The Scent of Rain and Lightning

I did not particularly enjoy this book. The writing seemed heavy-handed: numerous similies and lines of dialogue seemed forced and artificial, often in an attempt to show local color.

I only finished the book because I received an advance reader's copy. If I had picked this up from a library or gotten it from a friend, I would have put it down after the first few chapters and never have thought of it again. ( )

I wasn't sure, to be honest, what I was going to think of this book. It sounded interesting, in a way. In another? I just couldn't really decide if it was going to be one of this books you fell in love with, or if it would be a "meh"'. I am happy to say that was more of a "wow" than a meh. Packard has written a story of strong, yet flawed people who may not be perfect, but they are totally real and believable. The mystery, spaced over a period of 25 years, kept my attention. And, unlike many mysteries, it actually took me quite a while to figure out "who dunnit". Overall, I would recommend it. ( )

I didn't guess - but I came close to wondering if I cared a couple of times. ( )

This book is well-written, well-paced. It pulled me in and kept me reading. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. The portraits of Kansas ranchers she draws are evocative. She paints a picture of a landscape that would terrify me (as a New Englander). A compelling novel, and a decent mystery. ( )

I received this book as a FirstReads giveaway. Initially, I was drawn to the cover and the title - if you know me at all, you know that there's nothing I love more than thunderstorms and a good book - so I was thrilled when I won this one, even before really knowing what it was about. I knew it was a kind of cold-case mystery, and that was enough to get me to request the book. Well, along with the gorgeous cover, that is.

The edition I read is an Advance Reader's Copy, so there were some grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors, but I'm not holding those against the book, as it obviously hadn't gone through the final spit-shine yet. I imagine that all of those little errors and tweaks will be all gone or fixed by the time this is on the shelves in bookstores.

I enjoyed this story more than I thought that I would, to be perfectly honest. I will admit that I was a little concerned in the beginning that I wouldn't love the fact that it was about Kansas and cowboys, but I was so quickly drawn into the story that I forgot all about that. Rather than feeling like small-town Rose, Kansas and the cattle ranch were boring settings that I wouldn't be interested in, they actually came to feel like they had a personality of their own, as if they are living, breathing characters just as the human players are. I was pleasantly surprised by this when I realized it about 3/4 of the way through the book.

I loved the people characters, too. They all felt real, and fleshed out and true to themselves. I loved the way that the past and present times merged in them to form a full picture and to make them 3-dimensional people that I felt like I would actually meet in Kansas, should I make a trip out there. I loved that they felt true to their situations and not caricatures of the "Good Guy" or "Bad Guy". But I especially loved the family, and how they banded together to form this protective and impenetrable barrier when necessary, and the closeness and the trust and strength they both gave and took from each other. And, I even had Hugh-Jay pictured in my mind as Marlboro Man. No, not THE Marlboro Man, but this Marlboro Man from Ree Drummond's "Pioneer Woman" blog, which I LOVE, and highly recommend people read. She's witty, funny, and makes delicious creations in the kitchen.

I thought that I had this book figured out three or four times, and when everything was laid out and shown for what really happened, I was as shocked as anyone. I never guessed. I suspected everything BUT what actually happened. I love when that happens. Mysteries are the only books that I will allow to manipulate me, but if this one did, it was very tricksy, because I felt oh-so-smart coming to my conclusions... until I was proved wrong every time.

The romance bits were a nice break from the tension, and the relationships that were shown were pretty true to what I'd expect of the characters. Nothing really steamy here, but there were some sensual scenes that were welcome replacements for overly graphic sex-scenes that seem to be taking over these days.

I very much liked the writing style once I got into it. The first few pages struck me as a little rough, but it didn't take long for me to be absorbed in the characters' lives and the story, so that roughness didn't last long. Mainly it was a bit of choppiness and delay in the form of background information in the first couple of pages that I felt interrupted the story more than enhanced it. There were some pretty great quotes in the book, and even though the writing wasn't flowery or poetic (thank goodness), it still felt true and honest and wise, in a way.

I wouldn't mind owning a finished copy of this book, and I would definitely recommend it to my mystery loving friends. I am happy that I got a chance to read this. I have a feeling that I've just been introduced to an author I'll be reading more of in the future. :) ( )

This is a very good book. A quick read and a good story....almost a murder mystery, who-dun-it kind of book. A book club could have some very interesting discussions about this book.

The main character is Jody Linder, granddaughter of the wealthiest, most influential family in the county. When Jody was 3, her father was killed and her mother disappeared, never to be seen again. The man convicted was a nearby neighbor and disgruntled former worker on the Linder family ranch. His son, Collin, is just few years older than Jody, and they cross paths frequently, though they work hard at pretending they don't.

Skip forward 23 years. The convict is released from prison, when his son, now a lawyer, manages to raise reasonable doubt about his father's guilt, and the governor, who is NOT a fan of the Linders, commutes his sentence. This throws the town into turmoil, with some people advocating vigilante justice, others questioning whether the wrong man was convicted, still others convinced the wrong man was convicted, but that it's ok.....because he was a bad guy anyway!

Jody now struggles to understand what happened that stormy night 23 years ago, and where her mother might be now.

(update April 2011)

I just finished reading this book for the 2nd time for my book club discussion. It is just as good as the first time. I'm upping my rating to 5-stars!) ( )

My first read by Nancy Pickard, this was an enjoyable mystery/fiction that kept me guessing right up until the end. Though I did find portions somewhat unbelievable & a little bit farfetched (mostly near the end), this was overall a well-written and engrossing novel. I'm ready to go find myself a copy of The Virgin of Small Plains now! ( )

This is certainly a very solid murder mystery/literary fiction book. It did have some things that really annoyed me, nothing to do so much with the writing itself really, so much as the characterizations, and so not necessarily something that'll get to everybody. I just wanted to slap a couple people sometimes and groan at their stupidity/attitude, which I guess is a good thing in a way since it means I was into it. In any case, I still have to say that it's a really good book. At first, when I started it, it seemed pretty good but not great, but by the halfway point I was completely engrossed. Give it 100 pages or so as a fair shot, and it tends to pull you in, at least if your reading enjoyments are anything at all like mine. So, I split the difference with all factors considered and figured it's most fairly a four star book. The setting was depicted brilliantly, the characters were mostly extremely believable and realistic (though, as I said, I was frustrated at some points, though in all fairness I should say most were redeemed later on), and the story was a little slow in captivating me but did pull it off in the end. Nancy Pickard definitely has a talent for writing, and I'll likely be looking into her other books in the future. ( )

The Scent of Lightening and Rain follows the cascading effects of two decades-old murders on the a cast of characters in a small Kansas town. The killings—that of a husband and his deceptive wife—are dredged back up when the man who was put away for their murder is suddenly pardoned, leaving the truth of the matter to float to the surface.

Although there are notes in the back of the book that indicate the publisher would like you to consider this literary fiction, I'd pop this book in the brain candy category. Although entertaining, it wasn't especially filling intellectually. There are definitely the makings of lit fiction, here, but their so contrived and overt, that they're not likely to inspire much of discussion among book lovers and certainly no deep insights into the human psyche. Read it for fun and you'll be fine.

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2012/03/julies-review-scent-of-rain-and.htm... ( )

Kindle -- vacation

PW: With exquisite sensitivity, Edgar-finalist Pickard (The Virgin of Small Plains) probes a smoldering cold case involving the Linders, a cattle ranching family that's ruled the small, tight-knit community of Rose, Kans., for generations. One stormy night in 1986, someone shoots Hugh-Jay Linder dead, and Laurie, his discontented young wife, disappears. The authorities arrest Billy Crosby, a disgruntled ex-employee of High Rock Ranch with a drunk-driving record, in whose abandoned truck Laurie's bloodied sundress is found. In 2009, Billy's lawyer son, Collin, who's certain of his dad's innocence, secures Billy's release from prison and a new trial. Father and son return to Rose, where 25-year-old Jody Linder, the victims' daughter, works as a teacher. Collin's pursuit of justice will force Jody and other members of her family, including her three uncles and her grandparents, to finally confront what really happened on that long ago fatal night and deal with the consequences.

I loved the small town Kansas setting and the realistic characters. The murder plot was not entirely credible but not offputting.

Read 8/10 ( )

"Everybody thought it was adorable how Jody - named Laurie Jo after her mother - had been born with naturally dark pixie hair to match Laurie's. "

Why do they call her Jody? And, since they do call her Jody, is it necessary to keep mentioning that she is named Laurie Jo - after her mother ??

I DO not like Hugh Jay's wife. Jody's mother, Laurie Jo, whom she is named after. (figured it was important to mention that she is actually named Laurie Jo, after her mother AGAIN.....since it is repeated NUMEROUS times throughout the book. VERY annoying!)

I read Scent of Rain and Lighting by Nancy Pickard. Okay, firstly I did enjoy this book. It was a mystery book and it was written cleverly enough to keep my attention...especially while walking on the tread, but it also kept me curious for the "whodunit" aspect. In fact...I'm usually pretty good at determining who dun it but the twist at the end caught me. I liked the characters but my big critique is that they weren't very developed. She could have spent much more time delving into the characters and giving me a real sense of who they were. By the end of novel I didn't really feel invested in them because I didn't know them. Secondly...the writing was a bit juvenile. There were some chapters that I literally laughed out loud and wondered if my little sister had written it. Lastly... the minor love story that happens is not at all believable. In fact..it is not executed well at all. Like I've said many times before in regards to the advice I received from a brilliant professor: If you are a great writer..you can make your audience believe anything. They will eat up whatever concocted story you've made because you're writing is just THAT good. And that's the problem with a lot of writers these days. They aren't writing the unbelievable things well enough...so their readers don't believe them, thus leaving the reader disappointed. So overall I would probably give this book a C+. ( )

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 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. ( )

Although I originally expected this to be primarily a crime thriller, to me it was more a story of family tragedy, for both the Linder and the Crosby family, as it reveals itself over 20-plus year time period. For me, the crime thriller aspect was resolved in my mind to early in the book, although it was interesting to see how the details of this story ultimately panned out.

It was the way that Ms. Pickard used the natural environment & weather in rural Kansas metaphorically to express fear, doom and ultimate peace of spirit that really kept my attention. Underlying themes such as familial bonds, murder, revenge and the always timely discussion about the fairness of the American justice system are woven into the story and also give the reader something to think about. ( )

A great premise that held my interest, but too little payoff for that much exposition. Twenty-three years ago Jody was left an orphan when her father was murdered and her mother disappeared, presumed dead. A scorned ex-ranch hand was arrested and convicted of the crime. Now Jody teaches in the small, dying town where her extended family is still the wealthiest and most influential family in the county. However, the ex-ranch hand's sentence has just been commuted - the tireless work of his son, who knows he is innocent - and they are returning to live three blocks away from her. Jody and her family must question whether they accused the right man and, if not, what really happened that fateful night. Ms. Pickard developed interesting characters, but I found myself drowning in background information and then stunned at how quickly the story jumped to the end. I enjoyed the read and may still attempt to read another of her books again, but I deleted it from my book club's choice list. ( )

Nancy Pickard is a great storyteller. She has combined memorable characters, a page turning sense of drama and a surprise ending. I thought I knew who "did it" but I was wrong. It was well written and I liked the setting and realistic descriptions of working farm life through the generations. ( )

It is undeniable that author Nancy Pickard has a flair for writing about murder mysteries that take place in small town settings. "The Scent of Rain & Lightning" is the second novel that I've read by Nancy Pickard, the first being "The Virgin of Small Plains" which went straight into the list of my favorite mystery novels of all time. Thus, when I picked up this book, I had a lot of expectations. And despite how pre-hyped (and over-hyped, I must add) the book had been in my mind, it came through on all my expectations.

Nancy Pickard has a knack for concocting mysteries that are sure to make your head spin, and have you grasping at clues to piece the puzzle together, and yet you'll find yourself completely clueless until the very end, until the author allows it to slowly unravel in all its glory. I pride myself in being a darn intuitive reader, and I must admit (far from humbly) that I can usually predict who the killer is, or the motive, much earlier than the ending of the book - but Pickard's novels always render my intuition useless, and leave me guessing until the very end, which is why I happen to love them. I love that there's an author who can trump my intuition, and leave me begging for more.

However, what makes this novel so great, it is not just the mystery itself, but the characters that the writer creates. You cannot help but feel empathy towards the mother who has lost her son, the daughter who has lost her parents, and with them, her childhood, and the son who may not like his father but feels obligated to defend him. The book is full of wonderful, meaningful characters that are real, and easy to relate to, even if you may not like them. After reading her books, one is convinced that author Nancy Pickard has never stepped foot outside spent her entire life in a secluded, rural, remote and small farm-town somewhere in the Midwest; her description of the town of Rose, Kansas is so spot-on, and her description of the dynamics and relationships between the townspeople is excessively real and believable.

Will Jody be able to forgive Billy Crosby, in order to move on with her life? Will she be able to let her guard down, and allow herself to care for Collin, the son of the man who killed her father? Will she ever find her missing mother? Will her wounds ever be filled, and will she ever move on with her life, fall in love again, or feel safe again?

Overall, I highly recommend this novel to someone who likes to read about murder mysteries, but also to those who like reading about the interpersonal interactions between people from a small-town like Rose, Kansas. Above all, I recommend you to read it for the riveting mystery, and for the characters, like Jody, who you'll remember long after you are done with the novel. ( )

An enjoyable, family drama read that captured the feel of a rural farming community--much like where I live. A town defined by the people who live within it, rather than population, geography or industry. After all, we have only corn and soybeans here.

Nancy Pickard's writing, while not exactly compelling, still made for an entertaining read. Her storytelling skills absolutely shine. ( )

Jody's uncles show up on her doorstep unannounced, bringing with them the news that the man convicted of murdering her parents is being released from prision. The book alternates from present day to the past and does an excellent job making the story and the characters come to life. I really liked this book...excellently written and fantastic ending. I definitely recommend! ( )

This was a surprise. Had never read anything by Nancy Pickard before but will now look for more. I didn't figure out "who done it" before it was revealed at the very end. Never would have guessed. All in all, an ejoyable read. ( )

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 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. ( )

This is one of those rare books that synchronizes characters, plot, and pacing to perfection. The story centers on Jody Linder, who at age three tragically loses both her parents in one night. One is murdered, the other goes missing. As the book opens, the man accused of this crime, Billy Crosby, is unexpectedly released from prison after serving 20+ years of his life sentence. From here, through flashbacks, the story unfolds and the mystery builds. Pickard’s descriptive skills are masterful. She brings to life rural life on a ranch and presents multi faceted very believable characters. She captures the subtleties of human interaction, presents real life situations and shows the politics of small town psychology. She also keeps you guessing. Was the right man convicted? There are enough twists and surprises, so that once started, the book is hard to put down. Although categorized as a mystery, it’s a book to be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good story. It's easy to understand why Nancy Pickard is an award winning author.

Review previously posted at: www.princetonbookreview.com
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This book was terrific. It was heartbreaking at times, suspenseful, and touching. I would definately recommend this book to others. ( )

The Scent of Rain and Lightning is another title that caught my eye at the library. I've been in the mood for more mystery/thrillers since reading In the Woods and Bad Things Happen. This novel tells the story of Jody Linder, a young woman who was raised by her paternal grandparents after her father's murder and the subsequent disappearance of her mother. She was raised independent and strong, looking forward to beginning her career as a teacher even if her love life is a little out of character. She is certain of the love of her family, knowing especially that her uncles by blood or by marriage are always there for her. Her safety and future are called into question when Billy Crosby, the man convicted of her father's murder was released from prison unexpectedly. Billy's son Collin grew to become a lawyer and got his conviction overturned.

While it never occurred to me to stop reading the novel, The Scent of Rain and Lightning really didn't do that much for me. There were a few of the elements that were a surprise to me, but the predictable ways in which the rest of the story played out negated them. Likewise, I liked the characters, but not to the level where I got involved with them enough to get caught up in the mystery or danger. I can't quite place why. Nancy Pickard writes well.

Final Thoughts

The Scent of Rain and Lightning was just okay for me. ( )