Blood of the Prodigal

Although I haven't had a chance to read it yet; can't wait to get started.

I could hardly put this book down! I read it entirely in two evenings and enjoyed it immensely. This author knows all the details of the Amish lifesyle and has a way of putting it into words that can really peak your interest! Get you hands on it as soon as you can...you won't be sorry!

P.L. Gaus is quite a storyteller, and his first novel is a page-turner! He has a way of moving the action along and seamlessly blending in bits of local color and culture that compel the reader to stay with the book, just for the sheer pleasure of watching the story unfold. His first novel is a fascinating look at the Old Order Amish and their coexistence with die Hochen, their non-Amish or "English" neighbors.I grew up in the area where the book takes place, and it was fun to read the very accurate descriptions of the region (particularly the weather!). Gaus paints a vivid picture of the rolling hills and farms of east central Ohio. My only request is that the next book be set during Autumn, so I can vicariously relive the cider-and-pumpkin days of my youth!However, if I could, I'd give this book 4.5 stars rather than 5, for a couple of reasons. One is that the book suffers a bit from First Novel Syndrome, or perhaps it's just Small Press Syndrome. That is, it wants for a bit of editing. Some parts of the book just don't flow well, and I found myself having to re-read some passages to link up pronouns with their subjects. The resolution of the mystery, while satisfying enough to keep me from condemning the book altogether, was a wee bit flimsy. What I thought was a glaring error in editing turned out to be a pivotal clue in solving the mystery, and while the lead character was trying to puzzle it out, I couldn't help shaking my head and thinking that only an idiot could have missed it. There also were a few loose ends left untied at the end of the book, and a few things that I thought deserved a more thorough explanation. And the most unforgivable sin of all: Gaus presents a rather inaccurate, derogatory view of Texans. I can't just let a thing like that slide, now can I? ;)All in all, these minor flaws take very little away from the enjoyment of this fine book. The story is captivating, the characters, with a few minor exceptions, are multi-dimensional and "real", and Gaus' flair for establishing atmosphere is top notch. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next Dr. Michael Branden mystery!

I read this book purely for a nice read about my neighbors down the road about 15 miles. How intrigued I became and how much I learned about the Amish from this novel. I'm looking forward to the next case.

This is a great summer read of Old order Amish life set in Ohio's late 20th century "English" countryside. The separate, plain Amish life is carefully depicted with emphasis on the need for sameness, strict rule of the Bishops, and suppression of pride among those who have chosen to take their vows. The Amish life is truly different, one that people are born into and accept, or leave. For those who can't conform, the struggles of living with the English, banned and cast from the family, are foremost. The "ban", "rumschpringe" and "bundling" - events hard to believe unless you know the culture - all become familiar. The characters in the book, English or Amish, respectfully co-exist and connect when help from the English is needed. Only a skilled writer could breach that human gap between the old world and the present, depicting the struggle between the devout and the secular. The scenery is haunting - the overcast, restless water of Marblehead and quiet trout ponds, thick swamps and narrow winding roads of northern Ohio - a setting perfect for a murder.