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One of the best things about this series is the historical research Robb clearly does. The daily life of people living in York in the 14th century is impeccable. Owen Archer lost his eye during one of England's frequent wars with France. He is a peacekeeper now, working for the king in London, providing him with intelligence on the various factions in York, including the powerful Neville family, who is about to have one of their own installed as the Archbishop of York Minster. Three bodies complicate the issues along with the return of an old ally of Archer's from France. Why has he suddenly returned and does it have anything to do with the three bodies? Another intelligent read from Robb.

Owen has his work cut out for him, three dead bodies and the Nevilles are coming to York. An old friend and a young girl pretending to be a boy add to troubles in town.
Goodreads

December 1374. When two bodies are discovered in the grounds of York Minster shortly before the enthronement of the new archbishop and a young girl is found locked in the chapter house Owen Archer is summoned to investigate.
But all is not as it seems. Someone from Owen's past arrives from France, bringing trouble and could it be he is connected to the murders?.
Set in York, the author really sets the scene and you can visualise, smell and feel the icy chill of the Medieval city.
As Archer tries to unravel the mystery the tension is ramped up as a third body is dragged from the river and questions are needing answering before the archbishop and his family arrive.
This is a well written and researched interesting Medieval murder mystery which made for a unusual compelling read. I would certainly recommend this to any fans of this genre.
I enjoyed the book. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers and in providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Candace Robb carries on the Owen Archer mysteries in A Choir of Crows. 1374 and York is preparing to enthrone the new Archbishop of York Alexander Neville Two bodies are found in York Minster and another taken from the river, all murders. A youth is discovered hiding near the two bodies and a musician from Owen's past turns up from France. The city wants this cleared up before the Archbishop arrives and Owen has to avoid antagonizing either the Nevilles or the Percies. He has power as representative of Prince Edward in the north and is now captain of the city bailiffs. The answer lies between corruption, lust and high politics. Excellent historical mystery of late in Edward the III's reign.

This is a well written and interesting series of Medieval murder mysteries, concerning Owen Archer, a former soldier. This story is very much involved with the politics of the day, and the various factions of nobility.

A young man is found in the chapter house and two bodies are outside; Archer is called in to find out what has happened, but all is not as it seems. Someone from Owen's past arrives from France, bringing trouble in his wake and apparently connected to the murders.

Set in York, the author paints a wonderful picture of life in the Medieval city. Archer's attempts to solve the mystery and keep his family and colleagues safe make for an exciting and interesting read.

I enjoyed the book very much. Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and Crème de la Crime for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mysterious Deaths At York Minster.....
December, 1374, Owen Archer is summoned to investigate the discovery of two bodies in the grounds of York Minister. With the enthronement of a new Archbishop pending and security already high, the appearance of a third body brings even more cause for concern. Enjoyable, interesting storytelling combining credible characters, a good sense of time and place and an engaging plot. Solid historical crime.

As is to be expected from Candace Robb, this book is an enjoyable read. It combines early English/Welsh history with a moderately complex murder mystery. I've enjoyed her books for years and this one does not disappoint. It's a pretty fast read and keeps you involved throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing Crème de la Crime for an e-galley of this novel.

I acknowledge the fact that this was my first Candace Robb book and, therefore, my first time reading the Owen Archer series. As this was book #12, I found myself lost much of the time in trying to wrangle the plot from the characters. Overall, I give this book 3 stars.

I was originally intrigued for the genre (mystery/thriller) and the time period (14th century). Other than the Bible, I’ve never read a book that went this far back (A Year of Wonders and The Crucible both took place in the 17th century) and I was interested to find out how these murders would be solved. To Robb’s credit, she did a good job describing the scenery and making the setting come to life. For the most part, this book was simply hard to follow because there were at least ten A characters and probably twenty more B characters, all with a complex past and a history interwoven with the past of the other characters. I know that had I read Robb's earlier novels, I would have understood it better but as it were, a short line here and there to go with every character introduced did not suffice for me to remember who was who and why they were there. Although I could not completely follow the plot, Robb’s character descriptions, actions, and setting all did justice to the time period, of which I have very poor knowledge. The author's research of this time period and her experience is shown off in her writing.

The biggest reason why this book is a 3 for me is that it just didn’t hold my attention. This was definitely a mystery (the goal to uncover the murderer(s) of these three people) but there really was no on-the-edge-of-your-seat action or warranted tension. From my perspective, Owen seemed to know exactly who to call and who to interrogate to get answers. By the end, when the “big mystery” is revealed, it’s simply that–revealed to Owen in an anticlimactic scene that was precluded by too much hype.

I would have loved to get to know Robb’s characters more. This being number twelve in the series, readers are likely already invested in the characters and know their past, but in this one, it stayed on the surface. I liked Lucie, Owen’s wife, as well as their son, Jasper but I didn't learn much about them, other than Lucie is kindhearted and wholly in love with her husband, and that Jasper is a good son who is family-oriented. They seemed like good people, good characters that I would have enjoyed hearing from more, but the focus remained on Owen’s search for the murderers and a huge emphasis on the church and politics of the time. Though the focus was geared toward the murders, Robb did flip flop back and forth between the “intense search” and Owen’s beautiful family life, which seemed a little more jarring than heartwarming (work-life balance). The one character that I think readers are sort of forced into liking is also a mystery–Marian but I wasn't a big fan. The first 60-70% of the book is Owen and Lucie trying to figure out who Marian is–why won’t she talk? Why was she discovered in the chapter house? Where did she come from? Trying to coax the history and mystery out of Marian was frustrating and, in the end, seemingly pointless.

All in all, I liked the characters on a surface level and the overall idea of a thriller, but I wish the reader experienced it more with the POV character side by side. In every chapter, I felt not just one step behind, but probably five.

This is the latest book in the Owen Archer series ................. a welcome return to his life , family and the politics of the time .

It is late 1374 and Alexander Neville is coming to be installed as Archbishop of York, a powerful position...... One that strengthens the might of the Neville's . A body is discovered in the grounds of the Minster and before much time has passed two more bodies surface ............. Captain of Bailiffs for the city , Owen Archer, has his hands full investigating for in the mix is his old friends - spy Ambrose Coates along with river woman Magba Digby .
Owen needs all his wits about him because along with trying to solve the murders and protect his friends he needs to deal with the Nevilles and the Percys ............ sworn rivals for power in the North ....... it is a delicate balance .
Who is the golden haired young singer - was he the intended victim all along ?

The Author manages to bring the politics and daily life of these troubled times to life in all her novels ..... showing how you needed to keep your wits about you just to survive the machinations of the powerful few .

I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review .

1374 Owen Archer Captain of the Bailiffs in the City of York was to be given a handful to sort with the murder of two men on the eve of the arrival of the powerful Neville family for the enthronement of the new Archbishop. Owen Prince Edward’s man walks a tightrope between the Neville’s and the Percy’s for the power in the North. Into the mix comes a golden haired youth with the voice of an angel seen with one of the murdered men and an old friend of Owen’s returned from France was he the intended victim. This is an absorbing book showing the powerful families at the time and how you had to have your wits about you to survive all the treachery. It really involves you in the politics of York and how Owen must also look out for his family with murderers abroad. It will keep you hooked till the last page.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say about a mystery set in 1374 York? Owen Archer is investigating murders, there'a a new Archbishop coming to town, there's political intrigue and there's family life. There's also a lot of characters, many of which are real people (I spent time googling). This is complicated in a way that's rewarding on several levels. It's an easier read, I suspect, if you are familiar with the UK during the period or if you're reading strictly for the mystery. If you, like me, are one who wants to know exactly what things mean or are and aren't well versed in 1374, then you'll be doing a bit of additional research. I've only read one in the series (the 11th installment) but I wish I'd read them all and now I'm looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Robb's fans will be pleased and new readers have a treat ahead.

1374 and the reign of Edward III.
Alexander Neville is about to be anointed as the archbishop of York. But at York Ministera a body is discovered in the grounds. But there will be two more discovered that morning. Old friend and spy Ambrose Coates with singer Matthew arrive in York. Is there a connection.
Owen Archer as the Captain of the city bailiffs, and Prince Edward's man investigates.
But he must to it quickly and successfully as many prominent families are coming to York for the anointing of the new archbishop.
Another enjoyable and interesting well-written historical mystery, with its cast of varied and likeable old and new characters. A fine addition to the series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Owen Archer! One of my favourite medieval characters!

As always I'm intrigued by Owen and Lucie Archer, their children, their apprentices and cohort of friends, living their lives in medieval England, bearing up under an often fraught political scene.
It's late 1374 and York is in uproar. Alexander Neville is coming to be installed as Archbishop of York, a powerful position. One that strengthens the might of the Neville's.
Two dead bodies are found and Owen is tasked to investigate quickly before important personages reach York. A third quickly occurs. Time is of the essence.
Ambrose Coates a gifted Welsh crwth player and a friend to river woman and healer Magda Digby has returned, his movements stealthy and secretive. He's accompanied by a talented, nay gifted singer he was playing with in a musical troupe. A singer with the voice of an Angel! They'd been forced to flee from the troupe. For some reason the singer is a person of interest to many.
Unfortunately Ambrose becomes embroiled in the murder of Ronan, Alexander Neville’s vicar. Further information makes it seem likely that men of Sir John Neville, Knight of the Garter, Admiral of the North, Steward of the King’s Household, and Alexander's brother, are somehow involved. Mystery surrounds the singer Ambrose has been protecting, particularly as John Neville's thugs appear to be pursuing them. What is it about this person that is so important?
Then there's Ambrose himself. What is his part? It seems he might be up to his old tricks, spying, and gathering information. But for whom?
With a change of power happening in York, Owen has his hands full. Walking a tightrope between the powerful factions, the Neville's and the Percy's, solving the puzzles strewn in his path, without losing the place he'd 'of late assumed. Two roles, one as Prince Edward’s spy in the North, and one as the captain of the city bailiffs.' Both crucial. Before this is done Owen 'will feel the familiar shower of needle pricks across his blind eye,' a premonition of things to come. More and more Owen is remembering Magda's injunction to him, to Bird-Eye as she names him, to pay heed to his 'clear-seeing.' This other sense will stand him in good stead.
And the Choir of Crows? Well that's equally as fascinating.
Another solid story about this fascinating family of medieval England caught up in the political maelstrom of the times.

A Crème de la Crime ARC via NetGalley

One of the great things about Netgalley is being able to read books you might not normally buy straight up especially being part of a series. I have never read a Candice Robb before but am already planning on going back to the beginning of this series to read the whole lot. I am a huge fan of the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, and this is the closest thing I have found to that.

There is enough history of the period to give you a feel for the time the book is set in without being too detailed to detract from the story. A delightful, easy to read historical mystery with well fleshed out and believable characters.

Thanks to Severn House for the e-galley to review through NetGalley!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The setting was interesting and added a layer to the suspense. This book had an Angels and Demons vibe from the beginning. It was clearly researched well and it added a lot of atmosphere to the story. The pacing was good for the most part, but some of the history and technicalities slowed it down a bit for me. For some, I think that would be an added benefit so it is more a matter of preference. Glad I got to read this one!

Candace Robb never fails to deliver gripping and entertaining books. I loved this one as it's well written and the mystery is solid.
I was hooked since the first pages and I was happy to meet again the well rounded characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched as usual, the mystery kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Owen Archer, #12 continues the series in the usual style. I enjoyed the book but readers should recognize that it fits closer to the fantasy side of historical fiction; the main characters have pretty modern values. Fun read. If you like the series this one will fit right in and advance some core characters that you have come to like.

In A Choir of Crows, the 12th in Candace Robb's historical mystery series about Captain Owen Archer, the discovery of two bodies on the grounds of the York Minster, and an angelic-voiced youth locked in the chapter house, shortly before the enthronement of the new archbishop Alexander Neville in December 1374, causes consternation among the city authorities. Captain Owen Archer must investigate the murders, discover the truth of the traumatized younger singer and their band of traveling players, and unravel the secrets, both political and personal, that lie just beneath the surface, all before the powerful Neville family arrive in York.

Even to this first time reader of the Owen Archer series, stumbling ignorantly into number 12, the book - the series - clearly has a richly developed ensemble of characters making up the town and clergy that surround the one-eyed detective, both aiding and hindering him in his investigations. That ensemble, and the political intrigues and scheming which they engage in, drawn from real history but blended with Robb’s fictional characters and mystery, are the strongest aspects of A Choir of Crows.

The mystery novel at its best presents the reader with a solution they did not see coming several chapters early, but about which they think, the moment all is revealed, “oh, I should’ve known!” The balance between unpredictable and retroactively inevitable is what makes a great whodunnit so much fun. Unfortunately, A Choir of Crows fails to construct its clues and suspects in such a way as to find that balance. Still, the evocative medieval atmosphere and varied cast of characters filling Owen Archer’s world make for an enjoyable read, and one which makes me eager to read the preceding eleven in the series.

Content warning for rape and sexual assault references.