Secrets Plain and Simple

Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries #27

by Elizabeth Ludwig

Life has never been fuller for Cheryl Miller. Since baby Rebecca joined the family, it seems there are fewer hours in a day and more things to do than ever before. But when Cheryl’s youngest sister-in-law, Esther, is caught with drugs, Cheryl knows she must make the time to help. Esther insists the drugs aren’t hers, but refuses to provide further information. Esther’s friend Henry thinks Englisher Zachary Waller is to blame.

Could Henry simply be wrestling with a bad case of jealousy, since he has always had strong feelings for Esther, and Esther’s attraction to Zachary is plain to see? With strange incidents mounting, Cheryl races to get to the bottom of the sudden influx of drugs in their small community before Esther finds herself in real trouble. But can she do it in time?

Genres: Mystery, Amish Fiction, Amish

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Elizabeth Ludwig is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Book three in her popular EDGE OF FREEDOM series, Tide and Tempest, was named a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Elizabeth was also named a finalist in the 2015 Selah Awards for her novella “One Holy Night”, part of the bestselling anthology collection, Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine. Most recently, she was honored to be awarded a HOLT Medallion for her book, A Tempting Taste of Mystery, part of the SUGARCREEK AMISH MYSTERIES series from Guideposts. Her latest releases include Sheeps Passing in the Night, part of the MYSTERIES OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD series, also from Guideposts, and The Coffee Club Mysteries from Barbour Publishing. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheryl and Levi are living in their new home with 17th month old Rebecca. They have built a grandma house and are letting people live in it free while they rebuild their lives. The first family is a couple with a boy who is a senior in high school and plays football. While Cheryl is checking out her store she finds a bag of pot and questions Esther about it. Esther denies knowing anything about it and says it wasn’t her English boyfriend. Amish Henry thinks it is the boyfriend. Cheryl is worried about who brought the drugs in and how to help Esther and stop the flow of drugs.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets Plain and Simple is an interesting story written by Elizabeth Ludwig in the Sugarcreek Amish Mystery series. This story starts out as Cheryl discovers drugs in the Swiss Miss. All evidence leads to Esther Miller but Cheryl can't get a straight answer from her. Cheryl knows Esther is lying but refuses to say that to her. When a new family moves into Cheryl's dawdi house the mystery really ramps up and the suspect list grows. Who is bringing drugs into Sugarcreek and selling them has Cheryl working overtime to protect her family and community. With all signs pointing to students at the local high school Cheryl knows it is to simple to assume that. When the evidence Cheryl gathers starts adding up and secrets around her new tenants are revealed the shocking conclusion will have the readers on the edge of their seats. The author has done a wonderful job telling her story thru all these amazing characters. Esther and Henry's involvement may also surprise you.

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 story that I can highly recommend to others.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 27 in series, Drugs are found in the Swiss Miss shop and Cheryl needs to find out where they came from. Esther is looking a little guilty as she is paying attention to a new englisher boy. She sees her relationship with this boy to reflect Cheryl and Levi's story. Little does she know how different it really is. Henry a nice Amish man is trying to get Esther to really she this guy for who is is. Henry has liked Esther for a long time, but she doesn't seem to return the feelings. Henry ends up going to jail to save Esther from being found guilty.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this was a good story and good characters. It had the element of mystery as well. Cheryl is such a real person, in that she struggled with self will and remembering to covet the prayers of her family, while trusting God in the situation.
I’ve not been around the Amish community in Ohio, but I do live near the Amish and Mennonite communities in Northeast Indiana, so I struggled with the modernization of the Amish in the storyline of Ohio. Even with this struggle within myself, I did enjoy the book.

[Chelsee Kolterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koko

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series. This one book is rather sad as it is dealing with drug usage.

[Carrie Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most serious topic in the series.

[Brit S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binged it in one day loved it!

[Jo Erb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book