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Martha Strangeways Investigations #1
Crow Moon
A Martha Strangeways Mystery
Set in the fictional village of Strathbran (Glen of Ravens) in Stirlingshire, Scotland, an area steeped in folklore and impenetrable mists, Crow Moon features ex-journalist Martha Strangeways, who discarded her career when her young twins died in a fire. Stricken by guilt that she was not there to save them, Martha carries their remains in a matchbox and struggles to find purpose in her life … until she stumbles across the body of a teenager, strung up on a tree, with a poem about crows inked on his back. Martha is soon drawn into the investigation into his death, teaming up with DI Derek Summers when another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape. With a plot that becomes darker, ever-more paranoid and increasingly enthralling with each page, Crow Moon is also a moving tale of grief and an exploration of psychological damage.
Set in the fictional village of Strathbran (Glen of Ravens) in Stirlingshire, Scotland, an area steeped in folklore and impenetrable mists, Crow Moon features ex-journalist Martha Strangeways, who discarded her career when her young twins died in a fire. Stricken by guilt that she was not there to save them, Martha carries their remains in a matchbox and struggles to find purpose in her life … until she stumbles across the body of a teenager, strung up on a tree, with a poem about crows inked on his back. Martha is soon drawn into the investigation into his death, teaming up with DI Derek Summers when another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape. With a plot that becomes darker, ever-more paranoid and increasingly enthralling with each page, Crow Moon is also a moving tale of grief and an exploration of psychological damage.
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First published January 1, 2024
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About the author
Suzy Aspley
3 books21 followersSouth Shields born author Suzy Aspley began writing her first book after a prompt at a writing retreat in the Scottish Highlands, secrets rattling in a matchbox, reminded her of a story she once covered as a newspaper reporter.
After pitching successfully at Dragon’s Pen in summer 2019, where all four panellists wanted to see her manuscript, she won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect competition in September 2019 and a month later was shortlisted in the DHH Literary Agency New Voices Award at the first Capital Crime festival in London.
In 2020 she was awarded a mentorship through Hachette's Future Bookshelf Initiative and was delighted to work with Hodder Executive Publisher Jo Dickinson on the manuscript for her debut novel into 2021. The book was long listed for the Caledonia Novel Award 2022 and in January 2022, she signed with wonderful agent Euan Thorneycroft at London agency AM Heath Ltd.
Suzy's spooky debut novel Crow Moon will be published by Orenda Books in Spring 2023. She lives in Scotland with her family and when she’s not writing is usually walking in the woods with assorted kids, dogs and horses.
After pitching successfully at Dragon’s Pen in summer 2019, where all four panellists wanted to see her manuscript, she won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect competition in September 2019 and a month later was shortlisted in the DHH Literary Agency New Voices Award at the first Capital Crime festival in London.
In 2020 she was awarded a mentorship through Hachette's Future Bookshelf Initiative and was delighted to work with Hodder Executive Publisher Jo Dickinson on the manuscript for her debut novel into 2021. The book was long listed for the Caledonia Novel Award 2022 and in January 2022, she signed with wonderful agent Euan Thorneycroft at London agency AM Heath Ltd.
Suzy's spooky debut novel Crow Moon will be published by Orenda Books in Spring 2023. She lives in Scotland with her family and when she’s not writing is usually walking in the woods with assorted kids, dogs and horses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
December 9, 2025
A crime thriller with a dark gothic twist set in the Scottish countryside - all the ingredients for a good slice of Tartan Noir. There's a lot of past trauma to contend with for the characters of a small village - and a sequel to come, be interesting to see where the story goes next.
December 19, 2023
Hi and welcome to my review of Crow Moon!
And let me start by shouting: oh my giddy aunt, what an absolutely FANTASTIC debut Crow Moon is!
I literally just finished Crow Moon and all I can think is how absolutely thrilled I am that this is to be the first in a series. I have been waiting for Crow Moon since #Orentober 2022, it was everything I’d hoped it would be and more, and I’m already on tenterhooks for the next one!
Crow Moon is the epitome of gothic contemporary fiction, and if you know me at all, you know that I adore books with a gothic vibe. If done well, obviously. And Crow Moon is gothic perfection. A book of shadows, witch trials, rituals, a full moon on the horizon and a kidnapper / murderer on the loose in a quaint little Scottish community, I gobbled it up like a woman starving.
While superbly atmospheric, Crow Moon does not burn slowly, it gains momentum rather rapidly and goes out with a bang. I will admit I did figure out a few things before their big reveal, but while that can certainly irk me, it didn’t in this case, as the author not only had me second-guessing myself, but also had spun such an intriguing tale that I didn’t even care if I was right or wrong, I was just enjoying myself. And let’s just say there was enough sting in the tail to knock the wind out of me!
Crow Moon was definitely one of those books I wanted to race through to find out what would happen to its characters, but also not, because I wanted to savour the gorgeous writing and wallow in the atmosphere. Definitely one to re-read!
Crow Moon is an accomplished debut that grabbed me from the first page and simmered in my mind long after finishing it. It’s not only an engrossing thriller and a riveting mystery but it also broke my heart a couple of times. It has a cast of wonderful characters that I hope will all be back for more, cos I most certainly will! Highly recommended.
Massive thanks to Orenda Books for the digital proof. All opinions are my own.
And let me start by shouting: oh my giddy aunt, what an absolutely FANTASTIC debut Crow Moon is!
I literally just finished Crow Moon and all I can think is how absolutely thrilled I am that this is to be the first in a series. I have been waiting for Crow Moon since #Orentober 2022, it was everything I’d hoped it would be and more, and I’m already on tenterhooks for the next one!
Crow Moon is the epitome of gothic contemporary fiction, and if you know me at all, you know that I adore books with a gothic vibe. If done well, obviously. And Crow Moon is gothic perfection. A book of shadows, witch trials, rituals, a full moon on the horizon and a kidnapper / murderer on the loose in a quaint little Scottish community, I gobbled it up like a woman starving.
While superbly atmospheric, Crow Moon does not burn slowly, it gains momentum rather rapidly and goes out with a bang. I will admit I did figure out a few things before their big reveal, but while that can certainly irk me, it didn’t in this case, as the author not only had me second-guessing myself, but also had spun such an intriguing tale that I didn’t even care if I was right or wrong, I was just enjoying myself. And let’s just say there was enough sting in the tail to knock the wind out of me!
Crow Moon was definitely one of those books I wanted to race through to find out what would happen to its characters, but also not, because I wanted to savour the gorgeous writing and wallow in the atmosphere. Definitely one to re-read!
Crow Moon is an accomplished debut that grabbed me from the first page and simmered in my mind long after finishing it. It’s not only an engrossing thriller and a riveting mystery but it also broke my heart a couple of times. It has a cast of wonderful characters that I hope will all be back for more, cos I most certainly will! Highly recommended.
Massive thanks to Orenda Books for the digital proof. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2024
This is a wonderfully atmospheric and eerie book. It has a fictional setting, but the author does a great job of describing it and the area, that she had me convinced it could be real!
The setting works so well for this story as the Crow Moon is on the 21st of March, it is the time of year when we are still in the cold of winter but seeing the dawn of spring. The days tend to be damp and overcast with foggy or misty layers. This time of year fits so well with the eerieness of the story and the folklore that has been woven in.
