Book Review: A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

{Please click on the cover to be taken to the first chapter}

     Every family has a skeleton in the closet, a secret that only a selected few know. While many have these cryptic mysteries in a family's home, usually the mystery is not the home itself. So is the problem with Holly Oaks, an eerie abode nestled in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As one of the few remaining houses in a town destroyed by a Civil War battle, Holly Oaks is a house that has more to it than some bricks and timber. Every woman who has been born in the home has led a life of grief, misfortune, and misery. When Marielle Bishop marries into this strange family, she is greeted with doubt, fear, and anxiety over living in such a place where many women before her had led lives of anguish. When her new Great Grandmother, Adelaide, tells Marielle that a ghost had pushed her down the stairs, Marielle becomes fairly aghast at the many superstitions about the house, afraid she will never live to see her fears resolved. Will she be able to unlock the mystery of Holly Oak, or will she become another is the long line of misfortune?

     This book was an invigorating read, one of those that could be read over and over, without growing dull. This book makes one think, unlocking a heart and pondering everything within. Indeed, one could read the entire thing in a single day; if they couldn't stand to shut it without finishing it, which is usually the case. A good gauge whether or not it will be a good book is the first paragraph. This book started beautifully, using descriptive sentences that only the best of authors could have written. This descriptive quality was carried throughout the book, giving readers not a glimpse, but an entire view of the contents within. One section was not suitable for younger audiences, however any adult should be thrilled to read it.

       Overall, this book is a wonderful addition to anyone's library, bringing a new style of descriptiveness anywhere it is brought. Whether read over a day, a week, or a month, this book is sure to please it's readers. Susan Meissner has written a wonderful addition to her growing library, and one could hope she will write many more captivating, descriptive, wonderful novels in the future. This book will come out on October 4th, 2011. One can be certain it is a great purchase.

Sincerely,
Libbi H.


WaterBrook Multnomah gave me this book free of charge, in return for an honest review.