🔥🏡 “Amish Witness to Murder” (Amish Country Justice #18) (2024) 🏡🔥 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Amish Country Justice (Book #18)
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (May 21, 2024)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335598111
ISBN-13: 978-1335598110
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“To identify her father’s killer…
she must stay alive
After finding her family’s barn in flames and witnessing her father’s murder, Beth Troyer becomes the killer’s next target. She narrowly escapes death when the murderer turns on her, but now she’s left temporarily blind. She’ll have to rely on former family friend Gideon Bender to keep her safe until her eyesight returns. But with a killer who’ll stop at nothing to find her, staying alive might just be impossible…”
Thank you in advance to the author, Dana R. Lynn, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
I’ve been reading this series going back to May 2022’s Amish Cradle Conspiracy (book #13), and I have the first 12 books on my extensive and out-of-control TBR (which I am TRYING to get under control 🫣🤪🤣).
While this is the 18th book in the Amish Country Justice series, it is the fifth (5th) and final book of the Bender siblings’ story.
The other characters connected to the Bender family were introduced in the following books. Though I don’t know how far back some of the characters go.
📘Amish Country Threats (#10) (introduces Nicole)
📘Amish Christmas Escape (#12) (introduces Jack)
📘Amish Cradle Conspiracy (#13) (introduces Steve; features Nicole & Jack)
📘Her Secret Amish Past (#14) (Joss and Steve; introduces the Bender Family)
📘Crime Scene Witness (#15) (Micah Bender; introduces Lissa)
📘Hidden Amish Target (#16) (Zeke and Molly)
📘Hunted at Christmas (#17) (Isaiah and Addison)
Another draw was that book cover! Book covers can be exciting, they can be dull. Then, there’s the reader’s preference. Some prefer people, some prefer only landscapes, others like the illustrated covers (the ones that, to me, can come off cartoonish).
I rarely get excited about covers. For the most part, I’ve liked some and not liked others. Some do tend to stand out in either good or bad ways. But, this one? As the kids today say, it’s lit 🔥🫣 I mean, it’s LIT! One can almost feel the heat coming off it. So, it draws the reader’s attention to it. Not likely to forget that cover.
As usual, it is the story between the cover that matters the most.
Returning to this story:
The Bender siblings (as featured in the books so far):
✳️ Christina/Joss (born Christina Bender; kidnapped at the age of 2)
✳️ Micah (Deputy U.S Marshal)
✳️ Zeke
✳️ Isaiah (bounty hunter)
✳️ Gideon (Christina/Joss’ twin; still with the Amish order)
Additional returning characters:
🚓 Sgt. Steve Beck (married to Joss)
👒 Edith Bender (mother to Micah, Gideon, Zeke, Joss, and Isaiah)
🪚 Nathan Bender (father to Micah, Gideon, Zeke, Joss, and Isaiah)
👒 Molly (Zeke’s second wife)
👩🏻 Lissa (Micah’s wife)
👧🏻 Shelby (Lissa’s daughter)
👩🏻 Addison Bruce-Johnson-Bender (widow, husband was an officer killed in the line of duty; re-married to Isaiah)
The author introduces:
👒 Beth Troyer
🎨 Francesca Brown (a forensic artist)
Even though books like this are clean – free from questionable language and no spicy intimacy – there are some elements that might be troublesome for certain readers. In this one; there is obviously arson, homicide by a gun, and a strong connection to drug dealing and trafficking.
With that said …
This will, through the course of the book – and, especially near the end – have spoilers about the other siblings and stories. This is why I strongly recommend reading at least the books listed above, paying close attention to books #14-#17 for the Bender siblings. Nicole (from book #10) is mentioned in this book – with a “surprise”.
Knowing this was going to be Gideon’s story, I HAD to read it. There was no “eh, looks like it might be a good one”. It was “I NEED this book!”. After all, Gideon is Christina/Joss’ twin, and his life was impacted by her disappearance. Now it’s his turn for a happily ever after.
Speaking of Gideon’s siblings, I found it quite interesting that his sister married a detective, Micah is a U.S Marshal, and Isaiah is/was a bounty hunter. Then again, Micah and Isaiah’s careers were influenced by what happened to Christina/Joss, which makes sense. It is strange that being her twin, Gideon wasn’t compelled to leave his Amish life behind for revenge or justice.
But, the disappearance of his twin isn’t the only heartbreak Gideon has suffered.
That’s where the author takes the readers – into another one of Gideon’s heartbreaks. It wasn’t Beth who caused his heartbreak – it was her older sister, Miriam.
But, Beth can’t worry about the sister who ran off and joined the Englisch community. Beth is too busy trying to stay alive. In addition to coming home and seeing her family’s barn in flames – which she can’t understand why – she also witnesses someone murder her father and injured in the exchange.
Despite the fact that Gideon basically ghosted his friend Beth after her sister dumped him, he still feels a kinship and friendship towards Beth. Even he knows he was wrong to completely forget about Beth. Despite being a pacifist, he’ll do what he can to protect her. She’s not too sure about accepting it though.
Like her, he misses their friendship, and she knows far more about Miriam’s motives than poor Gideon. But, they also know that now is not the time to revisit the past or try to patch things up, even though they’ve harbored feelings for each other with the other not knowing it.
Almost right from the beginning, the author drops readers into an intense firestorm. Peril awaits both Gideon and Beth at each turn – nowhere is safe, and certainly not their plain community. But … where can they go as the police try to put the pieces together?
Dana R. Lynn has readers on the edge of their seats with this intense and riveting read. It definitely held my attention which each turn of the page. I was immediately drawn right in, and it seemed like the chapters were shorter in this new format. I didn’t want to put this down for any length of time. Sadly, life and illness derailed me a few times. But, when I got back to it – it was just as intense as when I walked away. While it was romantic-suspense, it bordered more on suspense, with the romance being a small portion – less than about 10% of the book. Which, I didn’t mind at all. Some stories work better with 50/50; 90/10; 80/20. It is how the author presents the story that makes it work.
I absolutely enjoyed the fact that the Bender family was mixed Amish/Englisch. It leaves me wondering and how many mixed Amish/Englisch families there are in real life. I think it would be interesting to research. And, also does it differ between the Old-World Amish and New World Amish?
I am excited to read the next book set in Sutter County. And, since it is being released in August, I won’t be spoiling it by expressing my excitement that Francesca Brown, the forensic artist from this book, will be one of the main characters.
It’ll be interesting to meet a new cast of characters or rather an additional cast. I’m hoping some of the previous characters do pop up here or there.
I am eager to see if Beth’s sister will have a more prominent story down the road. I am really interested in her before and after story. I actually wanted a bit more than what was presented here as I felt there was something else going on. That could also be the nature of the genre – suspense. But, I’m going to hope the author revisits that particular story down the road.
Another conclusion I need – Daisy. Due to a temporary situation, Beth was given a service dog – Daisy. Yet, by the end – I felt so sorry for the poor dog as it seems she’d been forgotten 😳🫣
However, it was interesting in reading how the Amish viewed and treated their dogs as opposed to how the Englisch do. Their view on horses was also as interesting. The Amish see them more as a work/practical animal, where the Englisch see them as a work and sport animal.
Most suspense books don’t have an overwhelming humor element, some don’t even have a single moment – which, given the topics and genre – is understandable. There’s no right or wrong way.
I only mentioned it because of a scene in the book where Gideon and Beth are traveling with someone. Their driver mentions an aggressive driver must’ve gotten his license out of a cereal box 🤪🤣 I was in hysterics! It truly lightened the tone of the book for a moment while injecting a bit of real life. Who hasn’t asked that question or made that statement during a trip out amongst the populace? It was a delightful moment in yet another great read by the author.
If you’re like me, and have been keeping up with the Benders – you need to read this book. This is a wonderful closure to the Bender family story.
As this is distributed by the Christian line from Harlequin, and is an Amish story, there will be mentions of the faith. These are quite mild and not overwhelming.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
Read 7/4-7/7 (2024)
Previous Books in Series (Bender Siblings):
Series: Amish Country Justice (Book #14)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (January 24, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN: 1335587519
ISBN-13: 978-1335587510
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Stolen from the Amish…
with no memory of her past.
When her mother is shot as they flee an unknown threat, Josslyn Graham discovers her entire life is a lie. Not only is she adopted but she's the target of armed assailants—and she doesn’t know why. With an old doll the only clue to her true identity, Joss needs Sergeant Steve Beck’s help to find the truth…before a deadly criminal ring buries the remaining evidence: her.”
Series: Amish Country Justice (Book #15)
Paperback: 224 Pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (April 25, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335587691
ISBN-13: 978-1335587695
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“Finding a safe haven
is the only way to stay alive
When crime scene cleaner Lissa Page discovers a clue at a murder site, she’s attacked and becomes the killer’s new target. Now Deputy US Marshal Micah Bender must protect the single mother from becoming another victim. But with threats coming from every direction, Micah needs to hide Lissa—and the Amish community he left behind might be the answer to keeping his witness safe.”
Series: Amish Country Justice (Book #16)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (July 25, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN: 1335587514
ISBN-13: 978-13355875119
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“She’s an accidental witness.
Now she’s running for her life…
Witnessing a murder puts a target on Molly Schultz’s back, and now she’s on the run from a gunman dead set on silencing her. She turns to family friend Zeke Bender for help, but when Molly’s identity and location are exposed, they’re left with a criminal among her Amish community. Can Zeke safeguard Molly long enough to catch the culprit—or will they fall prey to their merciless hunter? ”
Series: Amish Country Justice (Book #17)
Paperback: 224 Pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (September 26, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335597646
ISBN-13: 978-1335597649
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“Wanted by a bounty hunter.
Chased by a killer.
When single mother Addison Johnson is attacked by a hit man, she learns there’s a price on her head. And Isaiah Bender—the bounty hunter hired to track her down for crimes she didn’t commit—is her only hope for survival. Protecting Addison and her young son from armed assailants means seeking refuge in Amish country. But when their holiday hideout is discovered, can he clear an innocent woman’s name and keep her alive?”
NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES:
Series: Amish Country Justice (Book #19)
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (August 20, 2024)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335980091
ISBN-13: 978-1335980091
Click Photo for Purchase Information ⬆️
“A killer in pursuit…
and a little boy’s life is at stake.
When Francesca Brown discovers a dead body, bullets start flying her way. Soon FBI agent Tanner Hall arrives—only to find an autistic Amish boy hiding nearby. As a witness to a crime, it’s clear someone will stop at nothing to silence the little boy—permanently. With assailants on their trail, can Fran and Tanner unravel a lethal conspiracy before the murderer strikes again?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
She can also be found on the following social media sites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterDanaLynn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarlynn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanaRLynn
**This review contains Amazon affiliate links.
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