Clamour of Crows

A tightly plotted debut mystery that mixes foul play, wordplay, and humor. The jokes start right away. Many of the characters’ names come from children’s literature: Dorothy, Charlotte, and Baum, to name a few. Often funny, always light, this one will appeal to mystery buffs who don’t require sex and gore—and to those harboring fond memories of reading J.R.R. Tolkien, L. Frank Baum, and Lewis Carroll. —Kirkus Reviews