The Crow's Call

The Crow's Call starts out with the loss of three family members--including the head of the household/father. As the remaining family members grieve, they also have to continue running their family-owned business, a green house. The book is difficult to read at times simply because grief is NEVER easy to read about, but Wanda Brunstetter tells the story in such a way that you want to keep reading to find out what happens next! The story line contains many unexpected twists and turns and keeps you interested from beginning to end. Although not particularly an easy read, it is very much a GOOD read and well worth the time spent reading. I'm glad there are more books coming in this series starter!

Readers will be happy to see some of the characters from the Prayer Jar series in this new series, Amish Greenhouse Mystery. The King family is facing a lot when a tragedy happens that sets the family on a different course. Each member of the family deals in their own way. The author sets up the mystery of what's happening in the greenhouse in a way that readers will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Highly recommended!

I loved this book! Wanda is one of my favorite author's! I love all her book's! I have read them all! even tho I love all her book's! the seeker's was my favorite series! I really adored this book!
I got the copy from Netgalley! was very happy to get to read it

Wanda Brunstetter has done it again! If you enjoyed The Prayer Jar series, you will love this series! The Crow's Call focuses on a family's (Michelle's in-laws) devastating grief after three men in their family are killed instantly when a semi hits their buggy. Usually they are focused on "it's God's will" when something devastating happens, so it was interesting to see the reality of their grief. Odd acts of vandalism start happening, but we don't find out who is behind this in this book. I do, however, have my suspicions. Virginia, their new neighbor, decides instantly that she doesn't like them because they're old-fashioned, so I'm curious about the continuation of her story as well. I highly recommend and I cannot wait for the next book in the series! Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wanda Brunstetter is a wonderful storyteller. It’s no surprise that she’s written almost 90 books and has sold over ten million copies. She has a way of gently drawing me into the lives of the characters she’s created, and by the time I finish the book, I feel as if I have been part of that community. This book continues the stories of some of the characters in the “Prayer Jars” series, so this one felt as if I were returning to this Amish community for another visit.

However, this book has a different tone than the “Prayer Jar” series. This is not a light-hearted book. From the beginning of the first chapter, there’s a sense of foreboding as the family gathers together for a celebration.

The King family is living through the aftermath of heartbreaking tragedy, and the family members are struggling to find a “new normal” again. Each is struggling in their own way, and not all are handling it well. The family’s relationships are stretched as they relate to each other, but there’s always the foundation of love for each other that holds them together. Each one faces their own crisis of faith. There’s quite a contrast in the ways that Amy and Sylvia handle their grief. Their mother, Belinda, is the anchor that pulls everyone together. I admired her commitment and love to her family, even as she struggled with her own grief.

Another way this book differs from Wanda Brunstetter’s other books is that this one ends rather abruptly with several questions unanswered.
I’m not really a fan of that type of ending, and felt unsettled when I finished the book. But this is a mystery series, and I am now definitely waiting to reading the next book to hopefully get some of those questions answered. I’m trusting that once I finish this series, I’ll understand how each book flowed into the next one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Oh, boy are we in for a treat.....the first book in a new series by Wanda Brunstetter...."The Amish Greenhouse Mystery Series"!! How many of us get goosebumps, when a bird hits our house window?? This is the same way Amy King feels whenever that crow decides to caw, caw, caw. Amy is filled with trepidation wondering what will happen. She sees the crows call as a foreshadowing of bad things to come.....and this day it did!! A birthday celebration turns tragic, in a matter of minutes.....a family is forever changed and each one will be impacted. The family lost 3 family members....the husband/father, son/brother and the son-in-law.....gone and now life as they know it is gone however it must go on, but how?? Each person handles loss and grief in their own ways but how do they now survive together and cope with their losses. One sister becomes filled with anxiety and cannot cope with the outside world. The young brother becomes angry at his new responsibilities and the fact that he feels he has lost his chance at life before it even began. AND he has now made it his mission to make the Amy's nemesis, the crow, his pet!!! Amy deals with her grief by becoming an overachiever and deciding that she no longer has time for courting. This will be a great series and this book leaves you wanting the second book, to see where these lives will be going. Always taking on an aspect of life that we all face or will face and treating it in reality. Sit back, light your favorite candle and enjoy the beginning of a new series!!

Wanda Brunstetter's new Amish Greenhouse Mystery series is off to a rousing start with The Crow's Call. As the story unfolded, an ominous wind was in the air so when Amy King heard the sound of a crow calling she knew it wasn't a good day to celebrate her mother's birthday. She shouldn't be superstitious but every time she heard a crow call, something always seemed to go wrong. Then, later that evening, tragedy times three changed her family's life forever. The chilling dynamics of grief are as varied as the person who is suffering. Picking up the pieces for her family wasn't going to be easy but Amy seemed to let the responsibility rest on her shoulders. As she pitched in to help her mother run the family greenhouse, she assumed much more than the duties required to help the business continue.


Mysterious things began to happen that seemed to be coincidences until they began to happen more often. Who could possibly wish to undermine their family business? Her brother Henry resented helping out in the greenhouse. He also didn't want to do chores on the farm and didn't understand why he couldn't go enjoy a bit of fun with his friends. Was he pulling pranks on the family? Or was it Sylvia, who, as a young wife and mother couldn't raise her head above the daunting task of raising her small children alone, let alone live without her beloved husband.


The cast of characters in this story are as complex as the mystery surrounding the greenhouse. Amy and her mother seemingly manage to get through each day by running their business and learning the ropes that Vernon so effectively handled before his death. Now, though, with so many upsetting random acts of vandalism, they are wondering just who is doing this and why.


Could it be teenagers on their rumpspringa? The new English neighbor who has made it plain she doesn't care to live near the Amish? The homeless lady who shows up at odd times or someone else? Only one situation was resolved in this book, so maybe the culprit will be discovered when I read the next book of the series. I do like a good mystery, and The Crow's Call kept me guessing. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Thanks to Barbour Books and #NetGalley who provided me a copy of this book for an honest review. My opinions are mine.

Wanda Bunstetter always comes through with her thorough knowledge of the Amish life. In this book, a family is shattered when tragedy strikes on the mom's birthday. Amy & her mom must work through their own grief and also work the family greenhouse to provide for the family As they work their way through trying to save the family farm, they also have to work through the emotions that each family member has as a result of the family tragedy. During this time, they also get new neighbors who move in who present their own set of challenges. Brunstetter shows how the family works through their grief through their faith in God and also their hard work. Amy also has to work through her relationship with her beau Throughout all the family's troubles, the theme of family & faith prevail. This is a great read.....with the theme of the crow and it's call throughout the book. Also the them of trusting God through all circumstances!

I appreciate receiving a complimentary copy of The Crow's Call from this publisher and Net Galley and being able to give my honest opinion of a great author like Wanda Brunstetter.

Wanda Brunstetter is a great author. I have never been disappointed with any of her books
that I have read. The Crow’s Call is the first book in this new series with some of the characters
from The Prayer Jars series (another great series you should read). The Crow’s Call is about
the King family who lost a husband, brother and brother-in-law in a tragic accident when a semi
truck crashed into their buggy. The mother, two daughters and the youngest son must deal
with the loss and keep the greenhouse running which is the family business to bring in money.
While another son and his family moved back to their home in New York to keep his business
going with an agreement with his mother to pack up and leave New York to help the family
business if things don’t go right for them. The youngest brother is angry and doesn’t want to
help with the business, one daughter breaks up with her boyfriend so she can focus on helping
her mother and the greenhouse. The oldest daughter is devastated with two babies and
cannot cope or leave the house. Mysterious vandalisms have been happening around the
greenhouse and it seems to point to the youngest brother, even though he denies he did it. We
have to wait for the next book in the series to find out more about these mysterious vandalisms.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I‘m looking forward to reading more of the series. I highly
recommend this book and all of Wanda Brunstetter’s other books.

I love Wanda Brunstetter's novels and The Crow's Call was not a disappointment. I like a good mystery novel and adding the inspiration and Amish culture and that makes it even better.

Many thanks to Shiloh Run Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first book in a new mystery series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. It is a bit of a spinoff from the Prayer Jar series, but you do not have to have read that series to enjoy this book. I did enjoy some of the characters appearing that I loved from that series though. This book is labeled a mystery, but not what I normally expect when grabbing a mystery. The story opens with a tragedy, the death of three family members from the King family, the owner of the greenhouse. Shortly after that, there is some vandalism of the greenhouse and the contents, which is the mystery. I enjoyed reading about the family and how they dealt with the tragedy. Middle child, Amy, seems to think the family's survival rests on her shoulders. She gives up on her relationship with her beau and works her fingers to the bone. Her sister and brother are not dealing well, yet it seemed to be a normal reaction. Enter a friend from her mother's past that she used to court and that causes some issues as well. The farm across the road is sold and a new Englisch family moves in. I liked the man, but the woman is rather difficult to like. She has an unnatural dislike of the Amish and is not very happy. She complains about everything, but I am sure we will see a change in her in future books. Once again, I learned a bit more about the Amish way of life. I also like how they use their faith to deal with tragedy and move forward. There were several Bible verses that inspired them and I will be using some of them myself when I need some guidance. Well done Ms. Brunstetter. BTW, the mystery of the vandal is not solved in this book, so I am moving on to the next one quickly to find out.

another Great book from Wanda brunstetter. I love her writings about The amish ordinary Days. she describes their lives so good you almost feel like you are a part of their family. In this book she also manages to throw in an interesting mystery. and I liked we get to meet persons from her other series The prayer jar again. i am looking forward to The next book in The series. Thank you to netgalley for this e arc. A continuation from the Prayer Jar series except this new series is going to be even better!!
This book was truly amazing!!! I just couldn't put it down!!
I loved every bit of it.

Another excellent book from the master storyteller, Wanda Brunstetter! Full of action, family crises, love and redemption!