A Clattering of Jackdaws

The Birdwatcher Series, Book 2

By: European P. Douglas

Narrated by: Raymond Kallai

The Game Goes Deeper

FBI Agent Sarah Brightwater and journalist Tyler Ford must team up once more to stop the evil machinations of mass serial killer Dwight Spalding. Two sets of unrelated murders in Virginia begin to become entwined as Spalding's web begins to be unraveled. Sarah is working both cases but can't let the link be known for fear of being taken off them and losing her chance to catch the man who killed her mother. Tyler's involvement in the case become more personal than he imagined possible. Will he be able to escape the plans of the vile murderer who is using him a plaything? Buy now to continue the case!

©2020 Rory McNeill (P)2025 Rory McNeill

Better than first book.

The Birdwatcher Series:
AN UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS, #1 - I usually like books by this author, but this one I dislike. While the story lines are interesting, I disliked the FBI agent. Instead of being like a dog with a bone, she was like a mad dog with a living baby. Source: My Kindle library. 3*

A CLATTERING OF JACKDAWS, #2, Audiobook - This is a better book. The FBI agent isn't as unlikeable as she was in the first book, just a dog with a bone. Picks up where #1 ends. Interesting story lines and good characters set to a good pace. The narrator Raymond Kallai does a good job with his reading and the voices of the characters. Source: StoryOrigin and Ghost Creative. 4*

A KETTLE OF HAWKS, #2, Audiobook - This book picks up where #2 ends. Interesting story lines and good characters, including an improvement with the FBI agent, set to a good pace. The narrator Lincoln Gillet does a better job with emotions instead of just reading, but some of his voices take a bit to adjust to since I listened to this book after #2. Source: StoryOrigin and Ghost Creative. 4*

The Game Goes Deeper, and Deadlier

A Clattering of Jackdaws pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go. FBI Agent Sarah Brightwater and journalist Tyler Ford are back, and the stakes are higher than ever. Two seemingly unrelated murder cases in Virginia start to connect in chilling ways, revealing the twisted web of serial killer Dwight Spalding.

Sarah’s determination to catch the man who murdered her mother keeps her working both cases in secret, while Tyler finds himself pulled into Spalding’s dangerous game in ways he never could have imagined. The tension, the danger, and the personal stakes all build into a gripping, edge-of-your-seat read.

The pacing is spot on, the twists are masterful, and the characters feel even more developed in this second installment. By the time I turned the last page, I was already desperate for the next book in the series.

If you love fast-paced thrillers with layered characters and plenty of surprises, this one is a must-read.

A Five star read from a favorite author

A Clattering of Jackdaws (The Birdwatcher Series Book 2), my fourteenth read from author European P. Douglas. It's been five years & twelve books since I read An Unkindness of Ravens (The Birdwatcher, #1), why? So it took me awhile to come back up to speed in the series, A well-written, entertaining read, with intriguing, well-developed characters that I read in a single setting. 6-hours 16-minutes/235-pages. Raymond Kallai's narration adds to a good book's enjoyment. “I received a complementary Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I'll be reading more from this author with A Kettle of Hawks (The Birdwatcher Series Book 3) added to my TBR list today. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

A twisted, memorable story

Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. Narrated beautifully by Raymond Kallai, A Clattering of Jackdaws continues agent Sarah Brightwater's quest to bring down serial killer Dwight Spalding and then man's harrowing ability to wreck so many lives. As Sarah and her partner Malick investigate numerous grisly murders throughout Virginia that has its killer testing the FBI's skills to solve cryptic clues that could lead the team to saving a live than encounter bloody crimes scenes. Journalist Tyler Ford returns once more to become an even more unique ally for Sarah; especially when shocking twist that's all too personal gives witness of just how far Dwight Spalding can ensnare victims into his deadly games. Whether that individual is one of many victims kidnapped like Megan Stanver was- a forced pawn to manipulate their families to following Spalding's bidding. To the insanity that Carson Lemond, a low level criminal endures by getting caught up in spider's web of hell.


This fiery and an adrenaline rush of a series continues at a breakneck pace.

Highly recommended.

Good murder mystery

Good “who done i”t murder mystery. You’ll be surprised by the ending. I enjoyed following the detective along her story. I was not familiar with the backstory and have not read the first book. You don’t need to in order to follow this book.