Meg's Mother has pressed Meg to allow the Designer Showcase to be held in Meg and Michael's house. Meg resisted. She finally agreed to organize it if another house was found. A large empty house was chosen and the process of selecting designers began. Despite protests from everyone, Claibourne Spottiswood was chosen as one of the designers.

While herding a bunch of demanding designers is no easy task, Meg is sure she made the right decision. Each designer has been given one room. With keys going missing, designers stealing from each other and arguing incessantly, Meg has a lot to deal with. With a reporter from the college paper, several designers show Meg, Claibourne's latest act of sabotage. Meg threatens to kick him out of the house, if his despicable behavior continues. The next day, his body is discovered.

Donna Andrews returns to the Meg Langslow series with the second book set around Christmas. She continues to meet her readers' high expectations with each story. As soon as I started the book, I knew I was going to have trouble putting it down. Ms. Andrews trademark humor continues in The Nightingale before Christmas. Dealing with a bunch of contentious designers, discouraging her twins from all the wild ideas they come up with for her present, and a murder investigation, keep Meg hopping.

Ms. Andrews has created a memorable cast of characters. Reading an Andrews book is like coming home to family. A weird family but still welcoming and loving. The Meg Langslow series is one that a reader can appreciate each time it is read. As one of those readers, who can read a series over and over, I loved THE NIGHTINGALE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.