The Twelve Jays of Christmas - (Meg Langslow Mysteries) by Donna Andrews (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The cast of Donna Andrews' New York Times bestselling Meg Langslow mystery series is back for an unforgettable holiday story in The Twelve Jays of Christmas.

Meg and Michael's annual holiday celebration is well underway, with a throng of out-of-town relatives staying at their house. Hosting these festivities is a little harder than usual--they have to relocate all the events normally held in their library, currently occupied by Roderick Castlemayne, the irascible wildlife artist who's creating twelve paintings of birds to illustrate Meg's grandfather's latest nature book.

Still, the celebrations continue--and the entire family rejoices to learn that Meg's brother Rob and his longtime fiancée Delaney have finally decided to tie the knot. Unfortunately, they decide to do this in the middle of Meg and Michael's annual New Year's bash, dashing their mothers' hopes of planning the wedding to end all weddings.

Delaney's mother sneaks into town so she and Meg's mother can secretly plot a way to talk the happy couple into having a big bash. Hiding her only adds to Meg's holiday stress--it's almost a full-time job fending all the visitors who want to confront Castlemayne--reporters, bill collectors, process servers, and several ex-wives in search of unpaid alimony.

Then someone murders Castlemayne in the middle of a blizzard and sets loose the birds he was painting. Can Meg help the police crack the case before the killer strikes again? Can she keep Christmas merry in spite of the body in the library? Can she negotiate a compromise between Rob and Delaney and their disappointed mothers? And can she recapture the twelve escaped jays before they begin nesting in the Christmas tree?

This intrigue-filled Christmas mystery takes readers home to Caerphilly to join in Meg's family's holiday celebration--including, of course, another baffling mystery.

Review Quotes

Praise for Donna Andrews and the Meg Langslow Mystery Series:

"Agatha Award-winner Andrews's fast-moving, high-spirited 30th Meg Langslow mystery finds witty Meg preparing to host her large extended family at her home in Caerphilly, Va., for the Christmas holidays...This Christmas romp, complete with a litter of adorable puppies, will certainly please fans and newcomers alike. Andrews consistently entertains." --Publishers Weekly on The Twelve Jays of Christmas

"A guaranteed good read....plenty of laughs, interesting bird facts, and family member shenanigans." --Fresh Fiction blog on The Twelve Jays of Christmas

"Andrews lays on the good cheer with a trowel." --Kirkus Reviews on The Gift of the Magpie

"Caerphilly, with its endearing residents, is the kind of place every cozy fan would like to escape to during stressful times. Andrews consistently entertains." --Publishers Weekly on The Gift of the Magpie

"Andrews deftly juggles franchise characters, newbies, red herrings, Renaissance tidbits, and murder most welcome." --Kirkus Reviews on The Falcon Always Wings Twice

"Exceptional....[with] plenty of twists and turns en route to the satisfying ending. As always, spending time with Meg and her wonderful family is a delight. Andrews reinforces her place at the top of the cozy subgenre." --Publishers Weekly on Owl Be Home for Christmas

"One of Andrews' most successful balancing acts between creating a brand-new whodunit and showcasing her zany regulars." --Kirkus Reviews on Owl Be Home for Christmas

"This quirky, long-running cozy series shows no signs of losing steam." --Publishers Weekly on The Falcon Always Wings Twice

"With its well-spun plots and distinctive characters, Andrews's amusing avian-named series shows no signs of growing stale." --Publishers Weekly

"Fans will find all the beloved hallmarks of this award-winning series: fresh characters, an engaging puzzle, and delightful humor." --Library Journal

About the Author

DONNA ANDREWS has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards, an RT Book Reviews Award for best first novel, and four Lefty and two Toby Bromberg awards for funniest mystery. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Novelists, Inc. Andrews lives in Reston, Virginia. The Twelve Jays of Christmas is the 30th book and eighth Christmas mystery in the Meg Langslow series.