The title of this book reinforces the terror of a day in January 1863 in the Shelton Laurel community deep in the Madison County, North Carolina, mountains. There, a Confederate regiment executed 13 accused Union sympathizers in one of the most notorious massacres of the Civil War. This historical event is the focus of Vicki Lane’s novel, told by five narrators - four actual historical characters and one a totally fictional one. This novel was a finalist for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award given by the Western North Carolina Historical Association. "And the Crows Took Their Eyes accomplishes what only the very best historical fiction can ever hope to accomplish, connecting us, not only to our history, but to our humanity as well." — Tommy Hays. "Vicki Lane casts an unforgettable spell in And the Crows Took Their Eyes, a compelling and humane reimagining of a heart-wrenching period in our American history." — Jessica Handler. "Lane’s richly detailed vision of the past expertly underpins a dark story of complex divided loyalties in an isolated, war-torn mountain community." — Charles Frazier. Vicki Lane teaches writing in Asheville and is the author of several previous novels.
Raleigh, North Carolina: Regal House Publishing, 2020. 304 pages. Trade paperback.