From Publishers Weekly
A rose show can drive a person to murder, as shown in Andrews's thorn-in-cheek 11th Meg Langslow mystery set in Caerphilly, Va. (after 2008's Six Geese A-Slaying). Meg's parents would love to snag the Winkleson Trophy for the darkest rose at the local garden club's first annual show, but they face stiff competition from Philomena Winkleson, who's hosting the event at her ritzy Raven Hill estate. Before the event, Meg's dad's roses are sabotaged, and Philomena's white purebred Maltese is kidnapped. During the mishap-filled show, Philomena annoys everyone with her obsessive must-win attitude. While exploring the estate, Meg discovers a woman stabbed in the back with a pair of secateurs (i.e., gardening shears). At first she thinks it's Philomena, but the victim is in fact another garden club member. Weeding out the murderer keeps Meg hopping. Andrews's droll humor saves the sometimes slow-moving plot. (Aug.)
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Review
SIX GEESE A-SLAYING
“Fans will enjoy [this] entry in Andrews’s fine-feathered series.”— Publishers Weekly
“Fans of comic cozies who have never read Andrews’ Meg Langslow mysteries have a real treat in store.…Lots of silly but infectious humor and just enough mystery.”— Booklist
COCKATIELS AT SEVEN
“Suspense, laughter and a whole passel of good clean fun.”— Publishers Weekly
“More fun than seven cocktails—and a lot safer, too.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch
“The plot, in true ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ fashion, involves plenty of snakes, as well as the titular cockatiels and assorted exotic birds. The author has a fine sense of pacing and a droll...sense of humor. This is character-driven fiction, and Andrews maintains the action within the confines and sensibilities of her town-and-gown setting.”— The State (Columbia, SC)
THE PENGUIN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
“Deliciously daffy.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Andrews always leavens the mayhem with laughs. So march yourself down to the bookstore or library and check out The Penguin Who Knew Too Much. ”— Richmond Times-Dispatch(Virginia)
“Andrews’ eighth Meg-centric mystery moves along like the best beach reads.”— Entertainment Weekly
“The levelheaded, unflappable Meg takes it all in stride…This eighth cozy in the series makes the most of humorous situations, zany relatives, and lovable characters.”— Booklist
“A classic whodunit…wraps suspense, humor, and a screwball cast of characters into a mystery novel with stand-up quality.”—About.com
“Always a treat.”— Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Andrews has mastered the art of writing farce with style and wit.”— Mystery Scene
NO NEST FOR THE WICKET
“Fun, lively, charming.”—Publishers Weekly****
“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.”— Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 stars)
“Any day when I start reading about Meg is cause for delight. Ending the book makes me yearn for more than one per year. Hint.”— Deadly Pleasures
“As usual, Andrews is a reliable source for those who like their murder with plenty of mayhem.”— Kirkus Reviews
“Andrews’s talent for the lovably loony makes this series a winner; to miss it would be a cardinal sin.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch
OWLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL
“A loony, utterly delightful affair.”— Booklist
“It’s a hoot...a supporting cast of endearingly eccentric characters, perfectly pitched dialogue and a fine sense of humor make this a treat.”— Publishers Weekly
“Death by yard sale epitomizes the ‘everyday people’ humor that Andrews does so well…for readers who prefer their mysteries light...Andrews may be the next best thing to Janet Evanovich.”— Rocky Mountain News
“Andrews delivers another wonderfully comic story....This is a fun read, as are all the books in the series. Andrews playfully creates laughable, wacky scenes that are the backdrop for her criminally devious plot. Settle back, dear reader and enjoy another visit to Meg’s anything-but-ordinary world.”— Romantic Times (starred review)
WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARROTS
“Laughter, more laughter, we need laughter, so Donna Andrews is giving us We’ll Always Have Parrots …to help us survive February.”— Washington Times
“Perfectly showcases Donna Andrews’ gift for deadpan comedy.”— Denver Post on We’ll Always Have Parrots
“Always heavy on the humor, Andrews’ most recent Meg Langslow outing is her most over-the-top adventure to date.”— Booklist
“I can’t say enough good things about this series, and this entry in it.”— Deadly Pleasures
“Hilarious...another winner...keeps you turning pages.”— Mystery Lovers News