This book sinks its claws in from the first page. Set against a brooding Irish landscape, the story weaves murder, ancient folklore, and psychological unraveling into a single, intoxicating thread. The main characters descent into fear and obsession mirrors the rise of long‑dormant powers beneath the soil, creating a tension that feels both intimate and mythic.

The murders are chilling, but it’s the sense of something older, something watching, that lingers long after the chapter ends. The atmosphere is thick with dread, beauty, and the quiet hum of ancient gods waking.

A haunting, read for anyone who loves their fantasy dark, their thrillers psychological, and their mythology woven into the bones of the world.

Thank you to Netgalley, Troubador Publishing, and the author for providing this ARC copy.

Thrillers are not my usual genre - I will pick them up from time to time, but they have never been my go-to. When I first opened Beneath the Crow's Shadow, I was wondering if would enjoy this read, or would I feel like I was muscling though it, trying to get it done simply because I said I would.  I quickly found out how wrong I was- this is more than just a thriller, this story spans genres, mixing thriller, police procedural and a mythology not commonly called upon in books that kept the pages turning and kept me engaged from start to finish.
I found the imagery evocative and immersive - I could hear the echoes of shoes on cobblestone and feel the cool dampness of a foggy Irish night. I could imagine each scene the way you watch a movie.
We follow Detective Roisin (pronounced roh-SHEEN if Google is to be believed) as she struggles to solve multiple murders that are definitely related and marked with ritualistic symbols and displays She quickly discovers she's at the center of a secret war hidden beneath society's very nose - with the Guardians on one side and the Children of the Crow on another. It's more than a fight between good and evil. It's a fight for either balance or chaos to win the day and take over the world. And at the center is Roisin and The Morrigan, an ancient goddess war and chaos, but also balance.
They mythological scenes, the druids,  the Morrigan herself, even the spirit of the land, seemed immersed in a rich history that we only scratch the surface of, and I loved that the author drew a mythology that is less fashionable in the mainstream today, where you see a plethora of Greek and Norse tales.
It's a short read at 210 pages, and I found myself for more. The climatic end, and what came after, was tense, and I found myself flying through the last pages. It does end on a cliffhanger, but a soft cliffhanger, where you still close the book, and are satisfied at the current end point. There is even a romantic interest, but that is a sub-subplot and not a distraction.
There one thjng that threw me out of the story - I wish there was a page break or at least a line break between alternating POV's or a change in time/location, especially in the beginning. In one paragraph, Roisin was just getting started with her workday, and the very next paragraph, she was leaving the office for the day, with no break in between to note the change in scene. This was an ARC e-book, however, so that may not be the case in the published copies. And I didn't notice it at all after about halfway thru the book, so either that was resolved or I was so involved in the story I didn't even notice, either way, that's a good thing.
I also wish there was more history explained between Enda, Oisin, and Aiden. I don't know if those scenes ended up on the editing floor  or if the author I'd saving that storyline for the next book, but I was so intrigued by the history briefly mentioned and wanted more.
Again this is a short read, but it packs a wallop, and the sheer amount of information and action packed into this story, without feeling cluttered or jumbled, is intense, in the best way possible.

This book is releasing on 2/28/26, and I highly recommend it.

Beneath the Crow’s Shadow is a striking blend of psychological suspense and ancient Celtic mythology, creating a thriller that feels both modern and timeless. From the very first ritualistic murder in Dublin, the book hooks you with its eerie mood and never lets up.

Detective Róisín Kelly is a brilliantly drawn protagonist—tough, intuitive, and quietly vulnerable. As she investigates a series of murders marked with ancient symbols linked to The Morrígan, you can feel the unease closing in around her. The author captures that unsettling sense of being watched, hunted, and slowly unravelled with wonderful precision.
What sets this thriller apart is the way it balances crime investigation with folklore. The Children of the Crow—a disturbing, fanatic cult determined to awaken The Morrígan—add a sinister, supernatural layer that never feels over‑the‑top. Instead, it deepens the mystery and raises the stakes in a genuinely compelling way.

Róisín’s spiralling visions and whispers from the Otherworld are some of the most haunting moments in the book. They blur the line between reality and myth so effectively that you’re never quite sure what’s coming next. And when The Guardians appear, revealing Róisín’s hidden role in a much bigger, ancient conflict, the story shifts into a fast, gripping race against fate.
The tension only builds from there—betrayals, revelations, and atmospheric set pieces that make Ireland itself feel like a character.

This is a richly imagined, cinematic thriller that combines police procedural grit with dark mythology in a way that feels fresh and addictive. Fans of psychological suspense with a supernatural edge will love this one. A riveting, shadow‑soaked ride from start to finish.

With thanks to Eamon Ó Maoláin, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

Enjoyed this story so much it was almost impossible to put down while reading it. It was definitely a page turner, there were a couple minor things that could have been improved - but this is the ARC version of the story, so those minor things could very well no longer exist. Definitely a good read and very much recommend if it sounds up your alley, you won't be disappointed.

Overall, I enjoyed "Beneath the Crow's Shadow." The murder mystery-turned-mythological-mayhem was definitely compelling! I've always been a fan of Irish lore, and The Morrigan is one of the most fascinating of them all. 3 stars.

I am always a fan of police procedurals, and the modern mythology spin was fun! Our main character, Detective Róisín Kelly, is mid-case for a series of ritualistic murders, and you are thrown into that action on page one as she investigates the latest crime scene. We start in Dublin and eventually get a little tour of Ireland by the end of the book (and who doesn't LOVE Ireland)! Along the way we meet her coworkers, the mysterious Cian O'Rourke, a druid (niiiice!), and other characters who will help or hinder Róisin along the way.

A few notes, however:
1. The book felt a little under-researched, or at least, underdeveloped. The same two or three characteristics of The Morrigan and her followers were used over and over (and over) again. I wanted more history... more stories of The Morrigan or the children of the crow would have been nice - even if it was fictional; give us more mythology to immerse us in the world, please!
2. Character building could have been stronger. And I lost count of how many times the main character's appearance was largely focused on her "auburn har" (and it was always "auburn hair" never just "hair.")
3. The early chapters, structurally, were a bit repetitive. Main character goes to work, has some descriptor about how her auburn hair was styled and her level of fatigue, and talks to her partner who is always hunched over a desk, documents, case photos, etc. Each one felt like they had been the original first chapter re-written over and over again. A little more variety would have been helpful, especially if used to introduce new traits about our characters.

Plot = 5 stars
Characters = 3 stars
World building + character development = 1 star

Thank you to Netgalley, Troubador Publishing, and the author for providing this ARC copy.

Beneath the Crow's Shadow by Eamon Ó Maoláin is a fast paced thriller that grips the reader and never lets them go. The book begins mid investigation with the feel of a procedural detective mystery. It quickly turns into a thrilling chase as Róisín strives to save the day.

I really enjoyed the overall plot of the book. It was fast paced, gripping, and had me anxiously turning pages. There was plenty of action through the story and a lot of tense buildup to the end. One thing to be aware of is that the story begins in the middle of an investigation and never seems to find a beginning. Details are brought in as of the Reader was already exposed to them and sections seem to jump around and not connect fully due to this. However, as you go the gaps are either filled in or you can make the needed connections to continue enjoying the plot. I did find more page turning enjoyment after the story shifted away from the procedural crime focus which surprised me as that was what initially drew me in.

Overall I feel the book had a lot of potential but fell a bit short of my expectations I'd give it a 2.5/5. The plot was great but it needed a bit more fleshing out, some initial exposition to support the reader's understanding, and more character development to allow the reader to connect to them better.

This was such an exciting reading! I was sucked in as soon as I started reading this book. The author did an amazing job keeping the plot exciting and moving at a fast pace where I never got bored. I am obsessed with the characters and the journey and growth they went through. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Arc Review
Beneath the Crow's Shadow by Eamon Ó Maoláin
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Troubador Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this and I read it with my teen daughters who also enjoyed it. I'm not normally a huge reader of thrillers but I do enjoy them from time to time and this was definitely one I found myself enjoying!!
I really loved the Celtic mythology that was involved in this book, it was a nice blend with the suspense of the book.
I definitely plan on recommending this to the ladies in my book club!!
#BeneaththeCrowsShadow #NetGalley

What begins as a murder mystery quickly becomes a mythological tale that grabs and doesn’t let go. Ancient Irish sites cleverly used in the climax as the battle between good and evil takes a huge cost of good lives but it’s all set for more battles to come.

The premise of this book is exactly the type of story I would like. Unfortunately it did not live up to that for me.

I love the idea of mixing in mythology with real world consequences

The execution of this story fell flat for me. In some parts I felt like I was reading an article when I was supposed to be reading a conversation. In other times I felt like I was learning contradictory information.

The first couple chapter felt like they were each chapter one, at one point in the drafting process.

I don’t feel like my time was wasted but I didn’t overly enjoy my time either. The romantic interest between róisín and enda felt unnecessary

There was a LOT of detail about the rain, her coat, and monotonous things that I felt took me out of the story and then all of the good parts felts rushed and surface level. The author has potential, I think there just needs to be a balance between too much and not enough.

This was a fun and unique shorter read. I enjoyed both the setting and the story. The imagery in this book was stunning. The author meticulously wove together suspense and scenery for a thriller that's steeped in mythology and puts the reader into each setting. I loved how the author used Irish folklore throughout the story and felt that it was refreshing and different. The scene shifts/time progression were a bit abrupt in the e-arc so I'm hoping they're spaced more obviously in the physical, final copy because I had to go back a few times to clarify that we had skipped forward in the timeline a few times. Definitely recommend for a unique but fun read if you like police procedurals or Irish settings!

This was exciting! It sucked me in from the first page. The plot was exciting and I felt that it was fast-paced. I was obsessed with the characters and what they were going through. I'll recommend this to everyone I know who loves books.