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Crow Investigations #5
The Copper Heart
Heavy is the head that wears the crown…
Lydia has taken over as the leader of the Crow Family and is trying to keep the criminality to the bare minimum. DCI Fleet has told her he is ‘all in’ but there have to be limits and Lydia doesn’t want to find out what they are.
When the head of the Silver Family, Alejandro, drops down dead, Lydia needs to work out whether it was natural causes or murder. And fast.
Lydia has made enemies of the Pearl King, Maria Silver, and her own uncle. Plus, her position at the top puts her in the sights of many more. Lydia has evaded death in the past, and is gaining greater mastery over her power every day, but now she isn’t just worried about saving herself…
Can Lydia find out what happened to Alejandro Silver before she runs out of luck?
Lydia has taken over as the leader of the Crow Family and is trying to keep the criminality to the bare minimum. DCI Fleet has told her he is ‘all in’ but there have to be limits and Lydia doesn’t want to find out what they are.
When the head of the Silver Family, Alejandro, drops down dead, Lydia needs to work out whether it was natural causes or murder. And fast.
Lydia has made enemies of the Pearl King, Maria Silver, and her own uncle. Plus, her position at the top puts her in the sights of many more. Lydia has evaded death in the past, and is gaining greater mastery over her power every day, but now she isn’t just worried about saving herself…
Can Lydia find out what happened to Alejandro Silver before she runs out of luck?
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2020
482 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Painter
54 books893 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
August 2, 2023
Absolutely love this series, theses books just get better and better.
Happy Reading 📗📚📓📒📘📔📘📒📓📚📙📚📖📕📙📚📓📗📓📒📘📗📔📚📙📕📖
Attention Audible🎈🎈🎈 users🎈 this series Book 1 to 5 is free on the plus catalogue 27/7/23
Happy Reading 📗📚📓📒📘📔📘📒📓📚📙📚📖📕📙📚📓📗📓📒📘📗📔📚📙📕📖
Attention Audible🎈🎈🎈 users🎈 this series Book 1 to 5 is free on the plus catalogue 27/7/23
July 17, 2021
Why am I still reading this series you may ask? I have no idea.
In typical Crow Investigations style, we have a lot of things go wrong that get anticlimatic resolutions, or no resolution at all.
Lydia is quickly finding out all the dark dealings that went on within the Crow Family, but she is not Charlie so she want's to remove them from the business. However, not being Charlie could be seen as a problem.
Blood is being stirred up between the families. With Alejandro dead, Maria suspects Lydia, and the alliance that has lasted years between the Silvers and the Crows is begining to crumble.
Paul Fox is sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong, trying to gain Lydia's trust.
The Pearls are not going to take their defeat quietly, and will prove they still have control.
Fleet keeps reasuring Lydia that he is all in, he is her's first, but being all in with the Crow Family may be more dangerous then he believed.
People are killed, trust is betrayed and secrets appear, all within a very short amount of time.
Also, the ending seemed completely out of nowhere and nothing to do with all the problems that appeared within this book.
As with my previous reviews, this is one of the things that niggles at me the most; it feels like Sarah is trying to do too much in too little pages. Admitedly I'm curious of the overall plot arc, which is probably why I'm still reading, but the execution could be way better. Lets also not forget those lovely grammar errors, and, something that seems new to this book (or I may just not be able to remember) the random scene changes. Multiple times Lydia goes from sitting inside the Fork to suddenly standing outside, or other similar situations, leaving me going "hang on, when did you move?"
Honestly, I think the biggest question I want answered is what is Fleet's magical ability, and where did it come from? This, along with the general plot arc, is probably what is keeping me reading.
In typical Crow Investigations style, we have a lot of things go wrong that get anticlimatic resolutions, or no resolution at all.
Lydia is quickly finding out all the dark dealings that went on within the Crow Family, but she is not Charlie so she want's to remove them from the business. However, not being Charlie could be seen as a problem.
Blood is being stirred up between the families. With Alejandro dead, Maria suspects Lydia, and the alliance that has lasted years between the Silvers and the Crows is begining to crumble.
Paul Fox is sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong, trying to gain Lydia's trust.
The Pearls are not going to take their defeat quietly, and will prove they still have control.
