The Kansas Notable Books List came out recently. It is an annual recognition of 15 books either written by Kansas authors or books about Kansas. I have just finished reading one of the selected books, The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard. Not only is the book set in a small fictional Kansas town, but Nancy is a Kansan stating that she has lived here over half of her life having moved here from Missouri.

Jody Linder’s father was murdered over twenty years ago and her mother disappeared on the same night. Now her father’s killer is being released from prison and is returning to the small town of Rose and Jody is terrified. Her three uncles begin to explain how evidence might have been withheld and how the murderer’s son, a lawyer, had the conviction overturned. The wealthy, but close ranching family that Jody is part of vows to protect Jody and run the murderer out of town. An intriguing tale, try this one by Nancy Pickard or one of the other Notable Books.