by Suzy Aspley
SYNOPSIS
When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed…
Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire.
Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back...
When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows.
As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes clear that no one is safe, including Martha…
Both a nerve-shattering, enthralling and atmospheric thriller and a moving tale of grief and psychological damage, Crow Moon is a staggeringly accomplished debut and the start of an addictive, unforgettable series.
REVIEW
A slightly unusual way to start a review but can I just say that Martha Strangeways is just the best name for a main protagonist in a crime novel and I am thrilled that Crow Moon is the first of a series featuring this resilient and astute investigative reporter.
My love for Crime Fiction began (like so many others) with Agatha Christie, but for quite a few years I read a lot of Horror before returning to Crime & Thrillers so it's no surprise that many of my favourite books are murder mysteries with elements of horror, whether that is witchcraft, the occult or supernatural occurrences. This blend is something that Crow Moon achieved so expertly with the perfect amount of disturbing murders, creepy diary entries, religious references, witchcraft, rituals and that all-important Celtic mythology.
After the incredibly traumatic experience of losing her twin sons in a fire, Martha has given up on the idea of returning to her previous job as a newspaper reporter, instead focusing on surviving one day at a time and giving all of her attention to her remaining son. However, this routine which keeps her from giving in to her grief threatens to come crashing down when her son's best friend is found dead, with a disturbing verse written on his back. Because of her personal link to the case and her experience of working on investigations she makes a deal with DI Derek Summers to unofficially help out, but the more she uncovers, the more she fears that her son Dougie might also be a target. Martha will do anything it takes to ensure that she doesn't have to endure the loss of another child.
The story had a varied set of characters but each one felt very realistic to me. At times you could find yourself frustrated by them, their actions and decisions, but on the other hand you also felt their fear and desperation. They each had their own reasons for wanting or needing the case to be solved and over with, and this meant that there was never a dull moment in the story.
I knew I was going to adore this book before I had even read a page. I loved the slightly more rural Scottish setting, I loved how dark the story became and I loved the strength shown by Martha throughout every challenge she faced. It's very obvious that I enjoyed reading Crow Moon and will be waiting very impatiently for Book 2 but I also wanted to give a shoutout to the cover designer for an absolutely stunning design. If you've read the book you'll know that it fits the story perfectly and is suitably creepy! An easy 5 stars!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Originally from the north-east of England, former journalist Suzy Aspley has lived in
Scotland for almost thirty years. She writes crime and short stories, often inspired by the
strange things she sees in the landscape around her. She won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch
Perfect in 2019 with the original idea for her debut novel and was shortlisted for the
Capital Crime New Voices Award. In 2020, she was mentored by Jo Dickinson as part of
the Hachette future bookshelf initiative. Crow Moon was also longlisted for the Caledonia
Novel Award. She’s currently working on the second book in the series, and when she’s
not writing, she’s either got her nose buried in a book, or is outside with her dogs
dreaming up more dark stories. She lives in Stirlingshire with her family.
Thanks to Anne Cater - @RandomTTours, Suzy Aspley @Writer_Suzy and Orenda Books - @OrendaBooks for the opportunity to read and review.
Fiction: Crime Fiction / Psychological Suspense / Contemporary Horror
Publisher: Orenda Books
ISBN: 978-1914585500
Pages: 272pp
Comments