In Murder with Peacocks, we are introduced to Meg Langslow, a blacksmith by trade, who earns her living by creating metal sculptures. Meg is definitely a bit of an odd one out in her family >>> everyone else in her family runs the gamut from absentminded to eccentric, while Meg herself definitely seems the “sensible and reliable” sort. She’s also a very different body type from the rest of her family, not only large for a woman but also in decent shape due to the physical demands of her work.
Perhaps this is why Meg ends up planning not one but three weddings for her close family and friends. It should give you what sort of demands they present when I mention that one of these weddings intends to include the title peacocks. This does give us an idea of how demanding Meg’s family can be >>> Meg (unfortunately!) seems very pliable to end up managing three weddings in quick succession, all at the same time. But let’s face it, almost every family has one member who is always there to pick up the slack when the others don’t want to do something. And in this case, Meg doesn’t even seem to get much help from the actual brides!
As in most Cozies, someone dies. In this case a talkative newcomer to the small Virginia town who seems to already know all the secrets of the town and seems equally intent on sharing them around a bit.
I have to admit that normally I’m a bit hesitant when I hear that the characters in a book are zany, wacky, or kooky. When overplayed, eccentric characters can often become annoying. Fortunately Donna Andrews is a deft hand when doling out the oddball characters, and none of them really pass the barrier between interesting and annoying. Some of you may be a little irritated that the mystery itself often takes a back seat to the wedding subplots. However, Meg Langslow’s Murder with Peacocks is an interesting start to one of the very popular modern classic Cozy Mystery series.
P.S. If want to read some of the other entries about highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can see them on the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.
Lori says
Hi! I know this isn’t about the book mentioned, or actually about any book. I was wondering about a list of any TV movies, upcoming on Hallmark ch. or HMM. Or repeats. I really like them!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lori, the only schedules I have are the monthly ones I do telling about the upcoming television mystery movies. If you click on this link, it will take you directly to the entry for February: Upcoming Television Mystery Movies for February 2016. (I finally was able to finish the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.) (I’m in the middle of watching Love Letters right now which is the first picture I have on this entry. Small world…)
Lori says
Hi Danna, I’m really sorry! I should have been more specific. I really like most of the movies, But, what I’m really interested in are the newly made for TV movies. Sorry for the confusion.
Lori
dragons3 says
Lori, you can find some of that information on imdb.com . Just search the series — i.e. The Garage Sale Mysteries or Murder She Baked, or if you know the stars, search by their name. It won’t give you specific information, like dates and times of airing, but you’ll get a synopsis of the plot, names of stars, etc. Or you can go to the Hallmark Channel (I’m assuming you mean the MforTV mystery movies that they broadcast) website and search.
Linda MH says
I always feel like I am visiting old friends when I read one of Donna Andrews’ books. She is an amazing author who writes with such humor and warmth. Love her books!
Hollis says
I’m with you!! I had the honor of meeting her at several book events in Washington DC. She is as fun and quirky as her books. Love her. Love her books. Highly recommend Donna Andrews!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda MH, it’s sort of like going home…
stellans says
My recent revisit of a favorite cozy author was of the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George. So funny! I could see my grandmother and several great-aunts in these books, and actually, myself more and more these days. My only sorrow when re-reading them was realizing there will be no more, since Anne George left us 15 years ago. But despite the years since publishing, I found the stories just as entertaining as ever – always the sign of a good writer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stellans, small world! I’m going to be posting about Anne George next week!
dragons3 says
I love Donna Andrews’ books. I’ve read or listened to all of them and have been planning to go back and re-read the earlier ones this winter. After I make more of a dent in my TBR pile. The books are funny, quirky, witty and interesting. Even the zany, kooky characters are very human and very likable. I can’t wait until the next one comes out.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dragons3, I just checked my audible account, and see that Bernadette Dunne is the narrator on the Meg Langslow series. I didn’t even know they were available in this format! Thanks for the info!
dragons3 says
I’ve borrowed the CDs from the library, but unfortunately, they only have the last few books. I never thought of checking audible! Thanks!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dragons3, I just assumed they would be the same. (I love audible books!)
dragons3 says
No, audible has a lot of books that aren’t available on CDs. Everything seems to be going digital these days. I like the digital recordings, but I love to listen to books while I’m in the car, and you can’t download the books from audible onto an Ipod or other MP3 device.
