The Nightingale Before Christmas

By: Donna Andrews

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

As the holidays draw near in Caerphilly, Mother volunteers to take part in a big Christmas-themed decorator show house - each room of a temporarily untenanted house is decorated to the hilt by a different decorator for the public to tour. Of course, Mother insists that Meg pitch in with the organization, and she finds herself surrounded by flamboyant personalities with massive egos clashing and feeling their professional reputations are at stake. Then the rooms start to be sabotaged, and an unfortunate designer turns up dead - making Mother a prime suspect. Can Meg catch the real killer in time to save Mother the indignity of arrest?

©2014 Donna Andrews (P)2014 Dreamscape Media, LLC

We want MORE MEG! We want MORE MEG!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Nightingale Before Christmas to be better than the print version?

I love reading Donna Andrew's Meg Langslow series. However, reading isn't possible when I'm working with my hands in my studio. That's when I listen to audio books.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Nightingale Before Christmas?

I loved when the community pitched in to help Meg's mother with her room.

What about Bernadette Dunne’s performance did you like?

Ms. Dunne has a beautiful voice. It has a natural flow. Her characters are distinctive without being cartoonish.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book keeps me at my workbench. That's what I want from an audiobook.

Any additional comments?

I like a good easy listening series. Characters that I'm familiar with help me get straight to work. I'm an artist. I love being able to create and listen to a good book at the same time.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Bernadette Dunne is a Gem

Love Dunne's narration and the mystery is interesting, though this release is no where near as funny as the earlier books in the Meg Langslow series. If you haven't read/listened to We'll Always Have Parrots, then please, please, please give it a try. It's hilarious. There are funny moments in The Nightingale Before Christmas, but the focus definitely on the murder mystery. I wish the publisher would release ALL of the books in this series in audio because Dunne nails Meg's humor and like to hear her perform books 2-3 and 6-13.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Murder in a decorator show house

In <strong>The Nightingale before Christmas</strong> by Donna Andrews, Meg Langslow is being kept busy in a decorative showhouse. Twelve different local interior decorators have been given different rooms of a house to decorate in their own styles, which range from classic to goth to chintz. But all does not go well in this house. A citizen divas working in the same building leads to a lot of friction, especially the designer Clay Spottiswood, who has the master bedroom. Then things get even crazier as packages go missing and Clay drips red paint all over other people's rooms and tries to remove a load bearing wall against direct orders, causing a flood beneath him. So it comes as no surprise to the reader when Clay ends up being the one murdered, but someone has heavily vandalized his room. Meg gets involved in trying to track down the murderer, complete with plenty of danger.

<strong>The Nightingale before Christmas</strong> is a fun addition to the Meg Langslow series, with another great plot and strong characters. We see Meg's twins, Josh and Jamie, as they are growing up and busy trying to come up with presents for their mother, who, for some strange reason, doesn't want hamsters or a nerf gun or an ant farm. This book is darker than most in the series, but it has a strong plot and enough fun details to make it as much a delight as the other books in the series.

Bernadette Dunne once again proves why she is one of my very favorite audiobook narrators and why this series is the one I recommend to people wanting to get into listening to audiobooks. With unique voices for each character and a smile in her voice, she takes one of Andrews's darker books and makes it enjoyable for all.

I really appreciated <strong>The Nightingale before Christmas</strong> for its clever plot, vivid characters, and unique setting. The writing is very strong and the book delightful. I give it five stars.

smiles and laughter this mystery is very nice

The characters are as always in Donna Andrews books are funny especially the kids.

Its a Meg Langslow story, though not the best

For some reason this isn't one of my favorites from this author. I wish more of Donna Andrews' books were available on Audible. I have them in print, but often prefer to hear them performed. Maybe its too convoluted. Maybe the regulars aren't as involved as usual.

Nice Christmas story

I really enjoy this series. I enjoy the intertwining of small town life with a mystery. This story was no exception.

Great holiday theme story.

I really like the narrator's ability to switch characters. Make Donna Andrews stories come alive. Time for the narrator to do more of the books.

Another great book by Donna Andrews!

I love this whole series!! Meg and Michael and her whole zany family!
I LOVED the descriptions of the painted walls...so detailed a description I could picture it in my mind!
I am glad she keeps these books coming, since I have caught up now on the series! Can't wait until the next one comes out in August!!