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An Amish Mystery #3
Shunned and Dangerous
Living in the small town of Heavenly, Pennsylvania, Claire Weatherly has come to admire the Amish for their wholesome, honest way of life. But she also knows that nothing is as simple as it seems—especially when murder disturbs the peace.
Claire has always been game for a good puzzle, so when she hears that Mose Fisher has made one of his famous corn mazes, she can’t wait to walk the paths and test her skill. But she’ll have a much more serious puzzle to solve when, deep inside the maze, she discovers the body of Amish dairy farmer Harley Zook.
It won’t be easy for Detective Jakob Fisher to investigate a murder on his own father’s farm—not after being shunned by the man for leaving the Amish community and becoming a cop. With Mose himself as a suspect, and old family secrets cropping up, it’s up to Claire to help catch the killer before she finds herself at a dead end.
Claire has always been game for a good puzzle, so when she hears that Mose Fisher has made one of his famous corn mazes, she can’t wait to walk the paths and test her skill. But she’ll have a much more serious puzzle to solve when, deep inside the maze, she discovers the body of Amish dairy farmer Harley Zook.
It won’t be easy for Detective Jakob Fisher to investigate a murder on his own father’s farm—not after being shunned by the man for leaving the Amish community and becoming a cop. With Mose himself as a suspect, and old family secrets cropping up, it’s up to Claire to help catch the killer before she finds herself at a dead end.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
146 people are currently reading
748 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bradford
57 books880 followersAka Elizabeth Lynn Casey.
While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend's house nearly forty years ago, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil.
Those early attempts at the craft had her writing and illustrating stories for young children. Wise beyond her years, Laura saved her first writing attempt in a hand decorated shoe box (complete with sparkly stickers) and moved on to her next idea. Her second book—O’Casey’s Wish—was so utterly brilliant, she sent it off to a well-known New York publishing house at the tender age of ten, confident she was on the verge of becoming the next Don Freeman (Corduroy) or Shel Silverstein (Giving Tree).
Months later, she received her first form letter rejection.
While she wasn’t of the mindset to save that first crushing blow for posterity, Laura did save the original copy of this particular literary masterpiece in the event the letter was a mistake.
Desperate to prove her flexibility as a writer, Laura soon found herself dabbling in jokes (for her Girl Scout troop’s newsletter), stories of angst (a somewhat autobiographical look at her teenage years), movie reviews (for the Xavier University Newswire), and countless news and feature articles (for newspapers in CT, SC, TN, and MO).
It wasn’t until Laura was home raising children of her own though, that she was finally able to dust off that rainy day dream and bring it back to its original form—writing fiction. Today, she is a bestselling mystery author with Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin Publishing), and an award winning romance author with Harlequin American. She lives in New York with her family.
Oh, and if you meet Laura at a book event in the future, ask her about O’Casey’s Wish. It tends to travel with her everywhere she goes.
While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend's house nearly forty years ago, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil.
Those early attempts at the craft had her writing and illustrating stories for young children. Wise beyond her years, Laura saved her first writing attempt in a hand decorated shoe box (complete with sparkly stickers) and moved on to her next idea. Her second book—O’Casey’s Wish—was so utterly brilliant, she sent it off to a well-known New York publishing house at the tender age of ten, confident she was on the verge of becoming the next Don Freeman (Corduroy) or Shel Silverstein (Giving Tree).
Months later, she received her first form letter rejection.
While she wasn’t of the mindset to save that first crushing blow for posterity, Laura did save the original copy of this particular literary masterpiece in the event the letter was a mistake.
Desperate to prove her flexibility as a writer, Laura soon found herself dabbling in jokes (for her Girl Scout troop’s newsletter), stories of angst (a somewhat autobiographical look at her teenage years), movie reviews (for the Xavier University Newswire), and countless news and feature articles (for newspapers in CT, SC, TN, and MO).
It wasn’t until Laura was home raising children of her own though, that she was finally able to dust off that rainy day dream and bring it back to its original form—writing fiction. Today, she is a bestselling mystery author with Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin Publishing), and an award winning romance author with Harlequin American. She lives in New York with her family.
Oh, and if you meet Laura at a book event in the future, ask her about O’Casey’s Wish. It tends to travel with her everywhere she goes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
March 26, 2021
great read!
I'm so excited to be interviewing Laura/ Elizabeth Lynn Casey this Saturday @ 2pm es time!! Hope you will join the fun and discussion!!
Here is a link to the interview and my channel:
https://youtu.be/iWf3JjdxyFw
I'm so excited to be interviewing Laura/ Elizabeth Lynn Casey this Saturday @ 2pm es time!! Hope you will join the fun and discussion!!
Here is a link to the interview and my channel:
https://youtu.be/iWf3JjdxyFw
January 17, 2020
I enjoyed this book maybe more than I have the first two books in the series. The author had this reader on the edge of her seat a time or two. Claire Weatherly made some reckless and careless mistakes that had me chewing my nails and flipping pages . Laura Bradford wasted no time in bringing on the murder scene to readers. Like everyone else I went through my list of suspects. I usually choose two with every cozy mystery I read. This time I nailed it and my motives were right on. This doesn't happen often for this reader to actually guess who the murderer really was. I still had the thrill of the story and the rush of excitement as the end came into sight. Just because I guessed who the killer was doesn't mean you will.
Claire Weatherly has always enjoyed the festivities that take place during the Autumn season. Intrigued by the lure of Mose Fishers corn maze she finds herself alone at night carrying a flashlight while walking through the endless twist and turns and dead ends. Acting on a tip from a friend she decides to try a secret maze within the corn maze. Walking alone she comes upon an Amish man standing just ahead of her. She calls out a greeting and tries to make conversation with him. He is not of the friendly sort but she continues trying to engage him in dialogue. Coming closer she lowers her flashlight so as not to blind him with its glare. That's when she notices his feet are actually not on the ground. She discovers he is actually tied and balanced to a shovel and there's a rope tied around his neck. She looks into his lifeless face and let's out a piercing scream. Once again in the quiet village of Heavenly Pennsylvania a murder has been committed!
All readers of Cozy murder mystery you won't want to miss this one. Readers of Amish Fiction will like it too. I highly recommend it to you.
I downloaded a Kindle ebook from The Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Claire Weatherly has always enjoyed the festivities that take place during the Autumn season. Intrigued by the lure of Mose Fishers corn maze she finds herself alone at night carrying a flashlight while walking through the endless twist and turns and dead ends. Acting on a tip from a friend she decides to try a secret maze within the corn maze. Walking alone she comes upon an Amish man standing just ahead of her. She calls out a greeting and tries to make conversation with him. He is not of the friendly sort but she continues trying to engage him in dialogue. Coming closer she lowers her flashlight so as not to blind him with its glare. That's when she notices his feet are actually not on the ground. She discovers he is actually tied and balanced to a shovel and there's a rope tied around his neck. She looks into his lifeless face and let's out a piercing scream. Once again in the quiet village of Heavenly Pennsylvania a murder has been committed!
All readers of Cozy murder mystery you won't want to miss this one. Readers of Amish Fiction will like it too. I highly recommend it to you.
I downloaded a Kindle ebook from The Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
November 19, 2017
I needed this read, I really did. I'm going through a rough patch and I needed a bit of a boost and Laura Bradford really helped me with that. This book had wonderful bits of humor in it and a heartwarming and heartbreaking mystery. I cried through the last third of the book, but I enjoyed it. This is such a wonderful series.
September 29, 2015
Parts of this book were really good and other parts were just not. Some of the chapters I wanted to just skip; they didn't seem important at all to the story; they weren't even good fillers; Megan bogged down some of the chapters. Claire is ok as a lead but I enjoy Esther and Eli more. Aunt Diane is cozy and warm and adds a special touch to the story. Jakob is also just okay but Benjamin is my favorite. I guess I just did not find the two leads Claire and Jakob very interesting. The writing is good until you read in areas where it seems the author is stumbling over too many words. In all this was a good read. Not perfect but good.
February 18, 2018
Claire decides to take a walk through a corn maze only to find a murdered man. It turns out this man, Harley Zook, was someone who refused to completely shun Jakob when he chose to leave the Amish to become a policeman. He even made a point of mentioning Jakob every time he talked to his father, Mose, the builder of the maze.
It's a difficult position for Jakob to be in, what with his prime suspect being his father, but he does his job. There are other suspects as well and Jakob and Claire do solve the mystery all the while developing a closer relationship.
It's a fun series. I really enjoy it and will keep reading.
It's a difficult position for Jakob to be in, what with his prime suspect being his father, but he does his job. There are other suspects as well and Jakob and Claire do solve the mystery all the while developing a closer relationship.
It's a fun series. I really enjoy it and will keep reading.
May 18, 2019
2019 bk 159 What's not to like about a corn maze? Finding a body just might be what puts Claire off of her love of these corn labyrinth's. When the body turns out to be the one person who defended Jakob when he was shunned, both Jakob and Claire start searching for clues. The problem is, Jakob's number one suspect is his own father. Despite the fact that it has been years since he has seen his father - or rather been seen by his father, Jakob is hoping the murderer is not his relative. Other factors come into play as Claire deals with a couple wanting to purchase property in Heavenly, a teenage boy might be seeking revenge, and a very bitter woman comes out of the woodwork.
December 29, 2016
Amish County gift store owner Claire Weatherly loves the challenge of a corn maze - until she finds a dead body in one! The top murder suspect is Detective Jakob Fisher's father and Claire starts investigating to help the man that she has feelings for find some other suspects. I really enjoy the cozy "Amish Mystery" series; the characters and the light romance, plus I enjoy learning about the Amish in general. I'll definitely be getting the next book in the series!
January 16, 2016
It is harvest time in Heavenly and Claire is excited to try out one of Mose Fisher’s famous corn mazes. Her excitement quckly turns to terror and she rounds a corner and comes face to face with a very dead Harley Zook. Harley was a local Amish dairy farmer and handyman.
This investigation is going to be difficult for Detective Jakob Fisher. Mose Fisher is his father and because Jakob has been shunned by the Amish Community he has not had any recent contact with the man. When the evidence starts to point directly at Mose things get even tougher. Claire feels she has to step in and find the real killer before someone else turns up dead.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Cozy mysteries are my favorites and Laura Bradford (aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey) is one of my favorite cozy authors. She is an amazing storyteller so I always know the book is going to be a great read but with this story she absolutely blew me away!!
When an author writes a series each book brings a new adventure and the characters continue to evolve. This has to be extremely difficult. You have to tell the reader enough to get them engaged but you can’t “spill all the beans” too soon. In the first 2 books of this series we were introduced to Jakob Fisher and knew he had been shunned by his Amish Family. In this story Jakob takes center stage and we find out more details but also see the pain he must endure for the choice he made.
Most of us know the Amish live a simple life. They do not have telephones or electricity and travel by horse and buggy. Personally there is an Amish community near here and my daughter visits often. She shops in their stores and bring me the most delicious baked goods. I have also witnessed some of their excellent building and woodworking skills. But I never really think of those that have been shunned for choices they have made. How they can forgive someone who may have committed a terrible crime against them but when a member of their family makes a choice after baptism to leave the community they cannot be forgiven. They are ex-communicated (shunned) forever. Even if they have left to protect and serve others. The way Jakob has to deal with this just breaks my heart. Claire is trying to understand the workings of the Amish too, just as I was and this really added to my relationship with this story.
In addition to this character study Bradford creates an outstanding mystery that she weaves right into this heartbreaking situation. There were so many twists and turns it was hard to believe this story took place in just 288 pages. She packed the drama and emotions into this story, it left me reeling.
I love my cozies and with no disrespect intended at all. This was so much more than a cozy mystery. This is a story that is going to stick with me longer than any story I have read in a long time. It was so eye-opening and thought provoking.
