Donald Jay's Cozy Review:
I literally belly laughed at the opening line and continued to be entertained throughout the read.
I’m referring to Donna Andrews’s The 12 Jays of Christmas, the 30th book in the Meg Langslow Mysteries series.
A house full of Christmas guests, a murder, and a menagerie of animals come together to create a wonderful page-turner. Meg Langslow is a strong, quick-witted, and extremely capable protagonist. An eclectic supporting cast of characters, family, and townspeople alike make for realistic and entertaining dialog. Christmas in Caerphilly is something I would really like to experience, but the orchestrated chaos of Christmas in the Langslow home made the story for me.
12 Jays ticks all the boxes for a cozy mystery. The plot seemed a little typical of a cozy mystery, but that did not detract. The pacing dipped only slightly a couple of times when detailed description detracted from the storyline in a manner that, in this case, animal lovers will appreciate. Donna Andrews more than makes up for that with an author’s voice that is witty, funny, and charming.
I highly recommend The 12 Jays of Christmas to my family, friends, and followers and give it a star rating of 4.5.
About the Author: Donna Andrews
According to her website, 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. She has written over 30 books in the Meg Langslow mystery series.
