A Murder of Crows: A completely gripping British cozy mystery (A Dr Nell Ward Mystery Book 1)

Product Information

The plotting was cleverly character and timeline driven to maximum effect, there are twists and turns in the narrative but they are more of character than mystery – the final moments resonate unexpectedly and leave you with a deeply discombobulated feeling of unease. I loved it. A large amount of blood is soon discovered so things don’t look good and soon a murder enquiry is underway. Filming began in December 1997, across Key West, Florida, Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana. It has been released on DVD. I enjoyed this read, but once the murderer is exposed there's a little too much after story. I believe that this is the first in a proposed series, so perhaps the author is just setting the stage for what is to come. Time will tell.

A Murder of Crows: A completely gripping British cozy mystery

Although not original, the title and book description looked interesting enough for me to grab a copy. I think Murder of Crows is a great book for people who don’t read many mysteries but would like to start. It’s fast-paced and easy to get pulled into the world. I don't think that this is yet as accomplished as Richard Osman or Faith Martin as the blurb suggests but I would definitely be interested to read the second book to see where this goes. There's just something about K. Ancrum's writing that appeals to me. I love everything she writes and this was no exception. I truly made me want to listen to the podcast, and I never have. But this was just too good and these characters were amazing, I want more from them.The first in a new series keeps you interested throughout and would well be worth a second look in future. The setting is what first captured my attention for this novel. Northwest Scotland at its most foreboding, during a freak storm in September. The descriptions in this novel were very vivid. The storm, the farm, the woods, the crows... 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. 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.

A Murder of Crows (film) - Wikipedia A Murder of Crows (film) - Wikipedia

This was my first read by Ian. I saw him read an extract at Noir at the Bar in Edinburgh and knew I had to get the book. A young couple disappear in a torrential thunderstorm. They are on the way to meet his mother.There also appears to be an element of care in the creation of this story with even those passages that do not specifically serve to further the plot (a description of the onset of dementia or the ferocity of a storm) have that same feel of being beautifully crafted. The plot was a conundrum. A missing persons case initially, it turned into something more. The reveal of the criminal surprised me, as I'm sure it was meant to do. Yet somehow I felt manipulated and dare I say... used. Dodd is increasingly frustrated that he can’t just slit someone’s throat and steal his horses because he’s been wronged (as he would have done at home), but at last he hears the glorious words

A Murder of Crows | Sarah Yarwood-Lovett | 9781471412424 A Murder of Crows | Sarah Yarwood-Lovett | 9781471412424

I also found myself invested in a love triangle for the first time in a long time… well, invested in one side of it. I really enjoyed some of the scenes between Nel and her colleague, Adam (later known as Rav). Their banter was fun and there were some cute, tender moments between them. In the last quarter or maybe third of the book, the miscommunication trope comes out in full force, which is a bit disappointing, but I’m hoping they will get themselves sorted out and have a grown-up conversation in book two. Alistair Smith and Caroline Baker are the missing couple, and after a search takes place it becomes clear that foul play has taken place. ABOUT 'A MURDER OF CROWS': 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… Alistair's mother Alice was an empathetic character and the prose gave heft to her alarming plight. So many possible suspects! All I knew for certain was that Nell was not the murderer. I suspected literally every other character available. There was a lot of ecological information regarding bats, and regarding ecological surveys. So, I accidentally learned something as well as being entertained.

I was really looking forward to reading this novel - Scottish detectives are always a draw - but I was disappointed in the execution and found it a difficult read. Firstly I should say that the brooding atmosphere, both meteorological and characterisation, is excellent. The storm never seems far off and the heat is oppressive and every last one of the characters is an oddball in some shape or form so it is difficult to discern motivation, intent or even relevance. It's a stunning creation. Within days of Sophie’s murder, the police have two main suspects: one with no alibi and no apparent motive; the other with plenty of motive but a strong alibi; concentrating on the former puts Nell’s true identity and an unhappy past incident under the spotlight as the police jump to erroneous conclusions. A good read, although I am not quite as pleased with these later stories set in London. As much as I’ve enjoyed seeing Dodd as a fish out of water in the big city, I’m beginning to miss Carey as the same, in the north. Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might at first appear…

a murder of crows Collective nouns for birds: Why we call it a murder of crows

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Embla Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.I found some of the situations and reactions of the characters to be unrealistic and there weren’t many plot twists for a murder mystery. I also thought that some things could have been better resolved. 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… Despite those quibbles, I found myself looking for more opportunities to listen to the book rather than read my physical one. I got home from work one evening and immediately cleaned the kitchen! The story was engaging and of course, Kristen Atherton’s excellent narration helped. I was listening to it through my library’s digital loans app, and it was the first time in a long time I didn’t need to extend a loan beyond the initial 14-day period. 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.