Jeanne G. (IlliniAlum83) - , reviewed on 12/13/2013 + 181 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

This is the first book in the PennDutch series I've read and I was rather disappointed. Liked book in her other series -- the Den of Antiquity--much better.

I wasn't sure from the very beginning if this was supposed to be a farce or not. I didn't know whether to take the description of Amish and Mennonite cultures seriously. It's not that it's irreverent, but seems to make light of their way of life in a way that I'm not comfortable with. (I grew up a few miles from a Mennonite community and went to school with many of them.)
I did like the way Magdalena worked to solve the mystery......that, at least, wasn't unrealistic. She "detects" in a manner similar to Jessica Fletcher. I grew up in a very small town and can relate to how she pigeon holes characters at times, as well as the "everyone knows everyone" and what they're doing too.
I enjoyed the way Magdalena described her position as the owner of the country inn, how she decorated it and ran it. I've stayed in some B & Bs in historic cities and have become interested in how they are managed.

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