Murder, Served Simply

Amish Quilt Shop Mystery #3

by Isabella Alan, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

Amish quilt shop owner Angie Braddock has a lot on her plate this Christmas. But things only get worse after someone develops a taste for murder…
 
Angie’s parents are visiting Rolling Brook for Christmas—but unfortunately, her ex is joining them. Luckily, Angie has no time to dwell on her romantic troubles as she prepares her store, Running Stitch, for the town’s traditional progressive dinner, featuring a sleigh ride stopping at each shop for a different course of the meal.
 
The meal ends with an Amish-themed Christmas play at the Swiss Valley Hotel and Barn. But the performance is cut short when an actress falls from the scaffolding to her death. After the sheriff suspects foul play, tensions between the Amish and Englisch heat up, as do rivalries among the acting troupe. Now Angie and her quilting circle must stitch together clues before they’re the ones running for cover…
 
INCLUDES QUILTING TIPS!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Amish, Christmas, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook

8 pages, Audiobook

First published December 2, 2014

About the author

Isabella Alan is the pseudonym for Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.

Reviews

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always excited about a visit with Angie. The small Amish community of Rolling Brook, OH is a favorite trip of mine, and I was beyond thrilled to be spending Christmas there! Angie forgot to tell me that her mother, father, and ex fiancé Ryan are also coming in for the holiday. A little awkward, but tis the season, right? The town is hosting a progressive dinner: the guests will travel by sleigh and stop @ the different shops in town for a different meal course. This is all leading up to the Amish Christmas play @ the Swiss Valley hotel. Angie's quilt shop the Running Stitch will be serving a Christmas favorite for the event...Texas chili? I arrived in time to help Angie with the final touches. Angie was also filling me in about the amish themed play. It had caused quite a stir with the amish...alot of whom thought the play was an abomination. The real bit of gossip was the lead was being played by a girl who had left the Amish life for an acting career. The dinner went great, and everything was going off without a hitch that was until the young ex Amish actress plunged to her death during the play. One thing is for sure this is one instance where both the Amish and Englisch are looked at the same...everyone is a suspect...

My thoughts:

As usual this is another great installment to the series. I loved that we got a Christmas themed book, and the Progressive dinner by sleigh sounded like such a good time! Alan writes a setting so vividly I actually felt like I was taking the ride. I made hot cocoa while I was reading this book ...in July...in Florida. lol

I also enjoyed the usual cast of characters, and the new additions. It was especially fun getting to know Angela's mom and dad. It did feel like the mystery in this one took a back seat to the family visit, but still good.

I'm already scheduling my next visit to Rolling Brook.

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[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get yourself a cup of hot chocolate and cuddle up by the fireplace with Isabella Alan's cozy Christmas Mystery Murder Served Simply. If you love cozy mysteries you won't want to put this one down. Not far into the book a murder takes place and our amateur detective Angie Braddock can't leave it with the sheriff to solve. Intrigue causes her to get involved deeply as she tries to solve this mystery.
The cover was very inviting to this reader. It seems to beg readers to pick it up and get immersed into the story. This book is the third of the Amish Quilt Shop Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone but you will want to read the others after reading this one. I loved that I couldn't get who the murderer really was. In fact I was shocked because it was the person I least expected it to be.
If you love cozy mysteries don't miss this one. If you like page turners than hold this book in your hands. I recommend it to mystery lovers.

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope, I just can't continue with this series. The MC runs around interrogating her neighbors and I prefer my amateur sleuths to be more subtle. Add to this some very glaring story continuity errors and an obvious murderer; ultimately I was disappointed by the whole thing.

Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/106426...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, love the setting, love the Amish theme and really love Angie and her French bulldog, Oliver :)

[Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has created interesting characters and paints a fascinating picture of a small town in Amish country. In terms of murder it's a wonder no one has murdered Angie for her insistent prying. I think this is the last one I'm going to read in this series. Her parents brought her ex-fiance on the trip? Really? I wanted to kill Angie's mother. And then, Angie was avoiding the situation.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angie’s parents are coming from Texas for Christmas, and so is Angie’s ex-fiancé. She is glad that her parents have come, but not so glad for her ex to be in town, especially when her current almost-boyfriend, the sheriff, is around. When a young actress falls to her death during a benefit performance, all are stunned. Formerly from that Amish community, Eve’s death is especially hard on her family and friends. Angie wants to find out who caused the actress to fall, and almost ignores her visitors in her quest. There is quite a bit of tension in this mystery, much of it arising from the relationships Angie has with her family and love interests. The characters are interesting, and the plot intriguing. Readers likely will guess who the guilty party is, but you won’t know for sure until the end.

[Kate Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest: I picked this book because it was available and because it had a French bulldog on the cover. I was not disappointed.

Fun and quick read.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite Amish Mystery by Isabella Alan . I couldn't wait to read it because it was set at Christmas, and those are always fun books.
Her parents are arriving from Texas and bringing her ex-fiance. And you know her mother just hoped for a reconciliation and Angie's return to Dallas. And all of that was perfect, well written and funny. What fell flat or should I say what I didn't make a lot of sense to me was Angie's total involvement in the murder investigation. She only sat by the victim during the progressive dinner and yet she totally forgets about the quilt show and meetings that should be a priority and goes off causing confusion in the storyline, in my opinion. I did understand the author's reasoning for Angie's involvement, it just seemed a little far fetched that at the business time of year the murder of someone she didn't know was more important than her store. I can understand why she wanted to avoid her mother and ex-fiance, after all a mom knows what's best right? And all I will say about the dog, not my favorite character, is red boots? PLEASE! The character of her father is so well developed and again the setting in Ohio, I could close my eyes and I was there.

I did love the motive and the ending which I figured out early on but I still had different endings after meeting all the characters which shows that the story was never locked into a set ending. That kept me doubting my solution to the very end. Now I am all caught up with the series and I am waiting for the next book.

[Chaitra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so tired of Angie. I usually like Amanda Flower’s characters. They’re naive but they seem to be able to learn from their mistakes and are reasonably likable. But Angie is terrible start to middle anyway. I don’t think I’ll stick around to see if she gets any better because I honestly thought Mitchell ought to have dumped her. That’s all this book was; the mystery was add-on. If my mom had paraded an asshole ex in what should have been a family Christmas, I would have said mom I love you but get out of here with that stuff. That Angie didn’t and she wouldn’t even do Mitchell the courtesy of introductions says a lot about her, and nothing good. The stupid way Angie solves mysteries also says nothing good about her. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so mad at a cozy mystery main character, and I don’t need this. So, I’m done here.

[Kellene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like this book as much as the previous two in the series. The characters are still good and the writing is always enjoyable. I had a lot of issues with Angie being so wishy-washy about the ex who dumped her, I don't care how charming he was. And what was the connection that had her all tied up with the murder? She didn't really know the victim and I just couldn't really buy into her need to investigate (although clearly there wouldn't have been a book otherwise). I'll still stick with the series because Alan/Flowers is one of my favorite authors, but this one didn't thrill me.

[Vicky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately Ms. Alan lost me in chapter nine. I enjoyed the first two novels in this series and looked forward to this 3rd one but was let down with the stupidity of Angie. When a book fail to make sense (i.e. wouldn't Angie want to know immediately why Ryan returned? Wwhy should that be part of the mystery plot? and why would she take it upon herself to investigate a murder of a girl she liked so well after just meeting her?) The author was grasping for a story and failed to deliver.

[Alise HARRIS · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has apparently never heard of contrations. She never said I'll, I'm, You're. I realize Amish people probably talk like that, but people from Texas don't. It's like she doesn't have the ability to switch tone between characters. She also screwed up one of characters names. The whole book, he was called Ruben, then the last time he's mention, it's Rupert. I don't know who reads one of these books, and keeps buying more.

[Teri-K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely 2 stars.

