Mysterious Events Plague a Greenhouse in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country When Vernon King, his son, and son-in-law are involved in a terrible accident, three women are left to cope with their deaths, as they become the sole providers of the family they have left. The women’s only income must come from the family greenhouse, but someone seems to be trying to force them out of business. Amy King … business.
Amy King has just lost her father and brother, and her mother needs her to help run the family’s greenhouse. It doesn’t seem fair to ask her to leave a job she loves, when there is still a sister and brother to help. But Sylvia is also grieving for her husband while left to raise three children, and Henry, just out of school, is saddled with all the jobs his father and older brother used to do. As Amy assumes her new role, she also asks Jared Riehl to put their courtship on hold. When things become even more stressful at the greenhouse, will Amy crumble under the pressure?
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In exchange for an honest review, I received this book to read from the Author. Having a mystery to solve, this read is different than Ms Brunstetter’s past work. And that was a super nice change. Bringing in characters from her Praying Jar series, getting to know them more and see what they are up too, made this read super nice also. As the chapters went on, the mystery deepens. Mixing that with the loss of family and learning how to deepen your faith to get through the day, it brought out many tissues gone through. An edge of your seat read for sure!
This is the first novel in the authors Amish Green house series and I will say that this book is my favorite penned by her in awhile. Don’t get me wrong. she’s one of my favorite authors but she has really written an interesting story with more mature characters and the very real challenges they are facing
I liked that this book is a bit more gritty from the very beginning where we meet characters who are faced with the deaths of three beloved family members and are left to carry on with their lives which include owning and operating the family greenhouse business. As in real life, we all cope with grief in different ways and we all need to keep forging ahead but it’s different for everyone just as it is in the Crow’s Call.
Ms. Brunstetter is a fantastic storyteller and she told a wonderful story in her latest novel. The way each family struggles with their losses from the oldest to the youngest is heartbreaking, add an annoying neighbor some vandalism and you have an interesting story to while away the hours. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
What a fun and great read! I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of this novel, which was a different direction from Wanda’s typical writing. Who or what is causing all the vandalism to the King family’s greenhouse business? And why? Wanda wonderfully tied this story to her Prayer Jars series by bringing characters from that series into this book, allowing readers to continue to learn about the lives of favorite characters. There is tragedy, perseverance, and happiness in this novel. Those points, combined with the mystery, make this a book that the reader will have trouble putting down. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
Amy King’s mother was celebrating her birthday with her family when the men decided to go get ice cream at the store. What was a happy time turns into a nightmarish tragedy as Amy’s father, brother, and brother-in-law are all killed together in a buggy accident with a tractor-trailer. Now Amy, her mom, and her sister are left to run the family greenhouse business with the younger brother’s help. They struggle to keep the greenhouse going while mourning their losses, and mysterious problems that keep arising aren’t helping the situation.
Wanda Brunstetter has begun a new series, this one entitled Amish Greenhouse Mystery, with THE CROW’S CALL being book one. I found this book to be rather sad and depressing and full of problem after problem happening to the family. No one seems to know who is behind the vandalism either. Could it be the old lady down the road who comes to visit sometimes? The new couple who moved in across the street? Or the English boys always looking for trouble, or maybe even young Henry, the only male left to help in the greenhouse? Several characters from previous books make their appearance, which gives this new offering a warm feeling of familiarity. The reader is left hanging at the end of the book, enticing you to make sure to pick up book two, which is The Mockingbird’s Song, releasing in August 2020.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Amy King is getting ready for her mother’s birthday party. The whole family will be there including her brother and family from New York. As she’s leaving their family owned greenhouse she hears a crow’s call.She wonders if the call is a a warning or a blessing. Amy thinks that her boyfriend will be asking her to marry him soon.
During the party they discover that there isn’t any ice cream for the cake. Her father insists they they need some. So, he, her oldest brother and brother-in-law hitch up the buggy and leave for the store. Just as they turn onto the road the buggy is hit by a truck. All three men and the horse are killed.
What a time of adjustment they all go though. So many people grieving in so many different ways. Amy breaks up her courtship with her boyfriend. She has too many new responsibilities with father gone. Her mother needs the help to keep the greenhouse running.
There were many acts of vandalism going on about this time. No one know who was doing it. The family did suspect the younger brother . He wasn’t handling the death of his father or brother very well.