Pat K. says
Long before Audible apps became available for mobile devices like iPad , ect. I downloaded their books to iTunes and then transferred them to my iPod to listen to as I walked or even in the car. I would get CD’s from the library if available as well. Now with Bluetooth you can connect to many of the new cars or you can use a portable speaker like JBL and listen in the car by connecting via Bluetooth from your ipod or similar device.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pat K, thank you for this audible information. I listen to me audios from audible on an audible-approved device which is so old I have had to tape it together. It’s a little antiquated, but I can still get it to work…
Margaret StashEmpress says
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!! I’ve loved it from the very first title. Its one of my favorite “feel good” series — good for whatever ails you. For sure one of my “drop everything else & read this as soon as a new title comes out” favorites!!!!
Totally adore the wild & wacky characters & the wild situations they end up in. Just sooooo much fun!!!!!!!!
If I didn’t have sooooo many books in my TBR pile, I’d go back & reread this series from the beginning. Maybe I will anyway…..
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret StashEmpress, I’m starting to read the first books in series that I want to highlight, but I have (as you say!) “sooooo many books in my TBR pile” that if I went back and read the entire series, I’d never get to any of my new-to-me Cozies! (I’m not a very fast reader…)
Liz says
I just recently started reading this series, reading book 6, Owls Well that Ends Well now….I too love this series, full belly laughs in some places which I love in books.
Julie says
Although I’ve read all the books in this series, Murder With Peacocks is still my hands-down favorite of them all! I remember laughing out loud during a scene with a riding mower…..
Mary g says
Me too! Me too! Murder with peacocks is just about the funniest cozy I have ever read. I remember when it was first published, and read it with tears of laughter streaming down my face. Yes, I haul it out once a year to reread…a great book for whatever ails you. And I have bought it several times for friends..some of whom aren’t really the cozy book type, …and have had great success. (A hint…it’s a great wee gift for anyone planning their wedding…it’s a great stress buster. No one could have this many things go wrong. Well, meg and her family, of course)
And yes, the other “laugh till your gut aches books” are the ones by Anne George.
I wish my family was as kooky as these two.
Lin says
Hi there,
I need your help. I try to find cozy mysteries series. The heroin/protagonist is a journalist working in one of the newspaper/magazine. She writes reviews on the food/restaurant. She is single living in an apartment. One of her neighbor are gay couple. Another neighbor is a middle-aged woman living with her partner, an ex-police officer. One of the book cover in the series has a bull with green color in background. Could you please let me know the name of the author?
Linda MH says
Hi Lin,
I’m not positive, but I think you are looking for Liz Lipperman’s Jordan McAllister Mystery series. Hope I’ve helped!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda MH, thank you so much!
Lin says
Thanks so much, Linda! That’s the series that I’ve been looking for! ?
Thanks to Danna as well for approving my message. ?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lin, I’m so glad Linda Knew for whom you were looking.
Peggy says
I love Meg and her crazy family. Reminds me of mine. Her planner that tells her when to breathe. LOL just all around great series.
Hilary says
The Meg Langslow series is definitely in my favorite cozy series list.
They’re always fun, laugh out loud stories.
I discovered this series part-way in, when “The Penguin Who Knew Too Much” was among the new paperback mystery releases at the bookstore. I read the back cover and it sounded like a fun read. When I read the book I was immediately hooked, so I went back to the beginning and picked up copies of the previous books and read them in order. I’ve read all the books in the series up to Duck the Halls, and have copies of The Good, the Bad and the Emus and The Nightingale Before Christmas in my TBR.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hilary, isn’t it something how we can remember exactly when we started reading a favorite Cozy Mystery series? I may not remember the exact year, but I can usually remember the circumstances that made me pick up the very first book I read.
Sharon Greenwood says
I just found 3 books in the Meg Langslow series that I had missed, in the digital listing from my library. I thought I had read them all, but much to my surprise I have not ! Which book is the one where Meg and Michael marry ? I may have missed that one also. Please keep the zany antics of this family going ! They are a breath of fresh air !
Ed S. says
They don’t marry in any book. They elope just after the end of The Penguin Who Knew Too Much and never tell anyone where they went on their honeymoon (or at least there was a scene in a later book where Meg refuses to answer when asked where they went and thinks about how they haven’t told anyone). The plan at the end of The Penguin Who Knew Too Much is to stop by the house of a judge in another county to get married on their way out of town, but we never see any scenes of their getting married.
P Anderson says
I have everyone of your Meg Langslow Mystery books. I always reread them. I was look forward to any new ones when they come out. Now I find out your next 2 are Kindle Books. Will the 2 new ones ever be published in paperback? I do not own a Kindle & do not like them. Please let me know. Thank you, Peggy Anderson
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Peggy, I don’t have anything to do with the author Donna Andrews – sorry!
Jane S Nelson says
I adore Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow books! I’ve read every one more than once, and am currently listening to the series with my son and his 11 and 13 year old sons. They love this series as much as I do. Meg is smart and funny, and her family is zany (or eccentric, as we say in the south). Love the setting. Can’t get enough!