Synopses & Reviews
From the choppy waves of Lake Erie's Middle Bass Island to the too-tranquil farmlands of Holmes County's Amish countryside, mystery and foreboding lurk under layers of tradition and repression before boiling up to the surface with tragic consequences.
For Jon Mills, the journey begins with his decision to retrieve his ten-year-old son from the hands of the Bishop who had ten years earlier cast Mills out of the Order, the same Bishop who is Jon Mills's father.
When Mills turns up dead, dressed in Amish garb, and with the boy missing, Professor Michael Branden plunges headlong into the closed culture to unravel the mystery and find the boy. Working in tandem sometimes and at cross purposes at others with his old friend Sheriff Robertson, Professor Branden digs through the past, recent and otherwise, to uncover the truths that many would prefer to leave undisturbed.
In the tradition of Tony Hillerman, P. L. Gaus depicts a culture that stands outside the norm, but one that is every bit as susceptible to the undertow of the human spirit as any we might know.
Review
"The charm of Gaus's first novel lies in its gently penetrating portrait of conflicts within the deceptively quiet contemporary Amish community."
Kirkus Reviews
Review
The Amish setting is as strange and intriguing as that of any foreign country, and the strong-willed characters challenge the readers prejudices and values. This novel, the first in a series, opens the door for further exploration of the nature of these characters and their culture.”
Wendy Foster Leigh, The King's English, Salt Lake City
Review
"This story is written in the tradition of Tony Hillerman: Gaus presents a deeper understanding of an American subculture and whythough it interacts with mainstream American societyit stubbornly chooses to remain separate and follow its own unique doctrines. Enthusiasts of mysteries, American sub-cultures, or those interested in learning more about Amish ways will find much to glean from Gaus work."
ForeWord
Review
"Gaus writes with authority and warmth about the mysterious Amish. This well-written, insightful first novel bodes well for Gaus' planned Professor Branden series."
Booklist
Review
"No one who enjoys a fresh approach to the mystery novel, plus an insider's look at Ohio's Old Order Amish culture, should miss
Blood of the Prodigal. P. L. Gaus gives us a kind, gentle, and intriguing look at crime inside Ohio's famous Amish colony."
Tony Hillerman
Synopsis
P. L. Gaus's Blood of the Prodigal, a mystery in the tradition of Tony Hillerman, is back in a new edition, including an exclusive interview with the author, discussion questions for reading groups, and a detailed map and driving guide to Holmes County, Ohio, with everything one needs to visit the iconic scenes depicted in the story.
In Holmes County, Ohio--home to the largest Amish and Mennonite settlements in the world--mystery and foreboding lurk in the quiet Old Order Amish community led by Bishop Eli Miller.
P>The illusion of peace is shattered one early morning when a young Amish boy goes missing--abducted from his home and from Bishop Miller's care. At first, the bishop suspects the child's father, who was exiled from the Old Order ten years ago, but a murder soon casts doubt on the bishop's theory. With a strong distrust of law enforcement and the modern "English" ways, the bishop must put his faith in an unlikely partnership with Professor Michael Branden before it's too late.
With the help of the peaceful pastor Cal Troyer and the reckless Sheriff Bruce Robertson, Branden plunges headlong into the closed culture to unravel the mystery of the missing child and uncover truths many would prefer to leave undisturbed.
About the Author
P. L. Gaus is the author of seven books in the Amish-Country Mystery series. He lives in Wooster, Ohio, an area that is close to the world’s largest settlement of Amish and Mennonite people. Gaus lectures widely about the lifestyles, culture, and religion of the Amish.