Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

I don’t remember the last time I was so absorbed in a book. Find the Raven by author Patty Dickson Pieczka is a page-turning novel set in the year 1904, around the time of the World’s Fair in St. Louis. The book revolves around Julia and Rose, two women who find themselves in difficult situations. Julia has just lost her father, an actor, in a stage accident, while Rose, a well-off woman from a wealthy family, is sent away to a boarding house when her father learns of her pregnancy. After losing her father’s inheritance, Julia winds up at the same boarding house, and the two become instant friends. From there, Julia tries to find work while falling in love with the charismatic Monroe, and Rose goes through her pregnancy without the man she loves—the father of her baby. Rose ends up married to another man she believes is wealthy and will take care of her and the baby honorably. Through all of this, Julia finds a black crystal inside her father’s Buddha figurine, and the crystal, through vivid visions, shows her many interesting things that pertain to her life.

There are many twists and turns in this beautifully-written story. Author Patty Dickson Pieczka held my attention the entire time, but most importantly, the characters in Finding the Raven felt so real to me that I was sorry when the story ended. In particular, the author did a wonderful job balancing the romances and pacing the story. People were not always who we thought they were, and this made for an interesting tale. I enjoyed the friendship between Julia and Rose and loved that they could fall back on each other through the difficulties in their lives. The crystal visions were done just right—believable and not straying from the reality of the story and the reality of the time period. A great book that is highly recommended! ( )

Great book. I picked it up and then i couldn't put it down. It has a bit of everything. Romance, mystery ,love ,betrayal,murder..What else does one need? The story flowed nicely and didn't stay too long in one place which i appreciate. ( )

A well-wrought tale of two disparate young women facing seemingly insurmountable problems, and the road taken to overcome the odds against. The characters are well-drawn and engaging, the plight of each is an old one, but how things are managed is encouraging. A great read, don't miss it!
Thank you, LibraryThing! ( )

A fantastic story of love, loss,and love. This is a grown up book with twists and turns that bring friends together and tear families apart... and an ending that leaves you wanting more. Thank you to the author for the review copy, looking forward to the next journey. ( )