Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark

BOOK REVIEW: Story of Lancaster Country
Author: Mindy Starns Clark
326 Pages
Copyright: 2009
Highly Recommended Read!
* * * * ( 4 / 5 ) rating

Shadows of Lancaster Country intertwines the peaceful and forgiving Amish people with the high-tech modern world. The two are linked through a tragedy Anna Bailey has tried to erase. Not until her brother disappears, a violent break-in in her house which almost kills her roommate does Anna agrees to her sister-in-laws’ plea to return to Lancaster County.

Anna is a skip-jumper, trained in tracking people. While investigating her brothers’ disappearance, Anna must dodge the media. Having the past resurface in newspapers and TV would hinder her ability to uncover why her brother disappeared.

Immediately, within the first few paragraphs, this book hooked me. The flow from page to page was perfect, each chapter revealing enough information to keep the story moving. I found the characters well developed. Anna is sensible and sympathetic, but cautious, especially concerning her love for Reed. Throughout the book I found myself switching, much as Anna does, from loving to disliking Reed, wondering if he was a good-guy or a bad-guy. The Amish characters were revealed through their character, how they treated each other and their unequivocal forgiveness of the past tragedy. Getting to know each and observing their way of life was intriguing. Yet, Shadows of Lancaster Countrys’ strong Christian theme was so well built-in through its characters and their actions it became an important part of the story without being preachy.

There was only one part I felt was disturbing. Rebecca saw the person who actually lit the fire that killed her parents and told no one. In keeping this secret, 5 innocent young people were incarcerated. At this revelation, I believe Anna would have exploded, if the situation had not been life threatening at the time. Yet, Rebecca was young when her parents died and the shock may have attributed to her silence. In any case, I found this inclusion unnecessary.

This is my first Mindy Starns Clark novel and I will definitely be reading more of her work. I found her novel intriguing, well written and retaining my interest to the point I hated to put it down. I had to finish the book in the morning before I went to work, just to know what happened.

More by Mindy Starns Clark – I have heard the novel Whispers of the Bayou is an excellent story. That is next on my list to read. I also am looking forward for her new novel, Under the Cajun Moon (Coming September 2009).