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Nell Ward Mystery #1
A Murder of Crows
Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she’s the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name…
In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel, the last thing she expects to overhear is a murder. As the only person with any clues as to what happened, Nell soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.
Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might at first appear…
The start of an exciting new cosy crime series – perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis.
In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel, the last thing she expects to overhear is a murder. As the only person with any clues as to what happened, Nell soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.
Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might at first appear…
The start of an exciting new cosy crime series – perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2022
6632 people are currently reading
6348 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
20 books321 followersAfter spending sixteen years as an ecologist, crawling through undergrowth and studying nocturnal habits of animals (and people), Dr Sarah Yarwood-Lovett naturally turned her mind to murder. She may have swapped badgers for bears when she emigrated from a quaint village in the South Downs to the wild mountains of the Pacific Northwest, but her books remain firmly rooted in the rolling downland she grew up in.
Forensically studying clues for animal activity has seen Sarah surveying sites all over the UK and around the world. She’s re-discovered a British species thought to be extinct during her PhD, with her record held in London’s Natural History Museum; debated that important question – do bats wee on their faces? – at school workshops; survived a hurricane on a coral atoll whilst scuba diving to conduct marine surveys; and given evidence as an expert witness.
Along the way, she’s discovered a noose in an abandoned warehouse and had a survey de-railed by the bomb squad. Her unusual career has provided the perfect inspiration for a series of murder mysteries with an ecological twist – so, these days, Sarah’s research includes consulting detectives, lawyers, judges and attending murder trials.
Forensically studying clues for animal activity has seen Sarah surveying sites all over the UK and around the world. She’s re-discovered a British species thought to be extinct during her PhD, with her record held in London’s Natural History Museum; debated that important question – do bats wee on their faces? – at school workshops; survived a hurricane on a coral atoll whilst scuba diving to conduct marine surveys; and given evidence as an expert witness.
Along the way, she’s discovered a noose in an abandoned warehouse and had a survey de-railed by the bomb squad. Her unusual career has provided the perfect inspiration for a series of murder mysteries with an ecological twist – so, these days, Sarah’s research includes consulting detectives, lawyers, judges and attending murder trials.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,058 reviews
June 10, 2024
A Murder Of Crows narrated by Kristen Afferton was a top notch Detective 🕵️ police procedural that was fabulous the characters were well written & it kept me invested right the way through.
Nell Ward is an ecologist not a detective she is accused of murdering Sophie Crows , she uses her skills to clear her name in comes DSJames Clark to find out who the murderer is.
Sophie Crows body was found in a tunnel in the village of Cooking Dean in a mansion where Nell ward is busy working in the grounds of the manor house 🏠 Sophie was bludgeoned to death…why would someone do this & what is their agenda?
I loved the first in the Nell Ward mystery & will continue to the next instalment a must read.
Nell Ward is an ecologist not a detective she is accused of murdering Sophie Crows , she uses her skills to clear her name in comes DSJames Clark to find out who the murderer is.
Sophie Crows body was found in a tunnel in the village of Cooking Dean in a mansion where Nell ward is busy working in the grounds of the manor house 🏠 Sophie was bludgeoned to death…why would someone do this & what is their agenda?
I loved the first in the Nell Ward mystery & will continue to the next instalment a must read.
July 18, 2022
EXCERPT: 'You . . . you don't sound very fine. Why are you whispering?'
'Well, I've just been to the police, to tell them what I heard in the tunnel . . .'
'You did?' An exhale puffed down the line. 'I'm so relieved you told them. So now they'll realise you may be in danger. Offer some protection instead of treating you like a . . .'
'Yeah. That's not exactly how it went down. Oh . . . bollocks . . .' Nell crouched down low as the guard walked along the cordon towards her. She had hoped to speak to James; even if he thought she was pathetic, at least he seemed inclined to believe her. But, instead, it was Val who received Nell's update with the sceptical remark that, now that she was a person of interest, how handy it was that she could suddenly remember more details. The cynicism had pushed Nell to take a more . . . proactive approach.
'What are you doing?'
'I can't really speak now.'
The silence at the end of the line convinced Nell that he had gone and it wouldn't be rude to hang up. But as her thumb reached the button, Adam swore through the phone.
'Nell, I can see where you are. You're still sharing your location with me from doing the survey. What the bloody hell are you doing?'
ABOUT 'A MURDER OF CROWS': Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she’s the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name…
In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel, the last thing she expects to overhear is a murder. As the only person with any clues as to what happened, Nell soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.
Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might, at first appear…
MY THOUGHTS: A Murder of Crows is a nice cosy mystery with a twist - Lady Eleanor Ward-Beaumont, heiress, to a few select people; Dr Nell Ward, ecologist, to everyone else.
Don't go into A Murder of Crows expecting a tea and crumpets in front of the fire type of cosy; it's more hiking boots, waterproofs and bats, with the occasional flute of champagne. There are no 'cute' plays on words - excuse my sigh of relief - but you will learn a lot about bats. And Nell is quite adept at using her ecological survey equipment for surveillance on murder suspects.
There's lots of ecological trivia imparted (my life is much enriched by now being able to differentiate between rodent poo and bat poo), but at no point is it preachy or overwhelming. It's just worked nicely into the plot.
There's no shortage of suspects for the murder, and it's planning and execution is actually quite clever. Unusually for a cosy, there are chapters written from the investigating officers points of view, which I quite liked.
The possibility of romance is hinted at throughout with two men vying for Nell's attention, but she manages to get offside of both of them at various times.
I enjoyed this read, but once the murderer is exposed there's a little too much after story. I believe that this is the first in a proposed series, so perhaps the author is just setting the stage for what is to come. Time will tell.
I will be putting my hand up for a copy of the next in the series.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#AMurderofCrows #NetGalley
I: #sarahyarwood-lovett @emblabooks
T: @Sarah_Y_L @emblabooks
#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: After spending sixteen years as an ecologist, crawling through undergrowth and studying nocturnal habits of animals (and people), Dr Sarah Yarwood-Lovett naturally turned her mind to murder. She may have swapped badgers for bears when she emigrated from a quaint village in the South Downs to the wild mountains of the Pacific Northwest, but her books remain firmly rooted in the rolling downland she grew up in.
Forensically studying clues for animal activity has seen Sarah surveying sites all over the UK and around the world. She’s re-discovered a British species thought to be extinct during her PhD, with her record held in London’s Natural History Museum; debated that important question – do bats wee on their faces? – at school workshops; survived a hurricane on a coral atoll whilst scuba diving to conduct marine surveys; and given evidence as an expert witness.
Along the way, she’s discovered a noose in an abandoned warehouse and had a survey de-railed by the bomb squad. Her unusual career has provided the perfect inspiration for a series of murder mysteries with an ecological twist – so, these days, Sarah’s research includes consulting detectives, lawyers, judges and attending murder trials. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Embla Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Well, I've just been to the police, to tell them what I heard in the tunnel . . .'
'You did?' An exhale puffed down the line. 'I'm so relieved you told them. So now they'll realise you may be in danger. Offer some protection instead of treating you like a . . .'
'Yeah. That's not exactly how it went down. Oh . . . bollocks . . .' Nell crouched down low as the guard walked along the cordon towards her. She had hoped to speak to James; even if he thought she was pathetic, at least he seemed inclined to believe her. But, instead, it was Val who received Nell's update with the sceptical remark that, now that she was a person of interest, how handy it was that she could suddenly remember more details. The cynicism had pushed Nell to take a more . . . proactive approach.
'What are you doing?'
'I can't really speak now.'
The silence at the end of the line convinced Nell that he had gone and it wouldn't be rude to hang up. But as her thumb reached the button, Adam swore through the phone.
'Nell, I can see where you are. You're still sharing your location with me from doing the survey. What the bloody hell are you doing?'
