Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos

The third in the Meg Langslow cozy mysteries, this one is quite a hoot, especially after the disappointing second book. Meg is, as usual, juggling crazy family and friends in one madcap weekend. This time at a reenactment (something American Civil War, forgive me for not knowing/caring too much about which battle in particular), so everyone's been forced into period costume. I particularly loved the "Anachronism Police" running around and fining people for wearing wristwatches and other heinous infractions of the period costume rule.

The plot is almost secondary, but is actually rather nicely done. There's enough red herrings and potential culprits to keep me on my toes over a summer holiday. And I did enjoy the ride.

A blacksmith tries to impress her boyfriend's mother by organizing a craft fair at a Battle of Yorktown reenactment. What with the constant canon fire, the nosy Anachronism Police and an enthusiastically period medical tent (with Revolutionary War-era surgical tools, including bone saws), Meg's temper was frayed before the murder in her booth.

The time that I took to read this was well-spent: the plot and the pace are Sunday-afternoon-worthy. All the details are over the top (who makes wrought-iron flamingos? With pink finish? Who has one period costume for the day, and another ballgown for the evening?) but not totally inaccurate.

I'm kinda on the fence. Neither of the sequels have been as screwball-comedy-esque as the first. This one had one scene that had potential but, unfortunately, the lead-in was too long. Also there were too many reoccurring small characters from the other books that I just didn't remember. And the new characters were all introduced at once in the beginning and, therefore, hard to separate from each other.

I thought Amanda had some potential(as a new character) but she was glossed over. Nor was I a fan of where Michael and Meg's relationship was at. Personally, in view of the length of the series, it could go much slower.

I know that physical comedy is hard to write but she did such a good job in her first book that I have high hopes.

She show more does do a decent job at including a diverse number of characters and I found her inclusion of the topic of slavery during her treatment of a revolutionary War reenactment appropriate. No glossing over that here. I will give the series one more try... show less

Gosh, this cozy mystery series is just so eccentric and fun. Meg and Michael have been dating for a bit and now are at odds on how to proceed in their relationship—specifically how to spend more time together when they don’t live particularly close to one another. While they’re solving that issue, they’re participating in a Revolutionary War reenactment/craft fair, where Meg is selling her iron works. Unfortunately, there is some intellectual property thievery going on. Even worse, Meg’s most popular item may be the wrought iron flamingos she made for her mother’s friend and she may forever be tagged as the female iron worker who makes the adorable flamingos. The orders won’t stop coming in. This was adorably quirky, show more filled with hilarious characters, lots of period dressing, birds galore and a fun murder to solve. I can’t wait for the next book.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

Meg Langslow is at it again. The wrought-iron craftswoman is selling her wares at an "historically authentic" craft fair in conjunction with a re-enactment of the Battle of Yorktown. The "authenticity police" are out, citing people right and left for "anachronisms" -- anthing not proper to the historical period. It's no wonder Meg is carefully hiding the wrought-iron pink flamingos (which were made on commission for a local who is feuding with her Neighborhood Association).

This is a murder mystery so, of course, someone has to get killed -- and with a most interesting murder weapon. (What hath Meg wrought?) With an army of suspects (most of whom are Meg's friends and relatives, not to mention Meg herself) and a bumbling new deputy (who show more seems better suited to ticketing double-parking fairgoers than solving a murder), the battle is on the find "the real killer."

I found myself giggling and laughing out loud as I read this madcap adventure. In the midst of a very busy, stressful week, it was just what I needed! show less

Meg is back in Yorktown, Virginia, for a craft fair and reenactment of the battle that ended the Revolutionary War. Michael's mother is in charge of the event and is causing Meg lots of problems as she runs interference between the crafters and her future mother-in-law. Between crafters needing to be in costume and festival guards looking for, and fining, any anachronism they encounter, Meg would be busy enough.

Meg's brother has a meeting with a man who wants to buy his computer game and market it, but other friends know of the man and know that he is a crook who defrauds anyone who tries to do business with him. Meg is also dealing with a distant cousin who writes for tabloids and is looking for a scoop.

When the shady businessman is show more found dead in the back of Meg's stall with a knife she made in his back, Meg needs to find the killer before her brother or one of her friends are arrested for the crime. The investigator is a new hire at the police department and is overeager to make a good impression on the sheriff.

Just to add to the fun and confusion, one of Meg's mother's friends is running against the sheriff and looking to Meg for campaign ideas. She's already commissioned a dozen wrought-iron flamingoes for her yard and wants to take delivery at the craft fair. Meg is proud of her work but doesn't want to be known as the blacksmith who makes flamingoes.

Meg and Michael are also having some trouble with their courtship. He's trying to convince her to move to the town when he teaches. She's reluctant. They also have trouble coordinating their busy schedules to find time to be together.

This was a fun episode. I look forward to reading more in the series. The narrator did a great job with the various voices and with the pacing of the story. show less

I loved the developing relationship between Meg and Michael, the competition between the two mothers, the glimpses into historical reenactment, and the humorous ways all the participants coped with the obstacles they encountered.