I so love visiting with Meg and her family. It seems like there is always a lot going on in Caerphilly. Although the mystery is the 'star' of the book (as it should be), I really enjoy Meg's family and all the activity at her house. They mystery has the twists and turns that kept me guessing a bit. This is a book that I couldn't put down and had me laughing in places as I read it. I can't wait for the next one.

Meg Lanslow continues to work her magic in Caerphilly, employing both PI and social worker skills (though employed as neither) in this 33rd in a long-running series.

This episode centers on beekeeping; neighborhood conflicts between working farmers and NIMBY (Not in my backyard) residents of new McMansions; a long-lost 1800s African-American cemetery, where a very recent corpse is found; and blackmail.

Great fun as always!

How does Meg do it? I think the whole county would stop in its tracks if she weren't there to help! In this story she is helping hummingbirds being bullied, bees being threatened, and a farmer being harassed by entitled, snobby neighbors. Somehow a murder works its way in there. Meg, family, and friends jump in to help. Another delightful and humorous mystery!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. A great Med Lanslow mystery like always. I continue to be amazed that 30+ books in she can still come up with cute bird titles for the series.

Date is for the review, not the reading.

Meg is hoping for a restful day, but she doesn't get it. The mayor asks her to deal with the NIMBYs who are always complaining about the nearby farms. They are currently most upset by their next-door neighbor Edgar Bortnick's beehives.

Since Meg's father is currently an enthusiastic beekeeper, Meg is familiar with the situation. In fact, she has a newly installed beehive in her garden. But before she can go soothe ruffled feathers again, she is drafted to escort her grandmother Cordelia and Deacon Washington on a hunt at the southern end of the county for a lost black cemetery.

Cordelia is being trailed by Britni Colleton who writes for Sweet Tea and Sassafras - a Southern living magazine. She plans to spotlight Cordelia in a forthcoming issue. But Britni is a fish out of water on their hunt for a graveyard. She's always complaining about being hot and getting dirty. And when they discover a fresh dead body near the cemetery, things get even more interesting.

The body is that of Walter Inman, aka Wally the Weird, the most obnoxious of all the NIMBYs. He hasn't made any friends in town with his complaints and demands and has an extensive array of enemies including many of his fellow NIMBYs.

Between trying to solve Inman's murder, locating a missing Edgar Bortnick, discovering who murdered all of Edgar's bees, and trying to find out why Britni chose Cordelia for her article, Meg is kept quite busy.

This was another fun entry into the Meg Langslow series. I was especially taken with the Pomeranians who were being trained as search and rescue dogs and cadaver dogs. I also always like the way Meg handles all the outrageous situations she finds herself in.

"Birder, She Wrote" is an absolute hoot of a cozy mystery that had me hooked from the moment I started it! Meg Langslow, the amateur detective and professional blacksmith, is back at it again, and she finds herself juggling more than just bees and hummingbirds in her backyard. When a nosy reporter starts sniffing around with Meg's delightful grandmother in tow, things take a sinister turn, and the discovery of a fresh corpse leaves Meg with a mystery to solve. With the help of her quirky family and a bunch of fascinating characters, Meg sets out to crack the case and protect her beloved town from danger.

Donna Andrews weaves a complex and engaging plot full of surprises, humor, and delightful tidbits about beekeeping and rural life. Meg's witty banter and the lively cast of characters add charm and depth to the story, making it a pure joy to read. The book is peppered with fascinating facts about beekeeping and even the distinction between cadaver and search and rescue dogs. Even a newcomer to the Meg Langslow mysteries should have no trouble diving into this adventure and it will leave you hungry for more. The blend of mystery, family dynamics, and a touch of Virginia countryside magic make "Birder, She Wrote" an absolute must-read for any cozy mystery lover. Whether you're a seasoned fan of the series or a first-time reader, you're in for a delightful treat with this book! I can't wait to see what Donna Andrews has in store next.

Meg and Cordelia, her grandmother, join others in a search for a lost African American cemetery. They do find it, but also find the recently murdered body of one of the town’s most disliked characters. There is a lot going on in this cozy mystery - a murder, a missing neighbor, drugs, moonshine, an annoying magazine writer interviewing Cordelia, bee hive treachery, blackmail, the NIMBYs who move to a rural area and then hate that there are animals and farms.

This is the thirty third in the Meg Langslow mystery series; it is the first I have read. It was OK as a standalone, but there are many characters and as I imagine most of them have been introduced in earlier books, it was a little difficult at first to keep them and their relationships straight. The story takes place in Virginia. Meg is not a detective, but rather a decorative blacksmith who sometimes helps out the local mayor as well as enjoying becoming embroiled in local mysteries.

There is light humor throughout the book and I enjoyed the character of Meg. There was also a lot of information about raising bees as well as other flora and fauna found in rural living.

