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Meg Langslow #35
Between a Flock and a Hard Place
Readers will flock to New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews's next installment in the award-winning Meg Langslow series.Meg's neighbors, the Smetkamps', have won a makeover for their old home from Marvelous Mansions, a flashy, yet dubious company, focused on making historic homes more "modern." The company already several days into its makeover of the Smetkamps' house, and tensions are running high--not only between the officious, demanding Mrs. Smetkamp and her neighbors, but also between her and the renovation crew. Meg, who is trying to keep the peace and prevent the makeover crew from trampling on every clause of the county's building code, arrives at the Smetkamps to find that Caerphilly's resident flock of feral turkeys has moved into their yard--or been relocated there by someone who wanted to cause them trouble. The turkeys are huge, territorial, cranky and aggressive - and impossible to move! Meg does what she can to calm down the irate neighbors and help the makeover crew make progress in spite of the turkeys. She comes up with a plan to gather a group of turkey wranglers to snatch them early in the morning. But when they arrive, they find the body of Mrs. Smetkamp in her backyard. Someone stabbed her, and then tried to make it look as if she was attacked by one of the turkeys, but Meg, the Chief, and the Sheriff are not fooled. Together, they must figure out what really happened to Mrs. Smetkamp...and what to do with all these turkeys!
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
149 people are currently reading
5,196 people want to read
About the author
Donna Andrews
117books2,015followersDonna Andrews was born in Yorktown, Virginia, the setting of Murder with Peacocks and Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos, and now lives and works in Reston, Virginia. When not writing fiction, Andrews is a self-confessed nerd, rarely found away from her computer, unless she's messing in the garden
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
August 2, 2024
I received a free copy of, Between a Flock and a Hard Place, by Donna Andrews, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This the 35th book in The Meg Langslow Mysteries series. Everyone loves a turkey, on Thanksgiving, but not any other day of the year. Turkeys do not have a great reputation at all. Meg Langslow neighbor won a contest to fix their house, and nothing is going right. Somebody led some turkeys to their neighborhood, and they do no want to leave, and then her neighbor is murdered, Can Meg solve a murder, and wrangle the turkeys? What a good turkey mystery, I liked this book.
June 29, 2024
4.5 / 5.0 stars
Oh, Ms. Andrews, you truly, never disappoint your readers. This thirty-fifth cozy mystery book in series was absolutely hilarious.
Meg Langslow, our plucky protagonist, blacksmith, mother of twin boys and Executive Assistant for Special Projects to Caerphilly's Mayor Shiffley, has been called to historic Bland Street for an "intervention". It turns out that the much abhorred Smetkamps have won a home makeover from the TV show, Marvelous Mansions, and the neighbors are none too pleased with all the noise and inconvenience the construction crew has caused. To top that off, during the stealth of night, someone dropped off over a hundred feral turkeys on the Smetkamps lawn. The belligerent birds are wreaking havoc on everyone's gardens and lawns and attacking anyone who may try to defend their own property. During the Great Roundup, a body is discovered and a mystery needs solving. Who better than Meg to assist in that process?
Just reading about the feral turkey attacks and the defensive attire of the brave ones going in to save the day would be worth the price of this book. But the mystery itself, is equally entertaining. There are lots of red herrings, plausible perpetrators and likely felons.
Ms. Andrews is brilliant in her character creation: featuring a strong yet compassionate female lead with a highly eccentric family and great secondary characters makes for amusing reading. Her world building of the college town of Caerphilly (pronounced "carefully" ? ) is wonderful. The writing is solid and quite amusing times. When readers ask me for recommendations for a cozy mystery series, hands-down, it is this one. If you enjoy cozies, then this book could well be one for you.
I am grateful to Ms. Andrews and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: August 6, 2024
Number of pages:� 304
ISBN:� 978-1250894083
Oh, Ms. Andrews, you truly, never disappoint your readers. This thirty-fifth cozy mystery book in series was absolutely hilarious.
Meg Langslow, our plucky protagonist, blacksmith, mother of twin boys and Executive Assistant for Special Projects to Caerphilly's Mayor Shiffley, has been called to historic Bland Street for an "intervention". It turns out that the much abhorred Smetkamps have won a home makeover from the TV show, Marvelous Mansions, and the neighbors are none too pleased with all the noise and inconvenience the construction crew has caused. To top that off, during the stealth of night, someone dropped off over a hundred feral turkeys on the Smetkamps lawn. The belligerent birds are wreaking havoc on everyone's gardens and lawns and attacking anyone who may try to defend their own property. During the Great Roundup, a body is discovered and a mystery needs solving. Who better than Meg to assist in that process?
Just reading about the feral turkey attacks and the defensive attire of the brave ones going in to save the day would be worth the price of this book. But the mystery itself, is equally entertaining. There are lots of red herrings, plausible perpetrators and likely felons.
Ms. Andrews is brilliant in her character creation: featuring a strong yet compassionate female lead with a highly eccentric family and great secondary characters makes for amusing reading. Her world building of the college town of Caerphilly (pronounced "carefully" ? ) is wonderful. The writing is solid and quite amusing times. When readers ask me for recommendations for a cozy mystery series, hands-down, it is this one. If you enjoy cozies, then this book could well be one for you.
I am grateful to Ms. Andrews and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: August 6, 2024
Number of pages:� 304
ISBN:� 978-1250894083
August 10, 2024
A better story than some of the last 5 or so books. There were some sections that could have been easily edited out to tighten it up - or maybe Im just not interested in the bits where they roll out facts about animals in general and those that don't pertain to the plot.
The series has changed a lot since the start when every book have several chuckles and a plethora of wacky relatives. It's become more serious and plodding and all about super Meg. I do encourage readers to go back and read the first 10 or so books to see how good the early books were.
And I've said this before - just how old is Spike at this point anyway as he was Michael's mother's dog before Meg and Micheal even met and their twins must be in their teens now ? And how many bedrooms does their house actually have that they can have so many people staying? I figure at least 10!
The series has changed a lot since the start when every book have several chuckles and a plethora of wacky relatives. It's become more serious and plodding and all about super Meg. I do encourage readers to go back and read the first 10 or so books to see how good the early books were.
And I've said this before - just how old is Spike at this point anyway as he was Michael's mother's dog before Meg and Micheal even met and their twins must be in their teens now ? And how many bedrooms does their house actually have that they can have so many people staying? I figure at least 10!
September 7, 2024
Another excellent book in the Meg Langslow series.
February 16, 2025
I liked this installment of the Meg Lanslow cozy mystery series. I have such fun with her titles being puns on real words or sayings. Meg stands true to form backing up her friends and helping solve the mystery, with some help from her canine friends. The only thing I wish is that there was more variety in some of the story lines but isn't that why we love cozy mysteries. I listened to this story via an audible copy, and I thought the narration was done very well. Again, a bit more variety in the accents to distinguish the characters would be nice, but it doesn't detract from the story line. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.
May 29, 2024
The Smetkamps have won a home makeover in their house on Bland Street. Marvelous Mansions is a reality show that brings historic homes modern. When they are about to start renovations a herd of feral turkeys descends on the neighborhood halting production and construction. Then the dead body of Mrs. Smetkamp is found. Meg and the police must find the culprits.
I really enjoyed this mystery. It started off a bit slow but once the mystery started I got more involved. I love this series and how Meg helps everyone. I'm hoping one day I will be able to read the whole series including the first 30 books. 😉😍
I really enjoyed this mystery. It started off a bit slow but once the mystery started I got more involved. I love this series and how Meg helps everyone. I'm hoping one day I will be able to read the whole series including the first 30 books. 😉😍
September 18, 2024
Someone is having their home redone by a home makeover reality show, despite the best efforts of the local government. Someone has released a bunch of feral turkeys in the immediate area. Feral turkeys are a real nuisance, but for some reason, we can't use them to feed the homeless. The book even falsely claims that wild turkeys don't taste very good. Balderdash! Obviously, someone has never eaten a feral turkey.
Meg helps organize a turkey roundup, and, of course, finds a dead body. The body was formerly an obnoxious lady, who received the penalty for such behavior in cozies.
She investigates, both the turkey infestation, and the murder, and finds other crimes besides.
Very entertaining, once it really gets started.
Meg helps organize a turkey roundup, and, of course, finds a dead body. The body was formerly an obnoxious lady, who received the penalty for such behavior in cozies.
She investigates, both the turkey infestation, and the murder, and finds other crimes besides.
Very entertaining, once it really gets started.
August 20, 2024
Another fun addition to the Meg Langslow mystery series! There are a lot of new characters introduced in this book (along with some old favorites), so it took awhile for the actual murder to take place. But there are some fun surprises throughout the book, as well as lots of humor. All in all, a very enjoyable read! Thank you for the advance reading copy so I could give my honest review of this book!
August 23, 2024
Another cute installment. It took a while to get to the murder - I thought perhaps the turkey issue was going to be the mystery but a dead body finally showed up. I really enjoy this series as an audiobook. Read my full review at .
July 19, 2024
I think I’ve grown bored with this series. It started going downhill with the addition of children and domestic life for the main character. Now it’s arrived at a point where several of the supporting characters just get on my nerves. The books used to be a funny escape from everyday life. Now they feel like something that I’d want to escape from if I had to actually live the life in these books. There wasn’t even a good laugh or two in this one.
Thanks to NetGalley for this audiobook to review.
Thanks to NetGalley for this audiobook to review.
August 5, 2024
eBook - 5 Stars
After a run of unsatisfactory [for me ] cozy reads, I was a little nervous to start this [what IF all cozies were bad for me now?? Clearly, I was tired and in need of coffee ] one, even though Meg & Co. is typically what my bestie calls "my comfort reads" [she isn't wrong ]; I should have saved my anxiety for something else, as this was 1. VERY good [as usual ], and 2. it was absolutely what I needed to get out of my cozy slump.
Meg & Co. are up to their eyeballs in shenanigans in this outing; a house being re-habbed by a TV show [that is not even remotely going the way it should, naturally ], feral turkey's, rogue turkey handlers up to no good, weird renters, Pomeranian cadaver dogs [who knew? ], and of course, because there wasn't enough shenanigans, murder. And it is all a huge chaotic mess and I was totally here for all of it and enjoying it 100%!!
The mystery/murder was interesting - so many suspects [so little time LOL ] that all lead to OTHER crimes [which was intriguing, as it was like the domino effect ], plus a very surprising discovery and a very interesting reveal [why are all the baddies so ego-driven that they cannot see how their plan is about to go seriously awry?? BIG EYEROLL ], it all makes for a very entertaining read. Oh, did I mention sheep? And methane testing? Ahhhh, how I love Meg's grandfather!! LOL
I saw the killer early on, but totally talked myself out of it because there was a real plethora of suspects here [how sad to be SO unlikable that when you're murdered there are so many suspects to choose from ], so I was surprised, but not really. It certainly didn't affect my complete enjoyment of this book and I am SO GLAD we get another book this year!!
For a series that I decided to read on a whim and then BOUGHT the first 8 books [they were on sale ] before even cracking one open, this has been a real winner for me and as long as Ms. Andrews is writing them, I will be in line to read them!
Audiobook ARC - 4 Stars
Now that Bernadette Dunne has settled in for me as a narrator [I will admit, I had all these voices in my head already and when I had to switch to audiobooks due to eye issues, I was...well let's just say I struggled with the narration as it was nowhere near what I already had in my head; thankfully, that has settled and all my voices {with the exception of Meg's mother} for this book are gone and I only hear Ms. Dunne's narration ] for Meg & Co. I look forward to listening to her tell these fun stories and I enjoy her way of telling them; such was the case here and I am so glad I was able to get the audiobook ARC and didn't have to wait for it. ;-) A job well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Andrews, Bernadette Dunne - Narrator, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After a run of unsatisfactory [for me ] cozy reads, I was a little nervous to start this [what IF all cozies were bad for me now?? Clearly, I was tired and in need of coffee ] one, even though Meg & Co. is typically what my bestie calls "my comfort reads" [she isn't wrong ]; I should have saved my anxiety for something else, as this was 1. VERY good [as usual ], and 2. it was absolutely what I needed to get out of my cozy slump.
