Book Review: Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews

Swan for the Money
by Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow Mystery

Minotaur Books
ISBN-10: 0-312-37727-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-37727-5
Publication Date: July, 2009
List Price: $24.99

Review: Money, trophies, roses, and- and murder? This is what Meg Langslow has to deal with when she agrees to help her mom by organizing a Rose show. Meg is in probably in her late 20s or early thirties. She is very glad when her parents take up a “safe” hobby little does she know that what she thinks to be safe can become a whirl wind of danger right before her eyes. Swan For The Money Donna Andrews is filled with twists, and it is defiantly a page-turner.

When Meg Langslow signs up to organize a rose show for her mom she expects it to be fairly normal, but it turns out to be anything but normal. For starters the estate on which the show is being held has a cruel, uptight, and downright nasty owner. When Mrs. Winkleston’s (or Wrinkleston) dog is stolen, and there is suspected animal cruelty going on, Meg’s Grandfather can’t help but investigate. But when a dead body is found on the grounds the investigation really heats up. While the body isn’t Mrs. Winkleston’s it is a look- alike. When the real Mrs. Winkleston is poisoned, but survives, everyone is a suspect. Who is the real murderer? Will the Rose Show still go on? Will Mrs. Winkleston survive? Meg Langslow is on the case in Swan For the Money!

I found Swan For the Money to be a fantastic book! Donna Andrews made all of the characters interesting and unique. Not only that, but they were very easy to relate to! Andrews also made a topic that isn’t funny very funny. For example, everyone jokes about how the killer was disappointed about how he killed someone nice and friendly instead of the mean Mrs. Winkleston. Also, I loved the fact that this book was a page-turner. I found it amazing how many interesting twists she put in this book. One second you think that your favorite character is out of the suspect list, but the next second they are the prime suspect. While this book had many good parts to it, it also had a few weaknesses. One thing I didn’t like was that at some points it got gore. When there was a scene describing a crime scene, it got very gory, when it didn’t need to be. I know that if there is a murder scene in a story, it will be fairly gory, but this went over the top. I am going to rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars- due to the gore. I wouldn’t recommend this book for anyone under 6th grade, because it might scare younger kids. Overall I found Swan For The Money to be a fantastic book!

Review written by Kayley (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Breakthrough Promotions for providing a copy of Swan for the Money for this review.

Have you read Swan for the Money? How would you rate it?