Return to Crutcher Mountain

Return to Crutcher Mountain by Melinda Clayton

While Appalachian Justice was contemporary fiction, Return to Crutcher Mountain is more mystery and suspense. The main character is Jessie who has grown up and managed to have a very successful career producing films. She has been able, with some success, to push her abused past into the back of her mind but it still influences her relationships on a personal level.

For Billie May and Jessie Crutcher Mountain was a ‘healing place’ and as such Jessie has founded a camp for developmentally disabled children allowing the mountain to continue it's magic. When odd things start happening Jessie is determined to find out what is actually going on. Someone wants her back there, the mystery is who and why. Although it is not necessary to read Appalachian Justice, I think it does enrich this story to know the back ground.

Melinda Clayton has woven a remarkable suspense with fully developed characters that jump off the page. Michael and Robbie were wonderful additions to this story. I loved the fact that Crutcher Mountain is still working its magic and Jessie is still benefiting from it. She is able to learn some things about her past that she was unaware of and this starts her journey to true healing. I really didn't think I would like this story as well as Appalachian Justice, but it is just so different from the first I couldn't help but love it also.