Lark! The Herald Angels Sing

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

ANDREWS, DONNA

LARK, THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Away in a manger, asleep on the hay, Meg Langslow finds a little gift.

For four previous Christmases, New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews has delighted readers with holiday mysteries, full of Christmas cheer and starring her quirky characters. Now she gives us another hilarious new adventure in her award-winning Meg Langslow series with Lark! The Herald Angels Sing.

It's Christmastime in Caerphilly and Meg, full of holiday spirit, is helping out with the town's festivities. While directing a nativity pageant and herding children participating in it, she finds a surprise in the manger: a live baby!

A note from the mother, attached to the baby girl's clothes, says that it's time for the father to take care of her -- and implicates Meg's brother, Rob, as the father.And while a DNA test can reveal whether there's any truth to the accusation, Rob's afraid the mere suspicion could derail his plan to propose to the woman he loves. Meg quickly realizes it's up to her to find the baby's real identity.

She soon discovers that the baby -- named Lark according to the fateful note -- may be connected to something much bigger. Something that eventually puts a growing number of Meg's friends and family in danger. And before long, Meg realizes she can't fix things single-handedly. 

Meanwhile, a war is brewing between Caerphilly and its arch-rival Clay County -- and it's not a snowball fight. Can Meg bring everyone together in time for the holidays?

My Review:

published in 2018

Nothing says festive quite like a cozy mystery that's equal parts zany and heartwarming. Andrews delivers all the feel-good Christmasy vibes along with a stellar mystery. And tons of gut-jiggling, snort-guffawing laughter besides.

Yes, this is #24 in this decades plus series but I think it reads fine as a standalone and would be a great introduction to the author's quirky charm. Plus, she knows how to pack her Christmas novels full of yuletide spirit. I read a number of them in a row before settling down to do the series justice by reading them all, more or less in order. :-)

Just be prepared for never-ending bedlam and lots of slap-happy, laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of Meg's wildly interesting extended family and the town of Caerphilly in general. The mystery is gentler -- it's more about finding an abandoned baby's mother and dealing with the neighbouring county's notoriously crooked sheriff's department and culminates in a rousing 'Ode to Christmas' that saves the day in a spectacular way! Still grinning over that particular finale.

In fact, I think Lark! The Herald Angels Sing is such a season-pleaser, I've listened to it three times now. Bernadette Dunne does an amazing job with this cast of eccentric characters and she has a droll way of delivering the comedic parts which keeps me smiling all the way through.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ecopy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lark! The Herald Angels Sing, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 18 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!