And the Crows Took Their Eyes

by Vicki Lane

During the Civil War, in bitterly divided western North Carolina, Confederate troops execute thirteen men and boys from a rural community opposed to secession. A microcosm of the deep horrors of civil war, the Shelton Laurel Massacre as it came to be known, pitted neighbor against neighbor, touching every family with violence at their own front door. Told by those who lived it– Confederate and Unionist alike--Keith, who ordered the execution, Polly, whose children’s death precipitated the massacre, Judy and Marthy, who bore torture to protect their men, and Sim, conscripted by the Confederates and haunted by his part in the Massacre—the novel offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of five people tangled in history’s web, caught up together in love and hate. And all five will bear the mark of the massacre long after the event, struggling to come to terms with the bleak consequences of civil war. Based on an actual event and historical characters, And the Crows Took Their Eyes is a richly imagined portrait of a dark and bitter time—illuminated by gleams of humanity at its best

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Crime

298 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2020

About the author

Vicki Lane is the author of AND THE CROWS TOOK THEIR EYES as well as THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS and of the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries from Bantam Dell:IN A DARK SEASON, OLD WOUNDS, ART'S BLOOD,SIGNS IN THE BLOOD. Vicki and her family have lived in western North Carolina on a mountain farm since 1975.

For lots more info, go to http://vickilanemysteries.com which has a section on the writing of CROWS (and recipes and FAQ about writing and who knows what all.

or check Vicki's blog http://vickilanemysteries.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Margaret M - (having a challenging time and on GR as much as I can) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars to a book that is heart-breaking and sobering, and also inspired by real events.

“It means there’s a storm coming, and a mighty flood that will sweep everyone up—Union, Secesh, Quaker, Abolitionist—all of them caught up and swept along in the raging waters. Some will go under, some will survive, but none will be unchanged.”

A novel inspired by, and one that does not shy away from, the brutality at Shelton Laurel, when Col. Lawrence Allen, the commanding officer on that cold day back in 1863, took the lives of thirteen men and boys, and the ‘crows took their eyes’ at they lay exposed to the elements. Families unable to recover the bodies for burial.

“I ain’t no part of this. It don’t matter none to me who the government is, long’s I can have me a little piece of land and make a crop. Besides, I don’t hold with fighting.”. A feeling shared by many who were drawn into a war between those that wanted to remain part of the union and those that wanted independence, as communities prayed for a rapid conclusion to this “…unnatural state of hostilities between North and South”.

A sobering but wonderfully written story that deserves to be told, remembering the lives on all sides that were lost to acts of violence and in war. A story that was told with sentiment but was not emotional, a story that recalls events without the need for exaggeration and elaborate twists in the plot and delivered with some incredible reflections as the author did well to present the characters from both sides as human, with flaws, regrets and with their own stories.

A superb book, all the more poignant and striking because it was inspired by real events, as the author seeks to find the credible sources, heavily research the period and provide as much accuracy of the events acknowledging that most people provide the truth in as far as they understand it or are prejudiced by it. Something Lane tried to avoid.

The subtle messaging and reflections were extremely well done in an accomplished piece of writing. One in particular caught me, as the photographer suggests each child holds a toy for the portrait to enhance, “the illusion of life”, Polly Allen’s response tugged at my heart strings when she says
“What is my life but an illusion. The illusion of a safe and happy home in a peaceful land—the illusion of a husband always by my side —the illusion that I am a Christian woman, bound to forgive those who sin against me. I gaze at my children, dead and living and through the blur of rising tears, they seem all the same—all phantoms of illusion. Life is the illusion. Only death is certain”

One of the best historical fiction novels I have read about this period. Elegant in its writing, objective in its delivery of the story by reflecting the thoughts of multiple narrators and from different perspectives, incredibly touching in its sentiment and heart breaking in its story. A marvellous book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read my first book when I was six. Many years and many beloved books have filled the years since. This may be the best book I have ever read. If you like Appalachian literature this is a must. Please read the other reviews here which expressed what I could not.

[Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

“All that I know is that war casts a long shadow, both in the coming and the going of it and we ain’t out of that shadow yet, not by a long shot.The hunger and the hangings and that terrible day…red blood on white snow…..the black wings of them crows…it don’t hardly bear thinking of…but it’s every bit of it in my memory yet— and I ain’t the only one what remembers.”

One of the more intimate portrayals of the Civil War that I have ever read. The novel focuses on western North Carolina- not a united State but a divided one. Some wanted to separate (the Secesh, as they were known) and many wanted to stay with the union. Most of the fighting takes place between these 2 groups. It culminates in the Shelton Laurel massacre.

The author slowly builds up to the massacre by introducing us to 5 main characters, 5 different viewpoints. All are based on real people, except one- Simeon Ramsey. Many, like Simeon, believe the war has nothing to do with them. After all, he didn’t own slaves and never planned to. But he is forced into conscription and we see many of the horrors from his viewpoint.

This is a book that does not shy away from the horrific events that occurred. What’s always worse for me is knowing that it really happened. But, I must admit, sometimes these events were too brutal and I had to take a break while reading.

“ Sad times, when those who ought to be neighbours are enemies.”

How does a person move on after such a war, living with one’s guilt and memories? Very profoundly addressed in this book. Much as this book focuses on one specific event and what brought us there, we do see that neither side is innocent.

Brilliantly written book that I highly recommend. Many thanks to my GR friend, Linda, whose review and recommendation brought me to this book. Pretty sure it will be a top ten for this year.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

War is far more than bugles and glory. Valorous deeds may be the seeds of legend, but still only tell part of the story. Civilians are also part of war.

Based on a little known incident as sides coalesced to create the American Civil War, this heattbreakingly realistic sounding recreation of both real and fictional people will stick with me.

Because I can only read a short time before my eyes demand a break, enforcedly it took me what seemed like forever to finish. Not necessarily a bad thing. I had time to reflect on each chapter. Doubtless I will indeed reread it. Strongly recommended.

[Kara Bettencourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, friends, I could not put this one down. I am a fan of historical fiction, and especially from this part of the country where I have some roots of my own, but this was more powerful than I hoped for. The characters, especially the five narrators, have clear voices that became real and present. I’m sure parts of it will show up in my AP Lit class this year. I know the civil war has been done to death, but this is more than a war story. I kept seeing our present as I read this (no, it’s not an allegory), and how we define our future by the incidences of the past
I knew it would be good when I read the opening quotation from Naomi Mitchison. It has the hints of magical realism (I know that’s not quite right, but ....) and it was just hard to put down so I didn’t. I’m a fast reader, but I actually slowed down just to enjoy it longer. Im sorry to my students whose essays I didn’t grade yesterday. But it was worth it.

[Nicole Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book over the weekend. In a world where “authentic Appalachian voices” seem to be publishing more frequently and without substance, Vicki Lane has again brought the true tone and voice of Western NC to this beautiful and heartbreaking tale of the Shelton Laurel massacre. What a lovey gem.

[Marta McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping novel of the Civil War, a nation and people divided. Based on an actual massacre near Asheville, North Carolina, Lane revives the characters and their points of view. It put me in mind of Cold Mountain. And of As I Lay Dying. Wrenching and poignant.

[Tinatoombs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Lane breathed life into an atrocity that happened in North Carolina during the Civil War. Fully fleshed out characters and good representation of Appalachia during the 1860s. Highly recommend!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The definition of a page-turner! It's always risky to read about where you live, because the closer home comes to being described, the more apt the reader is to feel that the writer "just didn't get it right." I'm happy to say that this was far from the case here. You could feel the mountains, the slant of light, the sound of the creek. It's told in multiple first-person point of view, which can be wearying, but here Lane carries the tension up to and through each transition.

I read this on the weekend before the US presidential election, a full moon, Halloween, and the political tension of the country was mirrored in the tensions of this true story, which showed in vivid detail the small, daily, domestic violence that comes with civil war...as well as the murderous ravages that lie at the book's center. I was struck in particular with the detail of salt, the economics of it, the necessity of it for preserving food, the misery and starvation of not having it in that time and place. But that was only one aspect of the book that provided an extraordinarily rich sense of place -- the way Lane describes the cloth from torn apart clothing, rubbing cloth to create lint; the food, from rendering a hog to boiling beans, was engrossing, immersive, and rich.

Because I thought so highly of the book, I was disappointed with the characterization--or, lack thereof--of the one black person, Juliann, an enslaved woman, whose role consists largely of caring for children in a rather off-stage kind of way. Let me quickly say, Juliann was never described as a slave, never identified as black (that I noticed) and it's not until she vanishes without fanfare that her role is clear. Even then, the only recognition she receives is a passing disappointment, "I thought she genuinely loved the children..." It's difficult, writing from the perspective of a white woman of that generation, to imagine that she would have seen much more of Juliann than is described here. But we are not reading this book in the same generation, and she deserves more than she received.

[John Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Lane, the already accomplished author of The Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries, has published a very different kind of novel. Her new work, And the Crows Took Their Eyes, is an impressive piece of historical fiction, based on real people and events from the Civil War period in her area of North Carolina.

Although it takes place during and after the war between the States, Crows is not about the war itself, for Lane depicts no battle scenes and very little of army life. A small but extremely important part of the narrative, does very directly involve soldiers and their actions, but the tale is primarily about people on the periphery of the conflict. While I describe them as being on the periphery of most of the action, they are, nevertheless, hugely impacted by the events.

There are five main characters in the narrative. Two might be described as upper-class residents of Marshall. They are secessionists or secesh: the term used in the book. Two are Unionists from the nearby, rural, hill country. The final character, the only one actually created by the author in this historical fiction, is more of an itinerant and mostly unaligned person.

We follow the trials and tribulations of all of the characters through the war period and even for a long time afterward. The war years and shortly thereafter form the bulk of the plot, but the novel does end with snippets from the ensuing decades, which satisfy the desire for an appropriate conclusion.

Crows is memorable. The five characters will linger in my memory for a long time, even after I most likely forget their names.

I found Crows to be very well conceived and written. It is a wonderful exploration of the people and events of the time, and I am very glad to have read Vicki Lane’s very fine and authentic work.

[Marsha Hubbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“All that I know is that war casts a long shadow, both in the coming and the going of it and we ain’t out of that shadow yet, not by a long shot.”

That one line from the story’s start stood out for me, especially given the times we live in. Although more than 150 years have passed since the Civil War, it seems we’re still choosing sides and are none the wiser. It’s especially heart-wrenching to see a snippet of the war told from the eyes of Keith, Polly, Judy, Marthy and Sim as re-imagined by author Vicki Lane in her new book, “And the Crows Took Their Eyes.”

I’ve been a fan of Ms. Lane for many years ever since I first read her Elizabeth Goodweather Mysteries. She knows the mountains and people of North Carolina. She knows their dialect. She knows their hearts. She knows their secrets. And in her new book, the reader comes to know and care about them, too.

Based on the true story of the Shelton Laurel Massacre, which took place January 1863, thirteen accused Union sympathizers were murdered by a Confederate regiment in Madison County. Citizens, not soldiers, they ranged in age from 13-60. Seven were from the same family. All were told to kneel down and were shot point blank.

Ms. Lane has brought life to a tragic tale from US history as only she can do. You might shed a tear. I did. You might get angered by the casualties and cruelty of war. I did. You might find hope at the end that life goes on. I did.

There’s another line toward the end of the book that stuck with me: “… you can’t undo time no more than you can make the river run the other way.” I highly recommend this book.

[Leah Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Lane is well known to many of us from her wonderful Elizabeth Goodweather books. She is a master at capturing the authentic mountain life and language of western North Carolina. This book, while well written, was based on a piece of Civil War history close to Lane's home and heart, and she did a wonderful job of creating or expanding little known characters to tell the complex story. I did struggle at the start of the book keeping some of the characters apart or remembering how they were connected because the book darts from family to family to give the reader a broader picture. By midway that was all settled and I had enough anchors in place to clear that up. This is a tragic story because war is tragic but Lane helped me understand the reality of those days. You'll know more when you're done. Parts will break your heart because it can't help itself. It is a haunting read.

[Marjorie Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Lane's newest novel opened up the story of the Shelton Massacre for me in a way that made every participant fully human. Oh, these mountain people! I have spent time in Marshall, NC, and have wondered at the fierce pride of dancers and fiddlers at local gatherings, and now I see so clearly what Lane knows: it is a universal truth that communities remember the cruelties committed against them, that every war elevates sadists to leadership, that forgiveness and recompense are the only ways to move on. The human heart is sticky with the thorns of insults against the soul, and untangling those briars is famously the work of saints, not men. Such a heart-rending story! I cried more than once, tears of both sorrow and joy. Lane is a writer who has found her masterpiece in the unreliable narrators of history, a lesson well worth noting in our present era.

[Merry]

Sometimes I read to the end of a book and then deliberately don't quite finish it. I don't want it to end because it's just so good. That's how I feel about CROWS. It's told from the point of view of five characters, all so fully drawn that you know each one intimately--their loves, their hopes, their relationship to the tragedy that unites them all. It's written about a time of deep divide--the Civil War in Western North Carolina--and its lessons are applicable to today. Vicki Lane's characters make you understand both sides of the folks in the war-torn mountains and the events that led to the terrible Shelton Laurel Massacre. This is historical fiction at its best, complete with amazing mountain dialect and other wonderful details that take you back 150 plus years.

[Sylvia Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Vicki Lane!

As you can tell, I’m a fan. Having lived the last 50 years in the next county over from Vicki Lanes’ home in Madison, I recognize that she gets it right.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book!

I have read about the Shelton Laurel massacre before but this is a masterful telling. This book will stay with me for a long while.

[EireReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come when I gather my thoughts.

[Steven Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, riveting story told from diverse points of view. Historical fiction frequently strays too far to the fictional end of the spectrum, but in this case the author successfully pulled off this balancing act. The American Civil War was far more complex than depicted in the major battle histories that I've read for years.

[Andree · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader in the UK, I knew little of the American Civil War, the Shelton Laurel massacre or of the geographical areas in which the story takes place. I wondered if the book would perhaps not mean much to me. In fact, the characters - many based on real people, some imagined - actually moved into my house for a week. I could barely put the book down, so real and gripping is the narrative, so enthralling the story. Their individual voices are authentic, nuanced and believable, their accounts skilfully interwoven so that the tale’s unfolding is clear but unforced. I could feel the lint bandages being rubbed soft; hear the butter being churned - and the gunshots; taste the corn pone and see the homesteads and the paths through the mountains. I felt the terror, and the shame, the love and the hopes of the people who came to life through the pages. Now I’ve finished the book I feel bereft and find myself still thinking of these people I met, got to know and wanted, somehow, to stay with for a while longer. A stunning achievement by Vicki Lane and a book I highly recommend.

[Janna Zonder · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Janet Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a book! And the Crows Took Their Eyes, by Vicki Lane, is historical fiction at its best. Ms. Lane has given voice to a part of western North Carolina history that has for too long been swept under a rug. The history books gloss it over as "neighbor against neighbor." In this novel, Ms. Lane brings alive how horrible the Civil War was in communities where individuals were so polarized over the war that they were willing to kill one another over their allegiances. The writing is outstanding. Oh, to be able to write historical fiction this brilliantly!

This is a must-read for all fans of historical fiction. And for those who fancy only reading history books, I highly recommend this novel to you. It is presented through five point-of-view characters. Four of them are real people. This book puts you in Madison County, NC during and after the Civil War and won't let you go. I wish I could give it six stars.

[Laura Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This is an excellent piece of historical fiction. I grew up and currently live in Madison County, near where this horrific massacre took place. I read the book twice and am currently re reading again slowly. Ms. Lane does a terrific job writing in first person using local dialect along with vivid descriptions of the surroundings that time. I was fortunate to meet Ms. Lane recently at a DAR group meeting I was visiting. I was impressed with her knowledge of local history as she is not a native. She surely is a longtime resident now and proves her dedication to Madison County and its people by taking her research seriously and dedicating hours upon hours researching, and dedication researching, making sure to get the facts right. In my opinion, "And the Crows Take Their Eyes," should be required reading in every high school in North Carolina. Most certainly in Madison County.

[Anita Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am blown away by how the author has transported me to 1861, making me feel as if I'm living among her characters; hearing them, and feeling all their fears and anxieties about the coming war. I never knew until now that western NC and eastern Tennessee were populated with Union loyalists who just wanted to be left alone. The Shelton Laurel Massacre caused divides among those residents that still exist today. "And the Crows Took Their Eyes" is the most riveting historical fiction you're likely to read anytime soon.

[Patricia Wallin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Lane does an outstanding job reflecting the history and impact of this incredibly sad event. Her commitment to staying true to historic events compounded by the depth of each character gives life to every sentence. You feel immersed with every character. I grew up about a mile from the final resting site of these men and am a Shelton by birth. While the reality of the story is difficult to accept Vicki's recognition of the community impact is greatly appreciated. A must read.

[David Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich man's war and a poor man's fight

This book rips any proud notion of the Civil War away from it's body and leaves the skeleton of massive harm done to and by people who had no real say in its beginning or its completion. It is, like all of Vicki Lane's books, true to the time. This book will be read over and over by those who love history and those who love truth.

[Amy Jane Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book about little-known events in the heart of the North Carolina mountains during the Civil War. Lane captures complexity, violence, love and tragedy in authentic and compelling first-person voices. The author's lively mixture of historical fact and literary imagination makes for a page-turning read! I loved it.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Completely covered both sides from different view points. The people telling the story were fascinating. Such a sad heartbreaking tale!

[G. Buckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and honest account of the massacre that earned my home county the title of “Bloody Madison.” I’m grateful for this clear look at the deep-felt impact the Shelton Laurel massacre has on my mountains even today. Lane writes with the sort of mountain language and depth that could only come from one who knows this place.

[Carl Alguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this WNC historical fiction effort. Lane focuses on the mostly overlooked female perspective during the civil war. She details the life, struggles, deprivations, and horrors of the woman left behind as their men went off to war. Really well done!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historic novel ranks right up with my top ten reads ever. Vicki Lane brings both sides of the beginning, mid-conflict and end of the Civil War in a small part of North Carolina with an honest, clear view on what the families went through..all sides are brought full circle with the horrors and very small victories that were brought about. Amazing…everyone should read this book.