A Murder Of Crows

Ingrid Langley and Patrick Gillard Mystery #1

by Margaret Duffy

Ingrid Langley had endured a divorce from her husband, Patrick, and never intended to see him again. But Patrick was desperate; as an agent for British Intelligence, he needed a woman to be his cover. And how could Ingrid refuse--when he was investigating the murder of her second husband?

Genres: Mystery

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Margaret Duffy has worked for both the Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Defence. She now lives in Devon in a one-time crossing-keeper`s cottage.

When not writing, Margaret works as a garden designer.

Reviews

[Bookish · Rating 1 out of 5]

A disabled man sits in a chair while the husband of his ex-wife is murdered before him. He goes to the ex-wife's home to "protect" her. The disabled man proceeds to kick the asses of no less than 6 marines, single-handed. As the defeated men flee, the man begins to cry. After giving him some time to get himself together, his ex-wife gives him a bath where she discovers that more than just his legs were injured in the explosion which robbed him of the use of his legs. Right. I got through half of this, though I never would have gone that far if it hadn't been an interlibrary loan. I felt obligated, but in the end I refused to let an ILL dictate what I must read. I'm liberated!

[Kathryn Guare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series known as the Ingrid Langley/Patrick Gillard series. The early books in the series aren't all that easy to find, but I'm going to be looking for them. The genre is that particular sort of espionage thriller in which a couple are teamed together, one being the "professional" and the other the "amateur". In this case, Patrick is the former British SAS agent and Ingrid is his ex-wife. Classically romantic, with the hero having some appealing vulnerabilities. Let's just say I have a particular interest in this type of construct at the moment. It is pure escapism, but I got totally sucked into the story and the relationship between the two main characters.

It is not especially believable, but who cares? The writing is decent, although I will say there are some scenes that get confusing simply for lack of description about where the players are and what is taking place (Are we still inside the house? Did he just bolt through the pantry window? Who the hell is in the barn? How many?). It is also UK English, and although I read a lot of British books, usually without incident, I found this one had some lines I had to read twice before I got the correct sense of them. Again, I didn't particularly care - I got sort of swept along regardless.

Basic plot: Ingrid's current husband is murdered (and really, she seems surprisingly unmoved, but maybe she's just being British). Her ex-husband Major Gillard, grievously--oh so grievously--wounded in the Falklands War, is now investigating the death. His superiors (MI5?) have told him to get himself a partner, preferably a woman who can pose as his wife as needed on various mission. So who better than his now-single ex?! She'd kicked him out and divorced him a few years earlier (after smashing up his classical guitar), but he'd never really wanted to leave, and now she thinks he seems much different (e.g., less irritatingly perfect, more lovably vulnerable) than he used to be. General sex and mayhem ensues. Good fun all around.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting parts of this "spy" novel, and I kind of liked the characters, but it didn't seem logical or believable. I just discovered that it was originally published in 1987, which answered a couple of questions.

What bothered me even more than the strange premise (I'm still not sure I ever understood how Patrick Gillyard became a target), were the sentences and paragraphs that felt like non sequiturs. I'd go back and reread, then decide it was a bit like not getting a joke. You just accept it and read on.

And yet, I think the characters had promise , but the plot was so convoluted. It was the first in a long series, and I would give it another try.

NetGalley/Endeavor Press

Spy/Mystery. 1987; Oct. 9, 2015. Print length: 247 pages.

[Alonzo Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heroine is a romance novelist living in one of those cozy UK cottages. Her husband, a member of one of those super duper secret spy organizations, is killed. And it seems like heroine’s life is danger.

Well, Her Majesty’s Government isn’t going to allow the wife of one of one of the defenders of the realm to be in danger. So they send an even more super duper secret agent. Our heroine’s ex-husband. The way she feels about that is...complicated. But heroine sure isn’t going to let that man into the house, not for the first 50 or 75 pages anyway. And that’s ok with Hero, because he can make do with a tent, a sleeping bag, and some rabbits he catches for dinner. Yes, hero is incredibly damaged (a grenade in the Falkland’s war), and that makes this guy somehow vulnerable, and our heroine’s feelings get even more complicated.

And, things go on in that vein for many a page. But, everything isn’t hearts and flowers. The villains in this piece are quite brutal, and Heroine (the author of our story) does not shy away from describing the blood and guts. So what results is a mix of romance novel and brutal spy novel page turner that is unusual and occasionally interesting. Plausibility is not in the mix, and, unfortunately, neither is much of a plot.

Well, at least until the last 50 or so pages, when suddenly, we get to a nicely done conclusion. I didn’t really love this book, but see the possibilities in this series. There is enough here to get me to check the reviews of the author’s other books.

[Carolyn Scheidies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and reread this book over the years. I loved finding it as a Kindle book. Well drawn characters with a heroine in an impossible situation. This time she's matured and so has her arrogant SAS highly-trained ex. When she is thrown into one dangerous situation after another, Ingrid meets the situations with anger, persistence and a desire to discover the truth about the situation, the British traitor in their midst and the truth about her ex.

I just may buy the next in their series because of the Kindle editions.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a thoroughly entertaining start of the series. The characters are compelling and the pace fast in a clever story. While well-written the British jargon, droll wit and unfamiliar references at times made for a somewhat confusing plot. I had to re-read in a number of places. Nevertheless, I look forward to continuing this very satisfying husband and wife team of intelligence operatives, who are very real.

[Joyce Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast Moving Story.

This is a fast moving story with many twists and turns. Who is the baddie ? Let’s see if you guess correctly by the end of the book. Action packed. Was good to see a main character not letting his disability stop him being an all action character.

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and espionage meld in the exciting new thriller A Murder of Crows. Margaret Duffy is a fantastic storyteller with a unique way of capturing mature romance and breath-taking danger. Her characters are damaged, flawed, fallible - utterly human and all the more captivating for it.

Ingrid Langley once loved Patrick Gillard, but marriage to a professional soldier is far from easy. Her second marriage, to policeman Peter Clyde is happy, but ends abruptly when he is murdered three weeks before their first anniversary - the only witness, her ex-husband.

Her anger quickly turns to confusion when Patrick reveals what happened and tells her he has been assigned to protect her. Despite the wounds he is still recovering from, Patrick is an able protector. In spite of everything, Ingrid finds herself falling for him - and deeper into the web of secrets and spies that led to the death of her husband.

Margaret Duffy breathes life into her characters. Ingrid Langley is no ingenue, she is an adult who is perceptive and intelligent. Even her sense of humor rings true. Patrick Gillard is an incredible male lead. He isn’t James Bond who walks through fire and doesn’t even get his eyebrows singed. He is a man who has lost much, and has struggled to not only recover enough to survive, but to continue his work. After nearly being killed in the Falklands, Patrick’s legs required numerous surgeries simply to function. While needing a long recovery time, Patrick doesn’t view himself as disabled. Even after losing his leg and being fitted with a prosthesis, he carries on. The process does mark him, but he is driven, both in his work and his desire to protect Ingrid. The duo is well matched.

If you enjoy romantic suspense or espionage thrillers, don’t miss the opportunity to read A Murder of Crows.

5/5

I received a copy of A Murder of Crows from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

—Crittermom

Murder and espionage meld in A Murder of Crows

http://muttcafe.com/2015/11/a-murder-...

[Archana Aggarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley. This first book in the Langley-Gillard series was OK but suffers in comparison to Ms. Duffy's later books in the series. The writing is a little unclear at times and the plot stretches ones credulity. Still it was an interesting read, particularly because it is the first book in the series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ingrid Langley's husband is shot whilst protecting her ex husband. Her ex husband then needs a female partner so he can travel in a slightly more incognito fashion. She agrees to it. This felt slightly stilted and disjointed in the way it read but this could be as I don't read many espionage type books.

I am grateful for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from netgalley.

[LikeTheDog · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book I actually read has the same title, but is a 2012 self-published book by Kate Aylers, a Portland author. It's set in a fictionalized version of CArlton.

[Bionic Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor Spy novel

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting...strong characters...well told tale. part mystery, part romance, much suspense, thriller...first in series. should be read first!