Meg Lanslow is back! As usual Meg is busy juggling family, friends and helping with a community project along with a murder. I love Donna Andrews stories about Meg and family. If I tell you too much it spoil it for you so, I suggest you grab a copy, clear your schedule and sit back and enjoy another adventure. You will be glad you did!
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Donna Andrews for an advance copy to review.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, in return for an honest review. While this is the 27th book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Meg Langlow has an interesting family and a never-ending list of personal and professional tasks to do. Spearheading the Caerphilly Helping Hands for the Holidays project to help those who can’t do for themselves, she finds herself mediator, cajoler, and fixer in charge for many projects. The latest involves Harvey whose hoarding has gotten completely out of hand. When she visits him to assess the situation and convince him to allow the community to help clear things up, he is very concerned that his treasures be saved. No one is quite sure if the treasures have real monetary value or that’s just in Harvey’s mind. When he’s badly injured, is it by his horrible cousins, the unpleasant neighbors or someone else in town? Meg’s bound and determined that this bad deed won’t go unpunished by just coal in their stocking. Enlisting her family and friends, she works to bring Harvey the best Christmas present possible.
Ms. Andrews does quirky people, settings and puns with the best of authors. Adding in a delicate touch when writing about the disease of hoarding, she’s written another strong entry in this long-running series. Meg is a fun and interesting woman with a big heart and a keen eye for the human foibles surrounding her. Add in a long history of solving crimes and this is another winner in this series.

Ah, bliss, another excellent book by Donna Andrews to get us through these troubling times. The Gift of the Magpie was just what was needed to keep my spirits up. The only problem is, now I have to wait for the next one since I finished it in one sitting.

Another holiday murder mystery from a wonderful series. Meg is at it again, trying to manage many different projects plus deal with her family. When she finds a victim in the garage, lying in a pool of blood, she tries to find out who did it. A lot of red herrings help to keep you guessing, and many fun characters. Also love seeing the twin boys and Michael as the years go on. Highly recommend this author, series and book. Can be read alone, but would suggest you give others a try. A favorite series of mine, and if you love cozy mysteries give this one a try.

Christmas in Caerphilly is always a spectacular event and in The Gift of the Magpie, it's even more - this year includes - murder, burglary, guard dogs, delicious food and a clash of the titans when Grandfather and Rose Noire each claim a flock of runaway Magpies! When the Helping Hands for the Holidays group, headed by Meg Lanslow, tackles the assignment of helping Harvey the Hoarder clean out his home, little does anyone know it will lead to murder!

The was my favorite of the Christmas books. The mystery, humor and interactions of family at holiday time was right on target. If I wasn't laughing, I was touched by the loving spirit of the book. It's the perfect cozy mystery for the holidays. I enjoyed seeing the twins growing up, the inclusion of Rob and Delaney and other family members in the series and it wouldn't be a Lanslow adventure without Spike and Tinkerbell!

It's a perfect Christmas present for yourself and other cozy mystery lovers!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I will admit I have not read all the books in this series, but the title and eye catching cover was the reason I requested to read this book. I’m so very happy that I did!
Meg is a fun character, one who is dedicated to family and friends, and her love for her community shines through in this story.
I don’t want to say to much for fear I would spoil it for someone else, but all I can say I’d read this book!!
There’s so many quirky characters in this story, plenty of twists and turns, and several laugh out loud moments.

Whenever I finish one of the books in this series, I feel like I've unwillingly left a family reunion. The mystery is interesting enough to keep you interested, but it's the family that the book revolves around. I always enjoy these books. Donna Andrews is one of those authors that you wish could write faster.

good-works, family-dynamics, friendship, situational-humor, verbal-humor, law-enforcement, cozy-mystery, murder-investigation, hoarding, animal-welfare

Warning! I liked it so much that I pre-ordered an audio copy!
Come for the laughs and puns, stay for a good mystery, and perhaps to learn some things! Meg Langlow is a craft blacksmith/organizational wizard with a very large, impressive, and quirky family and she is the protagonist. Michael Waterston is her drama professor/former star of a cult sci-fi TV series husband. Dr. Langslow is her father/mystery geek/local Medical Examiner. And a cast of most of the town of Caerphilly, Virginia. It's the Christmas season and in the Good Works department is a community effort to help anyone with a need that can be filled with the help of volunteers, whether hauling manure, making a wheelchair ramp, or helping a man who is overcome by clutter. That last one is the man who needs Meg's persuasion to accept help and find creative answers to the fears he has. Add in some truly awful neighbors and some even worse cousins, and you can guess why Meg finds him nearly dead of blunt force trauma in his garage. Let the sleuthing begin!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I believe this is the seventh book set around Christmas time by Andrews, my memory of those books is Michael's show, one man or otherwise, of A Christmas Carol being center stage. I immediately thought, "Oh no, not another." Well, the crazy Christmas antics of the Langslow extended family and Michael's current one man show of A Christmas Carol is back burner to a more somber story of hoarding and community members needing assistance. Another charitable service, animal rescue, is also brought in.

So, while not so dark and gloomy that you'll feel depressed while and after reading, definitely a more somber and thought provoking read from Andrews.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

OMG, I love this series so much!!! Every book is like being wrapped in a warm blanket where I get to chuckle as I read about these zany characters I’ve come to think of as my own family. I especially love when the books are situated at Christmas time! No spoilers, but I especially loved the surprise ending and how everyone got their comeuppance.

A great, holiday themed addition to this series. A great mystery, with an amazing twist at the end full of lots of seasonal touches. You won’t be disappointed by this book.

I loved this book. I love this series and this author. Meg and her family and friends are helping out the people in need in particular Harvey who is a hoarder. Unfortunately someone wants Harvey dead so Meg sets out to help the chief found out who the culprit is. The ending is the best. I only wish the book was longer as I read it too fast. #The Gift of the Magpie #NetGalley

The Meg Langslow series is one of my favorite in the mystery genre.. "The Gift of the Magpie" is another good, humorous addition to the series.