Petunia Yoder makes wedding dresses, which is ironic as the residents of her hometown, Blueberry, Pennsylvania, consider her their youngest old maid and unmarriageable. When she stumbles across a dead body with an ice pick in the chest and a close friend with blood stained clothing standing nearby, Petunia knows she has to do something.

Detective Asher Nate has been working out of the Blueberry precinct for a short while but has already worked out that, as an Englisher, the Amish way of life is something he needs to learn a lot about. When it becomes clear the only person who couldn't be guilty is Petunia, Asher asks her to be the liaison between himself and the local community. As interviews begin and Asher starts to work out what happened, Petunia wonders if life in Blueberry will ever be the same again.

This is the first in Patricia Johns new series and I loved it! Petunia and Asher are already fully formed as the main protagonists and worked well alongside other characters who hopefully will appear in future books. The storyline was excellent and combined seamlessly with some of the basics of the Amish way of life which I look forward to learning more about as the series continues.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This promises to be an excellent new series which I look forward to reading a lot more of. Highly recommended.

What stuck with me was the pluck of Petunia and the interesting friendship developing between Amish Petunia and outsiders Asher as they work together to solve a murder. Since my only real knowledge of Amish culture and customs comes from books such as Amanda Flower's Amish related series, it took me awhile to settle into the book but once I did, I enjoyed it. I mean, after all, who can't root for a main character that has dubbed herself the "youngest old maid" in Blueberry, Pennsylvania, at age 22.

The story begins almost immediately. Petunia has promised to make ice cream for the group of tourists her father is taking around. When she realizes she doesn't have the necessary ice on hand, she heads off to the ice house in her buggy. She arrives at the same time as her father's tour group and sees her friend Eden's buggy is there, too. Then a dead man is found. The ice man. Even worse, Eden is found with the body and bloody hands. Not good.

Petunia's outspoken manner leads new-to-the-area Detective Asher Nate to recruit her to help him. He's wise enough to know the Amish community tends to be reluctant to talk to outsiders, which basically translates to anyone non-Amish. It's interesting to see how Petunia and Asher work together, their reluctant pairing turning into a friendship. Petunia is torn as she knows the killer must surely be of the community. Even worse, it may be another friend. She just cannot believe Eden is guilty of murder, even though it turns out Eden has some secrets that might give a lesser friend pause. Eden isn't the only one with secrets. It's easy to believe the simplicity of the Amish life means no crime, especially murder, but people are people. And, people keep secrets. Even family.

Will Petunia be able to tread the fine line of helping bring justice without further alienating herself from the more hard-line believers? Why did seemingly sweet Eden even like the guy anyway, much less plan to marry him? Will Asher's newness and differences allow him to find answers with Petunia's help? What might be the penalty be for Petunia for daring to help an outsider investigate the community and even friends? Could Petunia be putting herself in danger?

Who....oh, enough teasers. This was a fun, easy read (even with my personal running around complicating things) and I wound up liking the characters a great deal. It's my understanding the the author has published several Amish romances, so it'll be interesting to see if/how she deals with the interesting dynamics emerging between Petunia (who he's calling "Pet" by the end) and Asher as the book ends. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for introducing me to this intriguing setting and its people. I'm looking forward to continuing this new series soon.

Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns is an outstanding mystery.

Will Petunia Yoder find out who killed Ike before Eden is convicted of his murder?

Petunia Yoder
Petunia is the "youngest old maid in Blueberry township." She is not like your average Amish lady. Petunia is outspoken and forgets what her role in society is. Even though Petunia says, she doesn't want a husband and is happy to be an old maid. She respects the vows of matrimony, and I think she sincerely wants to be married and have a family. Hopefully, whoever she marries likes burnt pies.

The other thing about Petunia is that she likes putting puzzles together and solving crimes. She is pretty good at it. Perhaps next time, she will figure out who the culprit is before she is in danger. The other thing is she doesn't lie well at all.

The Mystery
Ike Smoker is new to the community but is making trouble everywhere. He takes liberties with a young woman, borrows money and doesn't pay it back, gambles, drinks, and is loud and obnoxious. He is not a good man; I think he is a cad. Anyway, said cad is killed, and Eden (his girlfriend) finds him. Eden is Petunia's best friend, and when Eden is arrested, Petunia decides to help the police find the actual murderer. So, she teams up with Detective Nash, with her father's blessing, of course.
Our investigative team finds that all is not as it seems in the Amish community of Blueberry, Pennsylvania. There are secrets and secrets, more than Petunia even knows.

Five Stars
I love it. The story is sweet, well, other than murder and all the reasons for it. Our Amish sleuth wrestles with finding the murderer in her community. Petunia shows strength of character and that she is still growing. She is helpful and wants to be part of their church, not someone on the outside.

My rating for Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns is five stars. I was entertained. If you like a sweet, cozy mystery, I recommend this one.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Description or … the blurb
Petunia Yoder not only thinks but *knows* she is and always will be an old maid. And she worries about her best friend Eden who will not listen to her or anyone else about Ike Smoker, the icemaker. Everyone but Eden, it seems, knows he is not a good man and has no intention of marrying her. On a routine trip to get more ice, Petunia comes upon a murder scene — Ike’s. And Eden is there with Ike’s blood on her hands. Add in a new detective to the area who knows zip about the Amish and their customs.

My review …
Petunia Yoder has valid reasons for her opinion of herself. Learning them is a fun aspect of “Murder of an Amish Bridegroom“. On a routine trip to pick up ice, Petunia finds Ike dead and Eden beside him. Her father’s Amish tour group arrives shortly after Petunia. Not exactly the scene the Amish want Englishers to see.

Detective Asher Nate (Nate is his surname) is new to the area and astutely understands that an “Amish” interpreter would be helpful in solving the murder although Eden is the prime suspect. Fortunately for both of them, Petunia’s father okays Petunia’s new role helping Detective Nate in the investigation. Note: yeah. That’s out there but let’s just say this is a more progressive Amish community.

I recommend “Murder of an Amish Bridegroom” — it’s the kind of what-is-going-to-happen-next story that keeps you wanting more. The more these two investigate the many secrets of Ike Smoker, the more reasons and people that would have liked to see Ike dead. In fact, the only person who seemed to have liked him was Eden. Clues keep being uncovered and as they get closer to the truth, the killer may come after them to keep that particular secret buried.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “Murder of an Amish Bridegroom” via NetGalley from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Note: a new publisher for Patricia Johns Amish mystery books.

Rating: 5 stars
Cover: A good try but missing the Amish element.
Pages: 272
Publish Date: 5 Dec 2023
#MurderofanAmishBridegroom #NetGalley #PatriciaJohns

"Petunia Yoder is Blueberry, Pennsylvania’s youngest old maid, at twenty-two years of age, and completely unmarriageable. But she’s determined to celebrate her friends’ weddings with joy and a full heart. Unfortunately, Petunia’s best friend, Eden Beiler, is playing a dangerous game with a man who is ruining her reputation."
This is a good mystery. It is funny. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

Set in the Amish community of Blueberry, Pennsylvania, Petunia Yoder is 22 and unmarried. Petunia’s best friend, Eden, is found standing over Ike Smoker. Suddenly, the simple life isn’t so simple anymore. When the new English (word used for non-Amish people) detective tries to investigate, he discovers that this is a community which doesn’t welcome outsiders to their world. Petunia agrees to help in order to save Eden. A lovely start with a strong female protagonist. I look forward to more in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this book.

Wow! Yes! Mystery check. Amish check. Romance check. NetGalley check.

Could it get better? Yes! Fantastic story line, great cast of characters, terrific plot, and, awesome setting!

Love everything, about this book!

It took me forever to figure out who the murderer was and every time I thought I was close new evidence would pop up. I finally figured it out right before the end.

Am hoping for another couple books in this series because I want another mystery and romance.

Highly recommend.

I was looking for something new and different in the cozy mystery genre, and this debut novel set in the Amish community appealed to me. From the get-go, I was reeled into the story, especially because the murder investigation begins right away. The female lead, Petunia, is endearing and allows for a promising character development over this new series. I very much enjoyed learning about the Amish customs and way of life. I found the dynamic between Petunia and Asher well written and I cannot wait to read the next installment!

A five-star must read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I thought I’d try one of these Amish cozy mysteries, although they are not my cup of tea. It had an intriguing storyline with interesting characters. To say I’m captivated would be an understatement. This book crept up on me, and now I’m a fan of Detective Asher and Petunia.

As with her other amish based novels, Patricia Johns has done a wonderful job of storytelling.

In Murder of an Amish Bridegroom, Petunia is the youngest old maid. Not a problem as her best friend is planning on getting married. But when Petunia finds the local iceman dead, she jumps in to solve the mystery.

The community is filled with people who had good reason to hate Ike Smoker, especially as Petunia and Asher, the local homicide detective, begin to uncover his secrets. Was someone trying to protect their family's reputation? Or to exact revenge for a sin buried deep in the past?

Quite enjoyable!

Great read. Great mystery. Loved learning about another culture and their way of life. Everybody has good and evil in them. Really enjoyed reading this one.

