Review: "The Wood's Edge: A Novel" by Lori Benton

This is an exciting historical Christian fiction novel starting in pre-Revolutionary times in a battle at Fort William Henry on Lake George in the state of New York. It is the first in the Pathfinder Series. The fort is being attacked by the French and Indians and Major Reginald Aubrey’s wife, Heledd has just given birth to a baby boy who has died. In her exhaustion from the birth, she never got to lay eyes on her child and Reginald is struggling with how to break the bad news that may also shatter her mind. Before the French had attacked, the English troops had captured an Indian woman, Good Voice, obviously pregnant and white. She also gives birth to twins, one dark and one very light skinned with blond hair. While she is sleeping, Reginald, in his desperation, switches his dead son for her light skinned child. Thus sets in motion a life time of torment and guilt for Reginald and pain and suffering for Good Voice and her family as they search for their missing son.

Although this is fiction, the places are real and some of the characters are based on real people. Good Voice and her family are members of the Oneidas Indian tribe living in this area at this time and this showcases the tough choices they had to make during this volatile time in our American history. Another character, Reverend Samuel Kirkland worked with the Senecas and Oneidas during this time to bring them to God. The rest of the novel is fleshed out with characters who add depth to the story.

The tale is well thought out and exciting and will keep you turning pages. My only disappointment is one detail was left open and I definitely will be picking up the next in the series to see how it is resolved.