Two of Meg’s cousins, members of Mother’s vast Hollingsworth clan, are getting married, and both have chosen Caerphilly for their Christmas destination wedding . . on the same day, in the same venues. But while they’re cousins they’re also lifelong enemies. Mother’s efforts to keep the peace are wearing her down, and the battling brides (and their mothers) are making the holiday season miserable for everyone. So Meg steps in to keep the peace. And it was going badly even before she stumbles over the murdered body of the wedding photographer.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of suspects. The photographer has been hitting on many of the guests, bridesmaids . . . possibly even one or both of the brides. He’s also been slinking about and taking candid shots that are unflattering, embarrassing . . . occasionally even incriminating.

For five years now, my wife and  I have  listened to a Meg Langslow Christmas mystery each year as part of reading our way into the Christmas spirit.  Some years it works better than others. Last year’s offering, Rockin’ Around The Chickadee’. was a little disappointing.  ‘Five Golden Wings‘ hit the spot. It was a relaxing Christmas read that kept me engaged with the mystery, amused by the antics of the characters, and provided a little bit of Christmas cheer.

The bridezilla humour worked. It was funny and plausible without demonising either of the brides involved (although it did bring into question the judgment of their soon-to-be husbands). 

The murder victim was so unpleasant that I was looking forward to them turning up as a corpse even before anyone had done them any harm. I’d even already imagined correctly where their body would be found. 

This time, although Meg was present for all the goings-on, she wasn’t actively trying to solve the murder. True, she still stumbled upon things that put her at risk and, of course, she found the body, but, for once, she managed to live by her mantra of ‘Not my circus. Not my monkeys‘ most of the time. I liked her as an observer and commentator better than as a protagonist. It allowed more room for the other characters. It also let the  Chief of Police get on with doing his job without Meg trying to find a way around him.  

The story kept my wife and me entertained for a few evenings last week, providing more than a few smiles along the way and allowing us time to speculate on who the murder was (although neither of us got that right). 

The final chapter, where Donna Andrews wrapped everything up and put a bow on it, ran a little long, but that didn’t spoil the book. 

I’ve grown used to Bernadette Dunne’s narration now. The voices she’s given to the ensemble cast make them instantly recognisable, and she gets the tone of Meg’s often tongue-in-cheek reflections just right. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample.