I just finished two books and I had to plug 'em here.

Hard Truth by Nevada Barr

and

gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

Both were very good books and I give high marks for them.

Hard Truth is one in a series of mystery novels by Nevada Barr. Her heroine, Anna Pigeon, works for the National Park Service and always happens upon some nefarious going-ons. Very dark at times, but always suspenseful, Hard Truth tells of Anna's dream job assigment and promotion to Rocky Mountain National Park where two starved and abused girls are found wandering in the woods.

A religious group of whom the girls are members, keep the girls from talking to police or doctors, while hiding a deep, dark secret themselves. One other girl is still missing in the park. Only Anna can find out what's really going on, but she lives through mortal terror and danger along the way.

gods in Alabama (yes, gods is not capitalised) is a murder mystery story that takes place in Alabama. Except we know who the murderer is, she admits it in the first chapter, we just don't know why. Arlene tells us her story on why she refuses to return to her hometown in Alabama and what eventually forces her to.

Very good books. I highly recommend them!