Where the Crows Watch

Black Harvest Trilogy Book 1

Fiction - Short Story/Novela
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 04/23/2026
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Where the Crows Watch is the first book in the Black Harvest Trilogy by L.C. Williams. The Harris family has been the resident tenant farmers of Malumdon Farm since 1852. Henry Harris grew up on the farm with his siblings, learning from his mother how to take care of all the livestock and crops. However, a devastating fire burned down the farmhouse and barn in 1912. During the Great War, Henry had to part with his beloved horses and give them to the military. A hundred years later, Edith and Matthew, a young couple, recently left their small apartment in Greater London due to financial constraints and moved into the farm. As Matthew revels in his family inheritance, his wife discovers the secrets that lie beneath the burned-down farmhouse.

Bittersweet and poignant, Where the Crows Watch is an engrossing tale about family legacy and heritage. L.C. Williams has crafted a captivating narrative that follows two separate generations of a family linked together by the enchanting allure of their home and land. It's a slice-of-life drama where the characters take center stage. Henry and his mother feel an inexplicable pull toward the land they have been caretakers of for over half a century. I think most readers will resonate with their connection to the only place they have known as home. There are many heartbreaking moments in this story, but it also illustrates the capacity of humans to feel empathy and compassion for something other than themselves. Overall, it's a riveting novella, and I heartily recommend it.

Jamie Michele

Where the Crows Watch by L.C. Williams revolves around a plot of land called Malumdon Farm, where Henry Harris was born, his entire life tied to the land. From early work with livestock to his part in rebuilding and sustaining the property during fire, storm, communal living, and wartime demands, Henry is absolutely devastated when he later faces eviction from the place he has sustained for decades. A century later, Matthew and Edith walk through the same rooms and outbuildings, discovering physical evidence of earlier occupants, including traces from Henry’s era. Their inspection shows the site as it exists after his departure, and those who followed, and how one man’s bond with a farm shapes its long arc and echoes into the present to future caretakers.

Where the Crows Watch by L C Williams presents an assured portrait of a family arriving at a neglected estate and encountering traces of earlier occupants that influence their own discoveries. The novel moves with calm progress as present-day scenes in Malumdon sit beside episodes from the First World War, each contributing a sense of inheritance that feels earned. Williams introduces moments such as a crow trapped in a room or the recovery of an old apple press to show how memory persists in objects and rooms. The narrative's treatment of farm work, wartime loss, and domestic renewal presents a measured view of perseverance and devotion. Readers who appreciate fiction that gives time to both setting and human resolve will find this work satisfying and worthwhile for a broad audience seeking thoughtful storytelling today.

Lex Allen

Where the Crows Watch revolves around the Malumdon Farm, covering the years from 1866 to 1918. The story, based on historical events and records, skips back and forth between time frames and situational changes revolving around the farmer, Henry Harris, and the ups and downs of farm life, from the good times and success to illness, death, and the impact of the First World War. Interspersed within the original history is a 2015 chapter that finds a couple occupying the burned-out remains of the farm, setting the stage for The Black Harvest trilogy by L C Williams.

L C Williams deftly and historically accurately describes the people of those times, their hardships, and their familial lineage, drawing the reader into a true-to-life story of farmer Henry Harris from 1866 to 1918 and the couple who occupy the farm building in 2015, where they discover strange, paranormal clues that set the stage for the trilogy. Where the Crows Watch does not (yet) include time travellers or otherwise paranormal events. Still, I picked up a distinct feeling that reminded me of the Outlander series. Typically, a cliff-hanger ending is not what readers want to see, but this one is unique in my experience and, rather than turning me off, had the opposite effect; in fact, it was a stroke of genius. The story concludes not with the London couple arriving at their new home, but with the decision the original owner, Henry Harris, makes to leave the story. I am very much looking forward to more in the trilogy!

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Where the Crows Watch by L C Williams is the first book in the Black Harvest Trilogy. Henry Harris was born on a stormy night in 1866 at Malumdon Farm, and it’s where he loves to be. His father died of consumption, but his hardest struggle is when his mother, Bertha, dies. Until war breaks out, that is. When he returns from the war, he is met with a letter that changes everything, and his final act is one that will leave a deep scar. Almost a hundred years later, Matthew and Edith move into Malumdon, planning to renovate the house. As they begin, they make a startling discovery that tells a haunting tale of life and tragedy, and why one man loved the place so much that he couldn’t leave.

Where the Crows Watch by L C Williams is an eerie but multi-layered tale based on a true story. It’s a beautiful story set in two time periods, and it moves between them with ease. It’s written in a way that brings both periods to life vividly, taking readers through the struggles of the 19th century vs. the dreams of a modern-day restoration quest. The discoveries made during the restoration are haunting, revealing the long-lasting impact certain choices can leave. The chapters are clearly marked with the year and move seamlessly between the past and the present, gradually weaving a timeless story that you won’t ever forget. This is quite emotionally intense while being reflective, and is a thoroughly enjoyable read for those who love historical stories and sagas. I’d love to read the rest of the trilogy, especially if written in the same vein.

Doreen Chombu

Where the Crows Watch by L.C. Williams is an intriguing drama about the history of Malumdon Farm, in a Devonshire village in rural England. In 1866, the farm witnessed the birth of Henry Harris, who grew into a hardworking man who dedicated his entire life to the farm. He tended to the animals, harvested apples with the community, and made memories with his family on the farm. During World War I, he contributed to the war with his produce and horses. Unfortunately, tragedy and loss fell upon the Harris family, and with his last breath, Henry swore never to leave the only home he had ever known. Years later, in 2015, Matthew and Edith, a couple tired of the high cost of living in the city, moved into Malumdon Farm with their children. They plan to renovate the house, but are fascinated by the items left behind by the Harris family and a man named Henry, who works on the farm.

Where the Crows Watch is the first book in the Black Harvest Trilogy, and it introduces readers to the residents of Malumdon Farm. L.C. Williams does not just describe farm life—the author makes you feel it. You see what farmers give up for their families and the country, what they risk, what they hold onto. Henry does not just work the land; he is rooted in it. The place shapes who he is, and you can feel that tie in every part of his story. While the contrast between the past and the new age of advancements, such as machine improvements, is intriguing, the strongest link between the two families is the struggle to survive. This is just the beginning of Matthew’s family’s stay at the farm, and I am curious about what awaits them. The story is inspired by real events with themes of family, legacy, and renewal. This is a memorable read that left me intrigued and with many questions about future installments. Great work!