Every year, Yorktown, Virginia, relives its role in the Revolutionary War by celebrating the anniversary of the British surrender in 1781. This year, plans include a re-enactment of the original battle and a colonial craft fair. Meg Langslow has returned to her home town for the festivities--and to sell her wrought-iron works of art. Except, of course, for the pink-painted flamingos she reluctantly made for her mother's best friend--she's hoping to deliver them secretly, so she won't get a reputation as "the blacksmith who makes those cute wrought-iron flamingos."

Besides, she has taken on another responsibility--making sure none of her fellow crafters ruin the historical authenticity of the fair with forbidden modern devices--like wrist watches, calculators, or cell phones. She's only doing it to keep peace with the mother of the man she loves. And Michael himself will don the white-and-gold uniform of a French officer for the re-enactment--what actor could resist a role like that?

Meg's also trying to keep her father from scaring too many tourists with his impersonation of an 18th century physician. And to prevent a snooping reporter from publishing any stories about local scandals. Not to mention saving her naive brother, Rob, from the clutches of a con man who might steal the computer game he has invented. It's a tough job--at least, until the swindler is found dead, slain in Meg's booth with one of her own wrought-iron creations.

Now Meg must add another item to her already lengthy to do list: "Don't forget to solve the murder!"

Fortunately, the more trouble Meg faces, the more fun the reader will have--and Meg faces plenty of trouble in this lighthearted and funny novel.

A year after meeting Michael and becoming a couple, they are helping his mother with activities celebrating the anniversary of the British surrender in Yorktown in 1781.   Meg has recruited many of her artisan friends to ensure a quality historical craft fair while Michael is taking part in reenacting the battle itself. Meg’s family is present as Yorktown is where they live. Meg’s father is running the first aid tent, set up as a historically accurate 18^th-century surgeon’s tent, and scaring the tourists. Her brother Rob is attending to meet a business man who wants to buy the computer game he has created, her cousin is running for re-election as sheriff and Mrs Fenniman, a family friend, is also running against him. Another cousin is a sleazy reporter looking for a juicy story which he just might find as the businessman Rob is meeting is reported to be a con man who has cheated Meg’s friend out of his computer program.   Mrs Fenniman has  commissioned a dozen wrought-iron flamingos from Meg to use in a dispute with her neighbors which Meg wants to keep discretely hidden but when the suspected con man is found in her booth murdered with one of Meg’s custom creations everyone is a suspect.

Meg’s family continues to prove themselves delightfully eccentric. The action moves along quickly and the murderer was not obvious until close to the end. I am looking forward to continuing my reread of this series with the next entry Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Lizard. I highly recommend this series. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

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