FIVE GOLDEN WINGS (Meg Langslow #38) by Donna Andrews will be released on October 14, 2025, by Minotaur Books.
Meg Langslow is used to her mother’s extended family descending on her house for the holidays. This year, just before Christmas, two of Hollingsworth cousins are getting married on the same day. The cousins are lifelong enemies, and they’ve purposely planned their weddings to take place on the same day and at the same venue. They’re also holding dueling receptions at the local hotel. Yes, it makes it easier for the family to attend both weddings. But the cousins are determined to outdo each other and ruin the other’s big day. Meg and her mother are trying to keep the peace between the two wedding parties, but they are pushed to the limit by the bridezillas. Things are made even more stressful when Meg finds the body of the wedding photographer shot to death in the local cemetery. The photographer made plenty of enemies, and the suspect list involves his assistant, both sets of bride and groom, the bridesmaids, and former clients. To escape helping with wedding duties, Meg volunteers to help the local police round up suspects, track down alibis, and figure out who fired the fatal shot.
It seems to always be Christmas in Caerphilly. In FIVE GOLDEN WINGS, the holiday takes more of a backseat to the weddings. I’ve been a fan of Meg for years, and I always enjoy reading about her latest amateur murder investigation. After thirty-eight books, the characters are still enjoyable. I would like to know how old everyone is since none of them seem to have really aged over the last few books despite the passage of several years.
The events that take place in the days leading to the double weddings are both funny and cringeworthy. Both brides are obnoxious and entitled. It’s surprising that neither of them wound up being murdered by Meg, her mother, or any of the other main characters who are stuck catering to the brides. They both do get what they deserve in the end. Luckily, the photographer is equally unlikeable and there are plenty of people who might have wanted to kill him. In the end, the identity of the killer was not much of a surprise—I had that person pegged from their first appearance. And the big reveal was a bit ridiculous with Meg getting saved by some very unlikely heroes. Overall, I enjoyed FIVE GOLDEN WINGS and I’m looking forward to Meg’s next adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.