The Penguin Who Knew Too Much

by: Donna Andrews

Published by: St. Martin's Minotaur

Reviewed by Linda Lee

This Meg Langslow mystery has Meg and Michael ready to move into their remodeled home. They’ll be marrying in a few days, unbeknownst to their mothers who would make it too big an affair. Meg’s family is helping with the move and his is flying in from out of town. This all makes it more inconvenient when her father comes to tell her about his find in her basement. Seems while digging a pond for the penguins, he stumbled across a dead body. Since Dad loves a mystery, Meg isn’t sure if she should call the police immediately–but hold the phone, did he say penguins?

It turns out Dad has promised a local mini zookeeper to help with the penguins until the zoo is more solvent. The dead man turns out to be said zookeeper. Meg has to help solve this crime or her honeymoon may end up being a cruise on Noah’s Ark. Animals may be the least of her worries when she has to coax a claustrophobic medical examiner, who also has a fear of vampires, to the basement, and deal with family members of the previous property owner who show up with shovels. They plan to find their long missing great-uncle, even if they have to dig up the entire farm.

Meg and Michael were planning some excitement for their families, but it didn’t include dead bodies and this strange cast of characters. A solid mystery with a cast of zany characters makes it an entertaining read for everyone. The author has won several awards for her work: an Agatha, an Anthony, and a Romantic Times for her first books in the mystery and romance genres. Reading The Penguin Who Knew Too Much will illustrate why I will be finding her previous works to enjoy.

Armchair Interviews says: This book, the eighth installment in a series, is too fun not to share.

Author’s Web site: http://www.DonnaAndrews.com