The Virgin of Small Plains: A Novel
Where to buy The Virgin of Tiny Plains: A Novel books online?
- ISBN13: 9780345471000
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Tiny Plains, Kansas, January 23, 1987: In the midst of a deadly blizzard, eighteen-year-ancient Rex Shellenberger scours his father’s pasture, looking for helpless newborn calves. Then he makes a shocking discovery: the naked, frozen body of a teenage girl, her skin as white as the snow around her. Even dead, she is the most gorgeous girl he’s ever seen. It is a moment that will forever change his life and the lives of everyone around him. The mysterious dead girl–the “Virgin of Tiny Plains”–inspires local reverence. In the two decades following her death, weird miracles visit persons who faithfully tend to her grave; some even judge that her spirit can cure deadly illnesses. Slowly, word of the legend spreads.
But what really happened in that snow-covered meadow? Why did young Mitch Newquist disappear the day after the Virgin’s body was establish, leaving behind his distraught girlfriend, Abby Reynolds? Why do the town’s three most powerful men–Dr. Quentin Reynolds, ex- sheriff Nathan Shellenberger, and Judge, Tom Newquist–all seem to be hiding the details of that night?
Seventeen years later, when Mitch suddenly returns to Tiny Plains, simmering tensions come to a head, ghosts that had long slumbered whisper anew, and the secrets that some wish would stay buried rise again from the grave of the Virgin. Abby–never having resolved her feelings for Mitch–is now determined to uncover exactly what happened so many years ago to tear their lives apart.
Three families and three friends, their worlds inexorably altered in the course of one night, must confront the ever-unfolding consequences in award-winning leader Nancy Pickard’s remarkable novel of suspense. Wonderfully written and utterly absorbing, The Virgin of Tiny Plains is about the loss of faith, trust, and innocence . . . and the possibility of redemption.
From the Hardcover edition.
Buy Cheap The Virgin of Tiny Plains: A Novel Online
Related posts:
I expected so much more with the complimentary reviews printed all over the book, but it was a huge disappointment. Our bookclub read it and each one of us had the same result–a waste of time and money. Poorly written with typos and redundancy–it was so predictable. The plot had distinct possibilities and in the hands of an Elizabeth George or Barbara Kingsolver could have been a tremendously appealing adventure but Nancy Pickard’s writing fell far fleeting of the mark. Our discusssion in bookclub regarding this book was mostly about how such an second-rate piece of writing could get such fantastic reviews and two book awards, we’re mystified…
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
The take in and frontspiece had glowing reviews of this book. So I bought it. I establish the characters compelling, with three strong protagonists — Abby, Mitch and Rex. The mystery developed in a natural way, and the like tale between Abby and Mitch was gorgeous, as was the involvement of her beloved birds. I pushed on to find out who killed the girl, Sarah, and why. And why Mitch’s parents were so worried they sent him away, and why Rex’s mother, Verna, was so terrified when the truth might have been about to surface.
The book was a wonderful read — right up to the end, which was a major disappointment. First, I wasn’t ever sure who really murdered Sarah, or why she had to be murdered in the first place. If they were going to murder her, why did they wait so long? It wasn’t clear how she was killed either. The only one who had a credible motive to kill her really, was Nadine, out of jealousy. On the additional hand, why then would she want to adopt a baby that reminded her of the past she was trying to erase? The tale also dropped the ball on Rex and Patrick, for whom there was no closure, and never customary where Patrick was the day of the murder.
But the largest flaw was that the doctor, Quentin, would have gone along with the coverup the way he did, or at all. It simply makes no sense. It is place into the world that he did it so life as usual could go on for him and his friends, but I refuse to judge that it could be that simple. Quentin Reynolds is described as a compassionate, honest doctor and I just can’t see him doing this to protect his despicable friends.
I can know, sort of, that the sheriff was involved in the take in-up to protect his friend, and that’s why there was no forensic investigation. And even though DNA evidence wasn’t available in 1987, fingerprints were that would have matched a driver’s license. It wasn’t clarified why no one else in the town had any interest in looking into the girl’s death. In fleeting, the ending of the book didn’t live up to its promise, and left me with the feeling of being let down by the leader.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
I was such a huge fan of Nancy Pickard’s Jenny Cain mysteries — held them up as how a series should be done. Was delighted to find Nancy had written this new book, but it pales in comparison to any of her Jenny Cain mysteries. The storyline is very thin, the characters are underdeveloped. It felt like reading a terrible TV movie. Hurts me to say this cuz I have been a fan of Nancy’s additional books, but this really felt beneath her level of writing ability.
Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
This being a loaner from a friend, I tried desperately end it. I was very much caught up in the actual mystery of the tale, but the emotions were VACANT. There was too much anticipation, and not enough LIVING of the emotions of the characters. All of the emotions between characters were expressed through inner dialog as opposed to actions between people. It was like – internal, internal, inaternal, then external, then three internal again. Very hard to stay interested in a tale when most of the action is happening on the inside of the characters as opposed to between them. Very frustrating as a reader.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
The sheriff and two men establish the frozen corpse of a battered young woman with blood between her legs. They bring her body to the local doctor and he smashes the visage beyond recognition. But, none of the men realize a name witnessed what they did. The judge’s son Mitch, looking for a Trojan to make like with the doctor’s daughter Abby, saw what they did and recognizable the woman before they ruined her face.
The next day his parents send Mitch off to college and cut him off from his friends and family tree in Tiny Plains, Kansas. They tell him to stay away or the doctor and the sheriff will accuse him of murder. The townsfolk feel sorry for the victim and when no one comes forwards claiming her, they provide a descent burial. Over time people visit her grave because it is said that’s she thanks the town by performing miracles. Seventeen years alter Mitch returns and the secrets that the powerful men hid are in danger of being revealed.
Fans of Nancy Pickard’s Jenny Cain mysteries will treasure her new work of psychological suspense with gothic overtones. As the tale of what happened seventeen years ago parallels the subplot of Mitch’s return to his hometown, readers feel a sense of foreboding as if something terrible is about to occur. Fantastic characterizations, several exciting subplots that tie into the main tale line and a glimpse of tiny town justice make THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS a special reading experience.
Harriet Klausner
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5