The Buggy Before the Horse

Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries #3

by Tricia Goyer

As Thanksgiving approaches, many businesses along Sugarcreek’s Main Street have reported incidents of theft! With the safety of her gift shop's inventory at stake, Cheryl becomes motivated to get to the bottom of these crimes. Her investigation leads to many potential suspects, including an individual who has been secretly living out of Naomi and Seth Miller’s winter buggy! Will Cheryl find the culprit before the residents of Sugarcreek suffer more serious economic casualties?

Genres: Amish, Mystery, Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Christian, Fiction

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Reviews

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good story.

My mind has been restless lately and this lighthearted book kept me interested.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Tricia Goyer keeps reader's guessing in The Buggy Before the Horse. Many shops in Sugarcreek have discovered that items were missing from their inventories in the weeks leading up to the holidays. No one has actually caught anyone stealing merchandise but still local shops keep reporting things missing .
Something strange has been happening at the Miller farm. Seth finds evidence that someone has been sleeping in his winter buggy. Levi discovers that canned peaches have been taken from their farmhouse cellar. Who would do this and why would they be sleeping in the Miller's Amish buggy? Was the family in danger of falling into harm from this unknown intruder? Could this intruder be the same person that has been shoplifting from the shops in Sugarcreek ?
Tricia Goyer did a good job of keeping this reader glued to the pages as I tried to guess who the thief was. I have always enjoyed the Sugar creek Amish Mysteries. Cheryl Cooper and Naomi Miller , armature sleuths , always solve these mysteries no matter how tough they are. This one was solved two chapters before the end leaving the author reflecting on God's blessing on the characters in the story.
If you love solving mysteries you will like The Buggy Before the Horse. It's put out by Guide post Publishing and there are approximately 30 books to the series, so readers have a long while to spend time with the characters they meet while reading these mysteries.
I hope you will decide to become acquainted with the shop owners and characters that make up this series.
I borrowed this book frown the local library. A review wasn't requested. All opinion expressed are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is getting close to Thanksgiving and the store is getting busy. Cheryl finds that someone is sleeping in her friends barn and is very concerned about their safety while they are concerned about someone out in the cold. The stores in town are finding missing items daily. Cheryl wonders if it is the odd man asking for hand outs, the person staying in the barn or a young woman who follows people around writing in a notebook. She is also worried about her aunt whose letter sound very homesick.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say enough how much I enjoy this sweet, easy-on-the-heart series. I love the characters. I love that they feel real, relate-able emotions and inner conflicts. I love that the mysteries aren't as dark as most mystery series are (even when they're cozies) and that the overarching story lines that weave from book to book move at a realistic pace. I love that there a life lessons and faith lessons built in that feel natural and not at all forced. In this particular mystery, there are two mysteries to unravel, as well as a question of whether or not they are connected. I had my (correct) suspicions on whodunnit, but the way it played out was still very enjoyable. I can't wait to see what Cheryl and Naomi get into next as mysteries surface in Sugarcreek.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

I've really grown to love the families in this sweet series. Even though its a cozy mystery, there's love, friendship, fears, and truths that will make the reader laugh and cry.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buggy Beforethe Horse is an exceptional story of mystery and intrigue written by Tricia Goyer. This is the third book in the Sugarcreek Amish Mystery series. We are back in Sugarcreek Ohio and to the main characters for this series. The mystery involves a couple of separate mysteries but when all plays out the suspects list is extremely long.

Someone is sleeping in Seth and Naomi Miller's winter buggy plus helping themself to contents from their farmhouse cellar. At the same town someone is stealing from the town merchants. Could it be one in the same person. Suspects are a troubled foster child, an Amish handyman, a homeless shelter volunteer, and a young female backpacker. Cheryl Cooper and Naomi are hot on the tracks after several notes and clues are being left for them. When items start disappearing from Cheryl's Swiss Miss shop she is even more determined to catch the person. Cheryl is also concerned for Naomi's family's safety. When this mystery is unravelled so many things come to light that has everyone shaking their heads.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.

Congratulations to Tricia Goyer on writing such a suspenseful mystery for her readers enjoyment.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun whodunit!
My first time reading an Amish mystery, but it won't be my last. As you guess at who could be committing the crimes, you learn not to judge a book by its' cover.
Cheryl is a nice lady in the story, but she assumed many times based on appearances and circumstances, the wrong people may have done the crimes. All along, it was the one person that she never gave a second glance to. Not only did Cheryl learn not to be so judgmental, but the reader does to. The idea is to look for signs, not assume them.
I loved the setting of Sugarcreek too. Seems like a great, close-knit community. I'm surprised a series of mysteries can come from such a place, but look forward to reading more Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries.

[Jane]

Starts with an Amish proverb " A happy home is more than a roof over your head, it's a foundation under your feet." Cheryl's Aunt has gone to the Mission Field and left her in charge of Swiss Miss, a shop in Sugar Creek. Cheryl is English in an Amish area. Naomi, Amish, works in shop part time and supplies homemade candles and preserves. Through the story is two mysteries. One is who is sleeping in the Miller's buggy? And who is stealing from the shops? In the end Cheryl realizes she has found a home in Sugar reek and also friends. Love and faith do more to build a home than four walls. Both mysteries are solves. When one first moves to a new place they wonder whether they will ever belong Things change in life but God will be there in all the changes.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, easy read. An enjoyable look into the Amish lifestyle through the eyes of an English friend. Cheryl is running her aunt's store while she's off an a mission. Some of the employees are Amish and she's even taken a shine to one of the Amish men. I can't quite see how the relationship could work out for them but am going to be reading more in the series to find out what happens.

[Deliasue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 of the Sugar Creek Amish Series. by Tricia Goyer.

Cheryl, the owner of Swiss Miss is a sleuth, she hears from her Amish friend Naomi who loves to sleuth also, that someone is living in their barn, and also robberies are taking place all over town, almost every store has been robbed of amish items..... who is doing this.???? Cheryl and Naomi is on the trail.. good read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd book in the Sugarcreek Amish Mystery series. I'm really enjoying this Amish mystery series and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. It's a good clean Amish mystery with some great characters and interesting storyline.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still like the series and the characters. The "sleuthing" in this book was a little ridiculous and a lot of it occurred in Cheryl's mind, so that was a little annoying. I was more interested in the side stories than the actual mystery in this book.

[Angela Ross Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book series. Must read series. I now share the books with my pre-teen niece who loves reading and it squelches some of the behavior. Try it with a young person today, help teach new skills

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read in the series, Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. Items are being stolen from the shops in Sugarcreek at Thanksgiving time. Cheryl sets out to discover who the thief is.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the mystery of the book

[Anissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series just the right amount mystery and a little romance

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd book in series. This story takes place around Thanksgiving time. 3 new people have come to Sugarcreek. At this time some of the shops on main street have started noticing items missing from their shelves. Also someone has broken into the Millers buggy shed and root cellar on farm. So the 3 new people seem to be acting suspicious, are they involved in these incidents? Cheryl and Naomi start to finds answers to some of the question. Of course we have Levi and Esther helping them out. First is the new foster teen Gage, with the bookstore owners The Berryhills. Then there is an Amish bachelor that has come town looking for odd jobs while checking up on his brother. He seems very nice. about that same time a girl shows up at the Swiss Miss acting kind of strange. She seems to be watching everyone and taking down notes in a notebook like she's casing out the joint. Also being suspicious isn a man Johnson {Cheryl thinks its Mr Johnson} going from shop to shop for donations to help a women's shelter for Christmas. they all are suspects.

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is sleeping in the Millers' winter buggy. The Millers' have left a note to let the person know that they are willing to help if someone needs help. No one has come to them and now the someone seems to be sleeping in the barn. Also someone around town is stealing from the many of the shops. The police have been notified, but they have no leads. The team of Naomi and Cheryl team up again to solve the mysteries? Will it turn out to be one person? Two? Cheryl is getting concerned that the Millers' aren't taking things seriously enough? They will solve this but who will it be? The theme seems to be hospitality and gratitude.

Using this book for the The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge prompt #5 - Plot includes a heist

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanksgiving is the setting for the latest installment of this series. Someone is stealing expensive small items from the merchants. Someone is sleeping in the Miller's buggy shed. Are they the same person? The story reminds of those who are alone during the holiday season and how hard it can be. The theme is always someone struggling and there are small and big ways to help them out.
Another good read.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a new source for this Guidepost series so I am starting again. This third book has Cheryl trying to figure out who is shoplifting from Sugarcreek shops. Is it the person sleeping in the Millers Winter buggy? is it Man who says he is collecting for the battered women's shelter, he does have a jar of Naomi's peaches in his box. Cheryl gets to feeling like she is watching her customers not serving them.

[Judy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you sleep when you know someone is sleeping in your buggy barn. Who could be robbing the stores in town, is it the same person sleeping in the barn. There are some strangers in town, but who could it be. Cheryll and Naomi decide to find out. Great novel with a lot of twists

[Cathi Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, intricate who-done-it burglary solving mystery for the Sugarcreek crew! Tugs at the heartstrings and clearly augments the simplicity one seeks for one's soul and mind. Tender, engaging, lovely book within the series!

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super fun cozy mystery to read during the Fall months that will keep you engaged and questioning who the suspect is until the very end and where you will fall in love with the characters and want to return to Sugarcreek sooner than you think.

[Cora Mabry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series! It’s always nice to find a cozy mystery that doesn’t involve murder 👏🏻 All the characters in these books are so likable and fun to read about. The setting in Amish country is great too!

Can’t wait to read the next book!

[Abby (Hersh.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and slightly convicting, considering the forgiving Amish characters in the book.

[Sandie Mixa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit

[Becky haxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this whole series

[Julie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a great little mystery book. It keeps you busy trying to figure out who is the thief of the Amish store's. Can't wait to read #4!!

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars