Meg Langslow writes a letter to one of her cousins, with editorial comments from her husband, Michael
December 20
Dear Cousin Safflower,
Michael: Do you actually have a cousin named Safflower?
Meg: Now I do. She thought Susan was too commonplace.
Mother told me that you were thinking of coming for a visit at Christmas. Of course we’d love to have you–
Michael: Love to have her? Are you crazy? We already have more visitors than guest rooms. Tell her there’s no room at the inn. Tell her–
Of course we do have rather a lot of family already staying here, but I’m sure we can find room for one more. We’re all family, right? Aunt Ida says you’re welcome to bunk with her.
Michael: Isn’t Ida the one whose snores the boys mistook for another earthquake last night?
We’re pretty informal about meals at the moment, because Mother and I are spending so much time down at the Decorator Show House.
Michael: Won’t “informal about meals” imply that someone around here actually might have time to feed her this week?
I’m sure you’ll love the show house—we have twelve different designers, each doing a room in his or her own unique style.
Michael: She might love your mother’s room and a couple of the others, but I’m pretty sure she won’t like that bedroom that looks like something you’d find in the Addam’s Family’s house. And what about that dining room, with the forty-seven different flowered prints? Is that really supposed to be stylish?
Meg: No, Mother thinks it’s pretty tacky, too. But Caerphilly’s a small town. We only have so many decorators. We had to use the available talent.
Michael: Yeah, I guess that’s why you included that jerk Clay Spottiswoode. Why someone hasn’t throttled that man years ago is a mystery to me.
Mother is doing the Great Room, and I’m sure she’d love to have another pair of willing hands to help her finish everything that needs doing before we open. We’ve all been putting in twelve or fourteen hour days. By the way, how well do you sew?
Michael: Excellent! That should scare her off. And since she’s a cousin, I assume she knows about how much chance she’d have of escaping a work detail when your mother’s around.
Do let me know when you’re arriving. Dulles Airport is only two hours away, and while it’s unlikely that Michael and I will be able to meet your plane, luckily, one of the local chicken farmers drives his truck up just about every day to deliver eggs and live chickens to an organic market in Washington, and he’s always happy to swing by the airport for us.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Love,
Meg
You can read more about Meg and her illustrious family in The Nightingale Before Christmas, the 18th book in the “Meg Langslow” mystery series, published by Minotaur. The first book in the series is Murder with Peacocks.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on October 27 for the chance to win a copy of THE NIGHTINGALE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Meet the author
Donna Andrews is the author of twenty-two mystery novels, including eighteen in the Meg Langslow series from Minotaur. Her most recent books are The Good, the Bad, and the Emus (July 2014) and The Nightingale Before Christmas (October 2014). She blogs with the Femmes Fatales (http://femmesfatales.typepad.com), and when not writing she can probably be found in her garden, taking a picture of whatever flowers haven’t yet been eaten by the deer.
You can reach Donna at her website, on Twitter or on Facebook.
I have spent many of nights laughing till my sides hurt enjoying this series! Between Meg’s crazy father always bringing home some crazy animal, her Mother who is always redecorating everything, and the crazy house guests who always seem to over flow Michael and Meg’s house! I would love add this to the rest of my Meg Langslow collection! Thanks!
Sounds fun!
Thank you for the chance to win – this looks like a fun book
I love her books…I have loved watching her family grow over the years 🙂
I thought I had an eccletic family but yours tops mine. Can’t wait to read it.
Sounds like a wonderful, fun book.
LOVE this series!
Please, please, please pick me! This sounds like such fun.
These books are a great read. Would love to win it. Thanks.
Absolutely love this author, hope to win!
This sounds like a fun book. Thanks for the chance to win.
This is one of my favorite series…just love the zany family.
Hee hee…now, that’s funny! Thanks, Dru and Meg/Donna. Loved the part about being picked up, at the airport, in a chicken truck! 🙂
I loved Duck the Halls…who says murder can’t be funny? I’m sure The Nightingale Before Christmas will be just as good!
This is a very fun series….. Would love to win this one!!!
Haven,t read this series and would love to start it.
I would love to get my hands on this book. I’ve read all of the series and then I share the books with my daughter. They are fun and light-hearted reading – makes you feel good to see a crazy family come together in times of need. thanks for the chance to get the book soon.
G’morning Dru, This one looks like a real pip. Did I ever tell you that “Mommy Dearest” had a degree in Interior Decorating or what ever they called it back in the late ’40’s. Thankfully she never practiced it.
I’d love to win a copy of this book so toss my hat into the contest ring please.
Donna Andrews always comes up with subjects a normal individual can relate to. I’m sure everyone has that one relative they’d rather not come but are too polite to say don’t come. This one sounds right up my alley.
Sounds like a great book.
I love Donna Andrews’s crew and the birdbrains they encounter!
As always, this sounds so fun! Love Meg & the clan. 🙂
I love this series–it always makes me laugh, I adore the characters, and each mystery is unique and intriguing. This post/letter is the perfect encapsulation of what makes Meg and Michael (and this series) so special. 🙂
I want to see how she reacts to being picked up at the airport in a chicken truck—sounds like a fun cozy. Thanks for the chance to win.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This sounds great, thanks for the chance to win.
Don’t pick me! I won the book in another contest and bought one besides (the spare is going to be a gift). It is a warm & funny mystery and I enjoyed it immensely.
I love, love, love Meg’s books and am delighted that there are two I haven’t read yet. It isn’t about the mystery but more about the interaction between the family members. Reminds me a bit of my family 🙂
That letter is so funny and true to form with CHRISTMAS vacations. Always look forward to folks coming –and to their going. Ah, the tales of Chrustmases past. Should be such a fun read!!
Such a funny post! This is one of my favorite series. I would love to win a copy of The Nightingale Before Christmas. Can’t wait to read this book.
I have got to start reading this
I love holiday cozies, and this one looks really good !
I hope to be reading this holiday tale this year.
This sounds hilarious! I recently listened to Duck the Halls and loved it!
I love this series and all of Meg’s wacky relatives.
This sounds like an awesome read. I would love to win a copy of this.
This is one of my very favorite series. Meg and her crazy family and hilarious adventures are always fun, and the mysteries are great, too!
This series always makes me laugh out loud. Love Meg and her crazy family.
Need to binge read!
What a fun post! Would love to catch up with Meg! Thanks for the chance to win.
I absolutely love Meg’s family, both the people related by bloodline as well as those related by love. I can’t wait to find out what they are up to this time around. Each book is a delight. Thank you for writing this series, its my favorite.
I always enjoy reading anything by Donna Andrews. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of The Nightingale Before Christmas.
Michael ought to have more faith in Meg’s ability to come across as welcoming but carefully adding details that are the opposite!
I love a good holiday cozy!
Loved the book! And this little interlude is just killingly funny! I laughed until tears rolled down my face. It was nice to see how Meg and her mom’s relationship has matured over the course of this series – so true to real life.
Entertaining series!
I love reading a book series that make me laugh!
Holiday stories are always so much fun. And the funnier the better.
contest is closed.