In this latest offering in the Donna Andrews mystery novels, Meg takes part in a reality show filming in which she is able to show off her blacksmithing skills. The filming takes place at a local castle, which provides an atmospheric setting for the competition. When one of the competitors becomes deceased, Meg becomes involved in trying to solve the crime.

My favorite part of this novel was the cool setting and the descriptions of the castle and the area, plus the Christmas festivities. I also liked reconnecting with the characters from the other novels in this series. The author has done a good job of updating the characters throughout the series, although this book works as a standalone too. The information about reality shows and blacksmithing was an added bonus.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

It’s Christmas season and at Ragnar’s castle, a reality show featuring a bladesmithing competition is being filmed. The producers had tried to convince Meg Langslow to take part but she prefers to work behind the scenes but when Faulk, her mentor and odds on winner, is attacked, she agrees to step into his spot. However, not long after shooting starts, she discovers a dead body. Soon, she is helping the sheriff uncover the killer with the not inconsiderable help of some very smart crows.

Okay, I am a huge fan of Christmas cozies and Let It Crow? Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews fits my Christmas cozy wish list fairly well. There are plenty of twists and turns, characters both to like and dislike and there was a nice touch of humour. I did feel the pacing was a bit slow at times and the big reveal seemed to come somewhat out of the blue. Still, overall, it was an enjoyable read with plenty of Christmassy parts to keep me satisfied.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review ( )

It's Christmas time and Ragnar is hosting a reality show which features blacksmiths who make weapons. Meg was asked to take part but she's happy just to be a gopher. But when her mentor Faulk is attacked and ends up with a concussion and broken arm, Meg is roped into competing.

As she gets to know the other competitors, she finds that some could be friends, but others are not the kind of people she likes. When one of her least favorite attempts to sabotage the first event of the competition, Meg uses her nephew Kevin's technological skills to catch the saboteur in the act. This act, and his really substandard knife, makes him the first one to be eliminated.

However, elimination isn't supposed to lead to murder. However, Meg and Michael find his body surrounded by cows in a far pasture and Meg finds herself investigating a murder while competing in a reality TV show.

I enjoyed the setting since the story takes place at Ragnar's castle-like home. I also liked the time of the year which includes Meg's mother handling the decorating and complying with Ragnar's rather eccentric color scheme. I also liked the gingerbread house decorating party and other seasonal events.

I thought the solution to the mystery was the least successful part of this story. I felt that the reveal of the villain was too sudden and, to my way of thinking, without any earlier clues leading to him. But maybe I just missed the clues because I was so enjoying all of the Christmas festivities. ( )

A Christmas season story featuring Meg Langslow; what could be better? The gang's all here as Meg is tapped for a reality blacksmith show after Faulk, her mentor, is attacked and forced out. Despite her misgivings, her competitive nature won't let her do less than her best, and she becomes a contender as she protects her forge from a saboteur and tracks down who attacked Faulk. As expected, this is an intriguing mystery with notes of humor!

Thanks to St Martin's Press for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley. ( )

pet-dogs, pets, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, murder-investigation, murder, TV/film industry, competition, blacksmith, bladesmithing, family-dynamics, family, friendship, friends, small-town, famous-persons, situational-humor, verbal-humor, Virginia, extortion, unputdownable, unpleasant-guests, law-enforcement*****

An even better Meg Langslow mystery! Meg is assisted by very few family members this time, while Michael is solid back-up for Meg and an excellent father to those irrepressible twins. Each book in the series is perfectly capable of being a stand-alone and does not require any reading in order, so
laugh your way through the suspects, zany family members and friends, goofy TV people and their behaviors, facts about the process work of a bladesmith, amazing plot twists, and red herrings as we try to guess the perpetrator before the end of the book!
This cannot be an unbiased review because I reread some of them (the print copies walk away so now I have them in audio) and wait with bated breath for each new one.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )