This Southern Gothic tragedy is an excellent addition to the list of star-crossed lovers. Set in Tennessee in the early 20th Century, the author has vividly depicted the community, the people, and the various tensions going on in this small town. There are social and class tensions, racial tensions, the fear of the modern world, and – most central to this story – the ongoing feud between two families.

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The story is split into four parts and each has its own distinct character, almost like a set of connected novellas. The first is the tragic romance between Sarey and Billy, the second a courtroom drama, the third the immediate after-effects of the trial, and the fourth is the long-term effects and the conclusion. We see how each event affects not just the main characters, but the whole community and the town itself. I particularly appreciated the attention that the more minor characters got, which helped to flesh out the town as a whole.

The real mystery of the story is, of course, the ghost of Sarey Jane. Her metaphorical ghost is present up until the final moments of the story, as we see how her short and tragic life impacted generations to come. The question of her literal ghost is more ambiguous, which I loved. It left us guessing right until the very end.

A special shout-out has to go to the two voice actors who read the dialogue for all the characters. If you didn’t know better, you would suspect a whole cast of actors, they each did such an excellent job slipping from one voice into the next.

There were a couple of drawbacks for me. The pacing wasn’t always consistent, and there were some sections that I would have liked to spend a little more time on. I think this book is also a prime candidate for the discussion on the use of racial slurs in historical fiction. While I personally felt they were used excessively, and other words could have been used for the same effect, I understand that for some people historical accuracy will come first, and that’s definitely a topic every reader and author will have their own opinion on.

Overall, this was an immersive and atmospheric story, drawing on multiple genres to create this tragic tale.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.