He brother, Henry tries to tame the crow that’s been hanging around. Amy wants it to leave. She does not like it there. Henry almost has it eating out of his hand!
The King’s have a new neighbor across the street. The wife is so unfriendly. She says she wants to move. She doesn’t like living in the country with all the traffic and noise from the greenhouse. She also doesn’t like the smells or the mess the horses leave in the road. She doesn’t like the way the Amish live and the way they dress. Her husband is much friendly and loves living there.
A must fead for Wanda Brustetter fans!
The Crow’s Call is another excellent book by renowned Amish author, Wanda Brunstetter. When tragedy strikes Amy King’s family and three male family members are killed in a buggy accident, she is left to shoulder much more responsibility for her family’s greenhouse business. Amy feels she has no time left to continue a relationship with her steady boyfriend and wants him to move on without her in his life.
Amy’s mother Belinda is determined to keep the family greenhouse business running after the loss of her husband. Strange things begin to happen at the greenhouse and it seems like someone wants to put them out of business.
Will the greenhouse business survive and will Amy ever have time to seriously court a man again?
If you have read The Prayer Jar trilogy by Wanda, you will be happy to see some of those people reappear in this exciting mystery.
I was given a copy of this book by the author and Barbour publishing, but was under no obligation to leave a positive review for this book.
The Crows Call is a good story. I enjoyed it. The storyline is about the Kings. If you remember Michelle from the Prayer Jars series. Well, we meet up with Michelle and Ezekiel once again. You will be surprised when you do.
I am glad to see them once again. We get to see a bit more of their storyline. Though this takes place mostly around the King’s greenhouse and the King’s family. There something tragic that happens, and those remaining have to deal with it. They seem to deal with it in different ways.
Though this seems to be mostly Amy King and Jared’s story? How will Amy deal with the tragic events that hit her and family? Wanda seems to show how everyone deals with grief in their way. Though we see each family member cope in different ways.
Henry seems to be the one that struggles the most. How will he deal with it? Everyone seems to tell him what to do. There seem to be a silver lining to his way. He seems to attach to a crow and when to train it. Will he be able to?
Wow…Wanda has opened up new doors in Amish fiction with her first in a mystery series! I haven’t read a mystery in years because although I used to enjoy them, it seems that genre has gotten so scary they just don’t appeal to me. But this book was different! It’s a mystery, but not creepy or scary. On the other hand, this book doesn’t have the same ultra-cheery mood like many Amish stories – it’s more somber. The family the story centers around has their share of heartache, struggle, and strife. This makes the characters very relatable, and the story very realistic. I loved this new take on Amish fiction! Readers will meet a variety of family members and neighbors in the story. Each one is unique in his or her own way, and although we learn a lot about each one, we don’t learn everything…which keeps the story interesting and made me want to read “just one more chapter” each night! There is enough mystery to keep us guessing, and now that I have finished this book, I can’t wait for book #2 to be released! This book was provided to me by Barbour Publishing. I was not required to leave a positive (or any) review. Opinions and ideas expressed in this review are my own.
Another wonderful book and the first in a series by Wanda Brunstetter. You can always expect a good story by this author. I have been reading her books for years. Tragedy, sadness, mysterious, intriguing and a little different from her other books but just as good. Some say it’s her best but I do have a hard time picking a favorite book when I love everything an author writes. I always love learning more about the Amish People and their way of living. I loved the characters and especially Amy. She was a strong young lady and had things to happen in her life that some grown people couldn’t handle. Will Amy be able to handle everything that happens? The family that’s left is grieving too and they need to make a living with their greenhouse. But so many things happens and they believe someone is trying to shut them down. Do the women succeed or will they have to go out of business? Each character has their place in this story. If you like a mysterious story and an Amish story you are in for a treat. Don’t miss this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishers but was not required write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
The Crow’s Call is the first installment from Wanda E Brunstetter’s newest series, Amish Greenhouse Mystery. I thought it was a great read. I thought was a little bit different from the author’s previous work. It may be up there with one of my favorites I have read by her to date. I had it read in one sitting.
The Crow’s Call gets five plus stars from me. I cannot wait to read the next addition to the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
This has been such a wonderful start to a promising new series for the author. I love how much the author knows about the Amish and it shows in each of her stories. We not only get to know the Amish better, but we feel as if we are in the middle of the story as it plays out. The author is able to take characters and make them come to life with emotions that tug on your heart and bring you a better understanding of God’s love.
There has has a great loss in one of the families when three members are killed. The void they leave behind will have lasting affects on other members in the family. I love how the community comes together to offer support and assures them they are not alone.
The greenhouse is a prosperous business that takes the remaining members a lot of work to keep it going. It doesn’t help that they are still grieving from the tragedy. Amy has a great head on her shoulders and is determined to keep the business running. If only she can get her little brother Henry to get over his anger and allow God to comfort him. What I really liked in this book was the mystery the author provides that really enchanted an already enchanting story. Someone is vandalizing the greenhouse and the property which causes Amy and her family to wonder who could be doing such unkind things to them? I found several suspects in my investigation but will I be right? And what is Henry up to with the annoying crow?
It is a refreshing start to a series that have characters dealing with grief, family, forgiveness and learning to trust God. The new neighbors are a mystery themselves when the wife doesn’t want to be sociable. I found that to be a great opportunity to have Amy or even her mother to reach out to her. The author invites us to join her as we follow a family through heartbreak and come together as a family to help each other deal with their grief. Don’t miss the discussion questions the author has provided at the end of the book. The book does leave us with a bit of a cliffhanger so be prepared to be on the lookout for the next in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing. The review is my own opinion.
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.
The Crow’s Call is the first in Wanda Brunstetter’s new series, Amish Greenhouse Mystery series. Being a fan of Brunstetter and having read the Prayer Jar series, I was happy to see the King family featured. It’s ok If you haven’t read the Prayer Jar series, you are able to get current quickly.
When the family is hit with not only one death in the family but three at once, it throws them into sorrow but also survival mode. Brunstetter is an expert showing the emotional side of the Amish and also touching on superstitions. Not only does the family have to deal with their loss but, also stepping into running the greenhouse. While a few strange incidents happen at the greenhouse, it really wasn’t touched on very much. I am hoping the next in the series has more mystery.
This is a great Amish book that has all of what life holds, sorrow, family life, and new life.
I highly recommend this book.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
This is a fantastic start to a new series. I did not want to put this book down. This book made me laugh and cry. Each of these characters were great. She really knows the attitude that a 14 year old boy can have. This first book in the series helps us to know a bit about each character but leans towards how Amy King is feeling after losing some family members in an accident. I love the ending of this book and can’t wait for the second book in the series. I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Amy King is preparing for her mother’s birthday party and looking forward to the family all being together, including Ezekiel and Michelle whom we met in a previous series. She’s had an aversion to crows since she was a baby and wonders if the crows call is a foreboding of something bad happening. An accident leaves the women of the family struggling with grief and keeping their business open. Each person seems to be dealing with the grief differently and though the main women are Belinda and her daughter Amy, the other children, Henry and Sylvia are also a big part of the story. Jared, Lydia, Ezekiel, Michelle and some new neighbors and someone Belinda knew if her younger years are also part of the minor characters. Good paced story with a little mystery thrown in and a closer look at the King family we met in the “Jar” series.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing via Net Galley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Crow’s Call is much-loved author Wanda Brunstetter’s first book in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series. If the rest of the books in the series are as good as this one, this reader can’t wait to read the second book. I like Brunstetter’s style of writing and her honest and redemptive approach to realistic struggles that her characters encounter. The characters are strong, resilient, and realistic with depth to their emotions, strengths, and foibles. Readers can easily connect with them. As noted by the title, the call of a crow is key in the story. Is it coincidental or the harbinger of danger and tragedy to come? As well as the members of the King family dealing with a horrific tragedy several subplots keep the reader’s interest high–new neighbors, a homeless woman, an old boyfriend, mishaps at the greenhouse, and a romance too. When I was getting close to the end of the book, I wondered how the author was going to resolve some of the issues and relationships in the few pages I had left to read. Well, she didn’t, which means there is more to come! The Crow’s Call is not just another ho-hum novel about the Amish. It is one that reminds readers about the importance of family, faith, and hope amidst the aftermath of life-changing events. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
Strasburg, Pennsylvania, april.
Amy King is a young single woman, she helps the parents in the Greenhouse.
During her mom birthday an accident occured and after that her family was devasted.
Every person in the family acted in different way about the loss, in fact it is a personal matter: cry, anger, be busy,
be lazy, talk a lot, talk a few words, hiding in the house, …
Good and hard topic, well written, good book. I recommend it.
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.
The Crow’s Call by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Book 1 in my Amish Greenhouse Mystery series
Mysterious Events Plague a Greenhouse in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country
The Crow’s Call follows three Amish women who are forced to run the family greenhouse business after a tragic accident kills several members of their family. As the women grieve their lost loved ones and take care of the children, they struggle with the business, which seems to be the target of sabotage. “Having enjoyed visiting various greenhouses,” Brunstetter says, “I thought it would be fun to include a mystery centered around the greenhouse in the story and the family members who help run the business.”
When Vernon King, his son, and son-in-law are involved in a terrible accident, three women and a teenage boy are left to cope with their deaths, as they become the sole providers of their family. Their only income must come from the family greenhouse, but someone seems to be trying to force them out of business.
Amy King has just lost her father and brother, and her mother needs her to help run the family’s greenhouse. It doesn’t seem fair to ask her to leave a job she loves when there is still a sister and brother to help. But Sylvia is also grieving for her husband, while left to raise two children, and Henry, just out of school, is saddled with all the jobs his father and older brother used to do. As Amy assumes her new role, she asks Jared Riehl to put their courtship on hold. When things become even more stressful at the greenhouse, will Amy crumble under the pressure?
This is the story of the King family—Belinda, Sylvia, Amy, Henry, and Ezekie.
An April wind’s flurry sent swirls of dust into the air and across the yard. This isn’t a good day for a celebration. Amy King shielded her eyes for a moment. The current of air rustled her dress as she cradled a basket of spring flowers from her parents’ greenhouse up to their home. Amy’s sister, Sylvia, and her family would be coming for supper soon to help them celebrate Mom’s birthday, and she wanted everything to be perfect.
Amy’s brothers Henry and Abe still lived at home, but their older brother, Ezekiel, and his family were now part of an Amish community in New York State. They had hired a driver and planned to join them this afternoon. Amy always looked forward to the times when their whole family could be together.
As the wind calmed down, Amy gazed at the basket of flowers and smiled. She would put the lovely blooms in a glass vase and set it in the center of their dining-room table. Mom had a love for flowers, which was why she’d worked faithfully in the greenhouse with Dad for so many years.
“It’s so good to see you again!” Amy gave Ezekiel and Michelle a hug and reached her hand out to stroke the top of their little girl’s head. “Angela Mary has grown so much since we last saw her. It’s hard to believe she’s two years old already.”
Michelle smiled and placed one hand against her stomach. “I wasn’t going to share this till we were all sitting around the supper table tonight, but in about five months our daughter will have a little sister or brother.”
Amy clapped her hands and gave Michelle another hug. “Oh, that’s wunderbaar!”
Dad thumped Ezekiel’s back, while Mom handed Angela Mary to Amy and then gave Michelle another hug. “That’s great news. When is the boppli due?”
“In about five months.” Michelle’s blue-green eyes glistened. “Sometimes I have to stop and pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming. Becoming a Christian, joining the Amish church, and marrying Ezekiel were the best things that ever happened to me.” She smiled up at him. “I feel like my life is complete.”
I highly recommend reading.
The Crow’s Call by Wanda E. Brunstetter is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
more books by Wanda
The Crow’s Call by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Book 1 in my Amish Greenhouse Mystery series
The Mockingbird’s Song
Book 2 in my Amish Greenhouse Mystery series
The Seekers
(Amish Cooking Class, book 1)
The Blessing
(Amish Cooking Class, book 2)
(Lopsided Christmas Cake
The Farmers’ Market Mishap
The Beloved Christmas Quilt
The Amish Millionaire Collection
Series
The Hope Jar (The Prayer Jars Book 1)
The Forgiving Jar (The Prayer Jars Book 2)
The Healing Jar (The Prayer Jars Book 3)
Book 3 of 3:
The Brides of the Big Valley: 3 Romances from a Unique Pennsylvania Amish Community
by Wanda E. Brunstetter , Jean Brunstetter
Amish Front Porch Stories
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Farmhouse Favorites Cookbook
A Heartwarming Romance Collection
The Blended Quilt
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 I’m familiar with, because it is a place where my family spent vacations, camping, during the summers.
It is a beautiful 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.
Amy’s commitment to serve her family and others, 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.