Dark Harvest

Maplecreek Amish Trilogy, Book 2

By: Karen Harper

Narrated by: Reay Kaplan

Policewoman Kat Lindley is running from the big-city job that nearly got her killed, and from memories of the abused boy she failed to save. She agrees to undertake a dangerous masquerade within the peaceful Amish community of Maplecreek, desperate to save its children. Widower Luke Brand is a leader in the Amish community. But his people are under attack from unknown assailants. The community is reluctant to turn to the outside world - until a particularly vicious assault forces Luke to seek help.

Together Luke and Kat are determined to bring justice to the perpetrators, while struggling to suppress the unspoken and forbidden feelings growing between them. But when the case takes a deadly turn, Kat must race to uncover the menace that threatens the people she has grown to deeply respect - before Luke becomes the next victim.

©2004 Karen Harper (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Stronger on mystery, light on romance

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

For me, this book was a somewhat pleasant way to be distracted while I did some otherwise uneventful tasks. The main characters are likable, if a bit dull, and the mystery isn't so simple you'd guess it right away. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't call it either a gripping suspense or a steamy romance. Appropriate for teen readers, I'd guess. This book does explore the theme of hate crimes against the Amish, with some conflict between the moral lessons of tolerance and turning the other cheek versus seeking justice. Clearly, the main female character enjoys heavy German food and the slow, country pace of Amish life despite some challenges to adjusting to it, and it's an interesting way to learn more about the Amish, though I really don't have any idea how realistic it is. I didn't in any way feel the same pull through listening to the story. It was easy to walk away from and a couple times I forgot I was listening to a book at all when the phone rang and I had to pause it. I felt like the suspense went on a bit too long, even though I did keep listening to find out who did it.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The way the author handles the romance between the main characters was more complex and realistic than other books in the "happily ever after romance" type of novel. Still, a satisfactory ending!

The Narrator ruined it for me.

The first book was ok if a little dull as far as mystery books go, I prefer those a little grittier than this. All the same I thought I'd give this second one a go. Honestly I didn't find the storyline that engaging and half the time the narrator sounded pretty bored to me, I simply could not get into. Ended up not finishing this one and returning for a refund.