By P. L. Gaus
"Gaus brings a refreshing authenticity to his unusual setting and characters. There are no wisecracking gumshoes here, but instead believable characters whose faith is explored with respect. Anyone who enjoyed the film Witness should take to this fine mystery debut.“
Publishers Weekly
“A pleasure to read.”
Library Journal
“Gaus writes with authority and warmth about the mysterious Amish…. This well-written, insightful first novel bodes well for Gaus' planned Professor Branden series.”
Booklist
“The charm of Gaus's first novel lies in its gently penetrating portrait of conflicts within the deceptively quiet contemporary Amish community.”
Kirkus Reviews
P. L. Gaus’s Blood of the Prodigal, a mystery in the tradition of Tony Hillerman, is back in a new edition, including an exclusive interview with the author, discussion questions for reading groups, and a detailed map and driving guide to Holmes County, Ohio, with everything one needs to visit the iconic scenes depicted in the story.
In Holmes County, Ohio—home to the largest Amish and Mennonite settlements in the world—mystery and foreboding lurk in the quiet Old Order Amish community led by Bishop Eli Miller.The illusion of peace is shattered one early morning when a young Amish boy goes missing—abducted from his home and from Bishop Miller’s care. At first, the bishop suspects the child’s father, who was exiled from the Old Order ten years ago, but a murder soon casts doubt on the bishop’s theory. With a strong distrust of law enforcement and the modern “English” ways, the bishop must put his faith in an unlikely partnership with Professor Michael Branden before it’s too late.
With the help of the peaceful pastor Cal Troyer and the reckless Sheriff Bruce Robertson, Branden plunges headlong into the closed culture to unravel the mystery of the missing child and uncover truths many would prefer to leave undisturbed.
P. L. Gaus is the author of seven books in the Amish-Country Mystery series. He lives in Wooster, Ohio, an area that is close to the world’s largest settlement of Amish and Mennonite people. Gaus lectures widely about the lifestyles, culture, and religion of the Amish.
Visit his website at P. L. Gaus
More info →
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Paperback
978-0-8214-1010-3
Retail price: $16.95,
T.
Release date: February 2020
270 pages
·
5½ × 8½ in.
Rights: World
Hardcover
978-0-8214-1276-3
Retail price: $26.95,
T.
Release date: June 1999
235 pages
Rights: World
Electronic
978-0-8214-4060-5
Release date: February 2020
270 pages
Rights: World
“No one who enjoys a fresh approach to the mystery novel, plus an insider's look at Ohio's Old Order Amish culture, should miss Blood of the Prodigal. P. L. Gaus gives us a kind, gentle, and intriguing look at crime inside Ohio's famous Amish colony.”
Tony Hillerman
“Gaus has done successfully what would seem nearly impossible: to meld a mystery novel with a description of Amish life in Holmes county without scanting either one…. (A)n impressive debut novel.”
Ohioana Quarterly
“P. L. Gaus’s voice in his first mystery is so assured and polished, it’s hard to believe this is his first book…. (T)he strength of the descriptions of the Amish … is such that as a reader you almost resent being away from it for a moment.”
Aunt Agatha's Newsletter
“This story is written in the tradition of Tony Hillerman: Gaus presents a deeper understanding of an American subculture and why—though it interacts with mainstream American society—it stubbornly chooses to remain separate and follow its own unique doctrines. Enthusiasts of mysteries, American sub-cultures, or those interested in learning more about Amish ways will find much to glean from Gaus’ work.”
ForeWord
“In addition to the very interesting portrayal of Amish culture, I most enjoyed the characters and relationships at the heart of the book…. The small-town flavor revealed through the interplay among this cast of characters is both believable and endearing.”
Deadly Pleasures: A Mystery Magazine
“The characters are full-bodied and finely wrought…. The plot is solid and well paced. And Gaus informs us about the life and practice of the Old Order Amish without instructing or lecturing.”
The Mystery Review
“The Amish setting is as strange and intriguing as that of any foreign country, and the strong-willed characters challenge the reader’s prejudices and values. This novel, the first in a series, opens the door for further exploration of the nature of these characters and their culture.”
Wendy Foster Leigh, The King's English, Salt Lake City
“(Broken English)…was nearly impossible to put down.”
The Daily Record (Wooster, OH)
Cast a Blue Shadow
An Amish Country Mystery
By P. L. Gaus
A mute Mennonite girl with a troubled past. A wealthy benefactor found murdered in her home. In the wake of both events, Professor Michael Branden begins an investigation that threatens to tear Millersburg College apart.
Mystery · Ohio · Amish · Ohio and Regional
Clouds without Rain
An Amish Country Mystery
By P. L. Gaus
In the wake of a fatal accident involving an Amish buggy and an eighteen-wheeler, Professor Michael Branden’s suspicions grow alongside a number of mysterious happenings plaguing the quiet community. Will he uncover the true source of the crash before anyone else gets hurt?
Mystery · Ohio · Amish · Ohio and Regional
Separate from the World
An Ohio Amish Mystery
By P. L. Gaus
Separate from the World is a story of a rift between two Amish factions, one that favors the use of medicine and that participates in a college study of genetic traits particular to the Amish community, and the other that rejects any outside influence.
Broken English
An Amish Country Mystery
By P. L. Gaus
The peaceful town of Millersburg, Ohio, is rocked by a woman’s murder. When a local reporter turns up dead as well, suspicion falls on David Hawkins, the first victim’s father. With Hawkins nowhere to be found among his Amish community, Professor Michael Branden sets out to uncover the elusive truth.
Mystery · Amish · Ohio · Ohio and Regional
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