I love David Baldacci’s books and yet I hesitated to pick up “Wish You Well“. In fact, I kept it carefully on my shelf for nearly a year. What does a thriller/mystery writer know about exploring deep emotions?

Turns out, he knows a lot. While at first, I was a bit alarmed that this was going to be a VC Andrews-esque use of a small coal town in Virginia, my fears quickly proved unfounded. Baldacci does use the Appalachain mountains as a character in this novel and he does it well.

Lou and Oz (sister and brother) are charming but it’s Louisa, the great-grandmother, of the novel who will capture your heart. This is not a funny novel; in fact, I was crying by the end of the first chapter (of course, I cry easily). It doesn’t get a whole lot happier as the book continues.

Coal mining and farming have to be two of the harder professions, and the book brings the risks and rewards of them sharply into focus. If you’ve ever wondered why someone would stick with small farming when the money is so unreliable and the work is back-breaking, read this book.

My only complaint would have to be about the mountain lion. That seemed a bit over the top (it also seems to be a theme, I had the same issue with “Low Country“).