Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos (Meg Langslow Mysteries Book 3)

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This is definitely a case where you want to read the first two books before you take on this one. The family members, friends, and even pets are all well developed in those first books so that when you encounter them here you already understand their quirks and strengths.I greatly enjoyed this book as the best one yet. The previous two books had vastly bizarre situations and a cavalcade of murders which made it hard to suspend your disbelief. On the other hand, the characters were great and three dimensional. This book puts you in a situation which is "unusual" but very believable - a reenactment of colonial America. It has the great odd characters, now well known to the audience. It also has a more realistic murder situation.I loved the details of costume, environment and accessory in the colonial world and, as always, liked the slightly zany but believable characters that were involved. There wasn't a need to go into explicit detail with many of the characters - you'd already established a connection with them in the previous two books - but the new characters added a nice texture.I was happy to see that Michael was no longer just a "pretty face" and that Meg was becoming more independent. Details were filled in about both characters to help explain their personalities. Michael is exposed as a preener who, aware of his good looks, likes to play them up, and to find new outlets for his acting talents. Meg is taking on weapons creation and worries about minimizing her reputation by creating kitschy pink flamingos, even though it could mean a good income.I still was annoyed that Meg and others continually judged Michael on being a "good looking accessory" as a primary trait. It's just as bad to do that to guys as it is to girls. He also seemed, like in the previous book, to be a rather passive partner. He spends much of the book wanting to look pretty and whining about Meg not committing enough to him. He ends up being a damsel in distress.I also was annoyed that - still- Meg seems to show no empathy or care when she finds dead bodies. In this book she even comments that she hopes it's someone she knows and likes, so that she won't be likely as a suspect. Jeez, nice thought!Still, you can look at these as further evidence that the characters are not "shiny perfect" cardboard heroes. We know Meg has temper issues. Michael is rather spoiled, with his mom simpering when he snaps and women falling over each other for his good looks. Even with their foibles, they find a way to make their relationship work and to navigate the difficult issues of an eccentric extended family. It gives hope that the rest of us who are imperfect can still find ways to live happy lives and persue our dreams.Recommended!

Meg is participating in a period craft fair as part of the annual celebration and reenactment for the Battle of Yorktown. Trying to get on Mrs. Waterston's good side, she's agreed to help make sure her follow craftspeople stay completely in period. But being the go between just might be more then Meg can handle. Especially since her boyfriend's mother is cracking down on anything and everything. Meanwhile, Michael wants more from their relationship, and Meg is shying away from any form of commitment. And her brother Rob is meeting with someone interested in buying his computer game. But Roger Benson has a shady reputation at best, and when this computer guy turns up murdered in Meg's booth, the list of suspects is long. Not that she needs any more to do this weekend, but now Meg must solve this crime before the police arrest one of her friends.As with the others is the series, this book has quite a bit going on beside the mystery. And, as the title would suggest, this is a fun, light cozy. If this is what you want, you'll love the book. Even if the mystery doesn't progress quickly, there is so much going on to keep you engaged you really don't care. And the humor, from Meg's father, who insists his air tight alibi is full of holes, to gorilla costume wearing Cousin Horace, is top notch. Yet, the mystery still provides some great twists and turns. And the characters are very well defined.I love this series when I'm in the mood for something fun and light. Donna Andrews does such a great job of keeping everything balanced that it makes for an entertaining read.

I enjoy these "cozy" mysteries with sympathetic "sleuth," charmingly eccentric background characters, and wise and humorous insights into human nature, good plans and intentions gone awry.

I have read and reread all of this series and enjoy it more each time. I'll continue and enjoy. This is third time with this novel.

It has been about a year since the last book and it is back in Yorktown for the craft fair and reenactment of the battle - in period costume per Michael's mother's dictates. Rob is trying to sell his video game but the man is nasty and winds up dead in Meg's booth. The sheriff has hired a big city detective and puts him in charge of the murder. He promptly suspects Meg, her friends and her family so she sleuths to save them all. I did not suspect the killer until the last minute lots of excellent red herrings and viable suspects.I thought that Meg lived near Michael, per the first book, but they are fighting over the distance now. Also really entertaining reading about the video camera with film after the last book drew my attention to the digital camera being awesome. Otherwise not dated at all.

I'm beginning to class Donna Andrews up with Elizabeth Peters with her use of humor in her mysteries. Like Ms Peters, Donna's character, Meg, is smart, funny, and brave with a great way of dealing with her boyfriend, Michael, her various wacky relatives and assorted villains. All without losing her mind, although occasionally she does seem to be teetering on the edge!As in this book, when Meg finds herself stuck with the usual assortment of weird family members during a reenactment of the battle of Yorktown. Adding to her problems, the chairperson of the reenactment committee is her future mother-in-law, who is determined to make sure everything is completely authentic. Poor Meg finds herself caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. All of which is bad enough until someone decides to use one of Meg's authentic weaponry to eliminate a most unlikable character in her craft tent. So Meg's once more on the trail with a raft of suspects, the savage guard dog Spike, her wildly funny family and her talented, and understanding, fiance, Michael.

Meg is at a craft fair and battle reenactment when mayhem and murder take place. Can she sort things out?

Funny and appealing characters

Very slow start to this book, you could skip a few chapters and still know what is happening.Last few chapters interesting, apart from that I have no other comment on this book.

Das Buch, dritte in der Serie, war wie immer ganz lustig. Die zwei ersten waren noch besser aber die Geschichte war auch nett, die Familienmitglieder ulkig und es gab viel zu lachen.

Endlich erfährt man etwas mehr über die Heldin bezüglich ihrer Eigenart, der Schmiedekunst, die in den ersten beiden Bändern nur angetönt, aber nie ausführlich dargelegt wurde. Dazu kommen die historischen Details der Schlacht von Yorktown und eine sehr spannende Geschichte, die mit sehr viel Witz und Charme geschrieben wurde. Die richtige Mischung aus Spannung, Humor und etwas Romantik.