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Meg Langslow #34
Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow!
'Tis the season for sleuthing in Donna Andrews' cheery new addition to the New York Times bestselling Meg Langslow series.
Meg has been roped into participating in a weaponsmithing competition, a Forged in Fire wannabe organized by a blacksmith friend. Meg originally turned down an invitation to participate, but the night before the filming starts, someone attacks Faulk, her blacksmithing mentor, breaking his arm and eliminating him from the contest before it begins. Meg agrees to step in as his replacement to keep the project from failing. She's not thrilled that the filming will take place during December – Christmas is already a crazy time for her. Since the competition is taking place on Ragnarshjem, the picturesque estate that her friend Ragnar, the retired heavy metal drummer, is turning into a Goth castle, Meg won’t have to spend Christmas alone and gets to bring Michael and her twin sons with her.
So Meg joins the cast, to the dismay of several old-school blacksmiths who think women have no place in the profession anyway. And if the show's producers were hoping for drama, they're in luck. The blacksmithing world is a small one, and some of the contestants arrived already laden with grudges and feuds.
It's a high-stakes, cutthroat competition between people who wield large hammers and make swords and have forges full of fire at their disposal. What could possibly go wrong?
Meg has been roped into participating in a weaponsmithing competition, a Forged in Fire wannabe organized by a blacksmith friend. Meg originally turned down an invitation to participate, but the night before the filming starts, someone attacks Faulk, her blacksmithing mentor, breaking his arm and eliminating him from the contest before it begins. Meg agrees to step in as his replacement to keep the project from failing. She's not thrilled that the filming will take place during December – Christmas is already a crazy time for her. Since the competition is taking place on Ragnarshjem, the picturesque estate that her friend Ragnar, the retired heavy metal drummer, is turning into a Goth castle, Meg won’t have to spend Christmas alone and gets to bring Michael and her twin sons with her.
So Meg joins the cast, to the dismay of several old-school blacksmiths who think women have no place in the profession anyway. And if the show's producers were hoping for drama, they're in luck. The blacksmithing world is a small one, and some of the contestants arrived already laden with grudges and feuds.
It's a high-stakes, cutthroat competition between people who wield large hammers and make swords and have forges full of fire at their disposal. What could possibly go wrong?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
153 people are currently reading
1542 people want to read
About the author
Donna Andrews
101 books2,070 followersDonna Andrews was born in Yorktown, Virginia, the setting of Murder with Peacocks and Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos, and now lives and works in Reston, Virginia. When not writing fiction, Andrews is a self-confessed nerd, rarely found away from her computer, unless she's messing in the garden
http://us.macmillan.com/author/donnaa...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/donnaa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
December 2, 2024
Holidays
I don't usually like cozies, but this amused. While I think this tried a little too hard to be woke (again, I hate this word, again again, I am very much woke) with the various side characters, I did like that Meg is a female blacksmith. The crows pop up every now and again, and I'm not sure what they brought to the plot except for the title. The murder mystery interested me less than the characters, which is fine.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books
I don't usually like cozies, but this amused. While I think this tried a little too hard to be woke (again, I hate this word, again again, I am very much woke) with the various side characters, I did like that Meg is a female blacksmith. The crows pop up every now and again, and I'm not sure what they brought to the plot except for the title. The murder mystery interested me less than the characters, which is fine.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books
August 29, 2023
The only thing I like better than a Meg Langslow book is a Meg Langslow holiday mystery - especially the Christmas mysteries! When Meg volunteers to enter a blade-making making competition that will be televised, she's not too excited but to help her blacksmithing mentor, who was brutally attacked, Meg agrees to fill in for him. What could be more dangerous - a blacksmith competition where some of the participants aren't happy Meg is competing combined with sharp blades and murder? Absolutely nothing!
Meg is one of my favorite characters, She doesn't rush into danger and she has to keep a "to do" list. Those two things make me enjoy the mysteries even more - she doesn't try to be a hero but usually is and she's relatable. The quirky supporting characters (human and animal) are so entertaining. Meg's Dad and Spike are two of my favorites.
If you are looking for a mystery with humor, a little romance and a story that keeps you reading, here's a great book!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Meg is one of my favorite characters, She doesn't rush into danger and she has to keep a "to do" list. Those two things make me enjoy the mysteries even more - she doesn't try to be a hero but usually is and she's relatable. The quirky supporting characters (human and animal) are so entertaining. Meg's Dad and Spike are two of my favorites.
If you are looking for a mystery with humor, a little romance and a story that keeps you reading, here's a great book!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 19, 2023
I’m always happy to visit with Meg and her family and despite being the 34th in the series, everything feels fresh and new. This one, in particular, was wonderful because of the reality show competition, which I’m always a fan of, and the bladesmith show was fascinating. The mystery itself was well-paced and kept me guessing until the reveal. As usual, there are plenty of laughs in this one. I loved it and I can’t wait for the next!
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @Macmillan.audio for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @Macmillan.audio for an honest review.
December 22, 2023
A new entry in one of my favorite series. I love Meg and her crazy family. In this one, she's competing in a blacksmith competition. I loved seeing Faulk, Tad and getting an update on them.
This is easily one of my favorite series and this is definitely one of the best in the series.
This is easily one of my favorite series and this is definitely one of the best in the series.
December 3, 2023
This is one of my favorite of the books in this series! All of the chat about Meg’s metal forging hobby is fascinating.
June 3, 2023
Donna Andrews has done it again with her newest book, Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow!
The vibrant book cover, the story, and the holidays, all wrapped in a beautiful package is sure to please the fans of her other works.
Meg is a replacement participant in the production of a new reality show, Blades of Glory.
Meg doesn't really want to do it, but her friend was brutally attacked and he needs her to replace him, and Meg finds herself enjoying the crafting, but not the back stage drama.
When an obnoxious participant becomes the victim of murder, Meg once again finds herself asking questions and piecing the puzzle together.
This is my favorite so far, and I'm happy to recommend it to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
The vibrant book cover, the story, and the holidays, all wrapped in a beautiful package is sure to please the fans of her other works.
Meg is a replacement participant in the production of a new reality show, Blades of Glory.
Meg doesn't really want to do it, but her friend was brutally attacked and he needs her to replace him, and Meg finds herself enjoying the crafting, but not the back stage drama.
When an obnoxious participant becomes the victim of murder, Meg once again finds herself asking questions and piecing the puzzle together.
This is my favorite so far, and I'm happy to recommend it to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
December 28, 2023
Honestly, the reason I marked this only 3 stars was due to the writing style. If I had a dime for every time she started a sentence with the word "And" or wrote in sentence fragments, I could have bought this book instead of borrowing it from the library. Unfortunately, that completely took me out of the story and grated on my nerves.
November 22, 2023
I enjoyed this installment of the Meg Lanslow series. I had no idea Meg was a blacksmith! I found the book a fun easy listen. I also love the use of animals in all her mysteries. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
October 17, 2023
I love this series. I have loved it from book one and I do not think one book in the series has disappointed me, and let me tell you why - Donna Andrews is an extremely gifted writer, who does not jump on tropey bandwagons and writes what she knows and loves [and that is Meg and her family]. She is consistent in turning out great stories and mysteries and while they are not always edge-of-your seat mysteries/reveals, they are ALWAYS well-written and good and more often than not, I have no idea who the killer was [which happened in this book - talk about a SHOCK!!] and with that and the amount of laughter I also get from the books [because they are just hilarious as well], equals time well spent in a book, which is ALL we can really hope for.
In this Christmas edition, Meg finds herself at Ragnar's house, getting ready to work in the background of a weaponsmithing competition that her mentor Faulk is participating in [and one that she had declined to be a participant of] and that Ragnar is hosting [I seriously want to visit Ragnar's house. S E R I O U S L Y]. Then someone tries to kill Faulk and Meg is forced to join the competition and well...stuff happens. LOTS of serious stuff. And silly stuff. And lovely stuff from Jamie and Josh[it is so sweet when they calmly come to wake their mom up at O'dark early and feed her caffeine and love] and Michael [who, because it is AWESOME, come to stay at Ragnar's too]. And some seriously hilarious moments. And all of that leads up to the reveal that just came out of nowhere for me [maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention? I was really wrapped up in the whole show business and how stupid people can really be. Oh my goodness] and lead to a very satisfying end to a really good read for me [I know that the minute I started reading this, my whole being sighed with relief at the idea of reading something that was so familiar and comforting]. I highly recommend this series.
