Shadows of Lancaster County [Paperback]

Mindy Starns Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009

Anna Bailey thought she left the tragedies of the past behind when she took on a new identity and moved from Pennsylvania to California. But now that her brother has vanished and his wife is crying out for help, Anna knows she has no choice but to come out of hiding, go home, and find him. Back in Lancaster County, Anna follows the high-tech trail her brother left behind, a trail that leads from the simple world of Amish farming to the cutting edge of DNA research and gene therapy.

During the course of her pursuit, Anna soon realizes that she has something others want, something worth killing for. In a world where nothing is as it seems, Anna seeks to protect herself, find her brother, and keep a rein on her heart despite the sudden reappearance of Reed Thornton, the only man she has ever loved.

Following up on her extremely popular gothic thriller,Whispers of the Bayou, Mindy Starns Clark offers another suspenseful standalone mystery, one full of Amish simplicity, dark shadows, and the light of God's amazing grace.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When a narrative opens with the words "I'm dead," the reader generally accepts that come-hither, and Clark (Whispers of the Bayou) keeps up the pace set by a nighttime motorcycle ride in the opening scene of this Christian suspense novel. "Skip tracer" Anna Jensen, who finds missing people, must face her checkered past when she returns home to Pennsylvania's Amish country in order to find her vanished brother. Complicating the plot is a tale of missing jewels and complex personal histories; Clark has a lot going on, and not everything is equally successful. The end-game plot twist is surprising, though not completely convincing, and the romantic element is much less successful than the atmosphere of suspense and the intricate plotting. The religious element, present but not preachy, is natural in this tale of unfolding revelation. Clark weaves a web of characters and events that will draw in Christian suspense fans.
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Review

(4 1/2 Stars) "Clark delivers another fascinating novel that readers will not want to put down. There is something here for everyone--mystery, romance, details of Amish life, a historical puzzle and cutting-edge medical technology... This superbly plotted book is not to be missed!" --Romantic Times Book Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736924477
• ISBN-13: 978-0736924474
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #674,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mindy Starns Clark is the author of many books, which include the popular Smart Chick Mysteries and Whispers of the Bayou. In addition, Mindy's plays and musicals have been featured in schools and churches across the United States.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Gripping Mystery from a Talented Author, January 22, 2009

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shadows of Lancaster County (Paperback)

Anna Bailey changed her name and moved to California in an attempt to escape from a tragic accident in her past. But it all comes rushing back to her with the ringing of the phone. On the other end is her sister-in-law saying that her brother, Bobby, is missing. Anna isn't inclined to rush back to Pennsylvania until someone breaks into her house, almost kills her roommate, and holds Anna at gun point demanding the Beauharnais Rubies, whatever those are.

Against her better judgment, Anna decides to make the trip back to Amish country and try to figure out what is happening. Trying to dodge the media, she sets out to learn what she can. But what happened to Bobby? What secrets is he hiding? And just want are those jewels?

Ever since I first found Mindy Starns Clark, I have loved her books. This was no exception. I was absorbed in the story from page one. I only put the book down with extreme effort. The pacing was perfect, giving us just enough info to keep us going while withholding the big reveals until the second half. I had a couple small niggles with the ending, but really, they are very minor.

The characters were equally wonderful. I loved Anna immediately. We get to know several Amish as the book progresses, and the look into their way of life was fascinating.

I was very sorry to see this book end. It just may be my favorite by this author. I'm already looking forward to wherever her next book takes us.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, keeps you guessing!, January 15, 2009

By 

Jewelsong "jewelsong" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadows of Lancaster County (Paperback)

This is the 3rd book of Mindy Starns Clark that I have read. She researches her topics well and writes about them weaving a story that brings so many elements to life. The story brings insight on what Amish life is like and intertwines it with those around the Amish and how they live their lives as Christians. She shares about total forgiveness no matter what crime happens against another, whether an accident or intentional. I enjoyed this book a lot.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfectly written mystery/suspense novel!, January 19, 2009

By 

Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Shadows of Lancaster County (Paperback)

Phenomenal. Intelligent. Masterful. Complex. Amazingly well-written, and full of intrigue. These are a few of the things that come to mind as I reflect on the mystery/suspense aspects of the story. The entire novel was edge-of-your-seat suspense, but there was also a very complex and believeable plot that thankfully didn't insult my intelligence. By that I mean it was easy to follow but brilliantly plotted. I learned a lot while putting the pieces of the mystery puzzle together.

And the red herrings actually worked! Plus, the "surprise" at the end was totally believable, which is often not the case. Sheesh, I don't even like mysteries or suspense novels all that much but even I was riveted to the text. The romantic element was pleasurable, too. This was simply an incredible story that captivated me from start to finish. One final note. I love it when I am so into a story that even I don't know who to trust. Did I mention this was an incredible story?