Murder Simply Brewed

Written by Vannetta Chapman

Narrated by Lauren Berst

Two women from different walks of life must join together to solve a mystery in Middlebury’s Amish Artisan Village. 

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.

When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren't convinced.

Clues that don't add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them. 

“Vannetta Chapman has crafted a tightly woven tale in the best tradition of cozy mystery . . . Chapman’s light touch and thoughtful representation of the Amish culture make Murder Simply Brewed a delightful read for an evening by a warm fire, a cup of tea in hand.” —Kelly Irvin, bestselling author of The Amish of Bee County series 

“Murder Simply Brewed combines all the coziness of an Amish home with the twists and turns of great suspense. With a little romance thrown in, you can’t go wrong! Vannetta Chapman has crafted a charming story that shows things are always as they first appear.” —Beth Shriver, bestselling author of the Touch of Grace trilogy 

“Vannetta Chapman’s Murder Simply Brewed is a heartwarming whudunit that is sure to satisfy fans of both Amish romance and cozy mystery.” —Amanda Flower, author of A Plain Disappearance 

“A wonderful story of first love, second love, and a murder that pulls them all together in a page turning way. Murder Simply Brewed is a must read for all Amish fans!” —Ruth Reid, bestselling author of the Heaven on Earth and the Amish Wonders series 

• Sweet and cozy Amish mystery
• Part of the Amish Village Mystery Series. Book 1: Murder Simply Brewed; Book 2: Murder Tightly Knit; Book 3: Murder Freshly Baked
• Book length: 85,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780310364665

Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel Falling to Pieces was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist. A Promise for Miriam earned a spot on the June 2012 Christian Retailing Top Ten Fiction list. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com

Reviews for Murder Simply Brewed

[rosands-494665 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good. I enjoyed it.

[whybehave2002 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What can I say? A new author for me, but it just wasn't what expected. I love a good cozy mystery and a nice clean Amish story but it barely held my attention. I finished it but I dont think I will read the next one in the series.

[pammykn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

AUTHOR: Chapman, VanettaTITLE: Murder Simply BrewedDATE READ: 06/17/2015RATING: 4.5/B+GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Inspirational-Amish-Mystery/ 2014/Zondervan/352 pgs SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Amish Village MysteryCHARACTERS Amber/manager of The Village; Tate her farmer/neighbor; Hannah young Amish girl working @ quilt shopTIME/PLACE Middlebury, IN PresentFIRST LINES: Hannah Troyer's Monday morning was off to a wonderful start. COMMENTS: I really enjoyed this one -- just the right blend of mystery/Amish/Inspirational/romance. The Village offers and Inn, Dining Facilities and various shoppes catering to their guests and tourists. When the owner of the coffee shop is found dead in his café it is assumed he has had a heart attack. But Hannah and Amber pool their information and come up w/ murder. When they give their information to the police they are told this is a nice theory but no evidence … they persist in their mission to prove it is murder.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amber Wright is pleased with the Amish shops in the little mall she manages, that is, until she gets a call that the proprietor of the coffee shop has died. It appears to be a natural death from a heart attack, but further investigation leads the police to believe that the heart attack was the result of an intention act of violence. Other strange occurrences result in further unrest with the shop owners. Amber is caught up in the mystery and puts herself in danger. With a bit of romance thrown in, this tale will entertain and intrigue you. Some of the story details may be somewhat contrived, but still, the story is interesting and the characters are likable and well-developed. A good start to a promising series.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman is a delightful Amish cozy mystery. It is the first book in the Amish Village Mystery series. Amber Wright is the manager of the Amish Artisan Village in Middlebury, Indiana. She lives in a Dawdy Haus (a small house for grandparents or that the parents move into when they pass the property/house on to a son or daughter) on the property with her cat, Leo. At the beginning of a new day she gets a call that Ethan Gray, manager of A Simple Blend, has been found dead in the shop. The windows were also shot with a BB gun. It is ruled a heart attack, but Amber has a feeling that there is more to it than meets the eye! She receives a call at the end of the day of a threatening message left on a trail near the property line. Tate Bowman, who owns a farm adjacent to the Amish Artisan Village, spotted the message. It is written in red paint. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning.Hannah Troyer is twenty-two and has been working at Quilting Bee. Amber asks her to take over A Simple Blend. Amber and Hannah start talking about Ethan’s death and the damage being done around The Village. Hannah talks things over with her friend, Jesse Miller. Jesse works on the grounds crew in The Village. They keep looking for clues to help solve the crimes.After a threat at Amber’s home, Tate starts keeping a closer eye. Amber and Tate also get to know each other better. Tate lost his wife four years ago and has never been a fan of The Village. But, as he gets to know Amber, he sees things a little differently. Tate, Amber, Hannah, and Jesse work to see who is behind the threats and damage to The Village. Amber also thinks that Ethan was murdered and hopes to find proof.I give Murder Simply Brewed 5 out of 5 stars. Enjoyable and relatable characters, interesting setting, well-written, and an entertaining mystery. I have wanted to read this book since it came out, but I have not had the opportunity. I finally pushed it to the top of my list and I am very glad. I cannot wait to read the next book in this engaging series.

