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I love action and K. Ancrum makes sure that the reader is never bored during this story. I also liked the relationships between the characters. There was a fair amount of this which was good - the isolation of the setting and the small-minded, small-town mentalities of the characters were generally convincing, and for all the plot was confusing and fragmented to a extent that I felt it didn’t ‘work’ overall, I got through this in a couple of days and was reasonably captivated.
A Murder of Crows: A thrilling new cosy crime series perfect A Murder of Crows: A thrilling new cosy crime series perfect
This was pretty good for a first effort, good enough that I am going to give the second book in the series a try. But it was a bit uneven. I was not sure which of the main characters the reader was supposed to be bonding with on a more emotional level until the very end. I was not even sure who the hero of the book actually was. I identified the murderer very early on, and I don't know if the author intended that or if she slipped up. Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she’s the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name… The silence at the end of the line convinced Nell that he had gone and it wouldn't be rude to hang up. But as her thumb reached the button, Adam swore through the phone. It was evident from the moment I opened Ian Skewis’s debut novel ‘A Murder of Crows’ that he posses an enviable flair for descriptive and lyrical prose. It takes real skill to make language so seemingly tangible that it can surround and consume a reader but, somehow, he does. Some may criticise that he does not say in ten words that which he can say in a hundred but I would assure them those words are not wasted; they add a glorious depth and texture to his book. MY THOUGHTS: A Murder of Crows is a nice cosy mystery with a twist - Lady Eleanor Ward-Beaumont, heiress, to a few select people; Dr Nell Ward, ecologist, to everyone else.A Murder of Crows is the story of a young couple who go missing during a powerful late-summer storm and the policemen who are trying to find them. I'd recommend A Murder of Crows to readers who enjoy cosy mysteries with a touch of will they-or-won't they romance, especially readers with an interest in ecology and the environment as a subplot. I'm intrigued to hear that Sarah Yarwood-Lovett already has two additional books featuring Dr. Nell Ward scheduled for future publication, and will be interested to read them on release. The characters though, whether supposedly sympathetic or antagonistic, I did not like. Too many possible bad guys, too many good guys flawed to the extent that the reader lost interest/sympathy, and many of the neutral characters seemed to be portrayed in unpleasant terms by the author. There were a number of key aspects of withheld information which to me felt artificially introduced, esp. with regards an elderly lady with dementia who seemed only to exist to periodically advance the plot.
A Murder of Crows - Goodreads
I feel that the inclusion of Shakespeare and Marlowe as minor characters only distracts from the story. I dislike their characterizations here. Nell, I can see where you are. You're still sharing your location with me from doing the survey. What the bloody hell are you doing?'Filming began in December 1997, across Key West, Florida, Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana. It has been released on DVD. Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she's the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name...
A Murder of Crows by Ian Skewis | Goodreads A Murder of Crows by Ian Skewis | Goodreads
I really enjoyed this mystery. The author has done a great job for a debut novel! I hope there are more to come. I wouldn't call this a cozy mystery, even though that's how it's described. I thought it was more of a traditional mystery, mixed with aspects of a procedural. Some of the chapters are told from an ecologist's point-of-view who investigates a murder to clear her name and some are told from the investigating detective's point-of-view. I liked the character of Nell, the scientist who insists she isn't a murderer, although she does have secrets. I like the detective James most of the time, but there are a few instances where he really acts like a jerk, in the name of just doing his job. I hugely enjoyed their latest romp set in Elizabethan London, which features cameos by two down-at-the-heels playwrights, Chris Marlowe and Will Shakespeare. There are lots of narrow escapes and plot twists, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good period mystery.I finished listening to this one yesterday. The narrator, Kristin Atherton is excellent - one of the best - IMO! She's the reason I bought this book. It's a murder mystery and it's well written and keeps a steady pace. The author must know or must work as an ecologist or be an expert in bats as all that information was very interesting, but it didn't sound like a lecture - it tied in nicely with the main character's profession and with the murder. I've one complaint The romance - that self-doubting "is he just a friend or is he really interested in me??" And then the constant interruptions when one was finally going to confess all - so frustrating! Frankly, I liked James - he made his intentions clear - Adam's reaction to hearing about her past was too harsh and I think he missed his opportunity - see you later! The book ended on a romantic cliff hanger - more frustration. I heard Topcliffe buys the bawdy-house boys that get poxed and nobody ever sees them again,’ put in Poley.
A Murder of Crows (film) - Wikipedia A Murder of Crows (film) - Wikipedia
Sadly, despite four separate attempts, I did not finish this. I heard Ian Skewis read from this - beautifully: the audio book will be a treat for those that take their books that way - at Bloody Scotland, was seduced by the cover and had no hesitation in buying to book. This book is perfectly fine! I think if I were a teen who loves old school murder mysteries, this would be a fun read. It's a little campy, but in a fun way, and its inclusive cast is a welcome update on the classics.Carey's offsider, Sergeant Dodd, is the star of this book and he is a delight. The way he solves courtly London problems with Scots countryside logic is wonderful to behold.
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