Murder with Peacocks

By: Donna Andrews

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Meg Langslow's summer is not going swimmingly. In her small Virginia hometown, she's the maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones - each of whom has dumped the planning in her hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. Only help from the town's drop-dead gorgeous hunk keeps Meg afloat in a sea of relatives and outrageous neighbors. 

But when an offensive newcomer, who hints at skeletons in the guests' closets, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, level-headed Meg's to-do list extends from flower arrangements and bridal registries to catching a killer - before the next event is her own funeral.

©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Why did I wait so long

Finding new authors in cozy mysteries can be difficult. Everyone's tastes are dramatically different as they should be. I hesitated to read Donna Andrews even with all the great reviews and awards due to the comments always on "Wacky" or "Kooky" characters. Generally those have no depth. I ran out of my regular and plunged into the painful depths of finding a new author for the summer with more than 3 titles. I have a rule about established series. I don't want to waste my time with 1 and done. This was a pleasant surprise for a first book. Characters of a small town, with some quirks but I have Kentucky relatives so it seemed normal. Best part I took me a bit to figure out for sure who did it and even at the end I thought maybe I was wrong Those are the best kind. I'm thrilled there are 25 in the series. If at book 3 I'm still intrigued. She is a keeper for an author.

I love funny cosy mysteries!

This book reminds me of the zany romantic comedies from the 30s & 40s. Bizarre situations, odd people, unlikely occurrences and hilarious! When you're in the mood for s good listen that is light and funny, this series is for you.

Love the story, but not the narrator

I've read all of Donna Andrews books and was so excited when I found out her first was finally coming out in audio. What a huge disappoint when I listened to it. Bernadette Dunne isn't bad, but she sounds way too old to be Meg. A narrator can make or break the book and this one is broken. Since Ms. Dunne is the narrator for all the Meg Langslow books this will probably be my first and only purchase.

The blacksmith wins the day!

Maid of honor for three weddings in less than two hot summer months complete with Bridezillas, a body on the beach, attempts at murder, and what else?!?
Meg Lanslow is about to lose her mind in the Commonwealth of Virginia!
The audio is delightedly performed by Bernadette Dunne.

Where it all begins...

A romp to remember. Meg and her zany family and friends find weddings are a risky pastime.

Mother Made Me

Not sure how old the main character Meg was supposed to be, but no female over the age of ten would allow her mother to totally rule her world.

Of course, that's only when Meg wasn't allowing friends and other family members to run her raged. Why this talented author believed her readers would be entertained by Meg's martyred life, I can't imagine.

I forced myself to listen until the end, hoping Meg would grow a backbone but she never did. If Meg has been more interesting and assertive, this could have been a good book.

For the romance lover.

Dreadful and boring. I bought this because the reviews said it was 'Hilarious!' and 'I couldn't stop laughing!' but it is not funny. It was so boring and dreadful that I couldn't continue listening after the first hour. This is just not my cup of tea. For anyone not wanting to get stuck with romance-- run away!! This book seems to go on more about the lead character's love life and swooning over some man than the mystery you may crave. The narrator does a fine job.

Pathetic protagonist and predictable ending

I can not believe I made it through this book. This character was doormat of a person and a very predictable ending.

The protagonist is a jerk.

I just couldn’t get past the terrible description of the brother of her best friend’s fiancé (at about 5 minutes into the first chapter) and the fact that she basically didn’t want to be in the same room as he because he didn’t have a neck, and because he was an introvert. Sorry, couldn’t listen to a whole book with such a flaming snob as a protagonist.

Rooted for the Murderer

2/3 of the way through I was hoping a good number of the cast of unlikable self absorbed characters would get killed off.

Throughout the book the love interest would start the tell the main character some thing but would get interrupted. It became boring, predictable and eventually very annoying.

The first book in a fantastic ongoing series

I absolutely love this series of books. My only regret is that not all of them are available as audio books.

This is the very first one, and every so often I go back and relisten to it, as it's such a wonderful story.

Most of the 31 books so far are available to listen to, and I have listened to and loved all of them. Donna Andrews' writing is so wonderfully descriptive, with fabulous narration of every one by Bernadette Dunne.

slow plot

Storyline weak & dragged out plot.Fidnt like narrators voice, a very strong drawl.Characters very thin.