It is my first time reading a book by Donna Andrews and I was able to read this book
for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was a slow read for me at the beginning but then it picked up. I did not know that this was a book for Meg Langslow mystery series.
(spoiler alert)
Meg and her husband Michael were directing a production of A Christmas Carol and having problems with the leading actor, Malcom Haver. This story takes place in a small town in Caerphilly Virginia. Malcolm was an obnoxious alcoholic who was playing the miserable and crabby scrooge. The story picks up when Meg starts to investigate who is smuggling animals, a murder and a overzealous fan with a very uncooperative lead actor. It was a nice cozy mystery and I enjoyed reading it.

I really enjoyed How the Finch Stole Christmas. It is the 22nd book in the Meg Langslow Mystery series. This was my introduction to Meg, her family, and the town of Caerphilly. I am pleased with how well the book stood on its own.
Meg is a well developed main character. Her relationships with her family, friends, and the townspeople are well established and feel authentic. The "guest characters" were well drawn and fit into the story seamlessly. I was drawn into the mystery and was kept guessing until the killer was revealed.
I plan to go back and read the series from the beginning.

Another Donna Andrews fun tale. I so enjoy the characters and settings. A perfect cozy mystery - no gore, afun whodunit!

Finches, puppies, cats oh my. Meg and her family or back. Bigger, crazier, with more confusion then even santa can take. Michael is putting on his annual christmas carol show this time he's the director with Meg as backup. They have a prima a donna star that may or may not have committed murder and crazy fan girl stalker, animal mill with a tiger , chimps, cats, puppies , finches oh my. I love this series its colorful without being gruesome well developed characters and backstory. We keep this author on automatic order for that very reason.

A smuggling ring, a corpse in the snow, and a Christmas program. Only Donna Andrews can seamlessly combine these into a cohesive cozy mystery. This year's Christmas play in Caerphilly will feature a has-been actor in the hope the name recognition will improve ticket sales. However, when the actor comes to rehearsals drunk everyday (if he comes at all), Meg and Michael must prepare for the worst. Meg has other things on her plate, though, as she stumbles upon an animal smuggling ring, and a boot in the snow (which happens to have the foot of a corpse in it). Through all of this, Donna Andrews brings the cozy to this cozy mystery, making the reader feel right at home with her huge family, as well as getting us in the Christmas spirit. This is a Donna Andrews mystery at it's best. Cannot recommend this book enough to cozy mystery readers.

The only thing I didn't like about this book is the feeling when I finished it and realized that I was going to wait a long time for the next one. It's a delight to read, the mystery is solid and the characters are all people you wish really existed. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give this one a fifteen.

Another wonderful story by Donna Andrews. Meg is at it again, trying to manage her full life, of husband, twins, the town, her family, etc. and help rescue the animals in a smuggling bust and a murder, plus find the drunken Scrooge who is causing lots of problems for Michael. How can the Christmas play go on? Fun read, from start to finish. Had suspicions about the murderer, but still found it interesting how it was revealed. Highly recommend this book, this series and this author. A great book to put you in the mood for Christmas.

Another entry in the Meg Langslow mystery series. It is Christmas in Caerphilly again. This year, it was decided to hire a name actor to play Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." Unfortunately, the minor star has made himself very unpopular and has a habit of showing up to rehearsals drunk. Meanwhile, a wildlife smuggling ring is in operation nearby, flooding the town with confiscated birds. As usual, Meg sticks her nose into everything.

It is always a pleasure to spend time with Meg and her friends and relations, but the plot in this one is too diffuse and the wackiness muted. It's not bad, but it's not up to the usual standards.

I've read other Donna Andrews books before, most of which I liked better than this one. It was difficult to get into and just hard to follow at times. Also, it wasn't nearly as funny as many of her other books. They're mysteries, to be sure, but they're usually funny mysteries...

Fans of the series will be very comfortable with this outing. Animals, as is frequent, play a role including many Gouldian (?) finches. Family members pop up including a new trend of new family members being introduced (and basically disappearing) and a few locals get a bit more page time.

This is a very Meg centered book. While close family get a little page time, they don't play much of a role even Michael, who again, is putting on a Christmas production. That was fine with me, but those readers who really enjoy the family antics may be disappointed.

A mystery killer for me is the killer outing themself, which is what I felt happened here. I didn't see any proof, but the killer does mention that they felt the police were getting close. OK, I won't ding you for that, but...

I'm finding this a hard review to write without giving away plot points not mentioned in the blurb. I think I'll just say that there wasn't enough development and explanation of all aspects of the bad guys' personalities and motivations.

I wish the author had continued to use Meg's blacksmithing as an element of the books instead of frequently having Michael's or her grandfather's activities being the focus of the story lines, it has really gone to the wayside despite a very brief mention here.

A good, enjoyable outing, but it didn't blow me away.

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

This book was OK, it seemed to drag a lot. I think part of it is that this series has gone on too long. She needs to wrap this series up and start something new and fresh