The Crow's Call

My emotions were completely caught up in this story before the end of the first chapter. I connected with all of the King family as soon as I met them. Anyone who has had a loved one die will relate with the deep grief they are dealing with. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how the author had the various family members deal with it.

I liked seeing how the mystery developed. It wasn’t resolved by the end of this book so I guess this is going to be an ongoing storyline through the series.

There were a number of community characters that came into the story in a way that I believe this series is set in the same location as The Prayer Jars series, by the same author. I will definitely be reading those books as soon as possible.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

I’m an avid reader, and have enjoyed many, many of Wanda Brunstetter’s books. Her latest book, ”The Crow’s Call”, which is different because it is a mystery, did not disappoint. It kept me intrigued and reading curiously until the very last page.

The story centers around Amy King, a young woman who is growing up in the picturesque backdrop of the village of Strasberg, in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country.
This is an area with which I’m familiar, because it is a place where my family spent vacations, camping, during the summers in my growing up years. I recall it as being beautiful and peaceful, with lush, green rolling farmland. A place with a slower pace of life, where simple pleasures, like homemade root beer, bread and candy are popular treats, and family homestyle meals are commonplace.

It is a peaceful and quaint area, which reminds me of the simplicity of the past, a welcome reprieve from the frantic ways of much of today’s society. There is so much to be said for this lifestyle.

Amy’s character is kind, thoughtful, steady, and discerning. She is reliable and compassionate, and also stands behind her convictions.
Amy cultivates her relationships much like the tender care a farmer puts into planting farms to bring forth harvest. She treats each person in her life with care and thoughtful concern, and is a good daughter, sister and friend. Everyone around her benefits from her consistent love and compassion.

Amy’s character’s life brings up a lot of pertinent questions about the importance and value of making the right decisions, loyalty, selflessness, and communication in relationships. It alludes to the fact that every action a person makes in life can have a positive impact on others, moreso than we realize. Like the ripples of a pond, each person’s life touches others, emanating out even to the periphery of our sphere of influence.

Amy’s commitment to serve God and her family, and her reaction to things she encounters makes me admire her character. It made me stop and think how this compares to what society tells us to do in certain situations. Additionally, supporting characters’ honest reactions to circumstances in the story make them easily relatable, yet complex characters.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book is the mystery having to do with Amy’s family, which is a question mark in their lives, and not predictable....I like to try to figure things out, but was unable to solve the mystery here....I was kept in suspense.

I look forward to reading Part 2 of this series, to see how the pieces fall into place in Amy’s life....This was a great read. It is a nice story, and I liked getting to know the characters. I can’t wait for the next Greenhouse mystery (Part 2), from Wanda Brunstetter.