Plain Killing by Emma Miller

It was a hot day, so a buggy of Amish girls went to the quarry to go swimming and have a picnic.  When they find a dead body, their picnic is ruined...

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  This book has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Rachel has left the Amish and runs a bed & breakfast in town.  She'd spent her time away, but found her home called to her.  She can visit the Amish but she's a guest now, not a family member.  She can live with that.

When she and her cousin find the drowned woman, they wonder why she was wearing Amish clothing.  Normally you don't swim with your clothes on but you also don't wear Amish clothes when you've been shunned for leaving the religion after you've been baptized.  She's a vision from the past.  No one knows where she's been, why she came back or how she ended up in the quarry.

Rachel is attempting to find things out while her boyfriend, Evan the cop, is telling her to stay out of it.  Dealing with Amish and trying to find the other missing girls is something she's good at.  It works on her emotions, too.  She's left the Amish and is happy with it, but she also misses the camaraderie and feeling of protection that's present there.  She's determined to see if she can find someone who left and make sure they're not in danger.  She manages that, but she's still a long way from the truth. There is danger far away and close at home both.  Rachel ends up getting in the middle and almost dies for her efforts.

The way the story ended was appropriate but it made me cry.  Sometimes even innocent actions can go wrong and the consequences become bigger than you can handle.

You won't forget this story quickly.  I'm ready to read the next one.  Evan has asked Rachel to let him court her.  She won't say yes.  I want to shake her and say do it!