Murder, Plain and Simple by Isabella Alan is the first book in the new “Amish Quilt Shop” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, September 2013

When Angela Braddock inherits her late aunt’s beautiful Amish quilt shop, she leaves behind her career and broken engagement for a fresh start in Holmes County, Ohio.

With her snazzy cowboy boots and her ornithophobic French bulldog, Angie doesn’t exactly fit in with the predominantly Amish community in Rolling Brook, but her aunt’s quilting circle tries to make her feel welcome as she prepares for the reopening of Running Stitch.

On the big day, Angie gets a taste of success as the locals and Englisch tourists browse the store’s wares while the quilters stitch away. But when Angie finds the body of ornery Amish woodworker Joseph in her storeroom the next morning, everything starts falling apart.

With evidence mounting against her, Angie is determined to find the culprit before the local sheriff can arrest her. Rolling Brook always appeared to be a simple place, but the closer Angie gets to the killer, the more she realizes that nothing in the small Amish community is as plain as it seems.

I like it. Angie’s homecoming is marred when she finds a dead body in her shop and when she becomes the prime suspect, what else is Angie to do but put the pieces together and find a killer?

This very enjoyable read had everything from a well-designed plot that kept me enthralled in all facets of discovery; a strong heroine determined to make it on her own; a supporting cast that stands on their own; the smoldering of a romance that is yet to come and a good ole mystery that you can sink your teeth into. The author did a good job with presenting plenty of suspects that kept me guessing and it wasn’t until that aha moment when I knew exactly who the killer was and I couldn’t wait to see if my hunch was correct. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this delightfully charming debut series.

Isabella Alan is the pseudonym for Amanda Flower

FTC Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher with the request for a review.

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog