Synopses & Reviews
A new side-splitting Meg Langslow mystery from award-winning,
New York Times bestselling author of
Six Geese A Slaying, just in time for the holidays
The brilliantly funny and talented Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed series that mystery readers have come to love. A few nights before Christmas, Meg is awakened when Michael is summoned to the New Life Baptist Church, where someone has rigged a cage full of skunks in the choir loft. The lengthy process of de-skunking the church requires its annual pre-Christmas concert to relocate to Trinity Episcopal, where Mother insists the show must go on, despite the budget-related protests of Mr. Otis, an elderly vestryman. Meanwhile, when Meg helps her grandfather take the skunks to the zoo, they discover that his boa has been stolen—only to turn up later during the concert slithering out from the ribbon-bedecked evergreens.
Its clear that some serious holiday pranksters are on the loose, and Meg is determined to find them. But before she can, a fire breaks out at Trinity, and Mr. Otis is discovered dead. Could this be a bit of nasty revenge from the now deposed Pruitt family? Or harassment from the Evil Lender? As Meg searches for answers she also races to finish all of her Christmas shopping, wrapping, cooking, caroling, and decorating in time to make the season jolly for Michael and the twins.
Guaranteed to put the "ho ho hos" into the holidays of cozy lovers everywhere, Duck the Halls is a gut-bustingly funny mystery, the latest from the award-winning Donna Andrews.
Review
A GAGGLE OF PRAISE FOR DONNA ANDREWS:
“Andrews leavens the action with her trademark humor, including dueling Christmas dinners and an extravagant—and extravagantly funny—live nativity scene.” —Publishers Weekly on Duck the Halls
“Produces at least one chuckle—and sometimes a guffaw—per page. Joy to the world, indeed.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch on Six Geese A-Slaying
“Andrews . . . scores points for her witty writing and abundance of Yuletide tinsel and tradition.” —The Columbia, SC State on Six Geese A-Slaying
“Firmly in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie's Christmas books.” —Toronto Globe and Mail on Six Geese A-Slaying "Meg grows more endearing with each book, and her fans will enjoy seeing her take to motherhood."--Richmond Times-Dispatch on Stork Raving Mad
"The author's sense of fun and a lively, charming cast will please most cozy fans."--Publishers Weekly on No Nest for the Wicket
"Andrews strikes just the right balance between comedy and suspense to keep the reader laughing and on the edge of one's seat....Fans of this series will no doubt enjoy this installment, while new readers...will be headed to the bookstore for the earlier books."--RT Book Reviews (four stars) on No Nest for the Wicket
"For readers who prefer their mysteries light...Andrews may be the next best thing to Janet Evanovich."--Rocky Mountain News on Owls Well That Ends Well
Synopsis
As the holidays draw near in Caerphilly, Mother volunteers to take part in in a big Christmas-themed decorator show house—each room of a temporarily untenanted house is decorated to the hilt by a different decorator for the public to tour. Of course, Mother insists that Meg pitch in with the organization, and she finds herself surrounded by flamboyant personalities with massive egos clashing and feeling their professional reputations are at stake. Then the rooms start to be sabotaged, and an unfortunate designer turns up dead—making Mother a prime suspect. Can Meg catch the real killer in time to save Mother the indignity of arrest?
The brilliantly funny and talented Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed series that mystery readers have come to love. Cozies make excellent stocking-stuffers, and The Nightingale Before Christmas is guaranteed to put the "ho ho hos" into the holidays for the legions of fans hungry for another Christmas book featuring Meg Langslow. Donna has won many awards for this very popular series, and continues to come up with new hilarious adventures for her endearing heroine. The novel is full of superb screwball comedy as well as Donnas trademark crisp plotting, not to mention bushels of holiday cheer--it wouldn't be the most wonderful time of the year without it.
About the Author
DONNA ANDREWS is a winner of the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards, a Romantic Times Award for best first novel, and three Lefty and two Toby Bromberg awards for funniest mystery. She is a member of MWA, Sisters in Crime, and the Private Investigators and Security Association. Andrews lives in Reston, Virginia.