The Raven's Mark by Christie J. Newport is a definite surprise that exceeded my expectations. At first, I found the lead character to be a little annoying. As a team leader in a police procedural, I expected her to be focused on solving the crime. However, she came across as inexperienced, constantly breaking the rules, making incorrect assumptions, and working alone. Her biggest flaw was withholding crucial information and taking actions that should have led to her demise. I still can't comprehend how she managed to survive without sufficient explanation.

Moreover, I found it hard to believe that she hadn't delved into her mother's death and family background during her early days on the force. The sudden revelation of this aspect felt forced and made her appear out of control in her personal and professional life. In reality, she wouldn't have been able to maintain her rank and level of responsibility due to her immaturity. I also felt that the character lacked any self-awareness regarding the repercussions of her actions and instead blamed her boss for being controlling.

Despite these criticisms of the lead character, the story itself was gripping and filled with thrilling twists and turns. The pacing was slow initially, resembling a typical police procedural, but it picks up significantly after the first 25% of the book, transforming into a thrilling and intense mystery. The author does an excellent job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, unable to put the book down.

I must warn potential readers that this book is not for the faint of heart. It contains graphic descriptions of violence, including rape, abuse, and gruesome murders. The cover, while aesthetically pleasing, does not accurately represent the dark and intense nature of the story. It might attract female mystery lovers, but I believe many male readers would overlook it, despite the mayhem and mystery found within.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by The Raven's Mark. It managed to capture my attention despite my initial doubts, and I'm intrigued to see where the series goes from here. I hope that the author continues to incorporate the CSI aspect while toning down the level of gruesomeness. I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book, allowing me to discover this thrilling read.

A brutal murder.

A raven tattoo.

A twisted killer has returned.

And Detective Beth Fellows cannot fail again . . .

Detective Chief Inspector Beth Fellows is thrown into the biggest case of her career: the brutal murder of Rose Danes. She quickly realizes Rose’s murder is linked to a cold case she investigated two years previously. The victim, fourteen-year-old Celine Wilson, survived but now languishes in a coma.

Both girls were branded with the image of a raven.

The only lead is a vague description and a first name, Simon.

Beth’s convinced he’s the killer. Especially when she receives a mobile phone containing one sole contact, Simon — and a warning to tell no one.

Then a key witness is kidnapped and Beth finds herself in a race against time to stop the killer before he can kill again.

She’s breaking all the rules to play his game. But will it be enough?
Engaging and exciting from the beginning. A very realistic feel for the reader.

Surprising fabulous 4 star thriller-mystery. This was not what I expected at all....in fact I kept putting this book aside for the longest time. But once I picked it up...could not put it down.

The pacing really picks up after the first 25% of the book. It starts out very police procedural...reminicient of CSI and NCIS. It keeps a steady pacing after that first 25% adding in gruesome and horrific murders,,,and keeps 'em coming. It does not let you dwell too long on them....due to the pacing.

While some reviewers complain the main character's personal relationship gets in the way (think "whininess" and "oh I"m a failure" thought processes). Retrospectively, while this was irritating - it provided some relief from the intensity of this book.

This book is not for the faint of heart - gore and gruesomeness are explained.

This book cover...seems too soft in retrospect. Blue bird reminiscent of the night sky on a white background. Drew me in as a female mystery lover...but I feel like many guys would overlook this cover...and would be highly into this type of murder.

I am interested to see where this series goes. I'm am hoping CSI aspect will continue, and that the gruesomeness will get a bit more toned down.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a free copy of this book.

A fast-paced, twisty police procedural that deals with dark subjects, sensitively handled. I raced through this - I found Detective Beth Fellows a unique and sympathetic character, even when she's not doing things by the book. She cares, which in turns makes the reader deeply care. A debut that packs a powerful punch.

If there's one thing that I like doing, it's discovering new authors. Christie J. Newport is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis of 'The Raven's Mark' and it certainly sounded like the sort of crime novel I particularly enjoy. I couldn't wait to dive in and so without further ado I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for what proved to be an interesting afternoon of reading. I did enjoy reading 'The Raven's Mark' but more about that in a bit.

I loved meeting Detective Beth Fellows. Beth is a career police officer whose career has been influenced by her experiences as a child. Sadly when Beth was 4 years old, Beth's Mam was murdered and the tragic twist is that Beth witnessed her mother's murder. Since Beth became a police officer, she has often gone above and beyond the call of duty when she is investigating a murder. Beth doesn't want anybody to suffer how she suffered. Beth is a lovely young lass, who has a heart of gold and she is popular with her peers.

I was drawn into 'The Raven's Mark' from the very start. In fact the synopsis grabbed my attention and the story itself drew me in. From then on, I found it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. I was intrigued by the plot and by the characters. I developed my own theories as to what was going to happen so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. The more of the book I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. All too quickly I reached the end of 'The Raven's Mark' and I had to say goodbye to Beth and her team. I found 'The Raven's Mark' to be a gritty, gripping, tense and dramatic read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

'The Raven's Mark is superbly written. The author has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. I had trouble believing that this was a debut novel as the author's writing style seems so polished and so confident. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Christie clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes them seem just as real as you and I. Reading 'The Raven's Mark' felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Christie makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Raven's Mark' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Christie's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*

What an epic start to what I really hope is a continuing crime series! Thrilling, exciting and definitely a must read. If you enjoy a good serial killer thriller then look no further.

Rounded up from 3.5

I read the synopsis for The Raven's Mark and having not read either a police procedural or debut novel for a while; I thought I'd give it a go.

What a gritty, gruesome yet intriguing debut The Raven's Mark is!

Beth was a flawed but likeable character. She doubts her abilities, even though she is a good detective, which made me root for her to come out on top. Her personal life is a bit of a mess, although she has an excellent support system of her Aunt Margie and best friend Millie. Beth still had a tough time dealing with her needy partner Yvette, who I really didn't like.

There were plenty of shocks along the way of the book, with an ending that I had an inkling of, but never could have guessed the full motive and depths of depravity behind the killings.

I will say that this novel is very focussed on the details of police procedure. It's difficult to strike the right balance between trying to offer a more accurate version of a police procedural and fictional events and sadly a couple of times the book didn't quite get it right and I kept wishing we'd get back to the action.

If you love a dark police procedural, with a focus on the procedure, then I'd highly recommend this book to you!

Simon says be careful, I'm always watching. If you want your loved ones safe, you can't tell anyone we are communicating with one another. An excellent premise that moved along at a very quick pace. I hope to see more from DI Beth Fellows. I felt that this was a very good first novel in a new series for a new author. The characters could have used a little more development and I guessed who the big bad killer was about a quarter way through the book, that didn't stop me from enjoying the read.

This is a very gripping book. I am looking for the next book. It is shocking its Christie first book. well written and exciting read. Highly recommend that you read this book Thank you net galley for this ARC.

Wasn't bad, wasn't what I was in the mood for when I picked it up. It was a little too noir for my tastes.

I first became aware of this novel when I saw a link to an article in my local newspaper. It’s not often where I read a book set where I live so I immediately looked closer and placed an online preorder. And then sat and waited impatiently.
It was well worth the wait, this is a gem!
Firstly, this was a team of detectives that I liked a lot. I could see how they were all affected by the death of a teenage girl, especially when they all felt guilt that there were a lot of similarities to a previous case where the culprit had never been found. Not just the frontline officers but the team working behind the scenes as well, the forensic investigators who often go unmentioned. All were unable to relax in their free time. I also really appreciated the closeness and their loyalty. None of them wanted to outshine their colleagues, they just wanted to stop a killer.
Secondly, the storyline. The death of a young girl is always going to be upsetting and the author showed how raw the situation was. The way that Rose’s family and friends fell apart from grief, anger and guilt. It also had a huge impact on Beth, who also has to cope with selfish behaviour from her partner Yvette and worry over the safety of those close to her.
And obviously, with it being a local book and author I enjoyed the setting. I did spend quite a bit of it trying to place the real Preston into a fictional setting but that was part of the fun. It wasn’t just the places, it was also the people. I felt that the author captured the true personality of Prestonians.
A fantastic debut novel and I’m hoping that there will be a follow up.

THE RAVEN'S MARK by CHRISTIE J. NEWPORT.
Meet Detective Beth Fellows in this brand-new mystery from Joffe Books Prize winner Christie J. Newport that will have you gripped from start to explosive finish.
A brutal murder.
A raven tattoo.
A twisted killer has returned.
And Detective Beth Fellows cannot fail again . . .
Omg a brilliant read. Loved Beth. Twisted and dark. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.

Just finished reading #TheRavensMark and it was absolutely brilliant. Gripping from the get go, if I didn't have to work and sleep, I would have finished it sooner. Cannot wait for the next book to come out. Get your copy from the 30th November 2022. This book should be on everyone's list!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Raven’s Mark, the first novel to feature DCI Beth Fellows of the Major and Serious Crimes Northwest Division, based in Preston, Lancashire.

