The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews

"The Penguin Who Knew Too Much" by Donna Andrews is the 8th in a series of Meg Langslow murder mysteries.

The main character is an iron worker who gets involved trying to solve a murder that begins with the discovery of a body in her very own basement. She and her fiancé, Professor Michael Waterson, have just finished re-storing the Victorian home and this is move-in weekend.

As colorful relatives descend to help-Meg's dad decides that he's going to dig a pond in the couple's basement for some penguins he has agreed to take care of for the bankrupt local zoo. As he begins the project-he finds a body with a crossbow attached to it. Turns out it is the owner of the zoo.

While rumors spread, others in the area who have agreed to house the wild animals begin taking advantage of dear dad and drop off their 4-legged wards on Meg and Michael.
Hyenas, llamas, camels, monkeys and sloths find the property just their cup of tea on this Memorial Day Weekend.

Normally serene Meg begins to fear that by the time the police solve the crime, it will de-rail the couples plan to escape their families and elope. So Meg begins to do some sleuthing of her own.

Besides the obvious, Meg also wonders why a world class zoologist has arrived in such a small burg as Caerphilly with interest in a tiny, financially strapped animal home? Why is a local feed store owner obsessed with cleaning up after the all animals-even in the dark of night?

Andrews latest novel of murder is filled with outlandish characters, humor and even a serious note about the horrors of "canned hunting". The plot is a very easy read.

As for the penguins-honestly, except for their part in finding the body and their inclusion in the title, they are but a small part in this latest Meg Langslow investigation.