Newlyweds Can Be Knocked Off 

An Amish Matchmaker Mystery #6

By Amanda Flower

ISBN 9781496737502

amandaflower.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

After two decades as a widow, Millie Fisher, Amish matchmaker, quilter, goat tender, and sleuth is now a 60-something newlywed! But when she adds snowbird to her list amid the chill of an Ohio winter, murder finds a way to follow . . .

After years on her own, Millie has been busy adjusting to married life once again. Meanwhile, her best friend, Lois Henry, is still salty that Millie didn’t have a big wedding where she could get dressed up and be maid of honor. But there’s a way Millie can make it up to with a dreary January upon them, it’s the perfect time for a girls’ trip to the Amish community in sunny Pinecraft, Florida. Oft-divorced Lois is decidedly not Amish, but she thinks it will be a hoot.

With the blessing of her sweet husband, Uriah, Millie agrees to go. On the tour bus that transports Ohio’s Amish snowbirds to Florida every year, Millie and Lois strike up a friendship with a young woman traveling alone. She reminds Millie of her beloved niece, and Millie takes her under her wing. But even before the end of their first day in Florida, tragedy strikes.

Millie and Lois find their new friend dead on the beach, seemingly drowned. But who would want to hurt the sweet young woman? Is there a murderous snowbird among them? Or was it someone vengeful from her past? Clearly, vacation time is over for Millie and Lois, and it’s time to dive beneath the surface to hook a killer . . . (From Goodreads)

Review:

It was pure delight to visit Millie and Lois in Holmes County, Ohio again! We were almost immediately whisked onto a bus headed for Pinecraft, Florida, where many Amish spend part of their winter to escape the winter storms.

Millie and Uriah, both widowed, recently married in a small Amish gathering. Millie and her best friend from childhood days, Lois, have very different lifestyles, including their weddings. Millie and Uriah are Amish, and Lois is Englisch, yet their friendship has only deepened through the decades. Lois is easily seen in a crowd due to her colorful hair and attire. She has a kind heart and a strong personality. Their differences blend well, and it is a joy to see them together.  Lois gifted Millie and herself with a week-long trip to Pinecraft. Uriah encouraged her to go, and he bravely offered to care for her goats.

Caroline, a young Amish woman, sat in the row of seats across the aisle from Millie and Lois. Lois slept most of the trip. Caroline was also a newlywed, and didn’t know how to sew, almost unheard of for an Amish woman. They chatted, and Caroline learned a couple stitches and quilting basics from Millie. Caroline lived in Pinecraft and briefly visited Ohio after they wed. Cainan, her husband, had a scooter shop that he began from scratch.

Late the next evening, Millie tried to catch up with Caroline when the bus emptied, wanting to take her to lunch while they were in town. When she did find Caroline, she was having a disagreement with Cainan. They left, and Millie hoped to see her around town.

In the morning, Millie awoke early, eager to see her very first sunrise over the ocean. And it was incredible! Amazing! Everything and more than she could have imagined! Her infectious joy soared from the pages to this reader’s heart!

As they walked along the beach, they heard something they thought was unique to Holmes County. Juliet, the lovely wife of Reverend Brook in Ohio, was running in high heels across the beach, calling “Stop that pig!” Jethro, Juliet’s polka-dotted emotional support pig, dashed ahead of her. Used to capturing her goats, Millie was able to get Jethro.

Reverend Brook and Juliet were in Pinecraft for a conference for pastors and their wives, held at a nearby resort. Moments later, Millie had to chase Jethro again as he ran to see what looked like a shoe under the pier. Carolyn, back in town less than twelve hours, had clearly been murdered. Devastated and not at all put off by the detective’s warning, Millie would do what she had done several times in Ohio. With Millie’s help, she would find who killed this sweet young bride.

This mystery has so many twists! They learned who Caroline really was, met her young, now widowed husband and primary suspect, her friends, and her unwelcoming in-laws. It sounded as if someone had tried to kill Caroline before her trip, also. Secrets closely held slowed their progress. It sounded as if someone had tried to kill Caroline before her trip, also. The clock was ticking towards their return, and they feared that someone else could be killed.

The author shares several Amish proverbs as easily as she designs amazingly delightful characters and pets. She brings them to life, mixes in a few little quirks, and serves up an Ohio community that I would love to visit. The arrival of several people from Harvest, in Pinecraft, sweetened and challenged the investigation! Those familiar with this series will appreciate watching Lois and Millie pig-sit Jethro, and how Millie’s Bishop Yoder and his wife, Ruth ended up in Pinecraft, much less sharing their cottage! I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series to those who appreciate Amish cozy mysteries, lifelong friends, much humor, suspense, and two unstoppable mature sleuths.