Fleet keeps reasuring Lydia that he is all in, he is her's first, but being all in with the Crow Family may be more dangerous then he believed.
People are killed, trust is betrayed and secrets appear, all within a very short amount of time.
Also, the ending seemed completely out of nowhere and nothing to do with all the problems that appeared within this book.
As with my previous reviews, this is one of the things that niggles at me the most; it feels like Sarah is trying to do too much in too little pages. Admitedly I'm curious of the overall plot arc, which is probably why I'm still reading, but the execution could be way better. Lets also not forget those lovely grammar errors, and, something that seems new to this book (or I may just not be able to remember) the random scene changes. Multiple times Lydia goes from sitting inside the Fork to suddenly standing outside, or other similar situations, leaving me going "hang on, when did you move?"
Honestly, I think the biggest question I want answered is what is Fleet's magical ability, and where did it come from? This, along with the general plot arc, is probably what is keeping me reading.
November 10, 2022
I stumbled over this series on Scribd, and was immediately hooked. It's unique - I don't remember another setup like it, despite the fact that I can name three other urban-fantasy-with-detective-protagonist series off the top of my head. (Well, no, one's not so much a detective, but whatever.) Organized crime, which usually makes my eyes roll back into my head with boredom, is an interesting backdrop for a fantasy novel - and why wouldn't families with extra-ordinary powers use them to take control over their area? Unless, you know, they had morals.
What I don't like so much is Lydia's growing power within the Family. I don't like it at all. She worries a bit about people seeing her as not fit for the job, and ... she's not. She just isn't. Her moral code isn't the most rigid I've ever seen in a main character, but she does have one; some of the things her Uncle Charlie did as former head of the Crows made her physically ill. She has a conscience, not to mention a cop boyfriend, and empathy that makes her fully aware of the ramifications of decisions and actions - and she never seems to realize that all of this adds up to one major handicap for her in trying to run the organization. She doesn't take up the mantle of head of the Crows to make it a kinder, gentler entity, or at least she never states this to herself or to the family; she refuses offers to "clean up" certain situations when such a cleaning would result in bodies (or disappearances), but cover-ups are relatively ok. I dread watching her moral center deteriorate further, but I don't see how it won't - unless the series ends with her being eaten alive. Which I dread even more.
And I'm just not sure how free-climbing halfway up the Shard proves you're a good leader, not an idiot. It felt like a wildly uncharacteristic (and stupid) thing for Lydia to do. Honestly, I think that's the main reason I rated this at three stars rather than four: the climb, and the "reasons" for it.
I like Fleet (despite the dissonance that occurs when I remember Ben Aaronovitch's Fleet), and I love Jason of course; I like the Lydia's family and Emma. A lot. (More than I like Lydia, to be honest.) I really enjoy the writing; it's clear and sharp, and the fully intentional synesthesia of "the taste of feathers" or "the scent of pearls" is wonderful. The whole system of magic is pretty great, if a bit vague - and the vagueness can pretty much be put down to Lydia's ignorance her whole life, I suppose. And I'm very intrigued with the auras around other non-Family people like Fleet - I want to know more about that. I want to know what Fleet is capable of. The phalanx of Pearl-Fox-Silver-Crow seems to center solely on London, so it seems reasonable that there are Families based elsewhere in the country and in the world - more, please.
I don't know what to say about the subplot involving Ash, taken by faery and unable to adapt to the mundane world again. It was so heart-rending, so poignant - and then, abruptly, so completely over. I hope there will be more repercussions from it to come, because there need to be in order for the plot line to truly feel resolved, or perhaps if not resolved then ... properly given space? Ash's story could have carried a book on its own, and relegated to almost an afterthought it's ... disappointing.
And writing that led me to narrow in on what I think the problem with the series is, or is starting to be. Lydia reminds me of the cat in Disney's Cinderella, as I recall it from seeing it eons ago: he's captured a mouse with each paw, and possibly one in his mouth, and then can only watch, spread-eagled on the floor, as yet one more mouse scurries by. And there's nothing he can do about it without losing one of the mice he's already caught. (I feel like that a lot of days too.) With Lydia, she's got her family (mom and dad, small "f" family) in one paw, Fleet in another, Emma in a third, her PI business in the fourth, and is hanging on with her teeth to the Family (capital "F") by the tail - and she can only watch while other issues go scampering under her nose. She's stretched as far as she can stretch - and it seems like events are going to require more elasticity (or more limbs, to follow the Cinderella-cat analogy.) (His name, I find, was Lucifer. Of course it was.) Maybe I'm underestimating the character and the author - but the way the character has been written to this point, I don't have any evidence that the former is true.
