I have long been a fan of Vicki Lane's writing. From her Elizabeth Goodweather mystery series to her stand-alone novels, she has kept me engaged with her richly layered characters, her excellent grasp of Appalachian dialects and culture, and her compelling plots.
And The Crows Took Their Eyes is yet another terrific book by this author. Based upon an actual event that occurred during the civil war in western North Carolina, the story is told from the viewpoints of five strong characters, Confederate and Unionist, male and female, who are from different economic and social classes. Lane perfectly captures the brutality, tragedy, and heroism that occur when neighbors turn upon one another in the service of war.
This story of the Shelton Laurel massacre pulled me in immediately and held me to the end, with some nail biting and a few tears along the way. If you are a fan of historical fiction, civil war fiction, or just good writing, you will love And The Crows Took Their Eyes.