Clouds without Rain (Ohio Amish Mystery Series #3) [Hardcover]

P. L. Gaus (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this compact and tautly written mystery, the third in the series (after Blood of the Prodigal and Broken English), Gaus portrays vividly the clash of traditional Amish values with the forces of land development and greed. The author knows his setting and characters intimately from teaching in central Ohio, the land of horse-drawn buggies, conservative bishops, and kids who smoke, drink and otherwise defy their elders. Here Gaus's series hero, Professor Michael Branden, goes undercover to investigate teenage buggy robbers on mountain bikes, but soon becomes involved in something far more sinister. Part of Gaus's strength lies in graphic description, as in the horrifying opening scene of auto, tractor-trailer and horse-cart carnage. Dialogue, while often extended and intense, sounds authentic when spoken by devout Germanic church members trying to resist Branden, the police and the encroaching modern world. Gaus has structured his novel Dragnet style, relating events day-to-day, moment-to-moment, while the plot unfolds with deceptive simplicity from the initial gruesome accident. The title is emblematic of social problems in an old-fashioned land battered by change. Rural Ohio is suffering from a summer drought, but midway through his inquiry Branden learns the true biblical significance of a "cloud without rain, blown along by the winds." This revelation will also stir the reader. (June 1) FYI: The author is a professor of chemistry and alternative cultures at Wooster College in Ohio. There's a simultaneous paperback edition at $13.95, ISBN 0-8214-1380-5.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Third time's the charm for Gaus, whose latest entry in the Ohio Amish mystery series is the best so far. Once again, Gaus draws us deeply into the unfamiliar world of the Amish in Holmes County, Ohio, mostly through the appreciative eyes of college professor Michael Branden. As Branden helps the local police department investigate a series of robberies committed by Amish teenagers, he encounters the aftermath of a deadly wreck involving an Amish buggy, a police cruiser, and an 18-wheeler. One of Branden's two best friends from childhood, Sheriff Bruce Robertson, is badly burned during an attempted rescue at the accident site. Branden's other old friend, Pastor Cal Troyer, is asked by Amish leaders to find out who shot the buggy driver's horse and caused the wreck. The investigation reveals the fascinating ways in which crime wiggles its way into Amish society. A fascinating multicultural mystery. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 203 pages
• Publisher: Ohio University Press; 1 edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821413791
• ISBN-13: 978-0821413791
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,442,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best to date, January 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Clouds without Rain (Ohio Amish Mystery Series #3) (Paperback)

An Amishman is killed when his buggy is hit as he is making a left hand turn into his driveway. Professor Michael Brandon and his friend from childhood, Pastor Caleb Troyer help another old friend, Sheriff Bruce Robertson unravel the events leading to the crash. In the process Paul Gaus shows the Amish as real people struggling to find a way to hold on to the way of life they have chosen. This book does a great job of showing they diversity among the Amish and some of the problems they encounter.

The author has come a long way since the first book in this series which I thought was forced and formulaic. This book is informative and a tight, well-written mystery and well worth reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars clouds without rain: an ohio amish mystery, January 11, 2007

By 

K. santiago "amish fascination" (lawrenceville,ga) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clouds without Rain (Ohio Amish Mystery Series #3) (Paperback)

very well written story i have read all amish mysteries from this author
he keeps on surprising me! cant wait for another hopefully amish keep up the good work

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clouds Without Rain, September 3, 2009

By 

Lee Saiter (Marion, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Clouds without Rain (Ohio Amish Mystery Series #3) (Paperback)

This is the 3rd in a series from this author. Each one is a little better than the last. the characters are carried through from the first book to each sucseeding book. These are mysterys set in The Amish country of Ohio. They are suitable for all ages and just a good read.