Elizabeth Crook Book order (chronological)

A tenacious young girl embarks on a perilous journey across the Texas frontier to avenge her mother’s death. After a savage panther attack leaves Samantha scarred and her mother dead, Samantha and her half-brother, Benjamin, are left traumatized and orphaned. Determined to confront the infamous panther, rumored to be a demon, Samantha resolves to hunt it down. Narrated in Benjamin’s plainspoken voice, their quest becomes a gripping tale of revenge. They enlist the help of a charismatic Tejano outlaw and a compassionate preacher accompanied by a relentless tracking dog. As this unlikely group pursues the panther, they are also hunted by a sadistic Confederate soldier with a personal vendetta against the preacher. This narrative, rich in pursuit and adventure, blends humor with the stark realities of their journey. It captures the enduring bond between siblings as they navigate danger and uncertainty, showcasing a timeless tale of love, resilience, and the quest for justice against an unknowable beast. With comedic undertones and heartfelt moments, it stands as a testament to the strength of family ties amid adversity.

A mesmerizing novel of four generations of Southwestern women bound to a mythical legacy With its family secrets and hallowed texts containing explosive truths, The Night Journal suggests A. S. Byatt’s Possession transplanted to the raw and beautiful landscape of the American Southwest. Meg Mabry has spent her life oppressed by her family’s legacy—a heritage beginning with the journals written by her great-grandmother in the 1890s and solidified by her grandmother Bassie, a famous historian who published them to great acclaim. Until now, Meg has stubbornly refused to read the journals. But when she concedes to accompany the elderly and vipertongued Bassie on a return trip to the fabled land of her childhood in New Mexico, Meg finally succumbs to the allure of her great-grandmother’s story—and soon everything she believed about her family is turned upside down.