Book Review: Murder, Served Simply by Isabella Alan

Amish quilt shop owner Angie Braddock has a lot on her plate this Christmas. But things only get worse after someone develops a taste for murder… 

Angie’s parents are visiting Rolling Brook for Christmas—but unfortunately, her ex is joining them. Luckily, Angie has no time to dwell on her romantic troubles as she prepares her store, Running Stitch, for the town’s traditional progressive dinner, featuring a sleigh ride stopping at each shop for a different course of the meal. 

The meal ends with an Amish-themed Christmas play at the Swiss Valley Hotel and Barn. But the performance is cut short when an actress falls from the scaffolding to her death. After the sheriff suspects foul play, tensions between the Amish and Englisch heat up, as do rivalries among the acting troupe. Now Angie and her quilting circle must stitch together clues before they’re the ones running for cover…[summary via Amazon]

The Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries is one of my favourite Amish cozy mysteries. While on the surface everything looks peaceful and full of harmony in this quiet town of Rolling Brook, this couldn't be further from the truth. As Angie Braddock has found, murder lies amongst her townsfolk and she's about to be embroiled in another murder mystery!

I found the storyline for Murder, Served Simply very fascinating. Eve Shelter is a local Amish girl that left Rolling Brook and is returning to perform in front of her family and townfolk, who previously disowned her when she left. The performance is sure to turn a few heads, but Eve is not expecting to be the victim of murder! With the author surprising us with a early murder in the book, I was very much on the edge of my seat as I tried to solve the mystery, alongside Sheriff Mitchell and Angie.

I love every visit to Rolling Brook. Isabella Alan truly captures the spirit of Amish and Englischers living side by side in a town, and the mixed emotions that come with it. 

I enjoyed the Christmas theme of the book and the added drama of having Angie's parents and her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, arriving in for the holidays. Angie's mom has matchmaking on her mind, and Angie is determined to stay clear of Ryan. Together with the murder mystery, both story lines entwined to create a drama filled mystery, that I loved from beginning to end.

If you haven't picked up the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries yet, I strongly recommend you start with Murder, Plain & Simple. Within a few pages, you will be wanting to read all the books in this series, and alike to me, will love every visit to Rolling Brook.

Title Information:
Murder, Served Simply by Isabella Alan
Book #3 of Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries
Published by NAL/Penguin
Purchase Murder, Served Simply at Amazon.