The Virgin of Small Plains

This is a great and suspenseful story based around the murder of a young woman in 1987. The discovery of the body by a local ranching family has had devastating effects on all those involved in one way or another. The town turned this victim into some sort of a saint, while the life of those who knew something about her death has turned into a nightmare. I read this book in two days and stayed up late to finish it. It has good twists, a great mix of endearing characters and small town gossip/family secrets, and the whole atmosphere of the small midwestern town made it even better. Very enjoyable read and highly recommended.

Whew! This book kept me going into the wee small hours of the night! An excellent book overall, with interesting characters, quick plot and all questions answered logically. There are even allusions to St. Therese of the Little Flower in the mix (which would make my mother happy). I found this to be the first real page turner of the summer...we're off to a good start.

This was so well done. I started it in the evening and it was very late when I finished as I wasn't going to bed until it was done. It's a bit of a romance, a bit of a gothic, but mainly a mystery of family secrets. The story is meticulously plotted with all of my "but what about" questions answers and threads tied. Pickard makes the reader feel as though they are a resident of this small Midwestern town and her use of the weather to create atmosphere and suspense is very well done. The story stayed with me long after finishing the book and that, to me, is one sign of an excellent book.

This is my first Nancy Pickard novel and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. This novel is an easy read and once you begin, you would not want to put it down. Pickard wrote it beautifully and it is not confusing at all as with most suspense novels. For those who have not read any of Pickard's work, I recommend starting with this one. I am definately giving her other works a chance. Enjoy!

I'd never heard of Nancy Piackard before, but it seems I've been missing out. I read an excellent review of this new book, and am so glad I picked it up. THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS expertly blends suspense, sentiment, and the sublime. (At one point, a waning tornado showers flowers upon a woman lying in a churchyard.) Pickard maintains a sure and steady hand as her story shuttles back and forth in time, churning up buried secrets and old grudges, and when the subplots finally converge, it's pretty spectacular. This is a beautiful book.