I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Series: The Amish Bishop Mysteries #2
Published by Harvest House Publishers on September 1st 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genres: Christian, Fiction, Romance, Suspense
Pages: 352
A Terrible Secret Hides in the Bulrushes
Amish bishop Henry Lapp eagerly awaits the annual arrival of 20,000 sandhill cranes to the San Luis Valley of Colorado. But his visit to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge reveals more than just a miracle of God's creation. Hidden among the bulrushes and cattails is the deceased body of a young woman.
As the local authorities attempt to unravel the mystery, Henry feels God's calling to use his extraordinary talent to aid in the investigation. His ability to draw from memory in photographic detail could help solve this puzzling case.
Henry's closest friend, Emma Fisher, has always urged him to embrace his gift. As their relationship deepens, Henry realizes his involvement could put him and those he loves in the direct path of a killer, one who is willing to do anything to cover up a brutal crime, including framing the bishop.
When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is a compelling story of faith, friendship, and finding courage only God can provide.
When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is the second book in the Amish Bishop Mysteries series by Vannetta Chapman. I want to take a minute to freak and geek over this book. First off, I won this book and I never win ANYTHING. Seriously, I rarely win anything. I happened to win this autographed copy. How exciting is that?
Okay, we have that out-of-the-way, now to geek out…I love this author. I just do. She’s one of the coolest authors in the Amish genre. Seriously, if you’ve not read her books, you should. If you’ve not stalked checked her out on Facebook, you should. She’s funny and engaging with her readers. But, putting that aside, she’s one of my favorite authors because she’s taking the Amish genre and doing something new with it. I mean, she’s a special kind of cray-cray to think Amish and murder go together. But, go together it does and it’s a fresh, new take on the genre.
This book reminds me a bit of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie—with an Amish spin. I love it! I couldn’t put this book down.
Vannetta does a fantastic job taking you to the scene of her stories. From the diner, to the beauty of the wildlife refuge—I felt as if I could clearly picture the scenes from this book. In addition—the “who-dunit” of this story wasn’t overly obvious.
Henry’s character is what makes this story, however. His savant gift and his unwavering faith in God makes me feel as if I know him. He’s become an old friend to rally behind when the going gets tough.
I would definitely suggest this book to readers of Amish fiction—especially those that also enjoy a good, clean mystery.
About Vannetta Chapman
Vannetta Chapman holds a BA and MA degree in English and has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. She published a novel with Abingdon Press called A Simple Amish Christmasin October of 2010. Her first Quilt Shop Murder Mystery, Falling to Pieces (Zondervan) was released in September of 2011 and received the 2012 Carol Award for best mystery. She currently lives in the Texas hill country.
Thanks so much for the kind review. I’m glad you enjoyed Henry’s story!