Agatha's Amish B&B Books

A new Amish cozy mystery from Vannetta Chapman. Who killed Russell Dixon? When Agatha Lapp’s brother and sister-in-law are tragically killed in a buggy accident, Agatha relocates to the new Amish community in Hunt Texas, nestled in the Texas Hill Country. She’s there to make a success of her brother’s dream--an Amish B&B. Agatha is friendly, efficient, and capable. She's also a fifty-five year old widow who has learned to be independent. When she discovers Russell Dixon’s lifeless body in Cabin 3, she runs next door where retired detective Tony Vargas lives. The police determine that her guest died of natural causes, but as Agatha and Tony put together the events of the previous two days they become convinced that the police are Dead Wrong. Dead Wrong is a story of discovering new friendships and embracing a different path in the midst of tragedy. Above all else, it's a story of God's grace and provision. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Agatha hurried down the path carrying the towering pile of fresh linens. Fonzi lay in the sun, curled like the letter U. She’d inherited the yellow cat with the B&B. One more cabin to service and she could turn her attentions to putting the finishing touches on dinner. Cabin 3 sat a little farther down the path and around the bend. Perhaps that’s why Mr. Dixon had chosen it. He seemed to value his privacy. Agatha stepped onto the porch but paused outside the front door. She clearly stated that the rooms would be serviced in the afternoon between three and five, but there was always the possibility that Mr. Dixon had decided to take a late afternoon nap. Nothing worse than walking in on a guest who was fast asleep, snoring with his mouth wide open and his glasses askew. She’d learned that lesson the first week she’d reopened the B&B. Knocking firmly on the door, she called out, “Anyone home? Agatha Lapp here.” No answer. Well, she hadn’t thought there would be. It was a beautiful June afternoon. Why would anyone be inside? She tried the door on the off chance it had been left unlocked. Definitely locked, and the curtains were drawn tight as well. Agatha called out one more time, then reached into the pocket of her apron and fetched her master key. Slipping it into the lock, she pushed the door open with what she hoped was a friendly, “Anyone home? Just here to change the…” She never did finish that sentence. Her mind reeled, trying to make sense of the scene before her. Mr. Dixon’s suitcase had been flung open and clothes tossed around the room. The breakfast tray she’d left on the porch earlier that morning sat on the nightstand by the bed, though the mug had been knocked over and lay shattered on the floor. The bedding had been dragged toward the open back door. She glanced around as if Mr. Dixon might pop out from the broom closet. But there was no sign of the man. No indication of what had happened. She stepped toward the back door and peered outside, which was when her knees began to shake. She reached for the doorframe with one hand as her other fluttered to her chest and pressed against it to slow the hammering of her heart. She simply couldn’t make the details of what she was seeing fit together into a cohesive picture—Russell Dixon lying face down at the edge of the clearing, one hand trapped beneath him and the other reaching over his head. The unnatural position confirmed what her mind couldn’t accept. Mr. Dixon wouldn’t be caring if she changed his linens because Mr. Dixon was literally dead to the world.

Why would someone kill Nathan King? The peace of a perfect November afternoon is shattered when Agatha hears the frantic bleating of goats across the river from her B&B. Agatha kayaks over with retired detective Tony and two guests--Bishop Henry and his wife Emma. They find the goats huddled together in a terrified group and Nathan lying face up beneath the Live Oak trees, lifeless eyes staring at the Texas sky. Then one of Agatha’s guests goes missing. She delves into Joey’s past and learns he was Dead Broke, so what was he doing vacationing at her B&B? And why was he pretending to be Amish when in fact his permanent address was Dallas, Texas? Most importantly, did Joey have anything to do with Nathan’s death? Agatha and Tony are at a dead end before the investigation has properly begun, but this time they receive help from unexpected places. Bishop Henry has a gift, and he’s no longer afraid to use it, even if doing so may put them all in danger as they work together to catch a killer. Dead Broke is a story about family secrets, rare gifts, and the joy of unexpected friendships.

It was supposed to be a simple remodel. She didn't plan on finding buried treasure…or looking down the barrel of a gun. Agatha Lapp is elated when Channel 4 News decides to run a feature story on Amish businesses. The extra publicity should guarantee even more success for her Plain and Simple B&B, especially after she's finished with the remodel. The cameras are rolling live when Agatha raises the rubber mallet and punches the first hole in her living room wall. That's when things get complicated… Hidden inside the wall is a diamond-studded belt buckle stolen twenty years earlier. The police return the buckle to the owners and refuse to re-open the case. The public is convinced more stolen goods are hidden at Agatha's. When overzealous treasure hunters break into the B&B and a dead body is found half a mile down the road, Agatha knows she needs to take this investigation into her own hands. With the help of a retired detective and her best friend, Agatha sets out to solve the mystery of the Lost Texas Treasures and find a killer. Their chase leads them through the Texas Hill Country to the famed YO Ranch where Agatha finds herself looking down the barrel of a gun. Suddenly, she's no longer worried about a remodel. She just wants to live through this showdown. Agatha's Amish B&B Cozy Mystery Series Dead Wrong : Book 1 Dead Broke : Book 2 Dead Set : Book 3