Meg is enjoying an afternoon at her brother’s house when it’s interrupted. Not by the backhoe, that noise is expected. Rather, it’s the lack of noise. A skeleton has been uncovered.
Even though her family is, of course, helping uncover the whole skeleton, Meg is also dealing with housing dogs that are up for adoption until the Mutt March takes place in a few days. It’s a major adoption event and, while there are plenty of volunteers, they are also having to deal with the worry that someone may be trying to adopt a dog for nefarious purposes.
As usual, a lot going on but Meg manages it all with aplomb if not always with dignity. A lot of call backs to previous books in the series, especially since they are dealing with a skeleton that may be linked to the Pruitts. I don't think you need to have read previous books in the series to understand them all but reading and re-reading this series is always a delight, especially when Bernadette Dunne is narrating.

Four stars
Meg Langslow #37
This book comes out August 5, 2025
Follows Rockin' Around the Chickadee
ARC (both ebook and audiobook) kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Meg is back at it again when a skeleton is discovered in her brother's backyard. With the town organizing a mass adoption event for the local animal shelter, it's all hands on deck to make the event a success and figure out who could have been killed in Rob's backyard so long ago. This is the 37th book in the Meg Langslow cozy mystery series but it works just as easily as a standalone.

What I enjoy about Donna Andrews writing is that it's simple, straight forward and will have a city's worth of fun and crazy characters. This go around I learned about an entirely new species of ducks, the Cayuga and that they're not only black in color but they also lay black and dark colored eggs. The idea of a Pokémon themed animal shelter fundraiser was also unique and now I need to look that up. And of course, getting to check back in with Chief Burke who is always trying to solve one mystery or another and reminder that where there's a Pruitt there will be chaos.

Narrated by Bernadette Dunne, For Duck's Sake was an easy to get into audiobook. There is something almost maternal about the tone of Dunne's voice that makes you want to grab a cozy blanket and just listen like you're back at Storytime in school or your parents are reading to you. It's a difficult thing to name, but it just really works in the cozy genre for me.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy.

I love this series so much! I feel like part of the community of Caerphilly every time I visit and I enjoy catching up with Meg’s family and friends. This one had an intriguing cold case that had ties to the present and was fascinating to follow. Add in a dog parade for a good cause and I am happy to let the afternoon drift by as I get more absorbed into the story. While the stories themselves are standalone, start at the beginning to get in on all of the craziness that is the Langslow family.

I haven’t had much exposure to Meg Langslow even though this is book 37 in the series.
Donna Andrew’s was the Malice Domestic lifetime achievement honoree in 2025. It made me curious about her work.
For Duck’s Sake is descriptive, character driven and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Of course, if you’re going to try to hold a Mutt Parade for almost 400 dogs, you better have a sense of humor and a strong constitution.
In the middle of preparing for the Mutt Parade a skeleton is found where a future duck pond is slated to reside.
Plenty happens over the course of the elf the book. I found it a satisfying read. I like the narrator. I enjoy Meg’s voice as portrayed by the author and as voiced by the narrator.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to spend time with Meg Langslow.

I first discovered Donna Andrews’ writing through a Cozy Case Files sampler, and I was eager to dive into a full-length novel. Despite this being book 37 in the series, I had no trouble reading it as a standalone. The small-town setting was cozy and inviting, and the quirky, fun characters made it easy to settle in.

As an animal lover, I especially appreciated the strong animal/dog theme woven throughout the story. An added an extra layer of charm for me. The narration was well done overall. While I felt the narrator’s voice sounded a bit mature for Meg, they did a great job differentiating characters, making it easy to follow who was speaking.

This was a light, engaging read with the perfect cozy mystery vibes. I’ll definitely be coming back for more from this series and author!

I have to say two things!
1. I always enjoy these books!
2. I feel like I am listening to "Murder She Wrote" in book form every time I read/listen to one of these! :)

So, Meg finds herself at her brother's house. He is going to put in a Duck Pond in his backyard. While excavating the site they uncover skeletal remains... and so it begins!

Laughter, fun, craziness, small town antics, small town nuts... and of course, the dogs!!
Always!! This time there is going to be a Mutt March... and of course Meg is right in the middle of it!!

As always, it was utterly enjoyable and fun!

4 big, goofy, sweet ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

#ForDucksSake by @DonnaAndrews and narrated nicely by @BernadetteDunne.

*** THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! ***. SO PLEASE LOOK FOR IT ON 8/5/25!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Can I just say that I hope Donna Andrews never retires? This is the 37th (!!) in one of the best, and funniest, mystery series I’ve read. The mystery is, as always, quite unique, leading Meg, the chief, and sundry others into a missing persons, cold case past.

I enjoy every single character Andrews creates, and am so glad when she includes those from the past, even if just for a cameo appearance. With so many characters, it can get a little confusing, yet Andrews does an excellent job at distinguishing those who are central to the story from the rest. This time around, Meg’s neighbor Iris, plays a more critical role in the mystery, as human remains are found on her property (well, now Meg’s brother’s property) and, shaken by memories from the past, goes on the lam. Where Meg finds her is absolutely ingenious. Even more exciting, though, is the cantankerous Ethelinda Pruitt, who definitely steals the show in this story! If you read this book solely for Ethelinda’s scenes, you won’t regret it.

I wasn’t as interested in the standard community chaos event in this entry (a parade of stray dogs designed to get them into new homes), but was entranced by the incredibly creative and collaborative organization that went into the set up - not to mention the fact that Meg was almost completely hands off despite the majority of the program happening at her homestead. It played a role in unraveling the mystery, but otherwise was a distractor for me as I worried about Meg not worrying enough about what was going on there.

I was also able to listen to the audio of this one, narrated by the prolific Bernadette Dunn. She does an amazing job with all the different voices (so many in this series!). I just can’t align my vision of Meg to the voice Dunn uses for her. A couple of times, she slips into a different tone, and I think, “there’s Meg!” If only that were the norm instead of the rarity, I’d give the audio a 5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and the author for early access to yet another exemplary cozy mystery.

Meg neverfails to disappoint. I've been reading this series for 10+ years when my grandmother would finish a book and then give it to me to read. In that time, that has not changed, it remains a book we still both enjoy. This book brought back those fond memories and remains a staple in the cozy mystery genre.

A charming installment in the Meg Langslow mystery series. In this cozy whodunit, Meg finds herself juggling quirky family members, a vibrant small-town setting, and a puzzling mystery. The story unfolds with wit and warmth, making it a delightful escape for fans of lighthearted mysteries. This book is part of a series, however, it can easily be a standalone. I haven't read any of the previous books and I quite enjoyed this one.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how it hooked me right from the beginning. The plot was layered with several mysteries within the main mystery, which kept things interesting and added depth to the story. The characters were engaging and the overall tone of the book felt fun, wholesome, and clever—exactly what I look for in a cozy mystery.

That said, there were a few moments that felt like filler, like random facts or details that didn’t really move the plot forward. While these didn’t ruin the experience, they did pull me out of the story a bit at times.

The audiobook narration was a strong point. The narrator did a fantastic job with character voices, making it easy to distinguish who was speaking, which added to the overall enjoyment. The performance fit the tone of the book perfectly and brought the story to life in an engaging way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

For Duck's Sake you should give this series a try. It all starts with peacocks.

I love these books. And I often say the name of this book, only the other expression- so when it came upon Netgalley, it was a winning combo!

Meg Langslow books are some of my all-time favorites. They are comfort reads for me, kind of like that old friend that I keep going back to have a cup of coffee with, no matter how good or bad things get, they are always there.

If this is where you're starting in the series, you can start here, but I think it is truly better to start at the beginning. However, if you don't feel up to 36 other books, that is understandable. I do have a feeling after you read this that you could potentially fall in love with the whole Langslow crew and their antics and go back and begin at the beginning.

Are there things that I didn't like- of course! But this series is well written, kindhearted, and a nice change of pace from the other books I like where everyone is out to kill or is bitching about one thing or another.

Another enjoyable book from Donna Andrews. It was fun listening to all the activities: preparations for a Mutt March parade, discovery of a skeleton while digging a duck pond, and introduction of some new characters that are bound to endure in future books. The plot and characters of this series always keeps one amused and interested. The narration of the female characters is good, but I'm not as fond of some of the male narrations. In particular, I need to increase the speed in order to avoid the slowness of Meg's father and grandfathers' voices. Those men, in particular, seem rather dorky and too high pitched. Nonetheless, a fun listen!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my copy of For Duck's Sake by Donna Andrews in exchange for an honest review. It publishes August 5, 2025.
First off, the narration is excellent as always. Whether I read with my eyes or ears, this is Meg’s voice for me!
Another great installment in this long standing series. We’ve got crime, birds and animal facts, and a great community coming together. It ticks all of the boxes, and I always come back for more!
The only thing was that there was quite a lot more cursing in this book than previously which was a little surprising.

I am a big fan of Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series. The first book, Murder with Peacocks, won at least five mystery book awards. It is a fabulous book, and I enjoyed it even more when I read it a second time. For Duck's Sake is the 37th book in the series. I understand that Andrews did not write Murder with Peacocks with the intention of beginning a long-running series. But here we are, 26 years later, and Andrews is adding two books a year to the series, with one being a Christmas-themed mystery. For Duck's Sake is the first 2025 release and is not a Christmas book. Reading the new book is like taking a visit to a familiar town filled with friends. I love it. There are many lovable characters, and a cozy small-town setting filled with quirky shops and groups of residents. I am waiting to find a t-shirt advertising Caerphilly's metal band "Rancid Dread" or a "Christmas in Caerphilly" mug at a thrift shop someday. I am amazed at the talent and creativity it takes to build such a strong, detailed world with an endless supply of new mysteries for Meg to solve. At some point, time stopped. In the first book, Meg meets Michael, her future husband. They romance, get married, find and renovate an old farm house, and have twin boys in the first dozen books of the series. At some point, the character's aging slowed, and, I think, time has almost frozen in Meg's city of Caerphilly now.

During this trip to Caerphilly, Meg and her family are busy. Her brother Rob and Rob's wife have a new baby and a new home. They are having a duck pond dug in their farm yard when a skeleton is discovered. Meg is happy to help with looking into the identity of the body to avoid helping with the chaotic "Mutt March" event that the local animal shelter is sponsoring to find homes for their dogs. Her whole family is involved with the event, and the dogs are being bathed and groomed at her house. With intrigue on one hand and chaos on the other, Meg navigates family, community, and crime challenges with a bit of help from her family and friends. If you like humorous cozy mysteries, you can't find a better series than Meg Langslow. You can start anywhere, but, of course, starting at the beginning is always the best. Another good starting point is the Christmas mysteries. I am usually a stickler for starting at the beginning, but I admit I picked up Duck the Halls when I was in the mood for a holiday read and then went back and read the series from the beginning.

It's hard to believe that this is #37 in the Meg Langslow cozy mystery series! I always enjoy catching up with the family, seeing who's up to what. The title may give you the impression that it's all about ducks but actually this is a fun addition for anybody who's a dog lover. not my favorite in the series, I loved the "Mutt March" about adopting out all the dogs, and it had moments of humor as usual but overall, it just didn't seem as clever or as involved as some of the stories. Still cute, and I'll look forward to the next edition... I really do like listening to the audio book, I enjoy the narrator.

I would LOVE to know what rock I've been living under, where I haven't heard of this series until book #36!! I clearly have some catching up to do!! This book brings back really solid and classic "who done it" vibes. Anyone who loves a good solid mystery from start to finish will absolutely eat this book up!

LOVED IT! For Ducks' Sake, Donna Andrew's newest (37th!!!) Meg Langslow mystery was a joy to listen to - Bernadette Dunne is one of the best narrators out there, and brings the story to life. When a decades-old skeleton is discovered on her brother Rob's property, Meg et al work to discover who he/she was, and who killed them. Lots of fun in this fast paced cozy, and I highly recommend it! A+++

Meg is at it again with her ultra competency and tendency to get involved in every local event. This one sort of hangs up a bit while the mystery is being investigated, but we get a few local characters. It ends pretty heartwarming and you may end up teary! Overall, this is a typical story in the series, but the boys are getting older. I didn't there was enough Rob and Delaney in this one, honestly.

Meg is once again juggling many things: supervising her brother’s duck pond construction, housing literally hundred of dogs and other animals for the first annual Mutt March adoption parade, and a decades old murder. I love returning to Caerphilly and this is no exception. The characters are a fun and diverse cast, ably voiced by Bernadette Dunne. I enjoyed learning about ducks and the latest advances in testing DNA and the descriptions of the animal parade’s costuming and order of the floats had me laughing. Following Meg and crew as they puzzled out the identity and killer of the victim was satisfying as always and Dunne conveys changing feelings and tensions. This can be an entry point into the series. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an audio review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

FOR DUCK’S SAKE is the thirty-seventh book in the Meg Langslow Mysteries by Donna Andrews. Once again the author has written a fun whodunit, filled with loveable and memorable characters—human and animals alike! I think what I enjoy most about these books is the sense of community. Protagonist Meg Langslow, her family, and friends all look out for each other and their neighbors, pitching in to help at a moment’s notice. In this newest release it’s the town’s first Mutt March, an adorable event showcasing over 200 pets who need a furr-ever home. The heartwarming scenes effectively portray the kindness of Meg and the gang, while also highlighting the social issue of dog abuse and dog fighting rings. The author does an admirable job weaving the central murder plot with the subplots together, and the pace never slackens. And in case you’re new to this series, each book can easily be read as a standalone but be prepared to want to go back and start from the beginning!

I had the pleasurable opportunity to listen to the audiobook version narrated by Bernadette Dunne. She brings Meg (and all the characters) to life and made the story all the more enjoyable. She effectively differentiates between the character voices, male and female alike. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For Duck's Sake by Donna Andrews is an absolutely delightful new installment to her Meg Langslow mystery series. The book follows Meg as she is preparing for a dog parade called the "Mutt March" where they are hoping people can find pets that they can adopt. While the preparations for the Mutt March ara happening at Meg's there is a duck pond being built at her brother Rob's place. While the excavation is happening they find an old skeleton buried in the place where the pond is to be set. Meg must help the Mutt March and figure out who the skeleton was and who killed him.

The Meg Langslow mysteries hold a super special place in my heart because I've been reading them for so long and enjoy them just so much! This book was no exception. I loved revisiting old characters and the cute little setting. One thing I enjoy from these mysteries is that unlike others the characters move forward in time enough so that it feels like there is character development. I also love that the world keeps growing and we keep getting new characters while still getting information about the old cast. The mystery was also very fun! I thought I had solved it early in the book but was pleased to figure out that I was wrong.

I would recommend these books to anyone. I know the task of reading this far into a series seems daunting but you can honestly pick any of the books in the series and be totally fine. I recommend picking this one up because Donna Andrews just keeps getting better with her writing and I think this one is her best yet.

Edit: I got to listen to the audiobook and it is even more perfect than the book itself! I wish I could give it six stars because it elevates the written word. Bernadette Dunne does such a fantastic job that I listened to the whole thing in one sitting and then listened to it again. I highly recommend getting the audiobook to accompany the book itself and you really don’t need to read every book in the series to enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and Donna Andrews for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.