Not exactly a ghost story: Review of A Sound Among the Trees

The Civil War is my favorite era of history. I’m not sure why. Maybe Gone With the Wind had something to do with it.

In A Sound Among the Trees, Susan Meissner crafts a tale of heritage, love, loss and the search for truth across multiple generations. Set in Virginia, in a plantation house that survived the battle of Fredericksburg during the Civil War, the novel opens with a garden party, celebrating the marriage of the latest woman to live and love in the home.

Past and present collide at every turn as Marielle, the new bride, tries to make sense of the superstitions and stories surrounding the house. Some say the house is haunted by the ghost of Susannah, a woman rumored to be a Union spy during the War. Others think the house is cursed and the women who live there, destined for disaster.

Meissner takes us on Marielle’s quest for truth amidst her struggle to find her place, not only in the history of the home but in the family dynamic.

It’s a fascinating read — my first from Meissner but certainly not my last. The author has a knack for painting an unforgettable picture with words, appealing to every sense.

Take this description of a sound, for instance:

“The hinges squawked a weak protest as she opened the door and stepped inside the half-shadowed room.”

Poetry.

Historical fiction is becoming my favorite genre. While this isn’t exactly historical fiction, I enjoyed the connection between past and present and how our perceptions of what happened generations ago can influence our lives today.

This is a winner of a book.

Watch the video below for an introduction to the story.

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In exchange for my review, I received a free copy of A Sound Among the Trees from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

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