Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Raven is a gripping crime thriller by Robert T. Kelley. Set at the tail end of the Cold War in 1990, the story follows a diverse cast of characters who unwittingly become ensnared in a dangerous criminal conspiracy that threatens to plunge their lives into chaos. Expelled from Northwest Missouri State University, Mev Hayes unexpectedly finds herself at a high-tech lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at MIT, working on her revolutionary computer research. Meanwhile, a hacker known as the Raven is stealing technologies from local companies and universities. The authorities suspect he is selling them to the Soviet Union. However, Mev realizes something sinister is going on. Can she and her friends uncover the truth?

If crime thrillers featuring espionage, corruption, and betrayal are some of your favorite stories, Raven is the perfect book for you. There is not a single dull moment in the entire book. Author Robert T. Kelley treats each page with meticulous attention to detail. You cannot miss a single interaction or a line of dialogue. The narrative is dense and packed with mystery, intrigue, and action. The cast of characters is large, but Kelley ensures every character has a unique personality and agency. By the halfway point, the setting and characters completely hook you into the narrative, and you can't wait to see how the rest of the story will unfold. You never know what to expect in the very next chapter. Overall, this book is an absolute treat for thriller lovers.