The best of Christian Civil War fiction

by Stephenia H. McGee
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6 books
I’ve found that the most tumultuous time in our nation’s history provides a poignant backdrop for fiction. As a firm believer that all people are God’s masterpieces created in his image, this time period can be difficult to read. However, I also believe there is a lot of potential to see how good can overcome evil, how faith can lead to healing, and how we can be overcomers. I’ve chosen books for this list that handle history with nuance and sensitivity, showcase fierce characters, provide embedded layers of faith, and leave you thinking long after the final page. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
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Widow of Gettysburg

Jocelyn Green, 2013
Why did I love this book? Jocelyn Green does an amazing job of highlighting the complications of the Civil War with multi-faceted characters who have to examine their faith, their loyalties, and their own pasts and prejudices. With an intricate plot and a cast of layered characters, Widow of Gettysburg kept me enthralled. Not only is the amount of research and details from history clearly evident, Green is a master at making both history and story leap from the page. This was one I couldn’t put down.

Beyond These War-Torn Lands

Cynthia Roemer, 2021
Why did I love this book? A heartfelt and poignant tale of faith and perseverance with authentic details sure to resonate with historical fiction fans, this tale of grace and forgiveness is both tender and endearing. In many ways, reading this book was like going home. I was delighted to see the historical details during the search for Booth (something I spent months researching as I dug through the trial records for my own series). It's a beautiful story of grace and forgiveness.

To Whisper Her Name

Tamera Alexander, 2012
Why did I love this book? This book is set just after the war and deals with the aftermath of a devastated land. Rich in detail with characters that tug at the heartstrings, it is a story of complex loyalties and dealing with betrayal. A beautiful and powerful story of tender hearts left wounded by a very difficult time. I listened to the audio version of this story and found it to be one I wanted to stop everything I was doing to savor.

Candle in the Darkness

Lynn Austin, 2002
Lynn Austin does a beautiful job of showing people who lived in the South yet hated slavery. As women, they often had no say at all in the situation. This book highlights the horror of people you care about enduring enslavement, while also detailing the complexities of the situations these people faced. The characters are both true to the time yet identifiable across generations. Faith plays a major role, and Austin deals with the questions of how belief and hardships can intertwine.

A Thousand Shall Fall

A Civil War Novel
Andrea Boeshaar, 2015
Why did I love this book? When you’re taught to believe the other side is full of evil people, what do you do when you come face-to-face with a gallant enemy? This story is fascinating because the heroine disguises herself as a soldier, only to become a prisoner of war. When her foe becomes her ally, her loyalties are put to the test. I love how this book deals with the “us versus them” mentality and breaks down the walls we try to erect between us.

In His Eyes

Stephenia H. McGee, 2017
What is my book about? Ella Whitaker rescues a newborn and takes refuge at Belmont just as Federal officers demand to speak with the owner. Now she must pretend to be a widow and a Southern lady in order to save the child, but what will she do when the man everyone thought was dead returns to a wife he didn’t marry? Union Major Westley Remington has dedicated his life to serving his country. The Civil War has divided his family, torn his thoughts of glory, and left him with a wound that may never heal. He returns home on medical furlough to settle his late father’s estate, only to find his household is being run by a fiery and independent woman—one many believe to be his wife.