🚓 “Among The Innocent” (2022) 🚓 – Book Review

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Revell (June 7, 2022)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800740262

ISBN-13: 978-0800740269

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

“When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.

 

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell, for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

I got introduced to this author’s writing with her Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense book Amish Country Murder in early 2020. With that book, I ended up buying the previous book Amish Country Kidnapping, which remains on the TBR list along with three other subsequent books. I did manage to read Covert Amish Christmas though.

 

As a result of those two (2) books, Alford has become a “must-read” author (among others) for me. 

 

I noticed a LOT of the Love Inspired Suspense authors also have Revell suspense books – Lynette Eason, Elizabeth Goddard, Lisa Harris, and Lynn Blackburn to name a few.

 

This is, I believe, is Alford’s first Revell release. And, given the fact I already liked her work – this was a MUST-READ book for me. The cover was another reason – vivid, striking, dramatic. It is one of those that I end up getting distracted by. 

 

I was deeply drawn to the cover and with just the blurb, I couldn’t wait for this. As it turned out, I won a copy (which one of these will go to my mom) as well – so I took it to be it was Gott’s will I got this book.

 

Alford expertly balances the Amish and Englisch “worlds” with characters that are vividly real and well-written: 

 

🚓 Leah

🚓 Dalton

❓ “John”

🚓 Sugar

🚓 Justine

💔 Eva

👩🏻‍🦳 Marge

 

Her support characters (both Amish and Englisch) are well written, balanced, and realistic as well despite how long or short their appearance is. 

 

This has multiple POVs – the main characters and victims – Leah, Beth, Eva, Justine; Dalton; and even the bad guy “John” in a mystery voice. 

 

Unlike most books, the prologue of this doesn’t start with a main character’s background. The readers don’t even get flashbacks which is interesting as most authors do it. Alford instead uses the character’s own statement and verbal telling of it instead. 

 

This begins with an innocent, 16-year-old Amish girl – Beth Zook, who is watching an unnamed Englischer drive by in his car. 

 

It is clear that he and Beth have a “relationship”. Unfortunately – that will come to an end. But, Beth also has a connection to Leah. Beth’s older sister was Leah’s friend up until about 10 years earlier. 

 

Leah is not only reeling from returning to Amish country after what happened, but the loss of her “adopted” father – former Chief Ellis Petri, and new police chief Dalton Cooper.

 

Dalton took the job for his own reasons … 

 

Beth’s case goes from a missing person to a murder. A murder with a message:

 

“Tell Leah I’m back”

 

But, it can’t be the same man that killed Leah’s family – he died in a fire. Didn’t he? Apparently not as she’ll soon learn. 

 

What’s interesting is Dalton’s connection to the “wrong” suspect – only Leah doesn’t know it yet. 

 

It obviously can’t be the same killer, a copycat? Or worse, the real killer indeed. But, what does he want with Leah? Another chilling similarity – a locket.

Leah offers to tell Beth’s sister, who happens to be Leah’s former friend – Colette. Colette is now married with two children of her own. 

 

Colette knows something her parents didn’t – Beth was sneaking out to see an Englisch “boy”. But, even after Beth’s rumspringa she was going to return back to the plain community and marry. Beth’s younger sister also knows something. 

 

Beth isn’t the only one in danger – her friend Eva as well. Though, Eva thinks differently. She goes to the police, but then leaves. She’s seen who the boy (man) was – but won’t tell. 

 

Beth’s murder results in Leah’s case being reopened with the focus on why Ellis Petri focused only on Harrison Troyer. And, it also digs deeper into Ellis’ murder as well. 

 

Dalton has to get acquainted with the staff as the investigation goes on. One of those is Justine Raber, who left the Amish faith and happens to be the niece of dispatcher Sugar. 

 

Leah has spent most of her adult life fearing the past – she’s tired and wants to start living again, especially spending time with Dalton. 

 

In going over Ellis’ files, Leah sees pictures of a young Marge wearing a dress similar to the one Leah wore as a young Amish girl. 

 

That’s not all – the killer knows where Leah is – and she sees the locket he leaves behind. That isn’t all – the killer adds more victims to his list. And, Marge – in one of her moments – drops a bombshell on Leah about a male child she “lost”. 

 

The police will get some help – from beyond the grave and Marge’s past.

 

As Leah digs deeper, she and the killer come face to face a few times in a deadly cat and mouse showdown in a “must-read-to-the-very-end” conclusion that didn’t disappoint. 

 

This was one of those “can’t put it down” reads and I finished it in three hours. From beginning to end. In fact, I read it so fast it shows no signs of wear and still looks brand-new. The short-ish chapters were one culprit, but the story itself was another one. 

 

Not only was this dramatic – it was an edge of the seat, riveting, and intense read that kept my interest from the first page to the last. 

 

Some Amish books – romance or suspense – have a typical ending. I would tell what that ending usually is, but that would spoil this read. This was anything but typical or expected. It literally floored me. Though, if the author does write a sequel or a series from this – keep this ending! This really worked out quite well and has SO much potential.

 

This, to me, was more suspense than romance. I was deeply surprised that the author didn’t just throw Leah and Dalton together, nor was it a “slow burn”. It truly progressed over the course of the story and went to a natural conclusion. It definitely made sense due to the connections the two had with regard to Leah’s case. It was fascinating and convoluted all at the same time. Talk about those “six degrees of separation” theory. Those who don’t know – six degrees of separation is the theory that any person on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries.

 

And, Alford pulled that off in the story with less than five. 

 

I have to admit that after a while, I figured out who the “bad guy” was and his motives. It was still shocking though and I loved that Alford kept it up to the very end. 

 

While a standalone read, Alford does keep the door open for a sequel, or perhaps a series. Which I hope she puts me down for because I’m definitely all-in on that one. I definitely want to see what happens with Leah and Colette’s friendship, Marge’s future, Dalton and his Amish brother’s reunion, along with Dalton and Leah’s relationship.

 

Despite being distributed by a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher, this had very few elements of faith in it. 

 

This is definitely tailored to fans of suspense and romance. The author’s fans won’t want to miss this. 

 

 

 

RATING:

 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can't put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog. Learn more at www.maryalford.net.

 

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAlfordAuthor/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryjalfordauthor/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryalford13

 

 

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