[Monique the Book Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this book series!

[Deborah Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I guess I am hooked on this series. I have already downloaded book 4 to my Audible account. I usually only listen while driving or occasionally while cleaning but yesterday I had to keep listening. I finished this morning on a short walk with my dog.

In this book Angie's parents come to visit for the holidays and they have brought along her ex-fiancé as well. Angie's mother is determined to get the two of them back together. The town is hosting a number of progressive dinners and theater performances through out the holiday season at the local hotel. Angie and Martha, another quilt store owner, have a quilt show going on there at the same time. On opening night of the performance the leading lady falls to her death. Was it an accident? Of course, Angie being Angie, gets involved just because she likes the victim, whom she had just met, and who had left this Amish community for the bright lights of New York. And, I must not forget to mention Angie's pets Oliver and Dodger. Oliver seems to be able to understand human feelings and reacts appropriately to their needs. He is also very protective of Dodger, the cat. Now, that's enough spoiler; give it a read to find out more.

This is another wonderful and funny book in the series. The Author had me all the way to the surprised ending. Can't wait to get started on the next one, TODAY!

[Eliza Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of cozy murder mysteries.

This one was so fun with its Hallmark-like relationship drama (will she choose the lawyer ex-boyfriend or the small town sheriff?), Amish community setting, suspects with lots of secrets and Christmastime events. There are multiple kisses and some lying to get information for solving the mystery, but overall it's very clean!

“It’s weird to speak to someone every day of your life, and then one day it just stops, like all those conversations were a figment of your imagination. Sometimes I replay the conversations that we had and things that made us laugh in my head. I’m starting to wonder if the memories are true or if my mind is twisting them in some way to make them better or worse than they really were."

I loved this quote. I've totally felt this way.

[Bonnie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Christmas theme mysteries and I will tell you know that is one Murder, Served Simply book 3 in the ( Amish Quilting Mystery ) by: Isabella Alan is a read that will have you pulling out the tissue box. Angie has her hands full with her quilt shop, progressive dinners, a quilt show and a play and if thats not bad enough her parents came to visit and brought her ex boyfriend with them. Now she has her hands full with murder, her boyfriend to be the Sheriff, and telling her ex that they are friends and nothing more with all that can Angie find tbe killer in time before something else happens.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in Ohio in Rolling Brook and features Angie Braddock as the main character. The location is Amish even though Angie is not. It is nearly Christmas and at a play the lead actress who is local falls to her death. It turns out it is murder and Angie is determined to help the police. The book was a quick easy read.

[Wendy Heuvel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping for a good continuation of this series, and this book delivers. Not only are murder and romance a part of the story, but so is the relationship between the Amish and the Englishers. The author does a great job balancing out all these different aspects. Looking forward to book four.

[Wendy Jo Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the progressive dinners that Amish put on. I loved the special relationship with Zander had with Angie. I didn’t care for the parents bringing Ryan up to Ohio for Christmas.

[Deb Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella Alan's Amish Quilt Shop Mystery series continues with the third book, Murder Served Simply. Set during the Christmas season, this novel, has everything from a progressive dinner, to a theatre production, all set to daily life in the Amish town of Rolling Brook. Alan's knack for writing about the simple lifestyle of the Amish imbued with a little bit of murder is both light and entertaining. Readers who love a good mystery, have a few pets, love quilting or just plain and simply enjoy reading, will love it.

What I liked:

One of the things I have always liked about this series is the way that Isabella Alan makes her Amish characters so real. When I think of the Amish, I have a lot of respect for their culture and beliefs, but I don't really see them as people who might be like me or as people I might find something in common with. But Alan does a fantastic job of making the Amish seem more accessible, more realistic and in some ways just as flawed and human as I am.

Angie from the Running Stitch Quilt Shop is very busy with the holiday season in, Murder Served Simple. She is taking part in what is called a progressive dinner. I had never heard of that before reading this book, but found it a really interesting idea. Each of the local shop owners contributed a part of the meal and tourists went from shop to shop ending up at a local hotel for the final course. What a cool way to celebrate the season! I admit I want to steal the idea and create my own progressive dinner among friends, but it was certainly a great idea for this mystery. Alan uses it to get the mystery started so to speak, along with a Broadway production that has the Amish all in a stir.

Not only does Angie have her parents and her ex-boyfriend in town for Christmas she ends up with a murdered actress on her plate as well. When a former Amish woman, turned actress dies in the middle of the first night of the play, it's up to Angie to figure out whodunit and why. Many of the Amish characters in the book, were not in favor of the play because they felt it cast the Amish in a bad light and made fun of their culture and beliefs. That certainly added to the suspect list, along with the actors and actresses from the play and a crazy Amish relative of the victim.

Bottom Line:

Alan does a great job of balancing the mystery in this book against Angie's personal dynamics with her matchmaking parents and her new and old boyfriends. The mystery aspects were fun to read and try to figure out, while Angie's life continued to get in the way of her sleuthing. Pet lovers will love scenes with Oliver and Dodger and the Christmas theme was well included in the mystery. An all around great addition to this wonderful Amish mystery series.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nearing Christmas in Rolling Brook, Ohio, and Angie Braddock, who inherited her Aunt Eleanor's Amish quilting shop, is gearing up for her parents visit. She's not happy that her mother has invited her ex-fiancé, Ryan, but there isn't anything she can do about it except vow not to spend any more time with him than she needs to. It's also apparent Sheriff Mitchell isn't happy about Ryan being there, as his own relationship with Angie is starting to take shape.

On the night of the Amish progressive dinner, everyone is going to various places for a different course, and then at the end watching a play put on by an acting troupe. Angie discovers that the lead actress - Eve Shetler - is former Amish and not everyone wants her there. It's never more apparent than when she falls to her death from scaffolding, and the suspects range from the Amish to the Englisch. Angie decides to do a little sleuthing herself since she met and liked Eve, even if everyone wants her to stay out of the investigation. But somehow it's giving her more questions than answers, and the final one will make all the difference.

This is the third book in the series, and I think I liked it better than the first two. While I really didn't think Angie had any real claim to investigate, I did like the idea of the progressive dinner, and merging Amish Christmases with Englisch ones seemed interesting in itself. We got to learn more about Angie's parents which was a lot of fun, and her mother's idea of decorating a Christmas tree was unusual, to say the least.

I really didn't care for the fact that Angie was dodging Ryan instead of talking to him, but I guess it was what he deserved for deserting her at the altar, after all. I would have expected her to develop a little bit of backbone with everything she's been through; but I didn't see that. Still, I imagine she had her reasons for putting him off.

When we finally get into the mystery, which actually played second fiddle to Angie's non-visit and visit with her parents (read the book and you'll understand why I say that) I didn't feel that we were given enough on the murder itself; and while the clues were there, at the same time they actually weren't. There was one huge red herring that turned out to not to have anything to do with it at all, actually. So while I don't think this was a bad book, I do think it could have been given a little more detail on the mystery to solve.

https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/202...

[Pappy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the previous two books. I liked the descriptions of Ohio in the winter and the small town. I like the Amish characters and the quilt shop. Honestly, the whole reason I started the series was because I saw this book's cover. I thought "French bulldog? Awesome. Quaint quilt shop in the winter time? I've got to read this book!"

Shallow, sure, but I read the first book and enjoyed it enough to buy the next two only to be insanely frustrated by this one - the one that motivated me to get into the series in the first place.

In the first two books Ryan is a fading light and it makes sense as she moves away from Dallas both with time and emotionally as she settles into her new life. Her mom, who is so "overprotective" that she doesn't even listen to her daughter, brings Ryan to Ohio and hijinks ensue as Angie just can't possibly make up her mind about who to end up with. Every single time she dodged a conversation or changed the subject was a matter of agony for me because almost all conflicts in these books (and most books in general) could be fixed if the characters just communicated openly and honestly.

And while Angie may have said time and again that she was investigating the murder because Eve was special, I read it as merely a ploy to get away from being an adult and making a decision about which guy she actually liked. The murder investigation struck me as a means to the wrong end. And it made me dislike Angie a little because of that.

And the quilt shop seemed to only be a place that she can run out of when she thinks of something or gets a tip, often leaving her employee alone. She talks about how she puts everything she has into the shop, but leaves it every chance she can to accomplish this investigation.

*sigh*

But, now that Ryan is gone and Dallas seems to be in the past for good now, maybe we can get back to murders and genuine reasons to investigate them. Although if there are many more murders, surely Angie will be looked at as a jinx?

I've read that people are so unsatisfied with this book that they're leaving the series, but I'll give it one more book and then make up my mind.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should've loved this book. It's Christmas and there are all kinds of activities all related to the Amish community. There's a progressive sleigh, a quilt show, and a play. In addition to all that, Angie's parents are coming for the holiday. Unfortunately, they've brought her ex Ryan along for the visit.

And there's the problem. The vast majority of this book deals with Angie's discomfort with her ex now that she's dating the sheriff. Ryan is obviously there to win her back, but she keeps avoiding him as well as her parents. This kind of romantic triangle angst is a huge turn off to me. It makes the lead character come across as not conflicted, but juvenile. Why doesn't she just tell her parents she's got a new boyfriend and tell Ryan it's over, no chance, donesky, move along? Probably because half the book would be gone.

The actual mystery is interesting and I do like some of the Amish background. I just hate the wishy-washy way Angie acts through most of the book. She spends nearly all her time with Ryan and doesn't tell her parents Mitchell is her new man. It's all very disappointing and intrusive on the story.

[teal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a major disappointment compared to the first two.

Firstly, the inconsistencies were numerous. She was given the name of someone, but the story went on as if she hadn't and then later gets the name from another character. Her inner dialogue uses another character's name before the character is introduced. Etc etc.

Secondly, Angie's behaviour regarding Ryan was like reading the diary of a 12 year old girl. What grown woman wouldn't tell her mom to leave the ex-fiance at home?! What grown woman doesn't introduce her new beau immediately to shut down any scheming by her mother and ex?! It was really annoying to watch her bumble around and make stupid mistakes. But hopefully we can chalk it up to closure and not hear about Ryan ever again. I bought the next two books in the series already, so I'm going to cross my fingers that this Christmas fiasco story was a blip and we get back to quilt shop business in the next book.

[Barbara Spieker · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the end of the previous book I cringed reading that Angie's ex was coming for Christmas. It sounded like a stupid direction for the author to take, and it was. Even worse is that her mother arranged it, and Angie could have stopped it. Irritating. The anthropomorphism goes too far and isn't even cute. Also irritating. Even more irritating is the way Angie sticks her nose in the crime for no good reason and the way she bludgeons her way through people asking questions when it's none of her business. I think the author is already tired of this series and just pushing through. Probably got a multiple book contract and now has to fulfill it whether she likes it or not. Not even sure if I'll read on to the next book in the series.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Amish setting and all the cuteness from the main character's dog Oliver. The only thing that bothers me with this series is that the English characters seem to also talk like they are Amish, with very few conjunctives which makes them sound very formal. It's almost like the author forgets to differentiate when writing the dialogue. Anyhow, I do like this series and the Christmas setting was great too!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. I enjoy reading about Angie and all of her friends but her detecting is not very believable. Course that applies to just all main characters for any cozy. Just sometimes they seem flakier than usual. Absolutely love Oliver! One of the best characters in the series.

Will be looking forward to the next in the series.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the three books I have read from this series so far, this one is my favorite. I enjoyed this story and the whole group of characters. The next book cannot come out soon enough. A solid 4 star read.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting dynamic in this one, as Angie's ex fiance shows up with her parents for the Christmas holidays. Angie's mother really does add drama to the situation. I was kind of happy about the revelation at the end of the book.