A Churn for the Worse
An Amish Mystery, Book #5
By Laura Bradford
ISBN13: 9780425273036
Author website: http://www.laurabradford.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
The national bestselling author of Suspendered Sentence returns to Heavenly, Pennsylvania, where shop owner Claire Weatherby and Detective Jakob Fisher must put on their thinking kapps to solve a string of robberies and a murder in the Amish community…
When an Amish farmer is found dead in his barn, his family accepts his death as God’s will. But Detective Jakob Fisher knows the farmer didn’t hit himself in the head with the shovel lying beside his body. And when it comes to light that a stranger appeared at the farmer’s home and now money is missing from their milk can, Fisher suspects robbery as the motive—especially when another Amish family is victimized.
Getting to the truth proves difficult, however, since Fisher has two strikes against him in the eyes of the Amish—his chosen career, and the Amish roots he left behind. Desperate to stop a murderous thief, Fisher turns to Heavenly Treasures shop owner Claire Weatherly for help. The trust she’s earned from the Amish community enables her to go where the detective cannot—straight into the path of a killer…
Review:
Once again Laura Bradford has brought her readers into her heavenly Amish/English setting. Written with love, kindness and skill, A Churn for the Worse, is heartfelt, enthralling and just Plain wonderful. I love coming back to Heavenly, Pennsylvania and visiting with the amazing characters there. Claire Weatherly, her boyfriend Detective Jakob Fisher, Aunt Diane and the Amish families and friends, are like old cherished friends to me. The storyline is well plotted and has plenty of twists. The one theme I love most is the kindness, friendship and love of family (blood kin and not) that radiates so powerfully in this series. Even when faced with evil in the form of murder and theft- that love prevails. You cannot get any better than Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series.
In this installment of the fabulous Amish Mystery series, and Amish farmer is found dead and even though his family believe it is “God’s Will”, a murderer needs to be found. Claire’s Amish employee Annie tells her about the tragedy and the information pushes Claire to get Jakob involved. There is no way the farmer could have accidentally been killed with his own shovel. Jakob worries it could be a hate crime, even more so when he learns the family’s money was also stolen. Other families are getting robbed by an English man who comes to their homes asking for directions, information on their products or even a glass of water. Jakob tries his best to find answers, but his past sometimes makes it hard. Not only is he a police detective (the Amish do not care to be involved with them), but also because Jakob is shunned for leaving the church after being baptized. Claire is a big help since most of her friends are Amish and they seem to trust her.
Several things are going on at the same time in this well paced and deftly written cozy. All of them are an essential part of the story. There are horses, candy, a push to change the people Heavenly attract and more. We learn a bit more about Claire’s wonderful Aunt Dianne and that is a real pleasure. I hope we see more of her in the forefront, but that is just my secret wish. Claire and Jakob’s relationship is moving forward. Their care for each other is so fresh and amazing. I am not always a fan of romance in my cozies as it sometimes seems forced. This is not the case with their romance. This is pleasant, heartwarming and so well written.
A Churn for the Worse is another wonderful hit for Laura Bradford. The characters keep getting better and better. The storyline is full of intelligence and complexity – just the right amount too. At times I thought I knew who the killer and thief were. At other times I was sure I knew the reason behind it all. Then the author would throw in another twist and I had to rethink things. Just wonderful, the perfect cozy. Even if you have not read any of the other stellar books in this series, this one (as all of them) can stand alone. It is the best yet, but do not miss the others. They are all fabulous and this is a truly magnificent series.
What a lovely review. Thank you so much!