In the Land of Milk and Honey
Elizabeth Harris Mystery, Book #2
By Jane Jensen
ISBN: 9780425282908
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
With its peaceful, hardworking Amish population, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a rural paradise. But former NYPD homicide detective Elizabeth Harris knows that evil lurks there—it’s just easier to hide…
By solving the murders of two local girls, Elizabeth has gained some trust in the Amish community. So, she’s the first person its members turn to when a fast and fatal illness takes hold, though many believe that the sickness stems from a hexerei—a curse placed by a practitioner of old-world folk magic. Elizabeth doesn’t believe in curses, and when an entire Amish family is found dead, she begins to suspect something far more sinister…
As the CDC is called in to investigate, customers of a Philadelphia farmers market selling Amish raw milk start dying. Amid rapidly escalating panic, Elizabeth must peel away layers of superstition and fear to save the livelihood—and lives—of an entire community. Because what has happened isn’t an accident of nature or an act of God, it’s the handiwork of someone who has only just begun to kill.
Review:
Fans of Linda Castillo will rejoice in finding In the Land of Milk and Honey and the Elizabeth Harris Mystery series. Edgy, compelling and wrought with suspense this book is hard to put down. Descriptive writing, (even if at times a bit much for me) permeates the pages. Homicide Detective Elizabeth Harris is intelligent and diligent, yet truly human and real. Set in the midst of the peaceful Amish population of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this page turner is intriguing, thrilling and at times downright scary in the context of the story line. Former NYPD detective Harris is faced with tragedy in the form of a whole Amish family’s death. While the general consensus is a fast acting flu, other illnesses and death in the community bring a wave of suspicion. Harris’ past actions have gained her some trust among the Amish and one family in particular. So when they mention the deaths and illness could come from a “hexel” – a curse from an Amish magic, she agrees to ask some questions.
More deaths are reported outside the Amish community and the CDC is called in to help with the investigation. The deaths are traced back to “raw milk” being sold at a farmers’ market selling the popular Amish product in Philadelphia. The death count continues to rise and the CDC is able to pinpoint the source. A non-native plant. The politicians in charge put a ban on the Amish raw milk and advise people not to drink it. Unfortunately, Amish do not have TVs and this leaves them open to the danger, while also endangering their livelihoods. And the danger to their lives is in a human form. Someone is intentionally giving the cows this plant. Someone, a true serial killer, is targeting the Amish.
Elizabeth is passionate about her work to the point of not being there for her ex-Amish live-in boyfriend Ezra. Their relationship is more of a side note to the story, but still constant and important. Elizabeth has a good team to work with on the force in her boss Grady and coworker Hernandez. They are wonderful compliments to her perseverance. Glenn from the CDC is hardworking, but also a bit too interested in Elizabeth. The team investigates answers and leads wherever they can. She is also faced with not only the threat to the lives of her friends in the Amish community, but their livelihoods are being damaged maybe irreparably. She and her team have to find the killer even as the “body count” grows.
In the Land of Milk and Honey is the second installment in author Jane Jensen’s Elizabeth Harris Mystery series. This is the first I have read. While there is some discussion of things from the first book, I do not think you have to read it to get the full force of this one. Any fan of Linda Castillo’s Amish series will certainly enjoy this one. It is well written and intense. Elizabeth Harris is a great main character and I enjoyed the other ones as well. The story line itself is wicked and fear inducing. I would suggest not eating while reading this thrilling novel. Otherwise hang on and enjoy.