Meg & Co. are up to their eyeballs in shenanigans in this outing; a house being re-habbed by a TV show [that is not even remotely going the way it should, naturally ], feral turkey's, rogue turkey handlers up to no good, weird renters, Pomeranian cadaver dogs [who knew? ], and of course, because there wasn't enough shenanigans, murder. And it is all a huge chaotic mess and I was totally here for all of it and enjoying it 100%!!
The mystery/murder was interesting - so many suspects [so little time LOL ] that all lead to OTHER crimes [which was intriguing, as it was like the domino effect ], plus a very surprising discovery and a very interesting reveal [why are all the baddies so ego-driven that they cannot see how their plan is about to go seriously awry?? BIG EYEROLL ], it all makes for a very entertaining read. Oh, did I mention sheep? And methane testing? Ahhhh, how I love Meg's grandfather!! LOL
I saw the killer early on, but totally talked myself out of it because there was a real plethora of suspects here [how sad to be SO unlikable that when you're murdered there are so many suspects to choose from ], so I was surprised, but not really. It certainly didn't affect my complete enjoyment of this book and I am SO GLAD we get another book this year!!
For a series that I decided to read on a whim and then BOUGHT the first 8 books [they were on sale ] before even cracking one open, this has been a real winner for me and as long as Ms. Andrews is writing them, I will be in line to read them!
Audiobook ARC - 4 Stars
Now that Bernadette Dunne has settled in for me as a narrator [I will admit, I had all these voices in my head already and when I had to switch to audiobooks due to eye issues, I was...well let's just say I struggled with the narration as it was nowhere near what I already had in my head; thankfully, that has settled and all my voices {with the exception of Meg's mother} for this book are gone and I only hear Ms. Dunne's narration ] for Meg & Co. I look forward to listening to her tell these fun stories and I enjoy her way of telling them; such was the case here and I am so glad I was able to get the audiobook ARC and didn't have to wait for it. ;-) A job well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Andrews, Bernadette Dunne - Narrator, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2024
Yet another TV show is filming in Caerphilly. For such a quaint small town they do seem to have a lot of them. And like some of the others this one is shady. Marvelous Mansions is filming at the Smetkamps home and ignoring all building codes including removing load bearing walls. But just as things in the neighbourhood seem bad with people getting annoyed over the production crews, someone dumps a bunch of feral turkeys in the Smetkamp yard and they are destroying everything close by including the beautiful gardens and landscaping and terrorizing the neighbours. The culprits appear to be various children in Caerphilly but no one is quite sure who the leader is. Then as they begin to round up the turkeys Mrs. Smetkamp is found dead in her garden shed. Given how hated she is there's no end of suspects. Her long suffering husband, the man who used to own the house before the Smetkamps and seems attached to it and doesn't like what's happening in the house. There's also a creepy computer nerd in the attic apartment across the street who always appears to be watching everything. This was more story heavy than mystery. It was half way before we found a body. The biggest mystery seemed to be who dumped the turkeys or who organized it. But it was still a fun quick read as Meg usually is. I learned some new things like sheep eating curry to reduce methane which was kind of interesting. And that Amazon in Caerphilly is very dedicated to delivering packages. Always fun and enjoyable this was an excellent and fun escape.
October 28, 2024
Wow pretty hard to believe this is book #35 in the series since it’s really so awful. I cannot imagine any of them being remotely good. And for the record, yes I’m embarrassed to have this book on my ŷ read list 😬
August 1, 2024
This is a wonderful 35th edition to this series! When a flock of feral turkeys invades Caerphilly, Meg along with her family and friends embark on an investigation of just how these turkeys arrived and how they can corral them! They soon realize the turkeys are not the only mystery in town. Their investigation expands as they round up the turkeys to include the home makeover in process, fraud, cybercrime, and even murder! Donna Andrews expertly combines the various plots, with a marvelous cast of characters, as well as a bit of humor. The plot twists kept me guessing from beginning to end! I thoroughly enjoyed the book! My wife did receive an advance copy of this book, and I am glad she did. The opinions of this review are my own.
July 30, 2024
Between a Flock and a Hard Place is a fun cozy mystery. I quite enjoyed this book with its interesting and funny plot. This volume in the series features a flock of wild turkeys that have invaded the neighbourhood! The characters must find a way to relocate them. Funny antics ensue. And then a dead body appears! I liked the original plot the author brought to this series. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.
March 31, 2024
I love the Meg Langslow mysteries and the 35th installment is no exception. This time there is a reality show that has come to Caerphilly to “fix� a house but process stalls when someone releases dozens of turkeys in the property: While trying to round up all the turkeys Meg finds the body of the owner of the house and she must help figure out who did it. I was laughing out loud at the antics of the characters and enjoying myself immensely the whole time. This series made me fall in love with cozy mysteries and every time a new one comes out it just reminds me of why that was. If you get a chance to read the whole thing, go for it but if you can only read this one that is fine too because it holds up as a standalone. I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Donna Andrews for letting me review an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Donna Andrews for letting me review an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 2, 2024
waste of money
Family members who were quirky and delightful are basically sub characters. Some don’t even appear. As soon as one character is introduced and he is explained in a paragraph you know right away he is the murderer and he has buried the body on the property. Then there is the hilarious subplot of how animals farts are destroying our climate and must be dealt with. I have followed the series since book one, but this is the last book that I will buy. Also the tremendous price gouging by Amazon. $14.99 for a Kindle download, I would’ve bought the paperback, but it was $19.99
Family members who were quirky and delightful are basically sub characters. Some don’t even appear. As soon as one character is introduced and he is explained in a paragraph you know right away he is the murderer and he has buried the body on the property. Then there is the hilarious subplot of how animals farts are destroying our climate and must be dealt with. I have followed the series since book one, but this is the last book that I will buy. Also the tremendous price gouging by Amazon. $14.99 for a Kindle download, I would’ve bought the paperback, but it was $19.99
July 18, 2024
3.5 rounded down.
