Lost Soul

Serenity's Plain Secrets #16

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Serenity’s investigative skills are put to the test when the family of a popular local doctor is murdered and he’s the prime suspect. Is he a murderer or is a killer on the loose in Blood Rock? Serenity is tested to the limit as she unravels the grim truth about the seemingly picture-perfect family and their Amish neighbors. Can Serenity solve the case before anyone else pays the ultimate price?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Amish

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2023

About the author

You can visit Karen Ann Hopkins at her website: www.karenannhopkinsfiction.com.

"I loved joining Rose and Noah during their journey in the Temptation series by Karen Hopkins."-Katie McGarry, acclaimed YA author

Karen Ann Hopkins resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, sheep, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, dogs, and cats. Karen rescues and fosters a variety of pets and farm animals, but she also finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write. She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lives in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove her to create the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.

Karen grew up about a mile from Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. She was bitten by the horse bug at the age of five, and after diligently taking riding lessons for several years, she was rewarded with her first horse at the age of eleven. The feisty horse's name was Lady, a Quarter Horse-Thoroughbred cross, who became Karen's steadfast companion. Through the years, the constant force in her life was horses. Eventually, Karen found her place as a riding instructor herself. Before accepting her fate in the barnyard, she worked a short stint as a paralegal, traveled abroad, and guided tourists on horseback riding tours in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Karen is currently working on her two interconnecting mystery/crime fiction series, Serenity's Plain Secrets and Possum Gap, along with several new projects.

To learn more about Karen and her books, please visit her website.

Reviews

[Beth Temin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A double murder & a tough sheriff

When a mother & son are murdered in their home, the prime suspect is the husband, a respected doctor, who is already in jail. But Sheriff Serenity isn't so sure he is guilty. As she interviews some who think the doctor killed his wife & son, she hears a shady story of a dead marriage of cheating spouses and an Amish girl who is not so innocent. The twists & turns of the investigation kept me reading, and I was shocked when the real killers were revealed. This book kept me glued to my Kindle right up to the end. Anyone who likes cozy mysteries should love this book!

[Samantha herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serenity wins the day

Lots of murder and mayhem, but Serenity wins the day and saves a life in the process. She loses another of her nine lives. Where does she get her energy? Fast moving and again full of twists and turns Serenity never gives up until she caught her criminals and Blood rock has plenty of them.

[Andy Krahling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap, Blood Rock, Indiana is aptly named. This is perhaps the 6th or 7th novel by the author that I've read, and the bloodfest continues in the Amish and Amish-adjacent communities. The author writes a solid, straight-forward story, and it seems like Sheriff Serenity just can't catch a break.

I'm sure I'll be reading more of these ;)

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy mystery centered in Indiana's Amish community where the Amish and Englishers carefully co-exist. A rather nasty murder forces the sheriff to hold her ground while investigating a double murder against everyone who immediately wants the husband charged. Multiple layers of deceit are at work and the grim finale hurts many as reputations are shattered.

[Mary Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I enjoyed reading Lost Soul. The story development kept me interested, but I did not like the ending. It seemed a bit too far-fetched to be believable. With too many evil souls at the end, I got the impression that Ms. Hopkins lost her focus and just needed the book to end.

[Pete Ffrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much more trouble can those Amish cause ? I think there's too much inbreeding. Serenity is on the case and bringing justice to the murder victims and to their victim as well. Another well thought out story in Blood Rock, is the place cursed ?

[Marie Rehg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

A gripping mystery with shocking twists and turns. A look into some Amish problems and a double murder with a tragic ending for those involved. A must-read for anyone with investigative minds.

[Maryam J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This author keeps writing this series, keeping her characters with the same personalities. The story moved along well with enough twists and turns to keep you interested. I have read all of them and keep looking for w.

[Mary McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Which of the multiple suspects is the guilty one??

The author writes a riveting murder mystery with an intriguing cast of characters any of which could be the culprit. She provides a healthy dose of suspense which keeps the reader addicted to the story until the surprise ending.

[bob merkler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

As usual Karen did an excellent job of weaving vs story to keeping you on the edge of your seat. Am amazing author. You need to read ALL of her stories they are all great.

[Barbara Birchall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect blend of mystery and education

Learn so much reading these books and love the solving of mysteries. Serenity did it again. Hope there is not too much cross over with possum gap

[Marlo Madsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger is everywhere on Halloween

Excellent book kept me reading until I got to the end. The book kept you guessing who really was the killer until the end. Very sad so many innocent people have to die, but this is a real life event.

[Barbra Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Awesome! I absolutely love this series!
Serenity is who I want to be when I grow up. (More so, so I can be married to Daniel)

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series.Each book leaves me looking forward to the next.

[Lottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was definitely better than the last one, since the main focus was the mystery and not domestic conflicts!

[hopecalm · Rating 4 out of 5]

steady….

Twists and keeps your interest, but annoying editing errors. Still pretty short to be considered a book. Maybe the next will be longer and have a new editor.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mystery with a surprise ending. Several typos caused one less star.

[Susan Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot put this book down

Not the first Serenity book I've read and it won't be the last. Very well written and a page turner until the very end

[Leah Wicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nancy M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN, FAST READ

This is a whodunit set in Amish country. As some twists and turns and a wonderful.German Shepard named Nym. Excellent read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

[Debbie Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was good. Plain old detective work by Serenity. No Vodoo or evil spirits. A bit of a twist at the end, excellent read.