"I've come to think of these characters as cherished friends ... I've loved each of the books, but this one was particularly enjoyable." Lucy Grace

Laurel Falls, N.C. 1994: I would never have risked so much if it hadn't been for that kid. Astrid Holt, a force of nature. She brightened things at Coburn's General Store every time she stopped by for recipe ideas-at eight years old! (That should tell you something about what was going on in her household.) So when Astrid's mother disappeared-lost in the woods? kidnapped? murdered?-how could I turn my back on her?

My friend Abit Bradshaw and I joined the search. It started close to home in our small town of Laurel Falls, then extended farther into the mountains of North Carolina. When that failed to turn up clues, the investigation reached the streets of Washington, D.C., my old stomping grounds.

Abit and I often asked ourselves if we would ever get to the bottom of all their secrets and lies. Given how broken their family was, we also wondered if we should even try.

As it turned out, we weren't dealing with just the Holt's troubles. The tragic stories that unfolded cast a shadow over our own splintered families. Abit worried if he'd ever find someone faithful and true, and I wondered if I could hold on to what I had. Della Kincaid

You'll enjoy this suspenseful mystery because who doesn't yearn to see wrongs righted?

If you love Elly Griffiths, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series.

Get it now-for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations.

Welcome the Little Children is the third novel in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel.

Interview with the Author

Q: What's important about this third book?
A: Abit is a grown man, gaining success in both his woodworking and bluegrass music. And yet he hasn't lost his tender heart and wonder about life. Della faces some hard decisions, especially about how to best help her young friend, Astrid. And, of course, she's there for Abit. Their friendship is the backbone of all the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries.

"So fun to watch the characters develop and watch Abit find and truly fulfill himself. I highly recommend all books in this series." --Cynthia Williams

Q: What's different about this book?
A: Both Della and Abit spend time in Washington, D.C. as well as the small town of Laurel Falls, N.C. Della calls on all her former skills as an investigative journalist. Abit goes to many of my favorite places in D.C. As much as my life was shaped by my years in the mountains of N.C., it was polished while I lived in D.C.

Q: Any new characters in Welcome the Little Children? Astrid Holt is a favorite. She's such a colorful little 8-year-old, strong and full of beans. The mother/children drama is particularly poignant to me. I got the idea for her character from a neighbor who told lively stories from her youth. That's what writers do--we're like magpies and steal shiny morsels we take back to our writing space. When Astrid's mother goes missing, Della takes it on as a personal mission to find her--one way or another.

"I really loved this book, as I have all the books in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries. ... I have such a vivid picture of the people and places in these books, it's hard to believe they don't really exist." --Malena E.

Q: In what order were these books written?
A:
Life for a Life
The Roads to Damascus
Welcome the Little Children
Murder Ballad Blues
Deep in the Forest
Up the Creek
Unwrapped
Waiting for You (free prequel)