Blood of the Prodigal

Amish-Country Mysteries #1

by P.L. Gaus

P. L. Gaus’s Blood of the Prodigal , a mystery in the tradition of Tony Hillerman, is back in a new edition, including an exclusive interview with the author, discussion questions for reading groups, and a detailed map and driving guide to Holmes County, Ohio, with everything one needs to visit the iconic scenes depicted in the story. In Holmes County, Ohio—home to the largest Amish and Mennonite settlements in the world—mystery and foreboding lurk in the quiet Old Order Amish community led by Bishop Eli Miller.The illusion of peace is shattered one early morning when a young Amish boy goes missing—abducted from his home and from Bishop Miller’s care. At first, the bishop suspects the child’s father, who was exiled from the Old Order ten years ago, but a murder soon casts doubt on the bishop’s theory. With a strong distrust of law enforcement and the modern “English” ways, the bishop must put his faith in an unlikely partnership with Professor Michael Branden before it’s too late. With the help of the peaceful pastor Cal Troyer and the reckless Sheriff Bruce Robertson, Branden plunges headlong into the closed culture to unravel the mystery of the missing child and uncover truths many would prefer to leave undisturbed.

Genres: Mystery, Amish, Fiction, Audiobook, Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, Mystery Thriller

230 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Paul L. Gaus writes The Amish-Country Mysteries, set authentically in the Amish settlements of Holmes County, Ohio. Three life-long friends - Professor Michael Branden, Sheriff Bruce Robertson, and Pastor Caleb Troyer - work sometimes together and other times at crossed purposes to solve mysteries involving the often inscrutable Amish sects of the region. The rich cast of English characters includes the professor's insightful wife Caroline, Holmes County's tenacious Medical Examiner Melissa Taggert, and young Ellie Troyer, the sheriff's resolute dispatcher/secretary. Paul's novels illuminate Amish culture and lifestyle in the context of murder investigations that pull aside the veil on the daily lives of these purposefully plain religious separatists.

There are currently eight novels in the series, published by Plume, a Division of Penguin Group USA. The ninth novel, Whiskers of The Lion, is soon to be published by Plume. The first seven of his novels were originally published as The Ohio Amish Mysteries, by Ohio University Press, before they were all republished as trade paperbacks by Plume.

Paul’s extensive knowledge of the culture and lifestyle of the many Ohio Amish sects comes from over forty years of travel throughout Holmes and the surrounding rural counties in Ohio. His stories are rich with culture, much like the works of Tony Hillerman. It was Paul's friendship with Tony Hillerman that first inspired him to write culture-based mysteries about Amish people.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Linda Castillo's mysteries set in the Amish region of Painter's Mill, Ohio, so I thought I'd give P.L. Gaus's first Amish whodunit - published in 1999 - a try. Unlike Castillo's stories, which have shocking bloody crimes and a Police Chief detective, Gaus's book is a cozy mystery with an amateur sleuth.

*****

The story: Bishop Eli Miller is an 'Old Order' Amish leader in Holmes County, Ohio. The Bishop is very strict with his church members, and expects them to live simply; work their farms; wear plain clothes of the appropriate colors and style; eschew books and education; not use radios; avoid interaction with outsiders ('the English'); and so on.



Bishop Miller has to break his own rule, however, when his ten-year-old grandson Jeremiah is kidnapped. Desperate to get the boy back - and unwilling to contact the police - the Bishop.....



.....asks university professor Michael Brandon (an 'Englisher') for help.



The Bishop tells Brandon that his son, Jonah Miller - who was banned from the church for rebellious behavior - snatched Jeremiah, who's his biological son.

Brandon searches for Jeremiah, but makes little progress before Jonah is found shot dead on a road leading to the Bishop's house.



Sheriff Bruce Robertson investigates the killing, but he knows nothing about Jeremiah's abduction - so the Professor still has to find the missing child.



The main suspect for Jonah's murder is Jeff Hostettler, whose sister Brenda was involved with Jonah, and gave birth to Jeremiah.



Jonah abandoned Brenda before the boy was born, and she eventually committed suicide. Jeff blamed Jonah for his sister's death, and vowed to kill him.

To discover where Jeremiah may have been taken, Brandon looks into Jonah's past. The Professor learns that Jonah always chafed against the restrictions of Amish life. As a schoolboy Jonah wanted to read books and learn about the world, but the Bishop wouldn't allow it. Later on, Jonah took to drinking, dressing in English clothes, and carousing with girls....which led to his banishment.



The plot has some elements of a police procedural, and - as the story progresses - the Sheriff's investigation and Brandon's search come together.

Secondary characters that add interest to the book include: Pastor Cal Troyer - an Englisher that Bishop Miller respects; Ellie Troyer - the Sheriff's dispatcher, who has a sense of humor; Deputy Rick Neill - the new guy in the Sheriff's Department; Caroline Brandon (Michael's wife) - who helps search for Jeremiah; and more. Ellie and Rick have crushes on each, so that's a perk for romance fans.



The story has a straightforward plot with no big surprises....and not much excitement.

I do like the glimpse into the lives of the Old Order Amish, who seem to have the philosophy 'all work and no play.' It was also interesting to read about bundling - an Amish practice that involves boys and girls sleeping together (without sex) for courtship purposes. (This seems very odd to me.....and a tricky proposition.)



All in all, this is an okay mystery in an intriguing setting, but I probably won't go on with the series. The novels are popular though, so if you're a fan of cozies you might want to give it a try.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.8* of five

The Publisher Says: Plume's paper edition copy: A compulsively readable new series that explores a fascinating culture set purposely apart.

In the wooded Amish hill country, a professor at a small college, a local pastor, and the county sheriff are the only ones among the mainstream, or "English," who possess the instincts and skills to work the cases that impact all county residents, no matter their code of conduct or religious creed.

When an Amish boy is kidnapped, a bishop, fearful for the safety of his followers, plunges three outsiders into the traditionally closed society of the "Plain Ones."

Ohio University Press's hardcover copy: From the choppy waves off Lake Erie's Middle Bass Island to the too tranquil farmlands of Holmes County's Amish countryside, mystery and foreboding lurk under layers of tradition and repression before boiling up to the surface with tragic consequences.For Jon Mills, the journey begins with his decision to retrieve his ten-year-old son from the hands of the Bishop who bad ten years earlier cast Mills out of the Order, the same Bishop who is Jon Mills's father.

When Mills turns up dead, dressed in Amish garb, and with the boy missing, Professor Michael Branden plunges headlong into the closed culture to unravel the mystery and find the boy.

My Review: I don't imagine that I need to go over my hostility, nay hatred, for christian religion and its evils yet again. But given that I am without sympathy for the central organizing principle of the book's characters, why on EARTH would I pick it up?

Because it is never a good idea to shut one's self off from points of view not one's own. Illumination comes only when the curtains are open.

I started reading the book with modest expectations, and the writing delivered on those admirably. Not one paragraph stands out in my mind. No phrases clink against the myriad of quotes stored in my magpie's-paradise of a memory. Not one single crappy turn of phrase, a few slightly ungainly sentences, but overall a solid B+ effort of writing. It's the first in the series, so that's okay by me.

The murder and its motivations made me smile. Seeing a grand high muckity-muck of a christian sect that's looney even by their looney standards get it in the eye? Bliss! Seeing their bizarre separatist way of life illuminated so clearly? Fascination. The sleuthing team's interconnectedness and small-town life-long knowledge of each other, and watching that develop and alter, was a pleasure.

Gaus very clearly understands the world he's writing about, and clearly also makes a strong effort to be fair and informative to and about it. He doesn't go all preachy-teachy and he doesn't gloss over the good or the bad effects of the Plain People's (hubristic) separation from the world of the English and its attendant vanities. (Isn't a focus on eliminating vanity simply vanity in sneakers?)

I liked the book. I'll read the next few, though I doubt there's enough there there to keep me reading for all eight that exist to date. Of course I could be wrong, heaven knows it wouldn't be the first time.

