It is always a delight to return to this world and this book was no exception. Donna Andrews has such an amazing way of combining humor, mystery, intrigue, and just genuine characters.

In this book, Meg is competing in a reality blacksmithing competition show sort of in the style of forged in fire. During the course of the filming of the show. Someone is murdered which is no surprise.

And of course it is up to not only the town sheriff and the deputies but Meg as well to help solve the murder and catch a killer.

In the process of doing all of this, she is also getting to spend time with her husband and her twin sons while celebrating the Christmas season.

I enjoyed every second of this book. Not only do you have some of the old favorite characters in this book, but you really get to know some of the newer editions to the town as well. As always, it's such a delight to read any book in this series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for allowing me an arc of this delightful audiobook.

A great murder mystery with a strong female lead.

This is my first Donna Andrews and I'm so glad I grabbed this book! What a warm introduction to the series. I found all the running side characters likeable and they added a great deal to the cozy setting. Ragnar--an altruistic former Norwegian black metal musician-- was my favorite character, so strange, yet endearing. I really enjoyed the setting, the reality competition for blacksmiths taking place on the grounds of Ragnar's castle.

I loved the small town mom sleuth blacksmith, Meg Langslow really won me over. A really unexpected win for me, and it got me in the Christmas cheer early in the year.

I have to say, I like every one of her books!
They’re sweet. They’re bright ( for the most part). And they star a female lead!!
That being said, Meg finds herself in a whirlwind of a time when her good friend gets hurt just before they are due to start taping a brand new show. And the show revolves around blacksmiths!
When she was originally asked to be a part of the show, she declined, but now that her friend was mugged, and hurt, she really has no choice but to jump in his place…so the show could go on! (Tune the Titanic music here 🎶)
But as soon as they start taping, weird things begin to happen…and so Meg needs to step in and start sleuthing to get to the bottom of this!
Great characters! Nice small town vibes! Great that she can also feature her husband and twins in this one too!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook!

#Let it crow, let it crow, let it crow by #DonnaAndrews.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Release date 10.10.23…so look for it on shelves now!

The books in the Meg Langslow Mystery series are always an enjoyable way to escape into a mystery. I love the large extended family and circle of friends that make appearances in various stories. The latest is a great addition to the series. The book has a good number of suspects, a fair number of secrets and a nice amount of humor to keep it light. I really enjoyed this installment and think it is a great book to curl up with during the holiday season! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I highly recommend this series!

Reasons I decided to request this one from Netgalley: I want to read more cozy mysteries, I love Christmas, and I have a weird love of Forged in Fire (a blacksmithing competition show).

I'm SO glad I decided to request this one! It had all the Christmas vibes, I loved the competition portion, and I found Meg Langslow to be such a great protagonist. She was so relateable (she was also the kid who finished tests super early and then pretended not to sp the other kids wouldn't judge or feel bad 😅).

I do have one small complaint to mention, which is it does fall into the same trope that a lot of modern murder mysteries do: the police are good and an experienced detective would NEVER charge an innocent man.

Overall, I loved this book a LOT. I am definitely going to check out other books in the series!

Meg gets shanghaied into appearing on one of those knife/sword making contest shows when her friends financial endeavor is in trouble when one of the other blacksmiths gets attacked and knocked out of the contest. But who is trying to win so bad they will hurt the other contestants to win? The Winslow’s are on the case so it is only a matter of time but can it be solved before someone, Meg included, is seriously hurt.
This is another wonderful Meg Winslow book. I had the audio version and the narrator was awesome and made the story pop. I love the Donna Andrew books a lot and they never seem to disappoint and this won’t either.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher and Donna Andrew’s for this audio ARC.

I enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would. It kept me guessing. I wasn’t able to stop listening to it.

'Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow!' is a fast, light read that's brimming with Christmas spirit and good cheer (a little murder, too).

This is #34 in a series, but don't let that scare you off - I not only haven't read any of the earlier 33 books, I also haven't read anything by this author at all yet. It definitely works as a standalone book, no prior knowledge of Meg Langslow is required to enjoy the voicey, strong protagonist or her world.

To ground you: when Meg's blacksmithing mentor, Faulk, is attacked, Meg steps in to fill in for him at a bladesmithing reality TV competition (think: The Great British Bake-off, but with swords). She's flying under the radar to figure out who took Faulk out, but soon she's caught up in the intrigue. Then a dead body shows up and the stakes are raised!

The pacing in this was great - it's a light, cozy read but even though the thrill factor isn't high it never drags. There are enough twists to keep you slightly off-balance, but the setting and cozy vibes make it more of a 'too much eggnog' imbalance rather than a 'falling off of a cliff' kind of imbalance.

Meg is a unique (and very likable) character and I enjoyed how she was a strong woman who enjoys traditionally masculine activities (blacksmithing/bladesmithing) but it isn't at the expense of other, more traditionally feminine women. There's no 'not like other girls' ick here!

The Christmas vibes were just *chef's kiss.* You wouldn't think murder is cozy, but this mystery was like cuddling up in front of the fireplace.

Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan, for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Meg & her entire family! The humor in this series gets me every single time! I have not read the entire series yet and that is definitely on my list of things to do! My favorite part of this is her having to compete against the dudes even though she really didn't want to AND kicking their asses!

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! is # 34 in the Meg Langslow series, but the first I’ve read. Honestly, the bird titles just never grabbed my attention. But this one takes place at Christmas and I always love a fun Christmas mystery. It worked fine as a stand-alone, although I assume I would know the characters way better if I had started at the beginning.

Meg is a wife, mother, and blacksmith – which really has nothing to do with birds. She has been roped into competing on Blades of Glory, a weapon-making reality show being filmed at Ragnar’s house right before Christmas. The show has a variety of competitors, all men except Meg, some of whom are nice and some are total jerks. The two producers and the director are not so great either and want to keep any holiday feel out of the show. Sabotage, an attack, and a murder occur on the set, and Meg uses her insider position to help with the investigation.

It was a fun, light read with a few plot twists. I enjoyed the competition setting, but I have a weakness for reality tv. Meg seems like a more than capable investigator and I appreciate that she works with the police instead of fighting with them.

I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. Her accents and pacing clearly differentiate the characters and she brought Meg and the rest of the eccentric cast to life.

We also get plenty of Christmassy stuff- decorations, music, huge meals, even a sled parade.

Donna Andrews gives us another wonderful entry in the Meg Langslow series. This time Meg gets to really put her blacksmith skills to the test as she becomes a contestant on a sword-making reality show. Of course, there has to be something to put her sleuthing skills to the test. You guessed it - someone dies. This series is a really good cozy mystery series and I always look forward to the next book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this book.

I did not know that this was an ongoing series when I started and even though I'll be going back and starting from the beginning I don't feel like I couldn't follow the story. Meg is a blacksmith but doesn't love or want the spotlight. When her mentor and some friends get to working on a 'Forged in Fire' type TV Show she refuses to participate. All fine until h2er good friend who is depending on this show going well for their financial wellbeing needs help. Then ensues murder mystery. Bonus....CROWS! I love crows and the ones in this story are highly involved and I love them.

This is giving Stephanie Plum vibes and I love it! This was an easy listen with a story that kept me engaged, entertained and ready for the next one.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of the audiobook version of LET IT CROW! LET IT CROW! LET IT CROW! (Book 34 of the Meg Langslow mystery series) by Donna Andrews and narrated by Bernadette Dunne in exchange for an honest review. Meg is helping out with a Forged in Fire type blacksmithing competition being filmed at the residence of a retired heavy-metal drummer, but she repeatedly declined to enter the competition because her friend and mentor Faulk was a competitor. However, when Faulk is attacked and severely injured on the eve of the competition, Meg is pressured into taking his place since Faulk’s investment in the project would cause him a significant financial loss if the series fails. When cheating and murder ensue, Meg, assisted by her family and friends, are back to sleuthing.

I liked this book and really enjoy the series. I recommend the series to fans of bird-themed humorous cozy murder mysteries featuring actors, blacksmiths, tons of animals, and a never-ending supply of zany friends and relatives.

A main reason I love these books is that Meg Langslow is just so darn pragmatic. Is she an amateur detective? Yes, she is. Does she share all of her information with the police chief? Does she actively hide evidence or mess up crime scenes? No she does not. She's smart, she solves crimes, and she does so without being an bumbling idiot.

Even better, she's competent at any number of things (though she has her failings) and her blacksmithing, which sometimes takes a back seat, is out in full force during this book. There is a reality competition being filmed at Ragnar's estate and Meg is there as a general dogsbody. She has been asked to be in the show but prefers not to. However, when someone attacks her friend and mentor Faulk, Meg reluctantly joins so that he won't lose the investment money he and his husband put into the filming the show which was thought up by another one of Faulk's students.

