Monet Talks    by Tamar Myers Order:  USA  Can Avon, 2005 (2005) Paperback     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth At an auction, Abigail Timberlake Washburn (owner and proprietor of the Den of Antiquity) decides to acquire a wire replica of the Taj Mahal. The auction bids escalate quickly. Abigail is triumphant and pays $10,000 - a lot for a birdcage, even one with a live, talking mynah bird named Monet inside. Though Abigail isn't too annoyed when someone purloins Monet, she is justifiably miffed when her mother disappears in an apparent kidnapping for ransom. Strange happenings occur and Abigail puts on her detecting hat. The setting is Charleston, South Carolina – a great place to imagine dastardly deeds being done. Abigail's friends are, to say the least, a little bit strange, but all the more interesting because of their strangeness. Abigail's husband has a small role in the thirteenth in this fun series. Myers' keen sense of humor comes into play on almost every page, keeping a smile on the reader's face. Monet Talks is a fun book. (Note that Tamar Myers also is author of the equally amusing Magdelena Yoder series.) Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews