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Tony Crow Mystery Series #1
Flight of the Crow
One December evening in Minneapolis, former soldier and police officer, Tony Crow, has been shot on duty. Sustaining severe injuries, he reluctantly takes early retirement from the police force. Estranged from his ex-wife and young son, but desperate to return to their affections, Crow tries to rebuild his life. In a struggle to regain his former independence, strength and purpose, he decides on a career as a private investigator.
To bring some muscle to the operation, Crow teams up with his old school friend and former college football player, Don Hanson. Don’s colorful personality contrasts with Crow’s no-nonsense approach to make a unique team.
Like most new companies, business starts slowly but then quickly takes flight when a public figure hires him to find a missing person. Find a missing person? Simple enough, especially with his experience, but it soon becomes apparent that they're out of their depth.
Tony Crow pits his small team against a formidable opposition, as he becomes aware of dark secrets and hidden agendas that could bring them down without a trace, and affect the future of America.
To bring some muscle to the operation, Crow teams up with his old school friend and former college football player, Don Hanson. Don’s colorful personality contrasts with Crow’s no-nonsense approach to make a unique team.
Like most new companies, business starts slowly but then quickly takes flight when a public figure hires him to find a missing person. Find a missing person? Simple enough, especially with his experience, but it soon becomes apparent that they're out of their depth.
Tony Crow pits his small team against a formidable opposition, as he becomes aware of dark secrets and hidden agendas that could bring them down without a trace, and affect the future of America.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2014
862 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Howard A. Schwartz
8 books33 followersI currently live in Austin, Texas with my wife Margaret, and our dog, Bailey. We moved here in 2010 from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I've always loved to read books, even when I was in grade school. I enjoyed the way a good novel could sweep you away from your reality and drop you in someone else's. I never had enough time to spend writing until an unfortunate illness forced me into an early retirement, but you know how the old saying goes, when fate hands you a lemon...
My favorite authors are; James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Craig Johnson, Lawrence Saunders, just to name a few.
Flight of the Crow is the third novel that I've finished, but the first that has been published. It's the story of Tony Crow, a private investigator and his assistant, Don Hanson.
The second Tony Crow mystery; Eye of the Crow has now also been published.
I've always loved to read books, even when I was in grade school. I enjoyed the way a good novel could sweep you away from your reality and drop you in someone else's. I never had enough time to spend writing until an unfortunate illness forced me into an early retirement, but you know how the old saying goes, when fate hands you a lemon...
My favorite authors are; James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Craig Johnson, Lawrence Saunders, just to name a few.
Flight of the Crow is the third novel that I've finished, but the first that has been published. It's the story of Tony Crow, a private investigator and his assistant, Don Hanson.
The second Tony Crow mystery; Eye of the Crow has now also been published.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 28, 2014
This is a really good old school detective novel well worth reading. Tony Crow was forced to take a medical retirement after being shot in the line of duty as a police officer. One of his first cases is when the lieutenant governor hires him to find a former lover. But all is not as it seems. Schwartz's writing is like a clean cut Raymond Chandler or Mickey Spillane. I had trouble putting this book down. This was a free review copy from the author but is worth the money spent to buy a copy.
March 8, 2024
I received an electronic copy of the first of this private eye series from DigitalBookSpot and the authors, Howard A. and Margaret Schwartz. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Flight of the Crow of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am excited to add Howard Schwartz to my preferred authors. The Schwartz family writes a tight mystery with personable characters and classic bad guys. This is a series I will binge on, and treasure. Available at reasonable rates, or on Kindle Unlimited at this time.
Set in cold and wet Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, the northern part of the state near the Canadian border, the State of Wisconsin, and the Thumb of Michigan, and a major port on Lake Superior, Tony Crow has his work set out for him in this first of a series of 7 private eye mysteries. Tony is a sweetie, recently medically retired from the local police following life-altering on-the-job gunshot wounds after nine years of faithful service. Tony lives alone with his little dog Max, a Wire Fox Terrier. He is 4 years divorced from his ex-wife Amanda and the father of nine-year-old son Matthew, of whom he has custody every other weekend. After months of PT and sporting a wicked cane, Tony sets himself up as a private investigator after hiring his friend Don Hanson as his assistant and 50-year-old Shelley Hatcher as his receptionist. Unexpectedly his first case is received almost immediately, with a high-profile client - the Lt. Governor of the State of Minnesota - so they are all tickled and very busy from the get-go. But not tickled for long...
REVIEWED on March 5, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for reviews on B&N or Kobo.
Set in cold and wet Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, the northern part of the state near the Canadian border, the State of Wisconsin, and the Thumb of Michigan, and a major port on Lake Superior, Tony Crow has his work set out for him in this first of a series of 7 private eye mysteries. Tony is a sweetie, recently medically retired from the local police following life-altering on-the-job gunshot wounds after nine years of faithful service. Tony lives alone with his little dog Max, a Wire Fox Terrier. He is 4 years divorced from his ex-wife Amanda and the father of nine-year-old son Matthew, of whom he has custody every other weekend. After months of PT and sporting a wicked cane, Tony sets himself up as a private investigator after hiring his friend Don Hanson as his assistant and 50-year-old Shelley Hatcher as his receptionist. Unexpectedly his first case is received almost immediately, with a high-profile client - the Lt. Governor of the State of Minnesota - so they are all tickled and very busy from the get-go. But not tickled for long...
REVIEWED on March 5, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for reviews on B&N or Kobo.
December 17, 2018
A quick enjoyable read
Hats off to Howard Schwartz. There was one trick I caught immediately because I had my first intrusion in 40 years no less by a lifelock service breach. So my raw burn left me feeling Tony was a little bumbling for this age. But quite frankly hate off it plays well as Tony embarks into his new world. I enjoyed the characters.. Fell in love with cuddly Don and want to hug Max. This is a !ight hearted PI crime story that is salted with just a little tragedy. Did you have to? I won't say more or i will be doing spoilers. For those of you that like these books dive in!
Hats off to Howard Schwartz. There was one trick I caught immediately because I had my first intrusion in 40 years no less by a lifelock service breach. So my raw burn left me feeling Tony was a little bumbling for this age. But quite frankly hate off it plays well as Tony embarks into his new world. I enjoyed the characters.. Fell in love with cuddly Don and want to hug Max. This is a !ight hearted PI crime story that is salted with just a little tragedy. Did you have to? I won't say more or i will be doing spoilers. For those of you that like these books dive in!
November 18, 2018
Very enjoyable
I really liked this book, it was very enjoyable. It has good depth characters with interesting backstorys. A great plot involving politics, I always enjoy a book more when I can learn something I didn’t know and I learnt some interesting and not so good things in this book, all true though. I found it to be written in an easy to follow style that added to my enjoyment. I just love don’s character and look forward to seeing Shelly’s character development as well. A good clean read to be enjoyed.
I really liked this book, it was very enjoyable. It has good depth characters with interesting backstorys. A great plot involving politics, I always enjoy a book more when I can learn something I didn’t know and I learnt some interesting and not so good things in this book, all true though. I found it to be written in an easy to follow style that added to my enjoyment. I just love don’s character and look forward to seeing Shelly’s character development as well. A good clean read to be enjoyed.
November 12, 2018
Good story
It is a good story not great but good. Tony is way to cautious. I wanted to smack him a couple of times. Story has everything except drugs and gambling in it. His friend and assistant Don was a great character. Smart funny intelligent and very capable. At times I thought Tony was a dumb ass. Not doing things the way I would have. Good thing he didn't listen to me because he was right. YES, I often talk to book characters. Don't judge me please.
It is a good story not great but good. Tony is way to cautious. I wanted to smack him a couple of times. Story has everything except drugs and gambling in it. His friend and assistant Don was a great character. Smart funny intelligent and very capable. At times I thought Tony was a dumb ass. Not doing things the way I would have. Good thing he didn't listen to me because he was right. YES, I often talk to book characters. Don't judge me please.
December 26, 2018
DIRE. I thought the set up was interesting and so downloaded the rest. I found it *unbelievably* poorly written and plotted, and the only vaguely interesting detail was so thuddingly overdone that any reader even one-quarter awake would have picked it up long before the idiot protagonist did. I won't be going on with this series.
December 27, 2018
Two stars might be a little high. Not sure why I finished it. Plot was weak and obvious as were the characters. Could use a good editor and some writing lessons. Don (Tony's assistant) was more interesting than Tony. At least it was free. I guess you get what you pay for.
September 1, 2023
free ebook
he was a cop who got wounded in a shoot out, his partner killed. he killed the husband of a domestic attack
so he became a pi
a top political man made him sign a nondisclosure. he was looking for the woman he had a affair with who ran away, just to make sure she was ok. his wife was ok with this
he saw men following him as he was working on different cases
he hired a old friend to help out, he went with him to tx looking for the missing woman
they found her but she told him the lt gov was a bad man. she had downloaded info on him. he was after her
she gave them a copy before she was murdered
the pi didnt know the lt gov had put tracking and listening app on his cell. they abducted his son but gave him back as a warning
they kidnapped him to get the info back and stop him from going to the press
he managed to give the message to his friend, who got the police to rescue him
he was a cop who got wounded in a shoot out, his partner killed. he killed the husband of a domestic attack
so he became a pi
a top political man made him sign a nondisclosure. he was looking for the woman he had a affair with who ran away, just to make sure she was ok. his wife was ok with this
he saw men following him as he was working on different cases
he hired a old friend to help out, he went with him to tx looking for the missing woman
they found her but she told him the lt gov was a bad man. she had downloaded info on him. he was after her
she gave them a copy before she was murdered
the pi didnt know the lt gov had put tracking and listening app on his cell. they abducted his son but gave him back as a warning
they kidnapped him to get the info back and stop him from going to the press
he managed to give the message to his friend, who got the police to rescue him
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2021
For a former cop, he was a bit naive for a PI, but he's learning. I found the writing was fine...it had a conversational tone to it. I did find a few glitches, such as using "infidelity" when it should have been "infertility". A few editing typos: "experienced" instead of "experience" was used... a missing verb was skipped. Tony was slow to realize that his cell phone can be tracked and conversations recorded. He looked for tracking devices on his car but never considered his cell phone. Four years in the military and nine years as a policeman should have sharpened his skills to notice that he was being followed several times. But overall I am willing to read the next book to see if Tony has gotten better at the private investigator thing.
January 24, 2022
Tony Crow had been a Marine, then a police officer for Minneapolis Police for 6 years before a routine domestic disturbance call left his partner dead and Tony crippled. After an extensive rehab he accepted a disability pension from the police department and decided to become a private investigator. Tony opens his new office, hires a "Girl Friday", Shelley, and an assistant, Don Hanson.
Tony's first case is to help a single mother, Jo, collect back child support from her ex. Jo has no money to pay him up front and no one else would talk to her. He takes the case and Don helps get Jo's child support.
Tony's second case is to find the lieutenant governor's mistress! She got upset when he broke up with her and he just wants to apologize. But sometimes things are NOT what they seem! Tony and Don are soon on their way to Texas and finding they are being followed. But how is that possible? What is going on?
I enjoyed reading Flight of the Crow and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I really like Don and am looking forward to learning more about Shelley.
Tony's first case is to help a single mother, Jo, collect back child support from her ex. Jo has no money to pay him up front and no one else would talk to her. He takes the case and Don helps get Jo's child support.
Tony's second case is to find the lieutenant governor's mistress! She got upset when he broke up with her and he just wants to apologize. But sometimes things are NOT what they seem! Tony and Don are soon on their way to Texas and finding they are being followed. But how is that possible? What is going on?
I enjoyed reading Flight of the Crow and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I really like Don and am looking forward to learning more about Shelley.
March 8, 2023
This storyline didn’t know if it was in the 1980’s or the more current times we’re living in because they have the internet, cell phones and etc.. but the private eye would still use a map and write directions down, while using technology. It made zero sense.
I’ll say the book started off fairly fine but it had a lot of things that weren’t necessarily needed.
The characters were likable and I did like the description of the book but it was just off. You’re either writing a book with technology or you’re not. It can’t be both in a whodunnit book like this type.
I’ll say the book started off fairly fine but it had a lot of things that weren’t necessarily needed.
The characters were likable and I did like the description of the book but it was just off. You’re either writing a book with technology or you’re not. It can’t be both in a whodunnit book like this type.
November 14, 2018
Mystery solved
I gave this a 5 rating because it kept me thoroughly interested. PI Crow did put himself in some very bad situations even with me saying "no no don't do that". There is some injustice that is dealt out and to the wrong person. Highly recommend to anyone who likes mysteries.
I gave this a 5 rating because it kept me thoroughly interested. PI Crow did put himself in some very bad situations even with me saying "no no don't do that". There is some injustice that is dealt out and to the wrong person. Highly recommend to anyone who likes mysteries.
November 16, 2018
Exciting mystery story
Tony Crow used to be a cop, until he got shot in the line of duty. He was severely injured, and started a Private Investigator practice. He got a great referral, and it was off to a good start to find someone. Then things got dicey. A lot of action, and some bizarre encounters. I enjoyed this story and will read more of Tony Crow.
Tony Crow used to be a cop, until he got shot in the line of duty. He was severely injured, and started a Private Investigator practice. He got a great referral, and it was off to a good start to find someone. Then things got dicey. A lot of action, and some bizarre encounters. I enjoyed this story and will read more of Tony Crow.
March 22, 2020
My first Tony crow
First time getting to know tony crow. I liked him and his partner but don was a little too impulsive and aggressive. Not my problem. A good book just flows. This one did. Dialogue makes the action move swiftly. I will be following Tony's endeavors as a .p.i. closely in the future.
First time getting to know tony crow. I liked him and his partner but don was a little too impulsive and aggressive. Not my problem. A good book just flows. This one did. Dialogue makes the action move swiftly. I will be following Tony's endeavors as a .p.i. closely in the future.
November 12, 2018
Intelligence and Empathy
Tony Crow shows both his empathy and intelligence as he investigates the details of a woman's going missing. He discovers a murder and he received help from another woman on his way to the truth.
Tony Crow shows both his empathy and intelligence as he investigates the details of a woman's going missing. He discovers a murder and he received help from another woman on his way to the truth.
November 13, 2018
Intriguing, rapid paced thriller
Fast-moving from the first word. Great plot, with many twists and turns. Believable characters. Enjoyed the story using the weather as scenario background.
Fast-moving from the first word. Great plot, with many twists and turns. Believable characters. Enjoyed the story using the weather as scenario background.
November 13, 2018
Page turning mystery. Very well written . Easy to read but it keeps building
So you keep reading..You enjoy the characters and how they interact.. I would read future books of his. Plus there is some info on apps that I was not aware of
So you keep reading..You enjoy the characters and how they interact.. I would read future books of his. Plus there is some info on apps that I was not aware of
November 15, 2018
Good but predictable
This it's a good read and kept me interested. The Tony Crow character doesn't seem as sharp as an ex cop should be. The plot twists were obvious and I felt at times that I was ahead of the main character in figuring out the story. Not bad for a first book.
This it's a good read and kept me interested. The Tony Crow character doesn't seem as sharp as an ex cop should be. The plot twists were obvious and I felt at times that I was ahead of the main character in figuring out the story. Not bad for a first book.
November 27, 2018
Easy. Read
Liked the way the story flowed. Seemed Don and Tony we're a good team. There could have been
more " pay back ". Liked the length, eight hours is too long to tell the same story in four.
Liked the way the story flowed. Seemed Don and Tony we're a good team. There could have been
more " pay back ". Liked the length, eight hours is too long to tell the same story in four.
November 28, 2018
Tony Crow was severely injured as a cop and could not return to active duty, so he chose to be a private detective. An early case takes him , his family and friends into great danger as he tries to thwart a big important man with money to spare
November 30, 2018
Lucky Tony
P. I.Tony Crow is lucky to be alive and lucky to have a career. He stumbled through this whole book got a poor victim killed his son kidnapped and scored of other dumb things. Hope the next book is better
P. I.Tony Crow is lucky to be alive and lucky to have a career. He stumbled through this whole book got a poor victim killed his son kidnapped and scored of other dumb things. Hope the next book is better
December 6, 2018
Smart and intriguing hero
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and found the characters both believable and compelling.
While I was impressed with the writing, I did have a laugh when I read that someone had been given an "anti-fidelity" medication.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and found the characters both believable and compelling.
While I was impressed with the writing, I did have a laugh when I read that someone had been given an "anti-fidelity" medication.
December 25, 2018
Amazingly detailed investigative thriller.
A great thriller, once you start, you are hooked. Superb. But story somewhat strays at some points and leads. Any way the book gives you some insight of flashy, greedy double face politicians.
A great thriller, once you start, you are hooked. Superb. But story somewhat strays at some points and leads. Any way the book gives you some insight of flashy, greedy double face politicians.
January 13, 2019
An interesting new character
I enjoyed this story, particularly because I've lived in Mpls & like reading mysteries in familiar locations. Tony Crow is a great new character. I'll go on to #2.
I enjoyed this story, particularly because I've lived in Mpls & like reading mysteries in familiar locations. Tony Crow is a great new character. I'll go on to #2.
June 3, 2019
Great book
I enjoyed this book. It was full of action and I loved how Tony and Don interacted. While I'm sick of the retired cop turned private investigator cliche, this one was good.
I enjoyed this book. It was full of action and I loved how Tony and Don interacted. While I'm sick of the retired cop turned private investigator cliche, this one was good.
March 22, 2020
Great Book
Good characters & story plot. There were a few surprises; but some were predictable. I liked Tony Crow & his muscle, Don and Secretary. They were both smart and believable. Thank you for the GREAT read. Looking forward to the 2nd book.
Good characters & story plot. There were a few surprises; but some were predictable. I liked Tony Crow & his muscle, Don and Secretary. They were both smart and believable. Thank you for the GREAT read. Looking forward to the 2nd book.
April 8, 2020
Naive hero, amateur baddies
The story was ok and the characters have potential but the ex cop was more than naive which left me frustrated about the overall story. Also the baddies were amateurish.
The story was ok and the characters have potential but the ex cop was more than naive which left me frustrated about the overall story. Also the baddies were amateurish.
October 15, 2022
Easy read
. I can't believe a cop would be that stupid to not be suspicious of everything at the point where they snatched him.Also getting the woman killed was his stupidity.
Liked his treatment of ex wife and kid.Not interesting.
. I can't believe a cop would be that stupid to not be suspicious of everything at the point where they snatched him.Also getting the woman killed was his stupidity.
Liked his treatment of ex wife and kid.Not interesting.
April 27, 2023
Flight of the Crow: A Tony Crow Mystery Series, Book 1
Wonderful realistic characters and very descriptive scenery. A believable story line, that could have come from news headlines. Looking forward to the next book in this series. Recommend!
Wonderful realistic characters and very descriptive scenery. A believable story line, that could have come from news headlines. Looking forward to the next book in this series. Recommend!
November 12, 2018
Great mystery
One of those stories where I'm trying to figure out how the next action will play out. Down side is staying up to read what's on the next page.
One of those stories where I'm trying to figure out how the next action will play out. Down side is staying up to read what's on the next page.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews