I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Harvest House, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman Series: The Amish Bishop Mysteries #3
Published by Harvest House Publishers on March 6th 2018
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Cozy, Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Romance, Suspense
Pages: 352
Source: Harvest House, NetGalley
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads
What You Don't See Might Hurt You
Every year, residents of the small Amish community in Monte Vista, Colorado, look forward to the Ski Hi Stampede, the state's oldest professional rodeo. The rodeo is always good, clean entertainment for the hardworking farmers of the San Luis Valley. But this year, the Stampede turns deadly for one Amish man. Did rodeo fans see an unfortunate accident? Or something more sinister?
Amish bishop Henry Lapp is known far and wide for his uncanny ability to draw and remember the smallest details of anything he's seen, skills that have served him well in past investigations. He was at the rodeo that day. The problem? He didn't see Jeremiah Schwartz's death.
With a murderer on the loose and members of his community being threatened, Henry must act fast. But can he solve a crime he didn't see? This time around, Henry will have to rely on his keen sense of human character and observation, skills he's honed in his role as bishop, if he hopes to crack the case.
Who the Bishop Knows is a story of accepting our talents, putting one another first, and trusting that God will care for His children.
I need to have a moment of sadness that we are leaving Henry Lapp and Emma Fisher behind. We’ve gotten to know them, and Henry’s gift in ‘What the Bishop Saw’. We saw the kind of man he is, the concern for his community, and the compassion for those hurting around him. In ‘When the Bishop Needs an Alibi’ we are drawn more into the faith of Henry. His compassion for others is still strong, his concern for his community is still strong. I knew coming into this last book that Henry and Emma had chosen to forge a future together in their golden years. I knew coming into ‘Who the Bishop Knows’ that it would be heart rending and emotional. It would be seeing them start their future together while also saying goodbye to this community. And of course, it would be a murder.
When I finished the second book in this series I had this thought that hid in the back of my mind. I couldn’t really make it into words until I started reading about Jeremiah and his murder. It came on like a light bulb! Imagine investing so much development and life into one small character who is only going to die in the first little bit of the book. The characters in this series are all so very well developed with amazing personalities and backstories and life, even the ones who are sacrificed for the story. I was stuck in the emotion of that, creating such a developed person only to eliminate them. Shh, yes sometimes I get mushy … let’s keep that between us m’kay? Yes, Jeremiah was sorta, or really, a toad nugget. He didn’t really draw out feelings of compassion. I didn’t know him yet when he was murdered but the picture that came out about him through the story was very much shades of gray, he wasn’t necessarily a good guy but he wasn’t all bad either.
Vannetta kinda kept me guessing a tidbit through the book. I was fairly confident pretty early on with who the killer was. I was certain(ish) about two thirds of the way in. The how though? Blew me away! This story had layers of different depths and potential outcomes and a few little surprises thrown in for good measure. I’m cautious to say too much and accidentally include spoilers. Let’s just say that I think this was my favorite book in the series (I know, I saw that every time). It kept me so much in the dark about a few things to the very end. I remain a firm believer that everyone needs a Henry in their lives. His faith, his patience, his wisdom, his encouraging spirit, and his compassion. All are traits that we need in our lives. Need in our friends, our family and even within ourselves.
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.
Wanna share your thoughts? Leave a comment!