Three Little Birds

by Sam Blake

Two decades of secrets. One shocking discovery...

When a skull is found in Lough Coyne, facial reconstruction expert Dr Carla Steele is drawn into a fourteen-year-old case - but not all cases are cold, as Carla discovers when she and DS Jack Maguire find the brutally murdered body of a local woman close to the water's edge.

Together with Carla's partner, criminal psychologist Grace Franciosi, Carla and Jack uncover a tragic story with very dangerous and current implications.

Since the disappearance of her best friend, Carla has dedicated her career to bringing the dead home, but this time it's the living who are counting on her. In a race to save another woman, will they be able to stop the killer in time?

Genres: Audiobook, Crime, Fiction, Procedural, Irish Literature, Thriller, Book Club

480 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Join Sam's Readers’ Club and get a free e-copy of her addictive thriller ‘High Pressure’! Info at www.samblakebooks.com

Sam Blake has been writing fiction since 1999 when her husband went sailing across the Atlantic for 8 weeks and she had an idea for a book.

Her debut novel 'Little Bones' (Bonnier 2016) was a runaway bestseller. Across all her books Sam has been an Eason No 1 bestseller an Irish Times No 1 and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards (in the crime or teen categories) five times. 2023 saw her multiple award shortlisted YA debut Something Terrible Happened Last Night hit the shelves. In 2024 Something's About to Blow Up won Irish Teen/YA Book of the Year.

Moving away from police procedurals, now writing 'deliciously twisted' (Daily Mail) bestselling psychological thrillers, Sam's focus is on strong female characters and 'creating genuine page turners with metronomic timing.' (Sunday Business Post).

Sam is originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire but has lived at the foot of the Wicklow mountains, for more years than she lived in the UK. Follow her on social @samblakebooks.

Visit www.samblakebooks.com for more!

Reviews

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Little Birds by Sam Blake publishes January 4th 2024 with Corvus Books and is described as ‘a dark and twisting mystery’. I’ve always enjoyed Sam Blake’s writing and, as I am very much a police-procedural crime-fiction sort of gal, I was excited to hear that Three Little Birds was that and more. When I read Little Bones by Sam Blake in 2016 I, like many others, loved Garda Cat Connolly’s character with her feisty personality and kick-ass (literally) attitude. There were two further excellent books in that series, In Deep Water and No Turning Back, and I hoped for a return someday, by Sam Blake, to this kind of investigative and gritty tale. And this is it!

Three Little Birds features Dr Carla Steele, a facial reconstruction expert, working for the Forensic, Anthropology and Computer Enhancement department based in An Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. When Garda DS Jack Maguire brings to her attention a skull that was discovered up the country in Loch Coyne, Carla is intrigued. Using her training and expert skills, Carla reconstructs faces from skulls using specific measurements and techniques that she has studied in university. Her passion for success is what makes her services in demand and her ability to recreate faces is an artform honed over the years.

Years previously Carla’s best friend had disappeared without a trace and this trauma has driven her to help bring closure to those who’ve lost loved ones over the years. With her partner, Grace Franicosi, who is a criminal psychologist, by her side Carla has learned to live with the pain of loss and the not knowing, but she will never stop searching.

Carla and Grace, alongside Jack Maguire, make a trip to Loch Coyne to see what secrets they can uncover. Carla has determined that the skull is most likely female and not a recent one but, by going to the site of the discovery, she hopes to gather more about a life lived and a possible reason for such a tragic and undiscovered death. Jack Maguire is a productive and efficient individual and all three soon develop a good working relationship. Carla and Grace decide to spend the weekend at Loch Coyne, hoping to mix business with a much needed break away from the city. However, when the mutilated body of a local woman is discovered in a wooded area near the lake, their plans change. Although neither Carla or Grace are members of the force, they have insights that are beneficial to the local investigating team and before they know it they are both swept up in a sinister and disturbing tale.

Sam Blake has researched this book to a level that almost made my head spin but it also added a seriously authentic edge to the story. I was both educated and intrigued which added to my overall enjoyment. At nearly 500 pages, my attention never wavered as there were so many interwoven layers unravelling, with little nuggets dropped here and there for the reader to pick up on.

There are a few gruesome scenes with descriptions that should not be read while eating and, in case you were wondering, there is definitely nothing cosy about this multiple murder mystery. There are a few hidden gems littered throughout, which readers of previous books might recognise but, if this is your first Sam Blake novel, it will make no difference whatsoever to your reading experience.

Three Little Birds is a compelling and complex tale that will appeal to all looking for a completely immersive and quality read. Sam Blake’s attention to detail really is phenomenal. Liz Nugent said that Sam Blake is ‘as forensic as her character and this story is told so authentically that it feels like a real life investigation told in real time’ and I would agree 100%. Three Little Birds feels real and that can only be achieved in fiction by someone who goes to great lengths in their research to offer the reader a credible narrative.

Three Little Birds is an engaging, thrilling and first-rate police procedural, a brilliant start to what I am very hopeful is a new series.

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark twisty mystery. I loved the characters of the police and hope there will be more to come for Carla, Grace and Jack. The discovery of a skull starts a series of murders and events that links the crime together. The police procedural knowledge made this a very entertaining story. The characters were well written and full of emotion. The mystery and the way it was all pulled together made this something that felt a short length even though it wasn't. There was so much tension and it was reveal as true to life as possible it felt perfect. The writing was really clever and the mystery entertaining and credible . Carla feels like a character who could have a series , she is both complex and flawed, i want to know more about her tragic friend, it feels like a mystery that needs to be explored separately from this . The description of the location was perfect and I felt the emotion of the characters as they dealt with things that were revealed. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author for this 4 star read. Perfect fro any mystery lovers

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

[Heather Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this book but think it lacked any really gripping twists and turns needed in a mystery like this. I also feel that given the 467 pages in this novel, the final story line could have been wrapped up - although I acknowledge the interest in leaving it open ended. I felt the narration often lacked the emotional impact that makes a story like this really engaging but ultimately it was a nice first read of 2025.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, good storytelling and characters I want to get to know better. And if Sam Blake reads this please please give us a sequel!! I need to know more about Grace and carla!!!!

[Chloe]

Three Little Birds is the tenth book from crime fiction writer extraordinaire Sam Blake.

Set in Ireland in the fictional FACE department (Forensic, Anthropology, and Computer Enhancement) in Garda HQ, we meet Dr Carla Steele, a renowned expert in facial reconstruction when all else has failed to identify bodily remains.

A skull has been discovered in a lake down the country, and DS Jack Maguire asks for Carla’s help to reveal who the victim is. Carla heads down for a look alongside her partner and criminal psychologist Grace Franciosi, but it’s not long before another body shows up leading to a much more urgent and dangerous investigation for Carla, Jack, and Grace.

I really enjoyed this; I switched over to audio to give more time to overdue library paperbacks, and found it an addictive listen.
The narrator is excellent and the story itself is propulsive and actually fairly creepy (which as I’ve said before, I’m always here for 😅). I loved the relationship between Carla and Grace, and adding in the burgeoning friendship with Jack made for a formidable team.

Carla works in the area she does in the hopes of one day finding out what happened to her best friend, who disappeared years earlier. Hopefully this means we’ll be getting a series of Dr Carla Steele books!

If you enjoy crime fiction with added forensics, I think you’ll like this one. The Irish setting for me always elevates books like this, as it makes the horror of it feel so much more plausible, and all the more gripping for that.

With many thanks to @gillhessltd for the early copy of #ThreeLittleBirds. All opinions are my own, as always.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly written murder mystery to really sink your teeth into.

What starts off as a cold case investigation into a skull found in a lough soon turns into a potential serial killer investigation; but can the skull be connected to the body of a recently murdered young woman found hanging near the lough?

Family secrets and a few twists and turns kept me turning the pages.

Some gruesome descriptions - the flies!!

Oh and I shouted at the book a few times ‘don’t do that! Have you never watched a horror film!!’

Grace and Carla make quite a formidable team both in their jobs as well as their strong personal relationship. I enjoyed getting to know them.

I would love to find out what happened to Carla’s friend Lizzy who went missing some years ago. Hopefully in the next book.

Many thanks to Laura O’Donnell at Corvus for sending me a proof copy.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Three Little Birds Stars

Three Little Birds by Sam Blake is a dark and twisting mystery suspense novel. Set in Ireland in the fictional FACE department (Forensic, Anthropology, and Computer Enhancement) in Garda HQ, we meet Dr Carla Steele. When Garda DS Jack Maguire brings to her attention a skull that was discovered up the country in Loch Coyne, Carla is intrigued. With her Partner Grace Franicosi, who is a criminal psychologist and Jack they all head to this small town to investigate the case.

I listened to this book on Borrowbox through my library and I loved the reader Jessica Regan she did such a great job. I would love to see this developed into a series. Grace and Carla are perfect together. And Jack was also great to read.

[James Durkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s seems my January’s can’t go by without reading a Sam Blake.

What can I say? This is a slowburner, but once it gets going it is really good!!! Loved the characters, shout out to Jack, Carla, and Grace - they made the story continue on and keep it going. Grace and Carla are perfect together. The story was very mysterious, but enjoyed the outcome and the buildup. Well done Sam Blake.

A noir style based by the water in Mayo, yes please!

One small comment halfway through made me realise who was the bad-doer, but the buildup to it all was excellent. I’ve The Mystery of Four to come in February on Borrowbox and I’m very excited.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carla, a facial reconstruction expert is asked to assist with identification when a skull is recovered from a loch. Soon, the bodies start piling up and a cold case becomes a current one.
Sam Blake has produced an interesting police procedural with good balance between the complex case and its technical issues, and the relationships between the characters.
I really enjoyed this one.

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Little Birds is a dark and twisty story that kept me intrigued throughout. I found it to be a little slow in places but overall I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my ARC.

[Ann-Marie McKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure Carla would not be so involved in a police investigation in real life, but it was intriguing and lots of fun!

[Mary Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not normally my type of genre, but I really enjoyed it. Nice clear, reasonable size font, so easier on the eyes for long reading sessions.

[Toni Umar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three little birds by Sam Blake 🎧
A February read that I’m late to reviewing. My first novel by Sam Blake, one I enjoyed so much it will definitely not be my last read by this author, thank you Sam Blake! I do have a soft spot for books set in Ireland, so this was a good start, with the beautiful country description a soothing part of the reading. The book explores the team work and chemistry between Carla, a facial reconstruction expert (with her own mysterious background), Jack a DS Garda with a dedicated and compassionate attitude and Grace, a criminal Psychologist (and Carla’s partner). The trio start with the discovery of a scull and then with in a really short time many local murders occur. The pace is fast and the descriptions of the old and new deaths are honest and realistic – which could be off putting for some. There are layers of local and not so local criminal history uncovered, all of which is told in different time lines. It’s a really well written book, and although long, it seemed to go so quickly. Of course I missed the characters afterwards, as I often do with my five star reads. A fabulous read and now to track down more by this talented author.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an fascinating mystery set in the idyllic location of Lough Coyne in Ireland. A skull is discovered in the Lough and forensic reconstruction expert Dr Carla Steele is asked if she can do a reconstruction to help with identification. Carla is keen to see the actual location and so she and her partner Grace who is a criminal psychologist, travel to Coyne’s Cross on a scorchingly hot bank weekend. While they are there, a young woman is gruesomely murdered and the two women become involved in the current investigation as well as the identification of the skull. As the events play out, it becomes increasingly clear that the two events are linked.
Sam Blake does a great job of creating believable characters and I loved both Carla and Grace. There is quite a lot of information on how Carla goes about reconstructing someone’s face which added an interesting extra layer to this story without it becoming dull. The other characters are also interesting and I quickly became absorbed in their storylines, especially Danielle who runs the café.
I love novels that have a strong setting and this one is brilliant. The holiday resort of Coyne’s Cross and the Lough itself are integral to the plot and the author makes them seem very real.
I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to seeing what Carla, Grace and DS Jack Maguire get involved with next. Thank you to Net Galley and publishers, Atlantic Books, for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Laura Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narrator really spoilt this book for me. It felt very AI sounding, lacked any emotion, I totally could not concentrate on or absorb the story. It was just so uninteresting of tone I mentally drifted a lot, only really took in the names of main character and very rough idea of plot. Have purchased the kindle version to re-read as really want to enjoy this author's work. I had previously listened to another book this narrator was in (Strange Sally Diamond) and just about coped, probably due to the fact that the lack of tone and AI like sound suited Sally's character and there was a second narrator that broke it up. Have noted narrator's name as one to avoid in future.
Hopefully I will be able to give a higher rating when I re-read in kindle format.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, the intricate plotting doesn’t make up for the poor quality of the writing and the sometimes excruciating clichés. Examples:
- Page 12: “Pushing her bubbly strawberry blonde curls behind her ears, Danielle…”
- Page 58: “She shook her strawberry blonde head despairingly. ‘I’m Danielle, by the way.’”
- Page 133: “Danielle … deliberately tucked her bobbed curls behind her ears.”

Need I say more?

[J Fearnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Dr Carla Steele, Head of the Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement (FACE) department, Forensic Services Ireland who reside at Garda HQ in Dublin. She and the team reconstruct what a victim most likely looks like from their skull, predicting facial features from the evidence at hand, as a tool to help investigators identify them.

Dr Grace Franciosi is a Forensic Psychologist. She and Carla met at Trinity, Dublin. She and Carla live together.

DS Jack Maguire, Coynes Cross, Co. Mayo comes to see Carla with an evidence box. The contents found by divers in Loch Coyne as they were searching for a marine video camera that had dropped overboard. A skull, no body yet recovered, the dental casts had not provided an identification.

Carla and Grace go to Coyne Cross so that Carla can get a sense of the place adding to her knowledge as she feels her way to the reconstruction. Here we meet several other characters who become integral to the story.

Danielle Brennan owns the café beside Loch Coyne and her husband Ruari who owns the adventure centre at the Loch. He is also part of the of the diving team heading up the search and rescue on the Loch.

Melissa is Danielle’s cousin and runs holiday cottage lets. She is married to Sean and has a sister Julia.

Then there’s the local Coyne Cross Garda sergeant – Seamus.

This, the first of a series, is giving us a lot of information about the main characters as the investigation continues. Sam Blake does this really well blending these two elements smoothly and seamlessly. You get a good sense of who Carla, Grace and Jack are and it sets the way for them to go forward through the series. We learn a good deal of their personal stories particularly Carla and Jack.

Carla does her thing with the skull even though it’s been in the water for some time. Certainly longer than the anticipated time had this been one of the young male suicides that Loch Coyne had been having more recently. She also confirms, even without the body, that it most likely belongs to a teenage female. There are fracture lines from a blow to the head that had not healed.

Jack has a cold case on his hands and with the help of Carla and Grace unearths what turns out to be a sad set of circumstances that led to the death. However, there are more murders and other crimes committed that lead them to the culprit. The tension builds really well and the story is both fascinating and gripping.

I liked that there is a different, fresh viewpoint from Carla into the investigation. Jack is a good policeman who has a good mind and heart. Grace’s character is a good juxtaposition with regard to both Jack and Carla. She’s a character that could, I thought, so easily become an irritant but her interactions with Jack and especially with Carla keep her just the right side of annoying. Carla is a breath of fresh air and I really liked that even though she is young she has a responsible position. She’s a distinctive personality both externally and emotionally, her desire to ‘bring the missing home’ a driving force behind her success is based on a personal tragedy which will, I have no doubt that it must, play out in the series.

The setting is interesting and well drawn. Rural Ireland (Eire/the south) Jack covers a larger area than Coyne Cross alone and it is also partly set in Dublin, since that is where Carla and Grace are based, so a number of options for the rest of the series.

This is a writer and series that I will continue to read. I want to see the development of these characters and read more stories of the investigations they have. I would highly recommend to those who enjoy crime fiction and like both character development and a slight twist to the ‘simple’ police procedural. I really enjoyed Three Little Birds by Sam Blake.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Atlantic Books for an advance copy of Three Little Birds, a stand-alone police procedural featuring forensic anthropologist and facial reconstruction specialist Dr Carla Steele, set in Dublin and Co. Mayo.

DS Jack Maguire asks Carla to reconstruct a skull found at the bottom of Lough Coyne. When she goes to Coyne Cross, the local town, for context she and Jack find the brutally murdered body of a local woman. They join forces with Carla’s partner, criminal psychologist Grace Franciosi to work out what’s going on.

I thoroughly enjoyed Three Little Birds, which is an engrossing tale of past misdeeds and current mayhem. There are times when it reads as if it’s midway through a series with references to past events, some more elliptical than others, when, in fact, it is probably the start of a new series.

The novel is told from several points of view when required to amplify certain actions or events, but mostly it’s Carla’s show. This has good and bad points. It gives the novel continuity and a through point, but she is still distressed about the disappearance of her friend, Lizzie, many years previously. The level of her upset is hardly credible and takes away some of the focus from the case. Do we really need another troubled protagonist?

The plot jogs along, it’s not particularly fast moving, but a steady stream of reveals and hints keeps the reader turning the pages. Who knew that a small backwater town could have so much going on? Other crimes are discovered and solved along the way, which I find very satisfying, whereas the main events, the skull and the murder, are more stupidity and loss and a sense of “if only”. I liked that the murderer’s identity and motive are well concealed for much of the novel as it allows the reader to guess. I didn’t do particularly well at this, so I just went with the flow and was suitably surprised.

I like the characters of Carla, Grace and Jack. Grace is the standout, managing to combine her outer princess with common sense and practicality.

Three Little Birds is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Georgina Reads_Eats_Explores · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a skull is found in Lough Coyne, forensic facial reconstruction expert Dr Carla Steele (of the Forensic, Anthropology and Computer Enhancement department based in An Garda HQ in Phoenix Park Dublin) is called upon to help the local Gardai with this cold case.

As is her custom, Carla wants to see the location of discovery and hopes to gain some insight into the victim and a possible reason for such a tragic demise.

With this in mind, she and her partner, criminal psychologist Dr Grace Francoisi, head off to Coyne Cross to blend business with the pleasure of a much-needed weekend break.

Unfortunately, while Carla is being shown the area surrounding the lough by DS Jack Maguire, who is leading the investigation, they come across a much more recent crime: a local woman, gruesomely murdered.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take long before the evidence mounts: our two cases are linked, and the help of Carla and Grace will be essential for the local police.

Since the disappearance of her best friend, Carla has dedicated her career to bringing the dead home, but this time, it’s the living who are counting on her. Will they be able to stop the killer before they strike again?

Enter an excellent cast of characters - Coyne Cross is a small town, the kind where everyone knows everyone and everything about each other, or so they like to believe. But dig beneath the carefully curated surface, and they all have plenty of secrets to unravel, some much darker than others.

Now, this isn’t exactly the most fast-paced thriller ever read, but that’s no bad thing here. Blake’s character building (each with a well thought out backstory) and ability to weave a bone-chilling tale with a steady stream of mounting evidence is top class.

Three Little Birds is a gripping, gritty and suspenseful mystery, a police procedural that’ll have you on the edge of your seat, heart racing more than once. Highly recommend!

4.5⭐️

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy; this is an honest review, as always. Three Little Birds is out now.

[Sian Morant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Little Birds is presumably the first book in what will become a series. It introduces the complex topic of forensic facial reconstruction which is very well handled. A skull is discovered in an Irish Lough and forensic reconstruction expert Dr Cara Steele is brought in to add her expertise. As the case is stone cold, her perspective may shine some light on the identity of the victim and the reason why they were killed. We are also introduced to the local garda, Detective Sergeant Jack Maguire, and Carla’s partner, criminal psychologist Dr Grace Franicosi. One of the high points of the book is the relationship between the three of them. Working together, they discover the skull may be linked to other cases and then before too long, further bodies are discovered.

I like Carla’s character. She is very intellectual and passionate. I was, however, a little disappointed that she was haunted by the disappearance of her best friend many years earlier and it influences her thinking now. This trope of the haunted professional is starting to become a little overused in my opinion.

Three Little Birds is a competent enough read. It is definitely too long as it flags in the middle and there are several subplots that seem to be added just to pad the book out. It will be interesting to see how this series develops and there is certainly enough there to keep me reading.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sam Blake and Atlantic Books for an ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story focused on three key characters, and set in Ireland - Dublin and County Mayo, to be precise. The main character is a forensic facial reconstruction expert named Dr. Carla Steele, whom I really liked.

I was surprised to find out that this was the first book in what is likely to be a series, because it felt as though I needed to catch up with the various characters introduced early on, and this took me a bit of time and was slightly distracting.

There are also a number of references to Carla's best friend Lizzie who went missing many years ago, and whose disappearance was one of the factors influencing Carla's career choice. The loss of Lizzie is very much a live issue for Carla in her day to day existence.

When a skull is found in Lough Coyne, Carla and her partner go to spend a short break in Coyne Cross, primarily for Carla to be able to understand the case better. This is part of her personal process when it comes to the facial reconstruction work.

Unfortunately, working alongside DS Jack Maguire, Carla encounters the slain body of a local woman after coming to Coyne Cross. The storytelling that follows is not particularly fast-paced, but it is absorbing, and it delivers satisfactorily on the reader's expectations.

Two key strengths of this story are the engaging characters and the unusual hook with respect to forensic facial reconstruction. So, if you are looking for a high quality police procedural, look no further.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Little Birds by Sam Blake begins with the discovery of a human skull and DS Jack Maguire requests the help of Dr Carla Steele, an expert in facial reconstruction. Together Jack, Carla and Carla's criminal psychologist partner, Grace, make their way to the village of Lough Coyne to begin an investigation and so unfolds a series of disturbing events. But are they linked to the discovery of that skull in Lough Coyne? 


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I've read a murder mystery/detective series and this book reminded me why I love them! 

If you like Patricia Gibney's Det. Lottie Parker series or Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series this will be right up your street. 


I was fascinated by the facial reconstruction work of Dr Carla Steele. In the acknowledgements, the author explains how she did a course in facial reconstruction to try to understand the process more thoroughly and I felt this really added to the credibility of the story. It's not an element of a murder case I've read about previously and I was so intrigued by it. 


I loved Carla and Grace's relationship and we got a real insight into each of their individual personalities. I thought Grace, the complete opposite to Carla in so many ways, was gas with all her notions!  Her character really added to the story. 


The plot was layered and nuanced and every character was a suspect for me at one point or another in the story. One of my favourite books so far this year and I'll be recommending it to all of my friends. 


I read this on audiobook and it was brilliant.

[Millie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three little birds is a murder mystery thriller, set in Ireland. It begins with Carla Steele, a forensic something who reconstructs skulls to try find missing people. The story’s set in motion by a skull being discovered in Lough Coyne, and switches between Carla’s side of the story, and Jack Maguire, a police officer working in Kilcoyne. We’re introduced to a slew of characters; 2 sisters and their cousin, all of their husbands, and the handyman. And the mystery unfolds, with the discovery of one of the sisters, Julias, body. Who’s been murdered in a ritualistic killing! Lots to deal with. I struggle reviewing books like these, because I actually got through it in 2 or three days and it was a page turner. But the author had a lot of writing habits that really irked me. From naming the model of every car someone gets into (I’m talking fiat 100X 4 x 4), to repeated phrases (“she looked how Carla felt” I’m looking at you). Honorable mention for “Carla pulled her hair up to feel some air on her neck”. Also when has Ireland ever been that hot! That along with the constant mention of Graces fatness and love of food, along with Grace as a character and the use of the word babes. Also really lengthy descriptions of the scene, so that by the end I was skipping to all the pieces of dialogue, and not reading the descriptions. So a solid 3; 4 in terms of page turner-ness but 2 in terms of writing style, so we’ll take an average.

[Margaret Mary Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Little Birds is enthralling. One of my unputdownable favourites. Sam Blake has a very absorbing style of writing. I loved the short chapters, it drew me in to read one more and then another and another. Her descriptions are so good I could "see" the characters and what they were looking at, the rooms they were in and the views from the windows. I think this book would be a screen writers dream and I would not be surprised if it becomes a blockbuster movie.
I think anyone who likes the genre of crime thrillers would love this book. It has old and new crimes, with gardai, detectives and forensic scientists all working to link pieces of evidence that could solve these cases and then they discover a brutal murder and the possibility of a cereal killer. Sam Blake drops in clues that can lead the reader to make their own conclusions but enough twists to cause uncertainty and some clues that lead down the wrong path.
Excellent. I have put more of Sam Blake's books high up on my "want to read" list.
* Spolier*
The only scene I found hard to visualise is the tunnel/cave that leads from the mainland through the loch to the Island

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book, because of its crime theme. Years ago, the Netherlands was shaken by a high-profile murder case that received international attention and was widely reported in the media. Eventually, a reconstruction of the little girl’s head was made based on her skull and published in the media, as she had not been identified for a long time.
I remember how impressed I was when a face suddenly emerged from a clay version.

This crime thriller is set on the west coast of Ireland, where Carla Steele works as an anthropologist specialising in facial reconstructions. Carla often thinks back to her childhood friend, who disappeared without a trace. She still hopes to find her.

In the beginning, many people (and their families) are introduced very quickly.
At first, I found it difficult to tell everyone apart and had to keep wondering who was who.
The story picks up rather slowly, interspersed with rather graphic descriptions of the victim, so to other readers, esp. for the visual thinkers, a word of warning: you need to have a strong stomach for this. I found it unfortunate that some parts of the book were slow. The book itself is reminiscent of CSI and of Bones (Temperance Brennan).

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Little Birds is a well-written police procedural, and the main character - Dr Carla Steele, is a facial reconstruction expert, which creates a different storytelling angle. I very much enjoyed the chapters explaining how Carla goes about reconstructing a face from a skull that was found in a lough by DS Jack Maguire and his team. I also liked the three main characters: Carla, Jack and Carla’s partner Grace, the characters work well together and their working relationship blossoms during the case, which having read several books where teams have in-fighting this was a refreshing take.

The plot is not particularly fast moving - the reader is given a steady run of hints and historical information which allowed me to correctly identify the culprit, but for me, their motive remained concealed until the end. There are periods when I felt I was reading a book in the middle of a series, mainly due to the backstory involving the disappearance of Carla’s best friend, Lizzie some years previous, but this is the first book in what I assume will become a series, I also assume that Lizzie’s disappearance will be a pivotal factor going forward.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid twisty mystery that had me glued to the page, ‘Three Little Birds’ is return to her police procedural roots since the Cat Connelly trilogy. This time she’s gone with a fresh perspective with facial reconstruction expert Dr Carla Steele and her partner, criminal psychologist Dr Grace Franciosi as the main characters along with DS Jack Maguire.

After a skull is found in a lough, Carla and Grace find themselves involved in gruesome a present-day murder. While I spotted fairly early one of the culprits, I was still kept guessing as to why and how everything fit together. The level of detail about facial reconstruction as also fascinating, just the right amount of detail without feeling like it was a text book.

The biggest strength for me was the three main characters and their rapport. I hope this is the start of a series, as I think these characters are too interesting to not tell more of their story. I also particularly loved the Easter eggs from her previous books, including a Cat Connelly one! Maybe just maybe if there’s another we will see that Easter egg in the flesh (please?!)

[nickiknackinoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Sam Blake has smashed it! This is a definite five star read with a gripping storyline and great characters that you like straight away!! I’ll tell you a little about it…..
A skull is discovered under water in a sleepy town called Lough Coyne, and skull reconstruction expert Carla meets Jack Maguire the police man involved in the case, as he brings the skull remains to her. Her girlfriend (Grace),is a criminal psychologist, and she books a weekend at Lough Coyne to mix business with pleasure. It’s a beautiful setting and as they’re about to go explore, Jack calls with news of a local business woman being found murdered in a really gruesome way.
I love how the whole story has clues dropped in to make you think about who could be the culprit and also that the reader knows what’s happening within the police procedures too. All in all, a fantastic story to get your teeth into!!!
Many thanks to Corvus Books for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #corvusbooks, #samblakebooks I

[Joy Corkery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Blake never disappoints, and *Three Little Birds* is no exception. While I didn't find myself as deeply engrossed as I have with some of her previous works, it was still an enjoyable read that kept me engaged from start to finish. Blake’s talent for crafting compelling characters shines through once again—each one felt real and relatable, making it hard not to get attached to them.

The story itself is intriguing, particularly the forensic aspects, which were well-written and added a layer of complexity, even if the FACE department is fictional. Blake excels in weaving small-town mysteries, and this one is no different. The town is filled with hidden secrets, and uncovering them was half the fun. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching layers of a seemingly quiet place peel away to reveal dark undercurrents.

Overall, *Three Little Birds* is a solid, enjoyable mystery with strong characters, a fascinating forensic angle, and a great small-town setting brimming with secrets.