Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall

Sweeping Up Glass is the first novel for this author.  It is set in southern Kentucky, near the Tennessee border.  Olivia Harker Cross owns part of a mountain, and on it are some transplanted wolves.  When someone starts shooting the wolves, she starts to investigate who is doing this, but uncovers all sorts of things about the people and community that she lives in.

Her mother is mentally ill and lives across the yard in a small hut.  Her daughter left her son with Olivia and set off for Hollywood.  Her father died in a truck accident where Olivia was badly hurt.  She now runs the general store during the Great Depression and has a hard time making ends meet.  She has many friends in the small town, including the black folks who seem to appreciate Olivia more than the rest of the community. 

When she uncovers a terrilbe secret, it puts her, her grandson and the whole Black community in danger.  Only when they band together, can they defeat the evil doers among them.  To tell much more about this book would give the secret away.  This is one of the books that will be discussed in next year's reading groups.  Join the group in October to help solve the mystery and the shocking ending to the book!