The Amish Wife is essentially a follow up from Olsen’s previous book: Abandoned Prayers, however looking at Ida as the main character so to speak.
However I didn’t really feel this was the case. I haven’t read his previous book but you were able to understand exactly what had happened as Olsen goes into so much detail - great, except that sometimes it was too much detail and quite often became very confusing, especially as the Amish have a tendency to use family names generation after generation so there were a lot of Eli’s which made it hard to keep up with.
You can see the passion that Olsen has for this case and that he still keeps in touch with the people he spoke to for the first book is lovely but there doesn’t seem to be much new information when speaking to them again for this book.
It may have read better having read his previous book, I’m not sure. But overall, I feel that the book lacked new information, a clear resolution and had very little information about the subject of the story whilst being rather disjointed through the whole.
An intriguing notion that wasn’t fully followed through but a decent enough read if you’re a fan of true crime.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for allowing me a copy of this book.

True crime is my favorite genre and Gregg Olsen is the best at getting all the facts and writing them into book form. He never disappoints. This was another fascinating true story based around the covered up murder of Ida. When a pregnant Amish wife dies in a barn fire....her husband Eli escapes the community leaving everyone asking....was it the fire that killed her? or was it murder?

I was completely unaware of this crime and the deep dives this has sent me down should be criminal in and of itself. Thank you for allowing me early access.

I love true crime and was hopeful about this book. A bit slow at times and no conclusion made this a bit of an unsatisfying read.

True crime is my favorite nonfiction trope so when I was offered this I was so excited. It was an interesting read until it wasn’t. Became kinda slow and drawn out. Still an interesting story at its base 3⭐️

This book was surprisingly enjoyable. For such a dark and twisted case, the author had me hooked on finding out the truth and seeking justice.

Gregg Olsen has a compelling ‘just trying to get to the bottom of this’ charm about him as he tells the story of a murder amongst an Amish community in Ohio and the life and times of Ida and Eli Stutzman. What he does differently than some true crime writers, is share his own feelings and emotions as he navigates the case and uncovers secrets and surprises.
This adds to the narrative style, since he creates a vivid picture and takes the reader from the scenes of the crimes to the journey to get there.

The author does go on very long tangents chock full of detail about his interviewees and side project cases he is working on, which while interesting, may have been trimmed down. It could have been about 50-75 pages less of detail, however, it seems the authors purpose was also to demonstrate the mentality and secrecy of the Amish so it did add that slow and steady wear down of detail and attempt to the overall feel of the book.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I read the first book the author wrote about this case, Abandonedd Prayers, and I did not feel like I was learning anything new about the case from this book.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book. I felt like it dragged too much and was boring at some points.

The Amish Wife: Unraveling the Lies, Secrets, and Conspiracy That Let a Killer Go Free by Gregg Olsen is a work of nonfiction that the author wrote to tell some of the true story behind a novel he wrote. This book is probably more of a memoir because the author includes himself and his conversations frequently in the book. Ultimately, this is not a true crime tell all as I expected. There is no real conclusion, just some speculation. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This book took me way too long to get through. It did not end with a conclusion. I would not recommend this book. In the book Gregg says "I can't really know what happened that night. Not for sure." His wife replied "That doesn't make for a very satisfying story." I completely agree with his wife Claudia. This book did not and with them knowing how or who actually killed Ida.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy. Unfortunately I did not get around to reading it before publication.

I have always been a true crime reader so I jumped to the chance to read The Amish Wife. I have read most of Olsen's other books but this one fell flat. The story itself is a cold case from 1977 set in the Amish community. The story was well researched and documented but felt repetitive.

I like Gregg Olsen’s true crime books, so I requested this one without even looking to see what it was about. In hindsight, I should have at least read a little blurb about the subject matter, because then I would have figured out that this is a follow up to a book on my TBR list. Had I known, naturally, I would have read the older book first. Oh well.
It was really good; the author revisits the suspicious death of a young, married Amish woman, trying to uncover answers to questions that should have been, but weren’t previously asked.
I’m still planning to read the first book, Abandoned Prayers; hopefully, it won’t seem like a waste of time, even though I’ll obviously know how it ends.
Thanks to #netgalley and #thomasandmercer for this #arc of #theamishwife in exchange for an honest review.

A novel that delves into the heart of an Ohio Amish community, unraveling a tragic mystery that spans decades. Olsen’s meticulous research and attention to detail shine through as he uncovers the events surrounding Ida’s death. While the premise is intriguing, the pacing occasionally falters.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Olsen digs deep into a precious topic he’d already written about: Eli Stutzman and what really happened that night in 1977 to his wife Ida and later to his son Danny.
Olsen presents a clear and convincing case about lying authorities trying to hide sordid secrets.
I was appalled at what I read and the gross miscarriage of injustice for the wife and son of a sick predator.
Although Olsen does appear a tad obsessed with this story, it’s one that needed to be revealed.

Gregg Olsen is a premiere True Crime novelsit and I walways enjoy his books. The Amish Wife does not disappoint.
This is the second true crime book he has wriiten about this horrific Amish crime and it is just as good as the first. This time around we get the story about Eli's (the murderous Amish husband) murdered wife and son. A great addition to the list.

I enjoy Gregg Olsen appearances on true crime documentaries and always get excited when he puts out a new book. The Amish Wife is his telling and account of an older but still heartbreaking case of lies, betrayal, and murder in a quiet Amish community. A fascinating read.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I hadn't read anything by this popular author before picking this one up. Although I'm an avid thriller reader and a true crime fan, I just hadn't had the chance. So, I was beyond thrilled to finally have the opportunity, and this book in particular sounded especially interesting to me.

It wasn't until after I started reading The Amish Wife that I realized it was a continuation of a previous book, Abandoned Prayers, which was published in 1990. And, in all honesty, I wish I had read that one first. I think it would have painted an even clearer picture.

Overall, I found The Amish Wife to be well written and informative. Including content from some of the letters written by Eli Strutzman was also a nice touch.

A solid 3.5 star read for me!

The reads almost like a documentary. The writer revisits a case he covered in 1989. It represents a chance to right a wrong. It’s full of posturing and analysis. It also stays true to the landscape where Ida and Danny lived. It’s a deep dive by a writer who needs more answers and a bit of redemption. He becomes adept at reading the stoic faces of the Amish. He travels among them hoping a revelation is within his sight. Ultimately the writer lays out for us a pathway to what little truth is left to find for Ida and Danny in this cloistered community.

This was a different style of book for me. I found it hard to keep track of the families and connections, left feeling like still so much unknown

This book was not what I expected. It was a did not finish for me. I haven’t read the other books in the series and expected a nonfiction book.