I'm still absolutely going to finish the series (or catch up? I don't know if the most recent book is only the most recent, or the last). There's always the possibility of a massive fall onto the Dark Side, followed perhaps by redemption. I just don't look forward to it.
What I don't like so much is Lydia's growing power within the Family. I don't like it at all. She worries a bit about people seeing her as not fit for the job, and ... she's not. She just isn't. Her moral code isn't the most rigid I've ever seen in a main character, but she does have one; some of the things her Uncle Charlie did as former head of the Crows made her physically ill. She has a conscience, not to mention a cop boyfriend, and empathy that makes her fully aware of the ramifications of decisions and actions - and she never seems to realize that all of this adds up to one major handicap for her in trying to run the organization. She doesn't take up the mantle of head of the Crows to make it a kinder, gentler entity, or at least she never states this to herself or to the family; she refuses offers to "clean up" certain situations when such a cleaning would result in bodies (or disappearances), but cover-ups are relatively ok. I dread watching her moral center deteriorate further, but I don't see how it won't - unless the series ends with her being eaten alive. Which I dread even more.
And I'm just not sure how free-climbing halfway up the Shard proves you're a good leader, not an idiot. It felt like a wildly uncharacteristic (and stupid) thing for Lydia to do. Honestly, I think that's the main reason I rated this at three stars rather than four: the climb, and the "reasons" for it.
I like Fleet (despite the dissonance that occurs when I remember Ben Aaronovitch's Fleet), and I love Jason of course; I like the Lydia's family and Emma. A lot. (More than I like Lydia, to be honest.) I really enjoy the writing; it's clear and sharp, and the fully intentional synesthesia of "the taste of feathers" or "the scent of pearls" is wonderful. The whole system of magic is pretty great, if a bit vague - and the vagueness can pretty much be put down to Lydia's ignorance her whole life, I suppose. And I'm very intrigued with the auras around other non-Family people like Fleet - I want to know more about that. I want to know what Fleet is capable of. The phalanx of Pearl-Fox-Silver-Crow seems to center solely on London, so it seems reasonable that there are Families based elsewhere in the country and in the world - more, please.
I don't know what to say about the subplot involving Ash, taken by faery and unable to adapt to the mundane world again. It was so heart-rending, so poignant - and then, abruptly, so completely over. I hope there will be more repercussions from it to come, because there need to be in order for the plot line to truly feel resolved, or perhaps if not resolved then ... properly given space? Ash's story could have carried a book on its own, and relegated to almost an afterthought it's ... disappointing.
And writing that led me to narrow in on what I think the problem with the series is, or is starting to be. Lydia reminds me of the cat in Disney's Cinderella, as I recall it from seeing it eons ago: he's captured a mouse with each paw, and possibly one in his mouth, and then can only watch, spread-eagled on the floor, as yet one more mouse scurries by. And there's nothing he can do about it without losing one of the mice he's already caught. (I feel like that a lot of days too.) With Lydia, she's got her family (mom and dad, small "f" family) in one paw, Fleet in another, Emma in a third, her PI business in the fourth, and is hanging on with her teeth to the Family (capital "F") by the tail - and she can only watch while other issues go scampering under her nose. She's stretched as far as she can stretch - and it seems like events are going to require more elasticity (or more limbs, to follow the Cinderella-cat analogy.) (His name, I find, was Lucifer. Of course it was.) Maybe I'm underestimating the character and the author - but the way the character has been written to this point, I don't have any evidence that the former is true.
I'm still absolutely going to finish the series (or catch up? I don't know if the most recent book is only the most recent, or the last). There's always the possibility of a massive fall onto the Dark Side, followed perhaps by redemption. I just don't look forward to it.
June 26, 2022
I read Book 1 to Book 5 in the space of one week. The experience is like reading a single, albeit episodic, book. The tone is smooth and serviceable, the characters are reasonably interesting without any one standing out particularly, the plot zipped along without being overly complex. The mysteries are barebones, but generally ok. These are fun reads, but entirely unmemorable.
