Gone Gull by Donna Andrews is a 2017 Minotaur Books publication.

This is the 21st book in the Meg Langslow series. In this installment, Meg is helping her grandmother, Cordelia, run the Biscuit Mountain Craft Center. But someone is committing acts of vandalism, and when one of the teachers is found murdered, Meg is determined to find the killer.

Any long-running series will ebb and flow over the years, with some installments standing out, while others are rather stale or forgettable. In this series, some of the stories have been hyper-focused on the mystery, while others are centered more on the cast of zany characters we’ve come to love over time. Sometimes I laugh out loud and sometimes the humor is more subdued. The few books I've read in the series felt more down to earth than in the past- but in this installment Andrews turned the laugh track back on.

Meg is her usual self- and her inner monologue is as sharp and witty as ever. Some of the secondary characters had some moments of their own, though, that were utterly hysterical- and Spike got to play a larger role than usual, too.

The mystery was a bit weak this time around, even though I never guessed whodunit. The ending was anticlimactic on that front, and the story ended rather abruptly, I thought.

But, despite that, the story was still really fun and kept me entertained from start to finish. As always, I’m looking forward to the next installment and can’t wait to see what Andrews has in store for Meg and the gang next.

3.5 stars ( )

I love this series not only because the mystery plots are rarely disappointing, but because most of all I love Meg and her entire crazy family. They are more connected than the mafia and more generous and organised than the Red Cross. It might be stretching the boundaries of belief, but it's a wonderful stretch.

The setting of this one didn't wow me much - I prefer Caephilly - but the mystery got me; I never even considered the character in plain sight.

And the final scene when the gulls surround Meg's grandfather... that was kind of awesome. So was the little pine tree that could.

Can't wait for the next one! ( )

Did not finish. I wasn't really interested in the newish cast. And I never liked summer camps. And I didn't realize, until he appeared, how much I hadn't missed Spike. ( )

Another new book, to me, in the series and I am still enjoying it a lot. There is continuity, a timeline and a lifecycle occurring and the characters are interesting. This time one thing bothered me...Michael. Meg's husband is too good to be true. He never loses his temper, he works hard, plays well with others, is always on hand to babysit the boys, makes good money, is good looking, is kind, generous, loving, helpful around the house, self effacing, loving, faithful...like I said..too good to be true. In one way, that is nice to see, if unrealistic to real life but then her whole family is unrealistic to any view of life I have seen or lived. Still, one does not read for realism...but for escape and Meg always delivers.

Reread November 2023 - I love rereading stories that gave me pleasure once or twice and find that they still do.

Gone Gull brings readers yet another knee-slapping adventure filled with New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews’ cast of wacky characters.

Meg is spending the summer at the Biscuit Mountain Craft Center, helping her grandmother Cordelia run the studios. But someone is committing acts of vandalism, threatening to ruin the newly-opened center’s reputation. Is it the work of a rival center? Have the developers who want to build a resort atop Biscuit Mountain found a new tactic to pressure Cordelia into selling? Or is the real target Meg’s grandfather, who points out that any number of environmentally irresponsible people and organizations could have it in for him?

While Meg is trying to track down the vandal, her grandfather is more interested in locating a rare gull. Their missions collide when a body is found in one of the classrooms. Can Meg identify the vandal and the murderer in time to save the center’s name—while helping her grandfather track down and rescue his beloved gulls? ( )

This is the first I've read in this series. I wasn't sure how much I liked it at first, but I got into it. (I listened to it). I enjoyed it although not my favorite.