But my wrongness aside, don't turn away from the pleasure of acquainting yourself with this interesting, weird world.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

[Laur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing- slow build-up and pace, underwhelming mystery.
Was hard to stay with the story….found myself getting bored and trying to stay awake with the narration that was extremely monotone.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for mystery - 4 stars for learning

Most of us have lots of books on our TBR piles. Over the years I've often thought about reading one of P.L. Gaus's mysteries set in Ohio Amish country. Those of you who follow what I'm reading know that I recently finished another author's fourth in an Amish mystery/thriller series. Though I thought that one was ok, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Once again I'll preface my comments by saying, I, like many, have a curiosity and fascinations with the Amish way of life. I think I yearn for a simpler time, uncomplicated by the hustle and bustle of mine. The older I get I also wish for less electronic intrusion and more quiet. Gaus likens it to "the grand spectacle of excess that we see in modern life". He also states "People want to know that these specific communities, set apart, are still out there, and they are curious to know how and why Amish people choose to live as they do. We wonder, sometimes, I think, if maybe they don’t know a secret". Secret or not, I.m not certain why I think the Amish life would be any easier. Though there is perhaps less of that intrusion, living the simple life is quite a lot of hard work and has its own set of everyday issues. Gaus, in his mysteries, is able to examine the Amish culture, tradition and lifestyle.

Unlike many Amish stories, Gaus's series is set in Holmes County, Ohio, not Pennsylvania. Having visited this area Blood of the Prodigal seems accurate in its setting and more true to the Amish than many others I have read. The basic story might be nothing new. Bishop Miller's ten year old grandson, Jeremiah is kidnapped. Bishop Miller is certain he has been taken by the boy's father, Miller's son, Jonah, who is shunned or mited when he leaves his community and rejects his Amish roots. Bishop Miller seeks the help of English Professor Michael Branden to find his grandson without involving the police. When Jonah is found dead in a roadside ditch, dressed in the traditional old order Amish clothing of his district, the clock may be running out for Jeremiah.

Blood of the Prodigal is a 3 star mystery but a 4 star read. I could be wrong but I felt an authenticity for the Amish ways lacking in other stories. I learned more about the Amish in this than other fiction I have read.

I liked Gaus's writing style, attention to detail and exploration of the lives of the people, English, Amish, Mennonite inhabiting Holmes and Waynes County. They are wholesome reads that will appeal to readers who want a book lacking swearing and gratuitous sex or violence. I would feel safe recommending them to readers of Christian fiction. Penguin Group, USA, seemed to like them too as the series, first known as the Ohio Amish Mysteries were revised and republished as the Amish-Country Mysteries by Plume, a division of Penguin. The seventh in the series, Harmless as Doves, was published last June. It releases in trade paperback this June.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book grew on me as it progressed. I’ve enjoyed the series with Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo so much. This doesn’t quite measure up to them, however. I like Professor Michael Branden and his good relationship with the Amish community. Can’t say the same for Sheriff Bruce Robertson. The ending particularly was exciting. I will try another in the series.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[writer... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 ✔️

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Amish bishop’s grandson goes missing, he asks a local pastor and professor to help find him.

I found BLOOD OF THE PRODIGAL to be overly descriptive in parts and thought the mystery was on the weak side. There’s not a lot of tension so I would only recommend this to readers who enjoy a story with an Amish setting.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Cast a blue shadow, i knew that i had to get another book by the same author, P.L. Gaus. I think that this book was even better than the last one i read, and it kept me thinking. What had happened was that in the Amish culture, it is wrong that you do anything to go out of Old Amish order. You must obey their rules and do as the elders say. The Bishops name is Eli Miller, and he had a son named Jonah miller. Jonah grew up as an Amish boy, but then started straying from the Amish beliefs. Jonah became rebellious and left their ways. He then had a boy named Jeremiah, but Eli Miller had been taking care of him since Jonah had been shunned. Then one day Eli had woken up, and his Grandson Jeremiah had been kidnapped. The whole town was upset about the happening. They all had figured that Jonah had taken Jeremiah to live with him, but no one knew where they were living. It became a search, and the Amish don't like to involve people outside the Amish lifestyle, but they had too. One of the professors then gets heavily involved, and it lets you see the story through his point of view. I really did like this book, it was pretty easy to read and follow. Some parts went along slowly, but it was nice because that allowed there to be breaks and let your imagination grow. I would defiantly reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in Murder solving stories. It was relaxing, but enjoyable and fun to read, while it wasn't boring, and it keeps you engaged. It also never left you hanging, you always kind of knew what was going to happen.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I confess I didn't finish this book, it is just too mind-numbingly awful. There are many things wrong with it; the most annoying aspect is the way the characters keep reviewing the same information over and over again, chapter after tedious chapter, each time being completely amazed by it, forcing me to the conclusion that none of them are very intelligent. I'm quite sure that the whodunnit will turn out to have been perpetrated by a character that will not be introduced until the end of the book (a very weak writing trick) but I will never know because I plan never to pick this silly novel up again.

[Elaine Nickolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a total drag. It took the author nearly until the last 40 pages to put down something interesting. I believe he spent way too much time trying to bring the reader into the background scenery and forgot about the actual story until close to the end. The ending seemed hurried and disjointed. There were elements thrown in that seemed like fluff to try to salvage the story that seemed to have gotten away from the author. They say when you love something or an experience, once is never enough. In this case, once was more than enough. Will not be looking for Ohio Amish Mystery #2.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the library, I was looking for an Amish book that was different from the usual romances that I enjoy. This one jumped out from the card catalog, and I selected the first book in the series. This is the first book I’ve read by P.L. Gaus, and I appreciated the disclaimer in the front of the book that says this is a complete work of fiction, not based on actual events.

I really liked the mystery with the Amish setting, and it is evident that Gaus is familiar with Amish culture. The descriptions of the bishop and women fit with other Amish books that I’ve read. Prayer, as a way of handling problems, was both realistic and frustrating for someone who comes from our modern culture.

I did like Mike Branden’s character. He was respectful, knowledgeable, and played by the rules of the Amish. Michael didn’t show off his knowledge, and he showed strength of character. I find it ironic that the bishop thought Branden was prideful. Robertson was a bit brash. I questioned his motives and character on more than one occasion, which may have been Gaus’ intent. I liked Neill, too. I wondered if there was going to be a plot twist with his character, but none came up in this novel.

This mystery kept me guessing the whole time. I thought I had the suspects narrowed down, but in the end I was wrong. The fact that the bishop was not transparent from the start was upsetting, but within the character of an Amish person speaking to an “English” person. The action really picked up in the last quarter of the novel. In the end, the mystery was solved, but I’m not sure I’d call it a completely happy ending. Usually I like a happy ending. Gaus did a great job writing, and I enjoyed his writing style, but I would have liked to see more of the end at the beginning. You know, maybe a flashback type of novel showing Jonah’s past with present and the company he was keeping. I am fascinated by the Amish (maybe because I was a JW – another high control religious group- for 10 years). However, they frustrate me beyond belief, too. The “must-keep-separate-from-the-world” philosophy is prideful in itself. Following a religion or a book (the Ordnung) rather than Christ is craziness to a Christian.

If I could change something, I would have have learned more about Jonah’s character and background rather than be limited to what the bishop or Miss Beachy had to say.

Bottom line, I liked the book. It wasn’t fast paced until the end, but it was still interesting and cultural. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the Amish and won’t be too frustrated by their closed yet interesting lifestyle. I plan to read more books in this series.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Holmes County, Ohio, we are introduced to a group of "Old Order Amish" or "plain people" who only trust a precious few "English people".

When one of the Amish boys disappears the Amish Bishop meets with Professor Michael Branden and Pastor Caleb Troyer, two "English" men he feels he can help locate the boy. The Bishop believes that the boy was taken by his father, the Bishop's son, who had been exiled from the Amish community 10 years ago. The Bishop begs the men to not involve any police as he hopes to get the boy back and settle the matter quickly and quietly.

When the man suspected of taking the boy is found dead right down the road from the Bishop's home, the local sheriff starts to investigate the death but is not made aware of the missing boy until 3 days later at the bequest of the Bishop. When the sheriff is given all the information many secrets that the Bishop hoped would remain in the past are revealed. Time then becomes a matter of urgency to try to find the boy before it is too late.


This story is written by a man with over 30 years of research into the Amish lifestyle and in fact lives just a few miles away from one of the world's largest and most varied settlements of Amish and Mennonite communities and it shows throughout his writing.

Just reading this first book in this series I understand so much more about a culture I have found fascinating for years. We have small communities of Amish in Wisconsin but aside from seeing them out shopping from time to time, hearing some stories, reading romance type books featuring "plain people" and seeing the buggies along the highway I really know very little about their lifestyle.

This book not only educates us about the Amish culture, it also contains not only one but two mysteries. One who killed the Bishop's son and two who actually has the Bishop's grandson. The author blends the dangers of America today with the Amish way of life totally respecting their values and attitudes. It is truly different from any other book I have read that tries to mesh these two worlds together. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series "Broken English" and if it draws me in like this edition the reading will be a true pleasure.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Plume Books, A Division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, also set in Amish country, I was interested to see how this compared. While I didn't find it as tight or compelling (nor as dark) as the Burkholder series, and prefer the police procedural genre that the Burkholder series uses, this book did get better as it went along, and the characters were interestingly developed (e.g., the bipolar sheriff). The last 10-15% of the book definitely raises the stakes and picks up the pace. I am hoping there is more finesse in the series as Gaus picks up steam in the next books.

Two things did get stuck in my craw, though. Perhaps I missed something since I listened to this on audio, but I kept waiting for an explanation of why a history professor would be so involved with police cases and carry such authority as an investigator other than being a long-time friend of the sheriff( narrative indicates that the civil war professor has worked with the police on other cases prior to the events in the novel - what were his credentials to do so?). But I decided to let that go, and moved on with "reading." The other piece that seemed ill-explained was the professor's motivation for dressing up and shaving like an Amish person for part of the book.

Finally, some sections of dialogue get very repetitious (as with arguments trying to explain or justify the Amish ways or the conversation at the end between the professor and the college president). A strong editor would probably have helped with all of these issues, and I will read the next one in the series to see if things get a little tighter and better paced.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has taken me a long time and many Amish books to warm up to reading Amish fiction, but I have finally gained an appreciation for good Amish stories. I don’t think I have read an Amish mystery before and I am certain I have not read one of P. L Gaus’s before reading Blood of the Prodigal, so I was looking forward to yet another type of Amish story with an author who is new to me. Mysteries have also not been a favorite genre of mine, so adding that together with some reluctance about Amish fiction, I had big expectations going into this book.

For the most part, I was not disappointed, actually I was quite impressed with the quality of the writing and the intricate and interesting plot. This book went by very quickly for me and I found that I enjoyed the mystery and the extensive education about the Amish. This book is another take on the Amish community that has fascinated readers for a very long time. I always like learning more about the Amish when I read these book, mainly because it gives me a greater appreciation for their simple living. I also appreciate a good Amish story with a high entertainment value. Blood of the Prodigal had everything I was hoping for and fans of mystery books and Amish books will appreciate P. L Gaus’s research and storytelling.

[Pam S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not one to read Amish books, but a friend talked me into buying three of these Amish mysteries since she knew I liked mysteries. Even though this is a thin book, it took me a month to read it. It certainly was not a page turner.

The two main negatives I noticed were:
1. Many places were confusing to me. The way the author uses last names to refer to characters and then switches to their first names. The prime example of this is the main character, Mike Branden. His last name is also a first name. And even using both first and last names throughout the entire book. By the last chapter, I get the characters' names.

2. There were many clues that were repeated throughout the book. When one occurred, I turned back the pages to make sure I wasn't dreaming that I had already read it.

The one thing I liked about this book was how difficult it was to figure out the antagonist. And it was clever how subtle the final clue was written into the story. I didn't pick up on it. However, waiting until the end of the book to introduce the bad guy can make the reader feel cheated.

I realize this was his debut novel; but if I had read it when first published, I would not read the following books in the series. I have been told the series gets better, so I will give the others a chance.

[Trish · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not compelling enough, neither the characters, nor the plotline. Maybe too many one star reviews shows more about my frame of mind than it does about the books. I'm sure there are people out there that will like this book about a crime committed in Amish country. It sounded interesting enough. If we all thought the same, what a dull world it would be. In Nick Bilton's book, I Live in the Future, the author tells us that online reviews with no poor ratings are mistrusted because they can't accurately reflect the range of opinions. Take heart, author, I wasn't so kind to Bilton, either.

[Teri Pre · Rating 2 out of 5]

The policeman (Neill) and the Professor are the most incompetent investigators I've ever come across. When stopping by a small town police station, Neill finds a sign on the door: If you need the police officer, call this number for the mayor's secretary. So, does he call the number?? Heck no!! He spends his time driving aimlessly around town, getting a tour of the Coast Guard facility and pretty much wasting time.

I could go on and on about the incompetence, but enough is enough!

Sheesh!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books in this series and I would say that this one is probably the best written and the most engaging. The book kept me reading. The only criticism that I would have is that the "bad guys" were not introduced till the end of the story and seemed almost like an afterthought and perhaps just thrown in to finish the book.

[Anna Pardue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was enjoying the story until the mystery was revealed and it was just a huge disappointment. There wasn’t enough scandal and shock in the big reveal. Seemed like the author wrote himself into a trap and took a sloppy way out.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty interesting. Really easy to read.

