The Orphan Mother

A former slave searches for justice after her son is murdered in the wake of the Civil War in this novel from a New York Times–bestselling author.

“Hicks’s bittersweet novel reveals a woman discovering a new sense of self in slavery’s aftermath. . . . A beautifully rendered portrait for all lovers of Civil War fiction.” —Library Journal

In the years following the Civil War, Mariah Reddick, former slave to Carrie McGavock—the “Widow of the South” —has quietly built a new life for herself as a midwife to the women of Franklin, Tennessee. But when her ambitious, politically minded grown son, Theopolis, is murdered, Mariah—no stranger to loss—finds her world once more breaking apart. How could this happen? Who wanted him dead?

In the face of overwhelming adversity, Mariah will not give up her search for answers, even if it means confronting her own difficult truths. Brimming with the vivid prose and historical research that has won Robert Hicks recognition as a “master storyteller” (San Francisco Chronicle), The Orphan Mother is an unforgettable story of a woman’s heroic struggle.

“Compelling. . . . In Mariah, Hicks has created a strong and noble soul.” —For Worth Star Telegram

“Eloquent and subtle insights into the struggles of motherhood, relationships, and loss.” —Atlanta Journal Constitution