A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman, Book review

Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN-13: 978-0310330448

Synopsis:

There's more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond, murder is also afoot. And Reuben Fisher is in jail as the suspect! Reuben refuses to divulge any information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he didn't commit. So, with her English friend, Callie---fellow sleuth and owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop---Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. 

But the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie's help in finding his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes. An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose his future. 

Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events---one that can bring unexpected touches of God's grace and resolve the tragedy that has shaken this quiet Amish community.

My thoughts:

After reading 'A Perfect Square', second book in the Shipshewana Amish Mysteries I am perfectly willing to find a special spot for any Vannetta Chapman's tomes on my bookshelves (or add another one...somewhere!)!  
With Beth Wiseman's recommendation for this novel I knew I was in for a treat! I always like to hear an author praising another fellow writer, don't you?

I discovered long ago the appeal of Amish genre literature but this was the first 'whodunit' for me and this one is truly a page turner! Not content with one single plot of 'whom, what , where, how and why', Vannetta Chapman blends two mysteries decades apart and links them to the present.

With a lovely quilt shoppe tucked in the scenic background, we find Englisher and Amish living  blessed lives in Shipshewana, Indiana to be as near to perfection as possible until that is, a body is found floating in a nearby pond...There is no clue to the young girl's identity.

Callie is the owner of Daisy's Quilt, a shoppe inherited from her aunt and with canine Max is a recent transplant from Houston, Texas. Amish and Mennonite lifestyles still holds many mysteries for Callie but Amish friends Deborah, Esther and Melinda help her to adapted to her new life whilst teaching her a thing or two about quilting. With Max at her side (sporting a bandana matched to her clothing colour), Callie is definitively looking forward to her first winter in Indiana. 

When Reuben the owner of the pond is arrested for the murder by the local Chief of Police, Callie and her sleuth friends steps in to help out Reuben. 
Meanwhile, an elderly Amish who suffers from dementia finds his way to Callie's shoppe and begs her to find his daughter who disappeared in 1965.
As the story develops, you find yourself experiencing many emotions as with unmistakable talent, Vannetta Chapman hones her writing skills in this novel. 

Praying Reuben's innocence will come to light despite his unwillingness to make a statement, his family and friends search for any clue to help the Amish farmer regain his freedom. 

Alternating mystery and emotional drama, and with just the slightest hint of romance in the air (including a few hilarious situations), this is a  compelling book you will have a hard time to put down as each well written chapter gets better and better! 
Vanetta's inspirational plots draws you in and reminds us that with God anything is possible! You just have to believe!

With its excellent glossary and group questions for discussion, this makes an engaging novel to read, tucked in your favourite chair by the fireplace whilst sipping a cuppa!

5 Stars (and checking right now for additional titles by this author!)

About the Author:

'Vannetta Chapman has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania.'

For more on this charming author, please visit her website (here) and be sure to sign for her newsletter!

I received this book free from ZONDERVAN as part of their blogger review program.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.