No Nest for the Wicket

by: Donna Andrews

Published by: Thomas Dunne Books (St. Martin's Minotaur)

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

Croquet as a sport is not dead! It is, in the form of eXtreme Croquet, the current rage in Caerphilly where blacksmith extraordinaire, Meg Langslow's, property (under renovation) is home base for the competing teams.

Croquet is not usually thought of as a game to die for or over, but in Caerphilly, anything is possible. Meg's croquet ball is sent down a cliff where she finds a dead woman whom no one seems to know, but many have had contact with in the past, including her own finance.

As Meg investigates the mysterious woman's death, she must negotiate the cluttered terrain of her own home. Present are crazy family members, a team of students that are better known as the Mountain Morris Mallet Men, local society mavens, workmen, runaway sheep, a duck looking to be a mother, and some nasty poison ivy. With all the distraction, Meg must be able to focus if she is to solve the murder and save her homestead from the invasion of the Mega Mall.

Donna Andrew's novel, No Nest for the Wicket has unique characters and never-ending activity. Yet, for the entire frenetic goings on, it doesn't feel frenetic. It is a fun-filled romp through the land of murder. Her characters are delightful because they are so flawed and are reminiscent of people we all know. Andrews's imagination should be studied! The results are a satisfying read that will make you laugh.

Armchair Interviews says: If you want a fast, fun read where you're entertained, not challenged to think, Andrew's No Nest for the Wicket is the ticket. If murder can result in a feel-good experience, this is it.