The main character is Martha, she had been a reporter but after her twins died she stepped away. Only when one of her son's friends disappears does she become interested enough to start looking for her own clues. She thinks there is more to the disappearance, and her fear is palpable.
This is such a tense story that mixes the feel of a gothic thriller with a modern setting. The folklore is brought into play and a supernatural feel that sends shivers, the author uses this to great effect and it makes you wonder just how much truth there is behind the fiction!
The cast of characters is enough, for it was anyway. They had a role to play and there is an unknown character that appears in italics. I do love a mystery italicised cast member! The character of Martha has a fragility to her, but she is tough and when she believes in an idea she will follow it through. She does have the support of a DI Derek Summers, who is investigating the case and this makes for a great bit of teamwork, well when they share information that is.
While this is a story about death and grief it is also about moving on and taking a breath to make another step forward. Being stuck in a rut or routine, hiding away is all well and good, but sometimes you need something to steer you out. The author does this for Martha and as I got to know her I could see there is much more to learn.
This is the first book and one that lays down the basics of Martha, her family and those in her life. As the story progresses, the author takes darker and more mysterious turns adding a brilliant sense of nervous tension, with a sense of anxiety and stress as the story gains more intrigue.
If you are a fan of eerie thrillers then this is one for you, I adored the creepy feel and the psychological edge to this book. Brilliant debut novel and one I would definitely recommend.
The setting works so well for this story as the Crow Moon is on the 21st of March, it is the time of year when we are still in the cold of winter but seeing the dawn of spring. The days tend to be damp and overcast with foggy or misty layers. This time of year fits so well with the eerieness of the story and the folklore that has been woven in.
The main character is Martha, she had been a reporter but after her twins died she stepped away. Only when one of her son's friends disappears does she become interested enough to start looking for her own clues. She thinks there is more to the disappearance, and her fear is palpable.
This is such a tense story that mixes the feel of a gothic thriller with a modern setting. The folklore is brought into play and a supernatural feel that sends shivers, the author uses this to great effect and it makes you wonder just how much truth there is behind the fiction!
The cast of characters is enough, for it was anyway. They had a role to play and there is an unknown character that appears in italics. I do love a mystery italicised cast member! The character of Martha has a fragility to her, but she is tough and when she believes in an idea she will follow it through. She does have the support of a DI Derek Summers, who is investigating the case and this makes for a great bit of teamwork, well when they share information that is.
While this is a story about death and grief it is also about moving on and taking a breath to make another step forward. Being stuck in a rut or routine, hiding away is all well and good, but sometimes you need something to steer you out. The author does this for Martha and as I got to know her I could see there is much more to learn.
This is the first book and one that lays down the basics of Martha, her family and those in her life. As the story progresses, the author takes darker and more mysterious turns adding a brilliant sense of nervous tension, with a sense of anxiety and stress as the story gains more intrigue.
If you are a fan of eerie thrillers then this is one for you, I adored the creepy feel and the psychological edge to this book. Brilliant debut novel and one I would definitely recommend.
December 29, 2024
I am always excited to find a new series. This one was a bonus, in that it was a spooky read with mystery and some police procedural thrown in. I appreciate the red herring that was used by the author. It was clever and added to the gothic atmosphere as Martha Strangeways helps the police solve the murder of a teenage boy, who has been found with a poem referring to the legend of a witch tied to the Crow Moon that is expected to rise soon. This hits close to home as she has a teenage son who was friends with the victim. She also lost twin toddlers in a fire and has been dealing with the grief that pushed her to leave her job as a journalist. However, she did not lose her skills and utilizes these to help Detective Summers solve this mystery.
March 7, 2024
My Review….
Huge thanks to Orenda Books for my early copy of Crow Moon and for Anne Cater for organising the blog tour.
I was really looking forward to this new thriller series and new author, what drew me in was the exquisite cover art – as always from Orenda Books.
When a teenager goes missing who is a friend of Martha Strangeway’s son, the ex journolist gets pulled into a web of folklore, lies and danger in this Scottish small town thriller.
I really loved the cast of Crow Moon, Martha’s charachter is expertley written and really real to life, she is fiesty ( as a female in journalism has to be) but so numb with grief still over the death of her twins a year ago. And this book is a real page turner, a mix of plot and chrtachter driven, it takes you deep into the Scottish fables and folklore that so oftewn still affect people in small communities today. And when she stumbles across a dead body, things really start to take a dramatic turn, and Martha cant help but to use her investigative skills to seek out the truth as to whats happening in their community.
There are twists and turns that i didnt predict in Crow Moon, and its a very spooky and atmospheric thriller, which i loved, it almost gave me the heebie jeebies reading this at night in a house on my own lol! I couldnt put Crow moon down and was engaged until the closing page, which left me with a sense of closure.
A brilliant debut novel from an author who can write thrillers with a spooky edge, and is able to write a diverse cast of chrachters, especially Martha. I must say im looking forward to the next book in the series, and I hope it will be as thrilling as this one.
A great 5 🌟 star read.
Huge thanks to Orenda Books for my early copy of Crow Moon and for Anne Cater for organising the blog tour.
I was really looking forward to this new thriller series and new author, what drew me in was the exquisite cover art – as always from Orenda Books.
When a teenager goes missing who is a friend of Martha Strangeway’s son, the ex journolist gets pulled into a web of folklore, lies and danger in this Scottish small town thriller.
I really loved the cast of Crow Moon, Martha’s charachter is expertley written and really real to life, she is fiesty ( as a female in journalism has to be) but so numb with grief still over the death of her twins a year ago. And this book is a real page turner, a mix of plot and chrtachter driven, it takes you deep into the Scottish fables and folklore that so oftewn still affect people in small communities today. And when she stumbles across a dead body, things really start to take a dramatic turn, and Martha cant help but to use her investigative skills to seek out the truth as to whats happening in their community.
There are twists and turns that i didnt predict in Crow Moon, and its a very spooky and atmospheric thriller, which i loved, it almost gave me the heebie jeebies reading this at night in a house on my own lol! I couldnt put Crow moon down and was engaged until the closing page, which left me with a sense of closure.
A brilliant debut novel from an author who can write thrillers with a spooky edge, and is able to write a diverse cast of chrachters, especially Martha. I must say im looking forward to the next book in the series, and I hope it will be as thrilling as this one.
A great 5 🌟 star read.
April 15, 2024
Martha Strangeways has endured many traumas in her life. She lost her family at a young age and was put into care. Most recently, she lost her three-year-old twin boys in a house fire. More loss than most people can imagine…
Martha worked as an award-winning investigative journalist. She was attending a press conference when her partner was badly burned and their toddlers perished in the fire. Since that tragic event she has not worked in her field. Martha has a teenage son from a previous relationship, named Dougie. Martha, Dougie, and their two dogs live in a rural spot near the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, in Scotland.Dougie’s best friend Fraser has gone missing after going for a run. Martha learns that Dougie, Fraser, and Christie took part in a ritual – ostensibly to ease the spirits of Dougie’s baby brothers and to help him cope with their death. They did this on last year’s ‘Crow Moon’ and this spurred something that would impact all their lives. Now, the ‘Crow Moon‘ is imminent once again and Fraser’s body is found by Martha after a nasty fall. Then Christie goes missing… could Dougie be next?
“She shook her head, realised that the break from frontline reporting had changed her perspectives. Life was so precious, she thought, saying a silent prayer that the girl would be fine.”
Martha fears for her son and his friends. She joins forces with the investigating Detective Inspector Derek Summers to discern the reasons for these recent events.
Scotland’s rich history of witch trials and pagan rites, the legend of ‘Feannag Dhubh’ (the black crow witch), along with some modern-day, seriously psychotic perpetrators, gives this astounding debut an edgy and mesmerizing plot. Martha is a sympathetic character who has learned the hard way that family supersedes work-life in every situation.
The descriptive imagery contained within the novel transported me to the Scottish village and surrounding forested areas.
“There was something about the landscape here – dense, ancient forests; deep, cold lochs, which no doubt held centuries of secrets trapped in their depths; sudden mists that rolled down from the brooding mountains that loomed over these insular communities.”
The adrenaline-fueled denouement was suspenseful, menacing, and tense. The conclusion of the novel brought a satisfactory resolution to the case and hinted at a future direction for Martha.
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut and look forward to reading more by the talented Suzy Aspley.
Martha worked as an award-winning investigative journalist. She was attending a press conference when her partner was badly burned and their toddlers perished in the fire. Since that tragic event she has not worked in her field. Martha has a teenage son from a previous relationship, named Dougie. Martha, Dougie, and their two dogs live in a rural spot near the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, in Scotland.Dougie’s best friend Fraser has gone missing after going for a run. Martha learns that Dougie, Fraser, and Christie took part in a ritual – ostensibly to ease the spirits of Dougie’s baby brothers and to help him cope with their death. They did this on last year’s ‘Crow Moon’ and this spurred something that would impact all their lives. Now, the ‘Crow Moon‘ is imminent once again and Fraser’s body is found by Martha after a nasty fall. Then Christie goes missing… could Dougie be next?
“She shook her head, realised that the break from frontline reporting had changed her perspectives. Life was so precious, she thought, saying a silent prayer that the girl would be fine.”
Martha fears for her son and his friends. She joins forces with the investigating Detective Inspector Derek Summers to discern the reasons for these recent events.
Scotland’s rich history of witch trials and pagan rites, the legend of ‘Feannag Dhubh’ (the black crow witch), along with some modern-day, seriously psychotic perpetrators, gives this astounding debut an edgy and mesmerizing plot. Martha is a sympathetic character who has learned the hard way that family supersedes work-life in every situation.
The descriptive imagery contained within the novel transported me to the Scottish village and surrounding forested areas.
“There was something about the landscape here – dense, ancient forests; deep, cold lochs, which no doubt held centuries of secrets trapped in their depths; sudden mists that rolled down from the brooding mountains that loomed over these insular communities.”
The adrenaline-fueled denouement was suspenseful, menacing, and tense. The conclusion of the novel brought a satisfactory resolution to the case and hinted at a future direction for Martha.
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut and look forward to reading more by the talented Suzy Aspley.
January 16, 2024
What a thriller this fantastic debut was! Martha, a former investigative journalist, accidentally discovers the body of a missing local boy, and he has lines of an old poem written on his back. When a second teenager is found with another verse, it becomes clear that Martha's own teenage son - who had been friends with both - may not be safe, and he's definitely hiding something...
Martha convinces the lead detective to work with her and make the most of her investigative background, and the pair develop a pleasing friendship until the police think they have their man, but Martha's not so sure...
Running as a backdrop to the race for understanding/race against time is the grief, guilt and trauma Martha feels from the loss of her young twins in a house fire, while she was away on a work assignment. This also resulted in the breakdown of her marriage, and naturally all this helps to colour some of her thoughts and actions throughout the book.
The book itself is beautifully designed, a very pleasing 319pp of close text so a lovely long tale to immerse yourself in, and with a gripping plot that means you just can't stop turning those pages, and the relatively short chapters (some even with a lovely little crow divider in them!) mean you just press on and on with 'oh just one more!' The final third of the book really ramps up the tension and pressure before the satisfying conclusion.
The only slight downside for me was that I would have liked to know how to pronounce Feannag Dhubh, and the translation/meaning of the old poem, I feel this would have added a little to the experience, but that's only a minor gripe, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series after such a strong start from this new author!
Martha convinces the lead detective to work with her and make the most of her investigative background, and the pair develop a pleasing friendship until the police think they have their man, but Martha's not so sure...
Running as a backdrop to the race for understanding/race against time is the grief, guilt and trauma Martha feels from the loss of her young twins in a house fire, while she was away on a work assignment. This also resulted in the breakdown of her marriage, and naturally all this helps to colour some of her thoughts and actions throughout the book.
The book itself is beautifully designed, a very pleasing 319pp of close text so a lovely long tale to immerse yourself in, and with a gripping plot that means you just can't stop turning those pages, and the relatively short chapters (some even with a lovely little crow divider in them!) mean you just press on and on with 'oh just one more!' The final third of the book really ramps up the tension and pressure before the satisfying conclusion.
The only slight downside for me was that I would have liked to know how to pronounce Feannag Dhubh, and the translation/meaning of the old poem, I feel this would have added a little to the experience, but that's only a minor gripe, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series after such a strong start from this new author!
July 26, 2024
What a cracking great debut novel Crow Moon is, and I for one am thrilled that it is first in a series. Count me in. I'm more than happy to return Strathbran, Stirlingshire.
Crow Moon is set in the fictional village of Strathburn, an area steeped in folklore and the site of a witch trial.
The story centres around the murder of a teenaged boy. A verse from a poem called Feannag Dhubh, is found written in ink on his back. Some time later, a teenaged girl disappears. When she is found, barely alive, it's discovered that another verse from the poem has been written on her back. Who is the Feannag Dhubh, and what is the significance of the poem? What is the connection between the poem and the Crow Moon?
Crow Moon is atmospheric and has a gothic feel to it, even though events occur in the present. The themes are dark, and the tension mounts with each chapter thanks to twists and turns aplenty.
I loved Crow Moon, and the next book can't come quick enough for me.
Crow Moon is set in the fictional village of Strathburn, an area steeped in folklore and the site of a witch trial.
The story centres around the murder of a teenaged boy. A verse from a poem called Feannag Dhubh, is found written in ink on his back. Some time later, a teenaged girl disappears. When she is found, barely alive, it's discovered that another verse from the poem has been written on her back. Who is the Feannag Dhubh, and what is the significance of the poem? What is the connection between the poem and the Crow Moon?
Crow Moon is atmospheric and has a gothic feel to it, even though events occur in the present. The themes are dark, and the tension mounts with each chapter thanks to twists and turns aplenty.
I loved Crow Moon, and the next book can't come quick enough for me.
April 6, 2024
3.5* —> 4
March 2, 2024
This book is the authors debut book and what a book it was.
Martha Strangeways is an ex-journalist she lost her twin sons in a house fire.
A boy goes missing and turns up with a poem written on his back he is dead what makes it worse was he was friends with her teenage son and now he might be in danger.
Looking forward to another book from this author.
Martha Strangeways is an ex-journalist she lost her twin sons in a house fire.
A boy goes missing and turns up with a poem written on his back he is dead what makes it worse was he was friends with her teenage son and now he might be in danger.
Looking forward to another book from this author.
February 28, 2024
An absolutely stunning debut novel.It is totally gripping from page one. It's atmospheric, creepy and downright terrifying. I loved it. I really look forward to the next one in the series.
July 12, 2024
Did I read the same book as everybody else? First let me say that I adore the cover. Amazing design. Between the cover, the description and the rave reviews I was beyond excited to read this book. Even the name "Strangeways" had me excited. Then I started to read. Now, I know this is an ARC, but to my understanding it's been published in the UK so I assumed that it would be a corrected copy. However, it needs a lot more editing to be polished. It's very repetitive, full of typos and there are multiple instances of someone asking the same questions or being told information they have already been told. For example, Martha is told by the police what drugs were found in Fraser's system then later she asks the detective if he's heard anything about the drugs and he tells her again what drugs toxicology found in his system. She gets called down to the station to come look at photos, then when she gets there, she says something like, "has there been an update? I assume that's why I've been called in." You're there to look at photos Martha.
Also, the cops are completely incompetent. They decide on a suspect, with very little evidence, and when Martha asks them if they asked the suspect about the poem, they say they haven't because they don't think it's important. Really? A person mixed together ink and blood then precisely wrote a poem on their victim's back and you doubt it was important to the killer? That makes sense. Once they have their suspect and another kid goes missing, they don't think he could be in danger or that it's related even though he hasn't been seen in 3 or 4 days because they have their man!
Martha annoyed me too. She's already lost two kids in a fire and teens are being abducted, but she doesn't pay much attention to her son. She doesn't even know where he is half the time and doesn't check that he made it places safely when she should have. At one point she overhears an important phone call but won't ask her son about it because she doesn't want to admit she eavesdropped on his conversation. Who cares if it helps the case and saves anyone, right? More than once when she's talking to someone, she refers to Fraser's abduction and murder as "that Fraser thing" or "the Fraser stuff". Way to be super blase about the murder of your son's longtime best friend!
I also never understood why the police were so willing to tell Martha every detail about the investigation. It seemed highly unlikely. The characters have absolutely no depth either. Oh, and the author severely underestimates a dog’s nose. When Martha was in the woods and could smell a corpse, she was glad the dogs hadn’t smelled it yet. If you can smell something, your dog smells it too and has been able to long before you could. They’re just ignoring it. I was really looking forward to reading a thriller with some Scottish folklore mixed in, but nothing about this worked for me. It could have been a good story, but it's so poorly done that I can't recommend it in its current state at least. I'm truly shocked by the positive reviews. Honestly the only thing I liked was the cover. 1.5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the ARC!
Also, the cops are completely incompetent. They decide on a suspect, with very little evidence, and when Martha asks them if they asked the suspect about the poem, they say they haven't because they don't think it's important. Really? A person mixed together ink and blood then precisely wrote a poem on their victim's back and you doubt it was important to the killer? That makes sense. Once they have their suspect and another kid goes missing, they don't think he could be in danger or that it's related even though he hasn't been seen in 3 or 4 days because they have their man!
Martha annoyed me too. She's already lost two kids in a fire and teens are being abducted, but she doesn't pay much attention to her son. She doesn't even know where he is half the time and doesn't check that he made it places safely when she should have. At one point she overhears an important phone call but won't ask her son about it because she doesn't want to admit she eavesdropped on his conversation. Who cares if it helps the case and saves anyone, right? More than once when she's talking to someone, she refers to Fraser's abduction and murder as "that Fraser thing" or "the Fraser stuff". Way to be super blase about the murder of your son's longtime best friend!
I also never understood why the police were so willing to tell Martha every detail about the investigation. It seemed highly unlikely. The characters have absolutely no depth either. Oh, and the author severely underestimates a dog’s nose. When Martha was in the woods and could smell a corpse, she was glad the dogs hadn’t smelled it yet. If you can smell something, your dog smells it too and has been able to long before you could. They’re just ignoring it. I was really looking forward to reading a thriller with some Scottish folklore mixed in, but nothing about this worked for me. It could have been a good story, but it's so poorly done that I can't recommend it in its current state at least. I'm truly shocked by the positive reviews. Honestly the only thing I liked was the cover. 1.5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the ARC!
February 20, 2024
This book was a very well woven story which encompassed many generations. When a teenager goes missing and turns up dead a few days later the whole town is in shock, particularly as the dead boy has an ancient poem written in ink on his back.
During the investigation into his death it comes to light that three friends have performed some sort of ritual the previous year and it would appear to be linked.
The author writes well and the subject is one which will keep you interested and keep you guessing
During the investigation into his death it comes to light that three friends have performed some sort of ritual the previous year and it would appear to be linked.
The author writes well and the subject is one which will keep you interested and keep you guessing
October 12, 2024
2.5 stars
I went from one pile of dead, black birds to another. What are the odds!??
Not sure what I thought of this book though. It was OK, but not great, and not exactly bad either.
Even if I did like the main character well enough, my liking only went so far.
Her backstory of extreme loss made her difficult to relate to - and difficult to understand, because I somehow felt she held up a bit "too well", somehow. Loss and grief are indeed highly personal and can look very different from person to person, but still ...
I've come across so many other books with similar themes of horrible losses as the backstory for the main (female) character, and somehow Martha felt flat and un-feeling in comparison.
The theme of the main (once again female) character's only son getting into trouble seems to be really, really popular at the moment.
I wonder how many times I've heard that one and seen it on TV since last year. Feels like it's been a lot of times.
Maybe that's why I didn't care all that much? I'm not sure. I
felt somewhat detached from this story from the get go. I can't say I completely understand why, because the mystery was nice enough and the narrator was good.
But then the author pulled the "person with schizophrenia goes mental and kills people" card out of the tropes bag and I just ... Dunno. Didn't like it.
That one too has been done to death the last couple of (50+) years or so - and I might just be a bit sick of it, to be honest.
Ah well, if I don't stumble upon more dead birds in the next book I pick, I'll be quite pleased.
Probably won't return to this series in the future, if there are more books.
I went from one pile of dead, black birds to another. What are the odds!??
Not sure what I thought of this book though. It was OK, but not great, and not exactly bad either.
Even if I did like the main character well enough, my liking only went so far.
Her backstory of extreme loss made her difficult to relate to - and difficult to understand, because I somehow felt she held up a bit "too well", somehow. Loss and grief are indeed highly personal and can look very different from person to person, but still ...
I've come across so many other books with similar themes of horrible losses as the backstory for the main (female) character, and somehow Martha felt flat and un-feeling in comparison.
The theme of the main (once again female) character's only son getting into trouble seems to be really, really popular at the moment.
I wonder how many times I've heard that one and seen it on TV since last year. Feels like it's been a lot of times.
Maybe that's why I didn't care all that much? I'm not sure. I
felt somewhat detached from this story from the get go. I can't say I completely understand why, because the mystery was nice enough and the narrator was good.
But then the author pulled the "person with schizophrenia goes mental and kills people" card out of the tropes bag and I just ... Dunno. Didn't like it.
That one too has been done to death the last couple of (50+) years or so - and I might just be a bit sick of it, to be honest.
Ah well, if I don't stumble upon more dead birds in the next book I pick, I'll be quite pleased.
Probably won't return to this series in the future, if there are more books.
June 22, 2024
I feel bad about only giving 3 stars but 4 stars is really too many in my opinion...so, maybe 3.5.
It's well written and creepy to start with but the sense of threat started to wain pretty quickly. Maybe I don't find crows creepy enough (in fact I love them).
The relationship between Martha and the police annoyed me from the start & as the story progressed, I found myself wondering when this would be made into tv or similar. Talented but tragic & troubled journalist solves crime in the face of idiot police - that sort of thing.
That said, I would be very happy to read more of Suzy Aspley's writing in future.
It's well written and creepy to start with but the sense of threat started to wain pretty quickly. Maybe I don't find crows creepy enough (in fact I love them).
The relationship between Martha and the police annoyed me from the start & as the story progressed, I found myself wondering when this would be made into tv or similar. Talented but tragic & troubled journalist solves crime in the face of idiot police - that sort of thing.
That said, I would be very happy to read more of Suzy Aspley's writing in future.
April 8, 2024
The book held some promise: interesting story, if a bit - seemingly - designed for a TV production company to buy up. However, there were just too many howlers in the dialogue and description. I can’t even go into detail.
I really wanted to like this but it just irritated me.
I really wanted to like this but it just irritated me.
March 6, 2024
Fraser always starts his day with a run before school, but today has ended up a long way from his home in the village of Strathbran and his mum's bacon sandwiches. His mum, Jane, is distraught at his disappearance and checks in with his friends, including Martha Strangeways, mother of Fraser's good pal Dougie. Martha - until a couple of years ago an investigative journalist - is left with an uneasy feeling which prompts her to ask a few questions of her own.
In the early chapters we are introduced to the village, its inhabitants and its folklore, plus a glimpse of a tragedy that Martha is still trying to come to terms with. There's also thoughts from what seems to be the diary of a witch, and mutterings from Fraser's kidnapper about a ritual that unleased something which now pursues him. If you're looking for crime fiction with a large side order of gothic and eerie, you've come to the right place.
When Fraser's body is found, the police arrive en masse with the media not far behind. But what the police do not tell the reporters (though DI Derek Summers is persuaded to tell Martha) is that there was part of a poem inked onto Fraser's back. Based on the local legend of a woman believed to be a witch who could turn herself into a crow, it leaves Martha both spooked and intrigued, and as the book continues she finds more links between its ancient lines and things happening in the here and now.
Bad news and good news come in waves through the novel, and as the Crow Moon - the last full moon of winter - rises in the final section, it brings with it literal and metaphorical storms, and the tension rises to almost unbearable levels. But in the final pages a new moon brings the start of a new season, and the chance for change and a time of peace. Novels mixing crime and gothic are on the rise at the moment, and it's a recipe for delicious shivers in a reader. If you want eerie, dive right in.
In the early chapters we are introduced to the village, its inhabitants and its folklore, plus a glimpse of a tragedy that Martha is still trying to come to terms with. There's also thoughts from what seems to be the diary of a witch, and mutterings from Fraser's kidnapper about a ritual that unleased something which now pursues him. If you're looking for crime fiction with a large side order of gothic and eerie, you've come to the right place.
When Fraser's body is found, the police arrive en masse with the media not far behind. But what the police do not tell the reporters (though DI Derek Summers is persuaded to tell Martha) is that there was part of a poem inked onto Fraser's back. Based on the local legend of a woman believed to be a witch who could turn herself into a crow, it leaves Martha both spooked and intrigued, and as the book continues she finds more links between its ancient lines and things happening in the here and now.
Bad news and good news come in waves through the novel, and as the Crow Moon - the last full moon of winter - rises in the final section, it brings with it literal and metaphorical storms, and the tension rises to almost unbearable levels. But in the final pages a new moon brings the start of a new season, and the chance for change and a time of peace. Novels mixing crime and gothic are on the rise at the moment, and it's a recipe for delicious shivers in a reader. If you want eerie, dive right in.
March 16, 2024
It is a long while since I did a ‘best book of the year’ from my reading year but if I were to restart this would be a strong contender. I was gripped, on the edge of my seat and wincing every time I saw a crow
I live in a county where witch trials were common 400 years ago. What I have learned about them, since primary school pale into insignificance when I read what happened in Scotland. I have read a few books recently that cover Scottish folklore and legend but nothing as eerie as this offering. Whilst the novel doesn’t really concern witch trials as such, it does show the suspicion and fear generations later. And gives an impression that attitude will always be there.
Martha used to be a journalist, to some she might have come across as ruthless but this attitude changed with what she had gone through and when a teenage friend of her son is found dead she is determined to find answers. Working with a very friendly police officer who admits that he needs help coping with the media frenzy she uncovers a lot more than she bargained for.
I appreciated not just seeing the tragedy through Martha’s eyes though. I also got to see the impact on her son, his friend and a younger, bullied schoolboy. All different personalities all coping differently with fear, grief and guilt.
Martha was a character I liked instantly. Still grieving the loss of her twins but she had her own way of coping and in many ways she coped better than her partner, Jamie and her teenage son, Dougie. It could have been seen as a strange method but to me it was poignant, private and special. Something just for her.
I found this to be an absolutely fascinating novel. It was different to anything else I have read. I thought the storyline was balanced with neither the gothic or crime element overpowering each other. When I have read a novel with a legend or historical aspect before I have had to spend a lot of time on google, wanting to know more about the area and legend but all I needed to know this time was how to pronounce Feannag Dhubh. This isn’t a criticism, just an observation that I wanted to concentrate on the novel rather than getting sidetracked.
This novel worked well as a standalone but I would love to read more about Martha
I live in a county where witch trials were common 400 years ago. What I have learned about them, since primary school pale into insignificance when I read what happened in Scotland. I have read a few books recently that cover Scottish folklore and legend but nothing as eerie as this offering. Whilst the novel doesn’t really concern witch trials as such, it does show the suspicion and fear generations later. And gives an impression that attitude will always be there.
Martha used to be a journalist, to some she might have come across as ruthless but this attitude changed with what she had gone through and when a teenage friend of her son is found dead she is determined to find answers. Working with a very friendly police officer who admits that he needs help coping with the media frenzy she uncovers a lot more than she bargained for.
I appreciated not just seeing the tragedy through Martha’s eyes though. I also got to see the impact on her son, his friend and a younger, bullied schoolboy. All different personalities all coping differently with fear, grief and guilt.
Martha was a character I liked instantly. Still grieving the loss of her twins but she had her own way of coping and in many ways she coped better than her partner, Jamie and her teenage son, Dougie. It could have been seen as a strange method but to me it was poignant, private and special. Something just for her.
I found this to be an absolutely fascinating novel. It was different to anything else I have read. I thought the storyline was balanced with neither the gothic or crime element overpowering each other. When I have read a novel with a legend or historical aspect before I have had to spend a lot of time on google, wanting to know more about the area and legend but all I needed to know this time was how to pronounce Feannag Dhubh. This isn’t a criticism, just an observation that I wanted to concentrate on the novel rather than getting sidetracked.
