Reviewed by: Ceil Carey, Community Christian Church of Yorkville, IL

Ministry Title: Co-president, ECLA

Introduction

Title: Amish Village Mysteries, 1, 2 and 3: Murder simply brewed, Murder tightly knit, Murder freshly baked

Author: Vanetta Chapman

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: 3-25-14, 12-16-14, 6-9-15

Format: paperback

Length: 368 pages, 384 pages, 352 pages

OVERVIEW

The three books in this series are a lovely blend of mystery, a little romance, Amish life and Christian fiction. Murder simply brewed introduces us to our amateur sleuths, Amanda and Hannah, when local store manager, Ethan Gray, is found murdered. The police suspect a robbery gone bad but these friends see it otherwise. All three books are set in the Amish Village where you will find a variety of shops and stores, thus one title refers to a coffee shop, one to a knitting store and the last to the local bakery.

In Murder tightly knit, an Amish man is killed with an arrow to the heart but before his murder, Hannah suspects something is amiss with her friend Mary and determines to find out what is spooking her. Little does she know of the web that has woven her friends together in subterfuge.

And Murder freshly baked involves a local man dating three women at a time and two are Amish! Also, a bad poet threatening poison in a variety of baked goods. Is there a connection when this Romeo is murdered?

Chapman weaves many touches into this book concerning Christian life and living for the Lord whether living as an Englischer or in the Amish world. One of the best parts of the book is the characterization, especially considering the Amish village is inhabited with both Amish and Englischers. This gives it a special dimension that is lacking in some Amish fiction.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

5

Suggested Audience

Adult and teen women

Christian Impact

This series will be a hit with those who enjoy Christian fiction as well as those who love a good mystery!

Ceil is a retired public librarian but of course, can’t keep her fingers out of the library pie-she is on the public library board and will soon be starting a library in her church. She is currently co-president of ECLA.

This review is used by permission from Christian Library Journal.

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