Laura you really hit a home run with this one. You get my first Paradise rating of the year. I can’t wait to travel back to Heavenly again soon.
This investigation is going to be difficult for Detective Jakob Fisher. Mose Fisher is his father and because Jakob has been shunned by the Amish Community he has not had any recent contact with the man. When the evidence starts to point directly at Mose things get even tougher. Claire feels she has to step in and find the real killer before someone else turns up dead.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Cozy mysteries are my favorites and Laura Bradford (aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey) is one of my favorite cozy authors. She is an amazing storyteller so I always know the book is going to be a great read but with this story she absolutely blew me away!!
When an author writes a series each book brings a new adventure and the characters continue to evolve. This has to be extremely difficult. You have to tell the reader enough to get them engaged but you can’t “spill all the beans” too soon. In the first 2 books of this series we were introduced to Jakob Fisher and knew he had been shunned by his Amish Family. In this story Jakob takes center stage and we find out more details but also see the pain he must endure for the choice he made.
Most of us know the Amish live a simple life. They do not have telephones or electricity and travel by horse and buggy. Personally there is an Amish community near here and my daughter visits often. She shops in their stores and bring me the most delicious baked goods. I have also witnessed some of their excellent building and woodworking skills. But I never really think of those that have been shunned for choices they have made. How they can forgive someone who may have committed a terrible crime against them but when a member of their family makes a choice after baptism to leave the community they cannot be forgiven. They are ex-communicated (shunned) forever. Even if they have left to protect and serve others. The way Jakob has to deal with this just breaks my heart. Claire is trying to understand the workings of the Amish too, just as I was and this really added to my relationship with this story.
In addition to this character study Bradford creates an outstanding mystery that she weaves right into this heartbreaking situation. There were so many twists and turns it was hard to believe this story took place in just 288 pages. She packed the drama and emotions into this story, it left me reeling.
I love my cozies and with no disrespect intended at all. This was so much more than a cozy mystery. This is a story that is going to stick with me longer than any story I have read in a long time. It was so eye-opening and thought provoking.
Laura you really hit a home run with this one. You get my first Paradise rating of the year. I can’t wait to travel back to Heavenly again soon.
July 20, 2016
3.5 Stars for an incredibly dense heroine
Claire Weatherly finds the dead body of Amish farmer and handyman Harley Zook smack-dab in the middle of Mose Fisher’s corn maze. Mose is the father of Claire’s suitor, Detective Jakob Fisher, who’s been shunned by his family for leaving their way of life.
Now, Claire not only has to deal with a business that is operating deeply in the red, she also wants to help solve the crime and exonerate Jakob’s father.
What I liked:
The book is well written and entertaining. The characters are finely drawn and likable, and their relationships kept me more interested in the story than the mystery itself. We also learn a few interesting tidbits about the Amish way of life.
What I didn’t like:
The heroine is quite slow on the uptake. While she’s snooping around on the victim’s property, she finds a discarded spray can. A few minutes later, she discovers a death threat spray painted on a wall. Yet she never connects the two discoveries. How about handing the spray can over to the police, and having it checked for fingerprints? Nope, she just forgets about it. And not only that, she decides to confront a potential murderer on her own, without telling anybody where she’s going, not only once, or twice, but three times. Why is she surprised that the murderer actually tries to shut her up after that? Seriously, she acts like she has a death wish.
Then there’s the repetitiveness. I know that Jakob is upset about being shunned by his family, and that Claire thinks it’s unfair. I got it the second time I read it. I certainly didn’t need to read about it another five or six times.
There’s also a love triangle. Thankfully, it looks like that is finally being resolved. (Everyone according to their taste of course, but I’m not a fan of love triangles. They drive me up the wall.)
There are also a few editing issues (e.g. someone ‘towed the line’). Nothing that would bother me in a self-published book, but this is a major publisher, after all.
Conclusion:
Overall, the book was very enjoyable despite containing several of my pet peeves (i.e. love triangle and stupid heroine). I’ll definitely read the next one. I'd recommend it to someone who truly enjoys cozy mysteries, with emphasis on the cozy part.
This is the third book in Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series. You can easily read it as a standalone, but reading the previous books first adds a lot of background information on many of the characters.
Claire Weatherly finds the dead body of Amish farmer and handyman Harley Zook smack-dab in the middle of Mose Fisher’s corn maze. Mose is the father of Claire’s suitor, Detective Jakob Fisher, who’s been shunned by his family for leaving their way of life.
Now, Claire not only has to deal with a business that is operating deeply in the red, she also wants to help solve the crime and exonerate Jakob’s father.
What I liked:
The book is well written and entertaining. The characters are finely drawn and likable, and their relationships kept me more interested in the story than the mystery itself. We also learn a few interesting tidbits about the Amish way of life.
What I didn’t like:
The heroine is quite slow on the uptake. While she’s snooping around on the victim’s property, she finds a discarded spray can. A few minutes later, she discovers a death threat spray painted on a wall. Yet she never connects the two discoveries. How about handing the spray can over to the police, and having it checked for fingerprints? Nope, she just forgets about it. And not only that, she decides to confront a potential murderer on her own, without telling anybody where she’s going, not only once, or twice, but three times. Why is she surprised that the murderer actually tries to shut her up after that? Seriously, she acts like she has a death wish.
Then there’s the repetitiveness. I know that Jakob is upset about being shunned by his family, and that Claire thinks it’s unfair. I got it the second time I read it. I certainly didn’t need to read about it another five or six times.
There’s also a love triangle. Thankfully, it looks like that is finally being resolved. (Everyone according to their taste of course, but I’m not a fan of love triangles. They drive me up the wall.)
There are also a few editing issues (e.g. someone ‘towed the line’). Nothing that would bother me in a self-published book, but this is a major publisher, after all.
