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? 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.