I was able to get the audiobook ARC of this book and I realized that the more I listen to the narrator for this series, the more I am getting into her cadence of how she voices each character and that has become better for me. While I am still not in love with the voices she uses for Meg's Dad [this is the one that grates on me the most] and Caroline [I just cannot fathom the Caroline of the books having that speaking voice, but that is just me], I have settled in with everyone else and it made for a really enjoyable listen [she does Ragnar very well]. I look forward to listening to future books and also looking forward to rereading this series and being able to listen to them from the beginning. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Andrews, Bernadette Dunne - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
In this Christmas edition, Meg finds herself at Ragnar's house, getting ready to work in the background of a weaponsmithing competition that her mentor Faulk is participating in [and one that she had declined to be a participant of] and that Ragnar is hosting [I seriously want to visit Ragnar's house. S E R I O U S L Y]. Then someone tries to kill Faulk and Meg is forced to join the competition and well...stuff happens. LOTS of serious stuff. And silly stuff. And lovely stuff from Jamie and Josh[it is so sweet when they calmly come to wake their mom up at O'dark early and feed her caffeine and love] and Michael [who, because it is AWESOME, come to stay at Ragnar's too]. And some seriously hilarious moments. And all of that leads up to the reveal that just came out of nowhere for me [maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention? I was really wrapped up in the whole show business and how stupid people can really be. Oh my goodness] and lead to a very satisfying end to a really good read for me [I know that the minute I started reading this, my whole being sighed with relief at the idea of reading something that was so familiar and comforting]. I highly recommend this series.
I was able to get the audiobook ARC of this book and I realized that the more I listen to the narrator for this series, the more I am getting into her cadence of how she voices each character and that has become better for me. While I am still not in love with the voices she uses for Meg's Dad [this is the one that grates on me the most] and Caroline [I just cannot fathom the Caroline of the books having that speaking voice, but that is just me], I have settled in with everyone else and it made for a really enjoyable listen [she does Ragnar very well]. I look forward to listening to future books and also looking forward to rereading this series and being able to listen to them from the beginning. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Andrews, Bernadette Dunne - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2023
Every one of the Meg Langslow mysteries makes my heart so happy. Donna Andrews just continues to develop her world, and I get lost in it. The characters are amazing, and I wish I could just dive in and live in the world she had created. It's chaotic, sure, but it's a world full of love and laughter. Who wouldn't want to see Meg's mother's decorating skills? Or meet her devastatingly talented and handsome husband, Michael? Or be a part of the antics of her twins and father? Or meet Ragnar, charitable owner of the Gothic castle? And the festivities in the holidays novels are just phenomenal. There are still references to the famous (or should I say infamous) Weaseltide, and this one introduces a new parade created by Ragnar. I just enjoy the lightness of the novel, and she does an incredible job of coming up with twists and turns to surprise her readers. I truly hope she continues writing for many years to come because Meg and her family have become such a phenomenal part of my reading world.
October 7, 2023
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC and the MacMillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Was an enjoyable cozy mystery and reality show set around Christmas. This is the 34th book in the Meg Langslow series, it may be read as a stand-alone.
When Meg is asked to fill in on the set of Blades of Glory we meet an entire cast of characters. When one of the contestants is murdered, Meg teams up with the local sheriff and we are off and running.
The book was well paced and the tidbits of weapon making were fascinating. As usual, I did not guess the killer. I can see why this is such a long running and beloved series.
I paired the audiobook with the eARC and found the narrator to be just okay. Maybe because this was my first Meg Langslow mystery, but I found the voice didn’t match to what I pictured Meg looking like inside my head. No fault of the narrator, just my own personal issue.
Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Was an enjoyable cozy mystery and reality show set around Christmas. This is the 34th book in the Meg Langslow series, it may be read as a stand-alone.
When Meg is asked to fill in on the set of Blades of Glory we meet an entire cast of characters. When one of the contestants is murdered, Meg teams up with the local sheriff and we are off and running.
The book was well paced and the tidbits of weapon making were fascinating. As usual, I did not guess the killer. I can see why this is such a long running and beloved series.
I paired the audiobook with the eARC and found the narrator to be just okay. Maybe because this was my first Meg Langslow mystery, but I found the voice didn’t match to what I pictured Meg looking like inside my head. No fault of the narrator, just my own personal issue.
July 8, 2023
Another delightful return to Caerphilly at Christmas from Donna Andrews!
Meg has been roped into competing on Blades of Glory, a weapon-making reality show being filmed at Ragnar's house. The show is made up with some very eccentric competutors - and 2 producers and a director who are grinches. Sabotage, an attack and subsequent murder occur on the set, and the Chief is relying on Meg's inside knowledge to help solve the cases.
One thing I especially loved about this book was the chance to get to know some of the Caerphilly residents that we usually don't hear from better. Andrews has developed a wonderful cast of characters and it was nice to spend more time with them. But rest assured, Mother was still up to her usual Christmas-decorating magic; Kevin is helping with some tricky tech situations - and having some fun pulling pranks as well.
Overall, a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Andrews continues book after book to produce a fantastic story with a wonderful cast of characters!
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Meg has been roped into competing on Blades of Glory, a weapon-making reality show being filmed at Ragnar's house. The show is made up with some very eccentric competutors - and 2 producers and a director who are grinches. Sabotage, an attack and subsequent murder occur on the set, and the Chief is relying on Meg's inside knowledge to help solve the cases.
One thing I especially loved about this book was the chance to get to know some of the Caerphilly residents that we usually don't hear from better. Andrews has developed a wonderful cast of characters and it was nice to spend more time with them. But rest assured, Mother was still up to her usual Christmas-decorating magic; Kevin is helping with some tricky tech situations - and having some fun pulling pranks as well.
Overall, a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Andrews continues book after book to produce a fantastic story with a wonderful cast of characters!
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.
June 5, 2023
An even better Meg Langslow mystery! Meg is assisted by very few family members this time, while Michael is solid back-up for Meg and an excellent father to those irrepressible twins. Each book in the series is perfectly capable of being a stand-alone and does not require any reading in order, so
laugh your way through the suspects, zany family members and friends, goofy TV people and their behaviors, facts about the process work of a bladesmith, amazing plot twists, and red herrings as we try to guess the perpetrator before the end of the book!
This cannot be an unbiased review because I reread some of them (the print copies walk away so now I have them in audio) and wait with bated breath for each new one.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
laugh your way through the suspects, zany family members and friends, goofy TV people and their behaviors, facts about the process work of a bladesmith, amazing plot twists, and red herrings as we try to guess the perpetrator before the end of the book!
This cannot be an unbiased review because I reread some of them (the print copies walk away so now I have them in audio) and wait with bated breath for each new one.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
September 23, 2023
It's Christmas in Caerphilly again! This year Meg is participating in a blade-making competition at Ragnar's castle. When one of the contestants turns up dead it's anyone's guess whether he was the target or if someone is trying to sabotage the show. But no worries! Meg is on the case!
I love this series! Meg is so busy it makes me tired just to hear about her schedule. I did love that this book finds her at Christmas break for her kids and husband so the whole family is together. As much as I love Ragnar, I did miss her being at their house. I also kind of fell in love with crows. They're so sweet in this book, bringing gifts to people who care for them and pitching in their own help and clues as the story goes on. This series is a must-read for any cozy mystery fan!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
I love this series! Meg is so busy it makes me tired just to hear about her schedule. I did love that this book finds her at Christmas break for her kids and husband so the whole family is together. As much as I love Ragnar, I did miss her being at their house. I also kind of fell in love with crows. They're so sweet in this book, bringing gifts to people who care for them and pitching in their own help and clues as the story goes on. This series is a must-read for any cozy mystery fan!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
December 5, 2024
Hoarder surprise challenge-Dec X-mas tree on cover
I've seen this writer a few times at live author events. She's very charismatic & amusing.
But her series isn't really my jam. This is the 2nd one I've read.
I will say that I found this one less busy than the previous one and it was easier to follow along.
Still has a lot of characters. I would also say this is a series to do in order otherwise you may be lost on all the characters & their stories/relationships as the author doesn't do summary wrap-up's the way other cozy writers do.
Meg's old student friend has a new reality tv show about blacksmithing. She originally starts as a favor working as a consultant but then ends up as a contestant in the competition.
And of course, there is a mystery to be solved. The mystery presents itself midway thru the book.
There is a lot happening to keep the reader busy until you need to start using "the little grey cells" to puzzle out the mystery.
Lots of suspects w/various little clues along the way.
Some humor.
I would recommend it to those who enjoy reading Christmas cozies to get in the mood during the holiday season. There was plenty of "holiday spirit" in the story which was nice.
I've seen this writer a few times at live author events. She's very charismatic & amusing.
But her series isn't really my jam. This is the 2nd one I've read.
I will say that I found this one less busy than the previous one and it was easier to follow along.
Still has a lot of characters. I would also say this is a series to do in order otherwise you may be lost on all the characters & their stories/relationships as the author doesn't do summary wrap-up's the way other cozy writers do.
Meg's old student friend has a new reality tv show about blacksmithing. She originally starts as a favor working as a consultant but then ends up as a contestant in the competition.
And of course, there is a mystery to be solved. The mystery presents itself midway thru the book.
There is a lot happening to keep the reader busy until you need to start using "the little grey cells" to puzzle out the mystery.
Lots of suspects w/various little clues along the way.
Some humor.
I would recommend it to those who enjoy reading Christmas cozies to get in the mood during the holiday season. There was plenty of "holiday spirit" in the story which was nice.
July 24, 2023
In this Christmas installment of the series, Meg and her family are planning for their normal celebrations, as her friend Ragnar has agreed to host a reality show blade smithing contest on his premises. But when her friend, Faulk is attacked and can no longer participate, Meg is asked to take his place. Reluctantly, she agrees, hoping she can find out who attacked Faulk. She finds that the contest is full of both cheating and blackmail and fears another attack. As she works with the local police, friends, family and some wise and wily crows to uncover the culprit, her fears become a reality. This mystery is full of numerous plot twists, and the identity of the culprit was one I did not anticipate. I enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere, and the humor and warmth of the Meg and her family. And I would love to decorate like Ragnar for the holidays! Another enjoyable installment in this series! My wife did receive an advance copy of this book, and I am glad she did. This is a series we both enjoy reading. The opinions of this review are my own.
June 12, 2023
Meg has been asked multiple times to participate in a new reality show about being a blademaster. She feels her plate is full enough and declines. Then her mentor Faulk is attacked and she finds out he has money riding on the success of the show. She also agrees to compete to help find who attacked Faulk.
This has got to be one of my favorite book series. I love that Meg is such a capable sleuth. One who is friends with the police, and the police ask for her help. I loved the mystery and trying to distinguish who the culprit was.
This has got to be one of my favorite book series. I love that Meg is such a capable sleuth. One who is friends with the police, and the police ask for her help. I loved the mystery and trying to distinguish who the culprit was.
March 18, 2025
This outing with Meg & her family had an extra twist when she is forced to take the place of her blacksmith friend, Faulk, on a bladesmithing reality show after he's attacked. As she reluctantly participates, she finds that there is more going on than just blacksmithing & those ubiquitous crows know more than people think. Always a fun time in Caerphilly.
November 25, 2024
The cozy mystery aspect was very entertaining, but how one small town could have so much wealth and talent still has me scratching my head! I think my group leader selected it for its UBER holiday aspects.
October 12, 2023
Over the top as usual. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
October 21, 2023
Often when an author is deep into a series, the plot becomes boring and repetitive, but not so with Donna Andrews! Her Meg Lanslow series continues to entertain and offers plenty of twists and turns to the conclusion. Well done!
November 14, 2023
As usual love this series - punny Christmas capers
November 15, 2023
I love revisiting Meg’s whole gang. The book was so festive and cheerful it made me even more excited for the season.
April 18, 2024
Most enjoyable! I really liked the crows!
July 16, 2024
I so want to live there and be part of this family!
Read
December 1, 2024Listened
December 20, 2024
A busybody spends more time eavesdropping and interfering than working as a blacksmith on a reality show being filmed on an estate in a small town.
February 9, 2024
I love that this story focused on the blacksmithing
March 6, 2024
I just love this whole series. I get so wrapped up in the Caerphilly world whenever I read these, and I find Meg so relatable! Keep ‘em coming!
June 11, 2023
It is Christmas time in Caerphilly but instead of the usual family holiday chaos Meg finds herself involved in a blacksmithing reality TV show, Blades of Glory, that was organized by a blacksmith friend, Alec. The show is filming at the local mansion turning Goth castle owned by family friend and retired heavy metal drummer, Ragnor. One of the contestants, Faulk, is the blacksmith who trained both Meg and Alec. When Faulk is injured and unable to compete, Meg reluctantly takes his place after learning that Faulk and his husband have invested in the show with funds they can’t afford to lose. The first challenge’s filming is marred by one contestant’s cheating and being disqualified. But if that wasn’t drama enough he turns up dead. There are plenty of suspects since the dead man was not popular and the castle is filled not only with the show’s crew but various other daily guests, including a large part of Meg’s family, as well as the permanent artist residents Ragnor attracts.
I love the Meg Langslow mysteries. Well plotted, quick enjoyable reads with characters that have become old friends over the course of thirty-four books. This time I didn’t really see the murderer coming and was as surprised as Meg was.
The Christmas stories often bring out the most amusing circumstances in a family that attracts chaos and this one is no exception. I have started to reread the earlier books in the series just because, well, just because Meg and her friends and family are such fun. Highly recommended.
I love the Meg Langslow mysteries. Well plotted, quick enjoyable reads with characters that have become old friends over the course of thirty-four books. This time I didn’t really see the murderer coming and was as surprised as Meg was.
The Christmas stories often bring out the most amusing circumstances in a family that attracts chaos and this one is no exception. I have started to reread the earlier books in the series just because, well, just because Meg and her friends and family are such fun. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews