Happy Tuesday! Today I am sharing my review of Cathy Gohlke’s newest book, A Hundred Crickets Singing.

The Basics

Title: A Hundred Crickets Singing

Author: Cathy Gohlke

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Historical fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

In wars eighty years apart, two young women living on the same Appalachian estate determine to aid soldiers dear to them and fight for justice, no matter the cost.

1944. When a violent storm rips through the Belvidere attic in No Creek, North Carolina, exposing a hidden room and trunk long forgotten, secrets dating back to the Civil War are revealed. Celia Percy, whose family lives and works in the home, suspects the truth could transform the future for her friend Marshall, now fighting overseas, whose ancestors were once enslaved by the Belvidere family. When Marshall’s Army friend, Joe, returns to No Creek with shocking news for Marshall’s family, Celia determines to right a long-standing wrong, whether or not the town is ready for it.

1861. After her mother’s death, Minnie Belvidere works desperately to keep her household running and her family together as North Carolina secedes. Her beloved older brother clings to his Union loyalties, despite grave danger, while her hotheaded younger brother entangles himself and the family’s finances within the Confederacy. As the country and her own home are torn in two, Minnie risks her life and her future in a desperate fight to gain liberty and land for those her parents intended to free, before it’s too late.

My Review

This powerful sequel to Night Bird Calling brings readers back to No Creek, North Carolina, in a split time story that spans two wars. The cover is gorgeous, and the story inside is even more beautiful! The ramifications of the Civil War are still impacting the characters we know and love during the WWII timeline. The racism that still exists in the 1940s is made more evident by the war, as young black men are sent to fight on behalf of an oppressed people, only to return home to the scorn and injustice that has persisted through the last 80 years.

In this book, we see Celia Percy grow into a courageous young woman, willing to stand up for justice. The discovery she makes one stormy night may have implications for the town that no one could have imagined. Celia draws strength and inspiration from the story and diary of Minnie, the young woman who lived at Belvidere Hall decades earlier. The tragedies and triumphs of these characters will steal your heart from beginning to end, and this poignant story is one that will stick with you long after the last page. If you enjoy gripping stories that bring history to life, don’t miss A Hundred Crickets Singing!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.