A HUNDRED CRICKETS SINGING by CATHY GOHLKE

Publication date 5/4/22

A HUNDRED CRICKETS SINGING is an historical novel by CATHY GOHLKE which takes place in No Creek  North Carolina, in 1944, following on from Night Bird Calling,  with Celia Percy, now fifteen, and her brother Chester, coming across a secret room in the old Belvidere mansion, after a storm in which a tree crashes through the roof, revealing secrets from the 1860’s. I love to see how Celia, together with her friend Joe Rosetti, old Dr Vishy and rhe Willards, determines to make things right for their friend Marshall and the coloureds in their community by completing the work begun by Minnie, her parents and her brother Elliott. I also like the references to works by Dickens and Hugo and their influence on the story.

We see racism at its worst, in spite of two wars that should have shown mankind that all men are equal in the sight of the Lord and all men bleed the same colour red. We see the  KKK still going strong in the South, and prejudice all over the world breaking up families and nations. It is awful to see Grayson’s greed as he betrays his family and what they stand for.This cry, found in Minnie’s diary,“The persistent, conflicting voices of all those I love, spoken and not,  are deafening - a hundred crickets screeching, shouting in my brain.  The mounting tension is intolerable.Help us Lord!”  really speaks to Celia - will the cry of the crickets ever turn into a song? 

This is a beautifully written novel, with the author’s incredible way of saying things just as they are and her understanding of human nature. There is a strong Christian message, and, amongst other insights, we see that it is only the Lord who can change the human heart .

Although this book can easily stand alone, I suggest you read the fisrst book in the series for pure pleasure.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.