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Plain Secrets
RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL “ENGLISHER”
After years on the Philadelphia Police Force, Elijah Miller thought he’d left his Amish past behind. But when the murder of a young Amish girl starts to raise suspicions, Eli has no choice but to investigate. He’ll do his duty, even if it means facing the father who won’t speak to him—and the woman who rejected him.
Hannah Nolt is just as beautiful as Eli remembers, and this time, running away from his feelings for her is no longer an option. Because Hannah’s in danger, and needs protection only Eli can provide.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
28 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Kit Wilkinson
17 books75 followersKit Wilkinson is a former Ph.D. student who once wrote discussions on the medieval feminine voice. She now prefers weaving stories of romance and redemption. Her first inspirational manuscript won the prestigious RWA Golden Heart and sold to Love Inspired.
Kit is a full time teacher of French Language and English Literature. Besides work, she loves hanging out with friends and family, cooking for lots of people, and participating in almost any sport, especially horse back riding. She and her two children reside in central Virginia with their two young children.
Kit is a full time teacher of French Language and English Literature. Besides work, she loves hanging out with friends and family, cooking for lots of people, and participating in almost any sport, especially horse back riding. She and her two children reside in central Virginia with their two young children.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 25, 2012
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in Amish country, this mystery mixes the Plain ways with the outside world when an Amish teen is found dead.
Having left the People without joining the church to become a cop, Elijah is neither Plain nor Englischer. He's brought home from Philadelphia by request of the governor to look into the murder of his former girlfriend's stepdaughter.
Now widowed, Hannah is devastated by the loss of the girl she's mothered for so long. With Eli back among the People, her old feelings confuse her. He's of the world; she will never be.
This is well-written, with sensitivity to the Amish culture and an interesting mystery interwoven. I enjoyed it and will look for other books by Kit Wilkinson.
Having been in a reading group, I found the discussion questions in the back of the book useful and well thought out.
Having left the People without joining the church to become a cop, Elijah is neither Plain nor Englischer. He's brought home from Philadelphia by request of the governor to look into the murder of his former girlfriend's stepdaughter.
Now widowed, Hannah is devastated by the loss of the girl she's mothered for so long. With Eli back among the People, her old feelings confuse her. He's of the world; she will never be.
This is well-written, with sensitivity to the Amish culture and an interesting mystery interwoven. I enjoyed it and will look for other books by Kit Wilkinson.
Having been in a reading group, I found the discussion questions in the back of the book useful and well thought out.
July 26, 2012
I love this book. It is such a great book full of detail that the author spent a lot of time researching about the Amish. To bring a story from the Amish life and mix it with the outside life, it was put together so well.
It is hard for any parent to let their child experience things on their own, but with the Amish and their Rumspringa, I could imagine the feelings and emotions that go thru them. Hannah was a great mother to Jessica and it hurt that Jessica wouldn't open up about the things happening while she was out. Later in the book, we find out the real reason Jessica COULDN'T tell her mom.
I am very happy that it turns out Thomas wasn't as bad as he was. For a little while, I thought Thomas was in leagues with the bad guys but turns out, he was actually helping his niece and wanting to find out what happened with her. That isn't what Amish naturally do so it was really good to see that he did care but couldn't show it quite yet.
As for Elijah, I am glad his father finally respected and was proud of him for choosing to be a cop. Elijah wanted to be a cop after a childhood incident. To have God's way make a full circle for him was truly heartwarming. Hannah was right to be in love with him.
Like the author, I, too love learning about the Amish and their ways. To have it come together definitely made this book one terrific read.
It is hard for any parent to let their child experience things on their own, but with the Amish and their Rumspringa, I could imagine the feelings and emotions that go thru them. Hannah was a great mother to Jessica and it hurt that Jessica wouldn't open up about the things happening while she was out. Later in the book, we find out the real reason Jessica COULDN'T tell her mom.
I am very happy that it turns out Thomas wasn't as bad as he was. For a little while, I thought Thomas was in leagues with the bad guys but turns out, he was actually helping his niece and wanting to find out what happened with her. That isn't what Amish naturally do so it was really good to see that he did care but couldn't show it quite yet.
