Before I say anything else, I have to say this: I want MORE! I want more stories in this community, with these characters, from this author. I am not above begging, in case the powers that be are reading this. #justsayin

I quickly fell in love with Dalton & Leah and, frankly, the whole St. Ignatius Police Department – Marge included. And as I said above, I want to spend more time with them in future books. There are so many interesting personalities that make up this police department, and I really enjoyed riding along, so to speak, as they race to find the serial killer that has haunted them for the last ten years.

And when I say ‘riding along’, I mean ‘sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and frantically turning the pages’. Alford has perfectly captured the disturbed mind of a serial killer with an obsession, yet the creep factor is exactly the right amount for this story. Not over the top but still enough that you want to leave the light on while you’re reading it lol. I honestly wasn’t sure which characters would survive this journey until almost the very end… and even then I didn’t quite let my guard down until I turned the last page. Twists, surprises, and unexpected curve balls abound, and the closer we get to the thrilling conclusion the less you should blink – you don’t want to miss a single word!

Bottom Line: I have enjoyed several books by Mary Alford, but I think Among the Innocent is my new favorite. Its gripping story, gentle faith message, fast pace, nail-biting suspense, and sweet romance combine with Alford’s engaging writing voice and layered characters to keep you glued to the pages from start to finish. If you’re looking for a book you can’t put down, make sure Among the Innocent is in your shopping cart! (And here is where I plead again for this to be a series because… well I can’t tell you but it’s a really good reason!)

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Among the Innocent is set in an Amish area with Amish characters, those who were formerly Amish, and others. The storyline is interesting, although I found the love interest a bit contrived as it happened very quickly and seemed awkward at times. If you enjoy a story with plot twists, action, and mystery this is the book for you.

Ten years ago, the peaceful Amish community outside St. Ignatius, Montana was rocked by a family’s gruesome murder. Leah Miller is the only survivor, left orphaned and taken in by the town’s police chief and his wife. Now Leah is an officer on the force and responding to a phone call about a missing girl, a girl whose family farm sits right next to the one that belonged to Leah’s family. A girl whose secrets and circumstances seem a little too familiar to Leah. She’s not the only one who recognizes the similarities; her new police chief, Dalton Cooper, is holding on to the secret that he was best friends with the man who took the blame for those murders. And there’s no way Harrison could have been responsible for what happened to Leah’s family and what has now happened to Beth Zook, since he’s dead now. One thing is certain, though: the murderer is not finished with Leah Miller.

Mary Alford pens intense suspense in Among the Innocent. My attention was piqued from the very beginning and held throughout the entire pulse-pounding sequence of events. This was the first I’ve read from this author, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford is one of those books that has you on the edge of your seat from the very first page all the way to the end. Among the Innocent tells the story of Leah Miller, who was raised Amish and whose family was savagely murdered. After Leah’s Family was massacred, Leah was adopted and raised by the town’s Police Chief and his wife, leaving the Amish Faith. As an adult, Leah joins the Police Force following in her adoptive father’s footsteps. Moving back to the town where the murders happened, Leah is watching out for her adopted mother who has Dementia and mourning her adoptive father who died under suspicious circumstances. Always having a feeling that the wrong man was arrested, everything comes a head for Leah as the 10 year anniversary of her Family’s death approaches. In the days before the 10th Anniversary, young Amish women or women that have ties connected to the Amish community start being attacked or murdered in the same way as that of Leah and her Family. Letters are left behind at the crime scenes saying that the killer is after Leah. Joining forces with the new Police Chief, Dalton, Leah and Dalton stop at nothing to solve the case. Throughout the investigation, they are led to the Killer’s other murders. While investigating, Police Chief Dalton has ties to the case himself. Through the ups and downs of the case, Leah and Dalton begin to fall for each other.

I loved how many twist and turns were in Among the Innocent. I felt as though it was a roller coaster of a read! I loved how fast pace Among the Innocent is and how there were no lagging moments were in the book. The type of crimes described in the book had the essence of a true crime book or show. I enjoyed getting to know the characters of Leah and Dalton and watching them grow and overcome in the book. Very rarely does a book surprise and keep me on the edge of my seat the way Among the Innocent by Mary Alford does. This is my first book to read by Mary Alford and it will not be my last! (I am really looking forward to her next read!) If you are looking for a book full of suspense and intrigue that will give you a roller coaster of a read, then I highly recommend Among the Innocent by Mary Alford!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is also on Goodreads and my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.

I was really excited to read Among the Innocent, I like reading Amish books and contemporary suspense and this was a unique blend of them. The cover is very eye-catching and so gorgeous. I liked the main characters, but I didn't really connect with them on an emotional level, like I like to, to make me feel what they are feeling. I didn't feel very aggravated during the suspenseful parts since I didn't connect with the characters. I did struggle with the story when it said it was a small town and community, yet has a CSI division close and I also struggled with the idea that they knew what the perpetrator looked like, but never saw him in a small community. I am interested to what happens next and it does like there could be another story, but I haven't seen any information on a next hook. I would be interested in reading another installment.

I received an ecopy from Netgalley and the publisher, all thoughts are my own.

Among The Innocent by Kate Alford gave me a nice introduction to this author's work. A suspense thriller that ticked all the boxes for me to make it a great read.

We meet Leah, a witness to her family's murders. She escaped and now ten years on, She is police officer in the same village. Now, the killer is back and it opens the floodgates of memories she has spent years suppressing. Her new Police Chief, Dalton, also has links to her past that she isn't aware of. We see them having to work together to attempt to catch the killer, if they can.

A well written thriller that brings a strong sense of place and characters that are very realistic and well rounded. The fact that the main characters had all suffered some kind of tragedy made them even more authentic with their flaws and each having their unique voice within the plot.

There are plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing as the investigation unfolds and they try to find this evil and cruel killer. It just so happens the killer is always one step ahead which makes for such a tense read. There are scenes of violence and brutality but these aren't gratuitous and just help to ratch the atmosphere of this book up even more.

The sense of place I mentioned is so strong and Kate Alford really brings the setting alive with her detailed writing which made me feel like I could be there with Leah and Dalton trying to stop this killer.

The weaving of faith into this story is cleverly done, without going over the top. Dalton is a man whose faith is strong. Leah is a woman who really needs faith or at least a little bit and we see Dalton sharing his belief with her, I did really like this, I thought it would do Leah some good at least.

A thriller that had me gripped, I was so intrigued with the twists, turns and suspense. I just needed to find out what was next. I will definitely look out for Kate Alfords books in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Partners In Crime Tours.

Among the Innocent was a creepy and chilling story of a murderer who would not let go, of what they thought was theirs. The path this evil took did not care who they hurt or who got in the way.

Leah Miller lost her entire family and her way of life when evil stepped in her life. And even though she tried very hard to distance herself and move on even becoming a cop, the murderer was always there. He was waiting in the shadows still creating havoc for her. Leah thought that he was dead, but ten years later gruesome murders are taking place and there is no doubt that they are related to Leah's case.

New police chief Dalton Cooper has a connection to all of this, but he keeps that information to himself. He is also bound to catch this murderer and keep Leah safe as well.

This, like I said is really creepy. The innocence and naivety of some of the victims was hard to watch. These young women lived a relatively peaceful Amish lives with their families, but they were preyed upon by their weakest emotions. I would recommend not reading this one at night.

I was provided a copy of this novel by the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

AMONG THE INNOCENT by Mary Alford is an action-packed Amish crime mystery/suspense featuring two law enforcement officers brought together by a serial killer who has returned to the quiet community of St. Ignatius, Montana to finish what he started ten years previously. This is a standalone mystery/suspense with a setting and characters I wish were going to be in a series.

Ten years ago, Leah Miller was a young teen who was the lone survivor of a horrific crime, where her entire Amish family was killed in front of her. Leah barely survived, she left the Amish and was taken in by the local sheriff and his wife. Now as a member of the sheriff’s department herself, she is called to the murder scene of young Amish girl with the same MO as her family’s killer who they all believed was dead.

Dalton Cooper is the new Sheriff, and he has his own reasons for accepting the job in this small town which tie to the death of the accused murderer of Leah’s family. As they work the case, they realize that the true killer has returned, and the previous sheriff seemed to be hiding information. They also begin to have feelings for each other, but they feel the present case needs to take precedent.

Another Amish girl is murdered, the killer is toying with Leah and the tenth anniversary of the Miller family’s death is near. Will Dalton and Leah be able to discover the truth before the dark past wins?

I found this mystery suspense to be a page-turner that I could not put down. Leah and Dalton were both broken and not moving forward with their lives, and it took their coming together to solve this case and discover the facts from the past that would allow them to heal. They were both fully fleshed, realistic characters that I empathized with immediately. The serial killer was intelligent and frightening. Ms. Alford did a great job of placing plot twists and red herrings in just the right places to make the plot fast paced and surprising. The setting of this story was very interesting, too. A mixture of small-town Montana, Amish community and Indian reservation all interconnected. This could also be considered a Christian mystery because the characters do pray for God’s assistance at times, discuss their lack of faith due to their pasts and the romantic elements are no more than a few kisses.

I highly recommend this Amish mystery/suspense!

“The inevitable showdown coming had been a decade in the making. When it was over, would any of them be left standing?”

