Murder with Puffins (Meg Langslow Mysteries)
Meg Langslow and her boyfriend Michael want to be alone, but fate's conspired to make it all but impossible. Meg takes her aunt Phoebe up on an invitation to spend an Indian summer weekend at Phoebe's supposedly empty cottage on the coast of Maine.  Braving a hurricane and a horde of determined birdwatchers, they make the last ferry to Monhegan Island, only to find their plans to be alone dashed  by the unexpected  appearance of Meg's entire family, including Aunt Phoebe.  To make matters  worse, a famous and slightly megalomaniacal sculptor, who may have been Meg's mother's lover years ago, has taken up residence on the island. When he's killed in an accident that turns out to be murder, Meg's sweet, slightly  dotty father is fingered as the suspect.  The elusive puffin, revered by bird lovers and captured in kitsch by an island artist named Rhapsody, is the leitmotif in this charming cozy, the second outing in author Donna  Andrews's series. The first book,Murder with Peacocks, won the Agatha Award for the best first traditional mystery.Murder with Puffinsis a bit short on drama and suspense, though long on charm. Meg and Michael are appealing, but the  minor  characters, especially Meg's parents and the colorful island locals, are infinitely more interesting.--Jane Adams--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.