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  • Hodder & Stoughton

The Virgin of Small Plains

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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

Praise for The Virgin of Small Plains

  • "a great novel - a very tense thriller that leaves you guessing until the very end.' - GlamourTantalizing . . . Pickard writes with insight and compassion. - The New York TimesMesmerizing... cleverly planted surprises and the convincing portrait of smalltown life make this a memorable read. - Publishers Weekly..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 PostAn absorbing tale of love and deceit... very readable. - Library JournalSuspenseful. . .Pickard keeps the surprises coming and the tension high all the way to the end. - Detroit Free Pressan 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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