A Murder of Crows (A Sir Robert Carey Mystery)

P.F. Chisholm
Poisoned Pen Press (2010)
ISBN 9781590586570
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (09/10)


“A Murder of Crows” is the fifth adventure in the Sir Robert Carey Mystery series.  Set in the late 16th century, this adventurous mystery picks up in London where Sir Carey and Sgt. Dodd are still recovering from their last adventure.  As a Borderland Scot, Sgt. Dodd feels totally out of his element and really wants to go home.  However, he is not willing to do so until he settles a score with the Queen’s Vice Chamberlain Thomas Heneage. Heneage is a very corrupt man. 

When Sgt. Dodd tries to take Heneage to court, initially he is unable to find a lawyer willing to take his case.  When he is approached by a frail young man who offers to work with him, he is suspicious, however, having no other options, he accepts.  This young attorney appears to have some very serious secrets of his own.

The situation gets further complicated when Dodd and Carey are asked to help solve the mystery of a dead body that is found in the Thames.  Agreeing to help, they discover how interconnected many issues are in London.  As a result of this, Dodd’s opportunity for revenge on Heneage takes a turn for the better. 

“A Murder of Crows” is a wonderfully written novel.  The characters are delightfully colorful and eccentric.  In addition to the out-of-place Dodd and Sir Carey, I found myself laughing out loud about the antics of Sir Carey’s unique parents, especially his mother who commands a pirate ship.  Kit Marlowe and William Shakespeare also have roles in this story.

Even though it is part of a series, I found myself able to follow the story without having read the predecessors first.  I enjoyed this one so much, that I definitely plan to check out the whole series.  Because it is set in the 16th century, “A Murder of Crows” is a refreshing change from many of the stories that are published today.  This was a time when men had to rely on their wits and their cunning to solve a mystery.  They didn’t have the scientific advancements that we have today. There was no fingerprinting or DNA testing! 

Because some of the vocabulary is from the Elizabethan era, I found it helpful to review the definitions in the glossary at the back of the book first.  It helped the story flow better for me.  I highly recommend “A Murder of Crows” to both fans of the Elizabethan era, and to readers who are looking for something different.  I also think that readers’ groups will really enjoy discussing this mystery.

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