Once again the story and characters were interesting enough to keep my attention. Can't really recommend it as a cozy murder story though. The murder doesn't happen until 50% in to the story and it really felt like an afterthought to the rest of the story.
Once again the story and characters were interesting enough to keep my attention. Can't really recommend it as a cozy murder story though. The murder doesn't happen until 50% in to the story and it really felt like an afterthought to the rest of the story.
October 1, 2024
Another good addition to the series.
July 23, 2024
I loved this book! This is such a marvelously quirky, delightfully humorous thirty-fifth addition to this series! A flock of feral turkeys has descended upon Caerphilly, and as Meg, her family, and the town begin an investigation of the flock's origin and organize to corral the flock and move it to the local zoo. they realize the flock is not the only mystery afoot in Caerphilly. Donna Andrews has brilliantly combined the mysterious turkey invasion with intertwining plots involving a television home makeover reality show, fraud, cybercrimes, and murder. She has created quite a fascinating cast of characters (familiar and new) with a complex plot that kept me guessing and chuckling from beginning to end. One of my favorite series! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. The opinions of my review are my own.
August 13, 2024
Thirty-fifth in the Meg Langslow amateur sleuth cozy mystery series and revolving around Meg Langslow. The focus is on a flock of runaway turkeys and a disastrous home make-over.
My Take
Life keeps evolving and right now Meg is more of a troubleshooter for the mayor than a blacksmith. She does love being in the know (she is the amateur sleuth in the series), and she’s having a come-to-Jesus moment about applying to be a deputy. Her considerations do make sense. These are thoughts we’re privy to through Andrews� use of first person protagonist point-of-view from Meg's perspective.
It’s a bit disappointing that the family doesn’t appear much in Between a Flock and a Hard Place. That’s not to say there isn’t any family in this � Rose Noire and Kevin play their parts, as does Grandfather Blake.
To keep things more “real world�, Caerphilly is a tourist town with its attendant problems. Then there are the other IRL issues a town can have, from that of the legal, i.e., building permits, violations, etc., to the attractions to draw in the tourists, some of which includes the Garden Club’s fascination with native plants and their Weed Warriors always ready to help out; that impromptu potluck picnic; the generosity of the New Life Baptist Church; and, other compassionate considerations.
Less real world is that flock of antagonistic turkeys dumped on the Smetkamps� lawn. Meg, Randall, and Burke are intensely involved in finding out whodunnit. It’s a resolution that emphasizes the decency of these Caerphilly residents.
Part of my attraction to this series is the interactions between the core characters and how much they help others out. I do think Meg is a bit too nice in inviting all and sundry to shack up at their house while the drama is ongoing, but that’s her. A good Samaritan. It’s a dream world, and one I’d like to live in.
The real fun comes in with the Smetkamps and the makeover show. Oh. Boy. It’s a good lesson for people who’d like to host a makeover show for their own places. Check out their credentials!! Load-bearing walls, people!
More nasty comes in with the accommodations provided for the show’s crew. Oy. They are truly lucky to be in Caerphilly, where they’ll be cared for.
A recurring series arc has environmental and animal aid themes � I do love the re-education of those parrots. It was also fun to listen to Grandfather going off on the relationship between dinosaurs and turkeys.
It’s an easy-to-read tale that’s mostly character-driven with action that allows this to play out. If you want a fun tale that’ll make you feel good, read Between a Flock and a Hard Place. You don’t need to read the previous stories, but it does make this one richer.
Hmm, feral peacocks. Meg will know how to deal with them.
The Story
Tensions are high between the Smetkamps, their neighbors, the renovation show, and city building inspectors. An emotional drama heightened when some pranksters unload a flock of feral turkeys on the neighborhood.
Territorial, cranky, and aggressive, these turkeys refuse to be moved and have taken over people’s yards, digging up everything.
It’s flock round-up day when the body is discovered.
The Characters
Meg Langslow, a blacksmith artist, spends more time being the mayor’s executive assistant for special projects. Michael Waterston, her husband, is a drama professor at Caerphilly College; he is also a volunteer firefighter. They have twin sons: Josh and Jamie. Spike is the Small Evil One, who has a fascination for Road Runner cartoons.
Rose Noire is a cousin who lives with them and is focused on natural products; Winnie is her Pomeranian and good at general tracking (The Twelve Jays of Christmas, 30). Kevin McReady, a computer geek who is also the PD’s computer forensic expert and Meg’s nephew, lives in the Langslow-Waterston basement. Widget is Kevin’s Pomeranian. He and a friend host Virginia Crime Time, podcasts about crimes in Virginia. Mother is Meg’s benignly autocratic mother with excellent taste. Father is Dr Langslow with a fascination for mysteries who also works as the town’s medical examiner. Rob is Meg’s brother. Tinkerbell is his Irish wolfhound.
Dr J Montgomery Blake, Meg’s grandfather, is a zoologist who is passionate about animal welfare and an environmentalist who owns a zoo just outside town. Part of his support network includes Blake’s Brigade, volunteers who show when Grandfather needs help. Zoo employees include Manoj. Dr Clarence Rutledge is the town veterinarian who likes his leather and chains. Festus Hollingsworth, a cousin, is one fierce lawyer who loves helping the underdog.
Randall Shiffley is the mayor with a BIG family. Buck Shiffley is the building inspector. Virgil Shiffley. Ernie Shiffley may still have that mobile home. Judge Jane Shiffley raises Redbone coonhounds. Jeanine is a real estate agent with a heart. Hannah is Randall’s niece.
Henry Burke is the chief of police. He and his wife, Minerva, are raising their orphaned grandsons: Cal Burke (old enough for a driver’s license!) and Adam Burke. Willie Mays is the Burke family Pomeranian. His officers include Aida Butler (Whatever is her Pomeranian), and she’s a friend of Meg’s. Horace Hollingsworth is one of Meg’s cousins; Watson is his Pomeranian. Vern Shiffley, who needs a dog. Sammy. George is the civilian staffer.