This novel worked well as a standalone but I would love to read more about Martha
March 22, 2024
WOW what a spellbinding debut this turned out to be. Crow Moon is a menacing and darkly sinister modern gothic thriller steeped in Scottish folklore. Set in the fictional village of Strathbran Suzy Aspley has created a village that has a powerful effect on the story and adds to the dark, mysterious, and fearful atmosphere tenfold.
After the death of her twin sons in a tragic house fire, Martha Strangeways, an ex-journalist, is consumed by grief. Dougie is Martha’s teenage son, whose friend Fraser is found murdered with a creepy poem about crows tattooed on his back. Retired journalist Martha founds herself drawn into the investigation. The characters in the story are well-drawn and diverse. I particularly liked Martha, who doggedly plants herself in the middle of the investigation.
In the small claustrophobic community, paranoia and distrust become intertwined as the number of potential suspects for the murder increases and long buried village secrets are revealed. The sense of foreboding amplifies with every page turn as another of Dougie’s friends vanishes.
Suzy Aspley grief and long term psychological damage both have a large part to play in this sorrowful tale. Crow Moon is a wonderfully atmospheric and compelling novel and a MUST read for gothic thriller fans. Personally, I can’t wait to see where the author takes Martha next.
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After the death of her twin sons in a tragic house fire, Martha Strangeways, an ex-journalist, is consumed by grief. Dougie is Martha’s teenage son, whose friend Fraser is found murdered with a creepy poem about crows tattooed on his back. Retired journalist Martha founds herself drawn into the investigation. The characters in the story are well-drawn and diverse. I particularly liked Martha, who doggedly plants herself in the middle of the investigation.
In the small claustrophobic community, paranoia and distrust become intertwined as the number of potential suspects for the murder increases and long buried village secrets are revealed. The sense of foreboding amplifies with every page turn as another of Dougie’s friends vanishes.
Suzy Aspley grief and long term psychological damage both have a large part to play in this sorrowful tale. Crow Moon is a wonderfully atmospheric and compelling novel and a MUST read for gothic thriller fans. Personally, I can’t wait to see where the author takes Martha next.
You can follow me at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
July 18, 2025
All set in a rural village in Scotland this debut had a promised dark gothic undertone which is what initially appealed to me. I enjoyed this but it did take me a while to settle in. I found this atmospheric but also heavily saturated with a dark oppressive vibe. Because of that it could feel rather gloomy as there was little to break up or lighten the mood. Its well written and told from multiple POV’s but the main narrater here is Martha. Genre wise it’s a crime Mystery involving folklore, superstition and old legends.
When a local lad goes missing and is later discovered deceased with an ancient verse transcribed in ink on his back Martha an investigate reporter with a tragic backstory thinks there may be more to the story than first appears. The dead teenager was also best friends with her son Dougie and she worries that he could also now be in danger. Collaborating with the cop in charge DI Summers leads Martha down a rabbit hole and as events begin to escalate the danger moves even closer to home.
There were few surprises and I did guess the outcome. It was quite slow in pace and did take a while to get going but based on this I would definitely read this author again in the future. I liked it but didn’t love it. This isn’t an in your face shock value type of narration rather this relies on its ambience and atmospheric moodiness. This is more for those readers who like the scene set and a more subtle approach to their crime fiction so it was probably a bit tamer than what I usually prefer to read. Overall though it was a decent debut if a little predictable and slow.
When a local lad goes missing and is later discovered deceased with an ancient verse transcribed in ink on his back Martha an investigate reporter with a tragic backstory thinks there may be more to the story than first appears. The dead teenager was also best friends with her son Dougie and she worries that he could also now be in danger. Collaborating with the cop in charge DI Summers leads Martha down a rabbit hole and as events begin to escalate the danger moves even closer to home.
There were few surprises and I did guess the outcome. It was quite slow in pace and did take a while to get going but based on this I would definitely read this author again in the future. I liked it but didn’t love it. This isn’t an in your face shock value type of narration rather this relies on its ambience and atmospheric moodiness. This is more for those readers who like the scene set and a more subtle approach to their crime fiction so it was probably a bit tamer than what I usually prefer to read. Overall though it was a decent debut if a little predictable and slow.
March 14, 2024
I always love a mystery with a spooky or folklore type theme to it, so I was eager to get stuck into Crow Moon.
Martha Strangeways is struggling after the death of her twin sons in a terrible house fire. She still had one son left, Dougie, but their joint grief and his teenage years have put a strain on their relationship. When Dougie's friend Fraser goes missing, Martha feels a stirring of her old journalist self starts to appear. She finds the poor boy dead inked with a strange poem and feels the urge to investigate.
Crow Moon is an atmospheric tale that had a Gothic literature feel to it, laced with tension, mystery, and themes of grief.
You can't help but feel for Martha losing her boys at such a young age and effectively having her life ripped away from her overnight. It was nice to see her character coming back to herself, slowly but surely, and that dogged determination to solve Fraser's case.
Child loss is a heavy theme throughout the book, so just be aware of this before you go into it, if that could be upsetting for you.
The mystery that unpins the entire story is really strong, but I guessed who the killer was a good way before the end of the book.
A brilliantly dark and ethereal debut. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Martha Strangeways is struggling after the death of her twin sons in a terrible house fire. She still had one son left, Dougie, but their joint grief and his teenage years have put a strain on their relationship. When Dougie's friend Fraser goes missing, Martha feels a stirring of her old journalist self starts to appear. She finds the poor boy dead inked with a strange poem and feels the urge to investigate.
Crow Moon is an atmospheric tale that had a Gothic literature feel to it, laced with tension, mystery, and themes of grief.
You can't help but feel for Martha losing her boys at such a young age and effectively having her life ripped away from her overnight. It was nice to see her character coming back to herself, slowly but surely, and that dogged determination to solve Fraser's case.
Child loss is a heavy theme throughout the book, so just be aware of this before you go into it, if that could be upsetting for you.
The mystery that unpins the entire story is really strong, but I guessed who the killer was a good way before the end of the book.
A brilliantly dark and ethereal debut. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
August 25, 2024
Would have been an easy 5 star if I didn’t get so bored in the middle of this but the last 50 pages made it pull through because of how much suspense Ashley created! I didn’t know what I was getting myself in for when I picked this mystery book up in Toppings-it’s only description was ‘yeah, rural scotland is just like that’ which was enough for me to grab it. Really think folk horror/thrillers are a sub genre of literature I absolutely love and will be reading more and more now. also the fact this is Aspley’s debut novel is astounding?! slay girly pop!
March 15, 2024
A solid and interesting debut novel which started off a little slow for me but quickly upped the pace.
Hard to read in some places but intriguing nonetheless, I found Crow Moon to be a fairly well written thriller with a hint of supernatural, Martha was a good character and I would like to learn more about her.
The other characters had their parts and played them well, I would read more from this author.
Hard to read in some places but intriguing nonetheless, I found Crow Moon to be a fairly well written thriller with a hint of supernatural, Martha was a good character and I would like to learn more about her.
The other characters had their parts and played them well, I would read more from this author.
April 21, 2024
Aspley really knows how to write an atmospheric novel and successfully avoids the tropes that come with a modern crime thriller.
The central character Martha Strangeways, discovers the body of a teenager. The body is tattooed with a poem alluding to the Crow Moon (The last full moon of winter) and when another missing teenager's body is found, Strangeways with the help of D I Derek Summers uncover a dark secret in the village which leads to a taut, thrilling end.
Aspley has a real feel for dialogue and characterisation and creates a gradual tension as the story progresses. Her style reminded me of James Herbert and Angela Carter; great attention to detail and well placed threats, but keeps the overwhelming gothic foreshadowing under tight control.
Recommended.
The central character Martha Strangeways, discovers the body of a teenager. The body is tattooed with a poem alluding to the Crow Moon (The last full moon of winter) and when another missing teenager's body is found, Strangeways with the help of D I Derek Summers uncover a dark secret in the village which leads to a taut, thrilling end.
Aspley has a real feel for dialogue and characterisation and creates a gradual tension as the story progresses. Her style reminded me of James Herbert and Angela Carter; great attention to detail and well placed threats, but keeps the overwhelming gothic foreshadowing under tight control.
Recommended.
July 18, 2024
I liked the sound of this book, so I took a chance even though it’s not really one I'd usually pick up but I'm very pleased that I did.The story was filled with plenty of mystery with a supernatural edge and a large dose of folk law.
It was a slow start, but the tension built up nicely and held my attention till the end.
Martha Strangeways is an interesting woman, and I'm looking forward to reading more about her in the next book in this new series.
This was a really good debut novel that took me by surprise with a culprit I didn't suspect at all.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orenda Books/Independent Publishers Group.
It was a slow start, but the tension built up nicely and held my attention till the end.
Martha Strangeways is an interesting woman, and I'm looking forward to reading more about her in the next book in this new series.
This was a really good debut novel that took me by surprise with a culprit I didn't suspect at all.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orenda Books/Independent Publishers Group.
February 11, 2024
Crow Moon is a cracking, suspenseful debut from Suzy Aspley, a book rich in atmosphere and folklore that really pulls your attention from the start. With a chilling kind of tension, the author introduces us to the small town of Strathbran, a town with a dark history and a present day threat. She also introduces us to our latest crime fighting protagonist, Martha Strangeways, a former journalist and mother who finds herself caught up in the investigation into the disappearance of a teenage boy from the town, an investigation which comes too close to home for comfort.
The prologue for this book immediately grabs our attention, introducing a clear sense of dread and an echo of the threat that will feed carefully through the ensuing narrative. Leading readers on a journey which includes potential links to rituals and the supernatural, Suzy Aspley creates a mystery that feels as though it has explanation from both sides of the natural world. The situation that leads to the disappearance of local teenager, Fraser MacDonald, may have their roots very much in reality, but the background, the reasons for his abduction, are far from the normal motives that you find in most crime novels. Tapping into the folklore and legend that informs Scottish history, the story has a gothic edge and a story which kept me completely intrigued.
Martha Strangeways is a great character. Her past is dominated by an overwhelming loss, the death of her twin sons in a house fire a couple of years earlier, an event which led to her withdrawing from her career as an investigative journalist. Bit whilst you can take the girl out of journalism, you can't take journalism out of the girl and her attention is pricked by this missing persons case, especially as Fraser is her son's best friend. I liked her tenacity and her determination to get to the root of the story, even if, at times, she seemed fixated on one particular suspect at the exclusion of all others. She has a natural ability to coerce the story out of others, and whilst at times I did have to wonder at how open the Police were being in providing her information, particularly as she was a witness in the case, I was quickly invested in her and her own investigations.
Suzy Aspley has created a wonderful variety of characters, capturing not only Martha's innate curiosity, but the guarded nature of Martha's son, Dougie, and other potential witnesses to what may be behind the whole story. Add in Martha's best friend, TV Reporter, Orla, a few creepy characters who make the perfect suspects, and a setting which is just remote enough to create that sense of isolation whilst still retaining the feeling of a community rocked by what comes to pass, and it makes for a really engrossing read. Certain scenes are told from the point of view of the perpetrator of the crime, scenes which add a chilling tone to an already brooding narrative. Those are the scenes which really it home. You can see the slow deterioration of their character, and it leads to a series of red herrings which keep the identity of the antagonist perfectly hidden right up to the dramatic, high stakes conclusion.
A brilliant start to this series. There is a lot of potential for this series and this character and I can't wait to see what trouble the author leads Martha Strangeways into next.
The prologue for this book immediately grabs our attention, introducing a clear sense of dread and an echo of the threat that will feed carefully through the ensuing narrative. Leading readers on a journey which includes potential links to rituals and the supernatural, Suzy Aspley creates a mystery that feels as though it has explanation from both sides of the natural world. The situation that leads to the disappearance of local teenager, Fraser MacDonald, may have their roots very much in reality, but the background, the reasons for his abduction, are far from the normal motives that you find in most crime novels. Tapping into the folklore and legend that informs Scottish history, the story has a gothic edge and a story which kept me completely intrigued.
Martha Strangeways is a great character. Her past is dominated by an overwhelming loss, the death of her twin sons in a house fire a couple of years earlier, an event which led to her withdrawing from her career as an investigative journalist. Bit whilst you can take the girl out of journalism, you can't take journalism out of the girl and her attention is pricked by this missing persons case, especially as Fraser is her son's best friend. I liked her tenacity and her determination to get to the root of the story, even if, at times, she seemed fixated on one particular suspect at the exclusion of all others. She has a natural ability to coerce the story out of others, and whilst at times I did have to wonder at how open the Police were being in providing her information, particularly as she was a witness in the case, I was quickly invested in her and her own investigations.
Suzy Aspley has created a wonderful variety of characters, capturing not only Martha's innate curiosity, but the guarded nature of Martha's son, Dougie, and other potential witnesses to what may be behind the whole story. Add in Martha's best friend, TV Reporter, Orla, a few creepy characters who make the perfect suspects, and a setting which is just remote enough to create that sense of isolation whilst still retaining the feeling of a community rocked by what comes to pass, and it makes for a really engrossing read. Certain scenes are told from the point of view of the perpetrator of the crime, scenes which add a chilling tone to an already brooding narrative. Those are the scenes which really it home. You can see the slow deterioration of their character, and it leads to a series of red herrings which keep the identity of the antagonist perfectly hidden right up to the dramatic, high stakes conclusion.
A brilliant start to this series. There is a lot of potential for this series and this character and I can't wait to see what trouble the author leads Martha Strangeways into next.
July 11, 2024
I received an ARC of this book.
I did not like this book--it was not good. It was supposed to be a creepy suspense thriller. It read like a cozy mystery trying to be an eerie supernatural-tinged thriller. And it didn't work. The main character was unlikable because I could not connect with her; there was not enough characterization due to way too much telling and not enough showing. I got bored and I won't read any more in this series.
I did not like this book--it was not good. It was supposed to be a creepy suspense thriller. It read like a cozy mystery trying to be an eerie supernatural-tinged thriller. And it didn't work. The main character was unlikable because I could not connect with her; there was not enough characterization due to way too much telling and not enough showing. I got bored and I won't read any more in this series.
March 18, 2024
2.5 Ok mystery (even though it was a bit too obvious what was going on - the red herrings were very obvious, why the boy calls him by the wrong name was a bit too ex machina type of red herring, simpla silly ) and atmospheric, but not enough character depth or development, most characters we didn’t get to know at all. And I really, really didn’t like Orla.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2024
This book is set in central Scotland with the main character as a retired journalist Martha Strangeways. This is a thriller with a hint of the supernatural. A teenage boy is found murdered, then a teenage girl disappears. As both victims were school friends of her son Martha fears for her son's safety.
It's not a bad read but I did not find the characters nor the plot believable.
It's not a bad read but I did not find the characters nor the plot believable.
March 17, 2024
As soon as I read the blurb for Suzy Aspley’s debut thriller, I knew this would probably be yet another author in the Orenda stable that I would end up adding to my ‘must buy’ list. And sure enough, Crow Moon – with it’s page-turning combination of folklore, mystery, and murder – did not disappoint!
Set in the small Scottish village of Strathbran, Crow Moon opens with former investigative journalist Martha Strangeways struggling to find her purpose in life following the death of her infant twins in a house fire. When local lad Fraser MacDonald goes missing, Martha is desperate to help in any way she can. But when she stumbles across Fraser’s mutilated body in the woods, Martha finds herself drawn into a far larger case than she anticipated. One that resonates with the folk tales of shape-shifting witches, dark rituals, and moonlit nights that have been whispered through Strathbran for centuries. When another teenager goes missing, Martha teams up with DI Derek Summers in a desperate attempt to stop old crimes being repeated before the Crow Moon – the last full moon of winter – rises.
As befits a tale laden with atmosphere, Crow Moon gets off to a slightly slower start than your average thriller. Suzy Aspley takes her time introducing the reader to Martha, as well as to the remote community of Strathbran. It’s important scene-setting that, rather than detract from the novel’s plot, establishes the atmosphere and introduces the book’s key players whilst slowly developing the tension before dropping the proverbial bombshell (in this case, the body of the missing teenager, Fraser MacDonald) and letting the repercussions of that play out within the small community. It reminded me more than once of the first series of ITV’s Broadchurch and I think fans of that kind of ‘slow burn’ detective thriller will find a lot to enjoy here.
Another way in which Crow Moon reminded me of dramas like Broadchurch and The Killing is in its focus upon the interpersonal relationships of the main character. Martha Strangeways is, at the outset of the novel, a woman haunted by both guilt and grief and Crow Moon is as much an exploration of her psychology as it is a murder mystery. Coupled with the tragic deaths of her own twins, Fraser’s disappearance brings tensions in Martha’s relationship with her partner, Jamie, and her teenage son, Dougie, to the fore, especially once it becomes apparent that Dougie and Fraser may have shared more secrets than the occasional cheeky cigarette.
There were a couple of times when I wondered whether the police would have been quite so forthcoming with Martha about the investigation. Given she’s both a key witness and a tenacious investigative reporter by trade, they’re surprisingly loose with information around her! But plenty of other crime novels play fast and loose with established police/private investigator relationships and Crow Moon does it so well that I’ll give it a pass. Indeed, the partnership between Martha and DI Derek Summers is nicely established with Martha’s more ‘off the book’ methods contrasting nicely with Derek’s more conventional approach. As this promises to be the first in a series, it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.
The gothic elements are injected really well into a story that is laden with atmosphere. Occasional chapters told from the perspective of the killer are suitably unsettling, as are the sporadic insertions from ‘The Book of Shadows’. I also liked the fact that contemporary Strathbran is, despite its remote location and gothic heritage, depicted as an ordinary everyday community. Yes, the residents can spin a yarn or two about half-forgotten rituals but they’re not the stereotypical insular types so often found in gothic fiction. Instead Suzy Aspley gives the reader a compelling portrayal of a close-knit community torn asunder by the suspicion that follows in the wake of tragedy.
A riveting contemporary crime thriller that is laden with gothic atmosphere and packed with tension, Crow Moon is an assured and accomplished debut to what promises to be an exciting new series and comes thoroughly recommended to anyone who enjoys their crime novels mixed with just a hint of something more macabre.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Set in the small Scottish village of Strathbran, Crow Moon opens with former investigative journalist Martha Strangeways struggling to find her purpose in life following the death of her infant twins in a house fire. When local lad Fraser MacDonald goes missing, Martha is desperate to help in any way she can. But when she stumbles across Fraser’s mutilated body in the woods, Martha finds herself drawn into a far larger case than she anticipated. One that resonates with the folk tales of shape-shifting witches, dark rituals, and moonlit nights that have been whispered through Strathbran for centuries. When another teenager goes missing, Martha teams up with DI Derek Summers in a desperate attempt to stop old crimes being repeated before the Crow Moon – the last full moon of winter – rises.
As befits a tale laden with atmosphere, Crow Moon gets off to a slightly slower start than your average thriller. Suzy Aspley takes her time introducing the reader to Martha, as well as to the remote community of Strathbran. It’s important scene-setting that, rather than detract from the novel’s plot, establishes the atmosphere and introduces the book’s key players whilst slowly developing the tension before dropping the proverbial bombshell (in this case, the body of the missing teenager, Fraser MacDonald) and letting the repercussions of that play out within the small community. It reminded me more than once of the first series of ITV’s Broadchurch and I think fans of that kind of ‘slow burn’ detective thriller will find a lot to enjoy here.
Another way in which Crow Moon reminded me of dramas like Broadchurch and The Killing is in its focus upon the interpersonal relationships of the main character. Martha Strangeways is, at the outset of the novel, a woman haunted by both guilt and grief and Crow Moon is as much an exploration of her psychology as it is a murder mystery. Coupled with the tragic deaths of her own twins, Fraser’s disappearance brings tensions in Martha’s relationship with her partner, Jamie, and her teenage son, Dougie, to the fore, especially once it becomes apparent that Dougie and Fraser may have shared more secrets than the occasional cheeky cigarette.
There were a couple of times when I wondered whether the police would have been quite so forthcoming with Martha about the investigation. Given she’s both a key witness and a tenacious investigative reporter by trade, they’re surprisingly loose with information around her! But plenty of other crime novels play fast and loose with established police/private investigator relationships and Crow Moon does it so well that I’ll give it a pass. Indeed, the partnership between Martha and DI Derek Summers is nicely established with Martha’s more ‘off the book’ methods contrasting nicely with Derek’s more conventional approach. As this promises to be the first in a series, it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.
The gothic elements are injected really well into a story that is laden with atmosphere. Occasional chapters told from the perspective of the killer are suitably unsettling, as are the sporadic insertions from ‘The Book of Shadows’. I also liked the fact that contemporary Strathbran is, despite its remote location and gothic heritage, depicted as an ordinary everyday community. Yes, the residents can spin a yarn or two about half-forgotten rituals but they’re not the stereotypical insular types so often found in gothic fiction. Instead Suzy Aspley gives the reader a compelling portrayal of a close-knit community torn asunder by the suspicion that follows in the wake of tragedy.
A riveting contemporary crime thriller that is laden with gothic atmosphere and packed with tension, Crow Moon is an assured and accomplished debut to what promises to be an exciting new series and comes thoroughly recommended to anyone who enjoys their crime novels mixed with just a hint of something more macabre.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
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