The only trouble with getting an early review copy of a new book is that you’ve got an even longer wait till book 2 arrives! I’ve been a fan of Sarah Painter for some time now. Her stories are always a little bit quirky and have a thread of the supernatural running through them. This one celebrates the world of magic and magical powers.
The Night Raven is set in a London that is overseen by four magical families. The Crows, Foxes, Pearls and Silvers. Based in their own local areas they are all operating like local mafia with protection rackets etc. and their own territory and family members to protect. The best comparison I can find for it is probably the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch crossed with Cormoran Strike!
Lydia Crow had escaped from the constraints of her magical family and was working as a private investigator in Edinburgh. When an unsatisfied customer makes threats against her it is time to lie low for a bit and she decides to return to London for the first time since she left. Uncle Charlie has offered her a place to stay and a small job – finding her cousin Madeline who has suddenly vanished.
The Night Raven is a fun read with interesting gregarious characters including a homicidal but helpful ghost, Fleet the local copper and the increasingly dodgy members of the Crow family. Find out if the truce that has held for the last 75 years will be broken by Maddie’s disappearance.
Supplied by the author in exchange for an honest review.
UK Publication date: Oct 23 2018. Siskin Press. 242 pages.
Categories: 4 Stars Book Review
angelnet69
Prolific reader, enthusiastic theatre and movie-goer and ex-Olivier Awards judge who spent twenty years working in the music industry in London. Sharing my house with a gorgeous cockapoo called Harry who has taken over completely.
I love sharing my favourite books with friends - nearly always spoiler-free as I hate reading a synopsis of the whole book in other reviews.
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