Lydia Crow is the London private investigator in Sarah Painter’s Crow Investigations series. Her cases have a familiar detective-story shape, but her surname ties her to one of four magical families that influence the city. The other families are Crow’s rivals: Silver, Fox, and Pearl.
Begin with The Night Raven. The early books introduce a case at a time, while the family conflict and Lydia’s place in it continue through the later novels. Reading in order gives that ongoing story its proper context.
Reading Order#
See the complete Crow Investigations reading order for all books in the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lydia Crow?
Lydia Crow is a private investigator in London who belongs to the Crow family, one of four ancient magical families that hold power in the city. She is the protagonist of Sarah Painter’s Crow Investigations series.
What are Lydia Crow's abilities?
Lydia has supernatural abilities tied to the Crow family legacy. Over the course of the series, she gradually discovers and develops these powers while trying to maintain her ordinary life as a PI.
What is the Crow Investigations series about?
The series combines private-investigator cases with an ongoing conflict among London’s Crow, Silver, Fox, and Pearl families. Lydia’s family connection makes it difficult for her to remain outside their magical politics.