Publication
Thorndike, Me. : Center Point Pub., 2010.
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction P
Physical description
447 p.; 23 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
The man convicted of murdering Jody's father, Billy Crosby, is being released from prison and returning to the small town of Rose, Kansas. Crosby has been granted a new trial, thanks in large part to the efforts of his son, Collin, a lawyer who has spent most of his life trying to prove his father's innocence. As Jody revisits old wounds, startling revelations compel her to uncover the dangerous truth about her family's tragic past.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member thornton37814
Jody Linder was just a small child on that rainy and stormy Kansas night when her father was murdered and her mother missing and presumed dead. She's been reared by her father's close-knit family. Now the man who was convicted of killing her father is being released from prison after having his
This book got off to a slow start for me, but as I kept reading, I found myself drawn into the story by the author's vivid depictions of the area and her wonderfully drawn characters. One chapter with its vivid depictions of rain and lightning was especially poignant.
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sentence commuted by the governor due to flaws in the original investigation. Jody and the man's son Collin had known each other growing up and had admired each other, always knowing that a relationship with the other was out of the question. In the small town of Rose, there are several persons who believe Billy Crosby was too drunk on the night of the murder to have committed it, but there is really no one who doesn't believe he didn't belong in prison. Jody begins to question her long-held beliefs about Billy Crosby's guilt. This book got off to a slow start for me, but as I kept reading, I found myself drawn into the story by the author's vivid depictions of the area and her wonderfully drawn characters. One chapter with its vivid depictions of rain and lightning was especially poignant.
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LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
I really enjoyed this literary mystery set on a Kansas cattle ranch. Jody Linder's father was killed and her mother apparently abducted when she was just 3. Now years later, the accused killer is being released from prison and returing to the rural Kansas town, and their is some doubt about his
The writing is top notch. The ranch setting is a very "real" working ranch; the small town is classic but has a few individual touches. Each major character is multi-dimensional and quite believable. The story unfolds at just the right pace, and has enough twists to keep you guessing.
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guilt.The writing is top notch. The ranch setting is a very "real" working ranch; the small town is classic but has a few individual touches. Each major character is multi-dimensional and quite believable. The story unfolds at just the right pace, and has enough twists to keep you guessing.
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LibraryThing member SilversReviews
MAY BE SPOILERS
Rose, Kansas, the Linder Ranch, and the Linder family.....
..............Jody Linder was left an orphan at the age of three, and the man who had been accused of killing her parents 20 years ago was being released from jail on this hot, muggy, rainless day in Rose, Kansas. Her uncles
The story then moves from the present back to the events that led up to the murder of Laurie and Hugh-Jay Linder. The Linder family owned a huge cattle ranch, and every family member except Belle along with hired hands, which included Billy Crosby, worked for them. Hugh-Jay Linder woke up one morning to broken fences and a dead, pregnant cow....he KNEW it had been Billy Crosby. Hugh-Jay planned a scenario to get Billy at the ranch and have him arrested for the crime.
As a thunderstorm is raging outside the tavern where the Linder children are enjoying their evening, along comes Billy Crosby saying there was no evidence that he broke the fences and killed the cow, and he was free and clear....he was also very drunk, crude, and loud, and was thrown out by the tavern owner. When everyone woke up the next morning, Annabelle Linder was rounding up her children to get some pancakes at a local restaurant. She had to go to her son's house to waken him and his wife but found the doors all locked, and that was unusual. She then found her son dead in an upstairs bedroom.....her screaming roused the neighbor, and he came running over to find the grisly scene. Billy Crosby was of course the sole suspect because of his previous actions and drunkenness from the night before and a trial took place.
The trial of Billy Crosby got him forty plus twenty years in prison for the murder....meanwhile the Linder family and the town of Rose, Kansas had to try to carry on.
It was always difficult when Annabelle Linder ran into Valentine Crosby and Collin Crosby....Billy's wife and son. Valentine and Collin were ostracized in the town, and poor Collin had a rough time at school as well.
Along with mourning their son and his wife, the senior Linders had to raise Jody and help her cope with the tragedy. It was a difficult ordeal for everyone. When things finally started getting back to normal, Billy Crosby is released from jail and the fear, memories, and pain all surface again. What made the release worse was the talk that some folks believed Billy never did kill Jody's parents, and that he had been framed.
Events lead to more trouble for the small town of Rose, Kansas, and the Linder family. The ending is a little predictable, but also a surprise. You will like the story. The ending is definitely a page turner. The love and the kindness the Linder family has for everyone draws you into the storyline. I am going to rate it a 4/5 because it was a little slow at times, but the mystery keeps you guessing.
Rose, Kansas, the Linder Ranch, and the Linder family.....
..............Jody Linder was left an orphan at the age of three, and the man who had been accused of killing her parents 20 years ago was being released from jail on this hot, muggy, rainless day in Rose, Kansas. Her uncles
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arrived together at her home to tell her the news.The story then moves from the present back to the events that led up to the murder of Laurie and Hugh-Jay Linder. The Linder family owned a huge cattle ranch, and every family member except Belle along with hired hands, which included Billy Crosby, worked for them. Hugh-Jay Linder woke up one morning to broken fences and a dead, pregnant cow....he KNEW it had been Billy Crosby. Hugh-Jay planned a scenario to get Billy at the ranch and have him arrested for the crime.
As a thunderstorm is raging outside the tavern where the Linder children are enjoying their evening, along comes Billy Crosby saying there was no evidence that he broke the fences and killed the cow, and he was free and clear....he was also very drunk, crude, and loud, and was thrown out by the tavern owner. When everyone woke up the next morning, Annabelle Linder was rounding up her children to get some pancakes at a local restaurant. She had to go to her son's house to waken him and his wife but found the doors all locked, and that was unusual. She then found her son dead in an upstairs bedroom.....her screaming roused the neighbor, and he came running over to find the grisly scene. Billy Crosby was of course the sole suspect because of his previous actions and drunkenness from the night before and a trial took place.
The trial of Billy Crosby got him forty plus twenty years in prison for the murder....meanwhile the Linder family and the town of Rose, Kansas had to try to carry on.
It was always difficult when Annabelle Linder ran into Valentine Crosby and Collin Crosby....Billy's wife and son. Valentine and Collin were ostracized in the town, and poor Collin had a rough time at school as well.
Along with mourning their son and his wife, the senior Linders had to raise Jody and help her cope with the tragedy. It was a difficult ordeal for everyone. When things finally started getting back to normal, Billy Crosby is released from jail and the fear, memories, and pain all surface again. What made the release worse was the talk that some folks believed Billy never did kill Jody's parents, and that he had been framed.
Events lead to more trouble for the small town of Rose, Kansas, and the Linder family. The ending is a little predictable, but also a surprise. You will like the story. The ending is definitely a page turner. The love and the kindness the Linder family has for everyone draws you into the storyline. I am going to rate it a 4/5 because it was a little slow at times, but the mystery keeps you guessing.
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LibraryThing member SamSattler
Jody Linder is one of the youngest members of the most prominent ranching family in little Rose, Kansas. The Linder family is a respected one but, because of its unusual power and influence, the family sometimes creates resentment and jealousy in a few of the locals. Jody, in fact, lives alone in
Nancy Picard follows this set-up with a long flashback to the time prior to the horrendous crime suffered by the Linder family, a flashback during which the reader is introduced to all the members of the family: one sister, three brothers, and their hardworking parents. The Linders run a hands-on ranch, and the three Linder brothers are expected to carry their share of the load right along side the men being paid to do the same work. The Linder patriarch also enjoys working with troubled boys and, over the years, he has used his ranch jobs as a way to give these boys a chance to start their lives over again on a positive note before it is too late. The boys seldom let him down - but one, Billy Crosby, the man convicted of the murder of Linder's oldest son, would fail in a spectacular way.
When Billy Crosby comes back to Rose, most of the town unites with the Linders in outrage that the man is back among them. Jody, since she was a little girl, has been obsessed with finding the truth about what really happened to her mother but what she learns from the few skeptics in town willing to talk about the trial details, and about Billy's condition on the night of the murders, leaves her wondering if Billy Crosby could really have had anything to do with what happened to her parents.
That Billy Crosby, evil as he still is, might be an innocent man, will not surprise many readers. The fun of "The Scent of Rain and Lightning" comes from figuring out whom, if not Billy Crosby, is the murderer of young Linder and his wife. Along the way, Nancy Pickard will drop clues about several of the book's main characters, little tidbits that create enough doubt about several of them to bring them to the reader's attention as possible suspects. And Picard sprinkles around enough possible motives and character defects to keep the reader guessing the killer's identity right up to the end of the book. In the meantime, Billy Crosby, never his own best friend, keeps things interesting by acting like the loose cannon he has been all his life.
"The Scent of Rain and Lightning" is an entertaining mystery, one filled with its share of tension and action, especially as it draws closer and closer to the crime upon which it is centered. Author Picard, though, does not quite play fairly with her readers in the end and chooses the easiest of possible endings for her story.. And while her characters are believable and sympathetic enough for the most part, the book's conclusion suffers when the villain, goes flat on us.
Rated at: 3.0
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the very home in which her father was murdered, and from which her mother disappeared, when Jody was only three years old - more than twenty-three years before "The Scent of Rain and Lightning" opens. Now, Jody is shocked to learn the person convicted of the murder all those years ago, a young man who once worked on her grandfather's ranch, has been granted a new trial and will be returning to Rose until the lawyers can do their work.Nancy Picard follows this set-up with a long flashback to the time prior to the horrendous crime suffered by the Linder family, a flashback during which the reader is introduced to all the members of the family: one sister, three brothers, and their hardworking parents. The Linders run a hands-on ranch, and the three Linder brothers are expected to carry their share of the load right along side the men being paid to do the same work. The Linder patriarch also enjoys working with troubled boys and, over the years, he has used his ranch jobs as a way to give these boys a chance to start their lives over again on a positive note before it is too late. The boys seldom let him down - but one, Billy Crosby, the man convicted of the murder of Linder's oldest son, would fail in a spectacular way.
When Billy Crosby comes back to Rose, most of the town unites with the Linders in outrage that the man is back among them. Jody, since she was a little girl, has been obsessed with finding the truth about what really happened to her mother but what she learns from the few skeptics in town willing to talk about the trial details, and about Billy's condition on the night of the murders, leaves her wondering if Billy Crosby could really have had anything to do with what happened to her parents.
That Billy Crosby, evil as he still is, might be an innocent man, will not surprise many readers. The fun of "The Scent of Rain and Lightning" comes from figuring out whom, if not Billy Crosby, is the murderer of young Linder and his wife. Along the way, Nancy Pickard will drop clues about several of the book's main characters, little tidbits that create enough doubt about several of them to bring them to the reader's attention as possible suspects. And Picard sprinkles around enough possible motives and character defects to keep the reader guessing the killer's identity right up to the end of the book. In the meantime, Billy Crosby, never his own best friend, keeps things interesting by acting like the loose cannon he has been all his life.
"The Scent of Rain and Lightning" is an entertaining mystery, one filled with its share of tension and action, especially as it draws closer and closer to the crime upon which it is centered. Author Picard, though, does not quite play fairly with her readers in the end and chooses the easiest of possible endings for her story.. And while her characters are believable and sympathetic enough for the most part, the book's conclusion suffers when the villain, goes flat on us.
Rated at: 3.0
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Jody Linder is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her parents has been released from prison. Jody was just three years old when her parents were murdered, and her grandparents, uncles, and aunt have spent the the last 23 years sheltering her from many of the circumstances
The combination of characters, place, and atmosphere made this a difficult book to put down. Even though I've never been to the western part of Kansas, the author described it so well that I could picture it. The dialogue merged seamlessly with the narrative passages. I particularly admired Jody's grandmother, Annabelle, who, when she saw how Crosby's wife and son had been ostracized by the community, treated them with dignity and grace, knowing that the rest of the community would follow her lead.
This book was good enough that I was disappointed with the resolution of the central problem and the tensions between and within the characters. To borrow imagery from the book, huge thunderclouds loomed, but the storm dissipated into a soothing rain. I kept wondering how one of the characters was going to confront an awkward situation. The author solved it by removing the situation rather than allowing the confrontation that seemed inevitable. I also felt a bit cheated that the romance hinted at throughout the book develops outside of the story. The reader is told about it, but isn't allowed to experience it. Disappointments aside, I was favorably impressed by my first experience with this author's writing, and I'll be looking for more of her works.
This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
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surrounding the murder. With Billy Crosby's imminent return to their small Kansas town, Jody begins probing the memories of family and friends, and what she learns causes her to question everything she thought she knew.The combination of characters, place, and atmosphere made this a difficult book to put down. Even though I've never been to the western part of Kansas, the author described it so well that I could picture it. The dialogue merged seamlessly with the narrative passages. I particularly admired Jody's grandmother, Annabelle, who, when she saw how Crosby's wife and son had been ostracized by the community, treated them with dignity and grace, knowing that the rest of the community would follow her lead.
This book was good enough that I was disappointed with the resolution of the central problem and the tensions between and within the characters. To borrow imagery from the book, huge thunderclouds loomed, but the storm dissipated into a soothing rain. I kept wondering how one of the characters was going to confront an awkward situation. The author solved it by removing the situation rather than allowing the confrontation that seemed inevitable. I also felt a bit cheated that the romance hinted at throughout the book develops outside of the story. The reader is told about it, but isn't allowed to experience it. Disappointments aside, I was favorably impressed by my first experience with this author's writing, and I'll be looking for more of her works.
This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
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LibraryThing member Laurenbdavis
THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING is billed as a murder mystery, and certainly there is a murder, and a subsequent mystery at the heart of the plot. That's not all there is, however. Set in Kansas, where I understand Ms. Packard's from, the novel is also a terrific portrait of a people, a culture, a
I also found myself thinking of Kent Haruf's PLAINSONG which, although that's a quieter, more emotionally complex novel set in Colorado, has a similar tone.
The structure is also well done. The plot moves back and forth between the time of the murder and the present, and Pickard manages a number of perspectives well. True, perhaps some of the characters are a tad stereotypical, and in one of two spots the tension is marred by obviousness, but there are small quibbles.
I wasn't familiar with Ms. Pickard's work before reading this book; I'll now look for her other books. She has been nominated four times for the Edgar Award, and I can see why. It may not be a book I'm going to remember five years from now, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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perspective and a way of life. It's clear she knows the territory well; there an effortless authenticity to the prose. These are 'folks'... plain speaking ranchers, hard-working, moral, and loyal whose simplicity of speech and lifestyle should in no way be confused with a lack of intelligence or sophistication. I liked these people, as portrayed by the author, and found myself wondering when I might be able to get to Kansas and spend some time.I also found myself thinking of Kent Haruf's PLAINSONG which, although that's a quieter, more emotionally complex novel set in Colorado, has a similar tone.
The structure is also well done. The plot moves back and forth between the time of the murder and the present, and Pickard manages a number of perspectives well. True, perhaps some of the characters are a tad stereotypical, and in one of two spots the tension is marred by obviousness, but there are small quibbles.
I wasn't familiar with Ms. Pickard's work before reading this book; I'll now look for her other books. She has been nominated four times for the Edgar Award, and I can see why. It may not be a book I'm going to remember five years from now, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Jody's parents were murdered when she was three. Twenty-three years later she's a teacher living in the house her father died in, when she hears that the man who went to prison for the murders has had his conviction overturned and will be released pending a new trial. Pickard then returns to 1986
Pickard writes ably enough. The people in the book sometimes felt as though they had been pulled from a collection of stock characters but the location was a living, breathing entity. The story had a lot of potential, but in the end it never strayed from its comfortable path, making it an excellent choice for a vacation read.
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and tells the story leading up to the killings before returning to Jody and her quest to discover why people in her small town think the wrong man was sent to prison. There is a bit of a romance here and quite a bit of atmosphere. Life in a dying town in Western Kansas is vividly described. Pickard writes ably enough. The people in the book sometimes felt as though they had been pulled from a collection of stock characters but the location was a living, breathing entity. The story had a lot of potential, but in the end it never strayed from its comfortable path, making it an excellent choice for a vacation read.
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
Jody Linder was only three years old when her parents were murdered by a local man in the small town of Rose, Kansas. Raised by her paternal grandparents, Jody has just returned to Rose to begin a teaching career when her uncles tell her that Billy Crosby's sentence has been commuted and the man
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who killed her parents will be returning to his house just down the road. Jody will not only have to face her feelings about Billy but about his son, Collin, who has always denied his father's guilt. A fast-moving dramatic suspense story about guilt, revenge, family, and forgiveness. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beecharmer
When Jody was three her father was found murdered and her mother missing. Immediately the family suspects Billy, a hired hand. Earlier her grandfather Hugh had fired him for cruelty to an animal and he had shown up at a local diner and caused a huge scene with the family. Billy was sent to prison
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leaving behind a wife and son. Throughout her life, Jody has seen his son around town and has always felt pulled towards him, but has been discouraged by her family. When Jody hears the news that Billy is getting out of prison thanks to his lawyer son, she is stunned. After asking around town, she finds many people did not believe that Billy killed her father and that he was only convicted because that's what her powerful family wanted. Jody digs and digs and stirs up trouble and in the end finds the truth. I absolutely loved this book. Fabulous ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member coker74
This is my first read of a Nancy Pickard book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Good story, not too long of a book (319 pages), and a writing style that keeps your interest from page one. Ms. Pickard doesn't load you down with twenty characters and page after page of small details either. The book is
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just a good mystery about a family who suffers through the pain of having a loved one murdered, only to discover what really happened many years later. Show Less
LibraryThing member GoudaReads
During a fierce summer mid-western storm, three year old Jody Linder's father is murdered and her mother disappears. Town drunk and all-around bad boy Billy Crosby is the presumed culprit and he is quickly sentenced to a long prison term. Twenty three years later, Billy is released on a
The publisher claims The Scent of Rain and Lightning "blurs the boundaries between suspense and literary fiction," however I think that misses the mark. More than half of the book is devoted to introducing the reader to the Linder and Crosby families and to their small Kansas town, in flashback. Once we reach the murder scene, we jump back to present day and learn how the family has coped since their lives changed so dramatically, and how they react to the news that Billy is coming back to town. Unlike a typical mystery, there's not an element of who-done-it; the characters are not trying to sleuth out the answer. It's not driven by dialog or action, but more about character, environment, and tone. There is a mystery in the plot, but the book does not follow a typical mystery format.
I enjoyed Pickard's latest work well enough. The characters are well defined and I was interested enough to keep reading to see how it would all turn out. It was an interesting peek into the lives of a well off, small town, honest, hard-working family and their relationship with their township. The ending was unpredictable while everyone behaved in character so it was also believable.
While I enjoyed the book, I doubt I will go back and read any of Pickard's other books. This was a fast, easy read. Enjoyable, but not "literary" in the least. A decent book for reading on a lazy sunny afternoon, but not compelling in any way. Think Jody Picoult without the ethical dilemma or courtroom drama - accessible, mainstream, and a little bit cozy. It wouldn't surprise me to see this made into a movie on Lifetime TV.
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technicality and must be re-tried. Though the Linder family is convinced of Billy's guilt and determined to have him re-incarcerated, some of the townspeople and Billy's own son (now Billy's attorney), now question his guilt. Is Billy guilty of murder or was he falsely imprisoned?The publisher claims The Scent of Rain and Lightning "blurs the boundaries between suspense and literary fiction," however I think that misses the mark. More than half of the book is devoted to introducing the reader to the Linder and Crosby families and to their small Kansas town, in flashback. Once we reach the murder scene, we jump back to present day and learn how the family has coped since their lives changed so dramatically, and how they react to the news that Billy is coming back to town. Unlike a typical mystery, there's not an element of who-done-it; the characters are not trying to sleuth out the answer. It's not driven by dialog or action, but more about character, environment, and tone. There is a mystery in the plot, but the book does not follow a typical mystery format.
I enjoyed Pickard's latest work well enough. The characters are well defined and I was interested enough to keep reading to see how it would all turn out. It was an interesting peek into the lives of a well off, small town, honest, hard-working family and their relationship with their township. The ending was unpredictable while everyone behaved in character so it was also believable.
While I enjoyed the book, I doubt I will go back and read any of Pickard's other books. This was a fast, easy read. Enjoyable, but not "literary" in the least. A decent book for reading on a lazy sunny afternoon, but not compelling in any way. Think Jody Picoult without the ethical dilemma or courtroom drama - accessible, mainstream, and a little bit cozy. It wouldn't surprise me to see this made into a movie on Lifetime TV.
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
Very well-written mystery set in Western Kansas, centering around a wealthy ranching family. All of the characters were likeable, and the ending was a surprise to me.
I have read one other books by this author, The Virgin of Small Plains, and felt this one was even better.
I have read one other books by this author, The Virgin of Small Plains, and felt this one was even better.
LibraryThing member Camellia1
The Scent of Rain and Lighning by Nancy Pickard was, overall, a very enjoyable book to read. There are two parts to the story: flashbacks to 23 years ago, when Jody Linder's father is murdered and her mother disappears, and the present day, when the man in prison for the crime has his conviction
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overturned. I was expecting this story to be a bit more of a mystery. The discovery who actually committed the crimes 23 years ago seems almost accidental; there is no investigation or even any real desire to learn the truth - for most of the book Jody's family accepts that the man convicted of the crimes is guilty. Despite this issue, Nancy Pickard's writing about the Linder family and their small town of Rose, Kansas kept me reading this book from start to finish at one sitting. Show Less
LibraryThing member sjmccreary
When Jody was 3 years old, her father was killed and her mother disappeared. A local trouble-maker was accused, convicted and sent to prison. About 20 years later, Jody has graduated from college and moved back home to begin a new teaching job at the local high school when she learns that the man
The story is set in a small western Kansas town in the early 1980's, and on a ranch owned by the prosperous Linder family just outside of town. The descriptions of the place are perfect. The premise of the story is good enough, too. But the characters never come to life. About 1/3 the way into the book, I was beginning to become restless. Uncharacteristically for me, I began flipping pages through the rest of the book - just to see if anything was ever going to happen. I happened to see the one sentence on the one page that spoiled the story for me, but at least I knew that we would eventually learn something so I was able to settle down and continue reading. Much time was spent building a case for why the Linder family assumed that this was the man who committed this crime. Fine. But when he was released from prison and they knew that a new trial would be required to put him back in jail, there was no curiousity, no passion, no drive to discover the truth - from a family whose patriarch who was supposed to have valued the truth above all things. As a reader, I never became well enough acquainted with any of the characters to have any idea which might have been the true guilty person. There was never any evidence presented that might incriminate anyone. Also, the very subtle romance that took place between Jody and the son of the "killer" could have been so much nicer, too. These two children grew up in this very small town, both being treated differently from the other children because of their involvment in the same incident - his dad killed her dad - yet they were never permitted by have any contact with one another. As adults, neither had the courage to approach the other, both allowing themselves to be held in their "places" by the expectations of the people around them. The spoiler scene that I stumbled upon did explain the truth behind the crimes, but showed up so abruptly that it almost seemed like an afterthought. As though someone told the author that she really ought to let everyone know what really happened, so she went back home and wrote another short chapter and just stuck it someplace in the back.
This book just misses being really quite good. It definitely isn't a bad book, but don't expect something brilliant. It ends up being a lightweight read that doesn't require any real effort, and which won't bother you by lingering in your mind after the last page is turned.
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she believed to be her father's killer has had his conviction overturned and he's coming home, too. The story then flashes back to the series of events leading up to the killing. Once we learn the story of Jody's past, which takes most of the book, the book jumps again to the present where Jody and her family are having to deal with the return of the man they believe killed their father/son/brother. It turns out that several people in town were never convinced that the right man had been convicted, and the man's son - now an attorney - knew for certain that his dad was innocent. But if he didn't kill Jody's dad, then who did?The story is set in a small western Kansas town in the early 1980's, and on a ranch owned by the prosperous Linder family just outside of town. The descriptions of the place are perfect. The premise of the story is good enough, too. But the characters never come to life. About 1/3 the way into the book, I was beginning to become restless. Uncharacteristically for me, I began flipping pages through the rest of the book - just to see if anything was ever going to happen. I happened to see the one sentence on the one page that spoiled the story for me, but at least I knew that we would eventually learn something so I was able to settle down and continue reading. Much time was spent building a case for why the Linder family assumed that this was the man who committed this crime. Fine. But when he was released from prison and they knew that a new trial would be required to put him back in jail, there was no curiousity, no passion, no drive to discover the truth - from a family whose patriarch who was supposed to have valued the truth above all things. As a reader, I never became well enough acquainted with any of the characters to have any idea which might have been the true guilty person. There was never any evidence presented that might incriminate anyone. Also, the very subtle romance that took place between Jody and the son of the "killer" could have been so much nicer, too. These two children grew up in this very small town, both being treated differently from the other children because of their involvment in the same incident - his dad killed her dad - yet they were never permitted by have any contact with one another. As adults, neither had the courage to approach the other, both allowing themselves to be held in their "places" by the expectations of the people around them. The spoiler scene that I stumbled upon did explain the truth behind the crimes, but showed up so abruptly that it almost seemed like an afterthought. As though someone told the author that she really ought to let everyone know what really happened, so she went back home and wrote another short chapter and just stuck it someplace in the back.
This book just misses being really quite good. It definitely isn't a bad book, but don't expect something brilliant. It ends up being a lightweight read that doesn't require any real effort, and which won't bother you by lingering in your mind after the last page is turned.
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LibraryThing member LeeAnnJohnson
This is one of only a few books that I could not wait to pick it up and read more! Very good story and well writen. I knew who after the first few chapters who did not murder Jody's father, but was blindsided on who did! Totally did not see that one coming!
LibraryThing member khiemstra631
Pickard has written the story of Jody Lindner, whose father was murdered and whose mother disappeared at the same time twenty-three years ago. Town drunk Billy Crosby was assumed to have committed the crime despite the fact that he was dead drunk at the time. (The town's breathalyzer was out of
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order.) Now Crosby is released from jail and headed back to Rose, KS. As Jody talks with townspeople she discovers that the belief in Crosby's guilt was not unanimously held by all. The novel is told in a series of flashbacks. I thought that it started off a bit slow but really picked up speed as it went along. In fact, my initial urge was not to finish the book, but I became so engrossed in it that I had to see it through to the end. It's a good summer read if you like mysteries. Show Less
LibraryThing member reader247
This is a small town setting for a big murder mystery. I found the writing to flow and the story to unfold seamlessly. I was instantly drawn to the towns main family, the Linders. In this story you get to know the family of 3 brothers and one sister as they work for their father and mother. The
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family monarch takes in some of the less fortunate to work and learn skills and help them provide for their families. One day this relationship is breached and things go desperately wrong for the Linder family. I felt the plot was okay but some of the things that happen are a bit contrived to make it all nice and tidy but it was still an interesting story. Show Less
LibraryThing member KAzevedo
The Scent of Rain and Lightning is as much about the ranching and small town life of Kansas as it is about a murder that changed the lives of the prominent ranching family of the area. The landscape and culture are lovingly described, which elevates the story that takes place both in the present
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and 26 years ago when the murder occured. I thought that the main characters were mostly well drawn and believable, and the mystery itself was interesting mainly because I cared about the daughter of the murdered man and missing woman. The convicted murderer was both a monster and a pathetic figure. It was a pleasant, fast read, enjoyable but not particularly memorable for the mystery. It sure re-awoke my long enduring desire to live on a ranch or in a small town. The book is well written, and I liked it. Show Less
LibraryThing member dara85
This book held my interest, but it is not nearly as good as The Virgin of Small Plains.
LibraryThing member jansuekk
I really, really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and easy-to-read with very realistically and sympathetically developed characters. Their reactions to each other and to the events of the book were totally as they probably would be in a small town.
The story covered a long time very smoothly
I started this book enjoying the descriptions and events and pleasant writing. As I went along I got to know and like (or not so much) each character and not really expecting any of them to step outside of the box I had them in. I ended up pleasantly surprised to have read a mystery/thriller.
Definitely one of my favorites this year. I was not familiar with Nancy Pickard, but I'll make an effort to read more of her.
The story covered a long time very smoothly
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without bogging down or seeming to leave out anything important.I started this book enjoying the descriptions and events and pleasant writing. As I went along I got to know and like (or not so much) each character and not really expecting any of them to step outside of the box I had them in. I ended up pleasantly surprised to have read a mystery/thriller.
Definitely one of my favorites this year. I was not familiar with Nancy Pickard, but I'll make an effort to read more of her.
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LibraryThing member mollywynne
I was entralled by the description of this book and was very excited to read it . . . in the end, I was rather disappointed, however. I felt the flashback was endless . . . I think it would have been much more effective to have told that part of the story piece by piece throughout the novel,
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jumping back and forth between the past and present. Also, I felt that Pickard was trying entirely hard to shock us with the revelation of the murderer. Readers like to pick up on little clues and piece together the puzzle! Instead of leading the readers subtly to the answers we were searching for, Pickard chose to thrust a conclusion on us that had no foundation. This plot had so much potential! Show Less
LibraryThing member oldbookswine
Jody Linder lost her father to murder and her Mother disappeared when she was three. Raised by her rancher grandparents she reaches adulthood with family myths, love and comfort from family and the small Kansas town that was home. When the killer sentence is commuted a new story must come to
Nancy Pickard catches the essences of growing up in a small town where everyone tries to care for each other. Even when murder is done, the victims try to make the killers family feel that are still welcome. The use of Rock city gives the picture of Kansas that few may be aware of. Being a Kansas born woman I enjoyed the open spaces and enjoyment of nature and surrounds that Pickard gives the story.
Mystery lovers will find themselves guessing the end. Well plotted and written.
Having been to Rock City I really found myself escaping into the story. I have a picture of my grandmother in her long skirt, hat and high top shoes standing on top of one of the rock foundations. Thanks for bringing back childhood memories.
Highly recommended for Kansas Libraries. Pickard is a wonderful author who shares her pride of being a Kansan.
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surface which may change Jody's world vision.Nancy Pickard catches the essences of growing up in a small town where everyone tries to care for each other. Even when murder is done, the victims try to make the killers family feel that are still welcome. The use of Rock city gives the picture of Kansas that few may be aware of. Being a Kansas born woman I enjoyed the open spaces and enjoyment of nature and surrounds that Pickard gives the story.
Mystery lovers will find themselves guessing the end. Well plotted and written.
Having been to Rock City I really found myself escaping into the story. I have a picture of my grandmother in her long skirt, hat and high top shoes standing on top of one of the rock foundations. Thanks for bringing back childhood memories.
Highly recommended for Kansas Libraries. Pickard is a wonderful author who shares her pride of being a Kansan.
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LibraryThing member tjblue
A small town in Kansas, a prosperous, powerful ranch family and murder.
LibraryThing member hope3957
This latest Nancy Pickard novel was really worth waiting for. The story is set in Kansas and is a vivid depiction of ranch life and the small towns which I always enjoy. The characters were very believable. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The plot was very well-developed and I
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recommend it as another winner. Show Less
LibraryThing member earthwind
Wonderful portrayal of ranchers in Kansas when convicted murderer of their family's center returns to town.
Awards
Macavity Award (Nominee — Novel — 2011)
Agatha Award (Nominee — Novel — 2010)
Kansas Notable Book (2011)
High Plains Book Award (Finalist — Fiction — 2011)
Language
Original publication date
2010-04-06
ISBN
9781602858121