Amish Outsider is a compelling novel. I thought the book was well-written and it proceeded at a steady pace. Amish Outsider is different from other Amish novels. There is mystery, suspense, family, friendships and romance. I liked getting to know the residents of River Haven. Stubbornness seems to run in the Forster family. Michael left home as a teenager with Diana and has been living as an Englischer. He was running a successful construction company until his wife died and the legal bills crippled him financially. Diana was unhappy with their life which ended up with the pair becoming separated. Michael did not kill his wife, but he is unable to convince the police of his innocence. Michael wants a safe place for his daughter, Allie and he hopes it is in River Haven with his Amish family. Aunt Verna and Sarah provided levity with their schemes to help their family. Family is important as we see in Amish Outsider and they stick together which I found endearing. I like how the community came together to help when one of their own was in need and to support a good cause. I delighted in the unpredictability of an Amish Outsider. You never knew what would happen next. The scary incidents were suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension builds as the story progressed in this page turner. There are several suspects in Diana’s murder with good clues. One of the phrases that stuck with me from Amish Outsider is “Evil can be anywhere. But peace is inside us.” Marta Perry has outdone herself with the absorbing and suspenseful Amish Outsider. ( )

I have enjoyed this author’s reads, and this one is no exception, and once I turned the first page I was hooked and page-turning.
We are given a young man whom was brought up Amish and having met an English girl, they decide to go where the grass is greener and embark on their new amazing life, only to have reality raise its head.
Now this man has returned home to his roots and has brought his daughter, but will they be accepted back? Also, now there is a dark cloud of murder hanging over Michael head, how can he prove his innocence?
What a great story and mystery we have here, you never see what is around the corner, and who will come to the aid of a missing man and child from their flock.
Yes, answers come and surprises abound here, I never saw it coming!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

“Amish Outsider” by Marta Perry features all the things I like in a novel: interesting characters (who have their flaws), light mystery, realistic plot, and a satisfying ending. This novel tells the story of a man who has left the Amish and is now returning with his child. I liked the idea that he was welcomed back into the family, and the story tells how this occurs. However, he brings with him problems and mysteries from his past that are solved in the course of the novel.

This is a clean novel, without overt violence, sexual overtones, or unsavory language. There are evil and unscrupulous people in the novel, but all is worked out by the end. While this is a Christian novel, it is not preachy or overly religious.
I really liked the realism of the characters. They were portrayed as authentic individuals, rather than as stereotypical Amish people. Being a former teacher, I appreciated the accurate portrayal of Cathy’s courage and quick action in the face of danger, and her determination to serve her scholars. The action moved the plot forward at a good pace, and I can truly say this was a novel I did not want to put down. I have read other novels by this author, but this is the first of her suspense novels. I hope it will not be the last!

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )