Murder Tightly Knit

Seventeen-year-old Owen Esch, newly returned to the village of Middlebury, Ind., has decided to join the church of his Amish forebears. However, he apparently had one more Englisch (non-Amish) concern. He’s murdered while making an early-morning call on his cellphone while on a desolate wooded path. Fatally shot with an arrow, Owen’s death cast suspicions on the Amish who live cheek-by-jowl with their Englisch neighbors and colleagues.

Hannah Troyer, young and Amish, and Amber Bowman, Hannah’s 45-year-old Englisch boss, begin to nose around Esch’s death. Amish Mary Weaver received Esch’s last phone call while she was working at The Cat’s Meow, the village’s knitting shop; however, Mary’s hiding something, and her show more behavior’s quite odd. (Although shouldn’t that be The Sheep’s Bleat or something? What do cats have to do with knitting? Unless to chase the skeins of yarn?) At the same time, an FBI agent suspects that a local survivalist militia might have had a hand in Esch’s death. So who killed Esch at daybreak on that cool, crisp morning?

Sounds intriguing, right? Well, no, not so much. The title Murder Tightly Knit must have been meant ironically because a tight Amish cozy this is not. The book, at 372 pages, would have been much improved with the elimination of the subplot involving the black-sheep brother of Hannah’s beau. For literally half the book, Jesse Miller broods and worries about whether his older brother Andrew, who has abandoned the Millers time and time again, is really home to stay. The cardboard-character Andrew Miller clearly is an attempt — albeit unsuccessful — to add some much-needed tension to this meandering novel. And the constant melodramatic references to a murder the previous spring were simply annoying: “It was a fine fall day. [Hannah] was not going to spend it hashing the events of Ethan’s death yet again.” Don’t believe her! She and everybody else in this novel can’t stop shuddering, whispering, and shaking their heads over that terrible, terrible murder last spring. Such a thing to happen in their peaceful Amish town! And how foolish they were to trust an unnamed somebody! But Gotte’swille, we’ll all get through! Sheesh! I would refuse to read the first book in the Amish Village series, Murder Simply Brewed, simply to spite the author, but I wouldn’t have had to anyway, since Vannetta Chapman drops hints the size of elephants as to what happened, so I don’t need to. Chapman clearly thought she’d pique her readers’ interest in the debut book so much they’d have to buy it; instead, the constant carping almost made me give up on this book — forget about picking up the first one!

Chapman could also use a primer on pacing and characterization in novels. Chapter 47 ends with the discovery of the identity of the murderer— really, the only good part of Murder Tightly Knit. Does Chapman build on that? Of course not! Chapter 48 picks up two weeks later and deals not with the mystery, but with one of the main characters, Amber Bowman, philosophizing on the evil in the world — even in peaceful Amish country! — and on how much she loves God and her husband. Then there are updates on what’s happened, lots of telling since that’s easier than showing. As to characterization, the FBI agent, introduced to try to add some tension to the novel, is more cardboard than a cereal box. FBI agents can be stubborn and they can be evil; however, they’re not utterly clueless like Ronald Shaw. And when a character exists in a novel merely to be annoying (Shaw advances the plot not at all), a good editor should have prevailed on the author to excise him.

Lastly, I understand that Christian fiction will involve frequent invocations of God. However, while I accepted — and expected — frequent references to Gotte’swille from the Amish, the religiosity of the Englischers, no mater how devout, was simply unrealistic. And I found offputting the heartfelt relief that African-American Pam Coleman (another cardboard character) did not subscribe to any charismatic denomination, surely included to reassure Chapman’s white target audience. Actually, it was offensive. And dissing Pentecostals, who might actually overlook this book’s flaws, seems short-sighted on Chapmann’s part.

At 200 or 250 pages, with the subplot involving prodigal son Andrew Miller, FBI agent Ronald Shaw, and the drumbeat of horror over the murder from Murder Simply Brewed eliminated and a good editor to help Chapman work on pacing, this could have been a tight, nicely paced cozy; instead, the glacial pace, the meandering plotting, the relentless religiosity even from the Englischers, and the — dum! dum! dum! — melodrama over last spring’s murder doom this novel to mediocrity.

Skipping Murder Simply Brewed in no wise interfered with my following the storyline, but perhaps readers who read the first book first might enjoy Murder Tightly Knit more than I did. But I doubt it.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this ebook from NetGalley and Zondervan Fiction in return for an honest review. show less

When Owen Esch is found murdered on a trail due to a crossbow injury, evidence points to an Amish person with ties to a survivalist group. Investigators are quick to arrest Jesse's brother Andrew Miller for the incident, even though the Amish who know him best know he would never do such a thing. Will they be able to prove their case for Andrew's release before it is too late? I failed to realize this was second in the series and felt at a disadvantage when it came to knowing the characters. References to the earlier installment figured into the narrative in several places. The mystery is stronger than many Christian fiction mysteries. I enjoyed this, but I do need to go back to the first in the series before moving forward. I listened show more to the audio version. show less

This is a great second installment in the Amish Village Mystery series! I almost liked it better than book 1, and that's saying something. The characters were well developed, and I was intrigued by the survivalist-group concept; it reminded me of several TV series side plots (in a good way). I'd read it again - and probably pick up a few extra details I missed!

If you're like me and you sometimes think (for a millisecond or two) about trying to solve one of those "Unsolved Mysteries" or "Disappeared" cases on your own, then you're going to love these books!

One thing I enjoyed so much about Murder Simply Brewed was the friendships between the Englisch (non-Amish) and the Amish residents of the area. It's even better in Murder Tightly Knit since these relationships are much more established after the events in book one. A wonderful reminder that we don't have to remain isolated from each other simply because we worship differently.

I just love these characters, and I am happy to say that unless they were killed off or arrested in book one they are all back in Murder Tightly Knit :) Elizabeth, show more Amber's secretary, gets a little more page time in this book, as does formerly homeless veteran Preston, and I could not be happier! Also Amber's new assistant manager Pam is a hoot, and these three make excellent additions to the "regular cast" that we met in Murder Simply Brewed.

The mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you second-guessing your own Sherlocky skills from beginning to end (well, at least until the point where Amber herself knows whodunit). The romance is sweet and gentle and honorable - everything that's good about love. Murder Tightly Knit is a delightfully cozy mystery that celebrates faith, friendship, and romance. The series is a must-read for any one who loves Amish novels or mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review here: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpress.com/2015/07/01/review-murder-tightly-kni... show less

An unusual murder sets Hannah and Amber on the detecting path again. But this cozy almost seems to dwell more on the relationships of the characters with each and with their faith than the actual mystery. Still, it is an entertaining cozy, and the interactions between the Amish and the English are interesting.

The title of this story brings us immediately to the opening of the book…yes it begins with a murder. The quiet peaceful setting of the Village is upset again by another grisly murder, a quiet Amish man is found dead on the Pumpkinvine Trail.
Where is all of this going to lead, boy are you in for a surprise, and I didn’t see it coming. We get an indebt look at Amish life, and spend time at a lot of functions, and actives, always looking for why and who.
Ms. Chapman has done it again, with a new and absorbing mystery and mix in the Amish culture, we are on a heart in your throat ride, and hoping for the best out come. Throw in the beautiful setting of this story and I was hooked, and kept me page turning. I had to get to the end, and show more when I did, I wanted more, wishing I had taken more time to savor what I was reading.
So come along and take a buggy ride, or a walk on the Pumpkinvine Trail, but be careful, you never know what is around the next turn.

I received this book through the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review. show less

Murder Tightly Knit by Vanetta Chapman is a delight to read. It is a great cozy mystery and it is the second book in An Amish Village Mystery series. Amber Wright is now Amber Wright Bowman. Amber and Tate were married and are now living on Tate’s farm. Preston is living in Amber’s old home (Preston was the homeless man in Murder Simply Brewed) has a job.

Amber is in a good mood until she hears about the death of Owen Esch with a cross bow. It is such an unusual way to murder someone. Something is also going on with Mary Weaver, the manager of The Cat’s Meow. Jesse’s older brother, Andrew Miller has also returned to the community. His parents are thrilled that he is back, but Jesse is less than enthusiastic. Jesse wants to know show more why he has returned now and what is Andrew is hiding.

Amber, Tate, Hannah, and Jesse set out to find out what happened to Owen while avoiding Roland Shaw, a federal agent from Indianapolis (he has rubbed all of them the wrong way). Jesse and Hannah try to figure out what is going on with Andrew as they continue to grow closer. Will there be another wedding soon? Amber has hired a new assistant manager. Her name is Pam Coleman and she is a lively addition to the Amish Village. To return to Middlebury, Indiana and the Amish Artisan Village, read Murder Tightly Knit.

I give Murder Tightly Knit 5 out of 5 stars. Great second book with a wonderful mystery. This series has likeable characters and a town that you would love to live in (at least I would). I look forward to the next book in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. show less