The Smetkamps, a.k.a. the Smellybads, � the snarly Imogen and the kindly Reg � are quite the contrast in personalities. Emma Peabody is the easygoing next-door neighbor with a beautiful, well, it used to be, garden. More neighbors include Darlene Browning, a Shiffley cousin whose Marine husband is deployed, with two sons, Evan and Luke. Dagmar is Darlene’s twin sister with a tracking dog, Piper. Meera Patel is a math professor who is in the Garden Club and avoids Imogen as much as she can. Charles Jasper is the man from whom the Smetkamps bought their house. Poor man just can’t let it go. Mrs “Jasper� who worked in the finance department at the college under her maiden name had run off some years ago. Myra Lord and her sons, Jason and Eli, who are incredibly helpful with those stepladders, and Tyler who is quite observant. Squeaky is their dog.
Dr Gloria Willingham is a drama professor working on a study of Black women playwrights of the Harlem Renaissance. Jennifer Hodges, a college student, rents Gloria’s spare bedroom. Chris Smith, another computer geek, rents Gloria’s attic.
Seth Early is a farmer with a herd of sheep who are always escaping. They’ll be doing their bit for global warming. Lad is Seth’s very competent border collie. Ragnar, a musician, has a farm outside town where the Langslow-Waterston family is always welcome. Ekaterina, a compassionate friend of Meg’s, is still the manager of the popular Caerphilly Inn, a five-star hotel. Enrique is a bell captain. ܾ’s is a favorite Italian restaurant.
The College Arms is a run-down garden apartment complex, a.k.a. The Armpits or the Pits. Westlake is the elite end of town with the snotty neighbors included. It seems the acreage to create Westlake was provided by Uncle Thaddeus Shiffley. Benny is a terrified Amazon driver. The Shack, a Shiffley enterprise, is such a popular barbecue restaurant that they plan to open the Secret Shack, location on a need-to-know basis. The Nameless Bar aims to appear as a sleazy seedy bar � decorated by Mother, lol.
The no-good Clay County is Caerphilly’s enemy. The Clay County Motor Lodge, a.k.a. the Roach Motel or Bedbug City, is not a desirable place to stay. The Clay Pigeon is a sleazy drinking establishment.
The Rockford PD and FBI are on the lookout.
Marvelous Mansions is . . .
. . . a makeover show, focusing on the Smetkamps� house on Bland Street. Jared Blomqvist is the producer. Maddy is Jared’s assistant. The construction crew includes Loren, Kaden, and Todd.
The Cover and Title
The background of the cover is something of a gradient with a bright orange-yellow fading to white in the center which gradates into a bright green on the bottom. The author's name is at the very top in green with the title in a pale yellow at the bottom. The central graphic is a stepladder with a can of red paint and one of a spilled yellow on the right. To personalize it *grin* is a turkey with displayed tail perching on the ladder. Another turkey is flying in with another can of paint and one is observing from the ground. To the lower middle right is the series info in green.
The title is too accurate, for the neighbors on Bland Street are definitely Between a Flock and a Hard Place.
My Take
Life keeps evolving and right now Meg is more of a troubleshooter for the mayor than a blacksmith. She does love being in the know (she is the amateur sleuth in the series), and she’s having a come-to-Jesus moment about applying to be a deputy. Her considerations do make sense. These are thoughts we’re privy to through Andrews� use of first person protagonist point-of-view from Meg's perspective.
It’s a bit disappointing that the family doesn’t appear much in Between a Flock and a Hard Place. That’s not to say there isn’t any family in this � Rose Noire and Kevin play their parts, as does Grandfather Blake.
To keep things more “real world�, Caerphilly is a tourist town with its attendant problems. Then there are the other IRL issues a town can have, from that of the legal, i.e., building permits, violations, etc., to the attractions to draw in the tourists, some of which includes the Garden Club’s fascination with native plants and their Weed Warriors always ready to help out; that impromptu potluck picnic; the generosity of the New Life Baptist Church; and, other compassionate considerations.
Less real world is that flock of antagonistic turkeys dumped on the Smetkamps� lawn. Meg, Randall, and Burke are intensely involved in finding out whodunnit. It’s a resolution that emphasizes the decency of these Caerphilly residents.
Part of my attraction to this series is the interactions between the core characters and how much they help others out. I do think Meg is a bit too nice in inviting all and sundry to shack up at their house while the drama is ongoing, but that’s her. A good Samaritan. It’s a dream world, and one I’d like to live in.
The real fun comes in with the Smetkamps and the makeover show. Oh. Boy. It’s a good lesson for people who’d like to host a makeover show for their own places. Check out their credentials!! Load-bearing walls, people!
More nasty comes in with the accommodations provided for the show’s crew. Oy. They are truly lucky to be in Caerphilly, where they’ll be cared for.
A recurring series arc has environmental and animal aid themes � I do love the re-education of those parrots. It was also fun to listen to Grandfather going off on the relationship between dinosaurs and turkeys.
It’s an easy-to-read tale that’s mostly character-driven with action that allows this to play out. If you want a fun tale that’ll make you feel good, read Between a Flock and a Hard Place. You don’t need to read the previous stories, but it does make this one richer.
Hmm, feral peacocks. Meg will know how to deal with them.
The Story
Tensions are high between the Smetkamps, their neighbors, the renovation show, and city building inspectors. An emotional drama heightened when some pranksters unload a flock of feral turkeys on the neighborhood.
Territorial, cranky, and aggressive, these turkeys refuse to be moved and have taken over people’s yards, digging up everything.
It’s flock round-up day when the body is discovered.
The Characters
Meg Langslow, a blacksmith artist, spends more time being the mayor’s executive assistant for special projects. Michael Waterston, her husband, is a drama professor at Caerphilly College; he is also a volunteer firefighter. They have twin sons: Josh and Jamie. Spike is the Small Evil One, who has a fascination for Road Runner cartoons.
Rose Noire is a cousin who lives with them and is focused on natural products; Winnie is her Pomeranian and good at general tracking (The Twelve Jays of Christmas, 30). Kevin McReady, a computer geek who is also the PD’s computer forensic expert and Meg’s nephew, lives in the Langslow-Waterston basement. Widget is Kevin’s Pomeranian. He and a friend host Virginia Crime Time, podcasts about crimes in Virginia. Mother is Meg’s benignly autocratic mother with excellent taste. Father is Dr Langslow with a fascination for mysteries who also works as the town’s medical examiner. Rob is Meg’s brother. Tinkerbell is his Irish wolfhound.
Dr J Montgomery Blake, Meg’s grandfather, is a zoologist who is passionate about animal welfare and an environmentalist who owns a zoo just outside town. Part of his support network includes Blake’s Brigade, volunteers who show when Grandfather needs help. Zoo employees include Manoj. Dr Clarence Rutledge is the town veterinarian who likes his leather and chains. Festus Hollingsworth, a cousin, is one fierce lawyer who loves helping the underdog.
Randall Shiffley is the mayor with a BIG family. Buck Shiffley is the building inspector. Virgil Shiffley. Ernie Shiffley may still have that mobile home. Judge Jane Shiffley raises Redbone coonhounds. Jeanine is a real estate agent with a heart. Hannah is Randall’s niece.
Henry Burke is the chief of police. He and his wife, Minerva, are raising their orphaned grandsons: Cal Burke (old enough for a driver’s license!) and Adam Burke. Willie Mays is the Burke family Pomeranian. His officers include Aida Butler (Whatever is her Pomeranian), and she’s a friend of Meg’s. Horace Hollingsworth is one of Meg’s cousins; Watson is his Pomeranian. Vern Shiffley, who needs a dog. Sammy. George is the civilian staffer.
The Smetkamps, a.k.a. the Smellybads, � the snarly Imogen and the kindly Reg � are quite the contrast in personalities. Emma Peabody is the easygoing next-door neighbor with a beautiful, well, it used to be, garden. More neighbors include Darlene Browning, a Shiffley cousin whose Marine husband is deployed, with two sons, Evan and Luke. Dagmar is Darlene’s twin sister with a tracking dog, Piper. Meera Patel is a math professor who is in the Garden Club and avoids Imogen as much as she can. Charles Jasper is the man from whom the Smetkamps bought their house. Poor man just can’t let it go. Mrs “Jasper� who worked in the finance department at the college under her maiden name had run off some years ago. Myra Lord and her sons, Jason and Eli, who are incredibly helpful with those stepladders, and Tyler who is quite observant. Squeaky is their dog.
Dr Gloria Willingham is a drama professor working on a study of Black women playwrights of the Harlem Renaissance. Jennifer Hodges, a college student, rents Gloria’s spare bedroom. Chris Smith, another computer geek, rents Gloria’s attic.
Seth Early is a farmer with a herd of sheep who are always escaping. They’ll be doing their bit for global warming. Lad is Seth’s very competent border collie. Ragnar, a musician, has a farm outside town where the Langslow-Waterston family is always welcome. Ekaterina, a compassionate friend of Meg’s, is still the manager of the popular Caerphilly Inn, a five-star hotel. Enrique is a bell captain. ܾ’s is a favorite Italian restaurant.
The College Arms is a run-down garden apartment complex, a.k.a. The Armpits or the Pits. Westlake is the elite end of town with the snotty neighbors included. It seems the acreage to create Westlake was provided by Uncle Thaddeus Shiffley. Benny is a terrified Amazon driver. The Shack, a Shiffley enterprise, is such a popular barbecue restaurant that they plan to open the Secret Shack, location on a need-to-know basis. The Nameless Bar aims to appear as a sleazy seedy bar � decorated by Mother, lol.
The no-good Clay County is Caerphilly’s enemy. The Clay County Motor Lodge, a.k.a. the Roach Motel or Bedbug City, is not a desirable place to stay. The Clay Pigeon is a sleazy drinking establishment.
The Rockford PD and FBI are on the lookout.
Marvelous Mansions is . . .
. . . a makeover show, focusing on the Smetkamps� house on Bland Street. Jared Blomqvist is the producer. Maddy is Jared’s assistant. The construction crew includes Loren, Kaden, and Todd.
The Cover and Title
The background of the cover is something of a gradient with a bright orange-yellow fading to white in the center which gradates into a bright green on the bottom. The author's name is at the very top in green with the title in a pale yellow at the bottom. The central graphic is a stepladder with a can of red paint and one of a spilled yellow on the right. To personalize it *grin* is a turkey with displayed tail perching on the ladder. Another turkey is flying in with another can of paint and one is observing from the ground. To the lower middle right is the series info in green.
The title is too accurate, for the neighbors on Bland Street are definitely Between a Flock and a Hard Place.
July 25, 2024
It's cute. I'm not sure anything would get done in that town if it weren't for Meg.
August 23, 2024
I received an advance copy of Between a Flock and a Hard Place from a ŷ giveaway.
It is a very enjoyable light read, overall.
However, unlike earlier books in the Meg Langslow series, I didn’t feel this one was quite as developed when it came to characters and plot storyline. Because of this, I rated it at 4 out of 5 stars, simply because the book left me feeling a bit unsatisfied at the conclusion.
It is a very enjoyable light read, overall.
However, unlike earlier books in the Meg Langslow series, I didn’t feel this one was quite as developed when it came to characters and plot storyline. Because of this, I rated it at 4 out of 5 stars, simply because the book left me feeling a bit unsatisfied at the conclusion.
August 28, 2024
I was disappointed in this book but I have half a mind that there was one in the middle of the series I felt like that about too, so I’m still optimistic for the next one.
I just felt like it could have done with more beta readers - there were continuity errors, and things where people should have known something but didn’t, and worst of all Meg (the protagonist) turned unkind and snobby in the middle, which is way out of character for her.
I did finish but I think when rereading the series I’ll skip this one.
I just felt like it could have done with more beta readers - there were continuity errors, and things where people should have known something but didn’t, and worst of all Meg (the protagonist) turned unkind and snobby in the middle, which is way out of character for her.
