The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews is a 2013 Minotaur publication.

This fifteenth installment in the Meg Langslow series, sees the town of Caerphilly engaging in an ‘un-fair’, which Meg is helping to organize- naturally.

The event is immediately plagued with a series of thefts, including that of a prized chicken. Things take a more serious turn when a murder occurs, and once again Meg is at the center of the investigation…

As of this writing, I am now halfway through this long running series.

This story has a little less input from the zany supporting cast. Oh sure, they make an appearance here and there, but they seemed far more subdued than usual. Mostly, though, this is all Meg, and the various law enforcement agencies involved- and the suspects, of course.

The mood is still light, though, maintaining its usual cozy atmosphere, including all manner of animals, and a bit of insight into the positives of ‘hobby farming’.

The plot was tighter in this installment, and I think some of that is due to toning down the number of characters in the book, and giving the supporting cast smaller roles, which allowed the mystery to be the primary focus.

Overall, this is one of the stronger installments in the series. As always, the story was light, fun, and fast paced, but was also a very solid whodunit! ( )

And Andrews rises back to her normal funny, slightly fluffy, self. I'm not sure what it was about the prior entry in the series. It just wasn't up to her normal quality.

Talking to and raising toddlers is almost impossible to do in novels. Not sure why. Maybe because kids are still so unformed then they're hard to define? And poor Michael is really getting to be a background character. I also miss the crazy family(Rose Noire is almost normal... and that's not the intention) but was glad that there was less of her dad. Now, if there could be a hefty sort of side plot, it would be all I would ask. 3.5 stars. ( )

I'm going to give this one 5 stars, although I figured it out early in in the book.

There is just as much funny stuff as usual, but without some of the over the top craziness of the previous books. Also, I think that Meg has grown as a person and is developing some boundaries.

In addition, Meg is no helpless flower, and I've always loved the fact that she is a blacksmith. She can fight back when she needs to, as well as use her brains.

The books will make the most sense if you read them in order.

( )

Another really good read from Donna Andrews. I love reading books for amusement, curiosity, entertainment, story telling, use of language, new words and always hope to learn something new of the wider world I'll never see. Ms Andrews' books are filled with facts on a large variety of subjects, in this case llamas and heirloom animals...all slipped into the story so gracefully and sometimes humorously that you almost don't notice you are learning as you go. Also, any book that gets me so interested in something new that I am using Google to follow up is wonderful in my book.

Reread May 2020 - on lockdown from Coronavirus Covid-19, vicariously wandering a country fair knowing our summer fairs have been cancelled for this year.

Reread October 2023-only country fair I have attention was Canadian National Agricultural Fair at Exhibition Place...not quite so cosy and indoors in huge Ag building.

A dastardly murder and the kidnapping of a prize chicken threaten to ruin Caerphilly's state fair—fortunately, Meg Langslow is on the case of The Hen of the Baskervilles

The newest mystery in Donna Andrews's gut-bustingly funny, award-winning, New York Times bestselling series is anything but elementary. Meg Langslow is helping Mayor Randall Shiffley organize the Virginia Un-Fair, Caerphilly's entry in the race to replace the old state fair (which has gone bankrupt). Before a line can even form outside the ticket booth, however, a pair of Bantam Russian Orloff chickens are stolen from their coop in the chicken tent. Soon, a rash of vandalism crops up at the fair, showing no heritage farm animal, prize vegetable, or artisanal craft to be safe.

While patrolling the fairgrounds, determined to catch the perp, Meg runs into her friend Molly, who has been building a successful business making goat cheeses. Molly is terrified that she may lose her farm because her idle husband Brett has left her for Genette Sedgewick, a rich hobby winemaker, and is demanding his half of the land. Meg enlists Mother's help to find Molly a divorce lawyer, but later that night, Brett is found murdered and Molly is swiftly accused as his killer.

Meg is convinced that her friend wouldn't so much as harm a fly, but can she find the real killer before it's too late? Will she track down the vandal who has been terrorizing—however creatively—the fair's participants? And will Michael be able to convince her to add members of his new favorite heritage breed to their growing menagerie? Meg's most hilarious caper yet, the curious incident of the hen in the nighttime will have readers rolling on the floor with laughter. ( )

I just love this crazy family.. and there wasn't too many of them in this installment. {every knows how overwhelming it can be to have EVERY family member underfoot, much less two toddlers running around.} =]

Fun little romp with Meg and boys. ( )