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Elizabeth Harris Mystery #1
Kingdom Come
Amish country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has always been a place of quiet beauty—until a shocking murder shatters the peace, and leaves a troubled detective picking up the pieces…
After her husband is murdered, Detective Elizabeth Harris turns in her NYPD badge and moves back home, hoping that a quiet life in remote Pennsylvania Dutch country will help her overcome the dark memories of her ten years in New York. But when a beautiful, scantily clad “English” girl is found dead in the barn of a prominent Amish family, Elizabeth knows that she’s uncovered an evil that could shake the community to its core.
Elizabeth’s boss is convinced this was the work of an “English,” as outsiders are called in Lancaster County. But Elizabeth isn’t so sure. All she’s missing is an actual lead—until another body is found: this time, a missing Amish girl. Now Elizabeth must track down a killer with deep ties to a community that always protects its own—no matter how deadly the cost…
After her husband is murdered, Detective Elizabeth Harris turns in her NYPD badge and moves back home, hoping that a quiet life in remote Pennsylvania Dutch country will help her overcome the dark memories of her ten years in New York. But when a beautiful, scantily clad “English” girl is found dead in the barn of a prominent Amish family, Elizabeth knows that she’s uncovered an evil that could shake the community to its core.
Elizabeth’s boss is convinced this was the work of an “English,” as outsiders are called in Lancaster County. But Elizabeth isn’t so sure. All she’s missing is an actual lead—until another body is found: this time, a missing Amish girl. Now Elizabeth must track down a killer with deep ties to a community that always protects its own—no matter how deadly the cost…
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2016
About the author
Jane Jensen
24 books193 followersJane Jensen is the game designer of the popular and critically acclaimed Gabriel Knight adventure games and author of the novels Judgement Day and Dante's Equation.
Jane Jensen was born Jane Elizabeth Smith, the youngest of seven children. She received a BA in Computer Science from Anderson University in Indiana and worked as a systems programmer for Hewlett-Packard. Her love of both computers and creative writing eventually led her to the computer gaming industry and Sierra Online where she worked as a writer on Police Quest III: The Kindred and EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus. After co-designing King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow with veteran game designer Roberta Williams, Jensen designed her first solo game: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, which was released in 1993. The dark, supernatural mystery was a departure for Sierra but the game was enthusiastically received, with the strength of Jensen's writing, along with the game's horror and gothic sensibilities coming in for particular praise from the gaming press and earning the title Computer Gaming World's "Adventure Game of the Year" title.
Jensen followed up Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers with two sequels: The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery in 1995 and Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned in 1999. Somewhat unusually for an adventure game series, each Gabriel Knight title was produced in an entirely different format to the others. Whereas the original was a traditional 2D animated game, the sequels were realised through full motion video and a custom built 3D engine, respectively. Despite further acclaim for Jensen's design in both cases (The Beast Within was Computer Gaming World's "Game of the Year"), the large expenses associated with making the sequels, coupled with the declining marketability of adventure games (especially within Sierra) meant that a fourth in the series was not commissioned.
In 1996, Jensen published a novelization of the first Gabriel Knight game. A second Gabriel Knight novelization followed in 1998. In 1999, Jensen published her first non-adapted novel, Millennium Rising (later retitled Judgment Day). Her fourth book, Dante's Equation was published in 2003. Dante's Equation was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.
Jensen has been involved in designing casual online games at Oberon Media, of which she is a co-founder. Her work in the Hidden Object/light adventure category can partially be credited with moving casual games in the direction of full adventure games in puzzle and story sophistication. Some of her more notable recent hits include Deadtime Stories (2009) and Dying for Daylight (2010). After leaving Oberon in 2011, she briefly worked at Zynga.
Jensen's most recent full adventure game was called Gray Matter, which was developed by Wizarbox and published by dtp entertainment in 2010. On April 2, 2008 the game, originally intended to be developed by Hungarian software house Tonuzaba, switched to another developer, French company Wizarbox: as a result, the tentative release was changed and shifted to 2010.
Jane Jensen owns a farm in Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband, composer Robert Holmes, who composed the music for the Gabriel Knight series and for Gray Matter. On April 5, 2012, the couple announced the formation of Pinkerton Road, a new game development studio to be headquartered on their Lancaster, Pennsylvania farm. The studio will use a Community Supported Gaming (CSG) model to give subscribers direct access to the games they produce, similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where small farms provide consumers with regular produce deliveries. With this announcement, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise funds for the studio's first year of game development.
Jensen is also a story consultant on Phoenix Online Studios' adventure game Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller.
Jane Jensen was born Jane Elizabeth Smith, the youngest of seven children. She received a BA in Computer Science from Anderson University in Indiana and worked as a systems programmer for Hewlett-Packard. Her love of both computers and creative writing eventually led her to the computer gaming industry and Sierra Online where she worked as a writer on Police Quest III: The Kindred and EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus. After co-designing King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow with veteran game designer Roberta Williams, Jensen designed her first solo game: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, which was released in 1993. The dark, supernatural mystery was a departure for Sierra but the game was enthusiastically received, with the strength of Jensen's writing, along with the game's horror and gothic sensibilities coming in for particular praise from the gaming press and earning the title Computer Gaming World's "Adventure Game of the Year" title.
Jensen followed up Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers with two sequels: The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery in 1995 and Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned in 1999. Somewhat unusually for an adventure game series, each Gabriel Knight title was produced in an entirely different format to the others. Whereas the original was a traditional 2D animated game, the sequels were realised through full motion video and a custom built 3D engine, respectively. Despite further acclaim for Jensen's design in both cases (The Beast Within was Computer Gaming World's "Game of the Year"), the large expenses associated with making the sequels, coupled with the declining marketability of adventure games (especially within Sierra) meant that a fourth in the series was not commissioned.
In 1996, Jensen published a novelization of the first Gabriel Knight game. A second Gabriel Knight novelization followed in 1998. In 1999, Jensen published her first non-adapted novel, Millennium Rising (later retitled Judgment Day). Her fourth book, Dante's Equation was published in 2003. Dante's Equation was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.
Jensen has been involved in designing casual online games at Oberon Media, of which she is a co-founder. Her work in the Hidden Object/light adventure category can partially be credited with moving casual games in the direction of full adventure games in puzzle and story sophistication. Some of her more notable recent hits include Deadtime Stories (2009) and Dying for Daylight (2010). After leaving Oberon in 2011, she briefly worked at Zynga.
Jensen's most recent full adventure game was called Gray Matter, which was developed by Wizarbox and published by dtp entertainment in 2010. On April 2, 2008 the game, originally intended to be developed by Hungarian software house Tonuzaba, switched to another developer, French company Wizarbox: as a result, the tentative release was changed and shifted to 2010.
Jane Jensen owns a farm in Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband, composer Robert Holmes, who composed the music for the Gabriel Knight series and for Gray Matter. On April 5, 2012, the couple announced the formation of Pinkerton Road, a new game development studio to be headquartered on their Lancaster, Pennsylvania farm. The studio will use a Community Supported Gaming (CSG) model to give subscribers direct access to the games they produce, similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where small farms provide consumers with regular produce deliveries. With this announcement, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise funds for the studio's first year of game development.
Jensen is also a story consultant on Phoenix Online Studios' adventure game Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
November 29, 2015
3 1/2 stars. I'm perfectly happy to read a decent mystery, with a good cast of characters and an interesting setting, and that's what I got with Kingdom Come. Elizabeth Harris is a cop, who moves from New York City to rural Pennsylvania after her husband is killed. She joins a small local police force. A dead girl is found on a local Amish farm. Harris has to figure out how to get information from members of this closed tight community. Although her superiors acknowledge that she has great experience investigating murders, they are weary of her desire to delve too deep into the affairs of the Amish community. It makes for a tricky dynamic in an interesting setting. I also liked Harris -- she is a strong character. The plot was not very complicated, but it was perfectly satisfying and had a clever end. This appears to be the first in a planned series. A solid beginning, and I would happily read the next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
January 20, 2024
Not bad. Not quite as dark as something by Linda Castillo, but still an interesting look at the Amish community and a mystery to boot. I am already reading In the Land of Milk and Honey; it is a shame Ms. Jensen only wrote two stories in this series.
October 30, 2015
A systems programmer and game designer-cum-creative writer, Jane Jensen has stepped away from her Gabriel Knight adventure series to debut a mystery novel. This is my first time reading this author; in looking over Ms. Jensen’s previous works, I see that she has used religious themes and symbolism in some of her adventure stories, and in this novel, she uses the Amish way of life as her backdrop. The author has introduced a promising new character, Elizabeth “E” Harris. Harris is a homicide detective who has recently moved home to rural Pennsylvania after the murder of her husband. She’s joined the local police force, and she welcomes the quiet life away from the big city. Little does she expect to be thrust smack dab in the middle of a perplexing double murder in Amish country; nor does she expect the personal turmoil that develops as the case progresses.
One can’t help but compare this to Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder novels, but while there are similarities, the female protagonists and the men they love are quite different. Harris is, and has always been “English.” She must learn the ways of the Amish from those around her. At times, she pushes too hard, and that she learns that the community protects its own, no matter what. She is tough, and determined; she has great instincts. Even when her boss, Grady, disagrees with her, she sticks to her guns. Ms. Jensen did a nice job, I felt, integrating Harris into her new setting. She contrasts the varying degrees of acceptance of the members of the police force, the town, and of the Amish community. Does Harris do everything by the book? Are her instincts always correct? Or do her emotions sometimes get in the way?
I had little difficulty immersing myself in this story. I had to strain a bit to believe some parts of it – even in Rumspringa, where Amish youth have great freedom from the restraints of their culture, I felt that Katie Yoder may have strayed much too far. It creates a lot of tension, however, and with what we learn about Katie, it is understandable. I had some suspicions about the killer, but things didn’t happen quite the way I had envisioned.
There were no surprises about the romantic parts of this novel, once the idea was introduced. We got to be present for the flirtation and all of the awkwardness until all the cards were laid out on the table. Some might find it a bit much, but given the difference in backgrounds and personalities, I found the interactions humorous and touching. For a brief instant, I was concerned that it might all be a mistake.
Kingdom Come has the makings of the beginning of a marvelous series. I look forward to seeing more of Detective Elizabeth Harris, Ezra Beiler– and the mule called Horse.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. I also wish to thank the author and Penguin/Berkley Publishing Group.
4 stars
One can’t help but compare this to Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder novels, but while there are similarities, the female protagonists and the men they love are quite different. Harris is, and has always been “English.” She must learn the ways of the Amish from those around her. At times, she pushes too hard, and that she learns that the community protects its own, no matter what. She is tough, and determined; she has great instincts. Even when her boss, Grady, disagrees with her, she sticks to her guns. Ms. Jensen did a nice job, I felt, integrating Harris into her new setting. She contrasts the varying degrees of acceptance of the members of the police force, the town, and of the Amish community. Does Harris do everything by the book? Are her instincts always correct? Or do her emotions sometimes get in the way?
I had little difficulty immersing myself in this story. I had to strain a bit to believe some parts of it – even in Rumspringa, where Amish youth have great freedom from the restraints of their culture, I felt that Katie Yoder may have strayed much too far. It creates a lot of tension, however, and with what we learn about Katie, it is understandable. I had some suspicions about the killer, but things didn’t happen quite the way I had envisioned.
There were no surprises about the romantic parts of this novel, once the idea was introduced. We got to be present for the flirtation and all of the awkwardness until all the cards were laid out on the table. Some might find it a bit much, but given the difference in backgrounds and personalities, I found the interactions humorous and touching. For a brief instant, I was concerned that it might all be a mistake.
Kingdom Come has the makings of the beginning of a marvelous series. I look forward to seeing more of Detective Elizabeth Harris, Ezra Beiler– and the mule called Horse.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. I also wish to thank the author and Penguin/Berkley Publishing Group.
4 stars
November 2, 2015
I both liked and disliked this book.
The like: set in Lancaster PA Amish country the reticence of the Amish to engage with the "English" has a definite ring of truth. I can understand their desire to be left alone. Ms. Jensen writes well, makes some of the characters appealing, and others less so.
The dislike: Detective Harris being unable to put her lust aside while investigating the crime. This dislike may be due to my not liking romances in general and particularly those that start with lust and never move beyond this base motivation.
Kingdom Come is in effect two separate genres that don't meld all that well. Crime Detective and Romance. The crime side moves well. The connection between an Amish girl who is breaking from her religious roots could have been explored a bit deeper and better, or possibly the relationship with a worldly girl who draws her away. A tenuous insertion of child abuse as a reason for her actions seems formulaic. Oh, add a layer of abuse to make this appear more sinister. Don't want to spoil anything beyond this.
The romance side seems at odds with the woman detectives past. She is someone who was getting harden to people as a New York detective. She suffers a personal loss in the murder of her husband, the love of her life. Yet she meets the tall, gorgeous Amish man and immediately her loins burn with a passion that she constantly dwells upon. All training, instincts, and personality take a back seat to this passion. She knows this is inappropriate but doesn't care enough to remove herself from the case or the man.
Had Ms. Jensen stayed with the crime nature and the dichotomy of the Amish beliefs I would probably have enjoyed the book more and rated it higher. Personal preference, so please ignore if you are a romance fan.
This book in no way turns me away from reading Ms Jensen's other work. She does write well.
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The like: set in Lancaster PA Amish country the reticence of the Amish to engage with the "English" has a definite ring of truth. I can understand their desire to be left alone. Ms. Jensen writes well, makes some of the characters appealing, and others less so.
The dislike: Detective Harris being unable to put her lust aside while investigating the crime. This dislike may be due to my not liking romances in general and particularly those that start with lust and never move beyond this base motivation.
Kingdom Come is in effect two separate genres that don't meld all that well. Crime Detective and Romance. The crime side moves well. The connection between an Amish girl who is breaking from her religious roots could have been explored a bit deeper and better, or possibly the relationship with a worldly girl who draws her away. A tenuous insertion of child abuse as a reason for her actions seems formulaic. Oh, add a layer of abuse to make this appear more sinister. Don't want to spoil anything beyond this.
The romance side seems at odds with the woman detectives past. She is someone who was getting harden to people as a New York detective. She suffers a personal loss in the murder of her husband, the love of her life. Yet she meets the tall, gorgeous Amish man and immediately her loins burn with a passion that she constantly dwells upon. All training, instincts, and personality take a back seat to this passion. She knows this is inappropriate but doesn't care enough to remove herself from the case or the man.
Had Ms. Jensen stayed with the crime nature and the dichotomy of the Amish beliefs I would probably have enjoyed the book more and rated it higher. Personal preference, so please ignore if you are a romance fan.
This book in no way turns me away from reading Ms Jensen's other work. She does write well.
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2016
This book would have been a lot better without the Amish romance.
The premise is interesting enough if you like the standard trope of "big city detective has to solve crime in an unfamiliar culture." Elizabeth Harris is a former NYPD detective who moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, after her husband was murdered. She is getting used to the slower pace of things, trying to establish herself on the force without being perceived either as weak or as an obnoxious ball-buster, and of course angsting over her dead husband.
An "English" (non-Amish) girl is found dead in a local Amish family's barn with her skirt hiked up around her waist. Detective Harris is put on the case, and while no one believes any of the Amish could have been involved, Harris ends up following clues that do in fact threaten to uncover nefarious doings among the horse-and-buggy set. Especially when a second victim, a runaway Amish girl, turns up.
This was a decent mystery, and having been to Lancaster myself it was easy to picture the setting. What I didn't like so much was Ezra, the hunky Amish widower who gives Detective Harris tingles deep inside the moment she meets him. Suddenly the book is half murder mystery, half Amish romance. C'mon, if I wanted that I'd have read this:
That knocked an otherwise decent read down to 2 stars. This is apparently the first in a series, and I am not sure if I care to read the next one.
The premise is interesting enough if you like the standard trope of "big city detective has to solve crime in an unfamiliar culture." Elizabeth Harris is a former NYPD detective who moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, after her husband was murdered. She is getting used to the slower pace of things, trying to establish herself on the force without being perceived either as weak or as an obnoxious ball-buster, and of course angsting over her dead husband.
An "English" (non-Amish) girl is found dead in a local Amish family's barn with her skirt hiked up around her waist. Detective Harris is put on the case, and while no one believes any of the Amish could have been involved, Harris ends up following clues that do in fact threaten to uncover nefarious doings among the horse-and-buggy set. Especially when a second victim, a runaway Amish girl, turns up.
This was a decent mystery, and having been to Lancaster myself it was easy to picture the setting. What I didn't like so much was Ezra, the hunky Amish widower who gives Detective Harris tingles deep inside the moment she meets him. Suddenly the book is half murder mystery, half Amish romance. C'mon, if I wanted that I'd have read this:
That knocked an otherwise decent read down to 2 stars. This is apparently the first in a series, and I am not sure if I care to read the next one.
December 29, 2015
GoodReads Giveaway
Overall I liked this book, interesting characters, realistic setting (and I visit Lancaster, Pa often) and a good mystery but......
The romance was a little too much, too fast. I'm guessing Jensen is planning a series with these characters, and I look forward to that, but I think it would have been better if Elizabeth and Ezra's relationship was developed over a few books.
Overall I liked this book, interesting characters, realistic setting (and I visit Lancaster, Pa often) and a good mystery but......
The romance was a little too much, too fast. I'm guessing Jensen is planning a series with these characters, and I look forward to that, but I think it would have been better if Elizabeth and Ezra's relationship was developed over a few books.
August 21, 2016
Why does every novel that contains a female detects protagonist use the same female chacter for that role?
The woman is always beautiful, considered the best derective around, and she immediately gains the respect & loyalty of her male squad, & she is haunted by a death or break up or some other trauma that women can't let go of.
Surely, if an author can write an intricate mystery or who-gone-it, they can create an original character.
(kindly ignore typos- they're the result of brain cancer)
The woman is always beautiful, considered the best derective around, and she immediately gains the respect & loyalty of her male squad, & she is haunted by a death or break up or some other trauma that women can't let go of.
Surely, if an author can write an intricate mystery or who-gone-it, they can create an original character.
(kindly ignore typos- they're the result of brain cancer)
July 13, 2016
2.5
Wouldn't have been as cheesy if the love story had been omitted. But, the writing was weak.
Wouldn't have been as cheesy if the love story had been omitted. But, the writing was weak.
July 26, 2016
Whoa. This was a random purchase resulting from Audible's "Daily Deal" series... I was drawn in by the balance between the Amish community and an experienced big city (female) detective. I didn't know if I'd LOVE it or if it'd flop, but figured that I'd be okay with the $3.00 risk. And, what a win!
I couldn't stop listening to this one. Couldn't. Stop. Listening.
Jensen's ability to make interesting characters, an intense plot line, and maintain tension between the substories is what earns this book five stars. Jensen kept things realistic and engaging without being boring or over-the-top.
I wanted to dislike Elizabeth Harris for her unprofessional behavior, but somehow found myself rooting for her new relationship and her ability to solve the case at hand. She was flawed which made her not only relatable, but likable, something I don't know I'd say if she hadn't muddied her own waters. This is the perfect balance of mystery (I WAS surprised by the ending) and romance (also, surprised) without being obvious or trite.
The second in the series releases in a week and I can't wait for it to arrive!
I couldn't stop listening to this one. Couldn't. Stop. Listening.
Jensen's ability to make interesting characters, an intense plot line, and maintain tension between the substories is what earns this book five stars. Jensen kept things realistic and engaging without being boring or over-the-top.
I wanted to dislike Elizabeth Harris for her unprofessional behavior, but somehow found myself rooting for her new relationship and her ability to solve the case at hand. She was flawed which made her not only relatable, but likable, something I don't know I'd say if she hadn't muddied her own waters. This is the perfect balance of mystery (I WAS surprised by the ending) and romance (also, surprised) without being obvious or trite.
The second in the series releases in a week and I can't wait for it to arrive!
July 6, 2016
I enjoyed this 1st in a new mystery series. It was more an introduction than a riveting mystery. The stories take place in Amish country with a young, savvy woman detective solving the murders. I really like the characters, which I hope to learn more about in future books. (Don't pick it up if you can't overlook strong language. Some disturbing elements due to the type of crime. Romantic thread.)
March 23, 2022
In Kingdom Come, the first in a new mystery series from Jane Jensen, an ex-NYPD female detective who recently lost her husband, seeks escape and a new job in Amish country.
When a beautiful, scantily clad "English" girl is found dead in the barn of a prominent Amish family, Detective Elizabeth Harris knows she's uncovered an evil that could shatter the peace of Amish community. Then things get even worse when a second female body shows up. Now Elizabeth must track down a killer with deep ties to a community that always protects its own - could the killer be an Amish man who she might be falling in love with? As she's on the mission to discover the truth, she has made herself to be the mark as the third murder victim.
When a beautiful, scantily clad "English" girl is found dead in the barn of a prominent Amish family, Detective Elizabeth Harris knows she's uncovered an evil that could shatter the peace of Amish community. Then things get even worse when a second female body shows up. Now Elizabeth must track down a killer with deep ties to a community that always protects its own - could the killer be an Amish man who she might be falling in love with? As she's on the mission to discover the truth, she has made herself to be the mark as the third murder victim.
August 11, 2018
The mystery was decent, the detecting so-so and the romance bit, forced.
December 13, 2015
Detective Elizabeth Harris returns home after her husband is murdered. Now she is a member of team that have been called to an Amish farm to find an "English" girl murdered and posed in a barn. All clues point to the Amish but they close ranks. Then a disappearance of an Amish girl is discovered and linked to the murdered girl. How do they connect. Now Elizabeth has started a friendship with a widowed Amish man and cannot fight the growing attraction to him. He is a suspect in her case and she knows this wrong but she cannot help herself. Will she be able to solve this case. Great Read!! I would like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
February 6, 2016
Ezra=Yum!! looking forward to reading the next Elizabeth Harris: In the Land of Milk and Honey
September 11, 2017
NYPD detective Elizabeth Harris leaves New York City after the murder of her husband Terry and returns to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She’s hoping the quiet setting of the Amish countryside will be a respite from big city life and crime. Elizabeth starts a new police job in Lancaster County; and it’s not long before she and partner/boss, Lt. Mike Grady, are called to an Amish farm where an “English” girl has been found dead. Elizabeth begins asking questions, but she finds the Amish do not want to talk to her—she’s “English” and she is also a woman. She gets no cooperation, and her new job may be in jeopardy. Then, an Amish girl disappears.
One person to whom Elizabeth turns for help is the attractive widower Ezra Beiler who is disenchanted with the Amish way of life; but Ezra is a suspect in the murders. Will Elizabeth be able to solve the murders and keep her job? Might there be a romance with the blond Mr. Beiler? This is a good Amish country mystery that kept my interest. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Kate
Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. More Elizabeth Harris mysteries are scheduled to appear.
-Jodi S.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the playaway portable audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
One person to whom Elizabeth turns for help is the attractive widower Ezra Beiler who is disenchanted with the Amish way of life; but Ezra is a suspect in the murders. Will Elizabeth be able to solve the murders and keep her job? Might there be a romance with the blond Mr. Beiler? This is a good Amish country mystery that kept my interest. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Kate
Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. More Elizabeth Harris mysteries are scheduled to appear.
