Falling to Pieces

De: Vannetta Chapman

Narrado por: Pam Ward

In this first book of a three-book series, author Vannetta Chapman brings a fresh twist to the popular Amish fiction genre. She blends the familiar components consumers love in Amish books - faith, community, simplicity, family - with an innovative who-done-it plot that keeps readers guessing right up to the last stitch in the quilt.

When two women - one Amish, one English - each with different motives, join forces to organize a successful on-line quilt auction, neither expects nor wants a friendship. As different as night and day, Deborah and Callie are uneasy partners who simply want to make the best of a temporary situation. But a murder, a surprising prime suspect, a stubborn detective, and the town's reaction throw the two women together, and they form an unlikely alliance to solve a mystery and catch a killer.

Set in the well-known Amish community of Shipshewana, Falling to Pieces will attract both devoted fans of the rapidly-growing Amish fiction genre, as well as those who are captivated by the Amish way of life.

©2011 Vannetta Chapman (P)2011 Zondervan

Fun Amish group with a mystery solved!

Any additional comments?

Mix in a friendly Amish community, four close knit quilters, a sad /lonely newcomer woman 'Englisher'whose just inherited the town's quilt shop, and mix in a little Agatha Christie, a bit more of God's Word, some heroes and bad guys, and you have this five store mystery called "Falling to Pieces" by Vannetta Chapman. I am SO glad it's the first in a three book series because I really want more of this great community!! Though God's word explained a great deal in this story, I believe that His "All things work for good for them that love the Lord" was not mentioned , though I believe it summed up this story perfectly! Looking forward to reading more of the development between these interesting folks and how quilts, friendships, and God Will go to make up Vannetta's next mystery. A surprisingly terrific read---recommend it highly!!

Very Good!!

This is my first book by Vannetta Chapman.
It was wonderful! I enjoyed it tremendously. I can't wait for the next one in the series. Keeps you guessing until the end. The narrator, Pam Ward, makes it easy to follow along with the flow of story. I recommend this book.

Mystery quilt mytery and charm

This is a new look at old world country living tied together with a twist of modern innovation all wrapped up with intrigue and healing. It is fun and light.

Slanderous Newspaper, Amish and English Sleuths

What an enjoyable listen! When Callie Harper inherits her Aunt Daisy’s quilt shop, she leaves Houston to travel cross country to Shipshewana, Indiana, a tiny Amish town to settle her aunt’s affairs. Finding her aunt’s dog, Max and a shop in need of repairs, she agrees to temporarily open the shop, fix it up and sell some of the Amish quilts on eBay for Deborah, Esther and Melinda, the Amish friends of her Aunt Daisy. They soon become her friends, as well, helping her in the shop, listening and spending time with Callie, who lost her husband two years earlier. When the local newspaper editor writes a scathing article about Callie and the quilt shop, Deborah comes to her defense. And the hateful man is found dead in the newspaper office the next evening. Bound and determined to find the killer, Callie and Deborah join forces to ferret out who wanted the man dead. The story is both gentle and soothing AND intriguing. The ways of the Amish have always fascinated me, and in this book, they are melded with the English in the small town of Shipshewana which swells to 30,000 on trade days. This is the first in a series that I think I’m going to enjoy immensely. Suffice to say, I think that Callie will decide to stay in Shipshewana!

Great Storyline, Not the Best Narration

Love the storyline and the characters! I do so wish it was a different narrator. She isn’t awful, but it is really hard to envision one of the main characters as being 27 years old with her voice. She just has a voice that sounds older and she doesn’t do a great job of changing her voice enough for the different characters to make them sound as young as they should be. She also doesn’t change her voice enough to really keep up with who is speaking as far as characters go.

Wonderful Cozy Amish Listen

Callie is a young widow who comes to Shippshewanna after her beloved aunt dies. Auntie owned a quilt shop and several Amish women are reliant upon her to sell their quilts. One of the women has a significant need for the funds as she has a child with a rare illness. Callie is a spunky woman from a big city in Texas suddenly in small town Indiana. A real fish out of water. But as the story progresses one senses she was a goldfish swimming in the ocean who needed to be in a tank, required the cozy closeness that provided. Lovely job of dropping that into the story over time. The Amish quilters are lovely women, each with distinct voices that are also unlike most other Amish stories I have heard.

Callie hasn’t gotten over the loss of her husband, in fact doesn’t even share this with her new friends until very late in the book. She is an endearing character despite her prickly behavior, which furthers the story line, especially when she becomes the prime suspect in a murder. This is not a romance but there are a couple of romantic possibilities. By the end of the story we have a real possibility for a boyfriend in the next book, which I am looking forward to reading/listening to!

This was a great Christmas season listen because it a) has an easy tempo b) has an excellent narrator (amazingly she sounds almost exactly like the real Vannetta Chapman!) c) it’s like having a girlfriend in your room with you telling you the story d) while it is a suspense/mystery it has a cozy feel and is not knuckle whitening – I mean who needs that this time of year? It has a soothing quality to it despite the suspense and the murder mystery. It may be one of the first women’s fiction reads I’ve read in a long time, but Vannetta’s book almost defies genres.

I plan to listen to this book again sometime as I really liked it and it has the qualities of a repeat listen - great voice, characterization, and pleasing story line.

Bibliotherapy: Loneliness, estrangement, grieving, child with a rare disease, and friendships.

Formats: I listened through http://audible.com and it is available in paperback, ebook (e.g., Kindle), and audio.

charming book

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I loved the book. It was a charming respite to go to in turbulant times. Quiet yet entertaining, especially in the familiar world of fibre art.

What about Pam Ward’s performance did you like?

yes

Any additional comments?

I would definatley buy another title in this series.

Cozy English Meets Amish Mystery

I enjoyed this book as an easy summer listen. Positive, happy in the face of difficulties, and strong community feelings empower this light story that engages but does not stress the listener. I really enjoy quilt shops and quilting so I could relate easily to the background story. If you are not interested in quilting you might not find enough here to hold your interest. As always I like Pam Wards reading style--she does a good job evoking the country homey tone of the book. Glad I gave it a try.

Wonderful Book

I enjoyed the entire book. While the narrator did a good job with the story and characters, her voice sounds much older than the main characters age. My mind kept picturing the main character in her 50's or 60's, rather than in her late 20's. A case of character and voice don't match.

Falling to Pieces (BOT)

I personally always enjoy Amish stories, this one is particularly pleasing because characters are mixes with "English" and Amish, so one is not overwhelmed by Amish practices. Neat book for a change of pace, plus it involves some craft and mystery.