Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "The Hen of the Baskervilles: A Meg Langslow Mystery" by Donna Andrews

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Review of "The Hen of the Baskervilles: A Meg Langslow Mystery" by Donna Andrews

In this 15th book in the 'Meg Langslow' series, the multitasking blacksmith/amateur sleuth investigates vandalism and murder at the fair.

The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

The town of Caerphilly, Virginia is hosting a fair and Meg Langslow - blacksmith, wife, mother of toddler twins, and hobbyist farmer - is assistant director. Amidst preparations for opening day a vandal targets the fair and valuable chickens are stolen;

A prize-worthy pumpkin is smashed;

And a beautiful quilt is sullied. Soon afterward a straying husband is shot dead.

The Caerphilly cops reluctantly team up with neighboring Clay cops to solve the crime and, of course, Meg helps investigate as well.

I enjoyed this humorous, cozy mystery and learned something about heirloom species of animals as well. A good light read.

Rating: 3 stars

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Leading up to and during World War II, some Jewish children in Europe were hidden with Christian families, or in convents, or in monasteries, or in churches, etc., to protect the youngsters from the Nazis. The idea was for Jewish survivors to retrieve the children after the war. Author Jennifer Rosner, who did extensive research on the subject, and interviewed many people, addresses this topic in her fiction book 'Once We Were Home.' I heard Rosner speak about her novel, and she emphasized the difficult situations that sometimes arose from secreting Jewish children (which only saved a tiny percentage of Jewish kids, by the way). Some 'foster parents' came to love the children as their own and vice versa; some church organizations baptized the children and refused to return them; some Jewish kids came to think of themselves as Christian; etc. For the decimated Jewish population, getting these children back after the war was of paramount importance. Jewish survivors would use bribes, payoffs, lawsuits, or even kidnapping to bring the kids home. Some children were reunited with European families, and some were taken to Israel, to live on kibbutzim. Rosner, who has a Ph.D. in philosophy, observes there wasn't always a 'right thing to do,' as shown in this novel. ***** There are several 'displaced' characters in 'Once We Were Home.' Roger: During World War II, Roger is a smart, inquisitive French schoolboy living in the Convent Sainte Marie de Sion. Roger likes to write stories; enjoys sharing jokes and riddles with his best friend Henri; goes to prayer services morning and evening; attends the convent school; and has a favorite teacher, Sister Brigitte, who encourages Roger to ask questions. Roger's sponsor, a woman named Madame Mercier, tells Roger his Jewish parents took the 'wrong road' and arranges for the boy to be baptized. Roger doesn't comprehend what the 'wrong road' is and wonders about his Jewish family. When World War II is over, Roger's aunt wants him back. The church, determined to save Roger's soul, sends him on the run with a monk, who takes Roger over the snowy mountains (on foot) to Spain. Meanwhile, Roger's aunt petitions the church and the courts again and again and again......

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Barb's Book Reviews

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Review of "The Hen of the Baskervilles: A Meg Langslow Mystery" by Donna Andrews

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