-Jodi S.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the playaway portable audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
March 31, 2017
4.5 An "English" detective takes on the murder investigation of an Amish girl and her "English" (non-Amish) best friend. Although you get an idea about whodunit and why as the story progresses, there's also a - spoiler alert - love story element that didn't put me off as much as some other books with this device have. It's done well, I think, and is quite believable. I love these fascinating looks into the lives of another religion and culture, particularly the Amish. I couldn't put this book down and I'm excited that there is another in the series.
December 25, 2018
Very interesting and a good story. A generous mix of crime, drama, suspense and romance. Didn't figure out who dunit until the very end. Not a predictable plot. Followed a logical sequence, easy to follow the storyline. Great array of believable characters. Set in Lancaster County, PA. Can't wait to read the second in the series. Detective Elizabeth Harris is a very likable main character.
March 16, 2017
I picked this up during one of Audible's sales. I worried that it would be a boring police procedural. I needn't have worried. I enjoyed it very much and I'm now listening to the second book in the series.
January 20, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Detective Elizabeth Harris comes home from New York after her husband was murdered. She needs a quieter life to start over. But life at home isn’t at all what she expected. A body is found in a barn in the heart of the Amish community. The young girl is “English”, and her body had clearly been moved. Why would she be here were violence is condemned and life is “simple”? As the most experienced officer Elizabeth is assigned to the case, she thinks the killer is nearby while others believe it has to be an English outsider.
This is the type of story that I would expect to see on an episode of Criminal Minds. They definitely needed help coming up with a profile for the killer, but I don’t know if even Shemar Moore’s Derek Morgan could figure this one out.
Elizabeth Harris is a very strong, intelligent woman. She is not afraid to go anywhere or do anything to get justice for this girl and for a girl that had gone missing months ago. The disappearance of the first girl was never reported by her parents because she was Amish and everyone thought she had just run off. Well Elizabeth doesn’t think that is the case. When the police handle the Amish with kid gloves she becomes very frustrated.
The author tells us before the story even begins that nothing like this has even happened in an Amish community but she sure writes a believable story. The characters come alive in the pages as does the town, the woods, the fields, and especially the river. The imagery was absolutely fantastic.
We meet Ezra Beiler, a Amish man who lost her his wife an child at a very young age. He is unhappy living in the Amish community and there is almost an immediate spark between him and Elizabeth. Their budding romance and flirtation plays throughout the story. The romance ebbs and flows and sometimes collides with the intense drama.
This story is very well written but some parts were a bit predictable. I could tell from one of the girl’s behavior an underlying cause quite early, but was totally surprised by the way the story peaked.
I am happy to see the author plans on a series with these characters because I truly want to know them better. I feel their story is just beginning. This story has set the series off to a fine start.
Detective Elizabeth Harris comes home from New York after her husband was murdered. She needs a quieter life to start over. But life at home isn’t at all what she expected. A body is found in a barn in the heart of the Amish community. The young girl is “English”, and her body had clearly been moved. Why would she be here were violence is condemned and life is “simple”? As the most experienced officer Elizabeth is assigned to the case, she thinks the killer is nearby while others believe it has to be an English outsider.
This is the type of story that I would expect to see on an episode of Criminal Minds. They definitely needed help coming up with a profile for the killer, but I don’t know if even Shemar Moore’s Derek Morgan could figure this one out.
Elizabeth Harris is a very strong, intelligent woman. She is not afraid to go anywhere or do anything to get justice for this girl and for a girl that had gone missing months ago. The disappearance of the first girl was never reported by her parents because she was Amish and everyone thought she had just run off. Well Elizabeth doesn’t think that is the case. When the police handle the Amish with kid gloves she becomes very frustrated.
The author tells us before the story even begins that nothing like this has even happened in an Amish community but she sure writes a believable story. The characters come alive in the pages as does the town, the woods, the fields, and especially the river. The imagery was absolutely fantastic.
We meet Ezra Beiler, a Amish man who lost her his wife an child at a very young age. He is unhappy living in the Amish community and there is almost an immediate spark between him and Elizabeth. Their budding romance and flirtation plays throughout the story. The romance ebbs and flows and sometimes collides with the intense drama.
This story is very well written but some parts were a bit predictable. I could tell from one of the girl’s behavior an underlying cause quite early, but was totally surprised by the way the story peaked.
I am happy to see the author plans on a series with these characters because I truly want to know them better. I feel their story is just beginning. This story has set the series off to a fine start.
May 6, 2016
For a more in depth review, please visit my blog, Chorley Chronicals!!
I absolutely love Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, so when I came across Kingdom Come, I was very interested to see how another author would approach an Amish Murder Series with another female detective. I was a little apprehensive at first, but was able to quickly get lost in the story of Elizabeth Harris, a former NYPD detective that has recently relocated back to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and has quickly found herself embattled in a murder investigation among the Amish. While listening, I would think about things stated in the Kate Burkholder books, and would have to remind myself that this wasn't a Kate book, so I was able to get past that rather quickly!
I am very interested to see where Jane Jensen will go with this series! It is very similar to Linda Castillo's series, but she does appear to be going into a different direction with her books and I can't wait to see where that directions leads to! I really believe that this Elizabeth Harris Mystery series has great promise!
It is true when said that a narrator can make or break a book, so I am thankful that Rachel Fulginiti was able to make this book! There's nothing worse than wanting to like a book, but being unable to do so because the person reading it to you drags it along. No worries with this narrator, she's spot on and seems to be a good fit for Elizabeth Harris. This is my first time listening to her narration, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to pick up any future titles from her!
Overall, I felt Kingdom Come had good, strong characters with a solid storyline that moved at a perfect pace! There is a great setting as a backdrop that isn't often used, so it definitely takes readers on a journey they aren't used to! Jensen really set herself up for success when writing Kingdom Come and I feel she has really left herself plenty of room to develop a much-successful mystery series! I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for Elizabeth!
I absolutely love Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, so when I came across Kingdom Come, I was very interested to see how another author would approach an Amish Murder Series with another female detective. I was a little apprehensive at first, but was able to quickly get lost in the story of Elizabeth Harris, a former NYPD detective that has recently relocated back to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and has quickly found herself embattled in a murder investigation among the Amish. While listening, I would think about things stated in the Kate Burkholder books, and would have to remind myself that this wasn't a Kate book, so I was able to get past that rather quickly!
I am very interested to see where Jane Jensen will go with this series! It is very similar to Linda Castillo's series, but she does appear to be going into a different direction with her books and I can't wait to see where that directions leads to! I really believe that this Elizabeth Harris Mystery series has great promise!
It is true when said that a narrator can make or break a book, so I am thankful that Rachel Fulginiti was able to make this book! There's nothing worse than wanting to like a book, but being unable to do so because the person reading it to you drags it along. No worries with this narrator, she's spot on and seems to be a good fit for Elizabeth Harris. This is my first time listening to her narration, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to pick up any future titles from her!
Overall, I felt Kingdom Come had good, strong characters with a solid storyline that moved at a perfect pace! There is a great setting as a backdrop that isn't often used, so it definitely takes readers on a journey they aren't used to! Jensen really set herself up for success when writing Kingdom Come and I feel she has really left herself plenty of room to develop a much-successful mystery series! I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for Elizabeth!
March 24, 2016
Death would be a cruel and unwelcome thief.
Detective Elizabeth Harris has come back to Lancaster County from her beat in New York. She is ready to take life a little simpler after the tragic death of her husband. When the murder of a young girl shows up in a Amish barn, she begins to wonder if there is any simplicity left. As she uncovers the identity of the victim, it becomes personal and leads to another victim. The Amish are not forth coming in helping the department with case and it becomes complicated when a suspect becomes something more.
The plot is compelling and horrifying as it deals with sexual abuse and how a community protects it's own instead of the victim. I liked how there was a balance of the problem without slamming the Amish. It did not paint a broad brush which I find more realistic and made the plot and the characters more real. The language was crass and I felt could have done well without. The plot was strong enough without it.
A Special Thank You to PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Detective Elizabeth Harris has come back to Lancaster County from her beat in New York. She is ready to take life a little simpler after the tragic death of her husband. When the murder of a young girl shows up in a Amish barn, she begins to wonder if there is any simplicity left. As she uncovers the identity of the victim, it becomes personal and leads to another victim. The Amish are not forth coming in helping the department with case and it becomes complicated when a suspect becomes something more.
The plot is compelling and horrifying as it deals with sexual abuse and how a community protects it's own instead of the victim. I liked how there was a balance of the problem without slamming the Amish. It did not paint a broad brush which I find more realistic and made the plot and the characters more real. The language was crass and I felt could have done well without. The plot was strong enough without it.
A Special Thank You to PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
July 7, 2016
Interesting detective murder mystery set in Amish country. I could easily be convinced to read more in this series.
July 30, 2016
3.5 stars. Murder mystery. Set in Amish community. Heroine: Female detective with agency and a few blind spots. Romantic interest: Amish man. 1st POV. Reasonably easy to guess whodunit, IMHO.
February 24, 2018
3.5, but I bumped it up for the earlier good feelings and because I didn’t guess the murderer. It didn’t end with such good feelings because the epilogue jumped ahead 7 months and skipped over some important life events which could have developed over multiple books. I’m disappointed in how they rushed the relationship as the book went on and how the relationship seemed a bigger story than the actual murder investigation. I was anticipating half a dozen books of them flirting and dating and then getting married and maybe Elizabeth would become Amish, who knew? I guess this isn’t really a cozy though since it’s following a cop and not a nosy housewife so maybe I shouldn’t have expected a slow build. Plus it’s probably not acceptable for Amish people to date outside of their faith even if this group was fine with electricity and cell phones. I don’t know if I can trust her information though since she seemed to think their buggies needed two horses and I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Amish buggy with more than one sad bay pulling it along. I’d say this book taught me things I didn’t know about the Amish, but I’m not entirely sure I should believe it or assume it was literary license.
Overall this was cotton candy reading with the illusion of being more serious because it had real police solving murders instead of the neighborhood watch. It felt like it could have been ideal for me (I like the police being in charge of solving mysteries rather than random civilians sticking their noses in) and early on I was hoping it was a long series (it’s only two books so far). It read very quickly; I was worried I would be struggling to finish in time for book club, but things really flew. Short chapters, unnecessary blank pages, and an easy writing style (sometimes too easy, it could feel like fan fiction more than professional writing) made this an easy half day read. The characters were likable on the surface, but by the end of the book they were losing some of their appeal because of what was being revealed about them by their life choices. I think there was a lot of potential here and some of it was squandered by rushing things.
Elizabeth swore more than necessary in her head and sometimes aloud, though hardly offensive by most standards, I think it would keep a PG-13 rating as would the romance which I especially appreciate since the author is also a romance novelist and could’ve taken things further than I’d like to read.
The first chapter of the next book included at the end was decently enjoyable. I wouldn’t be sad to have to read it for book club, but I’m not sure I want to suffer through a series as it’s being written. I don’t know that there’s anything I’m looking forward to in particular since it feels like everything was revealed in this first book and I don’t see their relationship moving forward anytime soon.
Overall this was cotton candy reading with the illusion of being more serious because it had real police solving murders instead of the neighborhood watch. It felt like it could have been ideal for me (I like the police being in charge of solving mysteries rather than random civilians sticking their noses in) and early on I was hoping it was a long series (it’s only two books so far). It read very quickly; I was worried I would be struggling to finish in time for book club, but things really flew. Short chapters, unnecessary blank pages, and an easy writing style (sometimes too easy, it could feel like fan fiction more than professional writing) made this an easy half day read. The characters were likable on the surface, but by the end of the book they were losing some of their appeal because of what was being revealed about them by their life choices. I think there was a lot of potential here and some of it was squandered by rushing things.
Elizabeth swore more than necessary in her head and sometimes aloud, though hardly offensive by most standards, I think it would keep a PG-13 rating as would the romance which I especially appreciate since the author is also a romance novelist and could’ve taken things further than I’d like to read.
The first chapter of the next book included at the end was decently enjoyable. I wouldn’t be sad to have to read it for book club, but I’m not sure I want to suffer through a series as it’s being written. I don’t know that there’s anything I’m looking forward to in particular since it feels like everything was revealed in this first book and I don’t see their relationship moving forward anytime soon.
December 20, 2021
The mystery was alright, nothing special, but what really made this suck was the stupid romance and the woman detective trope. Okay, so the main character was a detective and cop in the NYPD for 10 years (she bragged about this a lot throughout the book) and then her husband gets murdered so she pretty much is over with the big city crime scene. She goes back to rural PA, where she is originally from, and is a detective for a small town with neighboring Amish communities.
There's a murder, a young girl, of course, and the mystery is average. But then, the detective meets an Amish man and basically falls in love with him at first sight. It was so rushed that it just didn't seem to be genuine at all. Suddenly she doesn't care about being with him even though he is connected to the case and she was with NYPD for 10 years (as she keeps bragging). It was just dumb.
The other thing was that she does a lot of explaining for her inner monologue and gives background of her life which doesn't even seem to be relevant at all. There was one scene where her boss is asking her something and before she answers, she goes into this super long inner dialogue. It reminded me of that scene in Arrested Development where George Michael is in college and trying to impress Maeby. She asked him a question, and he's thinking to himself of what to say, but it's in real time so Maeby is just staring at him and waiting for him to say something. OMG it was so funny. That's what this book does. I just can't take it seriously, especially when she seemingly forgets the procedural training that she learned in her 10 years as a NYPD cop (as she brags over and over) to sneak around with someone connected with the murder victim.
None of the other characters are fleshed out so the story falls flat. I don't care about any other character because the author didn't invest any personality in them.
Also, what is it with all these lone wolf detectives? It's so annoying when they go off on their own, knowing that they're gonna be pretty much attacked on the spot. It's like the horror movies where the person runs down into the basement instead of just not going inside the house in the first place.
In all, the mystery itself was okay but very easy to figure out who the murderer was. I don't completely regret reading this but I definitely do not recommend it.
There's a murder, a young girl, of course, and the mystery is average. But then, the detective meets an Amish man and basically falls in love with him at first sight. It was so rushed that it just didn't seem to be genuine at all. Suddenly she doesn't care about being with him even though he is connected to the case and she was with NYPD for 10 years (as she keeps bragging). It was just dumb.
The other thing was that she does a lot of explaining for her inner monologue and gives background of her life which doesn't even seem to be relevant at all. There was one scene where her boss is asking her something and before she answers, she goes into this super long inner dialogue. It reminded me of that scene in Arrested Development where George Michael is in college and trying to impress Maeby. She asked him a question, and he's thinking to himself of what to say, but it's in real time so Maeby is just staring at him and waiting for him to say something. OMG it was so funny. That's what this book does. I just can't take it seriously, especially when she seemingly forgets the procedural training that she learned in her 10 years as a NYPD cop (as she brags over and over) to sneak around with someone connected with the murder victim.
None of the other characters are fleshed out so the story falls flat. I don't care about any other character because the author didn't invest any personality in them.
Also, what is it with all these lone wolf detectives? It's so annoying when they go off on their own, knowing that they're gonna be pretty much attacked on the spot. It's like the horror movies where the person runs down into the basement instead of just not going inside the house in the first place.
In all, the mystery itself was okay but very easy to figure out who the murderer was. I don't completely regret reading this but I definitely do not recommend it.
August 10, 2018
I found Jane Jensen's first book in the Elizabeth Harris Mystery Series, Kingdom Come, to be an enjoyable read. The action takes place in Lancaster, PA, where there is a large community of Amish people. Jessica Travis is a beautiful, teenaged, "English" girl found murdered in an Amish family's barn. Elizabeth Harris is the former NYPD detective, now working at the Violent Crimes Department of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, tasked with finding her killer. Elizabeth is leaning towards finding the murderer among the Amish, but they are a highly religious and moral community, as well as close-knit, loyal to themselves, and suspicious of outsiders, also known as "English." The Police Department is wary of offending the Amish, because they are a large portion of their constituency and negotiations with them are sometimes touchy. The investigation continues with more leads pointing to someone outside the Amish, but Elizabeth still finds tendrils connecting them, including a missing Amish girl. Katie Yoder has been missing, but presumed to have left the community of her own volition. Elizabeth finds that Katie has also been murdered in the same manner as Jessica. Following the clues, Elizabeth puts herself in mortal danger, but is able to finally find the true culprit.
Jane Jensen cleverly weaves a crafty who-done-it, mixed with a blend of two cultures, and character development that clearly introduces us to her cast. Her portrayal of these disparate personalities rings true and I found them to be likable. There were humorous moments sprinkled throughout the narrative to lighten the mood of a dark murder mystery. All in all, I can recommend this book to anyone for a quick, satisfying read.
Jane Jensen cleverly weaves a crafty who-done-it, mixed with a blend of two cultures, and character development that clearly introduces us to her cast. Her portrayal of these disparate personalities rings true and I found them to be likable. There were humorous moments sprinkled throughout the narrative to lighten the mood of a dark murder mystery. All in all, I can recommend this book to anyone for a quick, satisfying read.
September 13, 2019
In the middle of a cold winter in Lancaster County, PA a girl is found dead on an Amish farm and Detective Elizabeth Harris is assigned to the case.
PROS: I thought the author was very respectful of the Amish community and did not glamorize it and make them look like a tourist attraction. I thought the author was very careful to keep to the Amish beliefs and not to take creative liberties and make them appear not as they really are.
CONS: I typically am not crazy about murder mysteries that have romance intertwined and can usually get passed it, but this one bothered me. Elizabeth's love interest happened at a instant love-at-first-sight speed and even hindered her investigation so much that her partner/supervisor had to forbid her from seeing this guy until the case was solved. I thought that was a bit immature for a seasoned detective from New York City to fall that heavily for a person of interest so much that she had to be "grounded" by her boss. I also think that in the real world she would have not only been taken off the case, but probably fired or at least put on probation. Lastly, although the ending was good and everything was tied up nicely, I thought the plot was a bit weak.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall, I did like this book and I am interested in reading the second one in the series "In the Land of Milk and Honey".
PROS: I thought the author was very respectful of the Amish community and did not glamorize it and make them look like a tourist attraction. I thought the author was very careful to keep to the Amish beliefs and not to take creative liberties and make them appear not as they really are.
CONS: I typically am not crazy about murder mysteries that have romance intertwined and can usually get passed it, but this one bothered me. Elizabeth's love interest happened at a instant love-at-first-sight speed and even hindered her investigation so much that her partner/supervisor had to forbid her from seeing this guy until the case was solved. I thought that was a bit immature for a seasoned detective from New York City to fall that heavily for a person of interest so much that she had to be "grounded" by her boss. I also think that in the real world she would have not only been taken off the case, but probably fired or at least put on probation. Lastly, although the ending was good and everything was tied up nicely, I thought the plot was a bit weak.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall, I did like this book and I am interested in reading the second one in the series "In the Land of Milk and Honey".
February 1, 2018
Trigger warnings: murder, sexual abuse, loss of a baby (in the past), death of a spouse (in the past).
Not gonna lie, pretty much the only reason why I picked up this book is that it's set in Pennsylvania and I'm trying to read books set in every US state this year. So.
Anyway. This was intriguing to begin with. A dead girl is found on an Amish farm, and Elizabeth Harris, the detective on the case, finds it difficult to get any answers out of the Amish community. She also finds herself inexplicably drawn to Ezra, an Amish widower.
And really, that romance was what made it kind of middle-of-the-road for me. It means that the murder investigation is put on the backburner repeatedly in favour of swooning. And the mystery itself is pretty simplistic.
My biggest problem with this, however, was Elizabeth. She repeatedly makes terrible decisions - crushing on potential suspects, getting way too involved in the lives of the victims' families, going out to crime scenes on her own, not taking any back up with her - and I wanted to slap her upside the head because GIRL. YOU ARE MEANT TO BE A HOT SHOT NEW YORK DETECTIVE. STOP MAKING TERRIBLE CHOICES WHERE YOUR CAREER IS CONCERNED OMFG.
Still, it was an easy read, so I guess there's that?
Not gonna lie, pretty much the only reason why I picked up this book is that it's set in Pennsylvania and I'm trying to read books set in every US state this year. So.
Anyway. This was intriguing to begin with. A dead girl is found on an Amish farm, and Elizabeth Harris, the detective on the case, finds it difficult to get any answers out of the Amish community. She also finds herself inexplicably drawn to Ezra, an Amish widower.
And really, that romance was what made it kind of middle-of-the-road for me. It means that the murder investigation is put on the backburner repeatedly in favour of swooning. And the mystery itself is pretty simplistic.
My biggest problem with this, however, was Elizabeth. She repeatedly makes terrible decisions - crushing on potential suspects, getting way too involved in the lives of the victims' families, going out to crime scenes on her own, not taking any back up with her - and I wanted to slap her upside the head because GIRL. YOU ARE MEANT TO BE A HOT SHOT NEW YORK DETECTIVE. STOP MAKING TERRIBLE CHOICES WHERE YOUR CAREER IS CONCERNED OMFG.
Still, it was an easy read, so I guess there's that?
April 11, 2018
Amish Murder Mystery
I liked this one in the end a lot more than I was expecting too. The story revolves around the discovery of a dead girls body in an Amish couples barn, that quickly gets complicated as the local Amish community is quick to close out outsiders and be as unhelpful as possible towards the investigators.
For the first few chapters, I was very much thinking that this all seemed to be a by the numbers murder mystery novel, but as the conspiracy within the Amish community began to unravel it gets incredibly interesting. I was hooked on figuring out whether or not the community was protecting one of their own, or if the murderer was trying to pin everything on the local Amish families from the outside.
If I was to have one complaint, it's that the romance side plot for the first half of the book really hurt the flow at times, but even that I grew to appreciate by the end. Overall it's a good murder mystery that does enough different to separate itself from all the other novels in the crowded genre. 4/5 Stars
I liked this one in the end a lot more than I was expecting too. The story revolves around the discovery of a dead girls body in an Amish couples barn, that quickly gets complicated as the local Amish community is quick to close out outsiders and be as unhelpful as possible towards the investigators.
For the first few chapters, I was very much thinking that this all seemed to be a by the numbers murder mystery novel, but as the conspiracy within the Amish community began to unravel it gets incredibly interesting. I was hooked on figuring out whether or not the community was protecting one of their own, or if the murderer was trying to pin everything on the local Amish families from the outside.
If I was to have one complaint, it's that the romance side plot for the first half of the book really hurt the flow at times, but even that I grew to appreciate by the end. Overall it's a good murder mystery that does enough different to separate itself from all the other novels in the crowded genre. 4/5 Stars
July 18, 2017
Leaving behind the law enforcement hassles of a big city, Detective Elizabeth Harris relocates to rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and goes to a work for a small town police force that rarely see major crimes. The uneventful life she hoped to find is shattered when the body of a young woman is found in the barn of an Amish elder. Her investigation leads in directions that her supervisor finds uncomfortable, and she crosses an ethical line that puts her job in jeopardy. Compulsively, she persists.
This is first in the Harris mystery series written by Jane Jensen (published 2016). I was intrigued by the unique setting and the characters were credible. The story was well written, engaging, and had sufficient suspense, chase scenes, and danger to make it move forward. The ending left enough loose ends to provide a beginning point for another book in the series. I enjoyed the novel and will likely read another by this author.
This is first in the Harris mystery series written by Jane Jensen (published 2016). I was intrigued by the unique setting and the characters were credible. The story was well written, engaging, and had sufficient suspense, chase scenes, and danger to make it move forward. The ending left enough loose ends to provide a beginning point for another book in the series. I enjoyed the novel and will likely read another by this author.
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