Piqued by Pickard

In just the first pages of Nancy Pickard’s suspense novel The Virgin of Small Plains, a senior citizen with early onset Alzheimer’s wanders through a cemetery during a blizzard, wearing only a bathrobe; a woman loses control of her truck on icy roads; and two teenagers enjoy a heavy make-out session, as the 16-year-old girl contemplates losing her virginity to her boyfriend, who has “football shoulders.” Hot stuff. And that’s as far as Amazon’s “Search Inside” feature will let us read online. If you want to know more about the book, which is set in Kansas and includes at least one murder, catch Pickard today at the Johnson County Central Resource Library (9875 West 87th Street in Overland Park). Pickard will answer questions (we have some already) about her Kansas Reads selection (the state has its own book club) and will sign copies. The discussion starts at 2 p.m. Call 913-495-2400 for more information.— Peter Rugg

Sun., March 15, 2 p.m., 2009