Blood of the Prodigal: An Ohio Amish Mystery (Ohio Amish Mysteries (Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: Will the prodigal son return home?
Review: Although I enjoyed the premise of the story (Amish Bishop Eli Miller's son, Jonah, disappeared 10 years from when the story is being told and now Jonah's son, Jeremiah, has been taken... the bishop has the Amish community's support to approach Pastor Cal Troyer, who highly recommends Professor Branden - then the story of the search for Jonah and Jeremiah unfolds), I was disappointed to not hear Jonah's voice at all in the story. I got to know and like the professor and his wife, the sheriff and his deputy, and somewhat Bishop Miller himself (I thought the author did a good job of portraying how private and humble these people are - you don't get as familiar with or "close" to any of the Amish characters as you did the English) - but everything I learned about the prodigal son was from others - I wanted to hear part of the story from Jonah's point of view. This may have helped the conclusion flow more smoothly without losing any of its surprises. Also, Jeremiah's voice begins the story, but is cut off abruptly - which makes sense considering the circumstances... however, I would have enjoyed hearing his thoughts, his perspective, his feelings more throughout the story - but maybe the author chose not to let either Jonah's voice or Jeremiah's voice (beyond the story's introduction) be heard because it would make the Amish seem less private, as if they blended in more with the English, and the story seemed to want to illustrate how Amish people, though trying to trust and get along with the English, don't want to be seen as "the same" as the English - they want to be the same as other Amish in their community, but their sameness is very different from the English.

Rating:
Summary: Great Debut Novel
Review: As someone who grew up just outside of Amish country it is nice to read about home. The characters are believable and I have little doubt that they will have staying power.

The story takes a very unexpected twist near the end and it was almost too much of a change for it's own good (this is my only criticism).

Gaus captures the enigma of the Amish without "selling them out." Certainly you will learn more about our technologically challenged neighbors, their culture, language and even their food and you will walk away from the book asking yourself how you would survive without email, television and cordless phones.

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling!
Review: 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!