The Scent of Rain and Lightning

I love it when I discover a new author who is not really new just new to me so they have a whole list of books from which to choose in the near future. Anyway... I am speaking about Nancy Pickard, who has written The Scent of Rain and Lightning.

Set in the small town of Rose, Kansas, The Scent of Rain and Lightning is the story of the close-knit Linder family whose lives are forever changed when their oldest son is brutally murdered and their daughter-in-law disappears.  Most traumatized by this is their three year-old daughter Jody, but after no-good Billy Collins is convicted and sent away to prison for the crime,  Jody is lovingly raised by her grandparents, aunt and uncles who protect her from her demons and fears.  Fast-forward 23 years, and Jody has returned to the town of Rose to teach at the high school.  But someone else is also returning to Rose, and that someone may just be innocent of her father's death.  Jody's life has been defined by that tragic night all those years ago, but she is learning that her's was not the only life that changed, and she is not the only casualty in the story.

The Scent of Rain and Lightning is a terrific story.  The characters are real and likable, and Nancy Pickard makes me want to see the Monument Rocks in Gove County, Kansas.  Really!  Google them and you will see. (They play a major role in the book, in case you were wondering.)  Also, I love the title, and rain really does smell lovely. TBC