From Beliefnet
Gaus's plot has some intriguing twists and turns, though the identity of the killer will be instantly apparent to anyone with a working knowledge of Hebrew. Part of Gaus's success comes from his seamless weaving of Amish life with small-town America: the multi-layered Hawkins, who has renounced violence and the lures of the world--or has he?--points to the fluidity of the actual boundaries between Amish life and the world of "the English." Those boundaries can bend or they can break, resulting in the intriguing title of the novel. (Beliefnet, July 2000)
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
From Booklist
Readers who loved
Blood of the Prodigal , the acclaimed debut in Gaus' Amish mystery series, may be a bit disappointed with this successor. One of the charms of the earlier book was the way Gaus incorporated characteristics of Amish life into his plot. The Amish setting still provides wonderful ambience, but the plot this time is more violent and less reflective of the setting. When amoral convict Jesse Sands is released from prison, he meanders his murderous way to Millersburg, Ohio, where he kills a Millersburg woman before he is caught. David Hawkins, the victim's father, an "Englisher" who has adopted Amish ways, attacks Sands in jail and then disappears. Sheriff Bruce Robertson believes Hawkins plans to assassinate Sands, Pastor Caleb Troyer staunchly defends Hawkins, and Professor Michael Brandon is caught in the middle, leaving the three childhood friends (all series regulars) in conflict. Though a less-satisfying novel than its predecessor, this is definitely a series worth reading.
Jenny McLarinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.