Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews is the 23rd book in the “Meg Langslow” mystery series. Publisher: Minotaur, coming August 7, 2018.

Toucan keep a secret, if one of them is dead.

Meg Langslow is at Trinity Episcopal Church locking up after an event and checking on the toucan her friend Rev. Robyn Smith is fostering in her office. When she investigates the sound of hammering in the columbarium (the underground crypt where cremated remains are buried), Meg finds the murdered body of an elderly parishioner. Several niches have been chiseled open; several urns knocked out; and amid the spilled ashes is a gold ring with a huge red stone.

The curmudgeonly victim had become disgruntled with the church and ranted all over town about taking back his wife’s ashes. Did someone who had it in for him follow him to the columbarium? Or was the motive grave robbery? Or did he see someone breaking in and investigate? Why was the ruby left behind?

While Chief Burke investigates the murder, Robyn recruits Meg to contact the families of the people whose ashes were disturbed. While doing so, Meg learns many secrets about Caerphilly’s history—and finds that the toucan may play a role in unmasking the killer. Clues and events indicate that a thief broke into the church to steal the toucan the night of the murder, so Meg decides to set a trap for the would-be toucan thief—who might also be the killer.

Toucan Keep a Secret is the twenty-third book in New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews’ hilarious Mag Langslow mystery series.

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I can always count on Donna to consistently keep me entertained and engaged in the lives of Meg and her friends and family, especially when murder and mayhem prevails.

The author does a great job in delivering a well-written mystery involving a quirky cast of characters with plenty of suspects where anything is possible. Connected to a past event, it was fun watching it all play out as one by one, the clues presented itself with some surprises that enhanced how well this story was being told. I love the interactions among the characters and how the family help with solving this case, and of course, there are several laugh-out-loud moments. The best part of the book for me was the punch line (last sentence) and how fitting for the title of this delightfully endearing series.

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