Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: A Murder of Crows by Margaret Duffy

Looking for something new and different to read? By all means, consider Margaret Duffy’s books. Margaret Duffy has led an interesting life. She worked for the British Inland Revenue and for the British Ministry of Defense. She is also a garden designer. Somehow she has found the time to publish 29 novels, with the 30^th set for release in March 2021.

A Murder of Crows (St. Martins Press, 1988; Lume Books, 2015) introduces Ingrid Langley and Patrick Gillard in a difficult to categorize story. Romance, mystery, and espionage coalesce in a fast-moving tale with unusual, quite human characters.

Ingrid Langley is a successful novelist, happily married to her second husband Peter Clyde, a policeman. Her acrimonious marriage to her teenage sweetheart Patrick Gillard ended with her throwing him out of her house years before. But Peter is murdered in questionable circumstances and Patrick was present when he died. Patrick, who is recovering from injuries received in the Falklands War, has been recruited by one of the secret service agencies. He needs a female partner to serve as his cover on an assignment and asks Ingrid, knowing she has no romantic interest in him and will focus on the job. Ingrid’s immediate reaction is to decline but she realizes Patrick can help her find out what actually happened to Peter.

Patrick is trying to find a mole in the British government, Ingrid is trying to finish her next novel, and they both gradually realize they have unfinished business with each other. Patrick’s search throws them into danger more than once, and he ends up hospitalized with serious consequences. They take refuge with Patrick’s parents to hide from their pursuers and give Patrick time to recuperate. His mother is wonderful, every woman’s dream mother-in-law.

I am not sure how I missed this series, the March 2021 title is the twenty-second, but it never crossed my reading radar until the great Lume Books ebook giveaway in April. (Dear Lume Books, Thank you. thank you, thank you!) It’s interesting that neither Booklist, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, nor Kirkus have reviewed this first book, so they missed it too. The characters are marvelous, there is enough action to suit any thrill seeker, and the mystery is wrapped up with a satisfying thud while leaving the door open for the couple’s future adventures. Highly, highly recommended.

·         File Size: 1025 KB

·         Print Length: 288 pages

·         Publisher: Lume Books (October 6, 2015)

·         Publication Date: October 6, 2015

·         ASIN: B016AIIFGG

Aubrey Hamilton ©2020

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.