A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

A Sound Among the Trees is the second book I have read by Susan Meissner and I enjoyed it as much as the other book I read, The Shape of Mercy. This book is one that as soon as I saw it on the list of books to pick from I could not wait to read it. My expectations of the book were thoroughly met and found it to be a fast, great read and I didn't want to put it down.

A Sound Among the Trees is set in present day Fredericksburg, VA, but more importantly it is set in an old historic home (though the house house is fictional) named Holly Oak. This house is very important to the story as it is almost like a main character. The house had been around since pre-Civil War days and survived through the Civil War (unlike much of the area around it).

Besides Holly Oak, there is also Adelaide who is in her nineties and has lived in the house for most of her life. Many people from town believe the house to be haunted, but not Adelaide who actually believes that it holds a grudge towards its past. She compares the house to a needle on a record player that can't get past the scratch and move forward. The house is the needle and the scratch represents its tragic past.

Another key character is Marielle, who has just recently married Adelaide's son-in-law (his first wife died fours years ago) and has moved into the house. She also comes to believe there is something not right about the house and that women who live in it seem to come upon misfortune.

Finally the last key character is Susannah Page, who lived during the Civil war and was rumored to be a spy for the north. She is referred to as a spy, traitor and a ghost in the book. So, who is she really and what really happened to her and the house during the Civil War. Can Marielle figure out what happened without stepping on Adelaide's toes and unlock the mystery of the house?

I found this book to be very fascinating and loved the historical references and story that was weaved throughout the book, though there could have been more. Susan Meissner is a very talented writer and her details in the book make you feel like you are right there with the characters. From reading the book it made me wish that Holly Oak was a real place and that I could see it for my self. I highly recommend this book to anyone who like a good contemporary/historical christian fiction book. It will not disappoint.

I recived this book from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for books program in exchange for my honest review.