Dashing Through the Snowbirds: A Meg Langslow Mystery

A cold and snowy Christmas season is in full swing in Agatha Award winner Andrews’s lively 32nd Meg Langslow mystery (after Round Up the Usual Peacocks), with every corner of Meg’s large Victorian house in Caerphilly, Va., festooned with evergreen garlands, red bows, and cheery baubles, courtesy of her indefatigable mother. In addition to the large extended family, Meg is also playing host to 11 Canadian employees of AcerGen, a Toronto “wannabe Ancestry.com” and their boss, arrogant and slovenly Ian Meredith. Meg must cater to the whims of the Canadians for the sake of her brother Rob, whose company, Mutant Wizards, has landed a lucrative contract to revamp the AcerGen website now that they have expanded into home DNA testing. When Ian is murdered, credible suspects pop up around every corner: dissatisfied and possibly dangerous clients, stalkers, and disgruntled employees. Andrews does a masterly job juggling all the elements of the plausible plot and fills it with entertaining red herrings. As usual, it’s the well-drawn and amusing cast of characters, including some fine dogs and cats, that’s the main draw. Readers will hope Meg has many more adventures to come. Agent: Ellen Geiger, Frances Goldin Literary. (Oct.)