I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, not because I live in the small town Midwest, but because the plot and characters really engaged me. The author grew up in Iowa, so his descriptions of the Iowa town Joe Erickson returns to to settle his father's estate are very true to life. Erickson is also in need of some time off because of a serious murder case in his current town of Chicago. His mind is in need of peace. He digs deep into the restful childhood memories of his home, jogging in the morning and dealing with his father's will in the afternoons.But then, two women are abducted, murdered, and their bodies left along a river. It becomes even more personal when a neighbor girl, whom he's met, disappears. A criminal profiler from Erickson's past is brought in, and she pulls him into the case. The twists and turns are amazing, and I found myself constantly trying to figure out what these women had in common. The author finishes the plot beautifully, bringing the threads together for a satisfying ending. I'd highly recommend Rose's Thorn.