The Hen of the Baskervilles: A Meg Langslow Mystery

Donna Andrews

Jul 2013 · Meg Langslow Mysteries Book 15 · Sold by Minotaur Books

About this ebook

A dastardly murder and the kidnapping of a prize chicken threaten to ruin Caerphilly's state fair—fortunately, Meg Langslow is on the case of The Hen of the Baskervilles

The newest mystery in Donna Andrews's gut-bustingly funny, award-winning, New York Times bestselling series is anything but elementary. Meg Langslow is helping Mayor Randall Shiffley organize the Virginia Un-Fair, Caerphilly's entry in the race to replace the old state fair (which has gone bankrupt). Before a line can even form outside the ticket booth, however, a pair of Bantam Russian Orloff chickens are stolen from their coop in the chicken tent. Soon, a rash of vandalism crops up at the fair, showing no heritage farm animal, prize vegetable, or artisanal craft to be safe.

While patrolling the fairgrounds, determined to catch the perp, Meg runs into her friend Molly, who has been building a successful business making goat cheeses. Molly is terrified that she may lose her farm because her idle husband Brett has left her for Genette Sedgewick, a rich hobby winemaker, and is demanding his half of the land. Meg enlists Mother's help to find Molly a divorce lawyer, but later that night, Brett is found murdered and Molly is swiftly accused as his killer.

Meg is convinced that her friend wouldn't so much as harm a fly, but can she find the real killer before it's too late? Will she track down the vandal who has been terrorizing—however creatively—the fair's participants? And will Michael be able to convince her to add members of his new favorite heritage breed to their growing menagerie? Meg's most hilarious caper yet, the curious incident of the hen in the nighttime will have readers rolling on the floor with laughter.

Ratings and reviews

situational-humor, verbal-humor, family-dynamics, friendship, animals, cozy-mystery, murder, law-enforcement, suspense The publisher's blurb covers much of the mystery plot, but I must be weird because my best takeaway was learning about Heritage and Artisanal domestic farm animals. Well, except for the costumes for the llamas. Don't get me wrong, I thought the mystery was well done, the laughs delightful, and the characters exceptional, it's simply that I like to learn something while having an enjoyable read. Bernadette Dunne is the best narrator!

Zany and a fun light read just like her other books. I'm looking forward to the next one already.

I am a fan of this series and found this to be a very enjoyable read.

About the author

DONNA ANDREWS’s debut novel, Murder with Peacocks, introduced the Meg Langslow series and won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards for best first novel, as well as a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for best first mystery. She has also received three Lefty Awards (Murder with Peacocks, We’ll Always Have Parrots, The Real Macaw) and two Toby Bromberg awards for funniest mystery (Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon; Swan For the Money). She spends her free time gardening at her home in Reston, Virginia.