While the Amish way of life has many things to recommend it, it is also one of the few communities in which a 22-year-old can even jokingly be referred to as an old maid.

Not that Petunia Yoder is letting that get in the way of living her best life. She has the support of her loving father, and is unusually outspoken about her views for an Amish woman.

Her own lack of marital prospects notwithstanding, Petunia is also looking forward to giving her dear friend a marvellous send-off at her forthcoming wedding. Even if the aforementioned friend, Eden, is marrying one of the most reviled men in the community, Ike Smoker.

But when Ike - the ice supplier to the community - is found dead in the Ice Barn with an ice pick through his chest, and Eden is found next to him with blood on her hands, Petunia knows she will have to come up with something spectacular to get her friend off the suspect list.

Unfortunately, the homicide detective on the case, Asher Nate is new to the area, so he is at a disadvantage. And it doesn't take him long to discover that not only is Smoker so heavily disliked that there are more potential suspects than you can shake a stick at, but the closeknit community is also reluctant to co-operate with outsiders.

Luckily for him - and for Eden - Petunia intervenes to guide him through the cultural minefield he is about to step into...

This is an engaging story about an intriguing murder case. Petunia is a delight, and anyone interested in cosy mystery stories set in the Amish community is likely to enjoy this.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

I've never read an Amish cozy mystery before but I've always wanted to so I'm glad I started with this one! I truly enjoyed it. Not only did I learn a little about the culture but I met a character I know I'm going to be loving for a long time! I can't wait for the next one.

Thankfully netgallery and Patricia Johns for the chance to read this ARC. A combo of two genres I love to read. Amish life and a cozy mystery! I really enjoyed this story, i enjoyed the main character Petunia and her spunk, and the supporting characters aswell, especially her daed. First time reading this author and I am sure it won't be the last.

I've enjoyed a number of cozy mysteries set in the Amish community over the years and I was excited to receive an ARC of Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns. Meet Petunia Yoder, the youngest old maid in Blueberry. Petunia is well aware that her chances of marriage are very low - after all, she can't cook, she's too outspoken and well, she's "old". But someone has to be the old spinster maid and she's rather okay with that. A trip to the icehouse to get supplies for making ice cream for the tourists leads to the discovery of a murder - and it looks like the murderer is Amish... To Petunia's surprise, her initial involvement to protect her friend Eden soon deepens as she partners up with the new-to-town detective to help him get the info he needs to prove Eden didn't do it.

The book was a thoroughly enjoyable read - there were a number of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting, the characters were likeable, and it moved along at a fast pace. Overall, I thought it was a fun read and I'd like to read more of Patricia Johns work!

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder of An Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns. She has written several books set in Amish communities. Murder of An Irish Bridegroomis my first book by Johns; I'm looking forward to reading many more. The book is quite engaging from the first page to the last.
Petunia Yoder, a young Amish woman living in Blueberry, PA, is a seamstress and assists her father with his Amish tour business. She tends to be outspoken, is not a good cook, and identifies herself as the youngest old maid in Blueberry. Petunia discovers a dead man, Ike Smoker, operator of the local ice house and her best friend Eden Beiler at the site covered in blood. Detective Asher Nate soon realizes that Petunia is determined to clear her friend, is respected by her Amish neighbors, and could be of assistance to him as he investigates the case. Ike was not well liked so there are several possible suspects. In the corurse of the investigation, family secrets emerge, possibly implicating a respected community leader.
It is an exciting ride as the detective and Petunia cooperate to discover the murder/murderers, especially after a second dead body is found-again by Petunia.
Murder of An Amish Bridegroo.m is an engaging and intriguing Cozy mystery, a very satisfying read. 4 Stars
I received an ARC from NetGalley, that in no way impacted my review.

I enjoy a read by Patricia Johns and this one did not disappoint!
Set in Blueberry, Pennsylvania, a man that it seems a lot of people did not care for is found murdered. Add to this he is Amish and a young woman is seen with blood on her hands, did she kill the man she professes to have loved?
As we journey for answers, a friendship develops between the police detective and an Amish woman, Petunia Yoder and Asher Nate, and I had to wonder how that would work out?
As the list of suspects grow and many surprises drop, I kept changing my mind, and wow, with the bomb shells!
In this quite, supposedly peaceful town, there sure was a lot of action, and thus a page turner for me!
Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Crooked Lane Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Patricia Johns has found a new genre to write in. This book was humorous as well as scandalous. You can just see the main character, Petunia, as she solves a murder. I hope to see more of her and detective Nate in the future. This book kept me guessing till the very end. Couldn’t put it down once I started.

Murder of An Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns was a fun read. I enjoy stories that take place in the Amish community and this cozy mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.