A Plain Disappearance

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. She also writes mysteries as Isabella Alan.Amanda is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.
Connection opportunities with Amanda:  Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads.

It’s Christmastime in Amish Country, and Chloe Humphrey has begun settling into her life in Appleseed Creek excited to see where her new relationship with Timothy Troyer will lead. Unfortunately it leads to murder when the couple discovers the body of Amish teenager Katie Lambright while on their first date.

Near the scene there is evidence that Timothy’s friend and auto mechanic Billy Thorpe is involved with the crime. The police reveal Billy is not really who he said he was and has been living the last decade in Knox County under a stolen alias. Now, Chloe and Timothy must find Billy, bring him to justice, or prove his innocence.







My Thoughts:
Amanda Flower is a new author to me.  I am so glad to have had the chance to discover her writing.  A Plain Disappearance has a Nancy Drew type feel to it as Chloe finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery.  This is the third book in Flower's Appleseed Creek Mystery series.  The first two books are A Plain Death and A Plain Scandal.  I have not read the first two books.  While I read this book as a stand alone, I felt I was missing important background and pertinent elements of Chloe's story.  I would recommend reading the series as a whole.
Amanda's characterization is superb and she weaves a plot that keeps you engaged and turning pages.  There were points that seemed a bit "fanciful", but by the time these came into play, I was so engrossed in the story that they seemed to fit.  To be honest, I was a little skeptical of an "Amish murder mystery", but Amanda's writing was skillful in making me a believer.  I want to read more!  I particularly want to know how things will turn out for Chloe and her family.  Amanda ends A Plain Disappearance in an excellent "cliff hanging" way! You will want to read more to!

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from Handlebar for the purpose of this review and blog tour.

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Happy Reading,
Jennifer