As for Elijah, I am glad his father finally respected and was proud of him for choosing to be a cop. Elijah wanted to be a cop after a childhood incident. To have God's way make a full circle for him was truly heartwarming. Hannah was right to be in love with him.
Like the author, I, too love learning about the Amish and their ways. To have it come together definitely made this book one terrific read.
July 25, 2016
Loved it! Interesting mystery.
October 12, 2020
Plain Secrets is an amazing suspense filled mystery written by Kit Wilkinson. This story starts off with the murder of a teenage Amish girl. She was found by her stepmother in a stall in their barn. She has been beaten and her throat slit. While her stepmother is in the barn she encounters an unknown assailant who shoves her around and leaves in a black sedan. Although the family doesn't want an investigation into her death the chief decides to enlist the help thru the govenor to bring back the Bishops son who has left the Amish and is now a police officer. When Elijah Miller arrives at the farm he realizes he will be working with his former girlfriend Hannah Nolt. Stepping from his car and meeting Hannah on the sidewalk shots ring out just missing them. This starts the journey to find Jessica's killer but Hannah and the Amish community are anything but helpful. Elijah knows the danger Hannah is in and knowing she refused to help makes his job even more difficult. This story is so full of deadly attempts, mysterious attackers, and finally an amazing conclusion that the reader will be left totally shocked at the outcome. Forgiveness plays a crucial roll throughout this story but not just because of the murder. The author has done an amazing job developing just the right characters to tell this story and one of them which may not be very likeable may just surprise you in the end.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others. All opinions are mine alone.
Congratulations to Kit Wilkinson for writing such a wonderful mystery for all readers enjoyment. This was my first story by this author but I will definitely be reading the next one.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others. All opinions are mine alone.
Congratulations to Kit Wilkinson for writing such a wonderful mystery for all readers enjoyment. This was my first story by this author but I will definitely be reading the next one.
February 28, 2013
This mediocre book could have been a really good one with a little bit of proofreading, editing, and helpful hints from friends or a good police consultant. It was better than your average generic re-cycled bonnet romance plot with a little more danger and mystery, but it succeeded much better in the romance part than the suspense part--which was chock full of holes and hokey. It really bothered me how people would mysteriously show up at places they couldn't have known about, at homes of people they didn't know existed, specifically to find someone that they had no way of knowing was there. ESP? It also bothered me that they came by totally silent cars--like when the bad guys surprised the heroes at the hunting cabin deep in the silent woods arriving by a car that no one heard coming. No plausible explanation of how the bad guys knew to find them in that secret place, of course. How about when the creep attends an Amish gathering and nobody, except Daniel, in the close-knit community where everybody knows everybody noticed--"hey, there's a strange Englisher here who doesn't speak Deutsche but is dressed Amish and pretending to be a member of our ordnung," at a time when several violent crimes have occurred in their previously crime-free community putting people on edge? Multiply things like that by about 100 and you get the idea--way too many aspects made no sense--it seemed almost like paranormal fiction with people having special senses but totally lacking basic human common sense. This was a generally entertaining read interrupted by way too many annoying goofs; a well-developed romance interrupted by a really poorly-developed mystery. Recommended only for romance readers who have never read a quality mystery by someone who is knowledgable about police procedures.
February 14, 2013
Elijah Miller, a detective with the Philadelphia police force, thought he left his Amish past behind. But he is sent back to the community where his family still lives to investigate the murder of an Amish teenager, and her step mother, Hannah, just happens to be his former girlfriend who rejected him. He also has to face his father, who quit speaking to him when he left the community. Hannah is just as beautiful as he remembers, but this time, he cannot run away from his feelings, because she is in danger and needs his protection.
This is a well paced mystery, and the romance part of the story was well done also. I liked how the author conveyed a sense of danger throughout the story without going into graphic violence. It kept me guessing throughout what was really going on with Hannah's step daughter and who the murderer was.
This is a well paced mystery, and the romance part of the story was well done also. I liked how the author conveyed a sense of danger throughout the story without going into graphic violence. It kept me guessing throughout what was really going on with Hannah's step daughter and who the murderer was.
May 19, 2012
This one gets 5-plus stars; I loved it!!
I have never read anything by Kit Wilkinson before. I really enjoyed this one. I hope we will be seeing more from this author, perhaps a sequel to Plain Secrets. I hated to see this one end.
I highly recommend it to everyone, especially to all lovers of Amish fiction.
I have never read anything by Kit Wilkinson before. I really enjoyed this one. I hope we will be seeing more from this author, perhaps a sequel to Plain Secrets. I hated to see this one end.
I highly recommend it to everyone, especially to all lovers of Amish fiction.
November 22, 2012
I love Amish stories but I'm not into romance at all. At least with this series (Love Inspired Suspense) there's suspense and a plot to hold onto. Would love to find straight suspense in an Amish setting. Nice story, though.
June 1, 2012
A very sweet book with an interesting mystery to be solved, though what was going to happen with the couple was pretty obvious.
Want to read
August 18, 2012I live in Amish Country and have an Amish babysitter. Would love to win this book!
February 6, 2017
BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
After years on the Philadelphia Police Force, Elijah Miller thought he'd left his Amish past behind. But when the murder of a young Amish girl starts to raise suspicions, Eli has no choice but to investigate. He'll do his duty, even if it means facing the father who won't speak to him--and the woman who rejected him. Hannah Nolt is just as beautiful as Eli remembers, and this time, running away from his feelings for her is no longer an option. Because Hannah's in danger, and needs protection only Eli can provide.
MY REVIEW
I really enjoyed this book, Kit did a great job of telling this story and not letting you know everything until the very end. Just try and figure out who, what and why, I couldn't do it. She does feed you bits of information here and there, just enough so you think you 'might' know the answers. Highly recommended if you like mysteries and/or Amish books.
After years on the Philadelphia Police Force, Elijah Miller thought he'd left his Amish past behind. But when the murder of a young Amish girl starts to raise suspicions, Eli has no choice but to investigate. He'll do his duty, even if it means facing the father who won't speak to him--and the woman who rejected him. Hannah Nolt is just as beautiful as Eli remembers, and this time, running away from his feelings for her is no longer an option. Because Hannah's in danger, and needs protection only Eli can provide.
MY REVIEW
I really enjoyed this book, Kit did a great job of telling this story and not letting you know everything until the very end. Just try and figure out who, what and why, I couldn't do it. She does feed you bits of information here and there, just enough so you think you 'might' know the answers. Highly recommended if you like mysteries and/or Amish books.
October 10, 2025
A cozy mystery about Hannah and Elijah. Hannah's stepdaughter is murdered. The Amish way is to accept God's will and continue on with life. Elijah is ex-Amish, (he left the order because Hannah suddenly decided to marry another Amish man) and is now a detective. He is sent by the Govenor to figure out what happened and why. A good cozy mystery with a happy ending.
Read
March 25, 2017It was a good book if you like to read about the Amish.
April 26, 2022
Loved this! Wish there were more in the series.
May 19, 2022
4.5 Stars
March 5, 2013
I truly liked it.A thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in Amish country, this mystery mixes the Plain ways with the outside world when an Amish teen is found dead.
Having left the People without joining the church to become a cop, Elijah is neither Plain nor Englischer. The inner struggles of all the charters are touched on and it makes the story very interesting.
Having left the People without joining the church to become a cop, Elijah is neither Plain nor Englischer. The inner struggles of all the charters are touched on and it makes the story very interesting.
September 29, 2015
Despite the English influence in this read which is not a favorite of mine in Amish genre; I found this book quite suspenseful and page turning. Maybe not what I would call Amish Fiction but still quite good.
February 8, 2015
Liked the suspense in the plot, but could have done without the romance, it mostly repeated over and over how much she(Hannah) still had feelings for this other character,it got boring. I didn't care for her character.
Read
April 28, 2013Very good book. Couldn't put it down. Very suspenseful.
July 14, 2015
I didn't know how this book was going to go because I had never heard of the author before but feel in love with the book and the author! Very easy read and love the story and the mystery!
April 27, 2015
Started it late this morning and finished about a half hour ago. Held my attention. just the right amount of romance and suspense
April 15, 2017
Loved this book. Had me from the first page,
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews