A Terrible Secret Hides in the Bulrushes Amish bishop Henry Lapp eagerly awaits the annual arrival of 20,000 sandhill cranes to the San Luis Valley of Colorado. But his visit to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge reveals more than just a miracle of God’s creation. Hidden among the bulrushes and cattails is the deceased body of a young woman. As the local authorities attempt to unravel the … authorities attempt to unravel the mystery, Henry feels God’s calling to use his extraordinary talent to aid in the investigation. His ability to draw from memory in photographic detail could help solve this puzzling case.
Henry’s closest friend, Emma Fisher, has always urged him to embrace his gift. As their relationship deepens, Henry realizes his involvement could put him and those he loves in the direct path of a killer, one who is willing to do anything to cover up a brutal crime, including framing the bishop.
When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is a compelling story of faith, friendship, and finding courage only God can provide.
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I am a fan of Amish fiction and mysteries and when a writer puts them together it is a homerun. I loved the first book, What the Bishop Saw, but the second is even better. I adore the bishop, Henry. I want someone like him in my life. Kind, caring, a great listener and thinks outside the box. He and Emma make the perfect team solving mysteries and as a romantic couple.
As with most of Vannetta Chapman’s works, you will not be able to put this down. I was able to read this book in a little under 24 hours as I was still reading at 2 am. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Every time the hubby woke up last night he was asking, “are you still reading?” Yes, yes I am dear.
Henry is your typical bachelor, Amish or English, in that he does like to eat at home very often so he goes to Maggie’s Diner in town. He has befriended a waitress, Sophia, and decides one day to draw her helping an elderly couple. That drawing spooks Sophia and raises flags for Henry that she may be in trouble. Unfortunately, he finds her body in the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge while watching a family of cranes. Discovering her body lands him in jail and sets the community on edge. Will Henry’s friends be able to use the drawings to prove his innocence? Hunker down with a good cup of tea because you are in for one wild buggy ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for an ARC to read in exchange for my own honest review.
Vannetta has once again written an excellent book! In this book the author included chapters of text conversations between two “bad guys”, and that was a nice touch. I had no idea who the “bad guys” were until closer to the end of the book! It was definitely a great mystery!! (Spoiler alert!) I also want to add how nice it was to start out with the Bishop finding the body (finding a dead body is not exactly nice, but the fact that this was included first was nice) and then we have several chapters about the previous few days leading up to the Bishop finding the dead body. I was shocked to know it was the body of the sweet waitress Sophia!! I can’t wait to read book number three!!
After reading one of Vanetta Chapmans “Bishop” books if I see another I eagerly sit down to read it too. Have enjoyed each one of them. Just love this series.
Amish bishop Henry Lapp really tried to stay out of trouble, but somehow trouble found him, again.
On a visit to the Monta Vista National Wildlife Refuge in San Luis Valley, Colorado, the bishop finds more than the cranes he went to watch. Bishop Henry likes to the watch the cranes as they arrive in the refuge, bear their young raise them and return year after to year. Except this year, he finds more than cranes, he finds a dead body. Shocked and momentarily stunned, the bishop finally decides to check to see if the woman is indeed, dead. Rolling her over, the bishop realized the young woman is not only deceased, but he knows her!
What is a bishop to do? Someone is in trouble and Henry is compelled to reach out, to help if he can; after all, isn’t a bishop called to lead, to counsel, to support those God calls him to? Sophia Brooks is young and new in town; she’s been working at Maggie’s Diner for about a month. Henry notices that she seems to be frightened somehow, acting like a skittish colt. When Emma, Henry’s best friend, meets the pretty young woman, she agrees with Henry, Sophia is afraid. Both Henry and Emma reach out only to be rebuffed by Sophia. After finding her walking down a country road on a rather blustery, cool evening, Emma gets Sophia to agree to spend the night at her home, with her family. Sophia agrees, but only until morning.
Before leaving the next morning, Sophia again rebuffs Emma’s efforts to reach out to her but not before revealing there is one more thing she must do before leaving town.
Now she is dead. The FBI shows up and takes over the investigation. And Bishop Henry Lapp is arrested for the murder of Sophia Brooks. Something is not right and the bishop is most definitely not guilty. Released on bond, after all Henry is Amish-it is not like he is going to try to escape by horse and buggy-Henry is remanded to his farm, with a bracelet on his leg, a nod from the judge to the prosecution. Emma and her family determine they must learn why Sophia Brooks is dead and why the bishop has been framed.
And about that best friend part, something is stirring in the hearts of both Henry Lapp and Emma Fisher; is it friendship or is it love?
When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman is the second installment in The Amish Bishop Mysteries. Henry Lapp is the bishop of the small Amish community in San Luis Valley, Colorado. Henry is out birdwatching with his beagle, Lexi at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge when he discovers the body of Sophia Brooks. Sophia had been in town for about five weeks where she worked at Maggie’s Diner (Henry eats several meals a week at the diner). Henry could tell that something was troubling Sophia by her nervous and furtive behavior. Henry and Emma Fisher tried to help the woman, but she would not let them assist her. When Henry ends up being the police’s prime suspect in Sophia’s death, he can tell someone is setting him up. It is up to Henry’s friends to follow the clues and clear his name. Henry had done some drawings of Sophia at the diner that aids the group in their investigation. But the killer is willing to go to great lengths to keep his activities under wraps.
When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is well-written and has a great main character. Ms. Chapman’s word imagery brings the scenes alive. I like Henry Lapp with his unwavering convictions, strong faith, love of animals, his gentle nature and his unique ability. Emma Fisher is the perfect companion/counterpart for Henry. They nicely complement each other. I thought When the Bishop Needs an Alibi to have a nice, steady pace and full of suspense. I kept reading to see what would happen next. The mystery is complicated, but only a small part can be solved before the reveal. The mystery is one that plays out and we must read to find out how it will turn out (that was disappointing). As most of you know, I prefer a mystery that I can solve. While When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is the second novel in this series, it can be a stand-alone. Everything a reader needs to know is included in this story (about the community, Henry’s ability, what happened to Henry in the past, his relationship with Emma). However, I do recommend reading What the Bishop Saw as it is a wonderful story. My rating for When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The ending is heartwarming and so sweet (it will make you smile). There are discussion questions, recipes, and a glossary at the end of the book. I will definitely be reading Who the Bishop Knows when it comes out next spring.