Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist. While surveying an old manor house for evidence of bats and other protected flora and fauna she comes within a few feet of the murder of a young woman. When Nell falls under suspicion, having made an appointment to see the victim later that day, being at the murder scene, and having (for very good reasons) covered up the entrance to the tunnel in which the murder occured, she knows that she must clear her own name. Also, it seems that Nell's professional expertise will be needed to identify the murderer.

I enjoyed reading this novel but I have to say I found it slightly confusing. The blurb makes it clear that Nell is acting as a detective, but there are quite a few chapters from the investigating police officer's POV so I wasn't sure who exactly was detecting. Similarly, there is more than one romantic interest for Nell - as if the author wanted to keep the reader guessing as to who Nell would pick - which was odd because when the book starts Nell is enamored of her assistant/fellow ecologist Adam.

The second thing I found, if not confusing perhaps a little passé, was that Nell has a secret identity. Although I don't think it is really a spoiler I will put it in spoilers to be safe. (view spoiler)

My biggest gripe is that this felt like a load of red herrings were thrown into the plot to disguise the obvious nature of the murder. The victim felt very much like the second Mrs De Winter in Rebecca, Nell seemed a little like Temperance Brennan in Kathy Reichs' books (without the social awkwardness) and I'm not sure how this is going to develop into a series, I mean how many murders in a small town would require an ecologist to shed light on the scene?

I don't think that this is yet as accomplished as Richard Osman or Faith Martin as the blurb suggests but I would definitely be interested to read the second book to see where this goes.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book, the first in a new series. It was a great combination of suspense and romance. I liked the unique perspective of the ecologist. I thought the minutiae of her work procedures slowed down the book a bit, even though it dramatized the evidence it provided. The author did a great job bringing the characters to life, and I hope to learn more about their lives in future books. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

This book sounded great but couldn’t get them PDF to work, which was a real shame as I was looking forward to reading it I have added to my reading list and will doubts but it when it is published

A first novel that shows a lot of promise. Once the story got going, the author ratcheted up a fair bit of suspense. The culprit seemed obvious due to motive, but not to evidence. I appreciated the exposure to the ecology of the area and liked the way it was woven into the story. A hint of romance for those who want a bit more than a mystery. Good title, good cover, should be a popular read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Such a good read! This is perfect for fans of Richard Osman! I really enjoyed this whodunnit, and although I had guessed who and why fairly early on, I was stumped with the How right til the end. I’m going to be looking out for further stories from this author

Brava…!
A fabulous start to a new series in ‘A Murder of Crows’. The murder of Sophie Crow brings detectives to the door of Dr Nell Ward, an ecologist highly regarded in her field, who becomes their main person of interest. Nell, who has her own secrets, needs to work hard to exonerate herself and uses her own particular brand of expertise to examine the evidence. Billed as a cosy mystery but is so much more with ecological references and police procedural aspects aplenty. With a credible and colourful cast of characters, a compelling plot and a solid narrative this is a wholly immersive one sit read. I would also recommend reading the enlightening section towards the back of the book, following acknowledgments, entitled ‘The Nature of Crime’. The second of the series is hugely anticipated. Brava!