When Crickets Cry Paperback – 4 April 2006

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.

If you like good literature then this book is for you. Charles Martin has the ability to use the written word to describe a person's inner feelings and fears. The main character has suffered a traumatic experience and has retreated and rejected his former life and friends. His emotional climb back to his former self is beautifully described. We begin to understand his dilemma and his inner demons.His writing reminds me of the style of James Lee Burke. Whereas the latter describes crimes and their consequences, the former describes personal failures and how they affect, not only your own, but other people who are close to you.

I loved how multilayered the whole story was, touching many deep emotions…. A wonderful read!

Everyone who loves a really good book must read this one. Its so beautifully written and so moving. Its a long timesince i have been unable to continue because I could not see through the tears. Thank you Charles Martin.

Made a grown man cry, not once but three times! I must be getting soppy, anyway it was a great story if a bit grim at times.

Yet another excellent book from one of my favourite authors. Never fails to deliver

Fab read. A real page turner. The first of Charles Martin I have read. Going to look up more books from him.

This book came highly recommended by a friend so I felt I had to read it !! I struggled through the first 25%. Very slow and I found the tedious chapters with extraneous details re woodwork and boathouses extremely boring and irrelevant.Saying that , the main characters were endearing and I am glad I stuck with it to find out what happened. Would I recommend to a friend ? 100% not.