I think this impression is due to the absence of clear character arcs that would have marked the passing of time.
Lydia's rise in the Crow family has been inexplicable, given she was raised on old stories only withno knowledge of either the magical nor criminal aspects of her Family, yet here she is, brashly hitting up one head of these magical Families after another, with only 1 year's PI training behind.
I don't understand why Fleet feels such insta-love for her, apart from sexual attraction, since she either pushes him away or hit him up just to ask for favors, moreover favors that endangers his career.
Jason's arc seems to be (1) growing in solidity; (2) learning to become a computer genius; and, (3) inexplicably wanting to do whatever he can to help Lydia. Doesn't want to know his past. Doesn't want to find out what happened to his wife. Etc.
All these could have their own individual explanations, but none are found clearly delineated in the novels, and their collective effect renders characters insubstantial and the world thin of relevant people. If I read on, it will be plot development alone. I can't manage to care about how any of these people will fare.
I think this impression is due to the absence of clear character arcs that would have marked the passing of time.
Lydia's rise in the Crow family has been inexplicable, given she was raised on old stories only withno knowledge of either the magical nor criminal aspects of her Family, yet here she is, brashly hitting up one head of these magical Families after another, with only 1 year's PI training behind.
I don't understand why Fleet feels such insta-love for her, apart from sexual attraction, since she either pushes him away or hit him up just to ask for favors, moreover favors that endangers his career.
Jason's arc seems to be (1) growing in solidity; (2) learning to become a computer genius; and, (3) inexplicably wanting to do whatever he can to help Lydia. Doesn't want to know his past. Doesn't want to find out what happened to his wife. Etc.
All these could have their own individual explanations, but none are found clearly delineated in the novels, and their collective effect renders characters insubstantial and the world thin of relevant people. If I read on, it will be plot development alone. I can't manage to care about how any of these people will fare.
December 14, 2020
I have been a fan of Sarah Painter's books since I first discovered her podcast, and I've enjoyed every one of the Crow Investigation series.
This might be my favorite yet. While these books are urban fantasy/detective, the mystery is almost secondary to me because I just enjoy the characters so much. There was some quality Fleet time in this book (thank you), and Lydia Crow is developing believably both as a person and in her role as head of the Crow family.
Quite the ending on this one, and I'm glad the author is a pretty fast writer, because I need to know what happens next.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I fully intend on buying the ebook to round out my Crow collection.
This might be my favorite yet. While these books are urban fantasy/detective, the mystery is almost secondary to me because I just enjoy the characters so much. There was some quality Fleet time in this book (thank you), and Lydia Crow is developing believably both as a person and in her role as head of the Crow family.
Quite the ending on this one, and I'm glad the author is a pretty fast writer, because I need to know what happens next.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I fully intend on buying the ebook to round out my Crow collection.
January 3, 2021
Perfectly written mystery. I haven't loved every book in this series, but the overall arc is fantastic.
Also, another verse that needs to be a tv series.
Also, another verse that needs to be a tv series.
January 7, 2021
Another great addition to the series
I loved seeing Lydia grow into her new role as head of the Crow family and her relationship with Fleet. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.
I loved seeing Lydia grow into her new role as head of the Crow family and her relationship with Fleet. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.
March 11, 2021
Honestly this was a struggle to finish, the main character has become really quite annoying....refuses to learn about The Family Business from Scary Uncle Charlie, deposes and replaces Scary Uncle Charlies, whines about Scary Uncle Charlie not teaching them about The Family Business....Resolves to be a better friend/relative/boss, carries on being a selfish so-and-so, resolves to be a better friend/etc/ etc/ Lather, rinse, repeat....
I may not bother with the next one :-(
I may not bother with the next one :-(
April 2, 2024
Audiobook read by Kate Rawson.
Now that Uncle Charlie has been dealt with, Lydia has become head of the Crow Family, cutting back on the crime while trying to maintain an illusion of strength. She’s running very fast to catch up with all of the pies Charlie had his fingers in, and not doing too badly, but then the head of the Fox Family collapses and dies. Is it murder or natural causes? There’s not a mark on the body, but everyone assumes it was the former. And that means that Maria, now head of the Foxes, and already with a grudge against Lydia, is likely to jump to the wrong conclusion. Added to that Mr Smith – agent for a very secret government agency interested in Family magic, is trying to manipulate Lydia, and the Pearl Family still has its teeth into Ash whom Lydia rescued in Book #4. This is turning into more of a soap opera than individual books, and there’s cliffhanger ending to this one. I enjoyed the book, but I hate cliffhanger endings.
Now that Uncle Charlie has been dealt with, Lydia has become head of the Crow Family, cutting back on the crime while trying to maintain an illusion of strength. She’s running very fast to catch up with all of the pies Charlie had his fingers in, and not doing too badly, but then the head of the Fox Family collapses and dies. Is it murder or natural causes? There’s not a mark on the body, but everyone assumes it was the former. And that means that Maria, now head of the Foxes, and already with a grudge against Lydia, is likely to jump to the wrong conclusion. Added to that Mr Smith – agent for a very secret government agency interested in Family magic, is trying to manipulate Lydia, and the Pearl Family still has its teeth into Ash whom Lydia rescued in Book #4. This is turning into more of a soap opera than individual books, and there’s cliffhanger ending to this one. I enjoyed the book, but I hate cliffhanger endings.
July 7, 2025
I still find this series very entertaining. Lydia is starting to find her place as the head of the family. She still has lots of things going wrong and some going right. Lots of nail biting situations but she has some people in her corner which makes it all more bearable. Fleet has a secret that maybe he doesn’t even know about. Can’t wait to see if this is explained in a future book. A very fun series.
June 1, 2022
3.5 stars sounded down. This is better than the last in the series. There are lots of threads and the story moves on quite a bit. Lydia seems to develop as a person which is good because she was getting whiny. The end, whilst expected, was exciting and I’m looking forward to finding out more about Fleet’s powers.
October 23, 2024
More like a 4.5 I really enjoyed this book just as much as the previous 4 and will definitely be reading the reminder in the series. I read it so quickly because I just didn’t want to put it down and was even reading it on my lunch break at work!! Not quite 5 stars because I felt the ending was a little underwhelming but still a great book :))
January 17, 2025
As with the previous books in this series, very good and intriguing. Perfect companion to my stitching while listening to it on Audible. Frustrating that again, it ended in a cliffhanger. On to the next on the series then!
Popsugar Reading challenge 2025: 18. A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons.
Popsugar Reading challenge 2025: 18. A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons.
June 20, 2024
Ended on another cliffhanger. Starting the next one right away. This series is fun and exciting
January 15, 2021
A step backwards from the previous book.
The author has a strong voice and style but the other elements are on and off.
The vague magic stepped forward in book 4 and then mostly back in book 5.
She is so slow to use her powers most of the time, it seems like she would be dead x10, and she is illogical about the danger she places herself in.
This book aimed to be at least a half milleau book about leadership of the family, but it is like Star Trek with very few main characters and the vast crew hinted at in hallways.
The author has a strong voice and style but the other elements are on and off.
The vague magic stepped forward in book 4 and then mostly back in book 5.
She is so slow to use her powers most of the time, it seems like she would be dead x10, and she is illogical about the danger she places herself in.
This book aimed to be at least a half milleau book about leadership of the family, but it is like Star Trek with very few main characters and the vast crew hinted at in hallways.
February 22, 2024
I found this one a bit dissapointing. Finally the head of the family but she didn't really do anything about it. For someone who undertook such a pivitol decision she seemed to want to just carry on as normal. Really? She is completely unqualified for the position since she knows next to nothing about the family business (her choice by the way). For someone so under qualified to do the job I was interested in reading more about the family dynamics and how she was going to convince everyone she was taking her rightful place but none of that happened, almost no conversations were had over it, not much support from her father and not much push back either. It was just business as usual and delegating her responsiblities which doesn't seem realistic. She didn't act on the problems fast enough imo either, letting days go by before dealing with things. A lot of inaction and not much story advancement for my liking. Still an interesting plot overall but found it too unrealistic now to continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2023
I felt much the same as I did in previous instalments. The books in this series are far too short. They just get going and then stop. I think that the first three books work as a single unit and this (5th in the series) suffers very similarly as the middle section of what should be book 2 (made up of 4,5&6).
If I hadn’t obtained this from the library I would be severely dissatisfied. I will probably read book 6 when available, just to complete this “arc”.
I understand that the author/publisher want to market this to all ages but the lack of swearing (“feathers” & “hell hawk”) and to a lesser extent sex and violence removes much of the realism of the books. If there is a bother reference to “head-banging sex” then I may scream.
In short, still loads of potential (but they are dragging it out too much) and some annoying repetition of many phrases and situations.
If I hadn’t obtained this from the library I would be severely dissatisfied. I will probably read book 6 when available, just to complete this “arc”.
I understand that the author/publisher want to market this to all ages but the lack of swearing (“feathers” & “hell hawk”) and to a lesser extent sex and violence removes much of the realism of the books. If there is a bother reference to “head-banging sex” then I may scream.
In short, still loads of potential (but they are dragging it out too much) and some annoying repetition of many phrases and situations.
September 25, 2022
So, I was going back and forth between two series that I love, and it took a minute to get into this one. I’m not sure if it was the book itself or that part of me wanted the next book in this other series.
It’s so very hard to know where anyone’s loyalties are here. I don’t like how Fleet keeps getting trampled by Lydia, she believes Paul Fox over Fleet when Fleet keeps proving himself over and over. Who can Lydia trust, really? This book did throw a little bit of a doubt for me with Fleet, but I really do believe he is all in for her. I can’t help but wonder how strong he and Lydia will be as a combined force once he accepts he has powers and then has to give up his legit job. His powers seem really intriguing.
It’s so very hard to know where anyone’s loyalties are here. I don’t like how Fleet keeps getting trampled by Lydia, she believes Paul Fox over Fleet when Fleet keeps proving himself over and over. Who can Lydia trust, really? This book did throw a little bit of a doubt for me with Fleet, but I really do believe he is all in for her. I can’t help but wonder how strong he and Lydia will be as a combined force once he accepts he has powers and then has to give up his legit job. His powers seem really intriguing.
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June 29, 2025An on-page murder of an innocent person is not cosy! And Lydia was about to sell said innocent person. Selling people is not cosy. Argh.
The first chance Lydia gets to show Fleet that she trusts him by being honest with him, she lies through her teeth. As soon as he catches her in the lie, he forgives her--even though she explicitly lied to his face, tampered with a crime scene and destroyed evidence. Then Lydia gets disproportionally upset that he withheld information from her that he had know for half a day and was going to tell her at dinner that night. He apologises! He asks her to use her Crow power to confirm he's telling the truth.
I bought the books 4-6 omnibus, so I'll keep reading, but after that I'm done.
The first chance Lydia gets to show Fleet that she trusts him by being honest with him, she lies through her teeth. As soon as he catches her in the lie, he forgives her--even though she explicitly lied to his face, tampered with a crime scene and destroyed evidence. Then Lydia gets disproportionally upset that he withheld information from her that he had know for half a day and was going to tell her at dinner that night. He apologises! He asks her to use her Crow power to confirm he's telling the truth.
I bought the books 4-6 omnibus, so I'll keep reading, but after that I'm done.
December 23, 2020
Omg! I have no words and I can’t wait for the next one!
This series can’t get any better! I enjoyed Copper Heart from beginning to end and I only want more!!!
Sarah Painter did it again. She wrote yet an other amazing book in this epic magical series I have grown to love and adore ☺️
If you don’t know the series yet, I can only say, what are you waiting for?!
It’s starts small, but boy it goes big! With every book the plot thickens and the story continues growing in a well orchestrated saga of magical families intertwined more then they which to care fore... Where will it end, or should I say where did it begin?
Can’t wait for the next one 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This series can’t get any better! I enjoyed Copper Heart from beginning to end and I only want more!!!
Sarah Painter did it again. She wrote yet an other amazing book in this epic magical series I have grown to love and adore ☺️
If you don’t know the series yet, I can only say, what are you waiting for?!
It’s starts small, but boy it goes big! With every book the plot thickens and the story continues growing in a well orchestrated saga of magical families intertwined more then they which to care fore... Where will it end, or should I say where did it begin?
Can’t wait for the next one 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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January 6, 2021i finished this book last week, and i absolutely love the world in which it takes place. Lydia Crow is a wonderfully intricate character that navigates the world she finds herself in the very best she can. Very much like some of the best examples of my favorite urban fan authors, Sarah Painter takes great care to give us insight as to the danger of this unseen community of the Four Families and the real stakes of being raised up to power in an organization that she does not fully feel she has control over.
I had an opportunity to engage with the author on twitter or brief moment, and she was kind and friendly in a way that some of my favorite authors engage in social media, such as Chuck Wendig, Kevin Hearne, and Richard Kadrey often do. I have to admit that I quite easily ripped through the first five books in the series within a month or so. I'll eagerly be waiting for the next notification that a new installment has been published.
I had an opportunity to engage with the author on twitter or brief moment, and she was kind and friendly in a way that some of my favorite authors engage in social media, such as Chuck Wendig, Kevin Hearne, and Richard Kadrey often do. I have to admit that I quite easily ripped through the first five books in the series within a month or so. I'll eagerly be waiting for the next notification that a new installment has been published.
March 5, 2021
This book shoves Lydia back into an uncomfortable position. Now she is head of the Crow family, trying to make the family legitimate and continue to date her cop boyfriend. Needless to say everything is not going swimmingly when the ex-head of the Silver family turns up dead. Lydia feels she must investigate in order to prove a Crow had no part in the death and prevent a war between the families. Just to add to the stress the head of the Fox family, and her ex-boyfriend, has suggested a different kind of alliance.
I enjoy this world and the characters. It is a different type of urban fantasy with what feels like a narrow scope. Lydia does not like confronting problems head on or talking about issues so there is an underlying feeling of flying blind. I do not really relate to Lydia as much but I am interested to see where she goes from here. The ending is quite the surprise for Lydia but I was kind of expecting it:)
I enjoy this world and the characters. It is a different type of urban fantasy with what feels like a narrow scope. Lydia does not like confronting problems head on or talking about issues so there is an underlying feeling of flying blind. I do not really relate to Lydia as much but I am interested to see where she goes from here. The ending is quite the surprise for Lydia but I was kind of expecting it:)
December 25, 2020
Really enjoys this next installment.
Was most surprised when it came to the end, I felt this book ended too soon and the next will be a continuation of it. Whereas the other books have have completed the immediate events going on, this on feels like it has decidedly unfinished business and we are now getting to the climax of Lydia's story.
Excellently written as always, Sarah has a knack for emotional pace within the characters. I wonder whether she edits out more, because it sometimes feels like there could easily be more in her book, they could be longer and it would not harm the suspense, if anything it would be better, because the end flew by at a frightening rate I was so absorbed!! I could have done with a few more pages to slow me down!
Cannot wait for the next book! I guess I'll have too!
Was most surprised when it came to the end, I felt this book ended too soon and the next will be a continuation of it. Whereas the other books have have completed the immediate events going on, this on feels like it has decidedly unfinished business and we are now getting to the climax of Lydia's story.
Excellently written as always, Sarah has a knack for emotional pace within the characters. I wonder whether she edits out more, because it sometimes feels like there could easily be more in her book, they could be longer and it would not harm the suspense, if anything it would be better, because the end flew by at a frightening rate I was so absorbed!! I could have done with a few more pages to slow me down!
Cannot wait for the next book! I guess I'll have too!
December 23, 2020
One reason to love this series is that its smart.
So many paranormal authors treat their readers as though they're stupid. There is so much chaff in the genre. Sarah Painter respects her readers. This series is an example of that. Our MC is smart, logical and careful. She is in an ugly world and Painter shows that seedy side. Though the MC isn't an anti hero, she also doesn't rate as a law abiding citizen. She can't, given her Family ties and responsibilities. The story is tightly woven. The characters grow. The plot is allowed complexities, another example of Painter's respect for her readers not being brainless. Start at book one and enjoy an unusual and well written urban fantasy series.
So many paranormal authors treat their readers as though they're stupid. There is so much chaff in the genre. Sarah Painter respects her readers. This series is an example of that. Our MC is smart, logical and careful. She is in an ugly world and Painter shows that seedy side. Though the MC isn't an anti hero, she also doesn't rate as a law abiding citizen. She can't, given her Family ties and responsibilities. The story is tightly woven. The characters grow. The plot is allowed complexities, another example of Painter's respect for her readers not being brainless. Start at book one and enjoy an unusual and well written urban fantasy series.
November 18, 2024
Auch dieses Buch hat mich gut unterhalten. Ab hier wird es schon allein durch die Prämisse etwas chaotisch mit der Handlung, da viele Stränge parallel zueinander verlaufen.
Wer die Reihe gerne bis zum vierten Teil gelesen hat, kann auch den fünften Band lesen. Die Geschichte um Lydia und ihre Familie/Freunde wird gut weitergeführt.
This book also entertained me well. From here on, the premise alone makes the plot a bit chaotic, as many threads run parallel to each other.
If you have enjoyed reading the series up to the fourth part, you can also read the fifth volume. The story about Lydia and her family/friends continues well.
Wer die Reihe gerne bis zum vierten Teil gelesen hat, kann auch den fünften Band lesen. Die Geschichte um Lydia und ihre Familie/Freunde wird gut weitergeführt.
This book also entertained me well. From here on, the premise alone makes the plot a bit chaotic, as many threads run parallel to each other.
If you have enjoyed reading the series up to the fourth part, you can also read the fifth volume. The story about Lydia and her family/friends continues well.
December 17, 2020
In the fifth installment of the Crow Investigation series, Lydia Crow is struggling to navigate a new role: leading her Family. In addition to cementing the loyalties of her own Crows, the other Families, and other forces, are jostling for power. This rich urban fantasy has a smart heart, interweaving multiple threads drawn from a colorful tapestry that Sarah Painter has laid across familiar old London town. The series grows with each novel, teasing out new characters and new mysteries. If you love intrigue, urban fantasy, humor, and a touch of romance this series is for you!
December 18, 2020
I like stories with a strong female protagonist. Add some magic and mystery and I am hooked.
I have read all the Crow Investigations books to date and this one develops Lydia's character as the leader of the Crow family as well as her relationship with Fleet. A mysterious assassin and some inter-Family disputes add some meat to the plot.
Sarah rightly doesn't feel obliged to pad the story out with too much background. If readers want to know "The story so far", let them read the earlier books.
My only complaint is that I got to the end too quickly, but I will read it again.
I have read all the Crow Investigations books to date and this one develops Lydia's character as the leader of the Crow family as well as her relationship with Fleet. A mysterious assassin and some inter-Family disputes add some meat to the plot.
Sarah rightly doesn't feel obliged to pad the story out with too much background. If readers want to know "The story so far", let them read the earlier books.
My only complaint is that I got to the end too quickly, but I will read it again.
April 17, 2023
Up until this book, this series has largely been a series of fun, quick reads.
This one was unexpectedly… super depressing? The story isn’t bad at all, but man, it was so restlessly bleak feeling that I struggled to read it and kept putting it down every 15 minutes just to get away from the whole thing. Lydia is trapped in pretty much every conceivable way, unhappy, even her Dad just like… basically abandons her?
Again, it was well crafted, even wonderfully creepy in a couple spots, but it just wasn’t at all fun. Like AT ALL.
This one was unexpectedly… super depressing? The story isn’t bad at all, but man, it was so restlessly bleak feeling that I struggled to read it and kept putting it down every 15 minutes just to get away from the whole thing. Lydia is trapped in pretty much every conceivable way, unhappy, even her Dad just like… basically abandons her?
Again, it was well crafted, even wonderfully creepy in a couple spots, but it just wasn’t at all fun. Like AT ALL.
March 19, 2024
Another great entry in this series - I very much enjoy listening to the adventures of Lydia, Fleet, Jason, and the other characters. I agree with some other reviewers that Fleet seems a bit trampled upon at times, and I hope Lydia can find a way to become more honest and open with him and give him the trust he really seems to deserve. I'm through the Audible Plus books now (one never knows when they might get removed from the plus catalogue) so I'll take a short break and get back to this series soon.
August 9, 2024
Why am I still rating this a 4??? I don’t know either. The issues I had with this book were assuaged as Lydia has gained some wisdom and is treating Fleet the way he deserves. And she’s starting to be less naive. Was I surprised by the ending? Absolutely not. Is the story getting really interesting? I think so. I’m completely freaked out at Rip Van Winkle, I mean, The Pearl King. Is there really enough space in the next book to tie up all these loose ends? The Pearl King deserves serious page time that I’m worried he won’t get.
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