Material Witness by Vannetta Chapman - REVIEW

Description:

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 Take:

5 STARS!

Callie, widow, Englischer, has inherited her aunt’s quilt shop, Daisy’s Quilt Shop, after she passed away. This happens to be Book Three in this series, and it’s a delight, even though a murder mystery is going on. All the friends are back together again in this book, and I love it! Callie has adapted into the daily role of the Quilt Shop, and it's second nature now. She and all of her friends just LOVE quilting in the shop! They all get along so well!

It’s the Fall, and it just so happens to be that time of year, again! The annual Fall Crafter’s Show is going on in Shipshewana, Indiana. (A real place, by the way! I can also say with 100% certainty that this event most likely is very real, too!)

Mrs. Knepp, an 80yr old woman is killed in broad daylight. Who would kill an 80yr old woman? This make the police Detective Black worry it was Callie who the murderer was after all along. Guess what? The murder is witnessed by one of the other Amish woman’s son, Aaron, who happens to be disabled and sitting in his wheelchair across the street. He saw the entire thing while sitting there! He was waiting for his other two friends while they were seeing if they could find one of the others’ wallet they lost. He saw the whole thing! (Don’t worry, though. This is a CLEAN murder mystery/romance, so Aaron doesn’t see anything bad that could hurt/haunt him for life.)

Things start to get really involved. The murderer threatens Callie that she better not call the police and threatens her if she does. Even though the murderer thinks he’s pretty smart, Callie is steps ahead of him! She knows and is outsmarting him! Little does the killer know she has insider secrets! LOL! She’s dating Detective Black, so she texts him! This is great!

In this book, the kids have quite a role in it. They also have plans on catching this killer! Although . . . maybe this isn’t such a good thing because the kids almost get hurt? Hmmm. Kids! Kids, but . . . they are the main ones who help the most in this story!  

A plan is put in place by just about everyone, and it is working out very well.

While all of this is going on, Callie finally has let a man into her heart! Romance, baby! I love the fact that Detective Shane Black and Callie have allowed themselves to open their hearts to each other, where before they were not because of both being hurt in the past. Now this is exactly what Callie and even Shane needs in their lives, and Shane, or should I say Detective Black is going to do everything in his power to protect Callie.

Then there is the issue of the antique quilt or quilts. Is there a message in them or not? (I LOVE quilts!) Is there or is there not a hidden message in them, or one, or two? What is going on there?

Vannetta Chapman has written the BEST out of the three books in this series so far, in my opinion!  I absolutely LOVED this book! This one, by FAR, is my favorite! All three are excellent, but this one is my absolute FAVORITE! Don’t miss this one if you love amish friends, romance, quilts and children, and, Oh! Don’t forget about the dog, Max! Max has an important role in this story as well!

What I LOVE about the author of this book, Vannetta Chapman, is her blending of the characters of the Amish and the Englischers together. They are true friends. There is not a pull between them at all. She is one of the best amish authors who blends the two together so well, and they all treat each other as if there is no difference among them. Through this entire series so far she has done this and pulled it off perfectly! Often other people write them together and try not to show a difference, but you can still feel a difference. This is not so at all with Vannetta Chapman’s characters at all. This makes her series of these books so refreshing! You’ll love this as you read it.

I received this book from Zondervan Publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was paid NO monies for reviewing this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 which changes yearly, I'm told at:  http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html  Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Material Witness (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery) by Vanetta Chapman
ebook: $  7.99
print:   $10.58