Charles Martin is just about my top author for drama and inspiration. I had read this book at least twice, now I was privileged to listen to an audio version. I listened in two days and again was amazed at Charles Martin's ability to place me right on the edge of my seat, wanting to know how this drama ended, but dreading the end. The narrator was excellent. This is perhaps my favorite by Charles Martin.

First off, the narrator for this book was excellent, His voice is so smooth and his telling added to the story. This was a beautiful story of how a person;s heart can heal through relationships. I felt so sad for Reese when he walked away from his life’s passion after losing the love of his life but I was so thankful he was there to help Annie. I loved the scriptures embedded in the story in a gentle way & the reminders of a God who loves us & wants what’s best for us. Yes, this is a Christian fiction novel but it’s very gentle and there is no shoving it down your throat. The cast of characters in this book are wonderful and the story is lovely.

Thanks to NetGalley, Charles Martin books and Thomas Nelson publishing for a copy of this audiobook.

This was an emotional book. It definitely pulled on the heart strings. I enjoyed the little girl in the story and her spirit. This was a good read. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.

Excellent listen. A heartfelt story literally about the heart. The story is full of life, love, heartbreak and hope.

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
A heart surgeon that has a painful past recognizes the scar that Annie can’t hide.
The seven-year-old, full of spirit and hope sells lemonade, and the stranger recognizes a kindred spirit as he returns to his truck. A beat-up delivery truck careening down the road, not paying attention, changes their lives and puts them on a new trajectory. They both know the painful reasons crickets cry and that miracles can come careening out of no where when you least expect them.
Annie wakes something up in him that was lost and he finds new reason.
This one made me cry, but for good reasons! I really do love when a book can do that to me. It means the author has completely connected his story to my heart.
Charles Martin has a gift of allowing the reader to get in touch with his beautiful characters and just experience the whole story. Beautiful story telling. I have read at least ten of his books recently and each one was compelling and nourishing to me as a reader. Phenomenal! 5/5⭐
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.

We listened to this novel on a road trip - was a great listen for the whole family. Beautifully narrated.

When a renowned heart surgeon is unable to save his own wife, he turns his back on medicine and disappears. But his life takes another turn when he meets a young girl with a similar problem to his wife, and though he tries to avoid her and her mum, each step only leads to him getting more invested in her health. But until he's willing to face his past, there's little he can do beyond providing silent support. Will this unlooked-for friendship lead to healing and redemption, further retreat, or disaster?

A deeply moving story of love, loss, forgiveness and healing. Each step of the way felt at once inevitable and unpredictable, however impossible that might seem, and it held my attention throughout, despite the potential for confusion with regular flashbacks. I particularly loved the masterful way that necessary background medical information was woven in seamlessly so that it fitted the story and was typically provided before the critical point in the story at which it was essential, to avoid destroying the flow. It was beautifully done. All in all, an inspiring and moving read, and the audio was great.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the audio copy of the book. I unfortunately gave up listening, too slow for me. I have read others by this author (The Keepers) and liked that well enough.

This book broke my heart, and put it back together. It truly encapsulated that feeling of small towns, and big miracles.

I am not a religious person, but this book made me think twice about God. Or at least, about having the hope that a God is there, listening to our prayers. That being said, I do not think the religious aspect was overwhelming, as it often can be in books similar to this one.

Charles Martin does a really wonderful job of telling two stories at once, weaving together the past and present to tell the full story of the main character. That “small town, big miracles” feel is evident through the whole story, in a way that can make you see the beauty in the most tragic of things. Both tragedies and mistakes come full circle, and are tied up so beautifully in the end.

There is a lot of medical talk in this book, so if that isn’t your thing, or triggers you, then I wouldn’t suggest picking this one up. But, as someone who knows nothing about heart transplants, I thought everything was very well explained in a way that didn’t feel like a text book, and kept me engaged in the story. That alone really speaks to the writing talent of Charles Martin.

I listened to the audio book for this, and the voice actor does such an amazing job of telling this story in his tone, and pacing.

I’d say this book has a similar feel to Where The Crawdads Sing, and Nicholas Sparks’s books. Overall, I would highly recommend this book, and will definitely be including it in my top reads for the year.

I’ve heard many great things about Charles Martin’s work over the years, but this was the first of his books I’ve ever read. It was a very moving story, and I love that it was based in the south (where I live). All of the characters were special to me in their own unique ways, but my favorites were Annie and Charlie. Although I did like the main character, Reese/Johnny, I couldn’t help but resent him a bit. Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll just say that I felt like an earlier intervention by him could’ve helped Annie immensely. I understand the pain and heartache of losing someone you love, but a child’s life was in danger, and because of that I feel like Reese should’ve snapped out of his stupor and acted sooner. Also, I'm glad the book ended on a positive note because I was ready to start cursing a blue streak during those last couple of chapters. (Again, not giving away any spoilers, but if you’ve read the book then you know what I’m referring to). I was bound and determined not to read any more of Martin’s work, but thankfully he redeemed himself in the end. There were parts of this story that felt cheesy and a little too far-fetched, but overall I enjoyed it, and I would still recommend it.

Seriously, what is there not to love when it comes to Charles Martin?! Everything he writes connects with my soul and this book is no exception! If Charles Martin writes it, I'm reading it.

I enjoyed the meaning and the message behind this book. Two broken hearts, one physically and one emotionally find their way to each other and both help each other through their course in life. I did find this book very repetitive and over detailed in unnecessary things.

Charles Martin’s When Crickets Cry is a tender and emotionally resonant novel that explores themes of grief, redemption, and the healing power of love. Set in a small Southern town, the story follows Reese, a man with a mysterious past and a deep emotional scar tied to the loss of his wife. As he crosses paths with a young girl named Annie, who is awaiting a heart transplant, the two form an unexpected and transformative connection.

The audiobook narration captures the heart and soul of Martin’s lyrical prose, enhancing the deeply introspective tone of the novel. The narrator’s voice lends itself well to the Southern setting and adds a layer of authenticity to the characters' emotions and experiences.

Martin masterfully unpacks the slow unraveling of Reese’s history, weaving in themes of medical ethics, personal guilt, and spiritual struggle. The symbolism of crickets—associated with silence, waiting, and the passage of time—adds depth to the narrative without becoming overbearing.

Overall, When Crickets Cry is a beautifully written and emotionally impactful story. The audiobook experience offers a gentle, contemplative journey that will resonate with listeners who appreciate faith-based fiction, stories of healing, and redemptive character arcs.

I was introduced to this author during the 2024 Christian Fiction series Challenge I joined and I fell in love with his writing style.

This is a story that sits with you. Set in a sleepy Southern Town, it follows Reese, a man running from grief and a painful past, and Annie, a bright girl fighting for her life. Their paths cross and what unfolds is a slow, gentle, tender unraveling of pain, faith and healing.

This story is not fast paced, loud or flashy. It is gentle, lyrical and deeply emotional. It is the kind of book that reminds you that healing doesn't come in a rush, it comes in whispers, in grace.

Some parts of the story were predictable but I still found myself moved by it. Listening to the audiobook was so divine! So Beautiful and I was immersed in the story.

If you are in the mood for something soulful, this book is the one.

I rate this book a 9/10, my favourite read for the month of May and I look forward to reading more of Charles Martins books. Thanks to @netgalley for an advanced readers' copy of this book.

The story begins in a quiet Southern town in Georgia USA, where a man named Reece stops at a little girl’s lemonade stand. This isn’t just any child selling juice for pocket money - Annie is fiercely bright, heartbreakingly brave, and selling lemonade to help pay for something far more serious: a heart transplant. She lives with her devoted Aunt Cindy, and it’s clear from the start that their lives haven’t been easy.

Reece’s encounter with Annie sets off a quiet unravelling of his carefully guarded world, drawing in not only Annie and Cindy, but also Reece’s blind brother-in-law, Charlie - a gentle, grounding presence whose wisdom runs deep.

From that one seemingly simple moment by the lemonade stand, a deeply emotional journey begins. Two broken hearts set out to heal each other.

What really struck me was the quiet power of uncovering Reece’s past and how it shaped his present. No spoilers, but the emotional payoff is worth the slow burn.

I listened to this on audiobook. The audiobook brought a whole new layer to the experience. The narration captured every flicker of emotion from the haunted weight in Reese’s silences to the fierce spark of hope in a little girl who refuses to be defined by her circumstances. Her presence is small in stature but huge in heart, and every moment with her lit up the story.

When Crickets Cry is a tender, beautifully written novel about grief, healing, and invisible threads that connect strangers at just the right time. Though categorised as Christian fiction, as a non-religious reader I think this book is universally appealing, no matter your beliefs.

If you enjoy stories that feel like a warm breeze laced with sorrow and hope - and you want to be read to by a voice that carries all that tenderness - the audiobook is the perfect way to take it in.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for gifting me a copy of this audiobook. My review is unedited and all opinions are entirely my own.

This was such a fantastic read, in true Charles Martin fashion. I love the way he weaves faith into stories without it feeling pushing or overdone. This was heartbreaking and so so well written. I flew through it because I couldn't put it down!

Pick this up if you are a fan of Charles Martin reads!

A little girl in need one one thing and a lost man also in need come together to find their way through what is ahead. What a great story. Thanks for the advanced copy. Another great inspirational story that will stay with you.

This book is about a broken man who just walks away from his life until he meets a little girl who is in desperate need of his help. I loved this book. I have never read anything by Charles Martin before but now I'm on the look-out for his back list. I will be blowing through these as soon as I can get my hands on them. This book was powerful. Loved every minute I spent reading it. I gave it 5 stars and will be recommending it to everyone.

WHEN CRICKETS CRY is a riveting and emotionally intense story that explores relationships, mistakes, and redemption. It is both a masterful and memorable tale, one that I highly recommend.

The writing is skillfully and thrillingly executed. It’s smartly structured, melding past and present in a life-or-death race to the finish. My favorite part is when Annie talks about the crickets she raises.

Reese and Annie are the pillars of the story, and what great characters they are! Several others are integral in bringing this thought-provoking narrative to life, including Annie’s aunt Cindy and my favorite, Charlie, who is Reese’s blind brother-in-law and best friend. All the characters combine to create a kaleidoscope of color.

Author Charles Martin is a born storyteller who grabs his readers and never lets go. I listened to the audiobook for WHEN CRICKETS CRY, and the narration performance by Adam Verner only enhances the book. His voice, pacing, and accent fit the narrative perfectly.

Thanks to Netgalley for an audio copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Annie is a seven year old girl running a lemonade stand when she meets Reese. Annie is trying to raise enough money so she can help pay for the heart transplant that she desperately needs. Reese is a young man trying to hide from his past. Together they form an unlikely bond. This is a story about the heart………spirituality, emotionally and physically.
It is a very nice story and the reader of this audio was the perfect choice.
I have also left a review on BookMovement.com, Bookreporter.com and Goodreads.