Almost three years to the day later, I read the second book about Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson. This time, it's the daughter of the main character of that first book who is delivering books on her mule. The Book Woman's Daughter is another beautifully written book about horrible times and circumstances. (It kept me reading well past midnight). Honey, like others in her family, has blue skin (it's all explained) and so is 'different' (and we know how well that can play out). Her parents are arrested and imprisoned but Honey is saved from the childrens 'reform school' (a truly horrible place) because custody is granted to Hettie. Hettie dies, and her drunken son has to sell her place to pay bills, leaving Honey truly on her own. (She's 17). If the social worker catches up to her, she'll be sent to the reform school for sure. She takes on a job once held by her mother, of delivering books, magazines, and so on to the most remote parts of Appalachia. This is not always a pleasant story, but it is filled with strong characters, and wonderful friends, not to mention the power of books. A returning character is the mule, who is just as wonderful as in the first book.

Citizen K-9 by David Rosenfelt, looks to be the third in his K Team novels, (some how I've missed the second one). There are a few overlapping characters with his Andy Carpenter series, and quite the surprise with one of them! Corey, and his dog Simon have been asked to investigate a cold case of some years back. Is it murder, though? Or missing persons (the bodies have never been found). A tip leads them to the bodies, each found with a playing card. Why? A search brings up a few other cases nation wide with a playing card on the body of the victim. What is the connection? I like this author, his books are fun to read and you come to enjoy the interaction between the characters. This one has a nice twist to the plot, too. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog