Amish-Country Mysteries Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Blood of the Prodigal | 1999 | Buy |
| Broken English | 2000 | Buy |
| Clouds Without Rain | 2001 | Buy |
| Cast a Blue Shadow | 2003 | Buy |
| A Prayer for the Night | 2006 | Buy |
| Separate from the World | 2008 | Buy |
| Harmless as Doves | 2011 | Buy |
| The Names of Our Tears | 2013 | Buy |
| Whiskers of the Lion | 2015 | Buy |
| Stars for Lydia | 2019 | Buy |
| English Shade | 2020 | Buy |
P.L. Gaus is an American mystery writer best known for his Amish-Country Mysteries, a series of eleven novels set in Holmes County, Ohio. Gaus was a college chemistry professor who lived in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country for decades, and that familiarity shows in the books. The series began in 1999 with Blood of the Prodigal and concluded with English Shade in 2020.
The books feature two main characters: Professor Michael Branden, who teaches at a fictional college in Millersburg, and Sheriff Bruce Robertson. Together they investigate crimes that involve or affect the local Amish communities. The mysteries often deal with the tensions between Amish traditions and the modern world, and Gaus treats the Amish characters and their way of life with respect and accuracy.
Readers who enjoy regional mysteries with a strong sense of place will appreciate these books. Holmes County is practically a character itself in the series, and Gaus’s background as a longtime resident adds authenticity that is hard to fake. The series is best read in publication order, though each mystery can also be enjoyed on its own.