Abandoned Prayers: An Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession, and Amish Secrets

It was a little hard to get into it at first but after a few chapters in it was a horrifying story but great read

Very sad sad book. But very good

I'm an avid "true crime" reader and was recently turned onto author Gregg Olsen by a friend. I purchased his book in my hometown of Jackson Twsp Ohio. Being a resident of Ohio and living very near to the Amish Community I found the book particularly interesting. My husband and I are within 10 minutes from the Massillon Community Hospital where Eli was once employed. It gave me goose bumps reading that he was once so close to where I lay my head at night! This book is absolutely RIVETING! A true page turner to coin a phrase! Gregg keeps you utterly spellbound as you read from page to page! YOU WILL NOT PUT IT DOWN! So, to all the true crime fans out there...FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS for an awesome, mind bending journey through the mind of a severly tortured individual! I would reccomend this book to anyone! Bravo Gregg! AND PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING! L, Owens Ohio, USA

This is probably My top pick for the best true crime book of 2004..It is equaled only by Jack Olsens~I~Which I read this year as well..This was a very well written book My True crime book club on yahoo groups all talked alot about this one..I have enjoyed reading Gregg Olsen over the years and he is getting better with each book. I wont give the story away here but it tells the story of the death of "little Boy Blue" with an Amish twist,..Great True Crime! Keep em coming Mr Olsen.

Being an avid researcher of the Amish, and also living in Lancaster County, PA, my interest in the Amish cultures and traditions have grown immensely. In reading this book, though, it shows that there aren't any cultures in the United States that are void of sick, twisted, & demented individuals. There are always those few people that are just evil in actions and life. It's just so unfortunate that this little boy and his mother were the innocent victims of this horrible individual. The book itself was an excellent read, and I would recommend it to everyone. It's just horrible that there were so many innocent victims and it's unfortunate that Mr. Stutzman was released.

Eli Stutzman was truly an evil man. A member of a long established Ohio Amish family, Eli appeared to be marking time until he could flee the Amish community. Restless and violent, these traits would resurface with deadly consequences when he set his home on fire, killing his young wife. Fleeing the peaceful Amish community with his infant son Daniel, Stutzman embarks upon a career of murder, gay sex and pornography. He exposes Daniel to the seemier side of adult life; he even encouraged Daniel to participate in adult sexual behavior. Daniel, too, is killed by Stutzman and is dumped in a Nebraska wheatfield. His identity remains a mystery for nearly two years. Articles in newspapers and magazines about the mysterious little boy crop up. Feeling pressured, Stutzman's behavior becomes even more violent and erratic. This book provides a good, sharp look into Amish living and the history of the Amish community. It is well written, well detailed and well worth reading. The real gift is how Stutzman is caught and brought to justice.