What do you think?
Crow Investigations: Books 1 & 2
Discover the new star of magical London with the first two books in the bestselling Crow Investigations urban fantasy mystery series.
Omnibus edition The Night Raven and The Silver Mark
--Book 1: The Night Raven
Meet Lydia Crow...
Lydia has always known she has no power, especially next to her infamous and more-than-slightly dodgy family. Which is why she carved her own life as a private investigator far away from London.
When a professional blunder forces her home, the head of the family calls in a favour, and Lydia finds herself investigating the disappearance of her cousin, Maddie.
Soon, Lydia is neck-deep in her new flatmate is a homicidal ghost, the intriguing, but forbidden, DCI Fleet is acting in a distinctly unprofessional manner, and tensions between the old magical families are rising.
The Crows used to rule the roost and rumours claim they are still the strongest.The Silvers have a facility for lying and they run the finest law firm in London.The Pearl family were costermongers and everybody knows that a Pearlie can sell feathers to a bird.The Fox family... Well. The less said about the Fox family the better.For seventy-five years, a truce between the four families has held strong, but could the disappearance of Maddie Crow be the thing to break it?
--
Book 2: The Silver Mark
London is Lydia Crow’s city so when a man is found hanged under Blackfriars Bridge, she takes it personally.
Driven by her desire to improve her fledgling P.I. skills and an innate sense of justice, Lydia investigates. Even when it seems as if the Silver Family might be involved, Lydia refuses to back down.
The Silver Family, who run the finest law firm in London, have a gift for persuasion. In the Bad Old Days it was said they could make a man jump off a roof by convincing him he could fly. But that's all in the past… Isn’t it?
Everybody wants something from Her Uncle Charlie wants her to join the infamous Family Business, her ghostly flatmate wants her to test her power, DCI Fleet wants a relationship, and the Silver Family want her to keep her nose out.
Trouble is, Lydia has never been much good at taking orders. And London in a heatwave is a dangerous place to be...
--
Discover this exciting paranormal mystery series from bestselling author of magical fiction, Sarah Painter, today!
Praise for the
'I'm a huge fan!'
Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels
‘My favourite new urban fantasy series, clever and twisty and deliciously magical, with a shivery sense of wonder that feels utterly grounded in its London setting. Perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Genevieve Cogman or Robert Galbraith!’ Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled and Masks and Shadows
'All my favorite things together- mystery, crime, a sassy female PI and a Magical underworld going on right under Londoner’s noses.'
A.L. Michael
Omnibus edition The Night Raven and The Silver Mark
--Book 1: The Night Raven
Meet Lydia Crow...
Lydia has always known she has no power, especially next to her infamous and more-than-slightly dodgy family. Which is why she carved her own life as a private investigator far away from London.
When a professional blunder forces her home, the head of the family calls in a favour, and Lydia finds herself investigating the disappearance of her cousin, Maddie.
Soon, Lydia is neck-deep in her new flatmate is a homicidal ghost, the intriguing, but forbidden, DCI Fleet is acting in a distinctly unprofessional manner, and tensions between the old magical families are rising.
The Crows used to rule the roost and rumours claim they are still the strongest.The Silvers have a facility for lying and they run the finest law firm in London.The Pearl family were costermongers and everybody knows that a Pearlie can sell feathers to a bird.The Fox family... Well. The less said about the Fox family the better.For seventy-five years, a truce between the four families has held strong, but could the disappearance of Maddie Crow be the thing to break it?
--
Book 2: The Silver Mark
London is Lydia Crow’s city so when a man is found hanged under Blackfriars Bridge, she takes it personally.
Driven by her desire to improve her fledgling P.I. skills and an innate sense of justice, Lydia investigates. Even when it seems as if the Silver Family might be involved, Lydia refuses to back down.
The Silver Family, who run the finest law firm in London, have a gift for persuasion. In the Bad Old Days it was said they could make a man jump off a roof by convincing him he could fly. But that's all in the past… Isn’t it?
Everybody wants something from Her Uncle Charlie wants her to join the infamous Family Business, her ghostly flatmate wants her to test her power, DCI Fleet wants a relationship, and the Silver Family want her to keep her nose out.
Trouble is, Lydia has never been much good at taking orders. And London in a heatwave is a dangerous place to be...
--
Discover this exciting paranormal mystery series from bestselling author of magical fiction, Sarah Painter, today!
Praise for the
'I'm a huge fan!'
Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels
‘My favourite new urban fantasy series, clever and twisty and deliciously magical, with a shivery sense of wonder that feels utterly grounded in its London setting. Perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Genevieve Cogman or Robert Galbraith!’ Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled and Masks and Shadows
'All my favorite things together- mystery, crime, a sassy female PI and a Magical underworld going on right under Londoner’s noses.'
A.L. Michael
472 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2024
About the author
Sarah Painter
63 books955 followersSarah Painter is the author of the bestselling magical novel, The Language of Spells, and its follow-up, The Secrets of Ghosts.
She has written 'book club' fiction with atmospheric settings and historical elements (In The Light of What We See and Beneath The Water), and a 'wonderfully dark and twisty' supernatural thriller, The Lost Girls.
Sarah's latest venture is an exciting new urban fantasy series, Crow Investigations. Yes, she finds it hard to stick to one genre!
Before writing books, Sarah Painter worked as a freelance magazine journalist, blogger and editor, combining this 'career' with amateur child-wrangling (AKA motherhood).
Sarah lives in rural Scotland with her husband and children. She drinks too much tea, loves the work of Joss Whedon, and is the proud owner of a writing shed.
She has written 'book club' fiction with atmospheric settings and historical elements (In The Light of What We See and Beneath The Water), and a 'wonderfully dark and twisty' supernatural thriller, The Lost Girls.
Sarah's latest venture is an exciting new urban fantasy series, Crow Investigations. Yes, she finds it hard to stick to one genre!
Before writing books, Sarah Painter worked as a freelance magazine journalist, blogger and editor, combining this 'career' with amateur child-wrangling (AKA motherhood).
Sarah lives in rural Scotland with her husband and children. She drinks too much tea, loves the work of Joss Whedon, and is the proud owner of a writing shed.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 16, 2025
I picked this up as it was on sale and had Charlaine Harris blurb on it. This is a perfectly fine London-based urban fantasy. In a London where semi-secret magical families operate like mafia with police tacit knowledge, Lydia Crow returns from abroad for a short stay-- or so she thinks.
Without money, she takes up Uncle Charlie's offer of a crash pad, despite not wanting to be swept up into "Family" business. Only, the crash pad is being transformed into a cafe, and there's a ghost in her apartment, and lots of mysteries to untangle with the copper friend she makes who happens to have a lovely dark voice and slender, deft fingers.
While I didn't quite get swept away in the romance (and lots of it happens off screen) I did like the give and play of Lydia dealing with her feelings about Fleet (the copper) as well as her family. Its a homecoming that makes Lydia take stock of who she is and who she wants to be. I also liked the way the story allowed Lydia to make moral decisions about how she was going to handle the intimate secrets of her clients.
I would definitely read on at a later date as this is the kind of series that is a non-intrusive palate cleanser rest in between more heavily emotional books.
Doesn't quite hit the romance button, but definitely the found family and investigation/greater conspiracy fun.
I felt the same way about this as I did WR Gingell's Between series and Tina Gower's Outlier Prophecies.
Without money, she takes up Uncle Charlie's offer of a crash pad, despite not wanting to be swept up into "Family" business. Only, the crash pad is being transformed into a cafe, and there's a ghost in her apartment, and lots of mysteries to untangle with the copper friend she makes who happens to have a lovely dark voice and slender, deft fingers.
While I didn't quite get swept away in the romance (and lots of it happens off screen) I did like the give and play of Lydia dealing with her feelings about Fleet (the copper) as well as her family. Its a homecoming that makes Lydia take stock of who she is and who she wants to be. I also liked the way the story allowed Lydia to make moral decisions about how she was going to handle the intimate secrets of her clients.
I would definitely read on at a later date as this is the kind of series that is a non-intrusive palate cleanser rest in between more heavily emotional books.
Doesn't quite hit the romance button, but definitely the found family and investigation/greater conspiracy fun.
I felt the same way about this as I did WR Gingell's Between series and Tina Gower's Outlier Prophecies.
August 4, 2024
likable characters
Lydia is growing up and getting free. As part of one of four basically royal magical families her life has been controlled by the head of her family. As someone who felt that she had disappointed her family and the magical community and was in many ways considered a failure, it is interesting to see her grow. Can’t wait to find out exactly what magical abilities her boyfriend DCI Fleet has.
Lydia is growing up and getting free. As part of one of four basically royal magical families her life has been controlled by the head of her family. As someone who felt that she had disappointed her family and the magical community and was in many ways considered a failure, it is interesting to see her grow. Can’t wait to find out exactly what magical abilities her boyfriend DCI Fleet has.
August 22, 2024
Well written, I could see the action like a movie in my head.
This is a look at London from a new perspective. Magical abilities, instincts, tenacity, and crime all comes together in this series.
This is a look at London from a new perspective. Magical abilities, instincts, tenacity, and crime all comes together in this series.
September 25, 2024
Better and Better
This story just got better and better.Strange vibes and feelings with some love as well.Murder and mysteries I really love this series.Next please!!!!!!!!!!!Recommended
This story just got better and better.Strange vibes and feelings with some love as well.Murder and mysteries I really love this series.Next please!!!!!!!!!!!Recommended
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews