When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is the second book in the Amish Bishop Mysteries series by Vannetta Chapman. I want to take a minute to freak and geek over this book.  First off, I won this book and I never win ANYTHING. Seriously, I rarely win anything. I happened to win this autographed copy. How exciting is that?

Okay, we have that out-of-the-way, now to geek out...I love this author. I just do. She's one of the coolest authors in the Amish genre. Seriously, if you've not read her books, you should. If you've not stalked checked her out on Facebook, you should. She's funny and engaging with her readers. But, putting that aside, she's one of my favorite authors because she's taking the Amish genre and doing something new with it.  I mean, she's a special kind of cray-cray to think Amish and murder go together. But, go together it does and it's a fresh, new take on the genre.

This book reminds me a bit of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie—with an Amish spin. I love it! I couldn't put this book down.

Vannetta does a fantastic job taking you to the scene of her stories. From the diner, to the beauty of the wildlife refuge—I felt as if I could clearly picture the scenes from this book. In addition—the "who-dunit" of this story wasn't overly obvious.

Henry's character is what makes this story, however.  His savant gift and his unwavering faith in God makes me feel as if I know him. He's become an old friend to rally behind when the going gets tough.

I would definitely suggest this book to readers of Amish fiction—especially those that also enjoy a good, clean mystery.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in The Amish Bishop series. I did not read the first book in this series.  I found it works well as a standalone; however, I enjoyed it so much that I feel that I would have liked to have read the first book before this one. I recommend that you buy both.

The author did a spectacular job of characterization. Not only did I get to know the people in the book, but their way of life was so detailed in their actions and speech that I got to know how they lived. The author even brought up some of the things the younger Amish do  such as smoking cigarettes and driving cars before they make a commitment. I liked  that she showed that aspect of their lives, as I don’t see it in other books. 

I especially appreciated how Christianity is the basis for their lives and the characters live out their faith even when the going gets tough. Unlike so many Christian books that barely hint at faith, this one is thoroughly saturated in it.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Christian mystery books with Amish characters. .

Faith, friendship, and courage. Those are the themes in this title, the second in the new Amish Bishop series by Ms. Chapman.

Once again, Henry Lapp, bishop to an Amish community in Colorado, finds himself pulled into a mystery involving murder. This time he is quickly fingered as the culprit and has to rely upon his community and friends to clear his name. 

If you enjoy mystery with a mingling of faith, this makes for an excellent read. Although it is part of a series, you do not need to have read the first to enjoy it. Ms. Chapman paints a lovely image of Colorado and makes you want to seek out this small Amish community.

My review has been posted on the Fresh Fiction website. It can be accessed at:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63688
Thank you for the opportunity to view this ARC.

Bishop Henry Lapp stumbles over a body and recognizes the young woman. She’d been fearful and convinced someone was watching her. Her fears were realized, but why?
Almost immediately, Henry is the only suspect. A boorish FBI agent acts smug, convinced in Henry’s guilt. His friend, the sheriff, disappears.
Henry’s very good friend Emma, a widowed grandmother, meets Sophia and agrees something is troubling her. She tries to help, but Sophia refuses to confide. She does give Emma a device in case anything happens to her.
When Sophia is proved right and Henry is arrested, the Amish community rallies in his support. He is released with a tracking anklet, which is a good thing when he and Emma help Sophia’s sister search for the killer.
The first chapter shows Henry finding the body while bird watching. The book then backs up to the previous week. Knowing what’s coming takes some of the suspense out of the story. This also is a sequel, with frequent references to an arsonist. Reading the first book first would be better.
Once the story moves past the murder, it becomes a real pager-turner. Contains several nuggets of truth, like “We might not know what Sophia’s troubles are, but Gotte does.”
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great edition to the adventures of Henry Lapp.  I am not a lover of Amish Fiction but this book kept me interested until the final page. A must read!

I really enjoyed this well written mystery.  The book has a good plot that kept me engrossed throughout the book.  I highly recommend this book.

Vannetta Chapman once again delivered a suspenseful story that combines both the Englinglish and Amish. I love how she blends the two cultures in such a way that it doesn't feel awkward. Some authors separate the Amish so much that novels like this one would be completely out of place. Vannetta shows us that you can be separate from the world, while still living in it.

If you enjoy reading suspense and mystery novels this one is for you. If you would like to get your feet wet on reading an Amish, not to Amish, novel, this one is for you. However, if you're just looking for a mushy love story keep on looking because that's not what this novel is about.

I really enjoyed reading this book in this series and looked forward to this one. While I enjoyed it, I don't think it was as good as the first one. I enjoyed learning more about the delightful characters from this series. 
This book included random snippets of conversation of the villain(s).  They did help me understand what was going on, but they were a distraction to me while reading since they interrupted the flow of the book. 
I will be requesting this book for my library as I have patrons who enjoy Vanetta Chapman. I look forward to reading her next book and finding out more about the people in this Amish community.

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman is the story of an Amish Bishop who gets framed for murder.  Bishop Henry Lapp and his friends help a young woman on the run from dangerous men.  One day, as he is out birding, Bishop Lapp stumbles on this young woman’s body.  He is soon charged with her murder and the evidence seems stacked against him.  He relies on God and his friends to help him sort out the true perpetrators of this crime. This is not my usual genre, but the storyline in this book intrigued me and I am now hooked on this series. I did not find it difficult to read this book as a standalone novel. The author quickly drew me into the story while introducing the characters just enough that it all made sense. I have never read an Amish book with characters that seemed this real or this lovable.  The author paints the characters in such a way that makes you want to meet them at their local diner and spend time with them.  Somehow, their crime solving is also just as believable.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading other books in this series.  I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman is the second installment in The Amish Bishop Mysteries.  Henry Lapp is the bishop of the small Amish community in San Luis Valley, Colorado.  Henry is out birdwatching with his beagle, Lexi at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge when he discovers the body of Sophia Brooks.  Sophia had been in town for about five weeks where she worked at Maggie’s Diner (Henry eats several meals a week at the diner).  Henry could tell that something was troubling Sophia by her nervous and furtive behavior.  Henry and Emma Fisher tried to help the woman, but she would not let them assist her.  When Henry ends up being the police’s prime suspect in Sophia’s death, he can tell someone is setting him up.  It is up to Henry’s friends to follow the clues and clear his name.  Henry had done some drawings of Sophia at the diner that aids the group in their investigation.  But the killer is willing to go to great lengths to keep his activities under wraps.  

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is well-written and has a great main character.  Ms. Chapman’s word imagery brings the scenes alive.  I like Henry Lapp with his unwavering convictions, strong faith, love of animals, his gentle nature and his unique ability.  Emma Fisher is the perfect companion/counterpart for Henry.  They nicely complement each other.  I thought When the Bishop Needs an Alibi to have a nice, steady pace and full of suspense.  I kept reading to see what would happen next.  The mystery is complicated, but only a small part can be solved before the reveal.  The mystery is one that plays out and we must read to find out how it will turn out (that was disappointing).  As most of you know, I prefer a mystery that I can solve.  While When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is the second novel in this series, it can be a stand-alone.  Everything a reader needs to know is included in this story (about the community, Henry’s ability, what happened to Henry in the past, his relationship with Emma).  However, I do recommend reading What the Bishop Saw as it is a wonderful story.   My rating for When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  The ending is heartwarming and so sweet (it will make you smile).  There are discussion questions, recipes, and a glossary at the end of the book.  I will definitely be reading Who the Bishop Knows when it comes out next spring.

Vannetta Chapman’s new book “When the Bishop Needs an Alibi” is amazing.  
She has taken the characters of Bishop Henry Lapp, Emma and other members of the small community and further developed their relationships and personalities. I feel that Henry’s savant abilities  and deeper relationship with Emma create some new twists in the story.  

This is a wonderful story for students and older people alike and illustrates the differences that we can make in people’s lives by caring and using our God given talents. It shows how even gentle, kind people can make a difference in people’s lives by the way they help and reach out to people in a tight spot.

I love the plot twists toward the ends of the story and to find that some new characters played a different part in the mystery twist than expected.

Recently I read an *interview with Vannetta Chapman from 2012. She said a task that God gave her was to offer people hope and grace through her stories. I think she kept to that task as she wrote When the Bishop Needs an Alibi. Readers will see the story's main character Henry Lapp always has a proverb or a Bible verse to share that offers hope, even in a not so rosy situation. He also truly wants to help everyone and extend God's grace to them. He doesn't just reach out to those he knows and loves or those deemed good enough or deserving. Henry extends his friendship to Englisher Sophia and shortly after needs an alibi for a crime that was committed against her. 

I didn't want to put this book down. It was easy to picture the Colorado setting as I read. Old and new friendships remain steadfast through every situation. The Amish characters' trust in God never falters. Henry is so huggable, I so enjoy him and his ways! I like him as much as David Stoltzfus, the bishop in Suzanne Woods Fishers' The Bishop's Family series. There is a blossoming romance that is sweet. Oh, and how could I forget to mention that a crime or two occur. There is an interesting mystery blended into the story that points out how important community is to everyone. Be sure to check out When the Bishop Needs an Alibi. I think you'll finish it realizing that being a believer doesn't mean zero hard times will come your way but God is right there always helping you through when you are looking and asking for his help. I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The second book in this series is just as good as the first one, and I could not put it down once I turned the first page.
We see this beautiful, majestic country through the eyes of Henry, the Amish Bishop, and Emma, a long time friend of Henry’s, and we travel around this Amish Community, which takes place in the San Luis Valley of Colorado in the foothills surrounding the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. As with the first book, Henry’s gift of being able to draw with a rather photographic memory helps with the solving of a horrendous crime.
When we first start reading we are soon aware of a crime, but it is so much deeper than we realize, and there is so much evil. The author has us walking in Henry’s shoes, and with our hearts in our throat, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
You will keep guessing what is going on, and who is responsible right to the very end, and we can only hope that those we care about will survive.
I would love to be able to go to a church meeting in Henry’s district, oh if only it weren’t fiction, and of course it would help if I were Amish.
Thank you Vannetta, I loved this time I spent in Colorado, and I want to go and see the cranes.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Mystery and suspense rolled into an Amish romance to create a novel most every reader would enjoy!