This quote. It indicates the enormous level of suspense created and maintained throughout novel. I felt the need to check my blood pressure after reading Among the Innocent by Mary Alford, to make sure it was not abnormally high!! This particular novel is a little darker than most I choose to read, but it is oh, so well done!

I did identify with Leah more than I would like at some points. “She’d lost her family to a killer—probably Ellis to the same man. Now she was slowly losing Marge to a different kind of killer.” The killer that stalks Marge is all too prevalent, and so many families must deal with that threat. I loved how that thread strengthens the story.

Sigh. Dalton is swoony dreamboat who might be perfect, but for his secrets. Full of faith despite a rough past, he is protective of Leah, kind, sensitive, and quite the looker. Will he and Leah be able to work together to keep tragedy away from the Amish community, or will they become part of the region’s mounting calamities?

I received a copy of the book from RevellReads and NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

Let it go. The past is written and done,
but you’re not.”

He was back. John was back.

“…he wanted to beg her to trust him. Yet how could he ask for trust when he had his own secrets?”

“It’s going to be okay.” And it would, because he’d make sure of it. Yet to get to okay, they’d have to go through a whole lot of bad.

“Her heart kicked out an unsteady beat at his protectiveness. Something about him made her wish for a second that she could be normal.”

“You’re alive because God wants you to be. He has a reason. You’ll find it.”

“I’ve learned I’m better off with animals. For the most part, they don’t try to kill you.”

“The mountains were black shapes in the distance, but they were always there. Just as God was. Even in the darkest moments when it was hard to feel his presence.”

Set in the Amish community in St. Ignatius, Montana, readers are told of the brutal murder of Leah Miller's family in front of her ten years ago. For reasons known only to the murderer, Leah was spared with a non- life- threatening cut across her neck. She was adopted by the town's police chief and his wife, and they provided her with a safe and loving home. Following in her adoptive father's steps, she became a law enforcement officer. Shockingly, a year ago he was brutally murdered, and the case remained unsolved as was her family's case. Dalton Cooper, the new chief of police, has come to St. Ignatius for personal reasons. He, too, has an interest in Leah's family's murders. Reasons he is not immediately willing to share. When it becomes obvious the murderer has returned and plans to kill Leah on the tenth anniversary of her family's death, Dalton vows to keep Leah safe. A closeness develops between them. Can he keep Leah alive?

Leah and Dalton are brought together under most unusual circumstances. Suddenly, in this otherwise quiet community, young Amish girls are murdered, and the killer manages to stay one step ahead of the police. As the clock starts to run out, tension and suspense builds. Who is this monster and what is his motivation?

The author brings to readers a well-crafted thriller that keeps the reader engrossed from start to finish. There is mystery, surprises and romance. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What an incredibly intense story! The genre is considered romantic suspense, and it is, but there is also an element of psychological thriller mixed in. Prepare to be captivated by all the details that make up this fascinating read.

The story is set in the small Amish community of St. Ignatius, Montana. We the readers join the story about ten years after the family of Leah Miller has been brutally murdered. In those intervening years Leah has left the Amish and been taken in by the local police chief Ellis Petri and his wife Marge. Their love and kindness has helped Leah to heal and move on with her life. She has chosen to join the police force and follow in the footsteps of her new father.

As the anniversary of her family's deaths looms closer it becomes evident that there is a serial killer in their midst. What a terrifying thought. In so many ways the Amish are easy targets. In general they are trusting people and they are also non violent. I was so stressed out for them as I was reading their story!

Mary Alford has taken Amish fiction and kicked it up a notch. I have read a few of her other romantic suspense titles and I think she's a very talented author. I do have to say that I think that Among the Innocent is her best yet.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Among the Innocent
Mary Alford
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 stars)

Leah Miller left her Amish community when her entire family was murdered 10 years ago. Taken in by a local police officer and his wife, Leah followed in her adopted father's footsteps and joined the police force. When a young Amish woman is found murdered, the similarities to the Miller family case leave little doubt that the wrong man may have been blamed for the death of her family. Leah must work with newly hired police chief, Dalton Cooper to catch the killer before he can strike again.

This isn’t a traditional Amish story. Rather, it is more of a murder mystery/suspense story revolving around an Amish community. Also, it lends itself toward a psychological thriller with a dark side.

The book started pulling us in right from the start as we were introduced to the two main characters. We wanted to know what happened next and it kept us turning the pages. As stated, this is a darker story but Mary Alford does a good job of contrasting that with the building romantic interest between Leah and Dalton. The only critique we’d offer is that the killer’s identity and connection to the overall story is easily identifiable about half way into the book.

We received an advance copy from the publisher to read and review.

It was a suspenseful read, action packed and it was good to read and find out about the characters and the mystery.
Its set in Montana and you can imagine being in the story and searching for answers to the questions and solving the murders.
Well worth reading!

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than my usual reading choices, as it is an Amish murder mystery/romance. I’ve read Amish romances before, but this one was a bit different. This was my first book read by this author, and I really do like her writing style. I really did like the twist at the end of the book. Ok, I sort of figured it out, but still-ha! I liked the book and can say that I recommend it. It is a clean novel, as in no sex scenes or bad language. It was suspenseful and had a little bit of romance thrown in. I can’t wait to read more of Mary Alford’s books.

The majority of young Amish women living at home lead a sheltered life. When they go through rumspringa they are exposed to a lot of the things Englishers experience and some are led astray by these Englishers. Such as the case with Leah Miller, in over her head she feels excited to have an Englisher boyfriend and is happy to sneak out to see him at night.
Shortly after she starts seeing him her whole family is killed.
This Amish woman leaves the Amish faith and joins the police force seeking revenge.
When the killings start back up again after sometime Leah and her partner, police chief Dalton Cooper must prove without a doubt who the guilty party is.
After her family was killed Leah thought the murder was solved because the person that was blamed for the murders killed themselves. When innocent young Amish women start turning up dead again we know this isn't the case and the killer is still among us.
As the book goes on we can see a pattern repeating itself so we have a good idea of who has done the killings.
The book is so hard to put down. I read it in less that 24 hours.
The suspense really grabbed my attention . Riveting, it kept me on the edge of my seat. I'll admit to feeling uneasy a bit while reading this. The author does suspense very well.
Read it and find out the significance of the number ten.
If you're just coasting through this book and I'm not sure how you could be doing that with all that's going on there is a big reveal pretty close to the end that'll give you a nice jolt.
Highly enjoyed and recommended!


Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This novel is a combination of Amish life and modern police procedure. I am generally not a fan of novels about the Amish but I did appreciate this one as it was centered around a murder mystery. The characters were a little flat. One reason was that the romance seemed to sail along without the typical obstacles needing to be overcome. That left the character development lacking.

I felt the story was a little unrealistic in that Amish women kept being deceived by this man and going to meet him even after a picture of him was shown to them and he was identified as definitely the murderer. Are we to believe young Amish women are so starved for affection? I also thought the villain was too clever by far. He outwitted deputies at every turn. At one point, when it happened yet again, the chief of police said, “Unbelievable.” (3018/3849) I know how he felt.

This is a novel for readers who enjoy mysteries as well as those who like to read about the Amish communities and are not too demanding about character development or tight plot development.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A fast-paced, romantic suspense tale, with some surprising twists. The setting in a Montana Amish community made the villain feel even more sinister, as he targets naive young Amish women. This was a quick read that gave extra clues towards the end as to the motive and identity of the real killer. Not for the faint of heart, since there are multiple murders, but not too overly graphic. The main characters seemed to quickly bond, and discover their similar struggles. Just a few 'popcorn prayers' here and there, and questions of faith added some inspiration to the storyline.
Overall a very satisfying read. Should appeal to readers who enjoy clean, romantic suspense with inspiration.
4.5 stars

Interesting story plot. Good suspense. Usually, I feel as though the romance is overdone but in this instance, I wanted more depth in the characters’ romance.

This was my first book to read by Mary Alford and I will definitely be looking for more by her in the future! This suspense of a serial killer preying on the Amish made my want to keep reading due to original storyline.

Leah left the Amish way of life after her Englisher boyfriend kills her family and is adopted by the local police chief and his wife. The man believed to have been the murderer, Harrison, is killed in a fire, but after a Amish girl is killed, Leah and new police chief Dalton know that the wrong man was convicted.

The characters are very relatable and while I thought the romance hurried along after Dalton and Leah only knew each other a few days, I found it believable. I hope that there is a sequel explaining the mystery that was opened up at the end of the book regarding Harrison and if he truly died. Christian suspense readers will love this book.

I received a complimentary copy of Among the Innocent thanks to Revell and Net Galley, but all opinions are my own.

This thriller grabbed my attention from the first page right till the end. The serial killer focused on young Amish girls, naïve and innocent and easy to manipulate, made this story a nail biter which I did not want to put down.

The murders was horrific and probably not for readers who prefer lighter suspense. There was a lot of the murders and scenes which I could anticipate, but the author also thrown in a few twists with some unexpected action and revelations at the end. I also guessed at who the murderer was and his connection to some of the characters, but it didn't take away the suspense for me, since the suspense was still there in if I connected all the dots.

This was the first book I've read by this author. And if all her future suspense/thrillers are to be expected to be at this same standard, I would read more by this author.