Material Witness by Vannetta Chapman Series: Shipshewana Amish Mystery #3
Published by Zondervan on September 8, 2012
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 319
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Tragedy strikes on the opening night of the Fall Crafters Fair when a woman is killed in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop, and the only material witness is one of Melinda Byer's boys. The investigation takes a more bizarre turn when detective Shane Black becomes convinced the killer was actually after Callie.
This time it's a madman loose in the largest crowd of the year, and he's looking for something or someone. If they can't figure out what, one of Deborah and Callie's close circle of friends may be next.
Masked identities, antique quilts with hidden messages, an Amish boy whose handicap makes him stronger, one brave dog, and a possible hidden treasure ... this time it's nonstop action, danger, and a dash of romance.
Before I even talk about this book and get into the sadness of leaving behind Callie and the girls I just need to mention something. Have you ever noticed how creative Vannetta’s titles are? First, I’m not a cover person so a pretty picture isn’t going to be something that makes me want to read a book. I can appreciate a pretty or thought provoking cover but it’s not a draw. A title though? A title is your introduction to the book. It’s the bit you see on the shelf that makes you stop and look deeper. Vannetta has such chatchy, sometimes punny, titles that really do draw the attention to the goodness that is inside the covers. ‘Material Witness’ is no except to this rule but it’s also a little piece of my heart breaking again. There are vast benefits to reading a series together like continuity and NOT having to wait months to a year between installments – just to name a couple. However, there are drawbacks too. I feel like as I am getting settled into my new friends lives they are leaving me. It’s starting to feel like betrayal, ya know. Here, love me, adventure with me, oh wait sorry ’bout your luck but my time here is done. Tears people, sometimes there are tears.
OK, let’s actually talk about this witness of material. I gotta tell ya, the girls took me on a ride that I wasn’t sure I understood. There were a few rabbit trails and shiny squirrels that I wasn’t sure were legit. A few moments of this adventure were a little too over the top, a little too ‘out there’. I’m gonna throw a tiny spoiler here (and possibly more later, we’ll see where the words take me), but I mean killing the wrong person on accident because you meant to hurt the other person and it’s all about dress color. I mean, forget the fifty, or so, year age difference. Really? The thing is. . .I bought it. The entire crew hiding out together, really? But I bought it. I think in any other novel with any other writer I would be telling a completely different story. But the farfetched was woven so intricately believable that I couldn’t help but roll with it. I couldn’t help but sink into my questions and doubts and let the adventure own me. Even the obvious (really, like the bad guy is going to do what is expected?!?). I just adored this book.
I’m heart broken that I won’t get to come back to Shipshe and visit Daisy’s Quilt Shoppe. I won’t get to watch Callie invite love back into her life after the heartbreak of losing her husband. Though I got a glimmer of it. I won’t get to watch the kids grow up. I’ll miss out on the future of . . . you get the idea. I’m firmly of mind that Rueben needs his story told. There’s something there. A history of lost love, a secret of isolation from romance. And I think a future waiting to be discovered. Just sayin’ Vannetta, perhaps it’s time to revisit for a minute. You just can’t leave unfinished lives on the table, it’s not fair to Ruben and it’s definitely not fair to me. And we all know which is really the most important 😀 Shipshewana Mysteries were a engaging stop along my path through the novels of Vannetta. I have zero regrets with this series, except Ruben of course. Callie and the girls will forever have a place in my heart. . .and my bookshelf. I think they will assuredly find a place in yours as well.
About Vannetta Chapman
Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of many novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series, and Plain and Simple Miracle series. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She currently writes Christian suspense, Amish romance, and Amish mystery. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas hill country.
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