Conclusion:
Overall, the book was very enjoyable despite containing several of my pet peeves (i.e. love triangle and stupid heroine). I’ll definitely read the next one. I'd recommend it to someone who truly enjoys cozy mysteries, with emphasis on the cozy part.
This is the third book in Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series. You can easily read it as a standalone, but reading the previous books first adds a lot of background information on many of the characters.
October 22, 2017
Claire is just looking forward to some fall fun when she stumbles upon another body. It happens to be the only Amish man who supported Kaleb when he left to become a police officer. And she found him on Kaleb’s fathers land. This case brings to light more about Kaleb’s history alongside solving a murder.
Another solid cozy in the Amish series. Claire helps her friends solve the murder while also struggling with her own problem.
Another solid cozy in the Amish series. Claire helps her friends solve the murder while also struggling with her own problem.
June 12, 2019
It would be easy to pick at details in this book, but overall it leaves you feeling good just visiting this idyllic Amish community briefly. Spending time with people who are so kind, unselfish, and generous is bound to leave you wishing such a peaceful life really were possible.
November 3, 2021
Read this earlier this year and really enjoyed it I just overall like this series and the characters!
July 31, 2024
A good one!
October 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. I like the characters and I want to see good things happen to them. For as few suspects as I felt there were, I was still kept guessing with the mystery. There seem to be some changes coming on the horizon and I can't wait to see what's in store.
March 4, 2014
Laura Bradford once again transports her readers to the heart of Amish country in her latest Amish mystery, Shunned and Dangerous. Readers who enjoy well researched mysteries will love Bradford's attention to detail and her obvious love for the Amish people. Readers will have to use all of their senses to figure out this whodunit, that pits a detective, against his Amish roots, with his father as a possible suspect. Fans of the series will be waiting to see what happens to Claire's shop, who killed Harley Zook, and if Claire and Jakob will ever acknowledge their feelings for each other. A great addition to the series!
What I liked:
I am a fan of Amish related stories in just about every genre. I have great respect for their simplistic life and their devotion to their faith, so when this mystery series featuring the Amish came out, I was really excited. Laura Bradford has certainly done her homework. Not only does she give readers an insiders view in the Amish community their practices and religious beliefs, she also delves into the underbelly of the Amish faith. Sometimes that includes gossip, rage and even murder. What a great theme for a cozy series! Bradford certainly does it justice.
One of the interesting things about this series, is that the heroine herself, is not Amish. Claire is a transplanted Heavenly, Pennsylvania resident. She is trying desperately to make a go of her shop in town and needs to make it able to support her before her meager savings are depleted. Now her assistant Ester is getting married and will have to stop working for her and making the high dollar items she crafts for th shop. I loved the fact that Bradford went outside of the religious order to bring us the heroine of this series, Claire is gaining a lot of understanding of the Amish people, but she still has that outsiders perspective that works so well in this series. I thought Bradford did a great job of balancing the mystery against Claire's personal life in this one and I was just as interested in one as in the other.
Claire finds the body of a local Amish Dairy farmer deep in the corn maze on Mose Fishers' farm. That presents several different problems for Claire. First Mose is the father of her assistant and she is worried that he might be the best suspect. Second he is also the father of the local police detective investigating the case. The big problem is that Claire has feelings for said detective who has some issues with the Amish since he was shunned and left the faith to become a cop. The murder victim, Harley Zook encouraged Jakob and was the only Amish to support his decision, much to the rancor of his father. Quite a mess! Bradford makes it look easy as she moves between all the characters, dropping clues and leaving red herrings for the reader. It wasn't really clear who could have done it other than Mose, or what other motive might existed for much of the book, which I thought was amazing. I definitely couldn't figure out who else it could have been for awhile.
I liked the way that Jakob used Claire's help with this case. He knew the Amish people would not talk to him due to the shunning. He also was far too close to the case considering his father was the main suspect. Mose did not like Harley Zook. He blamed him for taking his son away and now his other son was gone. He had the perfect motive. But Jakob couldn't find the information he needed to clear him on his own. These two characters obviously have a thing for each other, but, don't want to admit it. It should be interesting in future books to see where this goes.
What I didn't like:
Jakob seemed a bit lackadaisical about the investigation. I understood that he couldn't do a lot of investigating but it seemed like he should have been a bit more adamant about what was happening. It was his father after all that was being accused of murder. It certainly didn't take away my enjoyment of the book, just a minor pet peeve.
Bottom Line:
This is a great addition to the series and readers are sure to find that Bradford took the time to really develop this story. She didn't leave anything to chance and kept me in the dark until close to the end. This one had an interesting plot that kept me guessing.
What I liked:
I am a fan of Amish related stories in just about every genre. I have great respect for their simplistic life and their devotion to their faith, so when this mystery series featuring the Amish came out, I was really excited. Laura Bradford has certainly done her homework. Not only does she give readers an insiders view in the Amish community their practices and religious beliefs, she also delves into the underbelly of the Amish faith. Sometimes that includes gossip, rage and even murder. What a great theme for a cozy series! Bradford certainly does it justice.
One of the interesting things about this series, is that the heroine herself, is not Amish. Claire is a transplanted Heavenly, Pennsylvania resident. She is trying desperately to make a go of her shop in town and needs to make it able to support her before her meager savings are depleted. Now her assistant Ester is getting married and will have to stop working for her and making the high dollar items she crafts for th shop. I loved the fact that Bradford went outside of the religious order to bring us the heroine of this series, Claire is gaining a lot of understanding of the Amish people, but she still has that outsiders perspective that works so well in this series. I thought Bradford did a great job of balancing the mystery against Claire's personal life in this one and I was just as interested in one as in the other.
Claire finds the body of a local Amish Dairy farmer deep in the corn maze on Mose Fishers' farm. That presents several different problems for Claire. First Mose is the father of her assistant and she is worried that he might be the best suspect. Second he is also the father of the local police detective investigating the case. The big problem is that Claire has feelings for said detective who has some issues with the Amish since he was shunned and left the faith to become a cop. The murder victim, Harley Zook encouraged Jakob and was the only Amish to support his decision, much to the rancor of his father. Quite a mess! Bradford makes it look easy as she moves between all the characters, dropping clues and leaving red herrings for the reader. It wasn't really clear who could have done it other than Mose, or what other motive might existed for much of the book, which I thought was amazing. I definitely couldn't figure out who else it could have been for awhile.
I liked the way that Jakob used Claire's help with this case. He knew the Amish people would not talk to him due to the shunning. He also was far too close to the case considering his father was the main suspect. Mose did not like Harley Zook. He blamed him for taking his son away and now his other son was gone. He had the perfect motive. But Jakob couldn't find the information he needed to clear him on his own. These two characters obviously have a thing for each other, but, don't want to admit it. It should be interesting in future books to see where this goes.
What I didn't like:
Jakob seemed a bit lackadaisical about the investigation. I understood that he couldn't do a lot of investigating but it seemed like he should have been a bit more adamant about what was happening. It was his father after all that was being accused of murder. It certainly didn't take away my enjoyment of the book, just a minor pet peeve.
Bottom Line:
This is a great addition to the series and readers are sure to find that Bradford took the time to really develop this story. She didn't leave anything to chance and kept me in the dark until close to the end. This one had an interesting plot that kept me guessing.
March 1, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sh...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kim
*Beware of Spoilers!*
shunned-and-dangerous-amish-mystery-laura-bradfordClaire Weatherley loves the new life she made for herself in the town of Heavenly, Pennsylvania. After moving their a few months ago after her divorce, she is finally getting her life in order with her new shop and helping her Aunt Diane with her bed and breakfast.
What short time she’s lived there, she’s come to know and love the people of Heavenly and the Amish community on the other side of town. Growing up she’s always been fascinated with the lives of the Amish, the serenity and peace they seen to have. All too quickly she realizes that even they have secrets and a harshness that’s hard for those on the outside to understand.
One of the people that has entered Claire‘s emotions is Jakob, He’s been excommunicated from the Amish community because he followed his heart and decided to become a detective and then there is his niece Ester who furnishes Amish crafts in Claire‘s store and is also her assistant.
Her happiness is interrupted when Claire stumbles upon a body in the middle of the annual corn maze on the property of Jakob’s father and immediately the talk is that it was Jakob‘s father. With the talk going on Claire finds out that Jakob‘s father has been in a rage against the victim because he blamed him for Jakob‘s fall from grace and now that Jakob‘s brother has left, there’s more rage then ever before.
Claire hopes to find out that it wasn’t Jakob’s father but it’s not looking too good because the more Claire digs into the final last days of Mr. Zooks’ life, the victim, the more it looks like Jakob‘s father is the one who murdered him. Really, who would have a grudge against the Amish?
That’s when Claire finds out one of the harsh realities of the Amish, they can forgive a person who has killed a family member but can justpush a family member out of the community.
Still learning the ways of the Amish Claire finds out the news that Ester is getting married and will probably no longer be able to help or make the big ticket items that keeps her shop running. With that being said it’s only a matter of weeks that Claire is going to have to close up shop but in between that and her feelings for Jakob she’s got decisions to make and she’s broken hearted. Will she leave town that she’s grown to love or will she put distance, in miles and in heart, of those she has grown to care for?
Jakob, the Detective of Heavenly police department is the one that heads the investigation into the death of Mr. Zooks, the only one in the Amish community who refused to turn his back on him. How is Jakob going to investigate when the suspect on top of his list is his own father? The father who refuses to look at him much less speak to him.
Jakob just can’t believe it was his father and refuses to believe it, The interrogation of his father is going to have to be done by one of his men and he’s not liking it much. Being left in the dark about most of what is going on in the family is hard on Jakob but it is what it is and he’s just going to have to deal with it one way or another
Jakob and Claire refuses to acknowledge the feelings they have for each other that’s so obvious to anyone who see them together. It’s going to take divine intervention for both to realize what’s in front of their eyes.
Have the sins and hatred from the past going to upset this Amish community again? Has an outsider done this horrible crime because of hateor was it an Amish with such madness and anger at his neighbor the cause of this heartache.
I just loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
*A print copy of this title was supplied to us by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kim
*Beware of Spoilers!*
shunned-and-dangerous-amish-mystery-laura-bradfordClaire Weatherley loves the new life she made for herself in the town of Heavenly, Pennsylvania. After moving their a few months ago after her divorce, she is finally getting her life in order with her new shop and helping her Aunt Diane with her bed and breakfast.
What short time she’s lived there, she’s come to know and love the people of Heavenly and the Amish community on the other side of town. Growing up she’s always been fascinated with the lives of the Amish, the serenity and peace they seen to have. All too quickly she realizes that even they have secrets and a harshness that’s hard for those on the outside to understand.
One of the people that has entered Claire‘s emotions is Jakob, He’s been excommunicated from the Amish community because he followed his heart and decided to become a detective and then there is his niece Ester who furnishes Amish crafts in Claire‘s store and is also her assistant.
Her happiness is interrupted when Claire stumbles upon a body in the middle of the annual corn maze on the property of Jakob’s father and immediately the talk is that it was Jakob‘s father. With the talk going on Claire finds out that Jakob‘s father has been in a rage against the victim because he blamed him for Jakob‘s fall from grace and now that Jakob‘s brother has left, there’s more rage then ever before.
Claire hopes to find out that it wasn’t Jakob’s father but it’s not looking too good because the more Claire digs into the final last days of Mr. Zooks’ life, the victim, the more it looks like Jakob‘s father is the one who murdered him. Really, who would have a grudge against the Amish?
That’s when Claire finds out one of the harsh realities of the Amish, they can forgive a person who has killed a family member but can justpush a family member out of the community.
Still learning the ways of the Amish Claire finds out the news that Ester is getting married and will probably no longer be able to help or make the big ticket items that keeps her shop running. With that being said it’s only a matter of weeks that Claire is going to have to close up shop but in between that and her feelings for Jakob she’s got decisions to make and she’s broken hearted. Will she leave town that she’s grown to love or will she put distance, in miles and in heart, of those she has grown to care for?
Jakob, the Detective of Heavenly police department is the one that heads the investigation into the death of Mr. Zooks, the only one in the Amish community who refused to turn his back on him. How is Jakob going to investigate when the suspect on top of his list is his own father? The father who refuses to look at him much less speak to him.
Jakob just can’t believe it was his father and refuses to believe it, The interrogation of his father is going to have to be done by one of his men and he’s not liking it much. Being left in the dark about most of what is going on in the family is hard on Jakob but it is what it is and he’s just going to have to deal with it one way or another
Jakob and Claire refuses to acknowledge the feelings they have for each other that’s so obvious to anyone who see them together. It’s going to take divine intervention for both to realize what’s in front of their eyes.
Have the sins and hatred from the past going to upset this Amish community again? Has an outsider done this horrible crime because of hateor was it an Amish with such madness and anger at his neighbor the cause of this heartache.
I just loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
*A print copy of this title was supplied to us by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
May 13, 2016
Having spent a week in Amish country (Lancaster, PA to be precise) every summer while attending an annual tournament, I started reading Laura Bradford’s “Amish Mysteries” from the first volume. Shunned and Dangerous is the third in the series after Hearse and Buggy and Assaulted Pretzel. The titles are clever, the characters are charming, and the culture is fascinating. The first two mysteries seemed rather straightforward to me, but I thought the revelation of the murderer [Was that a spoiler for you? You KNEW there was going to be a murder, didn’t you?] was a little too Agatha Christie-like for me. For me, the clues were not coherent and the “red herrings” weren’t very credible. So, Shunned and Dangerous wasn’t quite as enjoyable as the former volumes.
As I wrote in another Goodreads review, some people think it is inappropriate that an old guy like me would read in several “cozy” mystery series. Well, unlike a friend of mine, I don’t mind novels where the female protagonist is smarter than the men. And, unlike certain female critics, I don’t mind when the familiar trope of the female protagonist unwisely confronting a villain or exploring a dangerous venue on her own. I don’t consider her to be weak just because she gets bailed out by some male supporting character who finally figures out (or ALMOST figures out) what she discovered ahead of him.
And, as a romantic at heart, I don’t begrudge a “cozy” having a little romance in it. In the course of the “Amish Mystery” series, there has always been something of a weird triangle (nothing kinky, just emotional) going on that symbolized the divide between Amish culture and the “English” (ie “non-Amish”). Indeed, one book even explored the possibility of one romantic interest risking being shunned by his community in order to marry the female protagonist while said female protagonist had to deal with her feelings for both this man respected in the Amish community and another romantic interest who has already experienced the ostracism of the community. As the protagonist is torn between her respect for this culture and her feelings about each gentleman, readers can’t help but root for one or another (I know that I do—I said I was a romantic!).
Yet, perhaps the most entertaining aspect of this “cozy” series is that murders and the
non-violence preached and practiced by devout Amish shouldn’t mix. They do mix in these novels and it adds an interesting tension, a fascinating zest to the repast. One wants to think it is impossible that the perpetrator would be from the Amish, but even a devout community can have its bad fruit. And it is that possibility, however remote, that helps to hold my interest in these stories.
So, from the moment we join our protagonist in the rather bucolic celebration where the most entertaining aspect is venturing through a corn maze, the idea of violent death and peaceful people collide. And since all the evidence points clearly at respected people in the Amish community, Shunned and Dangerous is clearly a mystery that Claire isn’t sure she really wants to solve. Alas, she keeps finding clues that lead her inexorably in the direction she doesn’t want to go. This is delicious tension and I was caught up in the drama, the significance, of this pilgrimage toward a solution.
But, let me address my Agatha Christie criticism. Shunned and Dangerous offers a credible motive for killing. It is a motive as old as human culture. Alas, I missed one key throw-away line which would have indicated who the person was who had the motive. And that’s why I felt it was a semi-unfair revelation. And that’s why I rated this lower than I rated Assaulted Pretzel.
As I wrote in another Goodreads review, some people think it is inappropriate that an old guy like me would read in several “cozy” mystery series. Well, unlike a friend of mine, I don’t mind novels where the female protagonist is smarter than the men. And, unlike certain female critics, I don’t mind when the familiar trope of the female protagonist unwisely confronting a villain or exploring a dangerous venue on her own. I don’t consider her to be weak just because she gets bailed out by some male supporting character who finally figures out (or ALMOST figures out) what she discovered ahead of him.
And, as a romantic at heart, I don’t begrudge a “cozy” having a little romance in it. In the course of the “Amish Mystery” series, there has always been something of a weird triangle (nothing kinky, just emotional) going on that symbolized the divide between Amish culture and the “English” (ie “non-Amish”). Indeed, one book even explored the possibility of one romantic interest risking being shunned by his community in order to marry the female protagonist while said female protagonist had to deal with her feelings for both this man respected in the Amish community and another romantic interest who has already experienced the ostracism of the community. As the protagonist is torn between her respect for this culture and her feelings about each gentleman, readers can’t help but root for one or another (I know that I do—I said I was a romantic!).
Yet, perhaps the most entertaining aspect of this “cozy” series is that murders and the
non-violence preached and practiced by devout Amish shouldn’t mix. They do mix in these novels and it adds an interesting tension, a fascinating zest to the repast. One wants to think it is impossible that the perpetrator would be from the Amish, but even a devout community can have its bad fruit. And it is that possibility, however remote, that helps to hold my interest in these stories.
So, from the moment we join our protagonist in the rather bucolic celebration where the most entertaining aspect is venturing through a corn maze, the idea of violent death and peaceful people collide. And since all the evidence points clearly at respected people in the Amish community, Shunned and Dangerous is clearly a mystery that Claire isn’t sure she really wants to solve. Alas, she keeps finding clues that lead her inexorably in the direction she doesn’t want to go. This is delicious tension and I was caught up in the drama, the significance, of this pilgrimage toward a solution.
But, let me address my Agatha Christie criticism. Shunned and Dangerous offers a credible motive for killing. It is a motive as old as human culture. Alas, I missed one key throw-away line which would have indicated who the person was who had the motive. And that’s why I felt it was a semi-unfair revelation. And that’s why I rated this lower than I rated Assaulted Pretzel.
March 20, 2014
I have enjoyed reading the Amish mystery series over the past couple of years. While some series about the Amish tend to be over the top religious (with a bit of mystery mixed in), this one isn't and I'm grateful for that.
The latest in the series has Claire struggling with how to keep her gift shop in Heavenly, PA open while figuring out her feelings towards both Jakob, a former Amish and Benjamin, Jacob's former friend who is still Amish. In the middle of that, Claire discovers the body of Harley Zook in the middle of Jacob's father's corn maze. Jakob is also the town detective and Claire works with him to solve the mystery.
Overall, the book is very well-written, with each plot point carefully outlined and explained. However, in this one and I feel like I don't remember this from the other 2 books in the series, Claire dragged her feet with everything. She did not want to tell her friends and family about her financial issues. She did not want to tell Jakob about further developments in his case. Instead she grappled with these issues in her mind and drove the readers nuts with them as she continued to keep her mouth shut.
That's the only thing I didn't like about this book because otherwise, it was a great read in a really strong cozy series. I am looking forward to seeing how Jakob and Claire's relationship moves forward and what developments the authors has in store for them.
The latest in the series has Claire struggling with how to keep her gift shop in Heavenly, PA open while figuring out her feelings towards both Jakob, a former Amish and Benjamin, Jacob's former friend who is still Amish. In the middle of that, Claire discovers the body of Harley Zook in the middle of Jacob's father's corn maze. Jakob is also the town detective and Claire works with him to solve the mystery.
Overall, the book is very well-written, with each plot point carefully outlined and explained. However, in this one and I feel like I don't remember this from the other 2 books in the series, Claire dragged her feet with everything. She did not want to tell her friends and family about her financial issues. She did not want to tell Jakob about further developments in his case. Instead she grappled with these issues in her mind and drove the readers nuts with them as she continued to keep her mouth shut.
That's the only thing I didn't like about this book because otherwise, it was a great read in a really strong cozy series. I am looking forward to seeing how Jakob and Claire's relationship moves forward and what developments the authors has in store for them.
February 4, 2014
What a joy it was to be back in Heavenly, Pennsylvania with Claire, Diane, Jakob, Benjamin, Esther and friends. Each time I’m blessed enough to visit, I am lulled into a sense of peace and contentment. I truly find myself wanting to stay apart of this idyllic community. Well, until there’s another body found. Oh, who am I kidding? I’d still take my chances!
In this third installment of Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series, murder once again comes to Heavenly. This time it claims the life of Amish dairy farmer Harley Zook. But who would want Harley dead? And why? Ms. Bradford crafts an intricate tale of anger, greed, prejudice and revenge that gives the reader much to think about before she leads us to the conclusion and the surprising answers to these questions
.
Along with the murder mystery, readers are also treated to an uplifting story of love, friendship, helpfulness and forgiveness between characters old and new to the series.
As with HEARSE AND BUGGY & ASSAULTED PRETZEL, we also get a glimpse into the world of the Amish and their traditions. It’s clear Ms. Bradford has done her research and that she has a true fondness for these people.
If you haven’t read this series yet, do yourself a favorite and start it now! If you have read the first two books in this series, SHUNNED AND DANGEROUS is exactly what you've been waiting for! This title will be released March 4, 2014.
In this third installment of Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series, murder once again comes to Heavenly. This time it claims the life of Amish dairy farmer Harley Zook. But who would want Harley dead? And why? Ms. Bradford crafts an intricate tale of anger, greed, prejudice and revenge that gives the reader much to think about before she leads us to the conclusion and the surprising answers to these questions
.
Along with the murder mystery, readers are also treated to an uplifting story of love, friendship, helpfulness and forgiveness between characters old and new to the series.
As with HEARSE AND BUGGY & ASSAULTED PRETZEL, we also get a glimpse into the world of the Amish and their traditions. It’s clear Ms. Bradford has done her research and that she has a true fondness for these people.
If you haven’t read this series yet, do yourself a favorite and start it now! If you have read the first two books in this series, SHUNNED AND DANGEROUS is exactly what you've been waiting for! This title will be released March 4, 2014.
March 21, 2014
Readers will have to use all of their wits to figure out this whodunit. Fans of the series will be waiting to see what happens to Claire's quilt shop and who killed Harley Zook, a well liked member of the Amish Community. That is, he was well liked and respected, except for the father of Jakob, the police detective and possible love interest for Claire. During the murder investigation, Jakob has to straddle his two worlds, his love for his Amish family and his decision to leave that world to become a police officer, and his duty to investigate the murder. He has been shunned by his people for this decision, and not one of them will speak with him, or let him into their lives, but this has not lessened his love and devotion to his parents, siblings and extended family. When his father becomes a suspect in the murder of Zook, Claire, seeing his pain, decides to help him even though she is wrestling with a great personal worry.
Laura Bradford has certainly done her homework in researching this series. Not only does she give readers an insiders view into the Amish community, their religious practices, their family life, shunning, and farming life, but she also gives us a glimpse into the hidden and darker parts of the Amish community. This includes gossip, rage and even murder. This is a great addition to the series.
Laura Bradford has certainly done her homework in researching this series. Not only does she give readers an insiders view into the Amish community, their religious practices, their family life, shunning, and farming life, but she also gives us a glimpse into the hidden and darker parts of the Amish community. This includes gossip, rage and even murder. This is a great addition to the series.
April 10, 2014
A solid cozy mystery that follows all the rules. Could have used more humor to make the characters feel more real, but a good read.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/848630...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/848630...
July 23, 2016
Don't hate me for enjoying this book ! It is a pocket romance novel ; except no electricity , because it is an Amish mystery . A welcome break from the dark mysteries and crime novels I've been reading recently .
April 10, 2015
Loved it! This is one of my favorite series. Laura is such a great storyteller, I can't wait to dig into the next book!
October 11, 2016
Very good, though just a step behind the first couple of books in this series. The love triangle wrapped itself up nicely, in this book, I'm glad to say.
March 3, 2023
Claire Westerly, a new shop owner in Heavenly, Pennsylvania tries a corn maze and finds a murder victim, Harley Zook. The local detective, Jakob Fisher, was shunned by the Amish because he followed his dream to become a policeman. His own father appears to be the most likely suspect. His father has shown an unusual amount of rage towards the victim and blames Harley for not cutting off his relationship with Jacob, despite being shunned.
Claire, previously had to divorce her husband because of never pleasing him and he had a roving eye. Afraid to try marriage again, the town, her aunt and even the Amish think that she would be perfect for Jacob. Jacob is definitely interested.
Claire does not want to investivate but she realizes that it would be dreadful if Moses was found to be the killer. It would hurt Jacob Fisher and her wonderful assistant at the shop, who is Jacob Fisher's niece. And clues start to pop That lead to another possible suspect. Who was the murderer?
I loved this cozy, the characters are well developed and you really care about them. it kept my interest throughout and you learn more about the Amish. I have read many books about the Amish but I learned more!
Claire, previously had to divorce her husband because of never pleasing him and he had a roving eye. Afraid to try marriage again, the town, her aunt and even the Amish think that she would be perfect for Jacob. Jacob is definitely interested.
Claire does not want to investivate but she realizes that it would be dreadful if Moses was found to be the killer. It would hurt Jacob Fisher and her wonderful assistant at the shop, who is Jacob Fisher's niece. And clues start to pop That lead to another possible suspect. Who was the murderer?
I loved this cozy, the characters are well developed and you really care about them. it kept my interest throughout and you learn more about the Amish. I have read many books about the Amish but I learned more!
January 25, 2019
Shunned and Dangerous is the third fantastic book written by Laura Bradford in her An Amish Mystery series. The author has once again delivered another exciting mystery involving the Amish that is definitely a page turner. I found this book so intriguing I had a difficult time putting it down. The storyline plays out perfectly right up to the last page.
The characters the author has created to tell her story are very likeable and did a wonderful job. I really enjoy the characters of Claire and Jakob. They are just perfectly matched. This mystery has many twist to it and just when I thought I had it figured out, band a new twist. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next suspenseful book by this author.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful mystery surrounding the Amish that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Laura Bradford for writing this fantastic story for her readers to enjoy.
The characters the author has created to tell her story are very likeable and did a wonderful job. I really enjoy the characters of Claire and Jakob. They are just perfectly matched. This mystery has many twist to it and just when I thought I had it figured out, band a new twist. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next suspenseful book by this author.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful mystery surrounding the Amish that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Laura Bradford for writing this fantastic story for her readers to enjoy.
January 6, 2024
Living in the small town of Heavenly, Pennsylvania, Claire Weatherly has come to admire the Amish for their wholesome, honest way of life. But she also knows that nothing is as simple as it seems—especially when murder disturbs the peace.
Claire has always been game for a good puzzle, so when she hears that Mose Fisher has made one of his famous corn mazes, she can’t wait to walk the paths and test her skill. But she’ll have a much more serious puzzle to solve when, deep inside the maze, she discovers the body of Amish dairy farmer Harley Zook.
It won’t be easy for Detective Jakob Fisher to investigate a murder on his own father’s farm—not after being shunned by the man for leaving the Amish community and becoming a cop. With Mose himself as a suspect, and old family secrets cropping up, it’s up to Claire to help catch the killer before she finds herself at a dead end.
February 15, 2024
Claire is enjoying finding her way through the corn maze, right up to the time she finds the dead body. An Amish man has been killed, and detective Jakob Miller is fearful he may have been murdered by another Amish man, maybe even a member of Jakob's family. Claire is determined to find the killer, and she just hopes the perpetrator isn’t Amish. This is a pretty good mystery in its own right, but the interaction between the characters is also quite interesting. Jakob was raised Amish, but left the Amish for police work. Unfortunately for all, he was first baptized, which means he is now shunned by the people he longs to be with. How all this will eventually play out is not yet known, except maybe to the author of this delightful series!
October 21, 2023
I’m enjoying this sweet little mystery series although Claire sometimes drives me crazy. This is what I’ve learned about her: (1) she tries to play her cards close to her chest but she’s not very good at it, (2) she tosses and turns a lot—seldom sleeps because she can’t turn off her mind, (3) she asks questions about things that are very obvious, (4) she gets so deep into her thoughts that she’s not aware of her surroundings or people coming and going, and (5) she is very touchy feely with people.
I read many intense books and this cozy series is a nice escape. The murderer in this one caught me by surprise.
I read many intense books and this cozy series is a nice escape. The murderer in this one caught me by surprise.
March 13, 2025
Claire has always been game for a good puzzle, so when she hears that Mose Fisher has made one of his famous corn mazes, she can’t wait …
It won’t be easy for Detective Jakob Fisher to investigate a murder on his own father’s farm—not after being shunned by the man for leaving the Amish community and becoming a cop. With Mose himself as a suspect, and old family secrets cropping up, it’s up to Claire to help catch the killer before she finds herself at a dead end.
It won’t be easy for Detective Jakob Fisher to investigate a murder on his own father’s farm—not after being shunned by the man for leaving the Amish community and becoming a cop. With Mose himself as a suspect, and old family secrets cropping up, it’s up to Claire to help catch the killer before she finds herself at a dead end.
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