Separate from the World: An Amish-Country Mystery

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Professor Michael Branden is intrigued when Enos Erb, an Amish man, claims that his brother, Benny—a dwarf like himself—has been murdered. Book 6 of the Amish-Country Mysteries Enos Erb, an Amish man, claims that his brother,-benny,-a dwarf like himself- has been murdered. Upon investigation, links to a controversial genetics study examining the effects of inbreeding within the Amish community are uncovered-a study in which both Enos and benny had participated.

A Prayer for the Night. The murder of one and the abduction of another challenge Professor Michael Branden as he confronts the communal fear that the young people can never be brought home safely. Along with Holmes County Sheriff Bruce Robertson and Pastor Cal Troyer, Professor Branden works against the clock to find a murderer and a kidnapper, and to break a drug ring operating in the county, determined, wherever the trail may lead him, to restore the shattered community. In his desperate search, Branden struggles with the reluctance of the Amish to trust the law to help them find the answers to their problems.

Gaus deftly balances the pace and practices of Amish life in northern Ohio against the unfolding urgency of a hostage situation. As Gaus has proven before, the mystery gains from its exploration of the ever-widening chasm between the traditional life of the Amish people and their interaction with the outside world. Book 5 of the Amish-Country Mysteries Three young friends disappear while traveling on their Amish rite of passage, Rumschpringe, or wild days.

Cast a Blue Shadow.

Amish-Country Mysteries Series

After the first blizzard of an early winter, a Mennonite college girl with a troubled past appears curled up and bloodied outside the offce of her childhood psychiatrist. Mute for many years as a child, Martha Lehman is again not talking.

Professor Mi chael Branden and Sheriff Bruce Robertson begin an investigation that, in the space of a single weekend, implicates Martha, threatens to tear apart the fabric of Millersburg College, pits one professor against another, and brings Caroline Branden near to a breaking point over the girl she once tried so fervently to help and who now seems determined to let no one help her at all. Gaus continues to explore the thresholds of culture and faith among the Amish sects and their English neighbors of northern Ohio.

Through interwoven plots, Gaus portrays these ways of life at odds with one another despite their seeming harmony. Coupling those clashes with the petty and desperate scufflings of academic politics, Gaus spins a suspenseful tale of power, pride, and tested faith. An Amish buggy has collided with an eighteen-wheeler, and Sheriff Robertson is among the casualties. Branden and Pastor Caleb Troyer need information from the Amish if they are to determine how the accident is connected with a spate of disturbing events, including a buggy horse shot dead, a bank official gone missing, and land swindles involving out-of-town developers, one of whom has close ties with an Amish bishop.

But will they act before the storm clouds burst? Book 3 of the Amish-Country Mysteries A compulsively readable series that explores a fascinating culture set purposely apart. A fatal accident involving and Amish buggy and an eighteen-wheeler sets Professor Michael Branden on a quest to uncover the links between the crash and a spate of disturbing events.

Trained by the U. Then an investigative reporter is shot in the head, and Hawkins disappears. As the pressure mounts, and the covenant of their friendship is tested, will the trio begin speaking broken English? Feb 20, Brenda rated it liked it. I won a copy of an advance uncorrected proof from the author. The book is well written, well thought out, and in the end the story was finished with all of the loose ends tied up. I never knew that the Amish may have a problem with their inbreeding causing health problems. That was a good part of the story involved with the Amish in this mystery.

The inbredding as they don't marry outside of their group, caused problems such as dwarfism and other problems. I don't want to give away the premise o I won a copy of an advance uncorrected proof from the author. I don't want to give away the premise of this story, I'll give you the rest of the story as written on the back of the book: Enos Erb, an Amish man, claims that his brother,-benny,-a dwarf like himself- has been murdered. Upon investigation, links to a controversial genetics study examining the effects of inbreeding within the Amish community are uncovered-a study in which both Enos and benny had participated May 19, Shomeret rated it liked it Shelves: I read books with an Amish background if they seem authentic and have plots that raise interesting issues.

This is the first book I've read by P. It had more German than I normally see in an Amish themed novel written by an Englisher. The only lapse from authenticity that bothered me in this book was an Amish man using Englisher slang regarding sex. I can see him knowing sexual slang from Rumspringer, but not actually using the slang in ordinary conversation. I didn't abandon the book a I read books with an Amish background if they seem authentic and have plots that raise interesting issues.

I didn't abandon the book at that point because I'd gotten involved with the plot. I was interested in the Amish genetic study and other aspects of the novel, though I did lose interest when it turned into a standard serial killer kind of plot. Nov 16, Erica rated it it was ok Shelves: This was entertaining and a very fast read but not very believable. The bad guy was TOO bad; there were no layers to him. I don't believe that he would have committed the crimes he did based on the motive given in this book. And the end scene seemed very cliched to me.

I feel like I've read that same climax scene in a dozen other although not Amish mystery stories. Also, there was a bit of a disconnect for me since I didn't read the first books in this series - I have no idea why this professo This was entertaining and a very fast read but not very believable. Also, there was a bit of a disconnect for me since I didn't read the first books in this series - I have no idea why this professor is out solving Amish crimes.

A strange choice for our community reading project this year but I did enjoy the book overall. May 13, Rachel rated it liked it. This book had a good story line. However, I had no idea this was part of a series. Nowhere in or on this book did it say this was not a stand alone book. Because of this, I was very confused as to why a college professor and a preacher would even be allowed to be in on a criminal investigation, even if they were the sheriff's best friends. I found this very irritating, as this is just not believable in the real world. Also, I find it confusing when the author is conveying two characters's though This book had a good story line.

