Home by Dark

Watcher in the Dark #1

by Marta Perry

Rachel Weaver Mason is finally going home to Deer Run, the Amish community she left behind so many years ago. Recently widowed, she wants desperately to create a haven for herself and her young daughter. But the community, including Rachel's family, is anything but welcoming. The only person happy to see her is her teenage brother, Benjamin, and he's protecting a dark secret that endangers them all. Determined to keep Benjamin safe from a suspected killer, Rachel has no choice but to turn to the one man she wanted to get as far away from as possible. Colin McDonald was her late husband's friend, and the man who came between them. He's never forgotten her and would do anything to keep her and her family safe. Rachel doesn't know if she can trust Colin, or her growing feelings for him. But as they hunt for the killer, the tension between them builds and soon both their lives -- and their hearts -- are on the line.

Genres: Amish, Mystery, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Amish Fiction

382 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Marta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.

Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.

Reviews

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m very open to trying new authors, so I generally have quite a few books in the TBR from new-to-me writers. This month, I tried several and ended up DNF-ing them. For whatever reason, nothing was really grabbing me. As the due date on this column approached, I grabbed a romantic suspense novel from the pile and told myself that I would stick with it no matter what. Marta Perry’s Home By Dark ended up being a mixed bag. Her development of the setting and background was definitely a cut above some of what I’ve read, but the story was a bit too slow-moving for me.

I’m not sure I’d call this mystery an Amish romance, but it’s definitely Amish-adjacent. The book is set in Pennsylvania Amish Country, where the author is from, and like the her, many of the characters have Pennsylvania Dutch roots. I tend to be wary of Amish books, but I did like the setting in this one. It’s not set in an insular bubble but rather spends a lot of time dealing with the intersections between the Amish and the majority culture around them. Most of the leading characters in this book are not Amish, and we see a lot of scenes devoted to showing how the two groups interact with one another. This was actually one of the more interesting parts of the book for me as a reader.

This novel is a romance, but it’s more heroine-centric than some. The lead, Rachel Mason, grew up Amish but left to marry her teenage sweetheart, with whom she moved to Philadelphia. Rachel’s first husband has died and she has returned to her hometown with her nine-year-old daughter. Her mother-in-law left Rachel her home and Rachel plans to turn the large Victorian home into a bed and breakfast.

The opening chapters of the book show Rachel being quite frank about her limited options in life due to the Amish way of only educating children through eighth grade. The author also shows the difficulties Rachel faces in coming back. She and her daughter live modern, twenty-first century lives and the reception that Rachel receives from friends and family is quite varied. She left before her baptism, so the church didn’t shun her, but some of Rachel’s family, particularly her father, are quite uncomfortable around her. Many Amish romances seem to romanticize Amish life, so this author’s view of things, which appeared more balanced, was interesting to me as a reader.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/february-...

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Weaver Mason returns to Deer Run when her mother in law passes away and leaves her home to Rachel and her nine year old daughter, Mandy. Rachel was raised Amish but fell in love and ran off to marry Ronnie Mason, an Englischer, against the wishes of her family and Ronnie's as well. Ronnie was killed in a wreck so mother and daughter have moved back to Deer Run for a new start and to turn the Mason home into a bed and breakfast. No one really welcomes them back but Rachel's fourteen year old brother, Benjamin. But Benjamin is involved in something that has him upset and Rachel is determined to find out. After a shaky start, Rachel connects with Ronnie's old friend Colin and he works with Rachel to figure what is going on with Benjamin. A neighbor, Meredith King, also welcomes Rachel back as they rekindle a friendship from twenty years old ago. Rachel, Meredith and a third friend, Lainey Colton spent the summer running around together and having fun. At the time Lainey was visiting her aunt, Rebecca, who lives a couple of houses down the street and hasn't returned to Deer Run since that summer.

This is another good suspenseful read by Marta Perry. Someone doesn't want Rachel's efforts to turn the house into a bed and breakfast to be a success. It is always interesting to see how the Amish and English worlds interact as we see Rachel trying to reconnect with her family and figure out what has Benjamin so afraid to talk about what is going.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was all caught up with Marta Perry's mystery books but then I stumbled upon this series (Watcher in the Dark) on audible and realized I'd only read the second one. Squeeeppp, you bet I bought book one in an nanosecond and started listening just as fast. :-)

Kinda contemporary romance / mystery mashup with a bit of a creepy vibe. I get all nostalgic when I read these HQN mystery series by Marta Perry because I immediately connect with the thrill of my Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney reading days. It has the same kind of pacing -- where the mystery develops slowly, gradually building to the 'Noooooooo" moment when my heart flies into my throat and I can barely catch my breath.

And the romance is just as deliberate, building from an almost frenemies relationship (especially on Rachel's side) to wary friendship -- and I do mean wary. Rachel doesn't trust easily. And she and Colin have a history that's only hinted at for much of the book. "Bout drove me crazy trying to figure out what was up with them!

The Amish setting, and Rachel's fractured relationship with her family bring added depth and tension to the plot and I love the way the author brings healing and hope to the situation. So, while this isn't a Christian Fiction selection, it does provide an uplifting message of forgiveness and grace.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-crafted and suspenseful! I think this is one of my faves by this author, so I'm looking forward to reading more.

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried it and it wasn't bad, it just seems like Amish fiction is a hit or miss with me. The writing for this was really good but I just didn't connect with the characters. I'm giving this 3 ⭐.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the suspense aspect mixed in with the Amish lifestyle and their mixing with Englisch. The author had a broad range of different characters too which is a plus. And the puppy Princess was my favorite character:)

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS
Home by Dark is full of drama,some normal life and some scary stuff. Enough to keep you in the dark about what was going on till the end of the story. It is also a clean read.
Rachel Weaver Mason and her 9 year daughter are moving back to her hometown of Deer Run. The Amish community she left when she married out of the Amish into the English world. Her mother-in-law left her home to Rachel. Which surprised her because she did not approve of her son marring a Amish girl and kicked him out to.
Rachel was going to fix up the big house as a bed and breakfast. Hoping to provide for her daughter. Rachel's family still did not welcome her back except her brother Benj.
Benjamin at 14 was a big help to Rachel and got along with Mandy.
Benj was acting really scared and jumpy after a Amish boy ran away from home without a word. Benj was keeping secrets especially from his father.
Colin McDonald was a old friend of Rachel's husband Ronnie. He stopped by to ask if she wanted to list the house with him. He was also concerned about Benj and noticed how scared he was. Benj did yard work for him.
Something was going on and Benj knew more than he was telling. Colin got Benj to tell a little bit about it. Colin feels like he owes something to Rachel for not being their more for her in the past. Colin is also dealing with his father in the first stages of altimers.
Someone else was trying to make things hard for Rachel to start a bed and breakfast up in town.
I like to read Marta's novels. Look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
12/18/2012 Pub. Harlequin Imprint Harlequin HQN

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
Rachel Weaver Mason is finally going home to Deer Run, the Amish community she left behind so many years ago. Recently widowed, she wants desperately to create a haven for herself and her young daughter.

But the community, including Rachel's family, is anything but welcoming. The only person happy to see her is her teenage brother, Benjamin, and he's protecting a dark secret that endangers them all.

Determined to keep Benjamin safe from a suspected killer, Rachel has no choice but to turn to the one man she wanted to get as far away from as possible. Colin McDonald was her late husband's friend, and the man who came between them. He's never forgotten her and would do anything to keep her and her family safe.

Rachel doesn't know if she can trust Colin, or her growing feelings for him. but as they hunt for the killer, the tension between them builds and soon both their lives, and their hearts, are on the line.


MY REVIEW
An intriguing story, lots of mystery with a touch of Amish. A real page turner at times and an interesting story about the past. If you like mysteries and/or Amish books I think you will enjoy this as much as I did. Marta did a great job as usual.

[Hendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received my first read book free from goodreads giveaway. This was a very pleasant story about family, but it also included a mystery as well which was a good twist to the book, I enjoyed this story and would read more from this author, thanks for the giveaway which was also a signed copy, I really appreciated this even though I am not a big fan of Amish stories I liked this one and would recommend to family and friends.

[Carolyn E · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, another exciting book from Marta Perry. Home by Dark is the first book in a new Amish series. It is another delightful mystery that takes place in Deer Run, Pennsylvania. I am looking forward to more books in this series. I recommend it to everyone, especially those of you who are fans of Amish fiction.

[Janie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Marta Perry's Amish suspense/mystery stories. This is the 1st book of this series, it's fast paced reading,and keeps you on reading, as the book gets more suspenseful! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Misty Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

** As posted on KindleObsessed blog **

A few weeks ago I was wandering aimlessly through my favorite bookstore when I was struck with this overwhelming need to read a simple (not simple-minded) clean romance.

My husband, who is used to seeing me peruse shelves of a much darker variety (aka: Science Fiction/Fantasy or even Horror) was shocked when he finally found me staring transfixidly at the Christian Fiction aisle. I’m in no way opposed to this section of the store mind you, but it’s a bit of an abnormality to find me hovering in it. Which is (I’m assuming) why instead of asking if I had found something to read I heard the words:

“Are you sick?” instead.

I turned to him, eyebrow cocked (my signature WTF are you talking about facial expression) and waited for further explanation.

Upon further examination, that probably wasn’t necessary. But he indulged me all the same.

“Misty, it’s been YEARS since you have read anything from these aisles, I was almost convinced they were a mirage.”

(For transparency sake, that��s not exactly accurate. I read “The Shack” this summer for the very first time. Please don’t stone me. I bruise easily.)

But it had (in fact) been quite some time since I found myself reaching for a romance that didn’t promise pages or sexy time, but rather a clean approach to family, faith and love.

So why did I choose Marta Perry’s “Home by Dark?” Because it promised mystery as well, and apparently I can’t stray too far from my roots or I go into convulsions. And at the end of the day, though I enjoyed it and found that it curbed my momentary need to be wholesome, I also found that it came with a few flaws. The most notable: emotional detachment.

"Rachel Weaver Mason is finally going home to Deer Run, the Amish community she left behind so many years ago. Recently widowed, she wants desperately to create a haven for herself and her young daughter.

But the community, including Rachel’s family, is anything but welcoming. The only person happy to see her is her teenage brother, Benjamin, and he’s protecting a dark secret that endangers them all.

Determined to keep Benjamin safe from a suspected killer, Rachel has no choice but to turn to the one man she wanted to get as far away from as possible. Colin McDonald was her late husband’s friend, and the man who came between them. He’s never forgotten her and would do anything to keep her and her family safe.

Rachel doesn’t know if she can trust Colin, or her growing feelings for him. But as they hunt for the killer, the tension between them builds and soon both their lives, and their hearts, are on the line."

So, what does “emotional detachment” really mean?

Well, in layman’s terms it means I didn’t connect with the characters.

I’ve always thought (and still do) that for any romance to succeed the reader must be anxious for the characters involved. If (for example) you don’t find yourself excited to see certain character enter the scene, the chances of you maintaining any sort of interest in their overall existence is going to be very limited. If you don’t feel flutters, or your breath doesn’t catch once in a while from certain phrases, then your enthusiasm for their triumph is going to fall flat.

This was the case for me with “Home by Dark.”

Rachel and Colin have a very long, very sordid (apparently) history, but it is barely touched upon. A few paragraphs here and there do not a true romance make. I honestly think if Perry had focused more on the building of both characters (for instance: having a more in depth view of Colin’s feelings after their first (sneak attack) kiss as teenagers) I would have felt more invested. Colin is under Rachel’s feet the entire novel. Each incident is paired with an appearance and conversation, but I had a hard time understanding where his hero complex was coming from. (Aside from physical attraction.) Rachel was not much better. She was living in a perpetual state of jiltedness. Her family, her late husband, her Mother-in-law all had very intense feelings towards her, but they were barely touched upon. They were hinted at, and there were a few bullet points here and there, but nothing to support the amount of animosity she was receiving. (For the record, I do understand the Amish culture and their rules for banishment, I’m not talking about that specifically.) In the end I was happy for both characters, but I wasn’t captivated by them. They were there, they had their moment, I was moving on.

And so was everyone else.

The supporting cast (unlike the leads) were a much more interesting group to follow. Rachel’s best friend (for example) is stuck at home with a codependent mother. Laura (the ex-girlfriend of a long deceased High School heart-throb) was now a self-medicated plastic version of her former self. (FYI- part of the mystery is finding out why.) And even Colin’s dad (who is suffering from dementia) had truly humanizing moments that made it impossible to not feel empathy. As a whole they created a rather magical cast, but they also overshadowed the intended plot line (from time to time.)

