Dead Wrong by Vannetta Chapman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Agatha Lapp’s brother and sister-in-law are tragically killed in a buggy accident, Agatha relocates to the new Amish community in Hunt Texas, nestled in the Texas Hill Country. She’s there to make a success of her brother’s dream--an Amish B&B. Agatha is friendly, efficient, and capable. She's also a fifty-five year old widow who has learned to be independent. When she discovers Russell Dixon’s lifeless body in Cabin 3, she runs next door where retired detective Tony Vargas lives. The police determine that her guest died of natural causes, but as Agatha and Tony put together the events of the previous two days they become convinced that the police are Dead Wrong.


MY THOUGHTS...

Delving into the pages of a Vannetta Chapman Amish book is like gently wrapping a warm blanket around you. I knew Dead Wrong would be good; I just didn't know how good it would be! The story moves at a steady pace, without unnecessary words or filler. The chapters were short enough to encourage me to keep reading; in other words, I never wanted to put it down.

This book is a perfect blend of setting, characterization, and storyline. A two-story Amish B&B on the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country - how beautiful and peaceful that must be! Agatha used additional cabins to house Englisch visitors, while keeping the main house true to Amish ways. The cultural mixture allowed for creative storytelling.

I loved how the main characters were in their mid-fifties. Both Agatha and Tony had tragic losses in their backgrounds. Agatha was a smart, honorable woman, good through and through. Tony Vargas, a retired police detective, had allowed grief to eat away at him. But after Agatha literally comes running into his life, Tony looked "like a man who'd woken abruptly from a long nap and found himself dropped into the river of life."

The mystery itself was well crafted and never obvious. There were lots of possible suspects who, if they didn't have obvious motives, it quickly became clear that none were telling the truth. There were moments of gentle humor and spiritual insight. I loved this quote by Bishop Jonas... "Sometimes we have to be remined that the next great thing comes after this life."

I can't wait to see how the relationship between these two unlikely friends grows in future stories.

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