ABOUT 'A MURDER OF CROWS': Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she’s the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name…
In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel, the last thing she expects to overhear is a murder. As the only person with any clues as to what happened, Nell soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.
Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might, at first appear…
MY THOUGHTS: A Murder of Crows is a nice cosy mystery with a twist - Lady Eleanor Ward-Beaumont, heiress, to a few select people; Dr Nell Ward, ecologist, to everyone else.
Don't go into A Murder of Crows expecting a tea and crumpets in front of the fire type of cosy; it's more hiking boots, waterproofs and bats, with the occasional flute of champagne. There are no 'cute' plays on words - excuse my sigh of relief - but you will learn a lot about bats. And Nell is quite adept at using her ecological survey equipment for surveillance on murder suspects.
There's lots of ecological trivia imparted (my life is much enriched by now being able to differentiate between rodent poo and bat poo), but at no point is it preachy or overwhelming. It's just worked nicely into the plot.
There's no shortage of suspects for the murder, and it's planning and execution is actually quite clever. Unusually for a cosy, there are chapters written from the investigating officers points of view, which I quite liked.
The possibility of romance is hinted at throughout with two men vying for Nell's attention, but she manages to get offside of both of them at various times.
I enjoyed this read, but once the murderer is exposed there's a little too much after story. I believe that this is the first in a proposed series, so perhaps the author is just setting the stage for what is to come. Time will tell.
I will be putting my hand up for a copy of the next in the series.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#AMurderofCrows #NetGalley
I: #sarahyarwood-lovett @emblabooks
T: @Sarah_Y_L @emblabooks
#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: After spending sixteen years as an ecologist, crawling through undergrowth and studying nocturnal habits of animals (and people), Dr Sarah Yarwood-Lovett naturally turned her mind to murder. She may have swapped badgers for bears when she emigrated from a quaint village in the South Downs to the wild mountains of the Pacific Northwest, but her books remain firmly rooted in the rolling downland she grew up in.
Forensically studying clues for animal activity has seen Sarah surveying sites all over the UK and around the world. She’s re-discovered a British species thought to be extinct during her PhD, with her record held in London’s Natural History Museum; debated that important question – do bats wee on their faces? – at school workshops; survived a hurricane on a coral atoll whilst scuba diving to conduct marine surveys; and given evidence as an expert witness.
Along the way, she’s discovered a noose in an abandoned warehouse and had a survey de-railed by the bomb squad. Her unusual career has provided the perfect inspiration for a series of murder mysteries with an ecological twist – so, these days, Sarah’s research includes consulting detectives, lawyers, judges and attending murder trials. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Embla Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 26, 2022
Her first published book, A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett is a murder mystery. Ecologist Nell Ward works in a Manor House where she discovers a body in an old tunnel. Being on the scene of the crime makes her a major suspect and her helpful assistance raises the police’s suspicions even further. Hiding secrets of her own and trying to solve the case herself, leads to Nell’s arrest. Intended as the first in a series, the murder was solved three-quarters of the way through the story, leaving the final section of the book superfluous, except for the character development and setting up the next instalment. With the plethora of soft crime renaissance occurring, this captivatingly titled book was somewhat disappointing with an okay two and a half star rating. With thanks to Embla Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
August 10, 2024
I finished the book but was close to put it down several times.
It is not the crime plot that i didn't like, but the main character and the love triangle. The main character is an ecologist called Dr Nell Ward. At first sight she's a professional independent woman around 32-33 years old, but that doesn't last long. She immediately starts behaving like a teenager with the hots for two different men and this takes pages of interfering thoughts (about his biceps and her butterflies or literally hot flashes when one of the two looks at her...) in the middle of the conversation and action. On top of that all along the book she just seems stupid and lucky to have her the background she has to take her out of the pickle she gets in with her hot leather pants.
I don't think I'll read another one.
It is not the crime plot that i didn't like, but the main character and the love triangle. The main character is an ecologist called Dr Nell Ward. At first sight she's a professional independent woman around 32-33 years old, but that doesn't last long. She immediately starts behaving like a teenager with the hots for two different men and this takes pages of interfering thoughts (about his biceps and her butterflies or literally hot flashes when one of the two looks at her...) in the middle of the conversation and action. On top of that all along the book she just seems stupid and lucky to have her the background she has to take her out of the pickle she gets in with her hot leather pants.
I don't think I'll read another one.
August 29, 2025
A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
Synopsis /
Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she’s the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name…
In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel, the last thing she expects to overhear is a murder. As the only person with any clues as to what happened, Nell soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.
Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might at first appear…
My Thoughts /
Outlier Review Ahead
More straight up murder mystery than cozy mystery A Murder of Crows is the first book in the Nell Ward Mystery series by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett.
Don't let that cover fool you, this has nothing to do with 'crows', as in birds; this one has to do with the murder of landowner, Sophie Crows – whose beaten body was found at the end of a tunnel in which Dr Nell Ward was surveying as part of her work as an ecologist, after being hired to conduct an ecological survey on the grounds of Manor House Farm. Inspecting the old disused tunnel - apart from the creep factor, the last thing Nell expected to hear were strange noises that made it appear as though she wasn't alone – so Nell did the next best thing - she hotfoot it out of there quick.
When the police arrive on her doorstep a few days later and advised her that the owner of Manor House Farm, Sophie Crows, has been found dead, Nell realised that the noises she overheard might have been the murder taking place. The police have connected the dots insofar as they knew that Nell had been in the tunnel and it seems she is now their number one suspect.
The investigation is led by DCI Val Johnson and DS James Clark from the Major Crime Team at Pendlebury Police Station. Seemingly, the only other person besides the victim, the police can place her at the crime scene and, she has no credible alibi. In an effort to clear her name, Nell and her work colleague Adam set out to solve the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no-one else would notice.
The story continues with alternating POVs between Nell and DS James Parker.
Taking away from the mystery thread, the author has written in an attraction element between Ward and Parker; with each being attracted to the other from the first meeting. Ugh.
Should I get the t-shirt? Ecologists do it better. As that's how it seems to this reader when it appears that Ward is the only one intelligent enough to solve this crime.
I didn't mind the mystery element, but when the author kept proffering up essays of dialogue on ecology and bats my eyes tended to wander and I found myself skipping huge portions of descriptive text.
With the crime being solved three-quarters of the way through, that left a plethora of pages to devote to……more extraneous ecological facts; bats; a burgeoning love interest; and a possible scene scenario for the next book.
Crime. 🕵️♀️ Romance. 😘 Non-Fiction. 📚 I've nothing against any of these (yes, despite what I've written here). IMHO the combination didn't work here. Maybe just pick a lane and stay in it. 🏃🏃♀️➡️
Synopsis /
Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she’s the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name…
In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel, the last thing she expects to overhear is a murder. As the only person with any clues as to what happened, Nell soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.
Desperate to clear her name Nell, along with her colleague Adam, set out solving the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no one else would notice. But it soon becomes clear that playing Agatha Christie is much harder than it might at first appear…
My Thoughts /
Outlier Review Ahead
More straight up murder mystery than cozy mystery A Murder of Crows is the first book in the Nell Ward Mystery series by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett.
Don't let that cover fool you, this has nothing to do with 'crows', as in birds; this one has to do with the murder of landowner, Sophie Crows – whose beaten body was found at the end of a tunnel in which Dr Nell Ward was surveying as part of her work as an ecologist, after being hired to conduct an ecological survey on the grounds of Manor House Farm. Inspecting the old disused tunnel - apart from the creep factor, the last thing Nell expected to hear were strange noises that made it appear as though she wasn't alone – so Nell did the next best thing - she hotfoot it out of there quick.
When the police arrive on her doorstep a few days later and advised her that the owner of Manor House Farm, Sophie Crows, has been found dead, Nell realised that the noises she overheard might have been the murder taking place. The police have connected the dots insofar as they knew that Nell had been in the tunnel and it seems she is now their number one suspect.
