by Lenora Worth
The Memory Quilt‘s location is Pennsylvania near the shore of Lake Erie at a Shadow Lake Inn, owned and operated by an Amish family, the Kings. Abigail King is taking a daily early morning walk along the shore. It is her time to pray and to think. In the distance she spots a shape partially in the water — a man. Dressed in Englisch clothing. He moans … he has been shot. And from that moment on, Abigail’s life along with her family changes.
Abigail King is the oldest daughter and bears the responsibility of the Inn since her father’s heart attack. Her mother also has health issues so Abigail handles the day-to-day operation of Shadow Lake Inn which includes a restaurant. She is close to her sisters, Eliza and Colette, who do considerable work at the Inn too.
The man … in a moment of consciousness says “No police…” and Abigail honors the request. And decides to put him in the little-used carriage house apartment. She tends to his wound all the while doing her work for the Inn. But she does not tell her parents about the stranger.
The mystery? Who is this man? Why was he shot? He cannot tell them. He has amnesia. He does not know his name or remember anything about his previous life or how he ended up shot. He gets “flashes” of the past along with a blinding headache. And he and Abigail are drawn to each other. The story’s mystery increases as the book progresses. He senses “danger”. And, believe me, there is most definitely danger.
A good mystery should keep you trying to figure it out. And this is a good mystery. Only at the end do we readers find the answers to the questions.
I truly enjoyed this Amish mystery that kept me guessing and wondering. I leave it to you, the reader, to learn why the book is aptly named The Memory Quilt.
One minor factor that I founded a bit unbelievable — the police do learn that he was shot but there are no repercussions for not reporting it. But that is not the reason for the four stars. There was just an elusive something that didn’t keep me engaged. It might be the Shadow Lake Inn felt more like a fancy inn seen in movies. Or how Abigail was able to handle the operating aspects of the inn and yet be the only one taking care of the mystery man.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Kensington, via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4 stars
Cover rating: Excellent. The cover fits the story and its setting.
Expected publish date: November 30, 2021
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