[Kaitlin Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

A was baptized into the Mennonite church just a few weeks ago, when we were sitting at lunch before the baptism one of the members of the church laughter about "bonnet rippers" their term for Christian romanic fiction. I'll admit i liked those books when I was in high school, and with our recent move to Pennsylvania and my indoctrination into the anabaptist world I wanted an novel that wasn't a bodice ripper but focused on the Amish.

The book was pretty decent. I'll admit my knowledge of the Amish is that of Indiana and Pennsylvania, working with the Indiana Amish at the hospital and one one occasion staying in an Amish and conservative mennonite homes with my best friend (she rented from them) while running an in Lancaster Co. But unless the Holmes Co Amish are significantly different from the ones I've spent time with the book has serious flaws.

1. Why in the world would Jonas have joined the church after Rumspringa? It's a common misconception that if you don't join the church you're shunned, this is untrue. Only those who join the church and break their vow are shunned and even then it's often less difficult than we think it is (although sometimes it is just as bad). He implied that after they finish school they immediately rumspringa. Again, wrong.... school ends after your 8th grade year and rumspringa doesn't begin until you are 16. Typically lasting 1-2 years but sometimes shorter sometimes longer. If Jonas was that unsure I have a hard time imagining why he would have joined the church before 18, or at all.
2. Jonas would have had custody of the boy... unless the grandparents applied for custody, which they wouldn't have, Jonas is the boys legal father and therefor legal guardian as the mother was dead. Therefor an abandonment case could be made but not kidnapping.

The plot itself if okay. Amish boy goes missing, "good" English's are recruited to help, the bishop believes he is with his father because of a note, but we learn later he has also received a ransom note. Turns out the son is return to the lifestyle with the boy, but his neighbors have already sent the ransom note. They kill Jonas and keep the boy. The "good" englsihers find him and he is returned to the Amish.

I've been interested in Anabaptist lifestyle since I was young, writing my dissertation on why conservative anabaptists have such a high retention rate. I am probably going to be a little overly critical of this novel. So if you are looking for a fun book to give you a broad view and not necessarily strictly accurate this book is fun-ish.

Sometimes I need novels that rot my brain a little bit. And while this is Christian fiction it's not annoying or overt. A little idealistic and inaccurate but I'm curious if the author becomes more sophisticated with time. I'll probably continue the series when I need a little brain rest between books.

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Librarian Of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel (2022) byAntonio Iturbe, adapted by Salva Rubio, illustrated by Loreto Aroca. The novel was based on the novel of the real life of Dita Kraus whose family was taken from Prague to Auschwitz during WWII. Her family landed in a special “show” section of the notorious death/slave labor camp. The “BIIB” department of the camp housed prisoners who didn’t have their heads shaved or their clothes taken away. They were to be displayed when the Red Cross, or other outside interests, made the rare visit to the camp.
Teen-aged Dita, who has an all-encompassing love for books, is asked by the Jewish “leader” Fredy Hirsch, to take charge of the eight books that have been somehow smuggled into the camp. Having a book means a death penalty, same as reading one. But she accepts.
This of course is a sad story but, like so many others today, it displays a small light shining within the death camps. The Jews might have been sentenced to extermination, but they continued to struggle in their own ways.
Spoiler alert: Dite survives the camp and manages to find happiness later in life.
The illustrations depict both the gut-wrenching sadness of the times, the hatred of the Nazis, and the will to survive. The most evil of events are not shown dead-on, but this is a graphic depiction of the time so do not think this is meant for children. Make sure an adult is on hand with the book to offer explanations of what was happening. Also, remind them not all people of one group is evil, nor is any one group saintly. This is a good jumping off point for discussions of the time and place, and perhaps the shadows of all that still linger.

[Carey Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. I'm from Ohio and grew up about an hour from where the story took place so it was fun to be able to "visualize" exactly the places the author was referring.

The novel was decent. Was a quick read. Little disappointed at the ending since the kidnappers and murderers were only introduced in the final chapters (I did catch on to the "Jonah" comment so I guessed it was Mel Brikker), but the big climatic scene was just, meh. But I did enjoy the storyline and the chapters on the Amish lifestyle. I felt, for the most part, it was pretty spot on!

Very confused with some of the writing style. The author frequently switched from using first name to last name in the same sentence that I had a hard time keeping up. I was more than halfway through the book before I could keep the main characters straight. This novel also presumed that we would know these characters; their relationships and back story, but how could we? As readers, this is the first book of the series. So lack of character development was also confusing. Author was also WAY overly descriptive about simple things, that I found my thoughts wandering-- just get to the point already.

Overall, I did enjoy though. Was not a very hard mystery to follow (in fact I'm not sure what took so many police and investigators that long to figure out), but was a neat little mystery. I will be reading his other novels because I do like the story and locations.

[John Gustafson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The less-than forthcoming client is a staple of the American murder mystery, and P.L. Gaus finds an interesting variation on it here with an Amish bishop who decides to trust an "English" outsider to assist him with what appears to be a custody dispute. Of course, things don't quite add up from the start, and there turns out to be more to the case, including more or less figurative skeletons in the closet. While it's nice to see the author present an often misunderstood American subculture in a realistic but still respectful light, it would have been nice to see a bit more of a focus on the Amish characters (which is sounds as if there might be later in the series). It also would have been nice to see more friction between the two co-existing cultures, but the "English" characters are for the most part pretty square, making it less dramatically surprising than it might have been to see a meeting of the minds. (In fact, what appears to be conflict of values at the beginning turns out to be a red herring having little if anything to do with Amish culture.) Gaus gives us FOUR different investigators here without enough character differentiation or case complexity to justify that investigative structure, and there is way more prose dedicated to banal observations than to inner psychology.

[Angelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book Blood of the Prodigal is Bland. You can understand basically what’s going on in the book but not know the specifics. The book doesn’t keep you very interested in it, so one might space out, looking at the page blankly (unless that’s just me). Despite all of that, the book focuses too much on descriptions and unnecessary events; for example: “BRANDEN rode with the bishop on the plain buckboard seat of the buggy, through the remotest Amish valleys of Holmes County. From Becks Mills, they took a circuitous route out onto 83, north to Township Road 122, dropped through Panther Valley, and traveled south on Route 58. Where 58 broke into the Doughty Valley, they crossed Mullet Run and followed Route 19 over the Doughty Creek itself. From there, they continued south and west and eventually wandered into the farms of the bishops district. They rolled slowly past luxuriant farms and ramshackle affairs, what the bishop called kutslich, sloppy, ill-tended.” Do you see what I mean? That’s only half of the paragraph too! The other half is the same type of content. Infact, this is (at least it seems to be) most of the book.

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood of the Prodigal is classified as a Christian mystery, though it leans more heavily on the mystery aspect than the Christian one. The plot unfolds gradually, with the information available to the investigators also presented to the reader. As new characters are introduced, they become suspects, mirroring an actual investigation. Gaus expertly balances action, dialogue, and detailed description, portraying the Amish community as slower-moving and often frustrating to the English characters. This dynamic is reflected in the writing, with interactions among the English being more concise and those with the Amish more prolonged. The book is accessible to anyone who enjoys this level of writing, and fans of cozy mysteries or Amish-based stories will find satisfaction here. While some anti-Christian readers might want to steer clear, non-Christians likely won't be bothered. Overall, Blood of the Prodigal is a strong opening to the series.

[Dave Weller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Amish mystery, and I must report, that I liked it. The author does a nice job of describing the northern Ohio countryside and the customs and lifestyle of the Amish. The character development of the professor and Bishop Miller is excellent, but the larger than life figure is Chief Robertson. The plot was interesting, although the resolution appears out of nowhere. Nevertheless, the novel was a rapid page turner, and I look forward to more books in the Amish mystery series by P. L. Gaus.

[Cynthia Lowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was a MP Library mystery book club book choice
For the month. 2022
I’ve never been on an Amish community but I’ve read other stories about them .
I couldn’t imagine a father banishing his own son.
And it was hard to imagine a so. Going that wild!
It took his grandson to bring him back to see the way , but too late.
The shock of him being shot to death was a surprise.
And then who did it?
I was blaming everyone in my mind . Where was the child?
No spoiler you’ll have to read it yourself.

[wally · Rating 4 out of 5]

#53 for the year the 24th of february 2019 sunday morning, a late winter storm underway, s'posed to get 16" give or take finished good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner first from gaus for me liked the german sprinkled throughout, the setting, amish country, so one learns some of that local color good writing quick read an amusing sheriff nice mix of characters. now on to something else...after i go out to move some snow.