Speaking Volumes

I'm not quite certain why, but fiction about the Plain Folk, the Amish, has always been popular in our library. Perhaps we are looking for a simpler life, one where computers, cell phones, cars, and other stuff do not intrude. No facebook accounts, no tv, no hustling our kids from one activity to another; one where family and community are the main importance. 

It seems odd that we are so voyeuristic of a a lifestyle that tries to remain private and also that so many of the Amish fiction published today is in the romance or mystery genre. Murder and sex seem so contrary to my notion of this group but somehow authors have managed to write stories that are gentle enough to stay true to their nature and that are read not only by us but some in the Amish community. 

If you search our catalog by the word Amish you'll find almost 80 items Many of these are written by Beverly Lewis, and Wanda E. Brunstetter, both popular Christian authors with fiction taking place in the Pennsylvania Amish region.

As hot as Amish fiction is, I recently came across a series that has been languishing on our shelves and one that fans of the genre might have missed. There are six books in the series which are being republished starting this past Septembe by Plume. The Ohio Amish Mysteries by Paul L. Gaus, begins with Blood of the Prodigal. The publisher describes it as such "An Amish man exiled from his community in Ohio for fast living, returns to kidnap his son from his grandparents. Sleuth and professor Michael Branden is hired to find the boy, only to learn that the father has been murdered and the boy is missing."

Gaus has lived in Wooster, Ohio, in with his wife, Madonna, for the past thirty plus years. He has studied Amish culture in Holmes Country for most of those years. He credits Tony Hillerman as his inspiration to write a mystery series about the people he loves and knows. His books provide keen insight to the lives of the Amish. You can read a great interview with the author at the Christian Science Monitor entitled Paul Gaus: Tony Hillerman of the Amish. Here he answers questions regarding the books, why he believes Amish fiction is popular, and more. Gaus's own blog also provides a wealth of information about his research and current book signing tour.