a simple one (and not just because 200 of the guests are suspects).
Let the sleuthing begin!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! !