Amanda Flower’s Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous gives readers not only a suspenseful mystery, but also a unique look into Amish life, particularly how they live alongside and interact with the Englisch (what Amish refer those who are not of their faith), in the shared town of Harvest, Ohio. The town has always been relatively peaceful, but recently things have become unstable as there has been an increase in drug trafficking and use among both groups in the community. In a lovely display of camaraderie in the face of this new threat, everyone works together to fund and staff a community center where troubled individuals can go to get the help that they need. Everyone wants to protect the youth of their community, and to offer them education to help to avoid making desperate choices that could ruin, or even take, their lives.
The two main characters of the story are Amish Widow Millie Fisher and her best Englisch friend Lois Henry. The story is told from Millie’s perspective, but thanks to Lois’s dynamic personality the reader does not have to ever wonder what she might be thinking at any given time. The two older women have made names for themselves in town as amateur investigators and have solved several murders prior to the events of Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous. However, the appearance of Lois’ ex-husband Gerome Moorhead and his brand-new wife Paige quickly shift the focus from drug trafficking to the drama of their coming to Lois’ hometown for their honeymoon. Gerome, or ‘Rocksino-guy’ as Lois un-affectionately calls him, turns out to be a weasel of a man who didn’t even bother telling his new bride that he had been married once before, a fact that Lois is all too pleased to reveal to Paige in a loud confrontation inside of her daughter’s restaurant. Once Paige and Gerome leave, understandably upset, it seems as if that particular drama might come to a close. At least that is what Millie Fisher hopes.
No such luck, however, as things escalate from a drama between divorcees to a murder. Paige Moorhead comes to a horrible, if not a little comical, end under a massive coo-coo clock. Lois becomes desperate to not only clear her name but also prove Gerome innocent, as well to give her peace of mind about her own sense of judgment. But to do it, she’ll need Millie’s help. The two women make an impressive team, balancing each other out in nearly every regard. Lois is impulsive, loud, and although she never directly lies about a situation, she is willing to bend the truth a bit to get information. Millie is much more subdued, quiet, and approaches situations with an impressive level of patience while being firm enough to convince others to share what they might know. Through combining both of their talents, they quickly begin to solve not just the murder, but link said murder to other crimes throughout Harvest. The local Deputy Mr. Little begs the women to not interfere but finds it impossible to distract them from their mission. Which is a good thing, too, as it is the investigation and ingenuity of these two women that ultimately solves the case and saves lives.
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous is the fourth book in An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series. Luckily, Amanda Flower makes certain to give background on reoccurring characters, themes, and settings through Millie’s inner musings and reflections. Readers who are not familiar to the series can still enjoy this unique mystery even if they have not read the previous books. Seeing the Amish community represented in modern fiction is a rare treat, and it is done so in a way that does not make them seem as ‘other’ in the community of Harvest. Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous concludes with a cliffhanger for Millie Fisher that has readers anxious for the next installment. For readers diving into Millie’s adventures for the first time, not only will they be anxious for the next, but they will also be motivated to read the previous books in the series to experience more of the delightful Harvest community. — Carla Schantz
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Carla Schantz is a Courthouse Clerk Supervisor and has a bachelor’s degree in English as well as a master’s in legal studies. Books have been a passion of hers since she was young, and she is a firm believer in the purse book so that she is never without a book at any time.