I have to (once again) recommend the "Ballad" novels of Sharyn McCrumb. They are good mysteries, yes. But there's so much more going on in them. There is discussion of the fact that past and present are more connected than we usually care to admit. There is the ongoing love of, and tribute to Appalachian culture, an ongoing dissertation on "class-ism" (Art Thieme, you'd love this), and more. I had the opportunity to meet Ms. McCrumb recently and to speak with her. If I can be a groupie for more than one person (already a Jean Ritchie groupie), I'll be Sharyn's as well. Also enjoying reading North Carolina author Fred Chappell. Sort of like Thomas Wolfe without the verbosity and travelogue. What Wolfe might have written had he stayed home in the western North Carolina hills and written about a life there. "I Am One Of You Forever," "Farewell I'm Bound To Leave You," and "Look Back All The Green Valley" form a lovely trilogy. Looking forward to "Clay's Quilt" by Silas House and "This Rock" by Robert Morgan. Guess I'm in a southern mountain state of mind.