The investigation is led by DCI Val Johnson and DS James Clark from the Major Crime Team at Pendlebury Police Station. Seemingly, the only other person besides the victim, the police can place her at the crime scene and, she has no credible alibi. In an effort to clear her name, Nell and her work colleague Adam set out to solve the murder using their skills as ecologists to uncover details no-one else would notice.
The story continues with alternating POVs between Nell and DS James Parker.
Taking away from the mystery thread, the author has written in an attraction element between Ward and Parker; with each being attracted to the other from the first meeting. Ugh.
Should I get the t-shirt? Ecologists do it better. As that's how it seems to this reader when it appears that Ward is the only one intelligent enough to solve this crime.
I didn't mind the mystery element, but when the author kept proffering up essays of dialogue on ecology and bats my eyes tended to wander and I found myself skipping huge portions of descriptive text.
With the crime being solved three-quarters of the way through, that left a plethora of pages to devote to……more extraneous ecological facts; bats; a burgeoning love interest; and a possible scene scenario for the next book.
Crime. 🕵️♀️ Romance. 😘 Non-Fiction. 📚 I've nothing against any of these (yes, despite what I've written here). IMHO the combination didn't work here. Maybe just pick a lane and stay in it. 🏃🏃♀️➡️
June 22, 2022
I did not like it. My main gripe is that there was too much going on. A detective POV, main character POV, secret identity, love triangle, and then so much made zero sense.
June 20, 2022
A Murder of Crows is the first book in the Nell Ward Mystery series by British-born ecologist and author, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. When Sophie Crows head is bashed in with a half brick in a tunnel under Manor House Farm, it turns out there are quite a few people with motive and opportunity, and it’s up to DS James Clark to untangle that mess.
Sophie had a meeting scheduled with ecologist Dr Nell Ward on the afternoon she died, but never turned up. Nell had spent all day doing a survey of Manor Park Farm, and was somewhere in that tunnel when Sophie was murdered, so now she’s a suspect.
Sophie’s husband of eight months, developer David Stephenson was, at the time of Sophie’s murder, at a conference in nearby Pendlebury, networking to get council approval for the development he has planned for Manor House Farm, which is not, in fact, the equestrian centre that Sophie thought they were creating. Was he aware that Sophie had learned of this betrayal, had changed her will, and begun divorce proceedings?
It was the intended bequest of Sophie’s grandmother Marjorie Crows that would allow her to build her longed-for centre. Together with her solicitor, Andrew Arden, this fit and healthy elderly woman, living at Applewood Residential Care Home, was determined to thwart David’s plans. So when Marjorie is suddenly rushed to hospital, James and his team suspect foul play.
Within days of Sophie’s murder, the police have two main suspects: one with no alibi and no apparent motive; the other with plenty of motive but a strong alibi; concentrating on the former puts Nell’s true identity and an unhappy past incident under the spotlight as the police jump to erroneous conclusions.
Against the advice of her legal counsel, Nell decides she needs to conduct her own investigation to prove her innocence and, luckily, her colleague, Dr Adam Kashyap is ready to help. Of course, the pair are doing this without the benefit of information the police have about the convoluted situation with the wills and their conditions, prospective divorce proceedings, and alibis. Our ecologists are working it from the plant and wildlife angle.
Yarwood-Lovett’s first novel is cleverly plotted, has some appealing characters and enough twists and red herrings to keep the pages turning right up to the dramatic climax. There’s also potential romance with Nell’s admirers to add a bit of spice. This cosy mystery is followed by at least two more: A Cast of Falcons and A Mischief of Rats. A very entertaining debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Embla Books
Sophie had a meeting scheduled with ecologist Dr Nell Ward on the afternoon she died, but never turned up. Nell had spent all day doing a survey of Manor Park Farm, and was somewhere in that tunnel when Sophie was murdered, so now she’s a suspect.
Sophie’s husband of eight months, developer David Stephenson was, at the time of Sophie’s murder, at a conference in nearby Pendlebury, networking to get council approval for the development he has planned for Manor House Farm, which is not, in fact, the equestrian centre that Sophie thought they were creating. Was he aware that Sophie had learned of this betrayal, had changed her will, and begun divorce proceedings?
It was the intended bequest of Sophie’s grandmother Marjorie Crows that would allow her to build her longed-for centre. Together with her solicitor, Andrew Arden, this fit and healthy elderly woman, living at Applewood Residential Care Home, was determined to thwart David’s plans. So when Marjorie is suddenly rushed to hospital, James and his team suspect foul play.
Within days of Sophie’s murder, the police have two main suspects: one with no alibi and no apparent motive; the other with plenty of motive but a strong alibi; concentrating on the former puts Nell’s true identity and an unhappy past incident under the spotlight as the police jump to erroneous conclusions.
Against the advice of her legal counsel, Nell decides she needs to conduct her own investigation to prove her innocence and, luckily, her colleague, Dr Adam Kashyap is ready to help. Of course, the pair are doing this without the benefit of information the police have about the convoluted situation with the wills and their conditions, prospective divorce proceedings, and alibis. Our ecologists are working it from the plant and wildlife angle.
Yarwood-Lovett’s first novel is cleverly plotted, has some appealing characters and enough twists and red herrings to keep the pages turning right up to the dramatic climax. There’s also potential romance with Nell’s admirers to add a bit of spice. This cosy mystery is followed by at least two more: A Cast of Falcons and A Mischief of Rats. A very entertaining debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Embla Books
May 14, 2023
This was a fun and engaging little mystery. Some of my enjoyment may have derived from the contrast with my previous read, which was long and tedious, but I have already placed a hold on the next in this series at the library. There were several factors that influenced me to choose this book: it is advertised as “perfect for those who loved Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club.” I'm uncertain what the connection between the two is, but I did really enjoy both of them. Secondly, the main character is an ecologist and there is a lot of natural history detail, which I always enjoy. And, of course, the title which featured crows attracted the birder in me.
I suppose one similarity to Osman might be the main character, Nell's, hidden depths, somewhat similar to the resourceful Elizabeth. They couldn't be more different though in age or intrepidness. Nell is a young woman who is trying to establish a professional reputation for herself. She is young enough that a handsome man is a distraction for her, even if he is the police officer who is charged with investigating her potential involvement in a murder case. Nell is a competent ecologist, but ends up falling back on family connections, unlike the independent Elizabeth.
If you are allergic to love triangles, you may develop a rash while reading this book, as Nell also has a flirtatious relationship with a coworker. Peeking ahead at the description of book two, it seems that will resolve soon, so I wouldn't necessarily worry too much about it, but perhaps it's better to be forewarned. A minor complaint is that the crows promised in the title don't appear in the novel.
So, I would recommend this cozy mystery on its own merit. Put The Thursday Murder Club out of your mind and enjoy A Murder of Crows for itself.
I suppose one similarity to Osman might be the main character, Nell's, hidden depths, somewhat similar to the resourceful Elizabeth. They couldn't be more different though in age or intrepidness. Nell is a young woman who is trying to establish a professional reputation for herself. She is young enough that a handsome man is a distraction for her, even if he is the police officer who is charged with investigating her potential involvement in a murder case. Nell is a competent ecologist, but ends up falling back on family connections, unlike the independent Elizabeth.
If you are allergic to love triangles, you may develop a rash while reading this book, as Nell also has a flirtatious relationship with a coworker. Peeking ahead at the description of book two, it seems that will resolve soon, so I wouldn't necessarily worry too much about it, but perhaps it's better to be forewarned. A minor complaint is that the crows promised in the title don't appear in the novel.
So, I would recommend this cozy mystery on its own merit. Put The Thursday Murder Club out of your mind and enjoy A Murder of Crows for itself.
