26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If Weddings were Wishes, May 28, 2002
I am not a frequent reader of the 'cozy' mystery genre. Not that I haven't enjoyed them over the years, but I normally go for a suspense story, with a dash of horror and a cup or two of pure detection. So notwithstanding the large number of Lilian Braun's and Elizabeth Peter's in my library, I tend to heavier fare. Inevitably, though, one needs a bit of light relief, based on several reviews and recommendations I decided to try Donna Andrews. Equally unusual for me, I began with the first in the series, not the last.
'Murder with Peacocks' introduces a new 'investigator,' Meg Langslow. No Miss Marple is Meg, she a young craftswoman specializing in ironmongery. In short, she is a blacksmith. Meg has returned home for a short time period to play wedding coordinator for three ceremonies, her best friend Eileen's, her brother Rob's, and her mother's. These are due to take place in Yorktown, a small town in Virginia, which seems to be occupied primarily by Meg's eccentric relatives, or by those who are shortly to become her relatives. All three brides seem determined to dump the work on Meg. It speaks a great deal for her temperament that it is not she who commits murder.
The victim, when she finally arrives is the extremely unpleasant sister-in-law of Jake, Meg's future stepfather. In the short time we get to know her, she manages to offend most of the Langslow brood, browbeat Jake, and terrorize the local children. It is not really a surprise when she shows up dead. It is a surprise though when Meg's father takes an interest in the case and suddenly is narrowly escaping being blown up and poisoned. Meg's own interest is piqued when she also faces several attempts on her life. The Langslow's eccentricity keeps saving their lives, but it us a near thing, and there are innocent bystanders to consider.
Into this already heady mix come Duck, an avian with a taste for devilled eggs, a flock of peacocks who step in as the alarm system, and the incredibly handsome Michael Waterston, a university professor who is taking care of his mother's dressmaking business while she is getting a facelift. Michael is the romantic interest, for Meg any, and is one of those rare people who has both looks and smarts. And, lest we forget, there's Samantha, the potential sister-in-law from hell.
This is a true comic mystery, where even the victims are a cause for hysteric. Andrews manages the difficult task of being delightful and grim, and manages to keep this confection of a plot spinning in the air right up to the end. This kind of material is tough to write, since it is always in danger of interminable cuteness. Meg has won me over, and I will be keeping a lookout for the rest of the series.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really Funny!, August 10, 1999
By A Customer
Move over, Janet Evanovich and Jennifer Crusie! Here comes another terrific author who writes hilarious mysteries! MURDER WITH PEACOCKS is a great read - very funny and very entertaining! The main character is Meg, a bridesmaid in three weddings this summer. Then a murder occurs. In between writing invitations, booking peacocks and other sundry bridesmaid duties, she attempts to solve the mystery.Add other fun characters, hilarious situations and a dropdeadgorgeous leading man (who I imagined to look like Greg Montgomery from Dharma and Greg), and you will have finished this book in no time! Bravo, newcomer Donna Andrews! Write some more - you're GOOOOOD!!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Light on the Mystery, Heavy on the Fun, January 4, 2002
Meg Langslow has agreed to be the maid of honor at three separate weddings. All three of the brides place the planning in her capable hands, leaving her running around trying to make sure all three weddings go smoothly. Which isn't easy when one wants a theme wedding but won't decide on dresses, and another wants peacocks. Then, an out-of-town visitor turns up dead under mysterious circumstances. Meg's father is convinced it's murder and drags her into his investigation. Soon, mysterious accidents convince Meg that her dad is right. But can she find the murderer before anyone else dies and still make sure the weddings go as planned?
This is a fun book. It's filled with eccentric characters that make it a pleasure to read. I often found myself chuckling or laughing at their behavior. However, as a mystery it leaves a little to be desired since solving the murder often takes a back seat to the antics of the brides and Meg trying to deal with them. Still, I found the book a pleasure to read. The characters come off as believable and not caricatures. The romantic sub-plot with Michael is amusing because we as the reader know what's going on, even if Meg has no clue. By the end of the book, the mystery has been solved and all the plots tied up, leaving me anxious for more.
An interesting note is that instead of chapters, the author breaks the action down by day. It makes for rather uneven breaks in the narrative, but it's also easier to keep track of the passing time since the plot takes place over two months.
In lesser hands, this book would have fallen flat, but in her debut, Donna Andrews proves what a superb writer she is. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Meg Langslow series.
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