About the book:
The Amish, or "plain people," and English, or "vain ones," share a home country in the pastoral hills of Ohio. As summer approaches, boyhood friends and lifelong residents Pastor Caleb Troyer and Professor Michael Branden anticipate a season of fishing for bass, until a ten-year-old boy disappears from the home of the Amish bishop who had exiled the boy's father a decade earlier.
"Say little. Listen a lot." are Troyer and Branden's simple watchwords as they begin, at the behest of Bishop Eli Miller, to work the case. Following the bishop's mysterious strictures, the pair is plunged into the traditionally closed Amish society whose followers, innately suspicious of English ways, have been suddenly made vulnerable to the dangers of the world. When the man suspected of seizing the boy turns up dead, Sheriff Bruce Robertson takes up the investigation -- only to uncover truths that many, especially the Bishop, would prefer to leave undisturbed.
Deeply atmospheric and morally complex Blood of the Prodigal is the first in a riveting series that explores a fascinating culture of a people set purposely apart from mainstream America.
My thoughts:
I picked up this book thinking it was another of my favorite Amish fiction. Instead I got a mystery/suspense novel equal to the writings of James Patterson. It was a dark, heavy story but very intriguing. Reading it you forget that one man is English and one man is Amish. These are people. People with feelings, beliefs, doubts. I wasn't even close to the figuring out the killer.
It took me much longer to read this book than I thought it would, but it was worth the time I invested in it. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
I agree it was a dark story. The plot was great & it was hard to remember that one man was Amish. However,on the downside for me was all the narration. I prefer more dialog between characters than descriptive storyline.
ReplyDeleteThe ending was a splash of icy water- -- not what you expect AT ALL! For that reason, I will
look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I have not read this but will now look for it at the library. I have read all of Beverly Lewis's books on the Amish. SO good!!
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