I did finish but I think when rereading the series I’ll skip this one.
July 7, 2024
Meg has a new assignment from the mayor. A home renovation television program has come to town to redo the Smetkamp's home in a charming, historic neighborhood. The neighbors are outraged, Mrs. Smetkamp is making constant demands, and the company is playing fast and loose with building permits.
Then someone herds the town's feral turkeys to the neighborhood. The turkeys are large, aggressive and resistant to being herded back to where they belong which is at Meg's grandfather's research facility. They manage to shut down the building project and cause all sorts of chaos in the neighborhood. While the sheriff is looking for the culprits, Megs father and grandfather want to find them too - because they want to know how they managed to get all the turkeys into the neighborhood. They've been having trouble moving the turkeys around.
While Meg is trying to arrange a turkey round-up, the mayor who is also a building contractor discovers that the TV crew has demolished almost all of the load-bearing walls in their reno and made the house not only unlivable but an active danger for anyone entering it. He immediately shuts down any activities at the reno.
On the night of the round-up, Meg discovers Mrs. Smetkamp's body is the small woodworking shed at the back of her home. It is an obvious murder since she was stabbed with one of the wood rasps from the scene. As usual, there are a lot of suspects from her disgruntled neighbors to the TV crew who had been trying to work with her.
This was another fun and funny episode in a long-running series. I enjoy Meg's ability to keep her head and solve problems.
Then someone herds the town's feral turkeys to the neighborhood. The turkeys are large, aggressive and resistant to being herded back to where they belong which is at Meg's grandfather's research facility. They manage to shut down the building project and cause all sorts of chaos in the neighborhood. While the sheriff is looking for the culprits, Megs father and grandfather want to find them too - because they want to know how they managed to get all the turkeys into the neighborhood. They've been having trouble moving the turkeys around.
While Meg is trying to arrange a turkey round-up, the mayor who is also a building contractor discovers that the TV crew has demolished almost all of the load-bearing walls in their reno and made the house not only unlivable but an active danger for anyone entering it. He immediately shuts down any activities at the reno.
On the night of the round-up, Meg discovers Mrs. Smetkamp's body is the small woodworking shed at the back of her home. It is an obvious murder since she was stabbed with one of the wood rasps from the scene. As usual, there are a lot of suspects from her disgruntled neighbors to the TV crew who had been trying to work with her.
This was another fun and funny episode in a long-running series. I enjoy Meg's ability to keep her head and solve problems.
June 8, 2024
It is hard to believe that an author can keep getting better after so many books, but Between a Flock and a Hard Place, the 35th novel in Donna Andrews Meg Langslow series is the best yet and it isn't even one of my beloved Christmas ones. A strong sense of community and wonderful, and often unexpected, characters enhance by the humor make each investigation stand out and hold my attention beyond the typical cozy mystery. Death and a turkey invasion challenge the first responders of the small town of Caerphilly (I pronounce it Carefully) and our favorite blacksmith and amateur sleuth, Meg Langslow, but nothing stops them from helping their neighbors or stops her from finding out who killed a man who destroyed a neighborhood home in the name of reality television.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an ARC of the delightful Between a Flock and a Hard Place. The Pomeranians alone make the books worth reading and they are small part of what makes this book and others in the series a must read.
#NetGAlley #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #MegLangslow #DonnaAndrews
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an ARC of the delightful Between a Flock and a Hard Place. The Pomeranians alone make the books worth reading and they are small part of what makes this book and others in the series a must read.
#NetGAlley #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #MegLangslow #DonnaAndrews
August 11, 2024
Meg and her extended family are at it again - this time saving a neighborhood from feral turkeys, and solving murders, while bringing a sketchy home improvement show to heel. Honestly, I have no clue why people would want to visit Caerphilly - its murder rate rivals St. Mary Meade - but I do love these books.
December 21, 2024
I’ve been reading this series since the very first one, still have my signed copy from the NY Book Fair when I met Donna Andrews. Some of the books have been funnier or the mysteries better, but always a joy to read of the misadventures of Meg and her family.
August 7, 2024
Meg Langslow has a lot of jobs in Caerphilly. She is a blacksmith as well as a wife and mother of twins. She also helps out the mayor with special projects, soothing ruffled feathers when she can and recruiting various family members to help out when someone needs a quite place to do work, a place to stay, a lawn cleared of invasive weeds, or some advice on how to deal with a flock of feral turkeys. Oh, and she helps solve crimes.
So when the reality television home makeover show Marvelous Mansions comes to Cerphilly, specifically Bland Street, to remodel the Smetkamp’s house, Meg had to show up to help calm neighbors who were upset about the noise. What she finds is a large flock of feral turkeys in the Smetkamp’s lawn and trees, terrorizing anyone who comes close and generally making a mess. The turkeys are not new to town. They had been around for several years, and the mayor had been trying to figure out a way to get them under control. But they had never been on Bland Street. Clearly, someone had brought them there to disrupt the filming.
That means Meg’s first order of business is to help figure out a way to extract dozens of wild turkeys and finding a place for them to stay. She offers up her farm as a safe place for the neighbors to stay for the duration of the turkey wrangling, or even the whole remodel. A couple of people from the neighborhood take her up on that and head out. When she goes in to the Smetkamp house to see if Mrs. Smetkamp is willing to leave while they move the turkeys, she and the mayor find out that the team from the remodel show have gone overboard in the demo, taking out some load-bearing walls. The mayor insists that Mrs. Smetkamp leave until he can get some engineers in to make sure that it’s safe to be in the house.
The next morning, the Turkey Wrangling Team is up before dawn. There is a place at the zoo to house them, and everyone is in place with their hard hats and helmets, armed with garden implements and umbrellas to keep the turkeys moving in the right direction. But Mrs. Smetkamp is nowhere to be found. She’s not in the house, and it’s not until Meg checks the small shed out back that the mystery is solved. But another one is just beginning, because Mrs. Smetkamp was clearly murdered.
There is no shortage of suspects. Mrs. Smetkamp was not one to make friends, so her neighbors were not happy with her, even before she got a reality tv show to remodel her house. There is a young man who rented out the attic apartment across the street, and he rarely leaves. His behavior is suspicious, but would he have any reason to kill Mrs. Smetkamp? Was is her husband (the husband is always a suspect)? Was it someone with the show? Meg is ready to put all her resources towards solving the mystery, all the mysteries, really. But when the killer figures out how close she’s getting to the truth, will she find a way to alert the authorities, or will she be too late for prime time?
Between a Flock and a Hard Place is book 35(!) in Donna Andrews� popular Meg Langslow series. I can’t say I’ve read all the books in the series, but I have read a lot. I’ve spent a lot of time with Meg and her family, so getting a new book from Andrews is such a treat. It’s like a vacation from reality, to spend time with my favorite family and hearing all about their crazy adventures. When I am stressed or unhappy, a trip to Caerphilly never disappoints. And this time was another fantastic trip to Virginia, and I’m already dreaming of going back again.
I listened to Between a Flock and a Hard Place, narrated beautifully by Bernadette Dunne. Things in my head have felt a little frantic lately, so when I started listening, I thought it was excruciatingly slow. Which is not unlike living in the American South for the first time. But the more I listened, the more it felt right and I was able to relax into the slower pace of Southern life and just enjoy the story. It’s a fun story, with puppies and parrots that listen to audio books (and quote back Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or George Carlin, depending on the parrot) and more puppies and so much delicious food.
I loved Between a Flock and a Hard Place. I mean, I’m a long-time fan of Andrews and this crazy Caerphilly she’s crafted, so I pretty much always love these books. And maybe that shows because I have to admit I knew who the killer was right away. But knowing that and still having to watch the whole story unfold was not the slightest bit disappointing. I was entertained through the whole story, and as always, I was a little disappointed when it was over. There were lots of good red herrings and distractions throughout, so there was never a dull moment in this story. If you haven’t yet tried one of Andrews’s mysteries, this is a fun one because of the home remodeling show. If you have, then you know how good it’s going to be and you can just jump right in.
Egalleys for Between a Flock and a Hard Place were provided by Minotaur Books, and an early copy of the audiobook was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.
So when the reality television home makeover show Marvelous Mansions comes to Cerphilly, specifically Bland Street, to remodel the Smetkamp’s house, Meg had to show up to help calm neighbors who were upset about the noise. What she finds is a large flock of feral turkeys in the Smetkamp’s lawn and trees, terrorizing anyone who comes close and generally making a mess. The turkeys are not new to town. They had been around for several years, and the mayor had been trying to figure out a way to get them under control. But they had never been on Bland Street. Clearly, someone had brought them there to disrupt the filming.
That means Meg’s first order of business is to help figure out a way to extract dozens of wild turkeys and finding a place for them to stay. She offers up her farm as a safe place for the neighbors to stay for the duration of the turkey wrangling, or even the whole remodel. A couple of people from the neighborhood take her up on that and head out. When she goes in to the Smetkamp house to see if Mrs. Smetkamp is willing to leave while they move the turkeys, she and the mayor find out that the team from the remodel show have gone overboard in the demo, taking out some load-bearing walls. The mayor insists that Mrs. Smetkamp leave until he can get some engineers in to make sure that it’s safe to be in the house.
The next morning, the Turkey Wrangling Team is up before dawn. There is a place at the zoo to house them, and everyone is in place with their hard hats and helmets, armed with garden implements and umbrellas to keep the turkeys moving in the right direction. But Mrs. Smetkamp is nowhere to be found. She’s not in the house, and it’s not until Meg checks the small shed out back that the mystery is solved. But another one is just beginning, because Mrs. Smetkamp was clearly murdered.
There is no shortage of suspects. Mrs. Smetkamp was not one to make friends, so her neighbors were not happy with her, even before she got a reality tv show to remodel her house. There is a young man who rented out the attic apartment across the street, and he rarely leaves. His behavior is suspicious, but would he have any reason to kill Mrs. Smetkamp? Was is her husband (the husband is always a suspect)? Was it someone with the show? Meg is ready to put all her resources towards solving the mystery, all the mysteries, really. But when the killer figures out how close she’s getting to the truth, will she find a way to alert the authorities, or will she be too late for prime time?
Between a Flock and a Hard Place is book 35(!) in Donna Andrews� popular Meg Langslow series. I can’t say I’ve read all the books in the series, but I have read a lot. I’ve spent a lot of time with Meg and her family, so getting a new book from Andrews is such a treat. It’s like a vacation from reality, to spend time with my favorite family and hearing all about their crazy adventures. When I am stressed or unhappy, a trip to Caerphilly never disappoints. And this time was another fantastic trip to Virginia, and I’m already dreaming of going back again.
I listened to Between a Flock and a Hard Place, narrated beautifully by Bernadette Dunne. Things in my head have felt a little frantic lately, so when I started listening, I thought it was excruciatingly slow. Which is not unlike living in the American South for the first time. But the more I listened, the more it felt right and I was able to relax into the slower pace of Southern life and just enjoy the story. It’s a fun story, with puppies and parrots that listen to audio books (and quote back Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or George Carlin, depending on the parrot) and more puppies and so much delicious food.
I loved Between a Flock and a Hard Place. I mean, I’m a long-time fan of Andrews and this crazy Caerphilly she’s crafted, so I pretty much always love these books. And maybe that shows because I have to admit I knew who the killer was right away. But knowing that and still having to watch the whole story unfold was not the slightest bit disappointing. I was entertained through the whole story, and as always, I was a little disappointed when it was over. There were lots of good red herrings and distractions throughout, so there was never a dull moment in this story. If you haven’t yet tried one of Andrews’s mysteries, this is a fun one because of the home remodeling show. If you have, then you know how good it’s going to be and you can just jump right in.
Egalleys for Between a Flock and a Hard Place were provided by Minotaur Books, and an early copy of the audiobook was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.
August 13, 2024
I somehow made it to page 224 of this book, but it took a lot of forced reading. It was boring, and I’m confused why so many people like it.
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