This is a first in series and a new to me author. The mystery kept me guessing. Petunia is an interesting main character. She is outspoken and many of her actions would be controversial in her Amish community.
I was a bit confused by the title of the book as the man who died was not in this instance an Amish bridegroom. Ike Smoker never proposed to Eden. There are many reveals in the story that let you know just how far off course this man was.
I like detective Asher Nate. He has a past that has wounded him. He is able to bear criticism from Petunia.
My understanding of Amish society is entirely influenced by books, so I can’t say how accurate the portrayals are, but they certainly represent how many groups of people would react in situations posed in the book.
I liked the narrator’s voice in the audiobook.
Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book.

This was a cute story that felt like it flew by. It follows the Amish lifestyle and gives insight into decisions made within the community and how they are made. I love the idea of the main character being a cultural consultant for the officer involved in the investigation, and her relationship with her father.
This book was a nice palette cleanser I'd recommend to others.

Murder of an Amish Bridegroom
An Amish Seamstress Mystery #1
Patricia Johns
Twenty-two-year-old Petunia Yoder considers herself not proper marriage material. She is plain spoken and can’t cook. Petunia’s best friend Eden Beller is in love with a disreputable man, Ike Smoker; people have warned her, but she refused to heed their words. The Amish do not have electricity, they use an ice chest to keep their foods cold. Ike is the local ice man; he cuts, the ice and sells it. Petunia finds him murdered with an ice pick deep in his chest. Eden was found at the scene with her hands covered in blood. Asher Nate is the detective assigned to the case. He is new in the area and knows very little of the Amish culture. He has no choice but to arrest Eden. Petunia insists her best friend is not capable of murder. Asher asks Petunia to assist him in his investigation. The Amish community is more likely to cooperate with Petunia. Together Petunia and Asher uncover some deep dark secrets.
I like Petunia, she is faithful to her Amish beliefs She is outspoken and intelligent, her father truly loves his daughter and takes care of her. Asher is the perfect mate for Petunia except he isn’t Amish. Perhaps in the future the author will find a way to pair them together. This is a great read; I look forward to the next book in this series.

Right track, wrong destination. I thought I knew whodunit, but I was "happily" wrong.

I really like Petunia, an independent Amish woman, something one probably doesn’t say often. She is asked by Detective Asher Tate to help him navigate the Amish Community culture to find a killer. This request will further add to the ways that Petunia (aka Pet) is different from what is expected of her.

The relationship between her and her dad, Elias is different as well. As the story progresses we find that it is just the two of them, the mother having passed when Petunia was young. We also find that they are quite alike.

The victim is not well liked and with good reason. His death brings out so many secrets that Petunia begins to wonder if she really knows anyone. 

Asher comes across as kind and effective. When he uses a tactic for finding out information that may or does make Petunia uncomfortable he explains it. Not sure if the author is thinking that down the road they are a romantic match with hard decisions but she is definitely setting things up where there could be a long relationship with little paternal objection.

There are lots of learnings about the Amish the community, more than I recall reading in other Amish community based cozy mysteries but I didn’t feel lectured nor put-off.

I was on the right track for the killing but didn’t get there. The reveal was good. 

I am looking forward to the next release in the adventures of Petunia and Asher.

Thank you to #NetGalley  for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story. 

Happy Reading!

Murder of an Amish Bridegroom, the first book in the Amish Seamstress Mystery series by Patricia Johns and narrated by Rebecca Gallagher, offers a charming foray into the Amish world of Blueberry, Pennsylvania. The story revolves around Petunia Yoder, known as the "town's youngest old maid", and her best friend Eden Beiler, who finds herself accused of murdering Ike Smoker, a man jeopardizing her reputation.

The quaint setting and unique premise add a distinctive flavor to this cozy mystery. Patricia Johns skillfully introduces us to the tight-knit Amish community, and the characters are well-crafted, each with their quirks and intricacies. Rebecca Gallagher's narration complements the story, capturing the essence of Amish life with a genuine and engaging performance.

While the mystery itself is well-written, some listeners might find the pacing a bit slow. The gradual unfolding of events contributes to the book's cozy atmosphere but may leave those seeking a more brisk narrative feeling that the story lingers a touch longer than necessary. (I received an advance reader copy of this audio book and all opinions are my own.) Murder of an Amish Bridegroom combines a well-developed plot and a delightful exploration of Amish traditions. Fans of cozy mysteries and those who appreciate a leisurely storytelling pace will likely find this book to be a pleasant addition to their collection.

Title: Murder of an Amish Bridegroom
Series: An Amish Seamstress Mystery Book #1
Author: Patricia Johns
Audiobook Narrator: Rebecca Gallagher
Publisher: Dreamscape Media –Crooked Land Books
Genre: Amish Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: December 5, 2023
My Rating: 3.8 rounded up
Pages: 272
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I always enjoy stories about the Amish and mysteries are my fav. I find the Amish culture very interesting and in this case entertaining.

This new series features Petunia Yoder, an Amish seamstress in Blueberry, Pennsylvania. She is twenty-two years and being Amish she is referred to as the ‘youngest old maid’!
It is not a big surprise that she isn’t married she is outspoken and quite independent - described as completely unmarriageable!
Her best friend, Eden Beiler is planning to marry Ike Smoker, the ice man. (Since the Amish don’t have electricity they use an ‘Ice Box’ to keep food items cold. The ’Ice Box’ required a large block of ice. Ike - Eden’s fiancé is the one who cuts, stores, and sells the ice.}

Since this title is “Murder of an Amish Bridegroom” is no surprise that Ike is found dead. Eden is found on the scene with blood on her hands.
Petunia is working with Englischer Homicide Detective Asher Nate in trying to solve Ike’s murder.

Lots of possible suspects, plot twists, family secrets
I do enjoy this story and am looking forward to Book #2 in this series.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media – Crooked Lane Books for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 5, 2023.

Very good Amish mystery! I was invested in the characters and was not sure who the culprit was. I’m looking forward to more books! The narration was a little lacking in the voices of some of the characters but it did not detract from the story.

What a great start to a new series! The Amish have always been portrayed as good and virtuous people (as they are) and I had no idea there was a seedier side until I saw the show title “Amish Mafia” (never actually watched it) and it made me think that there are some who are not like the others. This book cemented that view; in fact, at times, I had a difficult time reconciling the fact that the characters were Amish, but that added to the drama of the story. I loved Petunia and her matter-of-factness as well as her spirit and determination. It will be interesting to see where this partnership with Detective Asher Nate and the police department does in future books.

Audio was extremely well done, no issues

‘Murder of an Amish Bridegroom’ is a twisty murder mystery exploring small town Amish community dynamics and the impossibility of expecting perfection.

Premise - When the local bad boy, Ike, is found dead, an English homicide detective, Asher, enlists the help of an Amish “old” maid, Petunia, to crack the case.

There’s:
🌼 A charming Amish community

🌼 A bit of religious hypocrisy

🌼 Plenty of secrets!

🌼 A relatable heroine

🌼 Great buddy-cop chemistry between English Asher and Amish Petunia

I liked Petunia’s energy, curiosity, and willingness to go out on a limb to help her friend. She was well-realized and felt like a real person.

I also liked the thematic exploration of how it’s unreasonable to expect perfection and everyone (even a bishop!) needs a second chance sometimes. Messaging was mercifully light and interwoven, however, and it never called attention to itself or overpowered the story.

Overall, this was a fun, easy read and I would continue reading more books in this series!

Thanks, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read a number of cozies set in Amish towns, and I found this one somewhat unconventional. Petunia and her father are refreshingly likeable and relatable, as is Englisher Detective Asher Nate. I enjoyed spending time with these characters and was pleased that while Petunia's unmarriageable status is mentioned often, she accepts it without bitterness and even a touch of humor.. Unlike many cozy mysteries,, this book embraces a working relationship between Asher and Petunia from the outset without all the angst and animosity that often exists between the amateur sleuth and law enforcement, not to mention an Amish amateur sleuth and Englisher detective. I think even those who dislike such pairings will be pleased with how this one is handled. Of course, there is that potential "forbidden" relationship that may prove interesting as this series develops. This is a great easy read, and I look forward to the next book.

I really enjoyed this one! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was perfect. She had different inflections for the different characters so it was easy to tell which character was speaking. Amish cozies are a favorite sub genre of mine so I’ve read quite a few- this is one of the more well written storylines that I have read. The only thing lacking (for me, not that the author needed to add it) was a little humor but all in all, it was an excellent mystery! I look forward to the next one and I’m going to look for more books by this author.