Sunday, November 9, 2008

Six Geese A-Slaying

Last night I finished reading the new book by Donna Andrew, Six Geese A-Slaying. I enjoy her writing style very much, as her heroine, Meg Langslow, has a very ironic sense of humor. And the things that happen in the life of this heroine are slightly over the top. Actually, the things that happen could probably happen to anyone, just not so much weird stuff over and over. But then, unless the main character is actually a detective, isn't an acquaintance being murdered a rare weird thing to happen, and not something that occurs ten (the number of books in the Meg Langslow series) times. At least I hope so. Frankly, if I lived in Caerphilly, I would have gotten out of town after the first three murders (I know, I live in Chicago, but, praise God, no one I know has been murdered).
I don't mean to be critical of murder mystery series at all. I know that one has to suspend belief, like when watching a cartoon about Santa Claus (not that I don't believe in Santa, mind you, I just have noticed that the cartoons have conflicting information, and yes, I cry during The Year Without A Santa Claus). I like for the mystery to have a murderer that you can hypothesize is the the culprit from the evidence given without it being so obvious that it isn't funny. I also like funny main characters. Especially female main characters. And the quirkiness of things that happen to Meg are explained by her having lots of quirky cousins whom she is close to (or at least her mother is close to, and she is in the vicinity) and living in a small college town in Virginia. So she not only gets quirky neighbors, but her husband has quirky colleagues (professors) and students, who also have quirky friends and family.
I enjoyed the plot of the book. A Santa impersonator is murdered during the Holiday Parade. I won't spoil the story with details about the murder. I will mention that while I usually get miffed with the "Holiday" rather than "Christamas" parades and celebrations, the author actually did a good job of incorporating a Christian Christmas theme in the holiday parade, as well as commercial christmas, Diwahli, Chanukah, Kwaanza, etc. The parade actually had the Holy Family in it. I would rather see a "Holiday" parade that includes the Christian Christmas theme, than a Christmas parade that seems to celebrate shopping and the colors red and green. That's right, I don't mind seeing reindeer, presents, red, green, menorahs, Kwaanza candles, whatever you can think of, so long as I can see Jesus too. I'd rather see just Jesus, but I am tired of the Christmas comprise consisting of a tree and then being told they included my Christian beliefs. Not quite. Christmas isn't about Druid tree worshippers. (Yes, I understand the symbolism of the evergreen. I just want the real deal represented).
Well, like I said, I enjoyed the story, and I highly recommend it.

P.S. The geese are among the suspects!

8 comments:

Beth said...

I love a good mystery! Might have to find this one.
Ever read any Nevada Barr?

Helen said...

No, I'll have to look into her. Is she the author or the main character?

Helen said...

No, I'll have to look into her. Is she the author or the main character?

Helen said...

No, I'll have to look into her. Is she the author or the main character?

Helen said...

No, I'll have to look into her. Is she the author or the main character?

Helen said...

No, I'll have to look into her. Is she the author or the main character?

Helen said...

Does anyone know how to delete the extra comments?

Cathy Adamkiewicz said...

HI Helen
Just had to tell you I love the note from your conscience on the sidebar! Great reminder!