As for the plot, it was ok. Nothing outstanding, and nothing that couldn’t be predicted..but what isn’t these days?

There are a few scenes that stand out. Written spectacularly and evoked the intended amount of intense emotion, but for the most part the suspense was an afterthought. And (as much as I hate to admit this about ANY book) it began to drag horribly around the midway point. I felt as if I was going around in a circle when (as a reader) I already knew what was going to happen. Why drag it out?

Now, Negative Nancy aside…I did find some redeeming qualities that I have been missing in most of the romances I have read lately. 1. A true commitment to family. Drama, crazy men with guns and romance aside… Rachel was trying to do what was best for her child. Something I can truly admire. Colin made some of those same sacrifices. 2. There wasn’t an overwhelming need to rush physical contact. Like I said above, this is a clean read, and sometimes…less really can be more. And 3. Attention to humanity. Rachel and Cole didn’t live in a world of their own design. They lived in the real world where there are bills, and responsibilities and things don’t always go as planned. It was refreshing.

So where do I stand on the metaphorical fence?

As author Nikki Kelley would say… “perched on top.”

This book was neither bad or good. It was (ultimately) just something to read when a few free moments presented itself. Some aspects could have been better, and others were spot on.

“Home by Dark” isn’t going to change the world, but it might make you appreciate simpler things most often overlooked.

If that is what you are seeking, this is probably a decent place to find it.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Honesty is often the best policy.

[Elaine Applebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Marta Perry's books! She does such a nice job of interweaving the Amish and Englisch lifestyles. Rachel married out of the Amish community and has returned to her home area, a widow, with a nine-year-old daughter. Her late mother-in-law left her her house, which Rachel is working to turn it into a bed and breakfast. Most of Rachel's family won't have much to do with her since she is no longer Amish, only her teenage brother, Benjamin, will accept her. Benj and a couple of other Amish boys get into a little trouble, but suddenly the boys start turning up missing. Colin was
Rachel's husband's best friend. He is concerned for Rachel and Benj, and starts trying to help solve what is going on. Good characters and plot. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Rachel and her child return home after husband and father is killed in a car crash, she is not welcome. Not shunned by her Amish relatives, but not welcome. Her neighbor reaches out and together they remember "old times" and an old mystery that somehow comes back alive. Rachel finds that she and her daughter are in danger. An enjoyable read and Marta Perry makes the guessing fun.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel and daughter Mandy have been left a home as an inheritance. This is a new life for them. Marta Perry, brings out many events/details in this novel. She creates, suspense, mystery and romance all in one book; leaving you never a dull reading experience. so, looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Marsha Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Follow Rachel Mason and Colin McDonald as they try to solve a mystery and keep her family safe. Also trying to mend relationship with her Amish family. I could not wait to find out what happened and immediately grabbed the next book in the series to continue the adventure.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating romantic suspense

Captivating romantic suspense with creepy villains and likable main characters. Well thought out plot without all the long descriptive sex scenes so many books today seem to have.

[Katie Gamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. I like the Amish culture setting and it was fairly enjoyable summer reading. But the writing is a bit redundant and the plot was predictable. Have a go though is you want a fun, easy mystery read!

[Bernadette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barely managed to make myself finish. Only the mystery made me get to the end. Really disliked the romance part of this story.

[April Suter · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 in the series. Rachel returns to Deer Run with her daughter and finds evil lurking around her home and her brother as she tries to convert her mother-in-law's home into a bed and breakfast.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice clean simple mystery

[Dawn Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book of suspense in an Amish and Englisch community. I really enjoy the way Marta weaves suspense with romance and family relationships.

[JoAnn McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I loved the mix of amish and English! The mystery was really good- lots of twists! A great book!

[Connie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

.Awesome!

Colin and Rachel is a beautiful story involving her late husband's best friend and her daughter and herself. Colin is offering love, protection and saftey!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, can't wait to start the next one!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Marta Perry. I can't wait to read book 2 in this series!

[Lorraine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book.

[Gina Shupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book by this author. Lots of suspense.

[betty copley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't want to stop reading

What a great beginning to a new series! I enjoyed the characters, the tangled webs of people's lives,the petty jealousy, and the beginning of a romance.

[Donna Bagby · Rating 4 out of 5]

did not get to hear story as it was an audio-escape which discontinued on Nov. 1.