What the Bishop saw is on an amazing Amish novel and yes I did say novel not just a plain ole story.  Ms. Chapman outdid herself in this novel.  This is about Bishop Henry who guides the close knit Amish community.  He is a very kind, wise, compassionate man.  He does run things with a strong hand but everyone from the very young to the very old love him and turn to him for guidance, so when there is a string of arson in the Amish community (targeting them) he of course gets involved.  A longtime friend Emma is the one who Henry turns to (she is also a widower like Henry).  Henry has a gift for noticing the most miniscule things and remembering them, that's why he is so good at solving mysteries, but will he solve this one?  This one has a murder on it, and they are blaming the wrong person.  This is absolutely full of faith - AMEN - there is deceit, a kaleidoscope of feelings and GOD's intervention by giving Henry his gift for solving mysteries.

Vannetta Chapman once again does a wonderful job of blending the Amish and English in a mystery novel. I enjoyed learning about the Bishop's special ability. Of course the danger and possible suspects makes this book hard to put down.

One thing I like about Vannetta's books is how her characters, both Amish and English, intertwine their lives almost like it's normal. Of course it may be normal and other authors just keep the two worlds separated or strained. 

If you enjoy Amish books, mystery novels, or better yet an Amish story wrapped in mystery, this is the book for you. This book left me wanting more, which is good because it's the first book in a series.

Enjoyed this book very much although it is different to my usual tastes. Set in an Amish community in America, it tells of the community life there as well as its main plot.  
The main story is of a fireraiser who strikes at the community and tries to cast blame one of its members.  Tensions rise between the Amish and the non -Amish community. 
The Bishop of the title is the Amish pastor and as well as investigating the fires,  we see his interactions and his way of leading the community. There are useful notes at the end explaining some of the terminology and the text is interspersed with Amish terms which do not intrude or interrupt the flow once you get into the story. 
A good read with some interesting twists and insights into a life I previously knew nothing about.

A new series by Vannetta Chapman!  This was such a captivating book and it's even better knowing this was book 1 in The Amish Bishop Mystery Series. 

The story starts out with a deadly fire that kills an Amish community member, Vernon.  But it doesn't stop there, there's lots more action going on in this once peaceful Amish community.  People are getting pretty worried about what will happen next.

This book was a great read and was another of those books that are impossible to put down, until you get to the end.  It's a great combination of Amish and mystery and won't disappoint.

Loved this book!

An excellent murder mystery that was hard to put down, The twists and turns of this story kept me guessing throughout as to who it was. Also got a chuckle out of all the women who brought the widower Bishop baked goods. A sweet Adult romance on the side, and a bit of a view of the Amish all combined to make a wonderful story. Highly recommend this book and author.

A deadly fire kills an older Amish man, Vernon Frey, in Saint-Louis Valley, Colorado. Henry Lapp gets involved in the investigation when an innocent person is being accused. His friend, Emma, encourages him to have faith in God to help solve the mystery.

What the Bishop Saw is a pretty good Amish suspense story. I think this is a good start to a new series. 

Four stars

I received this book from NetGalley. This review is 100% my honest opinion.

WHAT BISHOP SAW by Vannetta Chapman. We meet Henry, home from the hospital, 12 years old, wanting to go out and play ball. All he can do is draw, pencil cramped his fingers, he had put so much detailed into it. Father sees picture, like a photograph, the detail. You shouldn't be able to do this. The sadness, anger and love, he had drawn. Was this from him being in a coma. Years later, a fire, at Vernon home all gone, Henry now a bishop, would tend to his flock, to help them thru this. Glass on the inside, fire was started, why kill him, even if not well liked. Would Henry use "his gift" after all these years, he hesitant, opening Bible. Verse "saying to use the gifts he was given". He saw Vernon the night before. A compelling story of a mystery with the touch of Amish. The story captures you from the first, to the last, what did the Bishop see. Great story for a light easy mystery to read. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Henry Lapp is a widower in his mid 60s and the bishop in his close-knit Colorado Amish community. He is loved by his congregation and he is well-respected by the law. Henry has a God given skill that he has had since a child. He can re-create detailed drawings of things he has seen, things that are in his sub-conscious mind. When an unlikable person in the Amish community dies he decides to help the law to clear this man's name and then continues to help the law find the real culprit.

This book kept me guessing. I had no idea who it was until the suspect revealed himself. I loved all the characters and can't wait to visit with them again in more of the Bishop Mystery books. There was a touch of romance in this book but not a great deal. I saw on Amazon that the second one in the series, When the Bishop Needs an Alibi will be released on August 29, 2017.

What the Bishop Saw will be released on April 25, 2018. Thanks to Netgalley and Harvest House Publishers for providing me an digital copy of this book to review.

Vannetta Chapman creates an amazing read with "What the Bishop Saw", a return in theme to her earlier Amish mystery series, and a novel that is very difficult to put down! I was given this to read and review, and I enjoyed every second!  "What the Bishop Saw" takes place in Monte Vista, Colorado, an area that the Amish have started settling into in the past 15-20 years in a search for affordable fertile farmland. The community is small but quite close knit.  Henry, the bishop, who is a widower, guides the families with a very compassionate yet firm hand. The children and adults alike truly seem to adore him and appreciate his wisdom. Henry becomes involved, unusually so, for Amish, in an arson investigation aimed at stopping a string of arsons targeting the Amish community. Emma, a local Amish widow who lives with and helps raise her sons' family, is a dear and longtime friend, and she offers quite a bit of wisdom and input when Henry and her family members seek her guidance. Henry has quite a gift of drawing scenes from within his memory to the most minute detail, a gift that has helped solve crimes, though a gift he is reluctant to use.  Henry, Emma, and others in the community work with the authorities to find the arsonist before more peoples homes and lives are threatened.  I cannot recommend this book enough, it is simply compelling.