Cockatiels at Seven

May 5, 2008
Snakes alive! Newlywed amateur sleuth Meg Langslow finds a creepy crawler at every turn in Andrews’s charming ninth mystery (after 2007’s The Penguin Who Knew Too Much
) as Dad and Grandpa stock her Caerphilly, Va., farm with what they promise to be temporary reptilian guests. These, however, become a minor distraction after long-lost friend Karen drops off her lively toddler, Timmy, for Meg to babysit. When the mom fails to return for Timmy, Meg investigates. Is Karen in hiding or in danger or both? Meg learns that Jasper, Karen’s sleazy ex, had been a computer programmer for the same college where Karen works and Meg’s new hubby, Michael, teaches. Armed with this info, Meg starts digging and uncovers far more than she bargained for, including Jasper’s corpse. Suspense, laughter and a whole passel of good clean fun make this another strong installment in this popular cozy series. 6-city author tour.

June 1, 2008
Virginia blacksmith Meg Langslow is working hard to add to her stock before a big Labor Day craft show when her friend Karen asks Meg to watch her toddler, Timmy, for "a little while." When Karen doesnt return that day, Meg finds Karens apartment ransacked and learns thatKarens ex-husband has been murdered and an embezzlement scheme has been uncoveredat the college where Karen works. Meg investigates, often with Timmy in tow. Meg also has to deal with her brother, who seems to be slowly moving into her house, and her father and zoo-owner grandfather, who are storing confiscated finches in her third-floor bedroom and snakes in her basement. Timmy is a lovable supporting character, and Meg becomes increasingly attached to him as she tries to decide whether she is ready to have a child of her own. Andrews mixes humor and domestic life effectively in this ninth installment of the popular series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)