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is yet another page-turner from Vannetta Chapman. From her very real characters to events that will have you wanting to pray for the safety of those characters, this is one of those stories you won't want to set down. I don't typically read a lot of Amish fiction, but this is not your stereotypical Amish story.

My mind was working to put the pieces together as I read, and yet while the mystery unfolded, relationships developed and fast friendships were discovered. I think my favorite character was Emma. Her warmth and compassion made her very likable, and I literally laughed out loud at one of her teasing comments to Tess. Such a sweet, loving woman!

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is the second book in the Amish Bishop Mysteries series. While you can certainly enjoy the book as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading the first one (What the Bishop Saw) first. There are references to things that happened previously sprinkled throughout this story, and since I have not yet read the first one, I felt I was missing out. Now I'm anxious to go back and read it!

(I received a complimentary copy of this novel. The thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.)

I am a fan of Amish fiction and mysteries and when a writer puts them together it is a homerun. I loved the first book, What the Bishop Saw, but the second is even better. I adore the bishop, Henry. I want someone like him in my life. Kind, caring, a great listener and thinks outside the box. He and Emma make the perfect team solving mysteries and as a romantic couple.

As with most of Vannetta Chapman's works, you will not be able to put this down. I was able to read this book in a little under 24 hours as I was still reading at 2 am. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Every time the hubby woke up last night he was asking, "are you still reading?" Yes, yes I am dear.

Henry is your typical bachelor, Amish or English, in that he does like to eat at home very often so he goes to Maggie's Diner in town. He has befriended a waitress, Sophia, and decides one day to draw her helping an elderly couple. That drawing spooks Sophia and raises flags for Henry that she may be in trouble. Unfortunately, he finds her body in the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge while watching a family of cranes. Discovering her body lands him in jail and sets the community on edge. Will Henry's friends be able to use the drawings to prove his innocence? Hunker down with a good cup of tea because you are in for one wild buggy ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for an ARC to read in exchange for my own honest review.

I just finished one book set in a National Park and now this one was set in Colorado in an obviously scenic area famous for cranes - 20,000 of them visiting the valley and the area which is a refuge for these gorgeous birds.

Different however from others is that this is my first read of the Amish community. It was certainly educative. The Bishop who is the chief character in this story leads his flock by example and is a very strong and good man. Not aggressive by nature at all, more by dealing in kindness and compassion he is nevertheless for the second time involved in an unsavoury murder. Finding a young woman's body in the bulrushes is bad enough, but when he has associated with her before her death and when so many clues linking him to the young woman is found in his house things are suddenly not looking too good for not just the Bishop but for his people.

Uncovering the small clues left behind is a laborious process. With the lack of telephones, computers and anything which would be considered imperative for an investigation the Bishop and his small coterie of supporters unravel a much bigger scheme of corruption which involves people at very high levels. 

Very simply told as suitable to the theme of the Amish, this was a very pleasant read. 

Goodreads and Amazon reviews were posted on 22/8/2017. Review on my blog on 4/10/2017. Also linked to my FB page.

It all started with a visit to a diner and the creation of a beautiful drawing. 

With vivid scenes, well-developed characters, and a marvelous plot, this book was highly enjoyable. 

This was my first book by Vannetta and most definitely will not be my last.

WHEN THE BISHOP NEEDS AN ALIBI was a pleasure to read...Another winner by Ms Chapman.  I read this novel in one sitting...and loved every single page of it. I have recommended this novel to all of my reading friends/circle.  Love Ms Chapman's storytelling ability.   Five Stars!

When the Bishop Needs An Alibi is the second novel written by Vanetta Chapman in her An Amish Bishop Mysteries series.  In this second book we are quickly drawn into the plot of this very suspensefilled story. We once again get reacquainted with the strong and amazing characters, Bishop Henry and his Amish friend Emma.  All the characters in this story are described so that the reader can actually picture them as they appear thru out the story. Emma is my favorite character because of her love of family and friends and her ability to draw on the strength she needs in every situation.  Bishop Henry is also a favorite for the way he manages to watch out not just for Emma but his entire Amish community. He is kind, loving, and intelligent.

This book centers around the murder of Henry's waitress and friend Sophia.  When Henry draws a very personal picture of Sophia she seems very distraught over what she sees.  Hidden in this picture are several clues that Henry and Emma discover which leads them to the killers.  This is were the storyline becomes so intense you will find it hard to stop reading. As you follow the storyline you will also be tempted to try to solve the mystery but be careful not to be drawn in tHe wrong direction.

I was given an eBook copy of this story by the author and Net Galley to read and review.  I was not asked to post a favorable review.  I am posting an honest review with all statements and opinions expressed being strictly my own.  I highly recommend this book to all those who love the Amish genre and mysteries.  I have also rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of an excellent book.  Although I have already read this book I will be purchasing a copy to add to my collection.

Congratulations to Vanetta Chapman on delivering yet another wonderful book to all of her fans.  I will be anticipating the release of her next book in this series.