Book Review: Dark Harvest

Reviewed By: NH Storm

Dark Harvest     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Karen Harper
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance
Series: Maplecreek Amish Trilogy
Mira, 2004, 400 pages

After a shoot-out with a drunken child abuser, which resulted in the death of a child, severely wounding and, destroying her career, former police officer, Kat Lindley relocates to what appears to be the quiet Amish town of Maplecreek, Ohio. Little did Kat know that someone is targeting the Amish children.

Reluctantly, Widower Luke Brand, leader of the peaceful Amish, realizes that they need help from the outside world if the person or persons responsible are to be apprehended. Help from a world that at the very least ignores them..

Kat, tormented by the death of the abused child, agrees to go undercover posing as the betrothed of Luke Brand. Kat has to learn the ways and the traditions of the Amish, investigate the many suspects, while struggling to keep her budding attraction to Luke in check. Luke and Kat understand that although their hearts are filled with love, their worlds are too far apart as Kat is an outsider.

Trusting no one, not even the sheriff but Luke, Kat must work fast as the murders are escalating and before Luke becomes the next target.

Karen Harper presents inside view of the Amish culture, murder and romance. Kat's character need some work since Kat's a trained police officer. We first meet Kat as she looks into a suspected child's abuse without calling for backup which almost kills her. As an undercover officer she still investigates without reinforcements. Didn't she learn? Overall a great, fast paced book..

NH Storm

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, NH Storm