Helpful Score: 7
This is a beautifully written and artfully constructed book that sinks its hooks into you and doesn't let go, cliches notwithstanding. Most of the book takes the form of a flashback to recount events that happened in a small Kansas prairie down more than 20 years ago. Jody, the main character, is a 26 year old young woman who was orphaned by those events and she has spent her life, the sole granddaughter of the wealthiest man in town, trying to come to grips. There are plenty of twists and turns and the final denouement comes as a surprise. While nothing in the book feels overly contrived, many things do slip conveniently into place a little too easily at times. Still, this is a good read and one I highly recommend.
Helpful Score: 4
Jody Linder has spent the last 23 years learning over and over that it doesn't pay to get too happy, because happiness is always followed by events that will snatch it away. Her father was murdered during a violent thunderstorm when Jody was three years old, and her mother disappeared, her body never found. Everyone knows it was Billy Crosby, local drunk and wife-beater, who killed them, revenge for perceived slights from Jody's grandfather, the big money rancher in rural Henderson County, Kansas. And he's been sitting in prison for 23 years, convicted of Hugh-Jay Linder's murder. He never would tell where Laurie's body was buried and Jody obsesses that perhaps her mother is alive somewhere out there still.
And now, Billy Crosby has been released, his sentence commuted because there were some irregularities with the investigation--evidence not reported, brought up for review by Collin, Billy's son who has become a lawyer. Jody and her whole family--her grandparents, uncles--indeed, the whole town of Rose is in shock. When Jody actually begins talking to people, she realizes that some of the townspeople--including her current lover--have doubts about Billy's guilt in the murder and that everyone has protected her from these doubts ever surfacing over the years. Now her entire world seems to be unraveling, and Jody's just not sure where her life is headed.
I really, really loved this book--it was virtually unputdownable--until the last fifty pages or so. I can't say more without spoiling it, but the ending was so disappointing, cobbled together and...well, lame for lack of a better word, that it dragged my impression of the book down immensely.
And now, Billy Crosby has been released, his sentence commuted because there were some irregularities with the investigation--evidence not reported, brought up for review by Collin, Billy's son who has become a lawyer. Jody and her whole family--her grandparents, uncles--indeed, the whole town of Rose is in shock. When Jody actually begins talking to people, she realizes that some of the townspeople--including her current lover--have doubts about Billy's guilt in the murder and that everyone has protected her from these doubts ever surfacing over the years. Now her entire world seems to be unraveling, and Jody's just not sure where her life is headed.
I really, really loved this book--it was virtually unputdownable--until the last fifty pages or so. I can't say more without spoiling it, but the ending was so disappointing, cobbled together and...well, lame for lack of a better word, that it dragged my impression of the book down immensely.
Helpful Score: 2
Loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Read it in a day because I couldn't put it down. My only complaint is the ending is a bit abrupt. Her novel "The Virgin of Small Plains" is also a great read.
Helpful Score: 2
Wow I cant believe the negative review. Not only was this book well written, it was a pleasure to read. The story unfolded at a great pace. I was surprised by the ending. I had expected something different.
I would rate this as one of the better books I have ever read.
I would rate this as one of the better books I have ever read.
Helpful Score: 1
I'm not into fiction as much as I am into fantasy but this book has brought a whole new hope for fiction novels. I was engulfed during the first page and I was sad that the book ended. I wanted to keep reading about their lives and I really wish the author would have made it into a series! This is a must read!
Helpful Score: 1
Blah. The writing was so forced and boring. The plot should have been gripping, and I think if the author had let the readers figure things out on their own instead of beating the point into their heads, it could have worked. As it's written, though, it was boring.
She retells the same story over and over, and the main character mulls over the same crisis of emotions seemingly countless times. I got about halfway through (skimming quite a bit), and then gave up and skipped to the last couple chapters to see how it played out (and there weren't any surprises). Her characters came across as stereotypes that were very overdrawn, especially Laurie and Billy. What should have been a shocking plot twist at the end had zero punch because the author forced the point from the first chapter onward that what we think happened didn't really happen. I got this from the library and thankfully didn't waste my credits on this one. I haven't read any of her other works and don't plan on it. This was 100% a miss.
She retells the same story over and over, and the main character mulls over the same crisis of emotions seemingly countless times. I got about halfway through (skimming quite a bit), and then gave up and skipped to the last couple chapters to see how it played out (and there weren't any surprises). Her characters came across as stereotypes that were very overdrawn, especially Laurie and Billy. What should have been a shocking plot twist at the end had zero punch because the author forced the point from the first chapter onward that what we think happened didn't really happen. I got this from the library and thankfully didn't waste my credits on this one. I haven't read any of her other works and don't plan on it. This was 100% a miss.
Helpful Score: 1
I really did enjoy this book. I almost didn't keep reading after the way it started because I am just not into books with a bunch of sex scenes, LOL, but it has a good story and enough twists and turns to keep one into it. I liked it alot. Even the Characters were interesting and the town came alive with Pichard's discriptions. Overall it was a good book
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed the book. It had me turning pages deep into the night! Definitely a good "who done it?" read. I thought it was well developed, she tied up all loose ends, and it kept me guessing to the very end! I will definitely be checking out more of her books.
Helpful Score: 1
This book has garnered such terrific reviews that I was sure I'd love it. I didn't, but I can't really say why. The beginning drew me, in but by midway I'd lost interest in the story and the characters. I wasn't emotionally invested and the out of the blue ending did nothing to change my opinion. I'm not sure that I would pick up another book by this author.
I read this for the April "Rain" theme in my online book club, The Reading Cove. It had come very highly recommended and I was really looking forward to it, so the theme moved it up in my TBR pile.
I really got into the first part of the mystery. The story opens strong with Jody Linder getting the news that her father's supposed murderer, Billy, was being released from prison after over 20 years in jail.
The story then goes back into the 80s when Jody was a toddler. And as I got to know the Linder family, I was really interested in following the mystery of what happened to Jody's parents all those years ago. But, I must admit, the ending was a disappointment. As others have mentioned, it felt quite contrived. Like the author just decided on it at the last minute to guarantee no reader would be able to guess. It felt like a lazy way to solve what was otherwise a darn good mystery.
And the present-day story with the adult Jody and Billy's son Collin felt very underdeveloped. I wish she'd given us a little more time with them as adults in the beginning of the book before going back into the past for the backstory.
So overall, I really enjoyed the author's writing as far as setting, characters and plot. I just think she dropped the ball at the end of this one.
I really wanted to give a B+, but for the contrived ending and uneven narrative, I'll go with B-.
I really got into the first part of the mystery. The story opens strong with Jody Linder getting the news that her father's supposed murderer, Billy, was being released from prison after over 20 years in jail.
The story then goes back into the 80s when Jody was a toddler. And as I got to know the Linder family, I was really interested in following the mystery of what happened to Jody's parents all those years ago. But, I must admit, the ending was a disappointment. As others have mentioned, it felt quite contrived. Like the author just decided on it at the last minute to guarantee no reader would be able to guess. It felt like a lazy way to solve what was otherwise a darn good mystery.
And the present-day story with the adult Jody and Billy's son Collin felt very underdeveloped. I wish she'd given us a little more time with them as adults in the beginning of the book before going back into the past for the backstory.
So overall, I really enjoyed the author's writing as far as setting, characters and plot. I just think she dropped the ball at the end of this one.
I really wanted to give a B+, but for the contrived ending and uneven narrative, I'll go with B-.
LOVED this book! Very suspenseful - I couldn't put it down. Jody's parents were murdered more than 20 years ago and the man that went to prison for killing them has just been released from prison by the governor. The author does a great job telling the story of what happened to her parents and the controversy and repercussions of the man punished for the crime and now set free. The characters are written perfectly and the ending is a total shocker. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!!
Nancy Pickard takes us to Rose, Kansas where a mans conviction of murder has been overturned and he is returning back to the scene of the crime. That shakes up the whole town but especially the family of the man who was killed and whose daughter-in-law is still missing. Their daughter Jody takes us through her story and finds things may take her down a very unexpected path.
Colin Crosby, the son of the man convicted of murder had a very interesting story as well. His father treated him terribly but he still grew up and became a lawyer and he was the one that was able to get the mans conviction set aside.
Pickard has woven a story that could have taken place anywhere but she makes Rose, Kansas come alive and draws the reader right in. The vibrant characters jump off the page, but the story evolves slowly unveiling the mystery and the truth. The family is very close, brought closer by tragedy. She explores family relationships and the secrets and lies that can either draw a family together or rip it apart.
I was so impressed with the easy flow. There were surprises and twists but I would not call this a thriller as other reviewers have. It has a totally different kind of feeling. In addition to the mystery there is also an underlying love story that added another element to an already fabulous story.
I am truly sorry it took me so long to read this story. It was getting great reviews when it first came out that made me buy the book and while a few years have passed it is still getting those great reviews. If like me you missed this story when it first came out it is one that shouldnt be missed. Add to your reading schedule as soon as you can.
Colin Crosby, the son of the man convicted of murder had a very interesting story as well. His father treated him terribly but he still grew up and became a lawyer and he was the one that was able to get the mans conviction set aside.
Pickard has woven a story that could have taken place anywhere but she makes Rose, Kansas come alive and draws the reader right in. The vibrant characters jump off the page, but the story evolves slowly unveiling the mystery and the truth. The family is very close, brought closer by tragedy. She explores family relationships and the secrets and lies that can either draw a family together or rip it apart.
I was so impressed with the easy flow. There were surprises and twists but I would not call this a thriller as other reviewers have. It has a totally different kind of feeling. In addition to the mystery there is also an underlying love story that added another element to an already fabulous story.
I am truly sorry it took me so long to read this story. It was getting great reviews when it first came out that made me buy the book and while a few years have passed it is still getting those great reviews. If like me you missed this story when it first came out it is one that shouldnt be missed. Add to your reading schedule as soon as you can.
This satisfying novel is more character study than whodunit, though it has elements of both.
Twenty-three years before the book begins, Jody Linder lost both parents in a night of shocking violence â her father shot to death in the family home, her mother disappeared without a trace. As the novel opens, Jody receives the horrifying news that the man convicted of her father's murder has had his prison sentence commuted due to irregularities in the trial, and is returning to their home town. No one knows if he plans revenge on those who put him behind bars, or whether he simply means to resume his former life of drinking, beating on his wife, and terrorizing anyone who crosses him.
Pickard does a good job with virtually all the characters â the Linder family members, the townspeople who are still agitated over the trial, Jody herself, and the man to whom she is drawn despite a personal history that makes their relationship impossible. Even the returning prisoner manages to be more than a straw man. (He's still totally unpleasant, but his whining, bullying, everybody-picks-on-me attitude is, unfortunately, all too recognizable). The setting â a small Kansas town surrounded by cattle and wheat ranches â is always present and is itself another character, indelibly marking those who live there.
The observant reader will probably have come to some conclusions at about the halfway point of the book, but it's unlikely they will get all the details right. The conclusion, where secrets are revealed and lives are shattered, is probably the weakest part of the novel, as some of the characters' actions seem unlikely, or contradictory to earlier characterizations.
It's still a worthwhile read, and the characters will stay with the reader for a while.
Twenty-three years before the book begins, Jody Linder lost both parents in a night of shocking violence â her father shot to death in the family home, her mother disappeared without a trace. As the novel opens, Jody receives the horrifying news that the man convicted of her father's murder has had his prison sentence commuted due to irregularities in the trial, and is returning to their home town. No one knows if he plans revenge on those who put him behind bars, or whether he simply means to resume his former life of drinking, beating on his wife, and terrorizing anyone who crosses him.
Pickard does a good job with virtually all the characters â the Linder family members, the townspeople who are still agitated over the trial, Jody herself, and the man to whom she is drawn despite a personal history that makes their relationship impossible. Even the returning prisoner manages to be more than a straw man. (He's still totally unpleasant, but his whining, bullying, everybody-picks-on-me attitude is, unfortunately, all too recognizable). The setting â a small Kansas town surrounded by cattle and wheat ranches â is always present and is itself another character, indelibly marking those who live there.
The observant reader will probably have come to some conclusions at about the halfway point of the book, but it's unlikely they will get all the details right. The conclusion, where secrets are revealed and lives are shattered, is probably the weakest part of the novel, as some of the characters' actions seem unlikely, or contradictory to earlier characterizations.
It's still a worthwhile read, and the characters will stay with the reader for a while.
Author Nancy Pickard does a wonderful job of setting the scene for her novel The Scent of Rain and Lightning. The reader really feels like he or she is in the small town of Rose, Kansas visiting the High Rock Ranch. I think that's why it was so easy for me to get wrapped up in the story of the Linder family, the town's most prominent family, and Jody Linder, who lost her parents more than 20 years earlier in a night of violence. Now, Billy Crosby, the man convicted of her father's murder and mother's presumed death, has been set free from jail, thanks to the efforts of his son who is now a lawyer. That shocking news is followed by more surprises when Jody learns that many in the town feel that there was a rush to judgment and that Crosby was wrongly convicted. Jody wants the truth, about her parents, their marriage, Crosby, Crosby's son Collin, and mostly importantly, what exactly happened on that stormy night 23 years earlier. Quick read, page-turner.
I thought it was a great read and would recommend it. I had never read Nancy Pickard before, but the book reminded me a bit of Jodi Picoult (a favorite of mine). Good characterization and I didn't figure out "whodunit" until the very end.
I almost tossed this one after the 1st page...glad I kept reading. The author kept me guessing until the end. The ending was not at all what I expected. I'm still a bit undecided as to whether I really liked the ending!! I will probably check out another Nancy Pickard book just to sum up her writing style. If you like mysteries that keep you guessing right up to the end...this one's for you. Although the author didn't riddle the book with profanity, it is scattered through out the book. I think she could have cleaned up the language & maintained the same page turning affect.
A family that is helping others finds itself caught up in the problems of one young man that they cannot seem to help no matter how hard they try. His attitude toward life and toward others as well as his actions find him in ever escalating situations. His name seems to be trouble and he always seems to start it. Billy Crosby seems to harm everything and everyone he touches.
Jody's father was murdered and her mother disappeared when she was three years old. Billy Crosby was convicted of the crime. Now Jody is grown up and has moved into their home. However, her life has turned upside down. Billy Crosby is out of jail and returning to the small town of Rose and vowing to get even.
Not certain I can forgive the author or her editors for a glaring error in this novel. A thunderstorm takes out the electricity on page 282 of this issue after which the woman walks in front of a mirror, naked, and admires her body from all angles in the dark. Furthermore, once her husband is killed, the killer cleans the bedroom, bathrooms, carpets and checks the kitchen, noting that the disarray will protect him - all in the dark! So I gave this novel a mere three stars.
Jody's father was murdered and her mother disappeared when she was three years old. Billy Crosby was convicted of the crime. Now Jody is grown up and has moved into their home. However, her life has turned upside down. Billy Crosby is out of jail and returning to the small town of Rose and vowing to get even.
Not certain I can forgive the author or her editors for a glaring error in this novel. A thunderstorm takes out the electricity on page 282 of this issue after which the woman walks in front of a mirror, naked, and admires her body from all angles in the dark. Furthermore, once her husband is killed, the killer cleans the bedroom, bathrooms, carpets and checks the kitchen, noting that the disarray will protect him - all in the dark! So I gave this novel a mere three stars.
I really enjoyed this book! It had me turning pages deep into the night! Definitely a good "who done it" read. I thought it was well developed, she tied up all loose ends, and it kept me guessing to the very end! I will definitely be checking out more of her books.
Excellent story, great character development, unexpected twists. What more can I ask from a mystery/thriller? Couldn't put this down once I read the first page. Will definitely look for more books by this author.
This story has great characters and clear description of events and places and a very surprise ending. Hard to put down and an enjoyable read.
Was way better than I thought it would be!
This is certainly a very solid murder mystery/literary fiction book. It did have some things that really annoyed me, nothing to do so much with the writing itself really, so much as the characterizations, and so not necessarily something that'll get to everybody. I just wanted to slap a couple people sometimes and groan at their stupidity/attitude, which I guess is a good thing in a way since it means I was into it. In any case, I still have to say that it's a really good book. At first, when I started it, it seemed pretty good but not great, but by the halfway point I was completely engrossed. Give it 100 pages or so as a fair shot, and it tends to pull you in, at least if your reading enjoyments are anything at all like mine. So, I split the difference with all factors considered and figured it's most fairly a four star book. The setting was depicted brilliantly, the characters were mostly extremely believable and realistic (though, as I said, I was frustrated at some points, though in all fairness I should say most were redeemed later on), and the story was a little slow in captivating me but did pull it off in the end. Nancy Pickard definitely has a talent for writing, and I'll likely be looking into her other books in the future.
Great surprise. I found myself not wanting to put this book down. Pickard weaves an intriguing tale of murder and mystery but not in the traditional detective looking for the bad guy kind of way. Her idea of murder and mystery within a small close knit town focused on one particular family was a refreshing way of writing - no detective, no courtroom - just a family searching for answers. The only flaw I found with Pickard's writing style was her incessant and unnecessary descriptions of love. Throughout the book characters would do something as simple as watch the granddaughter sleep and her "heart would overflow with love for the child" (but with a lot more words). Putting the over-exaggerated descriptions of love aside, the story was very well told, keeping the reader wanting more, with a fantastic plot twist at the end. Definitely recommend!
This was a well-written story. The cover description led me to believe it would be different than what it was, but I'm very glad for it. It's a mystery/thriller with a splash of romance - I highly recommend this!
