A Choir of Crows by Candace Robb

A Choir of Crows (An Owen Archer mystery)

by Candace Robb

When two bodies are discovered in the grounds of York Minster shortly before the enthronement of the new archbishop, Owen Archer is summoned to investigate.

December, 1374. With the great and the good about to descend on York for the enthronement of Alexander Neville as the new archbishop, the city authorities are in a state of high alert. When two bodies are discovered in the grounds of York Minster, and a flaxen-haired youth with the voice of an angel is found locked in the chapter house, Owen Archer, captain of the city bailiffs, is summoned to investigate.

Tension deepens when an enigmatic figure from Owen's past arrives in the city. Why has he returned from France after all these years - and what is his connection with the bodies in the minster yard and the fair singer?

Before Owen can make headway in the investigation, a third body is fished out of the river - and the captain finds himself with three mysterious deaths to solve before the all-powerful Neville family arrives in York.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

4 of 5 stars

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Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

A Choir of Crows is the 12th Owen Archer medieval mystery by Candace Robb. Released 30th June 2020 by Severn House on their Crème de la Crime imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This series is a meticulously researched masterpiece with believable characters, engaging plots, subtlety, murder, and well written narrative set against an overarching background of historical skullduggery, politics and the attendant mayhem which inevitably follows powerful people trying to grasp and solidify even more power. This particular installment sees Owen disentangling two mysterious deaths in his official capacity which soon turn into three.

The plots are always convoluted and well engineered, full of twists and surprises and this one certainly fits the bill. The story itself is written around a framework of real historical events and people and so well entwined that it's not always apparent where reality shades over into fiction.

Whilst an entertaining read, I did find myself struggling sometimes with the plethora of secondary characters and keeping all the servants, drudges, shopkeepers, and religious adherents of various orders and affiliations straight was taxing for me. I found myself having to check back in the story to remember which family was which. It's a relatively minor problem though, and considering the high quality of the writing, worth the occasional confusion.

Overall, it's a good read and a quality example of the historical mystery subgenre. I highly recommend this book (and the series) to fans of P.C. Doherty, Kate Sedley, Michael Jecks, and similar. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 August, 2020: Finished reading
  • 28 August, 2020: Reviewed