While this may not have been the best Meg book, just like Seanan McGuire or Terry Pratchett, Donna Andrews’ “not-so-goods” are better than some people’s “top-tier A-level”. Has to be one off the more interesting murderer reveals I’ve read in a very long time.
In this, the 39th book in the series (which will make no sense unless you’ve read the other 38), Meg has finally found time to get some blacksmithing done; she has a candelabra to make for her mother’s interior design firm, and the never ending request for Gothic metalwork from Ragnar Ragnarsen, the Norse ex-Death Metal drummer who has taken over the Martha Stewart homage black and white estate, and is slowly turning it into Ragnarshjem, a brooding Gothic artist commune and halfway house moated castle. Those plans are put on hold though when a call from her dad comes through–can she come out to Ragnar’s right away to help with the horses? Ragnar has agreed to shelter nearly fifty horses for Hoof and Hearth, an equine rescue organization that has lost access to the farm where the horses were previously living. Ezra, the owner of the farm, recently died without leaving a will, and while his older son Abel is quite happy to let the horses stay, younger brother George wants to sell to a developer; and much worse, is suspected of sending a thug to harm the horses as part of his efforts to evict Hoof and Hearth.
However, that very night, while Meg and her family are camping at one of Ragnar’s barns (to be able to keep an eye on the horses), they discover that the thug has been murdered. Unfortunately George is alibied (by his two other thugs, but an alibi is an alibi) . . . but Abel is not; nor is Helena, the hot-tempered founder of Hoof and Hearth, or Tomas, the passionately protective ex-jockey who serves as its stablemaster. So blacksmithing is definitely put on the back burner while Meg juggles helping keep the horses safe and doing what she can to help the chief solve the thug’s murder . . . all the while hoping that the killer won’t turn out to be one of the dedicated horse rescuers she has come to like and respect.
Andrews actually had me guessing right up until the end, and still not everything was 100% squared. (Like why was the murder victim wearing George’s clothing?) As usual, very Michael-lite. Surprisingly, somewhat Chief Burke-lite as well. In fact, there was probably more of the new characters than the old (but more Festus than usual). Interesting that an “Ezra” would go forth and begat an “Abel” and a “George”. (I’m sorry, but Abel makes more sense with Ezra than George.) I knew Meg was going to take Spooky, even if Ragnar is boarding him for her. (That level of stubbornness and self-knowledge combined with an interesting coat pattern; it was a no-brainer.) Found it interesting Monty’s experiments with striping; quite a hidden talent Josh, Jaime, and Aaron have artistically. (I certainly couldn’t freehand a M.C. Escher pattern on a horse.) And on things I wouldn’t want to charge out of the dark at me, goats with glow-in-the-dark skeletal paint jobs would be rather high up on the list. To be honest, I’d probably go more for Trouble, Spooky, or even Sage (that horse is a fighter) over Galadriel; she’s just a little too passive. The crows were a nice touch; especially with the fact that the head of the flock is named Montresor, which is a fun Edgar Allan Poe nod. And with them and the swans (nasty little things they are) show that Andrews has had experience with both kind of birds; between them and the horses, you almost don’t really miss pack of dogs that are usually at Meg’s house (though Tinkerbell (the Irish wolfhound) and Spike (the 8-pound “Small Evil One”) get name-dropped here.)
Nice to have Randall and Sammy make reappearances (they’ve been missing for quite a few books). “Cat distribution center” name drop! I guess Helena is one of those people better with animals than humans. At least the whole investigation took three days, so it’s not really that much time out of Meg’s blacksmithing schedule; and at least she’s finally going back to it on page, as for the last dozen books I’ve thought she’s a blacksmith in name only. No offense, but how much did they really need Kevin in this one? He didn’t really bring anything to the table this time around. Glad George was somewhat to blame; he was truly a slimeball. Would love to own Ragnar’s t-shirt; “Undergangens Skogkatter!” (“Forest Cats of Doom!”) is a really great band name, even if my mother’s Norwegian Forest Cat was more of the “carry bees in his mouth, squeak at bears, sparkle in sunlight” kind of cat.
(Seriously, does the cat on the left look particularly “Doom”-ish? Next to him is my mother’s first orange cat, though now thanks to this book, I have learned he could also be categorized as “yellow”. Seriously, orange cats are also known as yellow?)
Shows how truly nasty swans are. Love Meg solves it, all while not interfering or snooping on police business (which makes her one of the least annoying Cozy Mystery protagonists out there.) Would also love to live in Ragnarshjem (especially with the black Highland Cows; I have a love affair with Highland Cows.)
Can’t wait until October when Book #40 comes out. This is a series I can definitely recommend.
