From the first page, this book had me smiling. Another murder has taken place in Shipshewana during The Fall Festival and this time the murderer knows all about Callie and their little town. The murderer claims that Callie has access to a load of money that she knows nothing about and this person is threatening her loved ones. It’s up to Callie, Deborah, Melinda, Esther, their families, and the police department to find out how to stop this murderer without anyone else getting hurt.
It’s difficult to have sympathy for a man who murders an old woman then attempts to hurt a dog, children, and a police officer. This person is either desperate or extremely dangerous or both!
The reader does not get to witness Callie dumping iced tea on anyone in this book (read the book Falling to Pieces for that wonderful scene), but in Material Witness we get to read about her falling in love which is also unchartered territory for Callie. However, her feisty behavior is enjoyed throughout the book.
Even though there is sweet romance in this story, the most enjoyable part was watching the Amish community, Callie’s friends and their families, band together in unexpected ways to find this killer while keeping Callie and Max safe. This community watches out for their own and even though they are a peaceful bunch, they still take risks in doing the right thing. I was eager to see who Callie falls in love with. Even though it wasn’t the man I had initially hoped it would be, I was very pleased with Callie’s choice and Chapman does an excellent job making this man a perfect match for Callie. One of the characters in the story watched a John Wayne movie so there are several references to that.
This book isn’t a typical page-turner, but it’s a wonderful conclusion to the series and it’s a treat to see how everything gets resolved. I highly recommend it. This book can be considered a stand alone, but my suggestion is to read the other two books before it so the reader will fully understand each relationship and why Callie feels hesitancy about certain things. Chapman does an amazing job describing the friendship Callie experiences with Deborah, Melinda, and Esther but that friendship slowly blossoms from the first book.
Having never visited Shipshewana, IN, I have fallen in love with the wonderful group of people portrayed in Vannetta Chapmans, "Material Witness" book. When reading this book, one is taken to the place and really becomes one of the townspeople who could very well live there. The circle of friends found, in Callie, Deborah, Esther, & Melinda and their families along with Gavin, Shane Black, and the officials of the town, makes one realize the importance of friends, family, & a loving community. Add to this cirlce of ladies an heirloom quilt given to each that adds a bit of a puzzle to the mystery in town, makes one take to the action really quick. The faith and trust from the youngest (and a Swap) to the oldest is seen when reading this style of Amish Fiction Full of Grace writing by Vannetta. The reader is drawn into all the action from the beginning to the end when the romance becomes fully known in this mystery story. I have now read all of Vannetta Chapman's books with the exception of her newest, A Home for Lydia, which will be started as soon as this review is finished. These books are well-written with all the inspiration of the Amish with a bit of the unknown mystery thrown in that makes it feel really true to life. After learning about the Amish, you do learn that they do have problems just as their Englisch friends do, but it is the forgiving nature and love of the Amish that inspires one to wish that all people could be as forgiving. I loved this book, and can't wait to start the newest read! I loved reading the Amish Proverbs throughout the book. Love, love, loved it! And, all of this from a person who doesn't (used to never) read mysteries. These books I love!
I felt like I was in Shipshewana right there with Callie and her friends Deborah, Melinda, and Esther. Another crime has been committed and of course Callie is right in the middle of it all. Was this latest crime targeted for her instead of the victim? The scary part was Melinda’s son Aaron witnessed it all. Would he be the next target?
The author Vannetta Chapman had me on the edge of my seat for this read. I turned those pages just as fast as my eyes would allow me to read. I was totally engrossed in helping Detective Shane Black solve this latest crime. Who did it I wondered. I didn’t even figure it out until the name was revealed! Good job Vannetta.
If you want a good mystery to read I am here to tell you that you don’t want to miss this one.
I just want to let you know there might be a little romance thrown in!
I just love it when really talented authors take some of my favorite genre's and mix them together to create such a seamless blend for a great story you truly fall in love all over again with being an avid book reader. In the case of Material Witness by Vannetta Chapman, we are taken back to the small Amish town of Shipshewana, Indiana that is comprised of about 600 residents, not all of them Amish. Here in this small town there's been a bit of competition between two owners of Amish quilt stores. Mrs. Knepp is the eighty-year-old owner of Quilts and Needles and feels that Callie Harper and her friends that run Daisy's Quilt Shop have deviated from the traditional Amish ways by offering quilting, knitting and other craft classes that draw much of the business to their shop. Even the English tourists have been frequenting Daisy's Quilt Shop over Mrs. Knepps.
Yet in the middle of the Fall Festival, things are about to get interesting. Now the population of the small town is well over thirty thousand and business is booming. The streets are crowded and no one seems to notice an Amish women standing in the shrubs just outside the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop. No one that is except for Aaron, a small boy who is confined to a wheelchair and a Labrador named Max. Without any sound, the woman falls sprawled out on the ground. There is no sound, no blood. In the darkness only the evil eyes of a man who stands over the women and then stares at Aaron is the only lasting memory of what has just happened.
When Callie Harper learns what has happened and to whom, she is immediately ridden with guilt for all the months that her and Mrs. Knepp argued over their businesses. What's worse is this is the third murder to happen in the small town of Shipshewana in the last fifteen months and in every single one of those cases, Callie Harper has been involved. Not it seems that this murder case is about to get personal on many levels. Callie Harper is the target and not only does someone want what she has or they'll risk murder, but Aaron is the only eye witness. Will Callie be able to help solve this crime or will she finally run out of options?
I received Material Witness by Vannetta Chapman compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Net Galley for my honest review. I absolutely LOVED this book and it immediately captivated my interest from the first page and I could not put it down until I knew who did it! This is the third book in the Shipshewana Mystery series and once again brings back the characters we have fallen in love with including the romantic tension between investigator Shane Black and Callie Harper. Will they finally realize their interest lies more than just in solving cases and goes much, much deeper? You'll have to pick this one up to find out. I personally give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!!!
Amish and Englisch working together as a team within the covers of one book, and that book is a mystery? Never!
However, it is true in Material Witness, the third book in a new series by Vannetta Chapman called A Shipshewana Mystery. And a very intriguing story it is.
Callie is an Englisher who inherited a quilt shop from her Aunt Daisy. Her competitor, an Amish lady, is mysteriously murdered right in front of Callie's quilt shop, right on the busiest weekend of the year. And to make matters worse, a seven-year-old handicapped Amish boy, Aaron, saw it all happen, and now he is in danger.
How all this works out as the Englisch and the Amish work together to not only find the criminal, but to solve a years-old mystery, is a delightful read. I must warn you, before you begin reading this book, you need to make sure you have enough time to finish it, or you will loose some sleep. It is a book you can't put down!
I appreciated the way the author made each character not only true to their heritage, but to also work together in order to live as friends and neighbors, and to solve the mystery.
I have read many Amish books, but this book series - A Shipshewana Mystery - has become one of my favorites.
Amazing third book in this series. Very well written, the characters stayed true to how they had been written in the past two books. I absolutely loved the quilts being part of the mystery. What a great twist!! Callie has finally settled down with her "man". This book gave me a great appreciation that kids will be kids no matter to what parents they are born to and also of what it means to live a different lifestyle that most people. I stared this book one night and finished it the next afternoon. I couldn't put it down.
This is a wonderful book. Keeps you in suspense. A nice closure to the 3 book series. I would recommend this series to any age group and it is mysterious but yet exciting. A must read if you are interested in Amish reading. I highly recommend it.
I just finished book 3 in the series "Material Witness" and I have to give it the 5 stars. In fact all 3 books were wonderful and I'd recommend them to everyone. In fact, I have already loaned mine out to a friend who loves the Amish books as well. I would so love to read more about Callie and her new life and maybe kids in their future. Excellent writing and keep up the good work.
Just finished another great visit with Callie, and her Amish girlfriends. Deborah, Esther, and Melinda who have made Callie an honorary sister. When the owner of the other fabric shop is found dead in Callie's parking lot, and the murder witnessed by young Aaron, Melinda's young handicapped son. You have to think...not again?? Mrs Knepp, the deceased has never liked Callie, but why was she murdered? The only thing they can think of is the quilts that an elderly Amish woman left the four of them. Mrs Hochstetler, gave these quilts to them to be restored, and the money split. Do the quilts that appear to tell a story hold a clue to this murder? Shane Black the Police Detective, has feelings for Callie, he had arrested her in the first Shipshewana mystery. Will things move forward with them, and will they even survive who ever seems bent on killing. He has even attacked Max, Callie's Aunt's dog that she inherited. I read this book in less than a day, and couldn't put it down. I want to spend my days visiting with this great friends.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.
Vannetta Chapman’s “Material Witness” proves to be as wonderful, if not more compelling than her two previous Shipshewana Series books. “Material Witness” combines friendship, the “plain” life, mystery and romance all in one. The friendships you have grown to love throughout the previous books continue and grow even more strong in this third book.
The book begins with a murder right outside Daisy’s Quilt Shop that Callie continues to manage. The only material witness – the handicapped boy of Melinda Byer. But wait! There’s a possible hidden treasure! A puzzle that will keep you guessing until the end how everything fits in its place. There are twists and turns and just when you think you have the mystery figured out, new information develops.
“Material Witness” is a truly compelling book and my favorite of the series. The great thing is that you don’t have to have read the first two books to enjoy this one! Vannetta Chapman will keep you begging for more!
Mrs Knepp, the ornery owner of the one of the two quilt shops in Shipshewana, Indiana, is found dead outside Callie Harper's quilt shop, and the only witnesses are a dog and a disabled seven-year-old boy. Callie soon hears from the murderer, when he drugs her dog, tears up her apartment and threatens to harm the boy if she doesn't turn over the money. It is an obvious case of mistaken identity because she doesn't have 'the money', but can the police find the murderer before he makes good on his threats?
Meanwhile, Callie and her Amish friends, Deborah, Melinda, and Esther, have received a strange commission in the will of old Mrs Hochstetler: to restore and sell three antique quilts. The quilts are not in traditional Amish patterns, and they seem to present their own mystery to solve.
Material Witness was good, but not as good as the other two books in the series. Although I liked the way the plot lines all came together at the end, the last couple of chapters almost felt a little rushed, as if something had been cut out to make way for the required epilogue that ties up all the loose ends. I think I would rather have had more detail around the puzzle surrounding the quilts, and have left the relationship a little more vague. But the thing I really liked about this series was still present: a positive presentation of mature Amish women, as I am over the teenage Amish romances that have flooded the market in recent years.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free book for review.
I received book one as a gift, then raced to buy book two. I'm so glad book three is out now! I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery series set in Shipshewana, IN.
Callie, Deborah and their friends are characters I love spending time with. The mix of Englisch and Amish continues in this story with the added bonus that the kids play a larger role. Because the action centers around Daisy's quilt shop, quilts play a large role. From subplots to descriptions to literally saving the day. There's even a stronger dose of romance than appeared in the earlier novels.
Even if you haven't read the earlier two books (buy them, too!) , you will enjoy Material Witness. It's perfect for those who love highly relational casts with a fun setting, great supporting characters, and a strong mystery to solve.
My favorite author did it again! I just love all her books and this one is the best! So many twists and turns it just keeps you trying to figure out what's going to happen next!! Adventure + Romance + Mystery = Amazing book!
Tragedy strikes on the opening night of the Fall Crafters Fair when a woman is killed in the parking lot of Daisy's Quilt Shop, and the only material witness is one of Melinda Byer's boys. The investigation takes a more bizarre turn when detective Shane Black becomes convinced the killer was actually after Callie. This time it's a madman loose in the largest crowd of the year, and he's looking for something or someone. If they can't figure out what, one of Deborah and Callie's close circle of friends may be next. Masked identities, antique quilts with hidden messages, an Amish boy whose handicap makes him stronger, one brave dog, and a possible hidden treasure ... this time it's nonstop action, danger, and a dash of romance.
My thoughts on Material Witness: Wow! I love a good mystery and throw in a little romance and Amish life, and I am in reader's heaven!!! Vannetta Chapman has once again written a real winner of a novel. This book was so exciting. I was thrilled to learn even more about characters who have now become like old friends. This is the third installment in her Shipsewana Amish Mystery series and I feel like Callie, Deborah, Melinda, Esther, Gavin, Shane, Max, and the others are my best friends now. I love the way the Amish community has accepted Callie, an Englischer, into their family circle. I love the way "the girls" work together to solve mysteries and quilt! I totally love that quilts are included in the series. I am learning to quilt myself and am learning many new things about quilting from the series. Vannetta has definitely put a great deal of time and effort into researching for her books. Please read Material Witness. You can start with Falling to Pieces, then on to A Perfect Square, and end with Material Witness. I think you will also fall in love with the funny, sweet, endearing characters, and feel a true appreciation for the Amish and quilting when you finish reading these books.
Material Witness is the third book in Vannetta's Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, but I'm hoping it won't be the last. The story begins during the Fall Crafters Fair as Melinda's mobility-impaired son unwittingly witnesses a murder, and the pace never slows down. I read as quickly as I could to figure out how Callie, her Amish friends, and her friends on the police force would catch the killer. There were some unexpected twists and turns along the way, and of course, we finally find out which guy Callie chooses as her boyfriend. ;-) Max plays a big part in the story as well, but any animal lover will adore this story that includes such a loving, brave yellow Lab. I also noticed that Zondervan recently released a new set of book covers for the books in the series, and I love them, although I also liked the original cartoon-y covers as well.
With thanks to Zondervan, via NetGalley, for my review copy.
Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman is a part of the Shipshewana series. Callie opens her quilt shop on a September morning during the Shipshewana's Fall Festival. This festival is a big week of fellowshep as well as money making opportunities for the Amish community as well as the English. This was a week looked forward to and planned all year long. However, interupting this festival time was the murder of an elderly shop owner. The murder happened to be witnessed by young wheelchair boung Aaron, a seven year old son of one of the Amish women who assists Callie running her shop. The community along with law enforcement work together to protect the community from further harm as the unknown perpetrator threatens both Callie and Aaron's life while at the the same time demanding the large sum of money that he thinks that Callie has and Callie knows nothing about or where it is.
This is a great story of English and Amish working and living together as a community. There is a small part of the story that has a love interest but the biggest part of the story is the solving of the crime before the criminal commits another murder. Great story of interest especially to women of all ages including teenage girls. It is a great read. Hard to put down.
This book was provided to me by Zondervan Publishing for this review.
Amish theme + quilt + mystery+ superb author= A FABULOUS BOOK !!!
Wow, is all I can say!! "Material Witness" is the third in The Shipshewana Amish Mystery series by Vannetta Chapman, following book 1, "Falling to Pieces" and book 2, " A Perfect Square". Well, I must tell you, this is by far the BEST in the series!! Not that the others were not superb, but this book kept me so involved, that the world passed by , without me noticing. I easily could have read all night, glued to the page, had I not had a husband reminding me that the book would still be there the following morning and I would need some sleep.
It is very difficult to write a synopsis of this book without giving spoilers. Vannetta keeps you on the edge of your seat , as you follow the adventures of the main character, Callie , owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop and her three best friends, in what at first appears a quiet Amish community. It is far from calm and peaceful, as murders occur, a thief is at work and lives are threatened. Callie's dog , Max, also plays an important role in the mysterious happenings that occur. Man's best friend becomes a helper indeed in helping solve the crime and capture the criminal.
Callie is ready for a fun filled time at the Fall Crafters' Fair, selling her fabric and quilting goods, as well as the quilts made by her Amish friends. Before much time has passed by, a murder has occurred, witnessed by a child sitting quietly in his wheelchair. Why, is the big question? The person killed was not a threat to anyone ! The reason for this is a complete puzzle. BUT, this is just the beginning. As the plot progresses, killing and threats are a theme that we see again, BUT the biggest question we ask is , "Why?" None of them make any sense. You will, as I did, as you read, make guesses , but as the story progresses the plot thickens and all of my ideas went out the window!!
Entering the scene , then are the police who are involved in the investigation of the many crimes that take place, Andrew Gavin and Captain Taylor. Trent , the editor, photographer, and writer of the town paper, also becomes involved. Then enters, Shane Black, who has been somewhat of an admirer of Callie for some time. Romance is in the air, in spite of the fears and mysteries. Amongst the other mysteries, comes a strange request in a will- the restoration of antique quilts- why are they appearing in this book? What do they mean? Why are they so important to the book? Does Callie find the love of her life? Do they find the murderer?..... I can not say more without giving away the best parts of this imaginative, creative story! You will just have to read it to find the answers.
The characters are described so realistically, that you get to be personal friends with them. Vannetta has written with a rare talent of making them ordinary, real people, with problems as you and I have. I felt their fears intensely, their challenges as well as their joys. The plot has so many twists and turns, there were times that I had to go back to make sure that I had the details correct in my mind. Just when I thought I had an answer to a crime, another element would be thrown in to confuse me even more.
All I can say, Vannetta, is , "Please keep writing!!" These Amish mysteries are a hit and are written with an unusual talent . They are not an ordinary Amish story. Each one is unique and teaches us a lesson along the way. Depending on God , is a theme carried on through all the Shipshewana mysteries. LOVED IT, VANNETTA!!