The Virgin of Small Plains

Sometimes restraint is the best way to convey strong emotion. When Kymberly Dakin exercises restraint, her narration serves this story beautifully. Unfortunately, she occasionally slips into melodramatic tones that detract from the listening experience. Nevertheless, the strength of this intricately plotted mystery is enough to overcome a less than perfect delivery. Prominent citizens of a small Kansas town have covered up a horrific murder for 17 years. The murdered girl becomes a legend--a ghostly virgin with healing powers. When an exiled son returns home to seek revenge, layers of lies are peeled away, exposing a chilling truth. Unrequited romance adds to the tension and pleasure. E.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

March 20, 2006
Pickard (Storm Warnings
) probes the truth behind miracles and the tragedies behind lies in this mesmerizing suspense novel set in Kansas. While rounding up newborn calves during a 1987 blizzard, Nathan Shellenberger, sheriff of Small Plains, and his teenage sons, Rex and Patrick, discover the naked frozen body of a beautiful teenage girl. Later, Nathan and Dr. Quentin "Doc" Reynolds bash the girl's face to an unrecognizable pulp, since they know who she is and fear that either Patrick or Rex's best friend, 17-year-old Mitch Newquist, is her killer. Witnessing this terrible scene is Mitch, hidden in Doc's home office supply closet where he's gone for a condom to use with Abby, Doc's 16-year-old daughter. Mitch's father, a judge, forces Mitch to leave town after the boy admits what he saw. In 2004, Abby and Rex—now the sheriff—find another blizzard victim, Mitch's mother, dead near the marker commemorating the still-unidentified "virgin." Readers may wish the author supplied more detail about the dead girl's background, but some cleverly planted surprises and the convincing portrait of smalltown life make this a memorable read.