Also, I find it confusing when the author is conveying two characters's thoughts. The point of view shifts back and forth between characters with no distinction between the two. Overall, a good quick story, but I won't be reading anymore from this author. I bought this book at the airport after I finished the book I had brought with me and after I was told my flight would be delayed for several hours. I ended looking at this book because I liked the cover, but then bought it because the book jacket described it as a mystery that tied in genetic research on the Amish.

I found the writing, at least at first, a little sparse. There were a lot of characters and not much detail about or depth to them; perhaps if I had read the earlier books in the ser I bought this book at the airport after I finished the book I had brought with me and after I was told my flight would be delayed for several hours.

Feb 20, Erin Caldwell rated it did not like it.

I really was not a fan of this book and the only reason it got 2 stars instead of 1 is because it was so bad, I have kept thinking about it for two days after I finished reading it. The characters were one-dimensional and boring. The dialogue was unbelievable and stale.

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The mystery wasn't very intriguing, seemed to be based on too ridiculous of a motive, and the only twist at the end was that there WAS no twist. I don't get Amish people and this book certainly didn't make them any more understan I really was not a fan of this book and the only reason it got 2 stars instead of 1 is because it was so bad, I have kept thinking about it for two days after I finished reading it. I don't get Amish people and this book certainly didn't make them any more understandable.

I will preface this review by saying that I am not a fan of crime stories in general. At best I usually only give crime stories 3 stars. I received this book for free so I thought that I would give it a try.

The voice of the narrative was just not for me. I also found the idea of Amish crime a little bit unbelievable.

An Amish-Country Mystery

I know that it has happened in the past but it just lacked authenticity. I could only suggest you re I will preface this review by saying that I am not a fan of crime stories in general.

I could only suggest you read this is you are obsessed with crime stories. Jul 19, Sue rated it liked it Shelves: Well, not a typical book about the Amish, at least. It was easy to listen to since the action was continuous and multidirectional and unpredictable. I think it was the marriage of the mundane with the impossible that kept me interested but skeptical.

Overall, the plot was implausibly tightly constructed. I never quite understood the motivation of the bad guy, his smoothness, his sheer luck. It seemed glaring that one character had no obvious recovery time from a concussion--a good example of how Well, not a typical book about the Amish, at least. It seemed glaring that one character had no obvious recovery time from a concussion--a good example of how nearly things occurred. This book kept me spellbound throughout the book.

Sara Yoder learned that danger can lurk in freedom's shadow. John Schlabaugh and Yoder--Sara's friends and fellow travelers on the Amish rite of passage, Rumschpringe, or wild days--are missing. Worried, she calls Pastor Cal Troyer for help. Then Sara also disappears, and Troyer, along with his old friend Professor Michael Branden and Sheriff Bruce Robertson, must race against the clock to find a murderer and break a ruthless drug ring operating This book kept me spellbound throughout the book.

Then Sara also disappears, and Troyer, along with his old friend Professor Michael Branden and Sheriff Bruce Robertson, must race against the clock to find a murderer and break a ruthless drug ring operating within the heart of Ohio's Amish country. Liked this book as much as the first one in the series. Better story in this one than in the other books.

But the author refers to each character by one of 3 "names" Last names could also be a first name Brandon, Neal, etc The author should choose one of those 3 "names," and stick to using that one. PL Gaus's editor isn't doing a good job on this. A good, light mystery. I felt like this was part of a series where the main investigators back stories had already been revealed in previous books. They seemed 2 dimensional to me - as were the flatly rendered Amish characters.

The author doesn't seem to have much love for the Amish and that was sad to me. They are a beautiful people.

An Amish-Country Mystery Series

Jan 06, Rick rated it liked it Shelves: It's a good page turner, but not very deep. The setting is quite real, I can tell you, because I have driven those country roads many times and can attest to their beautiful simplicity. It was interesting to read such gruesome fiction set in that lovely location. The characters are one-dimensional and the story is a tad weak. The NRA would love the ending. Not quite what I expected.

I thought it would be more about the Amish. They were a minor part of story. It was a little slow and confusing with the number of characters I may try another in the series to see if it's the way it goes or was a fluke. Maybe I'll go read Fluke, again I loved that book!

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Three life-long friends - Professor Michael Branden, Sheriff Bruce Robertson, and Pastor Caleb Troyer - work sometimes together and other times at crossed purposes to solve mysteries involving the often inscrutable Amish sects of the region. The rich cast of English characters includ Paul L. Paul's novels illuminate Amish culture and lifestyle in the context of murder investigations that pull aside the veil on the daily lives of these purposefully plain religious separatists.

Separate from the World (Ohio Amish Mystery, #6) by P.L. Gaus

The ninth novel, Whiskers of The Lion, is soon to be published by Plume. The first seven of his novels were originally published as The Ohio Amish Mysteries, by Ohio University Press, before they were all republished as trade paperbacks by Plume. His stories are rich with culture, much like the works of Tony Hillerman.

It was Paul's friendship with Tony Hillerman that first inspired him to write culture-based mysteries about Amish people. Other books in the series. Amish-Country Mysteries 9 books. Trivia About Separate from the No trivia or quizzes yet. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.

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