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A Plain Scandal
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A Plain Scandal
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A Plain Scandal
Ebook353 pages5 hours

A Plain Scandal

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this ebook

 The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.

New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life.

In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else’s.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 15, 2013
ISBN9781433676956
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A Plain Scandal
Author

Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower is an Agatha Award-nominated mystery author (Maid of Murder), who first caught the writing bug in elementary school. She is also the author of Andi Unexpected, the Andi Boggs series, Appleseed Creek and the India Hayes series. When she’s not writing, she works as a librarian at Ursuline College near her hometown of Tallmadge, Ohio. Visit her online at www.amandaflower.com and www.isabellaalan.com.

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower is the second book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series. Chloe Humphrey is enjoying her job at Harshberger College. Chloe is the Director of Computer Services. Becky Troyer (ex-Amish) is still living with Chloe and is now working part-time at Young’s Family Restaurant. Becky has completed a majority of her community service and is looking forward to finishing her hours.While at home on day, Dylan Tanner shows up at the girls front door! He has come to tour the property. Evidently, Dylan has purchased the home from the former owner and they were not notified. Chloe knows Dylan from Harshberger College. Dylan is the chair of the biology department. Dylan wants to restore the home to its former glory. Chloe and Becky do not want to live in a house undergoing restoration. This is going to be a challenge.Timothy Troyer and Chloe are getting to know each other. They have yet to go on an “official” date, but they see a lot of each other. Timothy has also been making repairs to the house as they are needed. That is the first thing that Dylan nixes. He wants the restorations to be “authentic” to the time period of the home. Timothy has become a contractor (instead of just a carpenter) and is first job is at the Young’s Flea Market. The owner’s (Ellie Young) son, Ezekiel Young is overseeing the project. Ezekiel is the opposite of his twin brother, Uriah. Uriah is friendly and nice, while Ezekiel can be testy (and come across rude). Chloe goes looking for Timothy one day at the flea market and stumbles across the body of Ezekiel. Appleseed Creek Chief of Police, Greta Rose is summoned to the scene.At the same time someone is terrorizing the Amish. Someone has cut off the hair of four girls and the beards of two men. Who would commit such a horrible crime? Timothy’s grandfather is one of the victims. Chloe and Timothy are determined to find out who is behind these crimes as well as solve Ezekiel’s murder.I found A Plain Scandal to be just delightful. Amanda Flower has created a great town with unique characters. I give A Plain Scandal 5 out of 5! I enjoyed revisiting Appleseed Creek to see how Becky is handling being an Englisher, Timothy and Chloe’s romance, and checking up on the Troyer family (as well as Greta Rose).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Someone has targeted the Amish community of Appleseed Creek and is committing hate crimes against them. Four young girls have had their long hair cut, and an elderly man has had his beard forcibly cut off. When the crimes escalate to murder, Chloe Humphrey knows that she has to find the guilty party before any more of her Amish friends suffer. The Amish have been hot in the literary world for the past few years, so it was only a matter of time before authors realized that readers would be willing to move past the unbelievably nice novels that first populated the genre. Mysteries are a nice addition to this category. A mystery, by its very design demands a more intricate plot. This captures the reader's attention and holds them until the end of the story. At least, a good mystery does. And, I'm happy to say, this was a good mystery. A plot with enough twists to keep you guessing, but yet clean enough to still be eligible for the Christian Fiction shelf. This is the second in a series, so I will be looking for the first novel and then, I look forward to the future entries in this series. 4 stars Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A few months after Chloe solved the bishop's murder she is now involved with the mystery of whom is attacking Amish women and cutting off their hair or Amish men and cutting for their beards. Then she discovers the body of Ezekiel Young on the job site that Timothy is the contractor. She and Becca also have to deal with a new landlord who lives in town. I like these people a lot. The Amish are tight lipped but somehow Chloe gets them to talk to her. I like that hers and Timothy's romance seems to be moving along. My favorite character is Grandfather Zook. No matter what happens to him he sees the good in life. The mystery was believable. I also liked that the new bishop finally steps out of the shadow of Deacon Sutter, though it takes him awhile. I like the glimpse we are given of Amish life as well as the not so nice aspects also. I am loving this series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower is a wonderful story of Amish life in the town of Appleseed Creek, Ohio. Chloe Humphrey is not Amish but she has chosen to live in Appleseed Creek where she works at the local college as a computer specialist. A buggy accident that turned out to be murder has been solved but now the people in the community are living in fear for someone is going around cutting the hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men. Chloe has helped the local police solve other crimes and when she finds a local man stabbed in the back with his beard cut off, she decides that it is her responsibility to help solve the murder and bring peace back to the community. To add to Chloe’s problems, she and her roommate Becky are having problems with their new landlord who is becoming more of a jerk with every passing day. Becky and Timothy, sister and brother, have left the Amish way of life and are comfortable with their relationship with God and living as Englisch. The romance between Chloe and Timothy continues to develop in spite of all the chaos going on in the community. Also, the new Bishop and the Deacon are ruling the Amish community with an iron hand and are warning everyone to have no association with Chloe, Becky, and Timothy.The author did an excellent job in the writing of this story and with every element of the story. There was suspense woven throughout the story and it kept me guessing from page to page. Every character was expertly developed and I felt as if I were living right there in the community of Appleseed Creek and was friends with all the characters. Well there were a few that were not friend material but the author gave reasons to dislike them. All the scenes were so well described that I could see myself taking part in whatever was going on. The plot had several twists and turns but everything was brought together for a satisfactory ending.I very highly recommend this book to everyone that likes a great Amish story that also contains a good deal of suspense.I received a complimentary copy of this book from B & H Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This was the second in the Appleseed Creek Mystery.

    I have not read the first one so I had a hard time getting into this one. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I read the first one first as it seems like we heard a lot about the characters.

    Amish beards and long hair are being cut off. Chloe, who is not Amish, steps in as she knows the Amish won't talk to the police.

    A few side stories are thrown in.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Chloe Humphrey returns and there is another sleuthing opportunity afoot when a local Amish man is killed during the construction of an all weather market. His beard is cut off, and coming on the heels of similar Amish hair cutting attacks, makes it seem as though the Amish are targeted. Chloe's relationship with the Troyer family continues, and her uncertainty of the future of their friendships seem to ring true with the English/Amish differences. Becky's character is especially endearing, as she continues to learn English ways. Fowler does a nice job writing of the Amish community. There is a side story that just seems to serve to propel certain plot points onward, but concludes at the end of the book too. I look forward to more from the group in Appleseed Creek.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Plain Scandal An Appleseed Creek Mystery by Amanda Flower book 2 of series. Chloe Humphrey lives in Appleseed Creek Ohio which includes the usually quiet Amish Community also. The Amish community is being rocked by someone who is attacking them and cutting the hair of the girls and beards of the men. Chloe gets involved to help find who is behind the attacks and she happens to stumble on the body of Ezekiel Young who has been murdered and his beard has been cut off also. Are these attacks and murder related? Why is the Amish being targeted? Who could possibly be behind these attacks and is Chloe in danger now too? This book keeps you guessing with many possibilities of suspects so that you want to keep reading, because you want to find out just who it is behind the murder and attacks. It is a book you do not want to put down and that will be a surprise at the end. I have spent time in the Ohio Amish country and can just picture myself there with Chloe and this community. I would highly recommend this book to the mystery buffs and cozy mystery fans that want a good read with a good plot, murder, romance, friendship and throws in the unique Amish Community, what more could you want.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Plain Scandal is the second book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series by Amanda Flower.

    This is a delightful series centering around Chloe Humphrey, Becky and Timothy Troyer, Becky's brother and possible romantic interest of Chloe. Appleseed Creek is in the heart of Ohio's Amish country and Becky and Timothy have decided to leave the faith for the Englisch way of life.

    Someone has cut the hair of four Amish girls and Chloe knows that they probably won't talk to the police about it, so Chloe attempts to talk with them to see who might behind this. She hopes that it isn't Brock and Curt, a couple a thugs she has dealt with in the recent past. The first meeting with the girls didn't go well and then Chloe finds the body of Ezekiel Young at the flea market the family owns. He has been stabbed with a shearing tool and had his beard cut off. When Becky and Timothy's grandfather is assaulted and has his beard cut off it's time for Chloe to get serious about looking into whether these incidents are related or are "copy cat" assaults and who id doing them.

    Brock and Curt have been released from jail and it's not like they are stalking her, but with the other things going on she is definitely looking over her shoulder to see if they are anywhere near. Also, the house Chloe is renting has been sold and the new owner a professor at the college where she works, shows up unannounced, from time to time, and has plans to renovate the house while Chloe and Becky are still living there.

    I live some 20 miles from a rather large Amish community and have a limited knowledge of the Amish faith and their rules. I feel the Flower's does an excellent job of portraying the Amish the lifestyle and their rules. Grandfather Zook is more liberal in his ways and is little more lenient in excepting Becky and Timothy leaving the faith and is more friendly than the rest of the family towards Chloe. The parents are little more aloof towards Chloe, but then that is because the Bishop and the Elder for their district has threatened the family with shunning by the rest of the members of their church.

    A very interesting and well told mystery. Not really heavy weighted towards the Amish, but will still give the reader an insight into the faith of the Gentle People".

    I will be looking for the next book in the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower is the second book in the Appleseed Creek Mystery series. Chloe Humphrey is enjoying her job at Harshberger College. Chloe is the Director of Computer Services. Becky Troyer (ex-Amish) is still living with Chloe and is now working part-time at Young’s Family Restaurant. Becky has completed a majority of her community service and is looking forward to finishing her hours.While at home on day, Dylan Tanner shows up at the girls front door! He has come to tour the property. Evidently, Dylan has purchased the home from the former owner and they were not notified. Chloe knows Dylan from Harshberger College. Dylan is the chair of the biology department. Dylan wants to restore the home to its former glory. Chloe and Becky do not want to live in a house undergoing restoration. This is going to be a challenge.Timothy Troyer and Chloe are getting to know each other. They have yet to go on an “official” date, but they see a lot of each other. Timothy has also been making repairs to the house as they are needed. That is the first thing that Dylan nixes. He wants the restorations to be “authentic” to the time period of the home. Timothy has become a contractor (instead of just a carpenter) and is first job is at the Young’s Flea Market. The owner’s (Ellie Young) son, Ezekiel Young is overseeing the project. Ezekiel is the opposite of his twin brother, Uriah. Uriah is friendly and nice, while Ezekiel can be testy (and come across rude). Chloe goes looking for Timothy one day at the flea market and stumbles across the body of Ezekiel. Appleseed Creek Chief of Police, Greta Rose is summoned to the scene.At the same time someone is terrorizing the Amish. Someone has cut off the hair of four girls and the beards of two men. Who would commit such a horrible crime? Timothy’s grandfather is one of the victims. Chloe and Timothy are determined to find out who is behind these crimes as well as solve Ezekiel’s murder.I found A Plain Scandal to be just delightful. Amanda Flower has created a great town with unique characters. I give A Plain Scandal 5 out of 5! I enjoyed revisiting Appleseed Creek to see how Becky is handling being an Englisher, Timothy and Chloe’s romance, and checking up on the Troyer family (as well as Greta Rose). I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Amish community is under a strange kind of attack – someone is cutting off the hair and beards of the Amish. Though distressed by these attacks, the Amish prefer to handle the misdeeds themselves. But when her Amish friends become more and more anxious by the attacks and one attack ends in a death, Chloe decides to do some sleuthing on her own. Wanting to restore peace and tranquility back to the community she has embraced, Chloe puts herself in danger. A suspenseful story with well-developed characters, this tale is highly entertaining.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from the publishers as a win in a contest that I forgot. I found it in my "To be Read" recently. Recently I finished book one of this four book series and loved it. This is the second book, and I loved it even more.Humor explodes in a great scene betwin Chloe Humphrey and the killer. Not telling you who the killer is and I admit I was gripping the couch cushion tightly when the future got scary but Chole grabs the only thing nearby to defend herself and I roared with laughter and relief. That sounds odd, doesn't? I stopped and thought about using that item for self defense. I am very much anti-gun but it would work for me if I had enough grip strength in my hands to fill up my car. But I don't, so I am shelving that as an idea for self defense for me. personally.The rest of the book gave me the comfort that cozy mysteries are able to give. Plenty of wonderful food to be tempted with, a romance summering on the stove top with slow heat, a use of past murder headlines (fact inspiring fiction) and a large assortment of suspects that the author expertly juggles in the story.Amanda Flower does not let you down!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4 STARSA Plain Scandal (Appleseed Creek Mystery Series #2)Well I goofed again and read book 2 before book 1. Oh well now I know what I want to read next. I like the town of Appleseed Creek.It is a collage town and a Amish & English both.The characters are interesting. Chole is a Computer expert at the collage. She rents a old home and her roommate used to be Amish. Chole likes Timothy.Timothy is a cabinate maker and has his contractor license. He has his first job. He is the oldest child in his family and decided to leave the Amish Church before he was baptized.Becky has left the Amish too. She is 19 and Chole's house mate. She is a waitress and loves watching tv especially cooking shows. She got into trouble with the law and is on probation and community service.Someone is going around and cutting off Amish girl's hair. One of the girls who was attacked was Sadie the Bishop's daughter. Then things take on worse trouble and someone is murdered.The new Bishop has made it hard on Chole blaming her for Becky & Timothy leaving the Amish Faith. Even though they made that decision before she moved to town. He is threatening to banish Becky's family if they visit them again. He has very strict rules.The story kept my attention. Has a good mixture of drama, action,community and mystery. Chole is going to find out who is cutting the Amish hair. Is it a hate crime? or something else. The sheriff does not mind her questioning people about their problems. In fact the Sheriff wants to use her.Some of the Amish are very welcoming of Chloe into their homes and hearts. Her father remarried and doesn't have much to do with her but her good friends don't leave her alone for the holidays.Chole's house was sold to another collage professor and he does not like having Timothy repair things in the home. He also goes in without notice.Two guys who gave Becky and Chloe problems in the first book have got out of prison because they testified against someone else the police wanted worse to get off the street. They are starting to come around again.I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.Publisher: B&H Books (February 15, 2013) 336 pages ISBN-10: 1433676982Discription below taken off of Goodreads.The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men. New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life. In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else's.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Plain Scandal, the second in the Appleseed Creek mystery series, continues the story of Chloe Humphrey and her unlikely friendship with former Amish girl Becky Troyer and her big brother Timothy. The book introduces some new characters into the mix, and continues to give a picture of both the positive and negative aspects of Amish life in the rural communities of Ohio where the story is set. For me, it is particularly fun to read since I live in Apple Valley, one of the small rural subdivisions surrounding Mount Vernon, Ohio, and the veiled references to places in Knox County, Ohio that I can recognize are interesting.Amanda is a wonderful cozy mystery writer and this is a great series - I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as others coming out under her own name and her pen name of Isabella Alan.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Murder Mystery with a Romantic TwistChloe Humphrey moved from the city to Appleseed Creek to take a position as the head of the computer department at a small college and life certainly has not been boring. Now someone is running around town cutting off braids and beards from members of the Amish community, When Chloe stumbles onto a dead body, she realizes it is time for some detecting, and the attraction she feels to a certain member of the community only adds to the excitement.This is second installment in this series, and since I enjoyed the first in the series so much, I could not wait to get this one. The story is fun and the relationships serve to make it interesting. The book grabs your attention and makes it seem like just a quick fun trip to catch up with a friend. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy reading about the Amish lifestyle, but do not appreciate the overpowering sweetness that some writers portray. It is a fun mystery with lots of humor thrown in. Received Galley from NetGalley.com
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Strange things are happening in Appleseed Creek. A few of the Amish girls in town have been attached and had their hair cut off. Even the Troyer's grandpa, their grossdaddi as they call him was attacked and had his beard cut. It turns deadly when one amish man not only had his beard cut but was stabbed in the back with some scissors used to shear sheep. Never mind that this is police work. Chloe has her mind set to help solve the crime. Is the person doing all this Amish or is it someone else. Chloe starts asking questions. The Amish are sometimes closed mouthed with Englishers but Chloe managed to get clues from talking with them even though she irritated them at times especially the Amish women who had their hair cut.In this book Deacon Sutter is still trying to make trouble for the Troyer family. He gets the new bishop to ostracize the Troyers. The Troyers are not yet shunned but still as close to shunning as you can get.I really like how the author develops her characters. There is an attraction between Timothy Troyer and Chloe but the romance is not hurried and I like it that way. It will probably be the third book before the romance is full blown. Timothy's family is Amish but he left the Amish faith a few years back and is now a Mennonite. I read on the author's website that the third book will be A Plain Disappearance. I plan to read that one too when it comes out. I am so happy to have discovered this author and will read anything she puts out.Thanks to Netgalley and B&H Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. This title will be released on February 15, 2013.