Plain Dead

Emma Miller

Dec 2015 · A Stone Mill Amish Mystery Book 3 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

A gossip is gagged for good in this mystery that combines “a well-informed look into the tranquil world of the Amish with a fairly edgy puzzler” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
When a newspaperman is murdered in the Amish community of Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, Rachel Mast digs up the dirt to find out who wanted to bury the lead…
 
Although she left her Old Order Amish ways in her youth, Rachel discovered corporate life in the English world to be complicated and unfulfilling. Having returned to Stone Mill, she’s happy to be running her own B&B. But she’s also learning—in more ways than one—that the past is not always so easily left behind.
 
After local newspaperman Bill Billingsly is found gagged and tied to his front porch, left to freeze overnight in a snowstorm, Detective Evan Parks—Rachel’s beau—uncovers a file of scandalous information Billingsly intended to publish, including a record of Rachel pleading no contest to charges of corporate misconduct. Though Evan is certain of her innocence, it’s up to Rachel to find the real killer. A closer examination of the victim’s unpublished report leads Rachel to believe the Amish community is far from sinless. But if she’s not careful her obituary might be the next to appear in print…

Ratings and reviews

Plain Dead by Emma Miller is the third book in the An Amish Mystery series. Rachel Mast owns and runs the Stone Mill Bed and Breakfast. Rachel was raised in the Amish faith, but she decided not to be baptized into the faith. She tried the corporate life, but Rachel found it unsatisfactory. Rachel is happy to have returned to Stone Mill, Pennsylvania. She is currently dating Evan Parks who is a detective with the state police. The one thorn in Rachel’s side is Bill Billingsley. He is the local newspaperman who has started a nasty gossip column (he is printing people’s secrets). Bill has also been taking pictures of the local Amish against their will (you should always get permission first). Rachel has a secret that she does not want anyone to find out (she has not told her family or Evan). Rachel decided to confront Bill late one night and even got as far as his house. Rachel changed her mind and went home. The next morning Bill is found tied to his front porch and frozen to death. Unfortunately for Rachel, she is the number one suspect. Rachel will have to investigate to clear her name and prove to Evan that she is not guilty. It turns out that plenty of people in the area have secrets that they wish to keep hidden. Will Rachel be able to find the killer before she ends up in jail or becomes the next victim? Rachel also has her hands full organizing the Winter Frolic and deciding whether or not to wear Evan’s engagement ring (he proposed at the end of the last book). Plain Dead is well-written and easy to read. The mystery was interesting (best part of the book). I just wish the writer had provided more clues. We keep getting told different information, but none of it helps the reader to find the killer (just one clue right before the killer is revealed). I did find Rachel a wee bit frustrating. Rachel left the Amish way of life, but she still caters to her family (by dressing the way they expect when she goes visiting for example). The one thing that had my blood boiling was the comments from an Amish man about a woman’s place. I would hope that in this day and age no one would actually expect a woman to stay home, cook, clean, and raise children (evidently the Amish do though). If that is what a woman choses to do, that is fine. But it should not be a given (sorry for the rant). Plain Dead is a good book, but it was not my favorite in the series. I give Plain Dead 4 out of 5 stars. While Plain Dead is a part of a series, it can be read alone. The author does a good job at updating the reader. I received a complimentary copy of Plain Dead from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All were a very good!

About the author

EMMA MILLER lives quietly with her family on a farm in Kent County, Delaware. She also writes sweet Amish romances for Harlequin’s Love Inspired line.