I didn’t know about Dorothy Garlock, just looked her up and her books do sound very interesting, I don’t know if I ever read anything set in the depression era that I can think of, thank you!
A lot of Garlock’s historical books are set along Route 66 during the depression. You would think that would be unrelentingly depressing, but they are not. However the good guys and the bad guys are really clearly delineated, so you definitely know who to cheer for!
If you haven’t read Curtiss Ann Matlock, she’s very good.
Also, does anyone else like Charlaine Harris (Dead Until Dark, Definitely Dead, Shakespeare’s Champion, Grave Sight)? She has several series that I think are very original, very good, and very different from each other.