THE COVE by Ron Rash, 2012.
The Sheltons have lived in the rugged and forbidding cove near Mars Hill in Madison County, NC ever since they came from Tennessee. Even they think it's a dark, gloomy place, and locals believe it to be haunted and dangerous. Many believe the Shelton family is cursed, and that young and lonely Laurel Shelton is a witch. Laurel, however, knows she is waiting for her chance at happiness.
  Hank, Laurel's brother, served his time in France during the Great War, was injured and sent home with honors. His hope is to get the family farm in order and then to marry a local girl. He has already gotten permission from Carolyn Weatherbee's father to marry her. Industrious and protective, he has learned to do most everything on the farm himself, even though he lost a hand during his military service.
  Into their lives come Walter and his flute, found in the woods by Laurel after he's stung by yellow jackets. An attractive and mute young man who wants to get to New York, he plays music more beautiful than even birdsong, wins over the Sheltons (especially Laurel) and becomes a part of their everyday lives. Walter, though, harbors a somewhat dangerous secret. Even though they have their suspicions and questions, Laurel and Hank both like and trust him, and after they convince him to stay awhile, he assists Hank in doing the farm work, and eventually returns Laurel's feelings of love, much to Hank's satisfaction. Their neighbor, old Slidell Hampton, supports and helps them, all the while feeling something is not quite right. Fueled by her concern and her love for Walter, Laurel, helped by the local schoolteacher, Miss Calicut, does some digging into the mystery and comes to her own conclusions.
   Meanwhile, the Mars Hill community, in a fit of patriotism, becomes stirred up by all things German (including books and the local languages professor at the college). News of an escape of a German detainee from the Hot Springs prison camp and a wanted poster goad local army recruiter Chauncey Feith into taking action. Patriotic fervor runs high in the area, even though the war itself is winding down in Europe. As the story progresses and events unfold and secrets revealed, the Sheltons and Walter become the targets of violence, and a heartrending tragedy occurs.
  Rash has penned a thoroughly engaging story about characters struggling to find happiness and some sense of peace in the midst of a terrible time. He uses plenty of period details concerning life in Appalachian North Carolina throughout the story to keep the reader moving ahead, his narrative has a good pace, and he takes his time in drawing out Walter's secret. He excels in creating three dimensional characters the reader can care about and he carefully weaves their stories together in order to paint an interesting and vivid picture of their lives and the results of their actions. Enjoyable and entertaining, excellent storytelling by a gifted writer.