The murder of teenager Rose Danes, brings back memories of a cold case that Beth investigated two years ago and failed to solve, where the victim, Celine Wilson, is still in a coma. Both girls have been branded. This time all she has is a vague figure calling himself Simon and a secret phone she is warned to tell nobody about, its only contact Simon.

I understand that The Raven’s Mark is a debut and as such it is very promising. Personally I wasn’t bowled over and found it to be a bit of a mixed bag with both good and bad aspects, but I do stress that this is about my choice in reading matter, not the author’s writing or plotting.

Firstly I will say that I really like the writing, which is crisp and clear, leaving no room for misunderstanding or ambiguity on the reader’s part. On the downside the novel is told from Beth’s first person point of view. She isn’t a character I warmed to, because she’s not a team player, she seems to think she knows best for everyone and she makes some really horrendous decisions and this brings me to my next point. The novel is billed as a police procedural, but with Beth going totally off piste and ignoring procedure, it’s more like a psychological thriller with a cat and mouse game between her and Simon and that’s not my preferred reading. I find it very hard to understand the logic in the decision making in this type of novel and it’s the same here, Beth is irrational in her choices. Still, it creates excitement and tension in the novel.

I was impressed mostly by the resolution of the case. Yes, there is a cliffhanger (who’ll remember by the time the next novel appears?) but the motive and all the explanations are clever.

The Raven’s Mark is a promising debut.

A police procedural which is unusual in as much as DCI Bethany Fellows becomes personally involved in the case as a result of her background. There are lots of shocks and surprises. An enjoyable read.

I love trying new authors and first novels, so was eager to read this book.
Oh wow what a gripping twisted read it is set in Preston.
DCI Bethany Fellows is called after a dead teenager is found Rose Danes, with the mark on her shoulder of a raven red welt stamped on her skin she knows it's the brander he struck six years ago but Celine Wilson survived unlike Rose, this time and time is everything they need to move fast.
I could not put this book down once I started, getting to know all the characters especially Aunt Margie who Beth adores like a mother, her mother died and she raised her with all the love she could give her and she still does, and she never knew her father.
Once again a new author has pleased me and eagerly await more books by Bethany Fellows who you just cannot not like.
A slam bam book with lots of action 5 stars from me.

I can hardly believe this was a debut novel! The author did her research on police procedure extremely well! I loved the diversity of the characters. She did fantastic with character development. This was an often told story, but with some major twists and turns that I've not seen anywhere before, and I read British police procedural novels only! The main characters was likeable, even with the self esteem issues you can see. But you learn why later in the book. The range of relationships was also very detailed! Honestly, it gripped me from the start, and the only reason I have 4 stars is because much of the conversation with herself or with others was slightly stilted, and that made it hard to feel the emotions at all times. But this is a debit! I got a lot more than I expected. I'm actually putting this author on my watch list, and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!

It's not often you get a debut novel that is so gripping, but The raven's Mark is.
What particularly appealed to me was the diversity of the characters. I felt this book echoed with me and the community in which I live and wider society, which made the book more appealing from the start.
This is a twisty, humerous, engaging read, with a character (Beth Fellows) who is flawed, yet strong,vulnerable and empathetic, intuitive and impulsive.
The balance between the procedural aspects of the investigation and the human aspects was perfect and this was exemplified by tight plotting.
I have to say that I read this quickly whilst on holiday and was loathe to put it down. I loov forward to reading more of this series. 5***** from me.

Right from the opening page, The Raven’s Mark by Christie Newport starts with a bang – almost literally! The reader is immediately immersed into the middle of a grisly police investigation, given a front seat through the first person narration of our protagonist: DCI Bethany Fellows.

From inside our detective’s head, we get to see police procedural crime fiction at its finest: the investigation into the mysterious death of a teenage girl is investigated in skilful detail, showcasing meticulous research from the author.

As the murder investigation unfolds, we get twists and turns as the mystery deepens; meanwhile Beth’s personal life starts to fall apart too. The threads of these mysteries are drawn together into a climactic and dramatic denouement, leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction at the end, and a definite appetite for more.

Luckily, this is the start of a series, so hopefully we’ll get to see DCI Beth Fellows again soon!

Made my heart beat faster several times. A gruesome, real page turner that gets more convoluted as time goes on. Likeable characters, well written and set in the lovely city of Preston in Lancashire.

Loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.