Wow! What a beautiful story and so well written. Charles Martin is an amazing author, and I would read anything he writes. I highly recommend this book and all the other books he has written.

Charles Martin is an auto buy author for me. I reread When Crickets Cry and I loved it more the second time around.

Premise: Reese is a man haunted by memories and guilt, living quietly as a boat repairman. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Annie, a precocious seven-year-old who sells lemonade and wears a heart monitor strapped to her chest. What begins as a chance encounter soon unravels into a poignant journey where Reese must confront his past and the pain he has long buried.

This is a deeply emotional, tenderly written novel that delves into themes of grief, redemption, love, and the transformative power of second chances. Set in a small Southern town, the story follows Reese, a mysterious man with a tragic past, and Annie, a spirited young girl battling a life-threatening heart condition.
The prose is lyrical and atmospheric. The setting is written in such rich and descriptive detail. The pacing allows the emotional beats of the story to land with power. The heart-wrenching scenes that don’t feel overly sentimental, balancing hope and sorrow with grace.

Overall one of my absolute favourite reads, I would recommend this to everyone!

WHEN CRICKETS CRY by CHARLES MARTIN is a well written story with .besutifully poetic prose. It is slow reading until near the end when things become really hectiic! It is a classic and needs to be read as such. I found the information on the heart, both medical and spiritual, fascinating, and loved the quotations throughout the book.
I really enjoyed When Crickets Cry,, with the unforgettable characters, the deepth of character analysis, and the underlying Christian message.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson.. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I knew within the first page that I would need tissues at some point while reading this story and I wasn't wrong. Boy did it pull on the heart strings and make me cry, all in a good way of course.
I feel like story is not the right word to describe this book, maybe saga is better. There was depth and emotion, it was a page turner I did not want to put down ... but picking it up meant feeling all the emotions too. The characters were varied and detailed and taught about dedication, restoration, forgiveness and that a true friend, or brother, never gives up on you. I felt like I was pulled into the story and became invested in the characters' lives and had to know what happened next.
I'm not going to write out a synopsis for you as there are plenty of reviews that do that but did want to mention the medical detail in the book which, as someone working in health, I really appreciated and felt was pitched at just the right level.
I have seen books by Charles Martin on the Amazon Christian Fiction best-sellers list and wanted to read them as they have interesting titles and look like classic and ageless books. This is the first book I have read and it definitely won't be my last! It reminded me of books by Francine Rivers in style and depth of the message. 5 stars.

When you this author’s name on a book, grab it (or download it) ASAP. As usual, you get a great tale which shows excellent research, produces three dimensional characters, and produces emotional and spiritual responses.

This book is one of the most heartfelt stories I’ve ever read. The characters are lovable, determined, and relatable. Reese, now using his middle name and hiding behind an unkempt beard, seeks to disguise his true identity as a renowned heart surgeon. Growing up, Charlie was his best friend, while Emma, Charlie’s younger sister, battled a defective heart. Reese and Emma fall in love, marry, and Reese dedicates himself to becoming an exceptional heart surgeon in order to save her. However, when Emma dies, Reese becomes a recluse, living by a lake near Charlie, who is now blind.
Annie, a six-year-old girl living with her aunt after the death of both her parents, also has a heart defect. To raise money for the heart transplant she will eventually need, Annie sells lemonade in her small town.
I have read other books by Charles Martin, and each one has captured my heart from the very beginning. This book is no exception. It is beautifully written and filled with charming characters that take the reader on an emotional journey. Themes of faith, forgiveness, and perseverance resonate throughout the story and lingered with me for days after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions and comments are my own.

When Crickets Cry made feel so many emotions. Ultimately, it made me cry--from sadness, joy, and awe..
I love second chance stories.
I love everything I've read by this author!!
You can't go wrong with Charles Martin.

Once I got past the first couple of chapters, I didn’t want to put it down. It’s part mystery and a lot medical. Highly recommend it.