Probable Caws, a Meg Langslow Mystery by Donna Andrews

I always look forward to new Meg Langslow mysteries. Enjoyable, very cozy, with plenty of humor, eccentric characters and a variety of animals. The books are usually set in or near the fictional town of Caerphilly, Virginia. Meg, a blacksmith, and her husband Michael, two sons and their large extended family are at a nearby castle/manor helping with the unexpected arrival of many horses. The book cover shows a mesh scarf meant to keep flies away from a horse’s eyes. A cute subplots tests other methods of getting flies to leave horses alone.

One of the mares is pregnant and finds Meg’s company calming, so she’s often in the pastures and stables. Annoying swans and wise crows are featured as well as horses. The plot is about two brothers and what happens to the family farm when their 100-year-old father dies and no will is found. The castle is owned by a generous and wealthy musician, who played percussion in several heavy metal bands. His chef is happily serving all the volunteers lusciously described Italian dishes. A holiday mystery, Jay to the World, is due out in October. The Meg Langslow mysteries are a comfort read for me, in print or on audio. The first book is Murder With Peacocks, but you can really start anywhere.

Brenda