Swan for the Money

by Donna Andrews

Book Overview

The brilliantly funny and talented Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed mystery series readers have come to love. ? Meg Langslow's eccentric parents have a new hobby: growing roses and entering them in highly competitive shows. Dad's gardening skill and Mother's gift for selecting and arranging the blossoms should make them an unbeatable team---and Meg is relieved they've taken up such a safe, gentle hobby. She even...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312377177
• ISBN13: 9780312377175
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Birds of a feather

The characters are fun and the plot, while predictable, is fun to read. This is certainly light reading, but we all need that sometimes. Another great book from Donna Andrews. It does make your family seem normal and that I'm glad I'm not Meg.

Roses Have Thorns

Donna Andrews' SWAN FOR THE MONEY is a funny delight, especially after several weeks of heavy reading. Meg Langslow agrees to help her parents by organizing the annual rose show. Meg knows very little about roses or the cut throat competition which governs these affairs, but she is about to learn in spades. The hostess of the club's show has an obsession with the color scheme of black and white and the balance must be perfect. Did wonder where she kept the Hampshire hogs, which a friend of mine had raised along with his Belted Galloway cattle. But the animals blended perfectly with the story. Philomena Winkleson is determined to win the top prize and works diligently to forestall all of her competition. From page one to the last there is murder, envy, mayhem, and laugh out-loud chuckles for this entertaining humorous cozy. Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.

Blood Red Rose Show

It's just hours from the first annual Caerphilly Rose Show, and things are getting out of hand. Not only does Meg have to organize the volunteers and make sure everything is set up correctly, but someone is sabotaging her parents' best shot at the black rose award, something unique to this competition. Things aren't going well for Mrs. Winkleson either. The eccentric woman is hosting the show on her estate. She is obsessed with trying to make everything in the world conform to black and white. And her little dog has been kidnapped. Things get even worse when a body shows up. Does it have any connection to the other things going on? Who is taking this show seriously enough to kill? This series is always a fun treat, and the eleventh book is no exception. The plot got a little bogged down approaching the half way point, but it quickly picked up again for the second half. The series regulars are fun as always. But what made this book for me was Mrs. Winkleson and her animals. She collects animals based on their black and white color scheme. And they are a riot. I especially loved the fainting goats. Everything they showed up was a riot. The animals provided the best laugh out loud moments, but the humans did provide a few grins and chuckles as well. If you haven't discovered this series already, you are in for a treat. Really, you can pretty much jump in anywhere and enjoy the adventures of Meg and her extended family.

zany rose garden murder

For once, Meg Langslow believes her parents have taken up a safe hobby that could not harm anyone. They are growing roses especially working on hybrids with a hope of creating a black version. Elated with their new pastime that is so safe, Meg agrees to organize the Caerphilly Garden Club first annual rose show. The event is being held on the Winkleson estate because wealthy, influential but mean spirited Mrs. Winkleson wanted a home court advantage with everyone owing her favors and those who do not she bullies so she can win the Black Sawn Trophy. Meg goes to see the estate's beautiful fenced in rose garden, but instead of beautiful blooming flowers, she finds a dead female contestant. Soon afterward, the hostess becomes unconscious after taking a drink. It looks like someone was trying to kill her using cyanide. Meg as usual snoops, but quickly finds everyone including servants, but especially the club members have strong motives to kill Mrs. Wilkerson. Donna Andrews is highly regarded for her comedic often slapstick amateur sleuths (see SIX GEESE A-SLAYING); her latest is once again a hilarious whodunit as eccentricity, including Meg's parents, runs rampart throughout the plot. The contestants are to say the least an unconventional crowd of oddballs, misfits, geeks, and hermits in which Ms. Andrews uses hyperbole to emphasis the diverse differences. Between protecting her out of control parents and dealing with belligerent club members, harried servants and sinister killer swans, Meg has her work cut out solving the rose garden murder. Harriet Klausner

Rose growers beware!!!!

"Swan for the Money" is a book for rose lovers every where! The coveted "Black Swan" award for the best rose, is a well written mystery. In this book, we find poor Meg in charge of the Rose show this year. I never knew people could get so involved or so violent over roses. Meg has her hands full watching over roses,and gardens with more problems than she can handle. Sabotage, stealing, murder.... all for the love of roses. Of course, there is an occasional fainting goat, mean spirited swans, and a missing dog to tend with too. You have to love a mystery with lovable characters and crazy rose enthusiasts. Who could imagine all this fuss over a flower? I could. I love roses and this book delivers both a mystery, and roses. What more could anyone ask for? Another winner for Donna Andrews. I am looking forward to her next cozy.