Although there are a few points where the prose doesn't flow as well or the exposition is a little heavy, I raced through this book, unable to put it down. 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.

Murder of Crows: A Dunderdale Mystery A Christmas Murder of Crows: A Dunderdale Mystery

A Murder of Crows was an enjoyable read, revolving around a British ecologist’s efforts to extricate herself from suspicion of murder.A Murder of Crows is the début instalment in Sarah Yarwood-Lovett's brand new series featuring ecologist, Dr Nell Ward and its set in a village called Cookingdean, near Pendlebury, south-east England. Sadly, despite four separate attempts, I did not finish this. I heard Ian Skewis read from this - beautifully: the audio book will be a treat for those that take their books that way - at Bloody Scotland, was seduced by the cover and had no hesitation in buying to book. 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.

A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett | Goodreads

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. 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... i really thought that i was going to like this book when i first started reading it, but the more i read it, the more convoluted the plot became. by the middle i was so confused as to what was going on that i couldn’t focus on it at all. the book has just way too many things going on (a love triangle, murder, secret identity, work relationships, etc.) Filming began in December 1997, across Key West, Florida, Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana. It has been released on DVD. 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.

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 The romance - that self-doubting "is he just a friend or is he really interested in me??" And then the constant interruptions when one was finally going to confess all - so frustrating! Frankly, I liked James - he made his intentions clear - Adam's reaction to hearing about her past was too harsh and I think he missed his opportunity - see you later! The book ended on a romantic cliff hanger - more frustration. Alistair Smith and Caroline Baker are the missing couple, and after a search takes place it becomes clear that foul play has taken place. 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… 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. Although not original, the title and book description looked interesting enough for me to grab a copy.

Murder of Crows by K. Ancrum | Goodreads Murder of Crows by K. Ancrum | Goodreads

I loved that it switched between all the various viewpoints because it gives the reader a chance to understand the motivations and mindsets of each of the characters, which were each complicated and intense. The writing is incredible, really allowing you to feel what the characters were feeling - like Alice, who has dementia. You could feel her confusion and frustration very clearly.

Customer reviews

The coining of collective nouns didn't end in the 15th century; the penchant for wordplay never goes out of style. Here are some of our favorite more modern collectives: It’s like reading gossip magazines that are several hundred years old. Whole power structures rose and fell on the jealousies of the nobility and the notoriously moody whims of rulers. What we’re experiencing in today’s politics is nothing new. Sir Robert is Hunsdon’s youngest (eighth!) son, a clever, handsome charmer, who has expensive tastes, so is always broke. He’s also a gallant courtier and a ladykiller, but his heart belongs to a married woman, sigh . . . (and we don't like her husband).