Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Series Name: Meg Langslow Mystery Book #33
Genre: Cozy
Release: August 1, 2023
Format: Print, Digital, Audio

Meg is relaxing in the hammock, taste-testing Michael’s latest batch of Arnold Palmers and watching the hummingbirds at their feeders when her hopes for a relaxing early summer morning are dashed.

First her father recruits her to help him install a new batch of bees in the hive in her backyard. Then Mayor Shiffley recruits her to placate the NIMBYs (Not in my backyard), as she calls them – a group of newcomers to Caerphilly who have built McMansions next door to working farms and then do their best to make life miserable for the farmers. And finally Meg’s grandmother, shows up, trailed by a nosy reporter who is writing a feature on her for a genteel Southern ladies’ magazine.

Cordelia drafts Meg to accompany her and Deacon Washington of the New Life Baptist Church – and the reporter, alas – in their search for a long-lost African-American cemetery. Unfortunately what they discover is not an ancient cemetery but a fresh corpse. Can Meg protect her grandmother – and Caerphilly – from the reporter who seems to see the worst in everything . . . and help crack the case before the killer finds another victim?

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Dru’s Short Musing:
Meg is simply a dead body magnet.

This is a well-written and fast-paced whodunit that I could not put down until Meg was able to close the book that tells her what to do. The author did a great job in presenting this tale with a good storyline, an eclectic cast of characters, engaging dialogue, and visually descriptive narrative that illustrates the goings on in Caerphilly, VA. The mystery was nicely done keeping me both in suspense and intrigued. The danger exists as Meg searches for clues as well as some humorous moments that lighten up the situation at hand. Most of the cast had pivotal roles that aided in the apprehension of the killer, and I did enjoy watching this all play out. I also enjoyed learning about bees, hummingbirds, and farm stuff. Overall, this was a fun book to read, and I always have a good time with Meg and her family and friends. This is one of the best books in this long-running and endearing series.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the author.