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Appleseed Creek #4
A Plain Malice
“Flower has hit it out of the ballpark with this series and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life."- 4 1/2 stars Top Pick RT Book Reviews about A Plain Disappearance
The Amish community in Appleseed Creek’s new bishop believes the best way to help his district in the struggling economy is to increase tourism. He invites Blue Suede Tours from Mississippi to visit the community and asks his district to host the southern visitors. The Troyer family agrees to participate in the tour with an old-fashioned milking demonstration on the family’s dairy farm. But when two Mississippians die during the milk taste test, the local police chief believes someone poisoned them, and Timothy Troyer’s father is her number suspect. Computer whiz, Chloe Humphrey, jumps onto the tour bus as an undercover tour guide in order to prove her boyfriend’s father is innocent despite the Troyer family’s reservations about her and Timothy’s relationship. If they solve crime, will Chloe and Timothy finally prove that they belong together or will the investigation be the final act to tear them apart?
The Amish community in Appleseed Creek’s new bishop believes the best way to help his district in the struggling economy is to increase tourism. He invites Blue Suede Tours from Mississippi to visit the community and asks his district to host the southern visitors. The Troyer family agrees to participate in the tour with an old-fashioned milking demonstration on the family’s dairy farm. But when two Mississippians die during the milk taste test, the local police chief believes someone poisoned them, and Timothy Troyer’s father is her number suspect. Computer whiz, Chloe Humphrey, jumps onto the tour bus as an undercover tour guide in order to prove her boyfriend’s father is innocent despite the Troyer family’s reservations about her and Timothy’s relationship. If they solve crime, will Chloe and Timothy finally prove that they belong together or will the investigation be the final act to tear them apart?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2014
38 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Flower
61 books2,945 followersAmanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 16, 2017
This book ended very emotionally for me. I knew what was going on throughout the book and mostly how it was going to end, I just didn't imagine how many of my heart strings it would pull. I'm sad it is the last book in this collection because I enjoyed it quite a bit. Chloe, Greta, Grandpa... they were all great characters.
November 12, 2020
Because this writer has so many other series/books, I'm not sure if she'll do any more new ones in this series which is a shame. I really like these characters.
interesting mystery. poor Chloe, she just keeps coming across dead bodies since she's moved to appleseed creek. you wonder if it's her or the place?
I liked the story being centered around a bus of tourists that do "Amish tours". It was a nice perspective on what that experience would be like.
I liked where timothy & becky's relationship has developed.
My one negative was that the ending wasn't as concise as i like. I'm hoping it means there'll be more to come for this series.
interesting mystery. poor Chloe, she just keeps coming across dead bodies since she's moved to appleseed creek. you wonder if it's her or the place?
I liked the story being centered around a bus of tourists that do "Amish tours". It was a nice perspective on what that experience would be like.
I liked where timothy & becky's relationship has developed.
My one negative was that the ending wasn't as concise as i like. I'm hoping it means there'll be more to come for this series.
September 28, 2019
A Plain Malice is the last book in Amanda Flowers Appleseed Creek series. I think she saved the best till last. Lots of twist and turns in this murder mystery. The author kept readers guessing almost to the end where she practically gave it away. I was sure then who the real murderer was. But then Amanda threw other clues at us and I sort of started guessing again. I even forgot about thinking I knew who it was. I'm not going to say anymore about this as I want you to be as puzzled about whodunit as I was. No spoilers here.
Other parts of the story brings readers up to date on Timothy and Chloe's relationship and if there will be a future for them. Can a former Amish man and a computer geek have much in common. And what about Curt now that he's changed ? Has he really changed or is he just trying to turn Chloe's head. Let's not forget Becky, Timothy's younger sister who also jumped the fence. Will she go back to the Amish and reconcile with her family?
I really enjoy a nice cozy mystery. This is the first series by Amanda Flower that I have read. I will be reading more. The author has researched the Amish communities mentioned in this story very well . She had the ability to keep this reader's mind from wandering off to other things . In fact I was glued to the pages.
This book is excellent for readers of Cozy mystery and Amish Fiction. It's clean read and doesn't contain bad language. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I did.
I've had this entire series stored in the cloud of my Kindle Fire for years. Curiosity finally won over and I put them on my want to read shelf. All opinions shared here are my own. I was not asked to give a review but since I loved these books I chose to do so.
Other parts of the story brings readers up to date on Timothy and Chloe's relationship and if there will be a future for them. Can a former Amish man and a computer geek have much in common. And what about Curt now that he's changed ? Has he really changed or is he just trying to turn Chloe's head. Let's not forget Becky, Timothy's younger sister who also jumped the fence. Will she go back to the Amish and reconcile with her family?
I really enjoy a nice cozy mystery. This is the first series by Amanda Flower that I have read. I will be reading more. The author has researched the Amish communities mentioned in this story very well . She had the ability to keep this reader's mind from wandering off to other things . In fact I was glued to the pages.
This book is excellent for readers of Cozy mystery and Amish Fiction. It's clean read and doesn't contain bad language. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I did.
I've had this entire series stored in the cloud of my Kindle Fire for years. Curiosity finally won over and I put them on my want to read shelf. All opinions shared here are my own. I was not asked to give a review but since I loved these books I chose to do so.
July 16, 2016
The final book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series. You don't need to read the other three though in order to enjoy this one. Of course, if you have you'll be thrilled to be back in this lively Amish community among some truly memorable characters. (I squealed when Grandfather Zook showed up on the scene.) Love the combination of cozy mystery in an Amish setting.
We're back inside Chloe's head since this story is told entirely from her first person perspective. And that is definitely an entertaining place to be. As her friend observes, Chloe is "a magnet for dead people." Not the best way to win friends and influence people, especially among boyfriend, Timothy's Amish family. They are having a hard enough time coping with their son's departure from their faith, but now that he has an Englisher girlfriend (with a Nancy Drew flare), all hopes of his return are lost. She's trying to build bridges and clearing Timothy's father as a murder suspect seems a good way to do it. Cue the diabolical laughter and heavy-handed organ music. Da, da, da, da , duuummm....
Murder, mayhem and a crackerjack collection of suspects make this a rollicking read and stupendous conclusion to a stellar cozy mystery series.
We're back inside Chloe's head since this story is told entirely from her first person perspective. And that is definitely an entertaining place to be. As her friend observes, Chloe is "a magnet for dead people." Not the best way to win friends and influence people, especially among boyfriend, Timothy's Amish family. They are having a hard enough time coping with their son's departure from their faith, but now that he has an Englisher girlfriend (with a Nancy Drew flare), all hopes of his return are lost. She's trying to build bridges and clearing Timothy's father as a murder suspect seems a good way to do it. Cue the diabolical laughter and heavy-handed organ music. Da, da, da, da , duuummm....
Murder, mayhem and a crackerjack collection of suspects make this a rollicking read and stupendous conclusion to a stellar cozy mystery series.
May 10, 2021
A tour bus from Mississippi goes to the Troyer's farm so see how the Amish live. As Simon Troyer is showing how to milk a cow, two of the tourists drop dead. Now the police and the Ohio Department of Health are all over the Troyer farm. Chloe is called in by Chief Rose to take the place of the deceased tour guide so she can keep the tourists in Knox County to complete her investigation. With the chief's blessings, Chloe investigates and lets the chief know the results of her investigation.
I loved this book. I liked that the Chief could work with Chloe. I also liked how things are changing within the Troyer family. I love Grandfather Zook. He is not the staid buttoned-down Amish grandfather. He has a sense of humor that comes out and gets the family through some of the traumas that have befallen them and their community. He and Chloe are great together. I love Timothy and how he has to walk a fine line between his Amish upbringing and what Chloe wants, needs, and expects. He does not always succeed but he and she work it out. Some of the secondary tourists were a riot, especially Gertie and her fish jerky.
The story was good and I had a hard time putting it down. I did not figure out the murderer until the end. Sad!
I hope this is not the last book of the series. I love these characters.
I loved this book. I liked that the Chief could work with Chloe. I also liked how things are changing within the Troyer family. I love Grandfather Zook. He is not the staid buttoned-down Amish grandfather. He has a sense of humor that comes out and gets the family through some of the traumas that have befallen them and their community. He and Chloe are great together. I love Timothy and how he has to walk a fine line between his Amish upbringing and what Chloe wants, needs, and expects. He does not always succeed but he and she work it out. Some of the secondary tourists were a riot, especially Gertie and her fish jerky.
The story was good and I had a hard time putting it down. I did not figure out the murderer until the end. Sad!
I hope this is not the last book of the series. I love these characters.
July 30, 2016
I read this on the Kindle
This is the 4th & final book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series
I really enjoy this one & even guess the murderer this time before it was revealed
You have murders plus the Amish side of the story in that you have Becky who is sister to Timothy who is courting Chloe they left the Amish their family are still hoping that they will return to their faith
Grandfather Zook is a great character in this series, & Chloe gets on with him well, in this one Chloe wants to clear Timothy's father of murder when 2 people die which turns out to be poison added to the milk that he has for the tourist who are there for a old fashion milking demonstration (milking by hand)
my only thing was i would have liked the eulogy to have been at the end of the story then the eulogy be a year later so we could have known more about what is happening with the characters as this was the final book
Amanda Flower is a good author & have added her to my wishlist she has other books which are murder mysteries but not Amish setting & i look forward to reading those she also has written under the name Isabella Allan
This is the 4th & final book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series
I really enjoy this one & even guess the murderer this time before it was revealed
You have murders plus the Amish side of the story in that you have Becky who is sister to Timothy who is courting Chloe they left the Amish their family are still hoping that they will return to their faith
Grandfather Zook is a great character in this series, & Chloe gets on with him well, in this one Chloe wants to clear Timothy's father of murder when 2 people die which turns out to be poison added to the milk that he has for the tourist who are there for a old fashion milking demonstration (milking by hand)
my only thing was i would have liked the eulogy to have been at the end of the story then the eulogy be a year later so we could have known more about what is happening with the characters as this was the final book
Amanda Flower is a good author & have added her to my wishlist she has other books which are murder mysteries but not Amish setting & i look forward to reading those she also has written under the name Isabella Allan
March 14, 2018
Great end to a Amish series. I enjoyed the last murder mystery for Chole to solve. She got herself into a few tight situations during the series, but she always helped solve the murders that haunted Appleseed Creek. Loved the ending.
April 14, 2025
Why is it over? I didn’t get enough.
I absolutely loved this series, but honestly, this one felt so rushed at the end. The mystery aspect wrapped up, but a lot of the personal dynamics felt abandoned.
I wanted to see Chloe acknowledged and accepted by the Troyers. Ruth and Mrs. Troyer still seemed mad at her. She never got an official invite back to the farm. I also really wanted to see Chloe and Timothy get married! Maybe a last chat with Tee? And Ellie! I wanted to see how things ended up for Becky! And for Aaron, too, after getting his heart stomped on. None of this was 100% essential, but I would have loved it after four books bonding with all these characters.
This whole series was fantastic. Not all cozy mysteries are done well, but Amanda did such an incredible job with these. I learned a lot about the Amish community, I adored Chloe, and truly wish this went on for 10 more books.
I absolutely loved this series, but honestly, this one felt so rushed at the end. The mystery aspect wrapped up, but a lot of the personal dynamics felt abandoned.
I wanted to see Chloe acknowledged and accepted by the Troyers. Ruth and Mrs. Troyer still seemed mad at her. She never got an official invite back to the farm. I also really wanted to see Chloe and Timothy get married! Maybe a last chat with Tee? And Ellie! I wanted to see how things ended up for Becky! And for Aaron, too, after getting his heart stomped on. None of this was 100% essential, but I would have loved it after four books bonding with all these characters.
This whole series was fantastic. Not all cozy mysteries are done well, but Amanda did such an incredible job with these. I learned a lot about the Amish community, I adored Chloe, and truly wish this went on for 10 more books.
January 21, 2021
Hard to put down. Great series.
Great series. Wishing for another book in this Appleseed Creek Series. Love that is written with a mix of Amish Culture, Faith & Humor also romance. Had to follow Chloe and Timothy. Hope for another book following them adjusting to their life together and settling in their homeland Chloe working at college and helping Timothy with his Contracting Business.
Great series. Wishing for another book in this Appleseed Creek Series. Love that is written with a mix of Amish Culture, Faith & Humor also romance. Had to follow Chloe and Timothy. Hope for another book following them adjusting to their life together and settling in their homeland Chloe working at college and helping Timothy with his Contracting Business.
March 15, 2021
As it had been several years since I'd read any of this series, I was seriously confused as to what the protagonist's occupation really was (college student? professor? campus security?). Other than that problem, this was quite a gripping mystery with a sympathetic (but not fawning) view of the Amish. I certainly wouldn't read this series out of order, and binge reading might be appropriate.
February 14, 2021
Great Series I. Many Wsys
I loved this series read it in one weekend. I wish the author would write another book in this series to tie up some loose ends. I enjoyed her other series but this o e is the BEST!
I loved this series read it in one weekend. I wish the author would write another book in this series to tie up some loose ends. I enjoyed her other series but this o e is the BEST!
February 20, 2021
This book was written differently from the other ones. It was still good, but was different. You don’t know what is going on, and there are twists but not as many, and once again the last few chapters I didn’t want to put it down.
April 4, 2024
I knew ittttt!!! I knew it!!! The lemonade from Melinda was a dead giveaway. Once Pearl mentioned she had a daughter it all connected.
Also, hot take here. I wish she would have gone for Curt instead. I know why she went for Timothy, but I love an enemies to lovers story.
Also, hot take here. I wish she would have gone for Curt instead. I know why she went for Timothy, but I love an enemies to lovers story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
I loved this book and the other books in
this series! I am definitely fan of Amanda Flower's writing now. The story flowed easily and kept making me turning the pages wanting more. I will definitely be checking out more of her other books.
this series! I am definitely fan of Amanda Flower's writing now. The story flowed easily and kept making me turning the pages wanting more. I will definitely be checking out more of her other books.
July 25, 2017
Love author Amanda Flowers! Appleseed Creek series is excellent! Highly recommend! Looking forward to the next series!
November 16, 2017
Extra 1/2 star
November 21, 2017
Enjoyed this book series. Great story and well-developed characters.
May 10, 2018
loved this series, will look for more by this author
August 13, 2019
This series has some fun characters, and this particular story (murder) was quite unique from the rest of her books.
February 2, 2020
Really enjoyed this series.
July 7, 2020
Outstanding
I loved this series. I felt like I knew the characters and trying to guess who the killer was fun.
I loved this series. I felt like I knew the characters and trying to guess who the killer was fun.
August 25, 2020
Another good solid amusing, compassionate mystery. Perfect for pandemic reading
September 1, 2020
Another great read from Ms Flower. I am glad I found it, I had thought that I read all of her series. Glad we had one more mystery and a chance to leave Chloe and Timothy in a good place!!!
November 22, 2020
3++. Nice Amish cozy. I truly enjoyed this.
January 9, 2021
Another great book in the series
Another book in this series that is as good as the others (best to read in order). Love this author. Great story and characters.
Another book in this series that is as good as the others (best to read in order). Love this author. Great story and characters.
February 11, 2021
This is the finale of the series and I'm sorry to see them go. This series from Amanda Flower is my favorite. Not only were the mysteries the best, but I loved the characters of Chloe, Timothy, Becky, and Grandfather Troyer. The mystery in this one was the easiest to figure out, but that didn't make the book any less enjoyable.
March 25, 2021
finished this series and really enjoyed them all
April 3, 2022
The perfect ending to the series!
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May 22, 2022It was ok
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews