The seventh book in the Meg Lanslow series has Meg and her fiance Michael refurbishing an old farmhouse. It also features games of "extreme" croquet in a neighbor's cow and sheep pastures.

When Meg stumbles onto the body of a woman who died as a result of a blow from a croquet mallet, she becomes involved in solving the mystery of her death. She soon learns that Michael once dated the victim who was a history professor with a penchant for blackmail.

Meg also learns that the farmer next door is considering selling his farm to a developer who plans to build the world's largest outlet mall on the property. Naturally, Meg and Michael aren't please about that. Meg is tempted to join forces with the head of the local historical society who wants to stop the development, but Meg really dislikes the woman.

The historical society wants the land set aside as a historical site because of a Civil War battle fought there whose hero was the leader of the historical society's ancestor. But Meg can't find any verification that the battle ever happened beyond a book written by the historical society's president.

There are numerous suspects to the woman's death. Meg finds herself a target when she gets too close to the solution.

I enjoyed this humorous story filled with quirky characters both human and animal. From wandering sheep to a cranky puffball of a dog, the animals provide a lot of humor. Then there are Meg's always entertaining relatives to add both humor and help for Meg's amateur detective work.

This was a fun story. I liked the narration by Bernadette Dunne who managed a wide variety of voices and moods. ( )

This was a fun Meg Langslow cozy mystery! Meg is playing extreme croquet out in a cow pasture because this is what they do in Caerphilly, Virginia for fun. While she’s out there, unfortunately, she discovers a dead body, and after the police question everyone at the site and no one seems to know who the dead woman is, it eventually turns out she’s one of Michael’s exes.

Awkward.

This is where the story takes some interesting twists and turns. There are boxes and boxes of historical documents, a historical society up in arms, a strip mall that no one wants built nearby, and of course, the croquet game. But how does it all tie in together? As always, the quirky characters and zany situations are the fun of this book. I always enjoy reading Meg’s adventures and seeing what her family is up to next.
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These books really alternate from average to hilarious for me. This was average because you didn't know if a person was important enough to remember(crucial for a mystery) which meant that, at the end, two people were brought forward who I had apparently been introduced to but had no memory of. Not bad. Still chuckled a bit. But I know she's capable of better. ( )

This book introduces me to Meg and her family. I was attracted by the reference to croquet on the cover. After reading this, I was hooked and had to search out more books. ( )

Maybe it is my mood but each book in the series is as good as the last and I am thoroughly enjoying them. I am amazed at how many eccentric characters she is juggling and making funny and keeping interesting and attractive. The descriptions of playing in muddy fields and bogs dogging cows and sheep was so vivid I was tempted to go shower. Another book finished after midnight.

Reread May 2020 to help me through Covid-19 isolation and Ashley's death...perfect for it.

Reread October 2023..SADs hit hard this year and me without my light. Donna Andrews books are better than Zoloft for lifting one out of the pits. ( )