Vow of Silence

Vow of Silence is a romantic suspense that has a lot of depth, mystery, suspense, and a romance I actually liked reading about. This isn’t always the case with romantic suspense for me, and I’m really impressed with Melynda Price’s work!

Part of what made me want to read this was the setting of this book. It’s set in the Amish world, and I had my fingers crossed it would be deeply researched and realistic feeling. Melynda Price clearly knows the Amish culture well. I loved reading about their views on the world, and it was immersive for me as a reader.

Josiah and Hannah are fantastic characters. Josiah left the Amish culture, but he is a good and honorable man. Hannah is strong, loves her family and her faith, and feels conflicted because she wants more than she is being told she can. I love their deep connection. This is a romance worth reading about. They had a lot of battles to overcome, from the disapproval of Hannah’s community to the killer on the loose.

Speaking of the killer, the mystery in this novel is fantastic. I could not figure out who it was until it was revealed. I think that’s another testament to Melynda Price’s writing skills. If you enjoy well-written romantic suspense, give Vow of Silence a go!

*I read Vow of Silence for a blog tour with Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*

Let me start by admitting that this is the first novel I’ve read by Melynda Price, but it certainly won’t be the last. Netgalley listed Vow of Silence as a mystery/thriller/romantic suspense novel and it certainly is exactly as described–it’s one heck of a good mystery/thriller, loaded with suspense, and rather than having the usual wee bit of romance thrown into the mix, it also reads as a fully explored, fully realized, second chance at romance novel too, and thanks to being written in alternating points of view, the balance between romantic suspense and mystery/thriller was exactly right, and it gets 5 stars from this reader.

Police Detective Josiah “Joe” Troyer was raised in an Old Order Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but but left the Amish, and the love of his life, Hannah Belier. Hannah Adams, behind 8 years earlier, breaking her heart and his own, and he was subsequently shunned. Returning to his hometown is the last thing he wants to do, but when called upon by the FBI to help track down a serial killer of young Amish women because they are having no luck getting any information out of the Amish and believe he might be able to just that, he very reluctantly returns, especially when he learns that one of the victims is Cassie Belier, Hannah’s younger sister.

To say that his return is hardly welcome by the community who shunned him is putting it mildly. When Joe asks Hannah for her help is talking with the Amish families who’ve lost their daughters, her sister among them, and discovers that Hannah has a young son, Eli, was widowed 6 months earlier when her husband was killed in a farming accident, he discovers what he always knew, that even after 8 years apart, he is still deeply in love with Hannah, and although Hannah is still angry and hurt that he left her, she still loves him too, even though she doesn’t understand why he left her–and neither do we, because the true reason he left her behind isn’t revealed until much later in this novel. Kudos to Ms. Price for keeping me guessing at the reason why Joe left, breaking his own heart as much as Hannah’s, and for keeping me guessing about the identity of the serial killer until the last few chapters.

There is no shortage of suspects in this novel, and to make it even more suspenseful, Ms. Price let’s us into the twisted mind of the serial killer, and we slowly learn some of the reasons why he attacks and kills his victims, and how he’s gotten away with it for so long. In addition to dealing with his strong attachment to Hannah, when she and Joe they finally act on their feelings, they are completely unaware that the killer is watching, and that due to what he witnesses, Hannah will soon become one of his targeted victims. Guessing his identity isn’t easy. Is it Hannah’s late husband’s brother, who has repeatedly asked her to marry him since her husband’s death, or could it be Seth, her next-door neighbor, who is almost too eager to help Hannah with her farming chores, or is it one of the police deputies, who seems all too interested in Hannah, and who didn’t follow proper police procedure when he discovered one of the bodies, in a place he shouldn’t have been fly fishing while on duty.

As two more Amish girls are taken, Joe hopes he can find them alive with the help of his trusty cadaver dog, Dexter, who has formed an instant bond with Hannah’s young son, Eli. Eli, who has taken the death of his father to heart, becoming silent and withdrawn as he deals with his grief, something Hannah hasn’t been able to help him with, but Joe and Dexter manager to break through to him, and finally give him a reason to rebound from his loss, and hope for the future.

What I so seldom find in mysteries, and the reason why I don’t read many of them is twofold. First, I can usually guess who the killer is within the first few chapters–not so in this novel. The second reason is that the average mystery novel tends to be more of a police procedural novel, filled with clues and suspects, but lacking any kind of in-depth look at the emotions of the main characters, with whom to form an emotional connection– not so in this novel. It was impossible not to fall in love with little Eli, Dexter, and especially Joe and Hannah, who still love one another, but for whom we worry because they now live in two different worlds. Will Joe have to give up his profession and return to the Amish community which has shunned him, or will Hannah have to leave the only home she’s ever known. If this sounds somewhat familiar, you’ve obviously seen the movie “Witness,” but this novel has the one thing that movie didn’t–an HEA ending.

Vow of Silence hooked me from the first page and never let up. While it is truly a fully-formed, multi-layered murder mystery, it’s just as much a second chance at love romance, and these are troubled characters, with a past history and secrets that remain secrets until nearly the novel’s end. When Hannah and another Amish girl disappear, the suspense ramps up to a break-neck pace as Joe attempts to find both of them before they are murdered. This novel also has both graphic sex and violence, something you rarely find in Amish mysteries but which made this novel so much more than just a murder mystery.

With in-depth characterizations, plenty of suspects, more than a few plot twists, a lovable little boy, Joe’s cadaver dog, and the rekindling of a romance between the two main characters, this novel had it all and was a win-win for this reader, and I am happy to recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Racy Amish mystery thriller

Detective Josiah “Joe” Troyer is sent to Pennsylvania by the FBI to help catch a serial killer who is targeting young Amish women. Joe grew up in the Amish faith and then left it – not of his choice. He left the woman he loved, is now shunned, and works in law enforcement with his cadaver dog, Dexter. He does not want to go back to his own Amish community but the FBI figures, even though he’s shunned, he’s more likely to get answers than them.

I enjoyed this serial killer thriller but be warned there are some pretty graphic sex scenes.

There isn’t a lot of info on the Amish way of life, which I was hoping for. But I still enjoyed this as a serial killer story.

I received this book from Entangled Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Vow of Silence is a suspenseful second-chance romance. This book is about Homicide Detective Josiah (Joe) and his first and only love Hannah. Joe has Amish roots but left the community eight years ago, which also resulted in breaking Hannah’s heart. He is now back because there is a serial killer hunting and murdering young Amish girls, and Joe is put on the case because he is familiar with the community. I think the author did a great job in making me understand and feel the love between the two main characters. The short flashbacks were a great addition to the story, and helped me in understanding the dynamic of their relationship. I also loved that the POV of the serial killer was included, it increased the suspense, and helped me in my quest in figuring out who he was. Which wasn’t easy by the way, and I changed my mind a couple of times. There were many suspicious people in this book.

Overall I think Vow of Silence was a great romantic suspense/second-chance romance. It was easy to read and unpredictable, and the characters were very likable. The story had a great flow, and towards the end it really hooked me, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved seeing Joe and Hannah grow closer again, and there was a very strong attraction between them. The sex scenes were hot and I enjoyed seeing Hannah explore her newly found sexuality. Joe made her feel safe enough to try new things and be free. I really wish this book was part of a series, because I don’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

***4 Stars***

I’ve enjoyed this authors works, which ranged from being about MMA fighters to a Surf god, so when I saw that she was putting out a book set in the Amish world, a world which fascinates me on all levels, I was all in and I have to say that I loved every second of it. Everything from the characters to finding out who the killer was kept me turning the pages until there were no more words to read.

I loved Josiah and Hannah. Josiah is a good, honorable man who really was born to be a protector of the innocent. He may have left the faith, but he still holds strong to the tenets he was raised with. Hannah is a strong woman who loves her faith and her family with everything in her. But while she truly believes in her culture, she feels conflicted where her heart is concerned since it wants more than what it’s being told it can/should have.

Hannah and Josiah’s second chance journey to their HEA was one I really enjoyed. It was apparent from the first time they collided, after being separated for many years, that they still had that connection that went soul deep and I liked watching as they waded through their pasts and dealt with their present situation where Josiah is public enemy number one in the community and one Hannah shouldn’t even acknowledge. And this doesn’t even take into account the fact that a murder is on the loose in the community. But despite many obstacles in their way, I loved how they found their way back to each other and got their HEA.

This was a great read. Between trying to figure out who the killer was, which I didn’t figure out until right before it was revealed to the reader, and being immersed in the Amish culture and seeing how they viewed their world and the world of the Englisher, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what would happen next. So, if you’re looking for a well written romantic suspense to dive into, then this one needs to be added to the list!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

I’ve read several books about the Amish, but none by this author. Josiah Troyer left the Amish religion and community eight years ago. His heartbroken girlfriend, Hannah, never understood why. Now there is a serial killer targeting young, pretty Amish women. The authorities are unable to get much help from the Amish community, as they are secretive, and don’t trust the ‘English’ (non Amish) world.
Josiah is now a respected law enforcement officer, and the FBI contacts him. They think he may gain Amish trust and helpful information from them because he grew up Amish. Josiah tries to tell them this won’t be the case, as he is shunned, and no Amish are supposed to talk to him. He is also unwilling to return and face Hannah, the love of his life, whom he left with no explanation, and whom he knows married someone else.
I enjoyed this book so much! The characters are very likeable and well developed, and the identity of the murderer is not easy to figure out. The information about Amish life and practices is also very interesting. There is some moderately graphic consensual sex in the book, which is easily skipped over if you choose.
I definitely look forward to reading more books by Melynda Price! I am grateful to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Vow of Silence. This is my honest review of a very good mystery!

This is the first book I have ever read from this author, due to this I am not familiar with this authors writings or other books. I did assume because this was an amish book this was a christian book, so that being said that was my fault for assuming, so this is my review for this book.
This is NOT a Christian book. It’s starts off very sick and twisted. There is a lot of cursing through out. There is a lot of sex, so if you are looking for a good wholesome story this is not for you. That being said this story will have you guessing throughout the author keeps taking you down “rabbit” holes making you think one thing only to throw another in there and have you thinking another way. She literally has you guessing until almost the end. My heart broke for Eli and the loss he faced and the struggles he faced at such a young age, but I loved how Hannah and Joe had away of making him feel loved and wanted not with words but with actions in times when he was scared. Without giving anything away, Mills is a big part in the story but I seriously felt like I wanted to find him in real life and punch him he was so annoying. This book definitely has a ton suspense and leaves you on the edge of your seat if that’s what you are looking for, then this book won’t disappoint you there.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion