Courting Can Be Killer

Some Amish men don’t know what’s good for them. That’s what Millie Fisher told herself when young Ben Baughman set his heart on marrying Tess Lieb. With Tess’s father refusing to give his blessing and Tess’s ex-boyfriend being a wet blanket, the hapless couple was bound to butt heads more than Millie’s Boer goats. But when Ben tragically dies in a mysterious fire, Millie wonders if someone in her hometown of Harvest, Ohio, wanted Ben out of the wedding picture altogether.

With the help of her quilting buddies, and her outspoken Englischer friend Lois, Millie is determined to patch together all the clues without even dropping a stitch. She only hopes it won’t be the death of her.

Series: An Amish Matchmaker Mystery – Book #2
Author: Amanda Flower
Genre/Category: Cozy – Amateur/Older Sleuth
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 320

Rating:

There is just something special about Millie, the main character in the “An Amish Matchmaker Mystery” series. In the latest addition to the series, Courting Can Be Killer, Millie finds herself caught n the middle of a matchmaking conundrum, a father who doesn’t like his daughter’s would-be suitor and a murder that hits far too close to home. Being retired hasn’t slowed her down, and even though she is an older sleuth, who happens to be Amish, doesn’t stop Millie from bringing a killer to justice.

Readers have to love Millie; there simply is no other choice. An older sleuth can be hard to sell to readers, but Millie, and her childhood BFF Lois, make everyone wish they could be their friend, neighbor, or relative. The two women are full of mischief and mayhem but with good hearts and a lifetime of understanding. The Amish life isn’t for everyone, yet Millie makes you want to join her. Even when there is a killer on the loose, and no one is certain when or if they will be caught, and in some cases, don’t care, the simple life Millie leads forces readers to sit back, reflect, and relax.

Suspects are few and far between; in a small Amish community, there isn’t a lot of people who would want the victim dead, but those that there are, have good motives that keep Millie and Lois on the move. The victim is young, hard-working, and not someone most people think would be murdered. Ms. Flower does a remarkable job of giving readers just enough detail and evidence that they can figure out who the killer is, as well as understanding, and at times, sympathizing with, not only the victim and suspects but with the murderer. Adding to the fact of the author’s use of an older sleuth who is Amish make this book and series magnificent and delightful.

I have one small complaint however, there just wasn’t enough action from Millie’s fantastic goats; I adore Peter and Phillip! I am happy to recommend Courting Can Be Killer to lovers of mysteries with older sleuths, a simple life with insights into Amish life, and friends that will stay with you for many years to come.

Readers who enjoy older sleuths will also enjoy cozies such as Barbara Ross’ busybody series “Jane Darrowfield Mysteries” or the completely different main characters in Jane Willan’s exciting “A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery”.

About the Author:

Amanda Flower, a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over twenty-five cozy mystery novels. She 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. In addition to being an author, Amanda is a former librarian with fifteen years of experience in Northeast Ohio.