Chris Crowther Books In Order

Publication Order of Jack Fellows Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Chris Crowther is a British author best known for his novels in the murder mystery genre. His most popular series of novels are the Jack Fellows Books which are set in the Norfolk Broads. Before he became a popular novelist, he spent more than four decades as a pilot flying all manner of helicopters and airplanes across the world. While he loved flying planes, he always had an itch for writing which he knew he had to one day scratch. It was while he was working in West Africa that he decided to take the dive and made use of the few moments he spent on South Atlantic helidecks to write short stories and articles for several periodicals and magazines. In 2007, he published his debut novel Bladestrike which would become one of the most popular novels in the United States. But he would become even more popular once he started publishing the novels in the Jack Fellows series.

Given his intimate knowledge of the Norfolk Broads, his work in the Jack Fellows which is set in the area has a very authentic feel. Chris Crowther usually enriches his plots by painting a picture of the unique landscape of the Norfolk Broads, intricate plots, a palpable sense of place, and well-developed characters. Many readers love his works for how he blends suspense with the deceptive but serene nature of the Norfolk countryside. Aside from his Jack Fellows murder mysteries, Crowther has also published the novel Pursuit in which he showcases his experiences during the First World War. He enriched the work by throwing in insights from his father who also fought in the Great War and this gives his novel more authenticity and depth.

It is in Chris Crowther’s first novel in the Jack Fellows series that we are introduced to the lead as Jack Fellows. The man was once a detective with Scotland Yard who now works on the beautiful flatlands of Norfolk as a Navigation Ranger. He loves his new job since it is more peaceful and there is nothing he loves better than patrolling the waterways. But then there is a murder and the local police arrest a man suspected to be responsible for the crime. Jack is sure the police have made a mistake and making use of his instincts which he still has from his days in the Yard, he goes on a quest to get to the bottom of the murder mystery. But as he digs into the case, he finds an intricate web of deceit and bitterness and finds that many people in the community could have had a motive for the murder. His quest for justice sends him across the boatyard and rivers of Norfolk, where he has to confront demons from the past and long-buried family secrets. It is a beautifully written story that blends a murder mystery with English charm to make a story that is both thought-provoking and fascinating.
Chris Crowther published his second novel of the Jack Fellows series Still Waters in 2022. This is the story of Sally Beckett, a backpacker who is told that she is the new owner of a boatyard in Norfolk left to her by an estranged grandfather. When she arrives in Broadland, she learns that Captain Charles her grandfather had died in very mysterious circumstances and no one can tell if it was murder or suicide. Settling into life in the village, she soon discovers layers of village mysteries and family secrets. Jack Fellows the Navigation Ranger, the best investigator for miles around works with her to get to the bottom of the mystery. They soon find themselves dealing with long-buried secrets and an intricate web of deception that makes for a suspenseful narrative with an unexpected ending.

Chris Crowther’s third novel of the Jack Fellows series sees the lead assigned to the southern rivers of the Broadlands of Norfolk. Arriving there, he finds two communities living in tension as they cannot trust each other. He proposes a joint endeavor which he believes could result in reconciliation but the tension is almost impossible to get rid of. As he investigates the dynamics of the communities, he becomes intrigued by several unsettling events. Working through a web of historical grievances and several dark secrets, he vows to get to the bottom of the cause of the disharmony between the communities. From the serenity of the Broadlands of Norfolk, Crowther writes a story that combines the complexities of human relationships with a mystery to showcase the challenges of bringing together communities that may look so similar yet are so different.