When Crickets Cry

Over 575,000 copies sold! | A Southern Living Book of the Month Selection

From New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin comes the moving story of a heart surgeon who's hiding his own heart, a little girl whose heart won't last much longer, and a shared journey toward healing for both of them--for fans looks for the emotional depth of Fredrik Backman and the Southern atmosphere of Delia Owens.

It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.

Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.

Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.

With its beautiful, lyrical writing, engaging characters who stick with you, and a storyline that will touch your own heart, it's no wonder why so many readers adore When Crickets Cry.

"If you read any book this year, this is the one." --Coffee Time Romance | "Charming characters and twists that keep the pages turning." --Southern Living

Hardcover Deluxe Edition on sale 10/21/25 with a shimmering revamped cover, designed end papers, sprayed edges, author signature stamped into the case, and new bonus content.

CHARLES MARTIN is a New York Times bestselling author of 16 previous novels, including his most recent, 'The Record Keeper.' His work is available in 35+ languages. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and their three sons.