[passionforbooks_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mystery, Murder, Romance and Faith!This is one of the best mystery books that I have read. Once again author Vannetta Chapman holds us spellbound. What a great read! I have read every book by this author. Each one gets better and better. I am a huge fan of this author and have had the pleasure of meeting her in person twice. Are you up to some heart racing, terrifying scenes that keep the pages turning? Are you up for some oh so special romantic moments? How about a few smiles? Perhaps some charming characters? Then this book is for you! I most certainly recommend it.Come along now to Middlebury, Indiana and meet Amber Wright, Hannah Troyer, Ethan Gray, Tate Bowman, and Jesse Miller to name a few. Some of these characters will be ones that you will simply love, others not so much.I can’t wait to read book two in this series!

[deanna13-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman is a most enjoyable Amish story. Amber Wright is in charge of the Amish Artisan Village in Middlebury, Indiana, and is having a great day until she learns that one of the shop owners has been found dead. Hannah Troyer, a young Amish employee, finds Ethan Gray the owner of A simple Blend on the floor near the espresso machine and at first it appears that he died of a heart attack. Amber hires Hannah to take over the running of the coffee shop and the two become good friends while trying to solve the mystery of Ethan’s death for they are convinced that he was murdered. Amber and Hannah face several dangerous situations for someone does not want them to solve the mystery. Tate Bowman who owns the property next to the Village gets involved in trying to solve the mystery and he also finds himself drawn to Amber. Hannah is also learning that her friend Jesse Miler has feelings for her that are more than friendship.The author did an excellent job in the development of all parts of the story. One part that I personally did not like was when the boa constrictor came into the story for I have a great fear of snakes and that part of the story gave me the heebie jeebies. The way the Amish and Englischers worked together in this story was extremely well written and was a joy to read. Every character was very believable and every one of them came to life on the pages of the book. Scenes came to life and I could picture myself working right along with Amber and Hannah to solve the mystery of Ethan’s death. There were several twists and turns in the story and each one just added to my enjoyment of and interest in the story. I especially liked the way that God’s grace was evident throughout the entire story. This book has it all—Amish and Englischers working together, a murder mystery, and romance.I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Amish fiction for this story is an exceptionally good one.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[robin661_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Murder Simply Brewed (An Amish Village Mystery)Vanetta ChapmanBook Summary: When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury’s Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery. Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops---until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register. When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends---as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren't convinced. Clues that don't add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance---all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them.Book Review: This is going to be a fantastic series!!! This book was awesome. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did it was a wild roller coaster ride. There were thrills throughout. The wild ride in Amber’s car and the chilling suspects were all around at time. They seemed to know when and how to pop up. I could hardly make it to the end without screaming out loud. Unfortunately there is not way to read with your eyes closed so I had to take a deep breath and ride this thrill ride to the satisfying end. The end so heart felt it made the entire book a rich lesson in love. Not just the romantic kind. Well done Ms. Chapman if I wasn’t hooked before I would be now!I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan Fiction for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can just picture the setting for Vanetta Chapman’s new book Murder Simply Brewed, so much peace. We are at a place called the Village, or Amish Village, filled with quaint shops, a hotel, restaurants, and a coffee shop called A Simple Blend. I could just picture myself walking the trail surrounding the pond, and sitting on one of the benches…of course the weather is mild and there is a warm breeze.This is the setting for a mysterious death, heart attack? Bee bee gun holes in the window, and a body slumped on the counter? The beginning, and with a bit of back tracking, and with one step forward, and two back, we head down the trail of suspicion. Especially when other odd things begin to happen, the police seem to have an answer for everything, but why all the coincidences at once? The funny part is all the people that show up for the mystery that is advertised on the Internet. They do make a mess of this little village.There are also a few romances going on here. An English one with Amber, the person in charge at the Village, and Tate, who when I meet him I picture an old widower. First impressions are often wrong, and I surely did it here. Then there is sweet Amish girl Heather, who has spent all of her life living next door to Jesse. He just happens to be there when a girl is having a bit of trouble.Just when you think you really know what has happened and who is responsible, blink and it changes. I was in a way rather surprised at the culprit, and what happens. I really enjoyed this fast pace, and quick read, just not liking that I have it all finished, I wanted more.I received this book through the Publisher Zondervan and Net Galley, and was not required to give a positive review

[thornton37814 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Amber Wright is the manager of an Amish Artisan Village in Indiana. When Ethan, the coffee shop manager, dies, it appears to be a simple health issue, but not everyone believes that. Amber makes Hannah Troyer her coffee shop manager. Hannah is observant and notes some things that seem a bit off and make her suspicious as well. With no cooperation from the local officers, Amber and Hannah must investigate on their own. This is a case of a book trying to be too many things. The author needs to decide whether she wants to write romance or a mystery. If she wants to write romance, she probably needs a bit more development of that in the plot. If she wants to write mystery, she needs much further development there. The whole thing seemed rather implausible. It simply was not well-developed. The presence of a boa constrictor in the plot nearly made me abandon the book entirely. If you don't mind suspending believability for awhile and really like Amish fiction, try this one. If you are a mystery lover, avoid this one. This review is based on an advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley.