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- Hodder & Stoughton
Fiction, Crime & mystery
A breakout crime novel that combines the tension of Tess Gerritsen and the emotional resonance of Anita Shreve
January 1987, Small Plains, Kansas. On the night of the decade's worst blizzard, a boy discovers the naked corpse of a beautiful girl. No-one can identify her, so the people of the town bury her with a gravestone marked with the date and 'Peace Be Unto You'.
Seventeen years later, the mysterious dead girl - the 'Virgin of Small Plains' - has inspired a local myth. In the two decades since her death, strange miracles have visited those who faithfully tend her grave; some believe her spirit can cure deadly illnesses, while others credit her with the town's economic prosperity. Word of the legend spreads and Small Plains becomes a haven for an onslaught of spiritual seekers and the terminally ill, all hoping the Virgin will answer their prayers.
When the mysterious Mitch Newquist reappears and a vengeful tornado devastates Small Plains, the truth begins to emerge..
What really happened seventeen years ago Why did Mitch suddenly disappear the same night the Virgin's body was found - abandoning his first love, Abby Reynolds
And why are some of the town's leading citizens so determined that the truth remain buried
More books by Nancy Pickard
Praise for The Virgin of Small Plains
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"a great novel - a very tense thriller that leaves you guessing until the very end.' - Glamour
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Tantalizing . . . Pickard writes with insight and compassion. - The New York Times
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Mesmerizing... cleverly planted surprises and the convincing portrait of smalltown life make this a memorable read. - Publishers Weekly
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..a writer of substantial literary power and gravitas... Pickard's latest is a darn good read, and anyone smart enough to pick it up can't help but admire it. - Denver Post
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An absorbing tale of love and deceit... very readable. - Library Journal
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Suspenseful. . .Pickard keeps the surprises coming and the tension high all the way to the end. - Detroit Free Press
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an outstanding tale of suspense that goes back two decades, involves a wonderfully real love story thwarted and probes the corrosive effects of secrets. - Sarah Weinman
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