Fans of this series will welcome this addition to it.

It's been a long while since I dove into Meg's world, but it was a lovely trip back to Caerphilly! Meg's adventures haven't calmed over the years, even though her life seems a bit quieter in general. The cast of characters are a marvelous addition to this twisty mystery. Bees and birds and murder, oh my! The mystery itself kept me guessing until the end. I had plenty of hunches, but Donna Andrews kept proving me wrong. She's a masterful author and this book is proof of that. I had a fabulous time with this book and may have to go back and catch up on Meg's adventures that I missed.

A book - literally! - about the birds and the bees.

It’s a peaceful spring morning, and we see Meg doing something that rarely happens: she’s relaxing, in a hammock, watching the birds and enjoying the scent of the flowers. The peace is short-lived, alas. Within minutes, she distracted by a bully hummingbird, then interrupted by a call from Mayor Randall Shiffley, who’s requesting she, in her role as assistant to the mayor, check on a brewing issue between the NIMBYs (aka, “Not In My Back Yard”) and longtime resident Edgar Bostnick about Edgar’s beehives. The NIMBYs live in upscale Westlake and get offended that the scenic views of green fields and cows also contain cow patties or that the fresh air is frequently scented with manure. Or fail to understand that the fresh food and flowers they love are frequently pollinated by bees, it’s implied. Meg makes a note about it in her famous notebook-that-tells-me-when-to-breath and starts to relax again. The third interruption is from her brother and father who are installing new bees at her house. Before they get too far in the process, Meg’s grandmother Cordelia arrives, trailed by reported Britni Colleton. Britni is doing a profile of Cordelia for “Sweet Tea and Sassafras,” a snooty women’s magazine. Britni, however, looks like she was more prepared for profiling one of the NIMBYs, not a successful business woman Cordelia.

The bees get settled (with some help from Cordelia), and the ladies set off to help Deacon Washington look for the historic African - American (with possible slave burials) Muddy Hollow graveyard. After much hiking through muddy conditions, they do find the graveyard with the assistance of a pack of cadaver sniffing Pomeranians. The dogs also alert them to another body: Wally the Weird, one of the most outspoken NIMBYs. There are lots of people with motives for bumping off Wally. Not only has he harassing Edgar about his bees, he’s also become a bit of a vigilante, reporting everything from his neighbors’ grass being over a half inch high, to drug dealings at the local library and dead bodies buried on nearby farms. There’s even hints of him turning to blackmail.

A really fun book! I’m a fan of the Meg Langslow series in general, and this book was no exception. The mysteries tend to be fairly easy to figure out whodunit, but I’m a long time reader because of the main characters and the compassion they show for each other. Meg’s father is frequently shown as a big comical - more like the Pillsbury Doughboy than Indiana Jones Meg thinks at one point - but whenever someone is hurt, he shows how competent he is a physician, mostly because he cares about his neighbors and community. Despite not being a fan of the NIMBYs, Meg still helps two of them, giving them advise on reconnecting with loved ones and a potential career path, starting with an internship at the zoo. When one of the teenage Shiffleys is recruited to keep an eye on a stolen and abandoned car, the whole clan finds an excuse to drive by, just to check that he’s okay.

In addition, I enjoyed the educational bits about the hummingbirds and bees. There’s lots of fun little bits with new characters and old, like her tech guru nephew Kevin considering a 1930s Royal typewritten an honorary computer and maintaining it or the cadaver sniffing dogs being fluffy little Pomeranians (as a side note: it’s ironic how in an earlier book, Meg doesn’t want to adopt one of the litter of Poms that show up, but somehow ends up dog sitting at least 3 or 4 of them most of the time). I really liked the title and cover. All the books in the Meg Langslow series have bird references in the titles; this one has the bird reference, plus a reference to the long running TV series, “Murder, She Wrote,” and even includes an old fashion typewriter which shows up not only in the opening credits of “Murder, She Wrote” but also in “Birder, She Wrote.” There’s also a subtle mention of the Ukraine, indicating Ms. Andrew’s support for them, I’m assuming. And like many of the other books in the series, there’s lots of great cooks and tasty meals. Serious, is there anyone in Caerphilly that isn’t a great cook?

Like most of the books in the series, there’s enough background information so people new to the series don’t get lost - explanations about what Blake’s Brigade is and what SPOOR, for example - without getting bogged down in all the details.

Highly recommended!

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

This is a good entrant into the Meg Langslow mystery series. I would say it is sufficiently diverting and engaging, I read it in two days, This book continues the series trend to not exclusively focus on the murder of the week storyline that is common across most cozies.

While the cast of characters is as charming as ever, the story lagged in parts. This may not become one of my favorite Meg stories, but I am happy we were introduced to more peripheral characters in the county. I am interested in how the author will call back to them in the future. I especially look forward to learning more about beekeeping culture, it was a welcome animal addition to the Meg Langslow fictional universe.

Spending time in Caerphilly is always a joy. Birder, She Wrote is no exception. This time Meg and friends find a body in the woods, that brings up blackmail, a vandalized hive, and a neighbourhood of complainers. A fast read and chance to catch up with favourite characters.

This is the first book I have read by Donna Andrews, but it certainly won't be the last. The characters are fully developed and the setting, in the exurbs of Virginia, is relatable to any area in the country where urban dwellers are moving to the country and surprised, mystified, and offended by the difference between their idealized vision of country living and the reality of life in a more rural area. When one of the obnoxious ex-urbanites is murdered, the narrator, Meg Langslow--a long-time local with many, many ties to the established community--finds herself in the thick of the investigation. There are plenty of plot twists and red herrings, and it is so easy to keep turning the pages just to find out whodunnit. A great summer read.

Meg's family and connections have grown over the series/years, and it's great seeing them all. In this story, a beekeeper has gone missing, Meg's grandmother is being interviewed for a magazine, and of course there is a murder.

Although there is a feeling of community and a lot of backstory, I am convinced this book would also be enjoyable without having read the earlier ones in the series. (But it might make the reader want to pick up those earlier books.)

Some things I really liked:
1. People of all ages have diverse interests and personalities.
2. The swarm of tracking Pomeranians.
3. Meg's dad - brilliant, fumbling, and funny.

Oh, the things Meg gets dragged into… No matter what the situation, I know I’m in for a good story and a lot of laughs. I love everything about this series: Meg, her extremely large family, the other townspeople, the animals, and the situations Meg finds herself in. The stories are always well written with a nice flow and pace. The mysteries are complex and have just enough suspects to keep you guessing the whole way. I can’t wait to see what they get up to next.

BIRDER, SHE WROTE by Donna Andrews

What a troubled web! There are poisoned bees, murder, blackmail, and constant complaints from NIMBY homeowners, “city folk” objecting to the sights — and smells — of country living. Meg, with help from family and friends, works to solve and resolve mysteries and problems, locating the site of a neglected graveyard, protecting her grandmother from a horrible “content creator,” and bringing a surly teen into the happy orbit of family, friendly dogs, and hummingbird feeders. This book was too much fun! I read it in less than a day, which seldom happens. I believe I have a new addition to my list of favorite authors, and I know a bit more about bees, too.

Birder, She Wrote


* have read most of Donna Andrew’s books and enjoyed them. I thought the plot was light in this book. How much can you say about the bees and their hives. Characters were well-written. Not much said about the twins. Mystery was also light. The details were repeated now and again.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

When searching for a lost slave graveyard results in finding a fresh body, Meg and the Caerphilly regulars are on the case. Is the man’s murder connected to his habit of following high school and college students to try to catch them doing something illegal? Is it related to his constant complaints about his neighbor’s bees, bees which have been found killed? Why does Meg feel there’s something off about the reporter who’s following her grandmother? Narrowing down the suspects will take the specialized knowledge and joint efforts of Meg’s family and friends.

Opening a Meg Langslow mystery feels like reconnecting with old friends. I enjoy the strong female characters and the tight-knit community of family and friends Andrews has created. I also learn something about the natural world when reading this series; in this case, hummingbirds and bees. Picturing Pomeranians as SAR and cadaver dogs made me smile and is typical of the humor in this mystery. Although this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. Recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you for the E Arc NetGalley and Minotaur books. If you haven’t picked up a Donna Andrews book yet, what on Earth are you waiting for? You get humor, you get suspense, you get thrills and mystery, you get people who love animals, a strong healthy family and strong matriarchs. Pick up Birder, She Wrote or read these in order (although you don’t need to, they stand alone beautifully), just pick one up! You wont regret it!

I have been a fan of the Donna Andrew’s bird series since the first book. Although the focus has changed a bit, I feel like I am visiting with old friends every time I start a new book in the series. I will keep reading!

I finished reading Birder, She Wrote. Throughout the book I tried to figure out how the title fit because the whole story revolved around bees with only a brief mention of hummingbirds. The murder of the bees was thought to be a major clue to the murder of a man, Mr. Inman, and the attempted murder of a beekeeper.
The first half of the book, which I rate two stars, was slow and repetitive with the main character, Meg, an amateur detective, following the mystery of who killed the bees throughout. The second half , which I would rate as three stars, moved faster as Meg uncovers the real reason for the murder and the crimes of some of the NIMBYS. Her life is in danger because of her findings. That part was perhaps what saved the book.
The characters were well described as was the setting. I just wish that the plot had been more compelling. Overall I would rate the book as two and a half stars.