Simple Lies

Amish Inn Mysteries #3

by Jan Fields

he quaint Indiana town of Pleasant Creek is bustling with activity as Christmas draws near. Boston native and innkeeper, Liz Eckardt, is learning to embrace her new home's holiday traditions and welcomes the slower-paced life at the heart of Amish country. The little town is brimming with yuletide cheer, and the brisk air is filled with the smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies and the merry sounds of carolers. Liz is certain her godson Steve, coming home for the holidays from his military post overseas, will appreciate the comfort and joy that only a nice, simple country Christmas can bring.

Unfortunately for Liz, 'tis the season for unexpected mysteries and unwelcome surprises. Instead of her beloved godson arriving on the Olde Mansion Inn's doorstep, who should appear but Liz's troublesome ex-fiancé Matt, demanding a room and much of her time and patience. Meanwhile, frightening packages from a sinister "Santa" have been appearing on the doorsteps of several local businesses, each filled with a variety of unsavory items and a card bearing a single chilling word: "Heartless."

Are these cards accusations or confessions? Who could be leaving the ghastly "gifts" all around town? And is it merely a heinous holiday prank, or is Santa planning to bring something more ominous to the people of Pleasant Creek? With each new delivery, the contents of the packages become more and more disturbing, and Liz is determined to find out why the culprit is dead set on ruining Christmas for everyone. Wrapped up in the mystery, she calls on her dear friends in both the English and the Amish communities for help. Join Liz, the lovable ladies of the Material Girls quilting group, and the town's handsome mayor, Jackson Cross, as they try to find a way to bring the grisly gift giver to light, all while keeping the Christmas spirit alive.

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

205 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery, and it is the third book in the Amish Inn Mysteries series. I listen to the audiobook, and this will be the second time me reading this book. I loved being to be back in the Olde Mansion Inn and spend time with the Material Girls quilting club and Beans. This book was where someone was leaving packages with bad stuff in them all over town, and they have to figure out who and why this is happening. I really like the second reading way more then the first time around. (*)

First time reading *** I gave it 3 stars
Second time reading **** I give it 4 stars

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this third Amish Inn Mystery. I'm impressed by the consistency of the first three books since they are written by different authors.

Liz continues to be a likable main character, and I admire her kindness and loyalty. The cast of secondary characters is very good too. I love the setting of the bed and breakfast in the small Indiana Amish village.

The mystery in this one kept my attention and kept me guessing for quite awhile. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can’t get enough of this series.

[S. Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Annie's Fiction mystery with Liz Eckardt the proprietor of the Olde Mansion Inn, Beans the bulldog, the Material Girls quilting club with both new and reappearing characters. Light mystery tale without violence, etc. This story is centered around the Christmas season of Pleasant Creek Amish country of Indiana.

Someone is delivering morbid seasonal gifts around town. Liz, with help, is trying to figure out who is doing this terrifying deed and why? Isn't Christmas supposed to be filled with joy, and wonder? Why is this perpetrator trying to ruin everyone's holiday? And Beans! He actually moves off his favorite rug and gets involved in this 3rd installment of the Amish Inn Mysteries series. Loads of fun with a surprise and gratifying ending.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious packages arriving at Pleasant Creek businesses during Christmas. Liz is investigating and when she figures it out, she is in danger!

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Simple Lies (Amish Inn Mysteries #3)" by Jan Fields is a bit more Amish themed than the 2nd book but that isn't much more than a comment/scene here and there throughout the book. However, this one had a bit of Christmas to it. Mostly some events leading up to Christmas.

The mystery part was on the super cozy side. There were no modern day deaths. The only deaths that get mentioned are that of a car accident. However, the mystery is around who is leaving some pretty gruesome gifts around town. This one wrapped up exactly as I expected it too.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple Lies is the third intriguing mystery written by Jan Fields in the Amish Inn Mystery series. This is a new author to me but I enjoyed her writing style. This story finds us in the midst of Christmas and mysterious gruesome packages be left outside the doors of local businesses. Who is behind these packages and what is it leading up to? As the suspect list grows does it include the real culprit? This mystery will have the reader gasping at times as the contents of packages are revealed. Liz Eckardt is on the trail of the person responsible but putting her own life in danger in the process. How will they track down the criminal at work before he distroys the entire town and what possessed his criminal behavior.

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

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Christmas time at the Olde Mansion Inn. Located in the heart of Amish country in Pleasant Creek, Indiana, the Inn is host to visitors looking for a simple Christmas. Liz Eckardt has some simple plans for her Christmas guests including decorating the Inn's tree while listening to a live storyteller. In the midst of the season, Liz and other business owners in the area begin receiving mysterious boxes containing creepy contents. Mayor Jackson Cross does not like the way the boxes seem to be multiplying in his town. He enlists Liz's help to discover who might be sending the boxes.

I am always surprised at the depth of the mysteries in this series. There is no murder this time, but the mystery is still a bit dark and complicated. This was a quick read and was interspersed with plenty of cozy Christmas vibes to keep the story from being too heavy. As always, Liz's friends from The Material Girls group offer some humor and a glimpse into the Amish world.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz Eckardt and her bulldog Beans have recently moved to the Amish community of Pleasant Creek, Indiana. Liz is the owner/operator of the Olde Mansion Inn and Beans is her loyal friend and part time guard dog.

Some of the characters peppering the pages of SIMPLE LIES, like her ex-boyfriend Matt, are not very likable. Why is he so adamant about Liz returning to Boston? Does he have an ulterior motive? Could he be the one responsible for the strange boxes with the vile contents that have been showing up around town?

You will find the answer to these and other questions, as well as a plethora of delightful characters neatly tucked between the pages of Jan Fields latest Amish Inn cozy mystery.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the Christmas season and the businesses around town, including the inn that Liz owns and operates, are getting mysterious gifts with dirty things in them and a card that says "Heartless." Liz starts to investigate, but will she be able to find the person who is behind it all and find out why?

Meanwhile, Liz's godson that she raised isn't able to come for Christmas and her ex-boyfriend comes to try and talk her into going back to Boston. Will he be able to convince her, is she too close to the people now?

People who like to read mysteries, serials, chick books and books written by Christians should like this book.

This book can be read by anyone.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz is eagerly anticipating a Christmas visit from her godson, currently serving in the military. But an email from him dashes those hopes with his change in orders. And then businesses in town as well as the Amish begin receiving anonymous gifts containing disgusting objects and threatening notes. When Liz gets one at her inn, she decides to see if she can figure out who is leaving these packages. She is almost on the verge of figuring it out, when the situation takes a definite turn for the worse, and puts Liz and others in danger. This intriguing mystery is a good one, and the continuing characters stay true to form, even with different authors writing about them.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of Christmas in July. I usually make fun of all those who go nuts over the idea, so a Christmas themed book this month would not have been my first choice. It was simply the next in the series and I can't skip around. This story has a nice story line. A mystery that is affecting many members of the community as well as the Amish is baffling the police. There seems to be no noticeable connection between the victims. The group of friends band together to solve the mystery and save Christmas. The capture of the criminal and his plan was a little farfetched that is why I didn't give it five stars. A good read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liz is preparing her inn for the Christmas holiday in Pleasant Creek Indiana. Everything is going well until her ex shows up wanting to get back together and insisting on staying at the hotel. Then suddenly some very nasty packages start showing up around town at all the different shops.

Liz and her Material Girls go about figuring out who is sending the packages before things get worse and get out of hand in the town.

This was a great addition to the series. I really enjoy this series. Watching Liz and her relationship with the Material Girls and learning even more about the amish community.

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #3 of Amish Inn Mysteries series from Annie’s Fiction. A continuation of Liz and the Olde Mansion Inn in Pleasant Creek. Mysteries abound and the regular characters are there but the guests at the Inn are always new. You never know what’s going to transpire at the Inn or in Pleasant Creek with this group of people but it definitely keeps you intrigued and wanting to find out. In another 4 weeks another new book should be coming my way!

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little cozy Christmas mystery. I didn’t realize it was the third book in the series and listened to it on audio first. I don’t think that really mattered to be able to follow the story but now I’m curious about books 1 and 2. I guessed/solved the mystery pretty early on but I usually do. I enjoyed the audio more by speeding it up to 1.5x speed. Otherwise it felt a little slow to me.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and relaxing, I am enjoying these little mysteries I was given, and I have 2 more left!! Interestingly, although they piece together seamlessly, the three I have read, were each by a different author.

[Bonnie Dieffenbacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read about a small Amish town in Indiana at Christmas time. Someone keeps leaving boxes at businesses that have disgusting things in them. The innkeeper and the mayor join with the police to solve the mystery.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit obvious; I did like the first two books better, probably specifically the first two authors better.

[Mary]

great book

[Charlotte Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet mystery story. Nice easy read.

[Phyllis Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so good

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! Kept me on my toes, twists and turns everywhere. Made me laugh out loud multiple times. The ending was a little rushed, but I assume it picks back up in #4.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery.

[Pam A · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Christmas Eve mystery, with some suspense, in amishland but focus was really on solving the mystery. Seems like it was written for teenagers, rather simplistic for me.

[Amber]

Holiday joy is overshadowed when threatening packages show up at homes in the small town of Pleasant Creek

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series.

[Opal Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again these stories are fun & interesting & even when I think I know who the killer is, the mystery takes a turn I didn’t see coming.