July 15, 2023
I finished listening to this one yesterday. The narrator, Kristin Atherton is excellent - one of the best - IMO! She's the reason I bought this book. It's a murder mystery and it's well written and keeps a steady pace. The author must know or must work as an ecologist or be an expert in bats as all that information was very interesting, but it didn't sound like a lecture - it tied in nicely with the main character's profession and with the murder. I've one complaint
I've the next book already downloaded so if you like mysteries with a touch of romance and some interesting ecological facts, then this is for you. :D
I've the next book already downloaded so if you like mysteries with a touch of romance and some interesting ecological facts, then this is for you. :D
November 9, 2023
DNF'd in the final chapter because I just didn't care any more.
I wanted to preface my review by saying this book started out with promise and I genuinely enjoyed reading about the importance of ecology and how ecologists perform various tests etc. The author has a really engaging way of writing and it did actually make me stop at several points to look things up about bats and badgers. Genuinely, loved that.
The rest of this book is a sometimes nasty, definitely vindictive power fantasy about how hard it is to be a rich, smart, clever, beautiful ecologist in a world otherwise filled with shallow women who only care about money and sex, and the protagonist is so obviously a self-insert for the writer herself that I'm amazed she didn't accidentally get her character's name wrong here or there.
Doctor Nell Ward, who is actually an Earl's daughter who has an ex-Marine Major on speed-dial and a fleet of cool cars (something something environment something something) and is really really really gorgeous and everybody falls in love with her but she can't get a boyfriend because something traumatic happened to her in the past but it's fine now except when it's not, anyway, Nell is really clever and cool and awesome and everyone around her is an idiot which is why she is falsely accused of murder and has to solve the crime herself. (She actually doesn't solve the crime via any special means or actions, she just gets lucky - a hilarious plot point when she explains 75% of the book whining about how people think things are just handed to her because of her wealth and then she just. Has the solution handed to her). There's a really disgusting subplot where the author creates a Gen Z character - Erin - who sounds off about rich people getting what they want whilst trying to "steal" Nell's love interest Adam and it is so painfully obvious that the author desperately needs therapy, not a writing career, and that Erin is probably a real person who actually exists in the real world that the author wanted to vent about.
But isn't this a whodunnit? No, not really. The victim is barely discussed (she's little more than a corpse for us to pity), it's super obvious who did it and why and how from the start, and the mystery is spread so thin over the 200+ pages of the book that having to trudge through the tedious OH NO WHICH OF THESE TWO GORGEOUS MEN WILL OUR GORGEOUS SMART CLEVER AMAZING PROTAGONIST FALL FOR makes me wish someone had murdered me before I had the misfortune to start reading.
Then there are the police. Usually I like a bit of cathartic "police arrest the wrong person" action in a whodunnit but the cops in this book are so deliriously stupid that I find it hard to believe any of them manage to make their toast in the morning without burning their own station down. They not only decide Nell done it because of a single photograph they find in her home proving she once met the murder victim in passing over a decade previously, but also because of an email she didn't receive. You see, the actual murderer copied her in on an email changing the time of Nell's meeting with the victim by an hour to make it look like she did it, only they used a full stop (.) instead of a comma (,) to ensure Nell wouldn't receive the email and would turn up at the original time. This is stupid because the police would know Nell didn't receive the email by checking her incoming email server, which has been standard practice Approximately Forever, but instead they don't do this so the author can convince us the police also hate Nell for being so super cool and smart and wicked and funny and extra. The NCIS scene of two people typing on the same keyboard to make typing happen faster is smarter than this so called plot-point and I had to re-read it several times to make sure I wasn't missing anything because. The author genuinely thinks this is how emails work. IN 2023.
Oh, and, the book's title? Has no relevance to the plot whatsoever. The ecology issues raised are about badgers and bats, so the faux intellectualism of using the collective noun of 'MURDER of Crows' is about as surface level clever as the rest of the book (i.e. really dumb if you think about it for more than a minute or so).
I have no idea how there are five more of these at time of review. I can only assume in the next book we also discover Nell herself used to be a Marine and can fly a private jet and is the queen's super secret special friend and cures cancer in her spare time.
I wanted to preface my review by saying this book started out with promise and I genuinely enjoyed reading about the importance of ecology and how ecologists perform various tests etc. The author has a really engaging way of writing and it did actually make me stop at several points to look things up about bats and badgers. Genuinely, loved that.
The rest of this book is a sometimes nasty, definitely vindictive power fantasy about how hard it is to be a rich, smart, clever, beautiful ecologist in a world otherwise filled with shallow women who only care about money and sex, and the protagonist is so obviously a self-insert for the writer herself that I'm amazed she didn't accidentally get her character's name wrong here or there.
Doctor Nell Ward, who is actually an Earl's daughter who has an ex-Marine Major on speed-dial and a fleet of cool cars (something something environment something something) and is really really really gorgeous and everybody falls in love with her but she can't get a boyfriend because something traumatic happened to her in the past but it's fine now except when it's not, anyway, Nell is really clever and cool and awesome and everyone around her is an idiot which is why she is falsely accused of murder and has to solve the crime herself. (She actually doesn't solve the crime via any special means or actions, she just gets lucky - a hilarious plot point when she explains 75% of the book whining about how people think things are just handed to her because of her wealth and then she just. Has the solution handed to her). There's a really disgusting subplot where the author creates a Gen Z character - Erin - who sounds off about rich people getting what they want whilst trying to "steal" Nell's love interest Adam and it is so painfully obvious that the author desperately needs therapy, not a writing career, and that Erin is probably a real person who actually exists in the real world that the author wanted to vent about.
But isn't this a whodunnit? No, not really. The victim is barely discussed (she's little more than a corpse for us to pity), it's super obvious who did it and why and how from the start, and the mystery is spread so thin over the 200+ pages of the book that having to trudge through the tedious OH NO WHICH OF THESE TWO GORGEOUS MEN WILL OUR GORGEOUS SMART CLEVER AMAZING PROTAGONIST FALL FOR makes me wish someone had murdered me before I had the misfortune to start reading.
Then there are the police. Usually I like a bit of cathartic "police arrest the wrong person" action in a whodunnit but the cops in this book are so deliriously stupid that I find it hard to believe any of them manage to make their toast in the morning without burning their own station down. They not only decide Nell done it because of a single photograph they find in her home proving she once met the murder victim in passing over a decade previously, but also because of an email she didn't receive. You see, the actual murderer copied her in on an email changing the time of Nell's meeting with the victim by an hour to make it look like she did it, only they used a full stop (.) instead of a comma (,) to ensure Nell wouldn't receive the email and would turn up at the original time. This is stupid because the police would know Nell didn't receive the email by checking her incoming email server, which has been standard practice Approximately Forever, but instead they don't do this so the author can convince us the police also hate Nell for being so super cool and smart and wicked and funny and extra. The NCIS scene of two people typing on the same keyboard to make typing happen faster is smarter than this so called plot-point and I had to re-read it several times to make sure I wasn't missing anything because. The author genuinely thinks this is how emails work. IN 2023.
Oh, and, the book's title? Has no relevance to the plot whatsoever. The ecology issues raised are about badgers and bats, so the faux intellectualism of using the collective noun of 'MURDER of Crows' is about as surface level clever as the rest of the book (i.e. really dumb if you think about it for more than a minute or so).
I have no idea how there are five more of these at time of review. I can only assume in the next book we also discover Nell herself used to be a Marine and can fly a private jet and is the queen's super secret special friend and cures cancer in her spare time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2023
Abandoned - populated with annoying characters, and told in a weird YA-meets-mystery-meets-chicklit fashion. For instance, The internal monologue was debilitatingly YA. So much so that I went back and checked if I'd made a mistake in picking up the book. But no, it's a regular book for adults, with many comparisons to Richard Osman that I would completely disagree with. In fact, I completely disagree with the comparisons to Agatha Christie as well. About the only thing I enjoyed was the detailed description of bats and other ecology-related stuff. Not finishing this book, and certainly giving subsequent ones a wide berth.
June 23, 2024
I take you on vacation with me and this is how you repay me?? Appalling. Straight to jail.
October 11, 2022
A Murder of Crows is the first book in the Nell Ward Mystery series by British-born ecologist and author, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. The audio version is narrated by Kristin Atherton. When Sophie Crows head is bashed in with a half brick in a tunnel under Manor House Farm, it turns out there are quite a few people with motive and opportunity, and it’s up to DS James Clark to untangle that mess.
Sophie had a meeting scheduled with ecologist Dr Nell Ward on the afternoon she died, but never turned up. Nell had spent all day doing a survey of Manor Park Farm, and was somewhere in that tunnel when Sophie was murdered, so now she’s a suspect.
Sophie’s husband of eight months, developer David Stephenson was, at the time of Sophie’s murder, at a conference in nearby Pendlebury, networking to get council approval for the development he has planned for Manor House Farm, which is not, in fact, the equestrian centre that Sophie thought they were creating. Was he aware that Sophie had learned of this betrayal, had changed her will, and begun divorce proceedings?
It was the intended bequest of Sophie’s grandmother Marjorie Crows that would allow her to build her longed-for centre. Together with her solicitor, Andrew Arden, this fit and healthy elderly woman, living at Applewood Residential Care Home, was determined to thwart David’s plans. So when Marjorie is suddenly rushed to hospital, James and his team suspect foul play.
Within days of Sophie’s murder, the police have two main suspects: one with no alibi and no apparent motive; the other with plenty of motive but a strong alibi; concentrating on the former puts Nell’s true identity and an unhappy past incident under the spotlight as the police jump to erroneous conclusions.
Against the advice of her legal counsel, Nell decides she needs to conduct her own investigation to prove her innocence and, luckily, her colleague, Dr Adam Kashyap is ready to help. Of course, the pair are doing this without the benefit of information the police have about the convoluted situation with the wills and their conditions, prospective divorce proceedings, and alibis. Our ecologists are working it from the plant and wildlife angle.
Yarwood-Lovett’s first novel is cleverly plotted, has some appealing characters and enough twists and red herrings to keep the pages turning right up to the dramatic climax. There’s also potential romance with Nell’s admirers to add a bit of spice. This cosy mystery is followed by at least two more: A Cast of Falcons and A Mischief of Rats. A very entertaining debut.
Sophie had a meeting scheduled with ecologist Dr Nell Ward on the afternoon she died, but never turned up. Nell had spent all day doing a survey of Manor Park Farm, and was somewhere in that tunnel when Sophie was murdered, so now she’s a suspect.
Sophie’s husband of eight months, developer David Stephenson was, at the time of Sophie’s murder, at a conference in nearby Pendlebury, networking to get council approval for the development he has planned for Manor House Farm, which is not, in fact, the equestrian centre that Sophie thought they were creating. Was he aware that Sophie had learned of this betrayal, had changed her will, and begun divorce proceedings?
It was the intended bequest of Sophie’s grandmother Marjorie Crows that would allow her to build her longed-for centre. Together with her solicitor, Andrew Arden, this fit and healthy elderly woman, living at Applewood Residential Care Home, was determined to thwart David’s plans. So when Marjorie is suddenly rushed to hospital, James and his team suspect foul play.
Within days of Sophie’s murder, the police have two main suspects: one with no alibi and no apparent motive; the other with plenty of motive but a strong alibi; concentrating on the former puts Nell’s true identity and an unhappy past incident under the spotlight as the police jump to erroneous conclusions.
Against the advice of her legal counsel, Nell decides she needs to conduct her own investigation to prove her innocence and, luckily, her colleague, Dr Adam Kashyap is ready to help. Of course, the pair are doing this without the benefit of information the police have about the convoluted situation with the wills and their conditions, prospective divorce proceedings, and alibis. Our ecologists are working it from the plant and wildlife angle.
Yarwood-Lovett’s first novel is cleverly plotted, has some appealing characters and enough twists and red herrings to keep the pages turning right up to the dramatic climax. There’s also potential romance with Nell’s admirers to add a bit of spice. This cosy mystery is followed by at least two more: A Cast of Falcons and A Mischief of Rats. A very entertaining debut.
December 22, 2025
Trama/Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Personaggi/Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stile/Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Primo libro di una serie mistery molto interessante, Il delitto di Sophie Crows è un libro che risulta anche molto divertente – nonostante la tematica – e interessante (direi, nonostante la presenza dei pipistrelli!). I personaggi sono inusuali, particolari, Nell – la protagonista – nasconde molto del suo passato e anche del suo presente e solo sul finire del libro sembra riuscire a venirne a patti, ad accettarlo ed accettarsi per quello che è. Non mancano i primi accenni ad una possibile storia d'amore, immagino che si svilupperà nei prossimi libri, con tanto di triangolo (in questo momento, non saprei davvero chi scegliere tra i due interessi amorosi di Nell). Il mistero che sta alla base della trama è ben congegnato, architettato così bene che non è affatto semplice capire chi ha ucciso Sophie Crows, né come abbia fatto, nonostante tutti gli indizi ci vengano forniti durante la lettura, niente viene nascosto agli occhi del lettore. Sicuramente leggerò anche il successivo libro della serie.
***
The first book in a very interesting mystery series, A murder of Crows is a novel that is also very funny - despite the theme - and interesting (I would say, despite the presence of bats!). The characters are unusual andparticular, Nell - the novel's main character - hides a lot from her past and also her present, and only at the end of the book she seem to be able to come to terms with it, to accept it and accept herself for who she is. There isn't shortage of the first hints of a possible love story, I imagine that it will develop in the next books, complete with a triangle (at this moment, I really don't know who to choose between Nell's two love interests). The mystery underlying the plot is well thought out, architected so well that it is not at all easy to understand who killed Sophie Crows, nor how she/or/he did it, although all the clues are provided to us during reading, nothing is hidden from the reader's eyes . I will definitely read the next book in the series too.
Personaggi/Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stile/Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Primo libro di una serie mistery molto interessante, Il delitto di Sophie Crows è un libro che risulta anche molto divertente – nonostante la tematica – e interessante (direi, nonostante la presenza dei pipistrelli!). I personaggi sono inusuali, particolari, Nell – la protagonista – nasconde molto del suo passato e anche del suo presente e solo sul finire del libro sembra riuscire a venirne a patti, ad accettarlo ed accettarsi per quello che è. Non mancano i primi accenni ad una possibile storia d'amore, immagino che si svilupperà nei prossimi libri, con tanto di triangolo (in questo momento, non saprei davvero chi scegliere tra i due interessi amorosi di Nell). Il mistero che sta alla base della trama è ben congegnato, architettato così bene che non è affatto semplice capire chi ha ucciso Sophie Crows, né come abbia fatto, nonostante tutti gli indizi ci vengano forniti durante la lettura, niente viene nascosto agli occhi del lettore. Sicuramente leggerò anche il successivo libro della serie.
***
The first book in a very interesting mystery series, A murder of Crows is a novel that is also very funny - despite the theme - and interesting (I would say, despite the presence of bats!). The characters are unusual andparticular, Nell - the novel's main character - hides a lot from her past and also her present, and only at the end of the book she seem to be able to come to terms with it, to accept it and accept herself for who she is. There isn't shortage of the first hints of a possible love story, I imagine that it will develop in the next books, complete with a triangle (at this moment, I really don't know who to choose between Nell's two love interests). The mystery underlying the plot is well thought out, architected so well that it is not at all easy to understand who killed Sophie Crows, nor how she/or/he did it, although all the clues are provided to us during reading, nothing is hidden from the reader's eyes . I will definitely read the next book in the series too.
August 5, 2023
This was pretty good for a first effort, good enough that I am going to give the second book in the series a try. But it was a bit uneven. I was not sure which of the main characters the reader was supposed to be bonding with on a more emotional level until the very end. I was not even sure who the hero of the book actually was. I identified the murderer very early on, and I don't know if the author intended that or if she slipped up.
The second book will tell more.
The second book will tell more.
May 24, 2022
Rating: 2.0/5
This is very obviously being aimed at, what could possibly be described as, "The Richard Osman Market". Even the cover (which I think works well) is stylistically reminiscent of those used on The Thursday Murder Club series. Will "A Murder of Crows" also emulate the success of Mr Osman's books? Well, I suspect not - although it is intelligently written and generally avoids the excessive cheesiness of many cosy mysteries.
Debut author, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, has drawn on her personal background and created a central character who is an ecologist. It is often said that you should "write what you know". That is all well and good, but you also need to take your audience with you and if the depth of knowledge and expertise is too niche, then you run the risk of non-devotees switching off - and I think Sarah Yarwood-Lovett was guilty of that on a number of occasions.
I also often found myself questioning whether the author was clear in her own mind about what type of book she wanted this to be. For the most part it has a cosy mystery feel to it - though there are elements that you wouldn't expect to find in a cosy. Plus, it also felt too long and too much like hard work, which a successful cosy cannot afford to be. There were also significant portions that seemed far more like a mainstream police procedural - but with plot developments that would never pass muster in a true example of that genre and that you could only get away with in a cosy mystery. On top of that, there were also regular diversions into Mills & Boon territory and, rather than adding an extra dimension to the story, I found them to be annoying and unhelpful distractions.
Successful book series of any genre tend to rely heavily on having engaging central characters - and that is perhaps even more the case with murder mysteries and particularly those of the cosy variety - but I don't think the characters contained within the pages of this book are appealing enough. I know that this is planned to be the first in a series of books featuring Dr Nell Ward, with the next one, "A Cast of Falcons" being due out at the end of 2022, but I am not convinced that the protagonists or the format are strong enough to draw me back.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
This is very obviously being aimed at, what could possibly be described as, "The Richard Osman Market". Even the cover (which I think works well) is stylistically reminiscent of those used on The Thursday Murder Club series. Will "A Murder of Crows" also emulate the success of Mr Osman's books? Well, I suspect not - although it is intelligently written and generally avoids the excessive cheesiness of many cosy mysteries.
Debut author, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, has drawn on her personal background and created a central character who is an ecologist. It is often said that you should "write what you know". That is all well and good, but you also need to take your audience with you and if the depth of knowledge and expertise is too niche, then you run the risk of non-devotees switching off - and I think Sarah Yarwood-Lovett was guilty of that on a number of occasions.
I also often found myself questioning whether the author was clear in her own mind about what type of book she wanted this to be. For the most part it has a cosy mystery feel to it - though there are elements that you wouldn't expect to find in a cosy. Plus, it also felt too long and too much like hard work, which a successful cosy cannot afford to be. There were also significant portions that seemed far more like a mainstream police procedural - but with plot developments that would never pass muster in a true example of that genre and that you could only get away with in a cosy mystery. On top of that, there were also regular diversions into Mills & Boon territory and, rather than adding an extra dimension to the story, I found them to be annoying and unhelpful distractions.
Successful book series of any genre tend to rely heavily on having engaging central characters - and that is perhaps even more the case with murder mysteries and particularly those of the cosy variety - but I don't think the characters contained within the pages of this book are appealing enough. I know that this is planned to be the first in a series of books featuring Dr Nell Ward, with the next one, "A Cast of Falcons" being due out at the end of 2022, but I am not convinced that the protagonists or the format are strong enough to draw me back.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
July 12, 2022
A Murder of Crows was an enjoyable read, revolving around a British ecologist’s efforts to extricate herself from suspicion of murder.
Dr. Nell Ward is conducting an ecological survey on the grounds of Manor House Farm, in south-east England. In the course of her work, she identifies and enters a disused tunnel in the grounds - a possible hibernaculum environment for several species of bats. Whilst inside the tunnel, Nell hears strange noises and follows her intuition to leave as quickly as possible. It transpires that she's overheard the murder-in-progress of landowner Sophie Crows, whose battered body is subsequently discovered at the other end of the tunnel, which leads to the Manor House's cellars.
Nell finds herself treated as both a witness and potential suspect by the Major Crime Team at Pendlebury, led by DCI Val Johnson and DS James Clark. Their suspicions grow when they learn that Nell has been hiding a major part of her identity, and that she has a past link to the victim. Meanwhile, Nell is navigating both a flirtatious relationship with her colleague Dr. Adam Kashyap and her growing mutual attraction to DS Clark. Desperate to clear her name, Nell uncovers irregularities within the development Sophie and her husband had proposed for Manor House Farm, indicating a potential motive, but the alternate suspect has an iron-clad alibi. Can Nell draw on her knowledge of ecology to find the missing link and solve Sophie's murder?
Despite an oddly-structured back-and-forth timeline and a liberal sprinkling of both plot holes and factual inaccuracies , the book was redeemed by a well-conceived mystery plot, interesting characters and the skilful interweaving of ecology into the story. I found the storyline about Nell's rehabilitation of an injured long-eared bat fascinating, and the integration of ecological concepts throughout the plot was well-executed by author Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, herself an ecologist.
I'd recommend A Murder of Crows to readers who enjoy cosy mysteries with a touch of will they-or-won't they romance, especially readers with an interest in ecology and the environment as a subplot. I'm intrigued to hear that Sarah Yarwood-Lovett already has two additional books featuring Dr. Nell Ward scheduled for future publication, and will be interested to read them on release.
My thanks to author Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, publisher Embla Books and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Dr. Nell Ward is conducting an ecological survey on the grounds of Manor House Farm, in south-east England. In the course of her work, she identifies and enters a disused tunnel in the grounds - a possible hibernaculum environment for several species of bats. Whilst inside the tunnel, Nell hears strange noises and follows her intuition to leave as quickly as possible. It transpires that she's overheard the murder-in-progress of landowner Sophie Crows, whose battered body is subsequently discovered at the other end of the tunnel, which leads to the Manor House's cellars.
Nell finds herself treated as both a witness and potential suspect by the Major Crime Team at Pendlebury, led by DCI Val Johnson and DS James Clark. Their suspicions grow when they learn that Nell has been hiding a major part of her identity, and that she has a past link to the victim. Meanwhile, Nell is navigating both a flirtatious relationship with her colleague Dr. Adam Kashyap and her growing mutual attraction to DS Clark. Desperate to clear her name, Nell uncovers irregularities within the development Sophie and her husband had proposed for Manor House Farm, indicating a potential motive, but the alternate suspect has an iron-clad alibi. Can Nell draw on her knowledge of ecology to find the missing link and solve Sophie's murder?
Despite an oddly-structured back-and-forth timeline and a liberal sprinkling of both plot holes and factual inaccuracies , the book was redeemed by a well-conceived mystery plot, interesting characters and the skilful interweaving of ecology into the story. I found the storyline about Nell's rehabilitation of an injured long-eared bat fascinating, and the integration of ecological concepts throughout the plot was well-executed by author Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, herself an ecologist.
I'd recommend A Murder of Crows to readers who enjoy cosy mysteries with a touch of will they-or-won't they romance, especially readers with an interest in ecology and the environment as a subplot. I'm intrigued to hear that Sarah Yarwood-Lovett already has two additional books featuring Dr. Nell Ward scheduled for future publication, and will be interested to read them on release.
My thanks to author Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, publisher Embla Books and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
November 22, 2023
DNF at 75% done. I couldn’t bear it anymore.
Pros.
The first couple of chapters where the main character has to explain her job and how she came to be at the scene of a crime while it was being committed was actually quite cool
Cons.
The lack lustre love triangle that seems to go on for the next four books.
Both the love interests are in no way appealing. One of them we are told is the office flirt and has big biceps. And the other is the detective who she only speaks to like three times and two of those is while She is being interrogated by him in a really not nice way. And as soon as they are both mentioned, our main character seems to be in love with them both. Big ick.
The main character keeps trying to investigate herself, but does a really bad job of it, and not even in an entertaining way
Multiple POV is in the same chapter. I’d rather just have one POV so that we can all work out the mystery together. And so I don’t get confused.
Because there are multiple POVs, we learn things that the police find out before our main character does, which means when she goes to investigate by herself. We end up learning things that we already know and it’s annoying and boring. And it make her seem like she trying too hard.
The writing itself is not bad, but when it came to police interviews and investigating there were gaping holes and questions that were not asked, as well as evidence clearly not acquired for no reason other than to give them a reason to make the main character, the main suspect. I understand that we are supposed to feel frustrated in that moment but it was almost just wilful ignorance.
Just to add onto that point, our main character is an ecologist She was at the scene of the crime, carrying out a survey which required her to take photos and notes, none of which were collected or looked at by the police once she became a main suspect, and they probably would have answered a lot of questions for for the police. But obviously that doesn’t make it easy for our author.
My last con is that I have gone and looked at reviews of the next couple of books in the series and nothing seems to change. The two love interests seem to show up in every single book. And since they all annoy me, I don’t think I’d enjoy them.
I was really upset that I didn’t enjoy this book. Yes it’s just my opinion, but I also think that some of these points are very valid and a lot of other people would agree with them. It could’ve been great but it was let down by a lack of a moody/grumpy/silent type Detective. It’s all I want. I don’t mind I love triangle I just don’t think it should go on for four more books like cut one out already.
Thank you.
(Big shout out to ‘text to speech’ for being able to mostly understand my Scottish accent for this review.)
Would submit a video review if I was able to better get my feelings across.
Pros.
The first couple of chapters where the main character has to explain her job and how she came to be at the scene of a crime while it was being committed was actually quite cool
Cons.
The lack lustre love triangle that seems to go on for the next four books.
Both the love interests are in no way appealing. One of them we are told is the office flirt and has big biceps. And the other is the detective who she only speaks to like three times and two of those is while She is being interrogated by him in a really not nice way. And as soon as they are both mentioned, our main character seems to be in love with them both. Big ick.
The main character keeps trying to investigate herself, but does a really bad job of it, and not even in an entertaining way
Multiple POV is in the same chapter. I’d rather just have one POV so that we can all work out the mystery together. And so I don’t get confused.
Because there are multiple POVs, we learn things that the police find out before our main character does, which means when she goes to investigate by herself. We end up learning things that we already know and it’s annoying and boring. And it make her seem like she trying too hard.
The writing itself is not bad, but when it came to police interviews and investigating there were gaping holes and questions that were not asked, as well as evidence clearly not acquired for no reason other than to give them a reason to make the main character, the main suspect. I understand that we are supposed to feel frustrated in that moment but it was almost just wilful ignorance.
Just to add onto that point, our main character is an ecologist She was at the scene of the crime, carrying out a survey which required her to take photos and notes, none of which were collected or looked at by the police once she became a main suspect, and they probably would have answered a lot of questions for for the police. But obviously that doesn’t make it easy for our author.
My last con is that I have gone and looked at reviews of the next couple of books in the series and nothing seems to change. The two love interests seem to show up in every single book. And since they all annoy me, I don’t think I’d enjoy them.
I was really upset that I didn’t enjoy this book. Yes it’s just my opinion, but I also think that some of these points are very valid and a lot of other people would agree with them. It could’ve been great but it was let down by a lack of a moody/grumpy/silent type Detective. It’s all I want. I don’t mind I love triangle I just don’t think it should go on for four more books like cut one out already.
Thank you.
(Big shout out to ‘text to speech’ for being able to mostly understand my Scottish accent for this review.)
Would submit a video review if I was able to better get my feelings across.
October 13, 2022
4.5 stars
I wouldn't call this a cozy mystery, even though that's how it's described. I thought it was more of a traditional mystery, mixed with aspects of a procedural. Some of the chapters are told from an ecologist's point-of-view who investigates a murder to clear her name and some are told from the investigating detective's point-of-view. I liked the character of Nell, the scientist who insists she isn't a murderer, although she does have secrets. I like the detective James most of the time, but there are a few instances where he really acts like a jerk, in the name of just doing his job.
There is a lot of science involved, relating to Nell's work which makes the book unique. I enjoyed the mystery and was surprised when the details of the murder were revealed. I am definitely interested in reading the next book in this series when it comes out.
I wouldn't call this a cozy mystery, even though that's how it's described. I thought it was more of a traditional mystery, mixed with aspects of a procedural. Some of the chapters are told from an ecologist's point-of-view who investigates a murder to clear her name and some are told from the investigating detective's point-of-view. I liked the character of Nell, the scientist who insists she isn't a murderer, although she does have secrets. I like the detective James most of the time, but there are a few instances where he really acts like a jerk, in the name of just doing his job.
There is a lot of science involved, relating to Nell's work which makes the book unique. I enjoyed the mystery and was surprised when the details of the murder were revealed. I am definitely interested in reading the next book in this series when it comes out.
Read
December 9, 2022I really liked this! It's a cosy-ish mystery about a murder underground, in a mysterious tunnel leading from a manor house out in the grounds. Interestingly there isn't one detective - we have plenty of police procedural from the perspective of the investigating officer, and more gonzo investigating shenanigans from Nell Ward, the main character (who also becomes a suspect for the murder, having been the only person in the vicinity when it happened). Nell is a bit of a disaster - a trained and scholarly ecologist (you learn so much about bats in this book) but she's also hiding a massive secret which has the potential to blow up all her relationships. She also has a crush on the investigating officer (aaaargh bad times) and on her partner in crime, Adam, who is the other ecologist doing the bat survey. Adam is sweet. James, the investigating officer, is also sweet. Nell's past is actually quite A Lot. It all comes together very nicely from a character point of view. The mystery itself is odd - it abounds with suspects and even detectives (James and Nell don't work together, but solve the crime in pieces between them), but ties up in a surprisingly conventional way, and I sort of wonder if the author enjoys the characters much more than the plot. So do I! I will definitely read the next two in the series.
June 2, 2023
I seldom write anything about the books I read or, more accurately, listen to but I was sorely disappointed in this book. I was prepared to really like this series but I found the characters, for the most part, to be one dimensional or stereotypical or unlikable.
I liked Nell, mostly. I understood her reticence to tell everyone of her background. Most people want to be judged and liked for who they are not what they are. I did find her to be "sixteentish" about Adam and James.
The police, James and Val, were stereotypical, particularly Val. She decided who was guilty and then set out to prove it. She was very distasteful. James tried to follow the evidence which, to be fair, superficially kept returning to Nell but did not push his superiors to try other avenues of inquiry.
Adam is a handsome charming guy who is very shallow. He gets very upset when he finds out Nell has not shared her background with him. They were colleagues who had worked together for a few months. What gave him the right to think she should have shared everything with him. I am so sorry it looked like Nell was going to forgive him for being a right git. She should have turned her back on him without a backward glance.
Since this was an audio-book the narrator also needs a comment. She tried to give primary characters a "voice" without success. She is not a particularly skillful reader.
I will not be continuing this series which is too bad because the plot idea is great just not the execution.
I liked Nell, mostly. I understood her reticence to tell everyone of her background. Most people want to be judged and liked for who they are not what they are. I did find her to be "sixteentish" about Adam and James.
The police, James and Val, were stereotypical, particularly Val. She decided who was guilty and then set out to prove it. She was very distasteful. James tried to follow the evidence which, to be fair, superficially kept returning to Nell but did not push his superiors to try other avenues of inquiry.
