Plain Peril

Apple Creek #2

by Alison Stone

KILLER IN AMISH COUNTRYD

After her sister is found dead and her brother-in-law goes missing, Hannah Wittmer rushes back to the Amish community she abandoned to care for her young nieces. Although she makes every effort to blend in, she's still seen as an outsider—and quickly attracts the attention of a killer. She knows Sheriff Spencer Maxwell is fast on the murderer's tracks, but the Amish townspeople are as suspicious of him as they are of Hannah. As threats escalate—now targeting Hannah and the handsome sheriff—they'll follow any trail to uncover a vicious criminal. Even if that trail leads them right to their own backyard…

Genres: Amish, Romance, Mystery, Love Inspired Suspense, Christian Fiction, Harlequin, Love Inspired

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 30, 2015

About the author

Alison Stone writes sweet romance, cozy mysteries, and inspirational romantic suspense, some of which contain bonnets and buggies.

Alison often refers to herself as the "accidental Amish author." She decided to try her hand at the genre after an editor put a call out for more Amish romantic suspense. Intrigued—and who doesn't love the movie Witness with Harrison Ford?—Alison dug into research, including visits to the Amish communities in Western New York where she lives. This sparked numerous story ideas, the first leading to her debut novel with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. Four subsequent Love Inspired Suspense titles went on to earn RT magazine's TOP PICK! designation, their highest ranking.

When Alison’s not plotting ways to bring mayhem to Amish communities, she’s writing inspirational romantic suspense with a more modern setting, sweet romances, and cozy mysteries, including her new Murphy's Dance Academy series. In order to meet her deadlines, she has to block the internet and hide her smartphone.

Married and the mother of four (almost) grown kids, Alison lives in the suburbs of Buffalo where the summers are gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a book—or writing one.

Reviews

[Michelle Stagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was a really good book, and I just couldn't put it down. Really great characters in it and I also liked the name of the town they lived in, Apple Creek. Another great read for me!

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plain Peril is a wonderful story written by Alison Stone. I love this authors writing style. She has a way of drawing the reader in within the first few pages and doesn't let go of them until the conclusion. Her characters are very likeable except for a few but then who can like murderers? When Hannah receives news of her sisters passing she rushes back to her community to raise her two young nieces. Where is their dad no one knows but they wonder if he has lost all his faculties. When Hannah starts being harassed she doesn't know if she can commit to staying Amish. As the plot unravels several things have happened, the cutting of elders beards, shredding of clothes, and yes even murder. As Hannah tries to deal with all that is happening she has a foot in two worlds and refuses to give up custody of her nieces. Will she pull them to the English world for their safety or remain Amish for their upbringing? There is never a lull in this story and will keep the readers interest.

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 my own.

Congratulations to Alison Stone for another fantastic mystery for her readers enjoyment.

[Harlequin Books]

"This well-researched tale with an engaging pace is second in Stone’s series. It contains sweet romance, palpable suspense and reminds the reader that violence can exist anywhere, even amongst the typically peaceful Amish people" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars TOP PICK!).

[Lori Wilen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this was second in a series when I read it, but it was great to read as a stand alone. I gave this 4.5 stars but rounded down to 4. I really liked how the author mixed in the Englisch world with the Amish world and thought she did it well. I think my reason for the star rating is that I believe the Amish to be pacifists so it was a surprise to have a character who was Amish and a murderer. I have to accept that may there are one or two in the Amish community who have resorted to crime. I liked the characters. I thought the little girls were adorable. I liked the writing, the conversations, the setting and practically everything else about this book. It was a very good read and might be a good introduction to somebody who has never read Amish fiction before.

[Vera Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your normal Amish Book. When Hannah got news her sister found dead, thought a tragic accident. But after getting there to take care of her nieces, found out was a murder. She wasn't welcome. Hannah was raised Amish, but had left home years ago.

Didn't seem the Amish even wanted to give her a chance to take care of the girls. Strange things begin to happen, to try and get her to leave. Wanted her to leave and leave the girls behind with others to raise Amish. But her sister had ask her to take care of them??

To me this was a rather sad story, think someone could be this mean. But did finish. If you enjoy murder mystery, should enjoy reading.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting novel because it shows how someone who has left the Amish way of life is treated when she returns home. Heather Wittmer returns to the Amish community to care for her dead sister's little girls. She faces a lot of opposition from the Amish and even considers running away from the situation. Sheriff Spencer Maxwell is determined to help Heather and urges her to stay. Unfortunately, there are several people who would want to see her leave, and Heather and Spencer must work to find out who is trying to scare Heather enough to leave. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenges: Categorically Romance Readathon 2021 - Summer cover; takes place in summer (5, Love Inspired Suspense Inspirational Romance); Reading Goal Posts/Stacking the Series - Priority Four/Tier Nine. Although the main character waffles quite a bit, the storyline does a good job contrasting those who take religious fervor to strict fanaticism and those who base the strength of their faith in love and kindness. A strong second book in the series which takes place in an Amish community in western upstate New York.

[kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book written by the author. It was interesting learning a bit about the Amish. Quite the quandary our main character Hannah faces whether to continue to be outside the Amish community or to return to it. The loss of her sister and later on her mother’s ill health are plenty to cope with! All this along with coping with somebody who is doing hate crimes in the Amish community. So much going on! I do like how it ended!

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the fact that Hannah was struggling with whether or not to rejoin the Amish community she chose to run away from. Spencer's ability to work with the Amish as an Englisher sheriff made the two of them a good match. I loved Sarah and Emma's gradual acceptance of Hannah as their caretaker after their mother's death. My only issue with the novel was how rapidly things moved with the bad guys at the end.

[kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was interesting for me to learn a bit about the Amish culture. The love story was very sweet. Lots of tension! A pleasant read without anything too graphic or sexual.

[Megan Rang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Amish story had everything! It had murder, mystery, love and more. A fantastic read!!!

[Heather Talledo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read. Enjoyable characters. Didn’t want to put it down

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Can’t wait to start the next one in the series.

[Tien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unbelievably, I'm reading this series completely out of order. Not by intent but rather accidentally as the first book I read (which was the 7th book in the series) was not noted as being part of a series until I found out it's part of this series & fixed that. Feeling a little messed up but now I realised that they're not connected at all. It appears each book can stand on its own: different characters in all though some characters may make an appearance or two in other books and stories / mysteries are completely separate. There is no overall arc in the series so each book can be comfortably read as stand alone. Only the setting, Apple Creek, is the common denominator in all.

In this novel, Hannah Wittmer returned to Apple Creek following her sister's death. Even though she left the Amish community in her teens, she has promised her sister to look after her nieces should the worst happened. She's not completely happy in her non-Amish life but even as she finds some comfort in the old familiar things, she cannot see herself becoming Amish. Yet, she has her nieces' welfare to consider... In addition to this concern, someone is trying to hurt her.

Another easy single sitting read for a rainy day. Mystery was okay. Romance was also okay. Not something I'd rave about but it was enough distraction, indoors, for a few hours today.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enthralling mystery carries a distinctly sinister tone. Apple Creek is definitely not your warm and fuzzy Amish community. In fact the Amish are downright unapproachable. Very different from the typical Amish stories out there. This community is closing ranks and they treat Hannah as an unwanted outsider even though she grew up among them. That leaves her struggling not only with her grief over her sister's untimely death, but with the harsh rebuffing of former friends and neighbours. With incredible courage, Hannah bears their overt scrutiny as she endeavours to live within the strict boundaries of the ordnung so that she can care for her abandoned nieces. And if that isn't challenging enough, she has to contend with escalating threats from someone who is trying to force her to leave. Talk about page-turning suspense!

That brings me to our hero, Sheriff Spencer Maxwell. Be still my heart! He tries to keep a professional distance but he can't ignore the fact that he's immediately drawn to Hannah. There's a crackle of romantic tension right from their first meet and as the story progresses, so does their relationship. And that makes Spencer's investigation personal. Tension and danger abound as this fast paced suspense races to a surprising conclusion.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
After her sister is found dead and her brother-in-law goes missing, Hannah Wittmer rushes back to the Amish community she abandoned to care for her young nieces. Although she makes every effort to blend in, she's still seen as an outsider--and quickly attracts the attention of a killer. She knows Sheriff Spencer Maxwell is fast on the murderer's tracks, but the Amish townspeople are as suspicious of him as they are of Hannah. As threats escalate--now targeting Hannah and the handsome sheriff--they'll follow any trail to uncover a vicious criminal. Even if that trail leads them right to their own backyard...

MY REVIEW
A great mystery and you get to enjoy both worlds, the Amish and the Englisch. Alison wrote this with more than one or two suspects so you do keep guessing until the end. You think it's this person, then another, now back to the first one and then another one pops up.

I don't remember reading any of Alison's books before but I will surely be on the lookout for them now. I see three definites that she has already written that I want! I hope others will enjoy this book as much as I did.

[Alexa Verde · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in Plain Peril by Alison Stone are great and very relatable, and I found the heroine's struggle to fit in and to belong similar to the one many of us go through. It's also always interesting to read about the world that exists near us and yet so different from our own. Hannah has left the Amish community for the outside world to escape her verbally abusive father and find her own place in life. She returns to the home she grew up in to care for her nieces after her sister's death, but Hannah is still town between two worlds. Sheriff Spencer Maxwell is drawn to Hannah, but he belongs to the outside world, and Hannah does her best to embrace her Amish ways for the sake of her nieces. But soon it becomes obvious that her sister's death was no accident and that someone wants Hannah to leave the Amish community. Hannah's life is in danger...

Plain Peril is a great book, and I look forward to reading the next book by Alison Stone

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Amish Fiction and Mysteries then this book is for you. Hannah comes home to take care of her sisters two girls. Her sister dies in a grain silo which later turns out to be murder. Her brother in law has disappears. Hannah's car tires are slashed. Then brother in law is found dead from apparent suicide. Other things start happening to try and scare Hannah away. But with the help of the local sheriff they try to sort out who is doing these things. Alison had me guessing to the end. I love this book and look forward to read more Amish Mystery Fiction by Alison Stone.

[April Suter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #2

Hannah comes home to her mother and nieces in Apple Creek Amish community after her sister is killed and her brother-in-law is missing. She finds out her safety is in jeopardy but Sheriff Spencer Maxwell is there to protect her while they find out who is doing such horrible things in the community.

Book #1 is Plain Pursuit

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me stress, I think that is the sign of a good author. I would not have wanted to be in the same situation as Hannah was. The only niggle I had with the book was that it seemed like the two main characters (Hannah & Spencer) fell in love without much interaction. But this still was an excellent book and I would recommend it to any one.

I bought this book with my own money.

[Carolyn E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting story by Alison Stone. I enjoyed it. Hoping to read more by this author.

[Harlequin Books]

received 4 1/2 stars TOP PICK! @ RT Book Reviews

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was good too,it is an amish book too.