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A Murder of Crows
The most violent thunderstorm in living memory occurs above a sleepy village on the West Coast of Scotland.
A young couple take shelter in the woods, never to be seen again...
DCI Jack Russell is brought in to investigate. Nearing retirement, he agrees to undertake one last case, which he believes can be solved as a matter of routine.
But what Jack discovers in the forest leads him to the conclusion that he is following in the footsteps of a psychopath who is just getting started. Jack is flung headlong into a race against time to prevent the evolution of a serial killer...
A young couple take shelter in the woods, never to be seen again...
DCI Jack Russell is brought in to investigate. Nearing retirement, he agrees to undertake one last case, which he believes can be solved as a matter of routine.
But what Jack discovers in the forest leads him to the conclusion that he is following in the footsteps of a psychopath who is just getting started. Jack is flung headlong into a race against time to prevent the evolution of a serial killer...
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First published March 27, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
August 21, 2018
*I would like to thank Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review*
My review is honest: I struggled to finish this book... The beginning was promising, however, after some time I started thinking that the characters were not well developed, they lack some traits I expect to spot in a good book. There are some secrets well hidden in the past, personal tragedies and yet... I could not relate to any of them. Rarely give two stars.. they are mainly for the setting and the idea .. were it not for the kindness of Netgalley, I would have left the book unread.....
My review is honest: I struggled to finish this book... The beginning was promising, however, after some time I started thinking that the characters were not well developed, they lack some traits I expect to spot in a good book. There are some secrets well hidden in the past, personal tragedies and yet... I could not relate to any of them. Rarely give two stars.. they are mainly for the setting and the idea .. were it not for the kindness of Netgalley, I would have left the book unread.....
February 27, 2024
EXCERPT: All my senses tell me that this is it. I'm finished. And that's when those words bubbled up from the depths.
I can't recall who said them or why. Either way it doesn't matter now, for it provides scant comfort as I lie here. This story is ending. I'm fucked. And I'm very bitter about it. I loved Caroline. Where's the justice or sense in all this?
ABOUT 'A MURDER OF CROWS': The most violent thunderstorm in living memory occurs above a sleepy village on the West Coast of Scotland.
A young couple take shelter in the woods, never to be seen again...
DCI Jack Russell is brought in to investigate. Nearing retirement, he agrees to undertake one last case, which he believes can be solved as a matter of routine.
But what Jack discovers in the forest leads him to the conclusion that he is following in the footsteps of a psychopath who is just getting started. Jack is flung headlong into a race against time to prevent the evolution of a serial killer...
MY THOUGHTS: A Murder of Crows started out well enough, but it seems the author couldn't quite make up his mind what he was writing. Was A Murder of Crows meant to be a family drama? Romance? A missing persons case? A detective story? A mystery? Horror? A story of child abuse? Of disintegrating mental health? It has elements of all of these, but the execution is mostly splintered, incoherent and, at times, cumbersome.
There's a lot, in fact far too much, in this book that makes no sense. I felt confused and started skimming until something would catch my eye or my imagination. The characters were all, with the exception of Alice, unsettling. Even her carer Helen seems malicious at times. Not one character is rounded out. They are all unhappy, resentful, antagonistic, angry.
Sorry, but I don't like this read at all. On top of everything else, it felt unfinished.
One thing I did get out of this read - a new word or expression - 'tattie-bogle'. If, like me, you aren't au fait with this Scottish word, it is a scarecrow or mannequin.
⭐.5
#AmurderOfCrows #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: As well as being an editor and proofreader, I am also a writer of crime thrillers, science fiction, horror and literary fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Unbound via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Murder of Crows by Ian Skewis. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I can't recall who said them or why. Either way it doesn't matter now, for it provides scant comfort as I lie here. This story is ending. I'm fucked. And I'm very bitter about it. I loved Caroline. Where's the justice or sense in all this?
ABOUT 'A MURDER OF CROWS': The most violent thunderstorm in living memory occurs above a sleepy village on the West Coast of Scotland.
A young couple take shelter in the woods, never to be seen again...
DCI Jack Russell is brought in to investigate. Nearing retirement, he agrees to undertake one last case, which he believes can be solved as a matter of routine.
But what Jack discovers in the forest leads him to the conclusion that he is following in the footsteps of a psychopath who is just getting started. Jack is flung headlong into a race against time to prevent the evolution of a serial killer...
MY THOUGHTS: A Murder of Crows started out well enough, but it seems the author couldn't quite make up his mind what he was writing. Was A Murder of Crows meant to be a family drama? Romance? A missing persons case? A detective story? A mystery? Horror? A story of child abuse? Of disintegrating mental health? It has elements of all of these, but the execution is mostly splintered, incoherent and, at times, cumbersome.
There's a lot, in fact far too much, in this book that makes no sense. I felt confused and started skimming until something would catch my eye or my imagination. The characters were all, with the exception of Alice, unsettling. Even her carer Helen seems malicious at times. Not one character is rounded out. They are all unhappy, resentful, antagonistic, angry.
Sorry, but I don't like this read at all. On top of everything else, it felt unfinished.
One thing I did get out of this read - a new word or expression - 'tattie-bogle'. If, like me, you aren't au fait with this Scottish word, it is a scarecrow or mannequin.
⭐.5
#AmurderOfCrows #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: As well as being an editor and proofreader, I am also a writer of crime thrillers, science fiction, horror and literary fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Unbound via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Murder of Crows by Ian Skewis. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 18, 2017
**4.5 stars**
A Murder Of Crows is a literary crime novel with a beautifully dark and sinister tone to it, within a small claustrophobic setting which is descriptively immersive – I fell into it and didn’t really look up until I was done.
A young couple take shelter in the woods during a harsh storm and then disappear – Jack Russell (brilliantly named!) takes on the case – but this is one that is in no way straightforward, with it’s roots in the past and a village full of secrets. The characters pop – I was especially taken with the way the author tackled Alice, who has dementia – and all of them have an intricately woven history that evolves during the telling. The writing style is classically good with all the elements coming together in a truly unsettling finale.
The plotting was cleverly character and timeline driven to maximum effect, there are twists and turns in the narrative but they are more of character than mystery – the final moments resonate unexpectedly and leave you with a deeply discombobulated feeling of unease. I loved it.
I believe there is a follow up in the works for which I am truly grateful. Detailed, lyrical and imaginatively done, A Murder of Crows was a huge hit for me.
Highly Recommended.
A Murder Of Crows is a literary crime novel with a beautifully dark and sinister tone to it, within a small claustrophobic setting which is descriptively immersive – I fell into it and didn’t really look up until I was done.
A young couple take shelter in the woods during a harsh storm and then disappear – Jack Russell (brilliantly named!) takes on the case – but this is one that is in no way straightforward, with it’s roots in the past and a village full of secrets. The characters pop – I was especially taken with the way the author tackled Alice, who has dementia – and all of them have an intricately woven history that evolves during the telling. The writing style is classically good with all the elements coming together in a truly unsettling finale.
The plotting was cleverly character and timeline driven to maximum effect, there are twists and turns in the narrative but they are more of character than mystery – the final moments resonate unexpectedly and leave you with a deeply discombobulated feeling of unease. I loved it.
I believe there is a follow up in the works for which I am truly grateful. Detailed, lyrical and imaginatively done, A Murder of Crows was a huge hit for me.
Highly Recommended.
June 27, 2017
Started off well. Bogged down in the middle. Then 2/3 in the author seemed to get frustrated with how long it was taking to get anywhere either that or someone else took over the writing as it morphed into a different style, then it was suddenly all over the place with a kind of staccato finish ...and just to top it off a weird prologue thrown in just in case after all that you still weren't sure whodunnit... ah could murder a stiff drink to celebrate finishing it that's for sure!
February 2, 2018
Overdone!
I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Written by Ian Skewis, and published by Unbound, London in 2017, the story is ostensibly about the disappearance of a young couple during a fierce storm near the village of Hobbs Brae, Scotland, and, to a lesser extent, about the police who search for them. Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Jack Russell is about to retire. This will be his very last case as a police officer. His partner, Detective Constable (DC) Colin Clements hates Jack, and even though this will be the very last case the two will work together on, Colin is determined to sabotage Jack’s investigation. The two missing young people are named Alistair Smith and Caroline Baker. Alistair grew up in the village, and his mother, Alice, still lives there. She has dementia.
The story begins with Jack driving down the road to pick up Colin. He has his son (?) in the back seat. A crow approaches the vehicle and dives on it, striking the windshield. Why, one wonders, did the crow do that? Such behavior would be quite abnormal for a crow, wouldn’t it? The story then begins shifting its perspective back and forth between the various characters, including Alice Smith, mother of Alistair Smith, the young man who, along with his pregnant girlfriend, has disappeared during a violent storm, and members of Smith’s neighboring farm family. The farmer’s name is Jerome, his late wife is Elspeth, and their son is Scott. Jerome is a mean drunk who has a hostile and often violent relationship with his son.
The police focus on Jerome as their chief suspect, but are not able to prove anything. We learn that a large pool of blood is found by police, but where did it come from? Perhaps Alice knows. But Alice can’t remember. The plot is extremely convoluted. The story contains a number of inconsistencies. Much of the writing seemed stilted to me, with odd adjectives and adverbs used such as: “He smiled witheringly . . . “ How does one smile “witheringly”?
Jack Russell apparently runs a very “flat” organization. He has three constables reporting to him, but no sergeants or inspectors. At 35% into the book, DCI Jack Russell tells Constable Colin Clements “. . . you are next in line for my job . . .” Actually, that would be really odd if it was true because a Detective Constable is a British police rank that is three levels below that of a Detective Chief Inspector. In fact, it is the very lowest of the police ranks. It seems far-fetched that a promotion could skip two levels of rank and elevate a Constable past the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector and directly to the rank of Chief Inspector, yet that is exactly what the author wants us to believe. He tells us this throughout the book. Another incongruity I noticed was that Detective Constable Clements was clearly the superior of Detective Constables Driscoll and Campbell. In fact, Driscoll calls him “boss” at location #3083 in the Kindle edition of the book. But by location #3567 “Jack named him a DCI.” What? Since when can an officer of any rank promote any other officer to the same rank? Not in any organization I ever heard of. Late in the book, however, we learn that Colin receives confirmation of his promotion to DCI from the Chief Superintendent. Go figure.
At location #2560, the author tells us that Jack moves out of Scott’s “point of view.” Hmm. Perhaps he meant “field” of view, because that is not the same thing as a “point” of view, which is a common literary device and not the scope of one’s vision. He also tells us about Matthew’s “change of tact,” instead of “change of tack.” These kinds of errors should have been caught by good editing.
Even though DCI Jack Russell is supposed to be the protagonist in this novel, by 20% into the book, we know almost nothing at all about him. In fact, it isn’t clear that there is a single protagonist in this story. The perspective shifts from character to character such that it seems that there is no single central character in the story at all. Certainly, it is not Jack Russell.
Late in the story, Jack is in the woods searching for clues at night when he stumbles upon an “abandoned railway station.” But it has a “still-functioning signal head.” It does? Why, if it has been abandoned? Then Jack sees a stag deer that is followed by a doe. Experienced deer hunters will tell you that stags (bucks) and does are not usually seen together except during the rutting season, and when they are, the stag almost never leads, but follows, his does.
At location #2753, we are told that Jack’s vehicle suddenly broke down. We are never told why or how it broke down, or how and when it was repaired (if it ever was), but soon Jack is driving his vehicle again. Only now it’s a car. It’s a bit like the matter of the crows. Their behavior is not normal for such animals. Is this just an a couple of examples of Deus ex machina? We know that crows and Jack’s vehicle are connected somehow because later in the book another crow flies up and lands on the bonnet (hood) of Jack’s car (it is now a car, not a vehicle): “. . . it spread its wings and flapped towards him, landing with a soft clack> of its claws on the bonnet of his car. Jack peered at it menacingly through the windscreen, his distrust of the animal kingdom growing at an unprecedented rate.” Really? Unprecedented? Wow!
At another part of the book, a storm knocks out the electric power in the local hotel. Landlady (innkeeper?) Margaret knows this because when “she reached over to switch the bedside lamp on, it wouldn’t work.” The doorbell, however, still works. It rings at least twice before Margaret is able to answer it. When she gets to the front door to answer it, the lights suddenly come back on. Maybe it’s magic.
A passage about Colin’s drunken reverie at the end of Chapter Forty-Six is written in the style of a high-school student: “Just then there was a knock at the door. Startled, he hid his whisky bottle and the glass under the desk and said gruffly, ‘Come in.’ The door opened. It was Jack.” OMG! Never mind that a constable would hardly be assigned to an office with a door that closed. He would either be sitting in an open “bull pen” type area, or in a cubicle. That’s bad enough, but this writing style struck me as being amateurish.
To me, the book seemed overdone and pretentious. It contains information that seems extraneous and irrelevant to the overall plot (e.g., an abandoned railway station). Much of the writing is stilted. The plot is convoluted to the point of being chaotic. The editing is not very good. The story is not a police procedural. It is not a murder mystery. It is not thriller, even though it claims to be. What is it? That’s a tough one. I have no idea. Perhaps it is a fantasy crossed with a psychological mystery. At any rate, in spite of some surprises at the end of the book (in the Epilogue), I found it unsatisfying. Loose ends were left untied. (Whatever happens, ultimately, to Jack Russell, for example?) I didn’t like this book and can’t really recommend it much. I will, however, award two stars.
The story begins with Jack driving down the road to pick up Colin. He has his son (?) in the back seat. A crow approaches the vehicle and dives on it, striking the windshield. Why, one wonders, did the crow do that? Such behavior would be quite abnormal for a crow, wouldn’t it? The story then begins shifting its perspective back and forth between the various characters, including Alice Smith, mother of Alistair Smith, the young man who, along with his pregnant girlfriend, has disappeared during a violent storm, and members of Smith’s neighboring farm family. The farmer’s name is Jerome, his late wife is Elspeth, and their son is Scott. Jerome is a mean drunk who has a hostile and often violent relationship with his son.
The police focus on Jerome as their chief suspect, but are not able to prove anything. We learn that a large pool of blood is found by police, but where did it come from? Perhaps Alice knows. But Alice can’t remember. The plot is extremely convoluted. The story contains a number of inconsistencies. Much of the writing seemed stilted to me, with odd adjectives and adverbs used such as: “He smiled witheringly . . . “ How does one smile “witheringly”?
Jack Russell apparently runs a very “flat” organization. He has three constables reporting to him, but no sergeants or inspectors. At 35% into the book, DCI Jack Russell tells Constable Colin Clements “. . . you are next in line for my job . . .” Actually, that would be really odd if it was true because a Detective Constable is a British police rank that is three levels below that of a Detective Chief Inspector. In fact, it is the very lowest of the police ranks. It seems far-fetched that a promotion could skip two levels of rank and elevate a Constable past the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector and directly to the rank of Chief Inspector, yet that is exactly what the author wants us to believe. He tells us this throughout the book. Another incongruity I noticed was that Detective Constable Clements was clearly the superior of Detective Constables Driscoll and Campbell. In fact, Driscoll calls him “boss” at location #3083 in the Kindle edition of the book. But by location #3567 “Jack named him a DCI.” What? Since when can an officer of any rank promote any other officer to the same rank? Not in any organization I ever heard of. Late in the book, however, we learn that Colin receives confirmation of his promotion to DCI from the Chief Superintendent. Go figure.
At location #2560, the author tells us that Jack moves out of Scott’s “point of view.” Hmm. Perhaps he meant “field” of view, because that is not the same thing as a “point” of view, which is a common literary device and not the scope of one’s vision. He also tells us about Matthew’s “change of tact,” instead of “change of tack.” These kinds of errors should have been caught by good editing.
Even though DCI Jack Russell is supposed to be the protagonist in this novel, by 20% into the book, we know almost nothing at all about him. In fact, it isn’t clear that there is a single protagonist in this story. The perspective shifts from character to character such that it seems that there is no single central character in the story at all. Certainly, it is not Jack Russell.
Late in the story, Jack is in the woods searching for clues at night when he stumbles upon an “abandoned railway station.” But it has a “still-functioning signal head.” It does? Why, if it has been abandoned? Then Jack sees a stag deer that is followed by a doe. Experienced deer hunters will tell you that stags (bucks) and does are not usually seen together except during the rutting season, and when they are, the stag almost never leads, but follows, his does.
At location #2753, we are told that Jack’s vehicle suddenly broke down. We are never told why or how it broke down, or how and when it was repaired (if it ever was), but soon Jack is driving his vehicle again. Only now it’s a car. It’s a bit like the matter of the crows. Their behavior is not normal for such animals. Is this just an a couple of examples of Deus ex machina? We know that crows and Jack’s vehicle are connected somehow because later in the book another crow flies up and lands on the bonnet (hood) of Jack’s car (it is now a car, not a vehicle): “. . . it spread its wings and flapped towards him, landing with a soft clack> of its claws on the bonnet of his car. Jack peered at it menacingly through the windscreen, his distrust of the animal kingdom growing at an unprecedented rate.” Really? Unprecedented? Wow!
At another part of the book, a storm knocks out the electric power in the local hotel. Landlady (innkeeper?) Margaret knows this because when “she reached over to switch the bedside lamp on, it wouldn’t work.” The doorbell, however, still works. It rings at least twice before Margaret is able to answer it. When she gets to the front door to answer it, the lights suddenly come back on. Maybe it’s magic.
A passage about Colin’s drunken reverie at the end of Chapter Forty-Six is written in the style of a high-school student: “Just then there was a knock at the door. Startled, he hid his whisky bottle and the glass under the desk and said gruffly, ‘Come in.’ The door opened. It was Jack.” OMG! Never mind that a constable would hardly be assigned to an office with a door that closed. He would either be sitting in an open “bull pen” type area, or in a cubicle. That’s bad enough, but this writing style struck me as being amateurish.
To me, the book seemed overdone and pretentious. It contains information that seems extraneous and irrelevant to the overall plot (e.g., an abandoned railway station). Much of the writing is stilted. The plot is convoluted to the point of being chaotic. The editing is not very good. The story is not a police procedural. It is not a murder mystery. It is not thriller, even though it claims to be. What is it? That’s a tough one. I have no idea. Perhaps it is a fantasy crossed with a psychological mystery. At any rate, in spite of some surprises at the end of the book (in the Epilogue), I found it unsatisfying. Loose ends were left untied. (Whatever happens, ultimately, to Jack Russell, for example?) I didn’t like this book and can’t really recommend it much. I will, however, award two stars.
April 3, 2017
A Murder of Crows is the story of a young couple who go missing during a powerful late-summer storm and the policemen who are trying to find them.
Although there are a few points where the prose doesn't flow as well or the exposition is a little heavy, I raced through this book, unable to put it down.
Jack Russel, the dogged detective, is a well-drawn character and the antagonism between him and his partner adds another layer of tension to the story. My favourite character though, is Alice. The mother of one of the missing people, she suffers from dementia and this is drawn with a deft hand and a gentle touch. The scenes with Alice offer us fragments of clues and give us some sense of what it must be like to be losing your memory and sense of what is going on around you.
The threads of the story are all pulled together well at the end and the final twist was entirely unexpected. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope to see Jack again.
Although there are a few points where the prose doesn't flow as well or the exposition is a little heavy, I raced through this book, unable to put it down.
Jack Russel, the dogged detective, is a well-drawn character and the antagonism between him and his partner adds another layer of tension to the story. My favourite character though, is Alice. The mother of one of the missing people, she suffers from dementia and this is drawn with a deft hand and a gentle touch. The scenes with Alice offer us fragments of clues and give us some sense of what it must be like to be losing your memory and sense of what is going on around you.
The threads of the story are all pulled together well at the end and the final twist was entirely unexpected. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope to see Jack again.
February 26, 2018
Ian Skewis sets an eerie tone in this interesting mystery that involves a missing couple, a retiring DCI, and a slew of dark characters trying to keep their secrets hidden. This story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I enjoyed it all the way through. I thank Netgalley for a copy of this book for my honest review.
January 13, 2018
Found this book a real slog and slightly confusing, had a strange and unsatisfying ending too. Pish in all honesty.
January 5, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Unbound for a review copy of A Murder of Crows, an atmospheric thriller set in the Scottish Highlands.
Caroline and Alistair set off for Hogg's Brae to visit Alistair's mother but they never quite get there. When a storm breaks and damages their car they take refuge in the woods and promptly disappear. DCI Jack Russell and his insubordinate and undermine partner DS Clements are tasked with finding the couple.
I was really looking forward to reading this novel - Scottish detectives are always a draw - but I was disappointed in the execution and found it a difficult read. Firstly I should say that the brooding atmosphere, both meteorological and characterisation, is excellent. The storm never seems far off and the heat is oppressive and every last one of the characters is an oddball in some shape or form so it is difficult to discern motivation, intent or even relevance. It's a stunning creation.
I really didn't enjoy the format of the novel as it's extremely choppy and some of it irrelevant to the main thrust of the plot. Each chapter is a third person narrative from a different point of view which I find distracting and prevents me from getting fully involved, just as I get settled into one character the viewpoint changes and I have to adjust. The plot which can get hidden in all this swapping is interesting and well thought out but the clever ending is extremely unsatisfactory with nothing tied up in a nice bow. I think that this novel is a bit literary for me. I like a nice straightforward police procedural and this is anything but.
As I said the characters are all oddballs. Most of them are well drawn and as the novel progresses explanations for their behaviour are slowly revealed but it's all a bit OTT in the one novel.
A Murder of Crows is a solid, interesting debut, especially for the atmosphere created, which many readers will enjoy, unfortunately it's just not the type of novel I enjoy.
Caroline and Alistair set off for Hogg's Brae to visit Alistair's mother but they never quite get there. When a storm breaks and damages their car they take refuge in the woods and promptly disappear. DCI Jack Russell and his insubordinate and undermine partner DS Clements are tasked with finding the couple.
I was really looking forward to reading this novel - Scottish detectives are always a draw - but I was disappointed in the execution and found it a difficult read. Firstly I should say that the brooding atmosphere, both meteorological and characterisation, is excellent. The storm never seems far off and the heat is oppressive and every last one of the characters is an oddball in some shape or form so it is difficult to discern motivation, intent or even relevance. It's a stunning creation.
I really didn't enjoy the format of the novel as it's extremely choppy and some of it irrelevant to the main thrust of the plot. Each chapter is a third person narrative from a different point of view which I find distracting and prevents me from getting fully involved, just as I get settled into one character the viewpoint changes and I have to adjust. The plot which can get hidden in all this swapping is interesting and well thought out but the clever ending is extremely unsatisfactory with nothing tied up in a nice bow. I think that this novel is a bit literary for me. I like a nice straightforward police procedural and this is anything but.
As I said the characters are all oddballs. Most of them are well drawn and as the novel progresses explanations for their behaviour are slowly revealed but it's all a bit OTT in the one novel.
A Murder of Crows is a solid, interesting debut, especially for the atmosphere created, which many readers will enjoy, unfortunately it's just not the type of novel I enjoy.
March 26, 2018
“The most violent thunderstorm in living memory occurs above a sleepy village on the West Coast of Scotland. A young couple take shelter in the woods, never to be seen again...”
This is a really good read. DCI Jack Russell is close to retirement so this is his last case before he goes. Tensions are running high between him and one of his colleagues, who is desparate for his job.
Jack doesn’t let this stand in his way and puts his all into trying to find out what happened to the young couple.
A large amount of blood is soon discovered so things don’t look good and soon a murder enquiry is underway.
There are several people in the village with secrets that they want to stay hidden and Jack has to try and work his way to the truth.
This is a gripping read.
Thanks to Unbound Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a really good read. DCI Jack Russell is close to retirement so this is his last case before he goes. Tensions are running high between him and one of his colleagues, who is desparate for his job.
Jack doesn’t let this stand in his way and puts his all into trying to find out what happened to the young couple.
A large amount of blood is soon discovered so things don’t look good and soon a murder enquiry is underway.
There are several people in the village with secrets that they want to stay hidden and Jack has to try and work his way to the truth.
This is a gripping read.
Thanks to Unbound Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 9, 2017
This was my first read by Ian. I saw him read an extract at Noir at the Bar in Edinburgh and knew I had to get the book. A young couple disappear in a torrential thunderstorm. They are on the way to meet his mother.
This is a story of the investigation into the disappearance and features a dogged detective, an unreliable narrator, who suffering from dementia cannot be believed: or can she. As the story unfolds it becomes more than an investigation as secrets are uncovered and a satisfying ending is reached. Grab a copy as soon as you can and dive in. You won't be disappointed. 5 stars from me.
This is a story of the investigation into the disappearance and features a dogged detective, an unreliable narrator, who suffering from dementia cannot be believed: or can she. As the story unfolds it becomes more than an investigation as secrets are uncovered and a satisfying ending is reached. Grab a copy as soon as you can and dive in. You won't be disappointed. 5 stars from me.
October 2, 2019
There was a fair amount of this which was good - the isolation of the setting and the small-minded, small-town mentalities of the characters were generally convincing, and for all the plot was confusing and fragmented to a extent that I felt it didn’t ‘work’ overall, I got through this in a couple of days and was reasonably captivated.
The characters though, whether supposedly sympathetic or antagonistic, I did not like. Too many possible bad guys, too many good guys flawed to the extent that the reader lost interest/sympathy, and many of the neutral characters seemed to be portrayed in unpleasant terms by the author. There were a number of key aspects of withheld information which to me felt artificially introduced, esp. with regards an elderly lady with dementia who seemed only to exist to periodically advance the plot.
For all this though, and considering this is a debut novel, I am sure that Ayris has more potential unfulfilled, more to offer.
The characters though, whether supposedly sympathetic or antagonistic, I did not like. Too many possible bad guys, too many good guys flawed to the extent that the reader lost interest/sympathy, and many of the neutral characters seemed to be portrayed in unpleasant terms by the author. There were a number of key aspects of withheld information which to me felt artificially introduced, esp. with regards an elderly lady with dementia who seemed only to exist to periodically advance the plot.
For all this though, and considering this is a debut novel, I am sure that Ayris has more potential unfulfilled, more to offer.
November 16, 2018
Brilliant!
As a reader, I really love a mystery that is well-crafted and keeps the reader guessing right to the very end. ‘A Murder Of Crows’ is one such book, and I find myself unable to recommend it highly enough.
Delusion and illusion obscure truth and reality in this suspenseful, intricate story of dysfunction in families and friendships, and of interconnected secretive webs of pretence and deceit that have tragic circumstances for the residents of a small Scottish village near Loch Ness.
This book is beautifully written, full of powerful imagery and laced with foreboding that is almost palpable. The bleak hopelessness that pervade the lives of some of the characters contrasts with the anger and resentment that fills the motivations and actions of others. The characters are realistic and complex, each with their own burdens and mysteries that they carry throughout the story as the threads of the main storyline weave themselves around them.
As a reader, I really love a mystery that is well-crafted and keeps the reader guessing right to the very end. ‘A Murder Of Crows’ is one such book, and I find myself unable to recommend it highly enough.
Delusion and illusion obscure truth and reality in this suspenseful, intricate story of dysfunction in families and friendships, and of interconnected secretive webs of pretence and deceit that have tragic circumstances for the residents of a small Scottish village near Loch Ness.
This book is beautifully written, full of powerful imagery and laced with foreboding that is almost palpable. The bleak hopelessness that pervade the lives of some of the characters contrasts with the anger and resentment that fills the motivations and actions of others. The characters are realistic and complex, each with their own burdens and mysteries that they carry throughout the story as the threads of the main storyline weave themselves around them.
November 13, 2017
It was evident from the moment I opened Ian Skewis’s debut novel ‘A Murder of Crows’ that he posses an enviable flair for descriptive and lyrical prose. It takes real skill to make language so seemingly tangible that it can surround and consume a reader but, somehow, he does. Some may criticise that he does not say in ten words that which he can say in a hundred but I would assure them those words are not wasted; they add a glorious depth and texture to his book.
There also appears to be an element of care in the creation of this story with even those passages that do not specifically serve to further the plot (a description of the onset of dementia or the ferocity of a storm) have that same feel of being beautifully crafted.
At the heart of this book lies a mystery. A disappearance, a murder and a selection of witnesses some more reliable than others. There are all the characters one would expect the tired, yet diligent policeman, the upstart, the victim, the family, the ex and yet it manages not to feel clichéd. There are lots to like in this debut novel and I would certainly recommend it. Four Stars.
There also appears to be an element of care in the creation of this story with even those passages that do not specifically serve to further the plot (a description of the onset of dementia or the ferocity of a storm) have that same feel of being beautifully crafted.
At the heart of this book lies a mystery. A disappearance, a murder and a selection of witnesses some more reliable than others. There are all the characters one would expect the tired, yet diligent policeman, the upstart, the victim, the family, the ex and yet it manages not to feel clichéd. There are lots to like in this debut novel and I would certainly recommend it. Four Stars.
December 18, 2017
A Murder of Crows is an intense literary experience that takes the reader on a terrifying and sinister journey where we meet a cast of dark and charismatic characters all caught up in the disappearance of a young couple. I felt that whole "small village" sense creeping in, you know the kind where everyone knows everyone else, where strangers are not welcome and there is just that strange atmosphere that hangs over the place. The language and description used will set you firmly in the midst of it all and the picture is cleverly painted by the author attacking your every sense through the pages. It was quite unsettling to read, not gory or gruesome just a sense of foreboding created by the author in this dark and atmospheric debut.
Some of the characters were particularly unlikeable, some were difficult to warm to but each of them drew me towards them like a moth to a flame as I followed DCI Jack Russell's race to catch the killer. I could say so much about each of the characters but I don't want to give anything away. However, when I read about Alice I was engrossed, her character has dementia and Ian managed to portray her periods of confusion and lucidity with such accuracy but sensitivity that I found myself feeling quite emotional as I read. I could feel her bewilderment and fear as she experienced periods of fugue followed by the clarity that there was something wrong but unable to put her finger on what it was, the description of sundowning was so very accurate that I think Ian has to be commended for his sensitive approach to the condition in his book.
A Murder of Crows is certainly a descriptive and literary novel; it is not a wham bam fast-paced kind of read, although the plot is dark and sinister; it is a deep read that explores some quite dark themes of loss, grief and abuse; it provides a real depth of character, narrative and prose which is perfect for those who like to get lost in the pages.
A Murder of Crows is an excellent debut novel from Ian Skewis and I look forward to seeing where he takes us next.
Some of the characters were particularly unlikeable, some were difficult to warm to but each of them drew me towards them like a moth to a flame as I followed DCI Jack Russell's race to catch the killer. I could say so much about each of the characters but I don't want to give anything away. However, when I read about Alice I was engrossed, her character has dementia and Ian managed to portray her periods of confusion and lucidity with such accuracy but sensitivity that I found myself feeling quite emotional as I read. I could feel her bewilderment and fear as she experienced periods of fugue followed by the clarity that there was something wrong but unable to put her finger on what it was, the description of sundowning was so very accurate that I think Ian has to be commended for his sensitive approach to the condition in his book.
A Murder of Crows is certainly a descriptive and literary novel; it is not a wham bam fast-paced kind of read, although the plot is dark and sinister; it is a deep read that explores some quite dark themes of loss, grief and abuse; it provides a real depth of character, narrative and prose which is perfect for those who like to get lost in the pages.
A Murder of Crows is an excellent debut novel from Ian Skewis and I look forward to seeing where he takes us next.
October 14, 2021
The setting is what first captured my attention for this novel. Northwest Scotland at its most foreboding, during a freak storm in September. The descriptions in this novel were very vivid. The storm, the farm, the woods, the crows...
The policeman, Jack Russell has an interesting backstory and a somewhat jaded view of his world. He was portrayed realistically and I wanted to really like him, but somehow I just couldn't.
I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes on the Jennings's farm. The father and son were portrayed clearly and with understanding.
Alistair's mother Alice was an empathetic character and the prose gave heft to her alarming plight.
The plot was a conundrum. A missing persons case initially, it turned into something more. The reveal of the criminal surprised me, as I'm sure it was meant to do. Yet somehow I felt manipulated and dare I say... used.
I'm really of mixed feelings about this one. Yes, I did enjoy the read, Yes, it was memorable. Yet still, I have a few reservations. It was a powerful novel and worthy of your consideration..
The policeman, Jack Russell has an interesting backstory and a somewhat jaded view of his world. He was portrayed realistically and I wanted to really like him, but somehow I just couldn't.
I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes on the Jennings's farm. The father and son were portrayed clearly and with understanding.
Alistair's mother Alice was an empathetic character and the prose gave heft to her alarming plight.
The plot was a conundrum. A missing persons case initially, it turned into something more. The reveal of the criminal surprised me, as I'm sure it was meant to do. Yet somehow I felt manipulated and dare I say... used.
I'm really of mixed feelings about this one. Yes, I did enjoy the read, Yes, it was memorable. Yet still, I have a few reservations. It was a powerful novel and worthy of your consideration..
May 19, 2017
4.5
This is a debut crime story by Ian Skewis. I enjoyed reading it very much. It was simply suspenseful, unnerving and mysterious. Can't wait for more books from this author!
This is a debut crime story by Ian Skewis. I enjoyed reading it very much. It was simply suspenseful, unnerving and mysterious. Can't wait for more books from this author!
April 25, 2019
I listened to Ian Skewis narrate this book which I think certainly added to the experience. His mellifluous Scottish voice is perfectly suited to a tale set on the west coast of Scotland.
Why only 3 stars? I found the plot very convoluted, and I was very unhappy with the end. And what was the point of the crows? Where they to add a sense of foreboding and mystery, with a tinge of magic thrown in? Not sure, as it was never revealed. However, there were certain elements which I thought were outstanding.
The story is told from many POV, one of them being Alice, who is rapidly sliding into full-blown Alzheimers. The descriptions of Alice trying to hold on to her memories are haunting and poignant. Jack Russell (by name and nature!) is about to retire. The case of a couple who go missing during a violent thunderstorm looks straightforward, on the surface. But of course, it's not.
There is the usual mix of red herrings and too many people with secrets and dark histories. It's made clear early in the book that Jack's partner, DC Colin Clements resents Jack and will do anything to undermine him. I'm still in two minds as to whether this tension within the police team adds anything to the plot, or just muddies the water.
****Spoiler alert - do not read further if you don't want to know who dunnit****
The murderer is revealed in a strange prologue at the end. It's a character we have been following throughout the book, but they are - SURPRISE - a sociopath! I'm really very tired of 'crime' novels where the perpetrator is revealed as a psychopath/sociopath. It's too easy and, from the readers' perspective, very unsatisfying. Apparently there will be another book written about this character, which I will not be reading. One outing with this unsavoury character was enough for me.
Disappointing.
Why only 3 stars? I found the plot very convoluted, and I was very unhappy with the end. And what was the point of the crows? Where they to add a sense of foreboding and mystery, with a tinge of magic thrown in? Not sure, as it was never revealed. However, there were certain elements which I thought were outstanding.
The story is told from many POV, one of them being Alice, who is rapidly sliding into full-blown Alzheimers. The descriptions of Alice trying to hold on to her memories are haunting and poignant. Jack Russell (by name and nature!) is about to retire. The case of a couple who go missing during a violent thunderstorm looks straightforward, on the surface. But of course, it's not.
There is the usual mix of red herrings and too many people with secrets and dark histories. It's made clear early in the book that Jack's partner, DC Colin Clements resents Jack and will do anything to undermine him. I'm still in two minds as to whether this tension within the police team adds anything to the plot, or just muddies the water.
****Spoiler alert - do not read further if you don't want to know who dunnit****
The murderer is revealed in a strange prologue at the end. It's a character we have been following throughout the book, but they are - SURPRISE - a sociopath! I'm really very tired of 'crime' novels where the perpetrator is revealed as a psychopath/sociopath. It's too easy and, from the readers' perspective, very unsatisfying. Apparently there will be another book written about this character, which I will not be reading. One outing with this unsavoury character was enough for me.
Disappointing.
December 29, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
A MURDER OF CROWS by Ian Skewis takes place in Hobbs Brae in Scotland with DCI Jack Russell picking up DC Colin Clementson on the way to Hobbs Brae Police Station, and it’s clear that Clements is a thorn in the side of Jack for more reasons than his aspiration to take over as DCI when Jack leaves.
Jack reports to the Chief Superintendent who informs him that a young couple has gone missing in the wake of a severe storm, and Jack is assigned to the case.
Alistair Smith and Caroline Baker are the missing couple, and after a search takes place it becomes clear that foul play has taken place.
Several others are interwoven into the unfolding of the series of events that lead up to the disappearance and continue throughout the investigation; often making a path leading to the killer seem out of reach, yet Jack determinedly continues to follow his instincts in spite of second guessing and ridicule by Colin and others.
Mysterious circumstances add intrigue and excitement along the way, meanwhile focus on the case at hand is often difficult with some of the personalities involved.
I found this to be an enjoyable read somewhat different from the books I’m usually drawn to, and admittedly the great title caught my eye; I did find this to be a good mystery novel with my only complaint being that several of the chapters in the book switch from character to character making it difficult early on to keep track of who’s-who and what’s taken place; yet with patience it all works eventually as things unfold to reveal that almost everyone involved has secrets, and most are not exactly who they seem to be initially. Enjoyable read nonetheless, and I’d give it 3-1/2 stars if I could.
A MURDER OF CROWS by Ian Skewis takes place in Hobbs Brae in Scotland with DCI Jack Russell picking up DC Colin Clementson on the way to Hobbs Brae Police Station, and it’s clear that Clements is a thorn in the side of Jack for more reasons than his aspiration to take over as DCI when Jack leaves.
Jack reports to the Chief Superintendent who informs him that a young couple has gone missing in the wake of a severe storm, and Jack is assigned to the case.
Alistair Smith and Caroline Baker are the missing couple, and after a search takes place it becomes clear that foul play has taken place.
Several others are interwoven into the unfolding of the series of events that lead up to the disappearance and continue throughout the investigation; often making a path leading to the killer seem out of reach, yet Jack determinedly continues to follow his instincts in spite of second guessing and ridicule by Colin and others.
Mysterious circumstances add intrigue and excitement along the way, meanwhile focus on the case at hand is often difficult with some of the personalities involved.
I found this to be an enjoyable read somewhat different from the books I’m usually drawn to, and admittedly the great title caught my eye; I did find this to be a good mystery novel with my only complaint being that several of the chapters in the book switch from character to character making it difficult early on to keep track of who’s-who and what’s taken place; yet with patience it all works eventually as things unfold to reveal that almost everyone involved has secrets, and most are not exactly who they seem to be initially. Enjoyable read nonetheless, and I’d give it 3-1/2 stars if I could.
March 5, 2020
A missing persons case, or a double murder? We find out in A Murder of Crows.
A Murder of Crows started off as a cross between your classic Scot Noir and the excellent Before I Go To Sleep. There is cop Jack Russell (yes really) about to embark on his last case before retirement, alongside dementia sufferer Alice who only has moments of lucidity, making her very vulnerable to carer Helen. As I read on, the Before I Go So Sleep side fell away and the Scot Noir side took hold. There were some interesting plot surprises, some of which I thought could have been built on further, and a lengthy dotting of I’s and crossing of T’s ending.
Towards the end, Alice’s little fugues, Jerome’s rising resentment and Jack;s half thoughts about ringing his wife did become repetitive. There were also a lot of characters that either seemed superfluous to the plot or difficult to pin down and remember. And whereas I really wanted to understand more about Alice whose story I found fascinating, I struggled with the central relationship between Caroline and Alistair. I struggled with Caroline’s story-line in general really. I won’t giveaway any spoilers but found her part in the story very unbelievable.
I found the book easy to read and can imagine a book club picking it apart with relish. But I did struggle. So much so that I pondered whether to post a review or not as I don’t like negativity just for the sake of it. However there was something that kept me reading and I do feel that despite it being obviously a debut there is a lot of potential. Give it a go and let me know what you think.
A Murder of Crows started off as a cross between your classic Scot Noir and the excellent Before I Go To Sleep. There is cop Jack Russell (yes really) about to embark on his last case before retirement, alongside dementia sufferer Alice who only has moments of lucidity, making her very vulnerable to carer Helen. As I read on, the Before I Go So Sleep side fell away and the Scot Noir side took hold. There were some interesting plot surprises, some of which I thought could have been built on further, and a lengthy dotting of I’s and crossing of T’s ending.
Towards the end, Alice’s little fugues, Jerome’s rising resentment and Jack;s half thoughts about ringing his wife did become repetitive. There were also a lot of characters that either seemed superfluous to the plot or difficult to pin down and remember. And whereas I really wanted to understand more about Alice whose story I found fascinating, I struggled with the central relationship between Caroline and Alistair. I struggled with Caroline’s story-line in general really. I won’t giveaway any spoilers but found her part in the story very unbelievable.
I found the book easy to read and can imagine a book club picking it apart with relish. But I did struggle. So much so that I pondered whether to post a review or not as I don’t like negativity just for the sake of it. However there was something that kept me reading and I do feel that despite it being obviously a debut there is a lot of potential. Give it a go and let me know what you think.
November 22, 2018
A very dark and disturbing thriller, written and narrated by Ian Skewis. What made A Murder of Crows quite different was the fact that it's very character led. The listener gets to meet and learn about all the players, good and bad, and has the whole length of the book to decide who's done what and why. There is no obvious motive for anything that has happened, and I rotated my choice of villain around each and every character. If you are unsure if the murderer is a career police officer or a retired teacher with early onset Alzheimer's, then surely that's an indication of how clever the writing is. This is my first book by Ian Skewis, but it certainly won't be my last. Very clever, very dark and thoroughly wonderful!
August 11, 2017
Ian Skewis’s debut is a very fast read. One of those that you pick it up, lose yourself in, and before you know it, you’re 100 pages in. Fast paced, then—but it doesn’t skimp on enjoyable detail. He sets his sometimes-chilling, sometimes-grimly-funny events in very real locations, and brings his characters properly to life. There were stretches that reminded more of the grotesque horrors of an Iain Banks novel than of conventional crime thriller. Elsewhere, the dogged protagonist – DC Jack Russell – is a character you like to spend time with, while there are others – his colleagues – who are irritating in an entirely convincing way. Chances are, you’ve worked with people like this. Also authentic is the tragic sense of loss that the novel gradually builds. In all, an entertaining and satisfying read.
December 15, 2018
Sadly, despite four separate attempts, I did not finish this. I heard Ian Skewis read from this - beautifully: the audio book will be a treat for those that take their books that way - at Bloody Scotland, was seduced by the cover and had no hesitation in buying to book.
But.
But the written voice - no matter how I tried I could not believe it, care for it nor for the characters. So now have abandoned it for good.
But.
But the written voice - no matter how I tried I could not believe it, care for it nor for the characters. So now have abandoned it for good.
January 23, 2023
Good crime mystery, enjoyed the mixture of characters and how fully fleshed out they were, I'm glad they weren't black and white stereotypes and I was made to feel both disdain and empathy for each character's intentions and mistakes.
Usually a story which ends with the villain not being caught would be unsatisfying, and yet it seemed much more realistic and believable. I was also interested to see how and where a future sequel would go.
Usually a story which ends with the villain not being caught would be unsatisfying, and yet it seemed much more realistic and believable. I was also interested to see how and where a future sequel would go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2019
Memorable characters -- demented Alice, feral youth, broken dream drunks. Eerily atmospheric village and surroundings. Unhappy families riven through and through with appalling secrets. Beautifully presented by the author, Ian Skewis who achieved an occasional elegiac tone which made me stick with the story to the end. Or is it? I can see a two part series (Netflix) in the offing to accommodate book two -- the follow up. I'd watch it.
January 18, 2020
I wanted to like this so much, specially as I listened to the audiobook and the voice is very sexy, but I found it confusing as I found the jumping from the characters rather confusing, not sure what the son of the policeman had to do with the storyline, I also found a lack of character development
February 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this mystery. The author has done a great job for a debut novel! I hope there are more to come.
This book was well written, kept me reading with the twists and turns as to who the killer was. This is one I would recommend to those liking a good thriller of a mystery!
* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.
This book was well written, kept me reading with the twists and turns as to who the killer was. This is one I would recommend to those liking a good thriller of a mystery!
* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.
March 12, 2020
Dear Mr. Skewis:
Please publish the next book soon.
Sincerely,
LH
Please publish the next book soon.
Sincerely,
LH
March 11, 2018
WThis book has some mixed reviews on Goodreads. But I have to say, for me, it was a solid, excellent read that kept me gripped from the beginning.
A dark, stormy atmosphere pervades the book and just adds to the mystery and tense feeling to it. I loved it.
The main mystery of the book is the disappearance of two young people, a newly-pregnant couple, who were returning to town to visit his ailing mother. They were caught in a huge storm and disappeared into the woods. As his last case, DCI Jack Russell looks into the case, but finds its much more complicated than it seemed at first.
I loved that it switched between all the various viewpoints because it gives the reader a chance to understand the motivations and mindsets of each of the characters, which were each complicated and intense. The writing is incredible, really allowing you to feel what the characters were feeling - like Alice, who has dementia. You could feel her confusion and frustration very clearly.
There are also several surprises throughout the book - a couple times I actually gasped out loud. They were pretty juicy.
I hope the author is working on a follow-up because there were some loose ends that I hope to see through. I would absolutely read that!
A dark, stormy atmosphere pervades the book and just adds to the mystery and tense feeling to it. I loved it.
The main mystery of the book is the disappearance of two young people, a newly-pregnant couple, who were returning to town to visit his ailing mother. They were caught in a huge storm and disappeared into the woods. As his last case, DCI Jack Russell looks into the case, but finds its much more complicated than it seemed at first.
I loved that it switched between all the various viewpoints because it gives the reader a chance to understand the motivations and mindsets of each of the characters, which were each complicated and intense. The writing is incredible, really allowing you to feel what the characters were feeling - like Alice, who has dementia. You could feel her confusion and frustration very clearly.
There are also several surprises throughout the book - a couple times I actually gasped out loud. They were pretty juicy.
I hope the author is working on a follow-up because there were some loose ends that I hope to see through. I would absolutely read that!
March 23, 2018
Really liked “A Murder of Crows”. This is very much a character driven book. Every character has at least some flesh to their bones. Major characters much more so than minor ones. We have Jack Russell, a DCI, on his last case before retirement. His partner of many years Colin Clements. Colin has an odd hatred for Jack. This last case should be a simple missing persons case. It quickly becomes apparent that this is a murder investigation.
Each suspect or interviewee has their own personality. Alice has Dementia and with a part-time caretaker ,Helen. It is Alice’s son Alistaire who is missing. To add a demension her husband also went missing many years earlier. Then we have the disquieting relationship between the farmer Jerome and his son Scott. Jerome is the neighbor of Alice. Add to this mix is Matthew the stalker of Caroline, Alistaire’s pregnant girlfriend. Each adds a bit to the storyline. We also have Jack’s son who is always in the backseat of his car.
The writing is somewhat casual but with no extraneous sentences it tugs at you to move forward.. No real lulls in the plot. Conversations, though minimal, ring true to each personality.
The tone of the book at the start is as dark as the storm brewing off the coast that hits with a never seen ferocity in this small Scottish town. It lightens up as the storm breaks but the storm seems to double back on the town adding another layer of darkness.
The one nitpicky dislike is the book blurb adds an element that I didn’t find in the book.
Ian Skewis is an author to watch. He states at the end that Jack will be back. There are also a few other characters that could become their own story. The ending gives Ian Skewis multiple avenues to explore beyond the standard sequel that follows a specific character through multiple cases.
I wish to thank the publisher Unbound Digital, the author Ian Skewis, and NetGalley for my copy of “A Murder of Crows” in exchange for my honest review.
Each suspect or interviewee has their own personality. Alice has Dementia and with a part-time caretaker ,Helen. It is Alice’s son Alistaire who is missing. To add a demension her husband also went missing many years earlier. Then we have the disquieting relationship between the farmer Jerome and his son Scott. Jerome is the neighbor of Alice. Add to this mix is Matthew the stalker of Caroline, Alistaire’s pregnant girlfriend. Each adds a bit to the storyline. We also have Jack’s son who is always in the backseat of his car.
The writing is somewhat casual but with no extraneous sentences it tugs at you to move forward.. No real lulls in the plot. Conversations, though minimal, ring true to each personality.
The tone of the book at the start is as dark as the storm brewing off the coast that hits with a never seen ferocity in this small Scottish town. It lightens up as the storm breaks but the storm seems to double back on the town adding another layer of darkness.
The one nitpicky dislike is the book blurb adds an element that I didn’t find in the book.
Ian Skewis is an author to watch. He states at the end that Jack will be back. There are also a few other characters that could become their own story. The ending gives Ian Skewis multiple avenues to explore beyond the standard sequel that follows a specific character through multiple cases.
I wish to thank the publisher Unbound Digital, the author Ian Skewis, and NetGalley for my copy of “A Murder of Crows” in exchange for my honest review.
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