A Favorite Historical Fiction Author
I’ve loved nearly every one of Susan Meissner’s books and find them both gripping and moving. After reading a number of them, I can confidently say that her writing and storytelling is beautiful and meaningful. She masterfully and artfully crafts unique narratives from all throughout history. A Sound Among the Trees (2011) was no exception.
But First, A Summary!
A Sound Among the Trees tells the haunting story of a family caught up in the secrets of its Civil War past. When Marielle Bishop marries and moves across the country to live with her new husband and his two young children in their historic Virginia home, she wasn’t expecting to find it shrouded in ghost tales. While some believe the ghost of traitor Susanna Page haunts the home, the matriarch of the estate Adelaide holds the view that the house itself holds a grudge against the women of her family.
What Intrigued Me
This entire concept of this haunted house and cursed family was unique, interesting, and reminiscent of gothic literature.
Meissner’s characters – both primary and secondary – are colorful and well-developed. Adelaide and Marielle’s relationship was an unconventional one to explore, but I found myself invested in watching them grow.
I love solid historical fiction, and I was excited about a Civil War novel. However…
I was disappointed.
I didn’t love the structure of the book. It wasn’t until about 60% of the way through that we got to explore Susanna Page’s story during the Civil War; the rest of it was contemporary, which made me uncertain if it was a contemporary or historical novel.
When we did encounter Susanna and the 1800s, it was by way of letters, which is not my preferred method of storytelling.
Additionally, the conclusion felt more lackluster than is typical for a Meissner novel, but it was satisfying enough.
Is A Sound Among the Trees for You?
- If you like historical fiction and contemporary fiction…
- If you are interested in the Civil War…
- If you have a taste for Southern literature with a Gothic flare…
- If you enjoy stories of strong women and unconventional families…
Then, this is the novel for you! Pick it up today:
Other Meissner Recommendations
Here are some other Susan Meissner books to check out if you like compelling narratives, sympathetic characters, beautiful writing, and exploring history:
- The Nature of Fragile Things (2021) – a mystery with empowered women helping each other against the backdrop of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
- Secrets of a Charmed Life (2015) – a dual timeline between present day and 1940s England where two sisters are separated by the chaos of WWII
- As Bright As Heaven (2019) – an immigrant family facing loss and finding hope in 1918 Philadelphia as the Spanish Flu reaches America
- Only the Beautiful (2024) – a dual timeline between 1947 Austria and 1938 California, exploring a mother’s love and the injustices directed to those who are different
- A Fall of Marigolds (2014) – a dual timeline between Sept. 2011 and Sept. 1911, where two women, touched by tragedy, are connected by a beautiful scarf
Final Rating
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, even with the letter-writing. I appreciated the thoughtful characters (Adelaide and Marielle, in particular), but even more so, I loved how interesting topics and parts of history were woven together and brought to life through lovely writing.
Content Rating: Mild
one tasteful, closed door love scene
Copyright to Susan Meissner and Waterbrook. Image from Amazon.