Member Reviews

Another fabulous Bernadette Dunne narration of an another perfectly written Meg Langslow cozy mystery (the 35th!!!) by author Donna Andrews. Tensions are high among Caerphilly neighbors when the home makeover show, Marvelous Mansions, visits Caerphilly. After the town is infested with wild turkeys, and the homeowner turns up dead, Meg has her hands full trying to discover the murderer (and those responsible for the turkey prank!)! Between a Flock and a Hard Place was a pleasure to listen to, and I was kept guessing up until the end. Highly recommended! A+

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I'm a huge fan of Donna Andrews, and in fact I went to meet her at The Festival of the Book in Charlottesville. In my mind, the writer is a lot like the main character here, strong, clever, and energetic. Because of the picture I have in my mind, I had to get used to the narrator here, as she seemed younger than Meg Langslow at this point. However, she does a great job narrating this, and I felt like I was with her as she navigated the nuttiness that always happens around her. There is always something extra fun, and for me this time it was a reality show not living up to its responsibilities and leaving Meg to handle the fallout. The mystery was clever, and in the end, I still felt as though I would love to visit this fictional town so I could enjoy the antics in person. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy of Between a Flock and a Hard Place by Donna Andrews Narrated by Bernadette Dunne in exchange for an honest review. It publishes August 6, 2024.
As usual, Bernadette Dunne does an excellent job, she is truly one of my favorite narrators, and is totally the voice of Meg!
Another fun book in this series, I'm so glad that Donna Andrews is still writing them. I really appreciate all the bird facts, and the fact that I get to learn along with help solve a mystery! One thing about this book that took me by surprise is that there was quite a lot of fowl...er... foul-language. I was a little taken-aback by this, as I don't recall noticing so much colorful language in previous books.
Overall, this fits right in with the rest of the series!

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I've become a real fan of Donna Andrews and her Meg Langslow series. The publisher offered me an ARC a couple books ago and I was hooked. I'm working my way through the series from the beginning while also listening to the current books. While they're technically not standalone books, I think you can enjoy any entry in the series. Andrews reintroduces characters without being obvious that she's doing so and catches you up on the important things that have been going on in Meg Lansglow's universe.

A flock of turkeys and a home makeover show are both major parts of this novel, as well as a murder of course. The characters are all wonderfully written and well-developed. Their personalities are very believable and relatable. As with Andrews' other books, the pacing of the story is solid and her sense of humor shines through.

And since this was an audiobook, I don't want to forget the wonderful narration of Bernadette Dunne. She has been with this series since the beginning and helps bring the characters' voices to life.

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

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Meg, her dad, the sheriff and chief all part of the characters that make this series are here- and truck full of wild turkeys and stir in a murder. Thanks NetGalley for letting listen to this audiobook of one of my cozy mysteries, it did not disappoint!

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I love this series. I drop everything every time a new one comes out. The series has changed a lot since the beginning but Caerphilly has become a home away from home. Meg has to handle a turkey outbreak (like the movie The Birds) and a murder and lots of teens in trouble. This book is a little more
Pro police and pro dna testing (don’t trust databases!) than I like. But I still love this series.

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I adore Meg Langslow. I love her wild and whacky family, her quirky neighbours, the town of Caerphilly with all its Southern charm and the sheer madcap mayhem that ensues in every book. And, of course, there’s murder. I mean, really, what more can you ask from a cozy mystery? Oh — and the pun-y titles! The books are worth collecting just for those titles alone!

In fact, I am so enamoured with this series that it’s become an annual reread, well, re-listen, for me. I divide the books by 12 and read…er, listen, to 2 or 3 a month (saving all the Christmas books for last, of course.) This is my fourth year and I’m still as enchanted as the first time I met Meg and company!

I contribute some of my fascination with all things Langslow to narrator Bernadette Dunne. She has become the voice, well voices really, of this series, bringing distinctive qualities to each character that are consistent with every book! And her comedic beats are priceless. I get the feeling that she is getting just as much enjoyment out of the story as I am and that feeling is contagious…hence my compulsion to revisit each book every year. A brilliant author/narrator team!

‘Between a Flock and a Hard Place’ is #35(!) and held me gleefully spellbound all the way through. Lots of familiar characters — and I love how Grandfather is still going strong though he is well over 100 now. Spike too, he’s too ornery to die. 🙂 Absurd situations that seem downright normal for Caerphilly kick off a rollicking riot of twists and turns, high drama, and lots of laughs. And the way the town pulls together in times of adversity is inspiring! Just all kinds of feel good, heartwarming hilarity – the perfect cozy mix!

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

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Donna Andrews is such an enjoyable author. Her mysteries are very cozy and so much fun to read. I listen to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it.

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Book Title: Between the Flock and a Hard Place
Author: Donna Anderson
Series: Meg Langslow Book #35
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: August 6, 2024
My Rating: 4.4 Fun Stars
Pages 304


The reality TV show ”Marvelous Mansions” has come to Caerphilly to ‘remodel’ one of the historic homes. The Smetkamps won the home makeover.
However neighbors are unhappy with the inconvenience the construction crew has caused. The home renovation crew seems to be destroying the house instead of renovating it.
Now the neighbors are even more unhappy as over a hundred feral turkeys were dompted on the Smetkamps lawn.
If it was impossible for things to get even worse- they did as while trying to round up all the turkeys he body of Mrs. Smetkamp is found stuffed in a shed.
Who is the trouble-making prankster who brought the feral turkeys and where is the director of the construction project?

I have only read a few Meg Langslow stories- I. quickly got to know Meg and fell in love her and her somewhat quirky friends.
There is always a bird theme title - such as books " Murder with Peacocks, Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos, Owls Well that Ends Well, Stork Raving Mad" etc. This is #35 in this fun titled series!!!

Story is such a delightful read.
I still laugh when I think of little Tyler referring to something that happened two days ago the day before yesterday. (I just may use it just to see if I get a reaction!)

True the feral turkeys truly made an awful mess.
However, must admit I enjoy Granddad knowledge of their fossil ancestor history. Since this was an audiobook it did not include the author’s note which is a disappointed as I was curious of the research regarding these birds also curious about author attachment with birds!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 6, 2024.

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I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved this addition to the Meg Langslow series. I feral flock of turkeys has been left loose on a block where they are filming a remodeling show-let the hysterics begin! I loved the kids helping to solve the mystery of the turkeys and of course the murder. The narrator of this series is amazing too, She brings all the characters to life. I can't wait for the next one!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I was so excited to get approved for this book that I started listening right away! I love the Meg Langslow series! The stories are great and the narrator is awesome. The adventures Meg, her parents, kids and grandparents and extended family have are always entertaining.
This one was no exception. Great listen. I loved the idea of the home improvement show being a part of this mystery. The author always manages to come up with new and creative themes for each of the books! And really builds the characters book to book! Love them all!

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