Thursday, January 28, 2016

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Reviews: Plain Dead

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plain dead
Plain Dead

by Emma Miller
(An Amish Mystery)

3rd in Series
Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Kensington (December 29, 2015)
Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0758291769
E-Book ASIN: B00VQFKFT4

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Synopsis

When a newspaperman is murdered in the Amish community of Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, Rachel Mast digs up the dirt to find out who wanted to bury the lead…
Although she left her Old Order Amish ways in her youth, Rachel discovered corporate life in the English world to be complicated and unfulfilling. Having returned to Stone Mill, she’s happy to be running her own B&B. But she’s also learning—in more ways than one—that the past is not always so easily left behind.
After local newspaperman Bill Billingsly is found gagged and tied to his front porch, left to freeze overnight in a snowstorm, Detective Evan Parks—Rachel’s beau—uncovers a file of scandalous information Billingsly intended to publish, including a record of Rachel pleading no contest to charges of corporate misconduct. Though Evan is certain of her innocence, it’s up to Rachel to find the real killer. A closer examination of the victim’s unpublished report leads Rachel to believe the Amish community is far from sinless. But if she’s not careful her obituary might be the next to appear in print…


Review: I love Amish fiction and mysteries involving the Amish always intrigue me, especially when one of my favorite authors is involved. Emma Miller has written many wonderful novels for Love Inspired and I've read many of them.

Plain Dead is the third book her Amish Mystery series and it can be read as a stand alone. In fact, this is one of the few series books that I didn't feel like I was missing out by not having read the other two books.

I loved the interactions between Rachel and the townspeople as well as her Amish family. She's truly living in two worlds, and you can definitely see the Amish in her even though she has lived the English life for many years.

I found the pacing of this story to be a little slow at times. I like my cozies to move along quickly. I did love the scenes around the Winter Frolic.

Her relationship with Evan is a bit hard for me to deal with, but that has a lot to do with her Amish background. The murder really puts a strain on their engagement that they haven't told anyone about. (Although most seem to know about it already)

There are plenty of people who have reasons to want Billingsly dead, and Rachel sets out to find out who the killer is, because she's also a person of interest, having had an argument with him the day before he was found, and he had information on her past that he was threatening to expose.

As she starts to eliminate suspects, she's the only one left standing. Then a young Amish boy ends up dead, and the circumstances just don't sit well with her.

When the killer is found it really shocked me. It was the last person that I expected.

This was a wonderfully well written mystery. So glad Emma is writing in this genre, because that means more books for me to read.

Rating: 4 flowers

About The Author

Emma Miller is the author of Redeeming Grace and Anna's Gift.  She lives with her family in Kent County, Delaware

Purchase Links




Tour Participants

January 20 – Back Porchervations – Review


January 21 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review

January 22 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – Review

January 23 – Island Confidential – Spotlight

January 24 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight

January 25 – Melina's Book Blog – Review

January 26 – Queen of All She Reads – Review

January 27 – View from the Birdhouse - Spotlight

January 28 – A Chick Who Reads – Review

January 28 – Christa Reads and Writes – Spotlight

January 29 – Laura's Interests – Review

January 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review

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3 comments:

holdenj said...

Another new to me Amish mystery series. The Winter Frolic sounds fun and I'm glad I could start with this one, without losing much ground.

diannekc said...

Would really enjoy reading this book. I like to read Amish fiction

diannekc said...

Would really enjoy reading this book. I like to read Amish fiction

 
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