I got ARCs of both the ebook and audiobook. The ebook was not as good though I had some personal stuff going on which made it harder to concentrate. The audiobook, and Bernadette Dunn, were amazing as always.

Four stars
Follows Birder, She Write
This book comes out October 10, 2023
Opinions are my own

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! audio and e-book by Connie Berry. This is the thirty-fourth book of her Meg Langslow series and the second I have listened to and read. I enjoyed this one much more than the first, primarily because I was familiar with it and the characters. The story revolved around a reality T.V. show being filmed at Ragnar’s castle. The show was presenting competing blacksmiths creating weapons. Meg has been asked to step in at the last minute after someone had attacked her friend and teacher, Faulk, and they needed an immediate stand-in. She didn’t really want to do it but she really owed Faulk, especially after she discovered that he and his partner, Tad, had invested heavily. Weapons were not her product of choice, but she was a good blacksmith and could handle it. The first day of filming she discovered someone had fiddled with the temperature on her forge and she she had her nephew (who lived in her basement) install some cameras to identify the suspect, which she did in short order. It made for some dramatic moments on the show when Meg revealed the recorded footage on her iPad. Brody had already been eliminated, but he didn’t take it or the revelation well.

Meg is a good character: a wife and mother, and a woman who dabbles in many jobs: working for the city part-time and blacksmithing being only two of them. She took her life where her interests led her. She lived in a small town, Carfilly, Virginia, where she knew all of the inhabitants, many of them being her relatives. Her Southern roots and her mother’s influence have made her into a gracious and warm woman who keeps herself involved and active. She’s a terrific character. The murder was complicated and involved people on the set and off. It was Christmas and it all threatened to ruin the holiday, which Meg could not allow. Spending part of the holiday at the castle with her family with their lovely suite, the great food, and the plethora of activities for her pre-teen boys, made the holiday even more special than usual. Meg was nosey, though, and couldn’t resist “helping” the local police, despite the fact they didn’t really need it. It was a satisfying read with plenty of twists and turns and interesting characters.

The reader for this book is Bernadette Dunne and I have believe it is she that has turned me off to this series. She does all the other characters well, but Meg’s voice is grating and makes her sound 80-years-old. I think there could be a better reader for this lovely series, although she has been there from the beginning.

I was invited to listen by MacMillan Audio and read by St Martins Press, both through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #McMillanAudio #StMartinsPress #DonnaAndrews #BernadetteDunne #LetItCrowLetItCrowLetItCrow

Such an amazing book! I didn't want it to end.

Meg is in a TV reality show for blacksmithing on Ragnor's mansion. A show she didn't want to be on, but takes over for her friend after he is attacked. While watching her back, another crime is committed and now we are on the hunt for the person responsible.

This is my first book in the series that I have read and I love that could be read as a stand alone if needed.

I loved that it took place in Christmas and just in time to get ready for the holiday season!

Thank you Netgalley for the early audio of the book. I loved the narrator!

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 of this audiobook in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.

Meg is stuck in a reality blacksmithing competition and isn't happy about it! Especially when they find a dead body of one of the contestants. I loved that this one is set at Rancor's mansion. And that Michael and the twins play a major part without seeming forced. I was surprised by who did it but it made sense once the killer was reveled.

I have love all Meg Langlow's mysteries and this one is another Christmas classic in the making. I did devour this one way too fast and will have to reread soon just for the absolute pleasure of it!

Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow by Donna Andrews
Narrated by Bernadette Dunne
Book 34 in the Meg Langslow series
I have read most of this series, missing only a few in the earlier years. I love almost all of the Christmas books of which this is the tenth. This one was a knockout. Meg gets back to blacksmithing, we get to know more about Ragnar and it all takes place in a castle. It had just the right amount of Michael and the boys although not much of the rest of Meg’s huge family. Plus Meg has a wild ride on a big black Friesian horse including jumping a fence and there was an improbably excessive gingerbread house creating party. Seriously, Chartres cathedral, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Waterfall, Monticello and so much more that I have forgotten.
My favorite thing was learning the saying, “You can’t fix stupid.”
As always, Bernadette Dunne was a delight.

This is a delightful Meg Langslow holiday cozy mystery. Meg is helping out a friend who is producing a blacksmithing reality show where contestants compete to forge weapons. When Meg's mentor is attacked, she takes his place and becomes a contestant, while also trying to solve the mystery. This all takes place a week before Christmas. There is a lot festive cheer, and much sleuthing being done. This was a vey enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. Bernadette Dunne is a wonderful narrator as usual.