Adam is a handsome charming guy who is very shallow. He gets very upset when he finds out Nell has not shared her background with him. They were colleagues who had worked together for a few months. What gave him the right to think she should have shared everything with him. I am so sorry it looked like Nell was going to forgive him for being a right git. She should have turned her back on him without a backward glance.
Since this was an audio-book the narrator also needs a comment. She tried to give primary characters a "voice" without success. She is not a particularly skillful reader.
I will not be continuing this series which is too bad because the plot idea is great just not the execution.
August 13, 2023
While the debut author's background in ecology holds promise for an innovative spin on the murder mystery genre, this particular work quickly sinks into formulaic plots and dull tangents that fail to deliver on the premise. She likely structured the story here in her mind while on field trips. Her unique experiences should lead to far better work ahead.
There is nothing wrong with the underlying environmental plot. Still, any originality is smothered by redundant side narratives involving juvenile romances, irrelevant backstories, and bungling detectives/lawyers. The core murder investigation frequently meanders with few gripping developments. Whenever the inquiry seems poised to gain momentum, it veers into laughable investigations bungling, or courtroom antics.
There is nothing wrong with the underlying environmental plot. Still, any originality is smothered by redundant side narratives involving juvenile romances, irrelevant backstories, and bungling detectives/lawyers. The core murder investigation frequently meanders with few gripping developments. Whenever the inquiry seems poised to gain momentum, it veers into laughable investigations bungling, or courtroom antics.
August 20, 2023
A weak start in a new series for me. I do not like stories where the main female character can’t figure out who she is attracted to in the story. It makes women look weak and superficial. The murderer was evident, so much of the story was tiresome. I will read the next installment as many series improve—anything by Ann Cleaves.
June 21, 2023
Really fun to read, loved the characters and can’t wait to read the next one in the series!
Light and cool read, plus lots of interesting details about ecology stuff - I might take action and join the local bat and badger groups :)
Have a read yourself & give it a try!
Light and cool read, plus lots of interesting details about ecology stuff - I might take action and join the local bat and badger groups :)
Have a read yourself & give it a try!
Read
July 3, 2023Perhaps I was not quite in the right frame of mind for a slow plodding book that vexed me. Perhaps I’ll try again later. Or not.
October 31, 2023
big fat B BORING!!!!!!! idgaf about bats!!!!!
July 2, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
A Murder of Crows is the first book in a new modern cozy(ish) mystery series by Dr. Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. Released 1st July 2022 by Bonnier on their imprint Embla Books, it's 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is a diverting series starter with an academically experienced female ecologist who finds herself in a dangerous and difficult situation when an ecological impact survey for a potential construction project lands her as the chief suspect in a homicide which occurred on the site at the same time she was present. Although it has the bones of a cozy mystery, there are elements of procedural and some slightly more graphic violence and descriptions than are usually present in cozies. The usual romantic plot elements are present in abundance and for readers who don't like any romance in their cozies, proceed with caution - there's an unresolved dramatic triangle here which saw me raising my eyes heavenward on a couple occasions.
The main protagonist is a conservation ecologist and it's a profession which she shares with the author. It's an oft-said proverb that authors should write what they know, and Dr. Yarwood-Lovett has done just that; describing the realities of crawling through brambles to map badger setts and collecting and analyzing bat poop with gleeful abandon. Did you know bat droppings are (logically enough) full of insects and they crumble, whilst rodent poo *squishes*? I didn't, and now we both do. It's relevant to the story.
The book is full of science tidbits and trivia and for me, that was the highlight. Without being pedantic or lecturing, the author pulls back the curtain on a tantalizing bit of nature most never see. There are technical terms bandied about, and there are some places (courtroom expert testimony) which require a little more attention on the part of the reader - but they're relatively few and far between and I think most readers will have no problem understanding the jargon from context.
The plot is overshadowed by the attraction triangle of the MC and a male colleague and (of course) the handsome detective investigating the crimes. There is so much drama and ridiculous convoluted *unnecessary* sighing and angst which could be resolved with a one sentence explanation that I had to just power through. There are many readers who enjoy that in their books and they'll be in raptures.
Four stars. It does move slowly in places, but the author does a thorough job of building up the characters' back-stories and settings. Definitely looking forward to finding out what comes next.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
A Murder of Crows is the first book in a new modern cozy(ish) mystery series by Dr. Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. Released 1st July 2022 by Bonnier on their imprint Embla Books, it's 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is a diverting series starter with an academically experienced female ecologist who finds herself in a dangerous and difficult situation when an ecological impact survey for a potential construction project lands her as the chief suspect in a homicide which occurred on the site at the same time she was present. Although it has the bones of a cozy mystery, there are elements of procedural and some slightly more graphic violence and descriptions than are usually present in cozies. The usual romantic plot elements are present in abundance and for readers who don't like any romance in their cozies, proceed with caution - there's an unresolved dramatic triangle here which saw me raising my eyes heavenward on a couple occasions.
The main protagonist is a conservation ecologist and it's a profession which she shares with the author. It's an oft-said proverb that authors should write what they know, and Dr. Yarwood-Lovett has done just that; describing the realities of crawling through brambles to map badger setts and collecting and analyzing bat poop with gleeful abandon. Did you know bat droppings are (logically enough) full of insects and they crumble, whilst rodent poo *squishes*? I didn't, and now we both do. It's relevant to the story.
The book is full of science tidbits and trivia and for me, that was the highlight. Without being pedantic or lecturing, the author pulls back the curtain on a tantalizing bit of nature most never see. There are technical terms bandied about, and there are some places (courtroom expert testimony) which require a little more attention on the part of the reader - but they're relatively few and far between and I think most readers will have no problem understanding the jargon from context.
The plot is overshadowed by the attraction triangle of the MC and a male colleague and (of course) the handsome detective investigating the crimes. There is so much drama and ridiculous convoluted *unnecessary* sighing and angst which could be resolved with a one sentence explanation that I had to just power through. There are many readers who enjoy that in their books and they'll be in raptures.
Four stars. It does move slowly in places, but the author does a thorough job of building up the characters' back-stories and settings. Definitely looking forward to finding out what comes next.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
March 18, 2024
Is it a 3? Is it a 4? Points could be deducted for the horrible Americanisms "snuck" and "burner" (as in phone) given the oh so English setting and characters, but I've decided to generously overcome the shudders they elicit in me. Instead I enjoyed the shudders in the depths of my imagination inspired by the main character Nell - a very intelligent, dedicated ecologist with sleuthing tendencies - who made me imagine the actress Keeley Hawes with magnifying glass in hand. How my mind works even I can't guess. This is a fun, easy read with a fairly linear plot and a couple of twists. Main strengths are characterisation and insights into the life of bats...and badger poo. Don't ask - just read. 4 it is then.
February 2, 2025
Listened on Audiobook, brilliant narrator, Kristin Atherton.
Very well-written soft crime story that i liked from the first chapter. By soft crime, I mean, no explicit violence, no sex, no swearing, but is well-paced and suspenseful at times.
While the crime is satisfactorily solved, there are elements of the story that I would have liked to see resolved, this stopped me giving a higher rating.
Very well-written soft crime story that i liked from the first chapter. By soft crime, I mean, no explicit violence, no sex, no swearing, but is well-paced and suspenseful at times.
While the crime is satisfactorily solved, there are elements of the story that I would have liked to see resolved, this stopped me giving a higher rating.
May 25, 2022
I so wanted to love this but there were a few components that sadly didnt work for me. Firstly, Nell didnt quite work as a detective for me and the day job got far too heavily in the way with far too much detail.
It took me a while to get into it too.
Some good characters, but all felt a bit too complex for a cosy.
It took me a while to get into it too.
Some good characters, but all felt a bit too complex for a cosy.
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