I’m a huge fan of this series – Meg would be on one of those ‘book characters you’d like to know/be’ lists, if I kept such a thing. Her family is wacky, colourful and eccentric and Meg is an absolute master at controlling all of them without them actually knowing it. I admire that skill. She is the sane, calm eye in the Langslow family cyclone.
Her house sounds like heaven, complete with an out-building for any and all occasions, enough land to grow whatever any family member has a whim to grow, and a motley collection of animals that just keeps growing.
The Hen of the Baskervilles takes place at the Caerphilly County Fair – the ‘Un’Fair. I really liked that the ‘un’ fair centered on heirloom animals and vegetables and I wish such a thing actually existed relative to where I live. The mystery was up to Ms. Andrews usual standards: complex enough to have multiple viable suspects, at least one twist, and a culprit that won’t be obvious to everyone who reads the book.
I’ll say it wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it’s definitely entertaining and a welcome addition to what I hope will be a long continuing series.