ABIDING MERCY, by Ruth Reid

This is a Christian novel in the Amish genre. Ruth Reid, the author, begins this book with a glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar to readers. She spreads all her material across 43 chapters. Each chapter starts with the location and time period that the author set the events in that particular chapter. She wraps up these chapters with acknowledgements and ends her book with discussion questions based on material in the book. Ruth Reid is a full-time pharmacist and lives on the outskirts of an Amish community.

I usually don't read books on Amish culture. I did this time because of the subject matter. This book has two main story plots. The one plot was that of an older teen who was raised Amish. The other was that of a mom's search for her abducted daughter. At first, I couldn't see how they could converge without forcing a contrived scene to make it happen. But when I got closer to the end of this novel, the merging of the two main plots was not only natural but startling. And I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. In fact, at one point, I "cheated" by peeking near the end of the story; this novel is that that riveting. This book demonstrates the lessons of the values of Amish culture and the simple life. Because I'm passionate about missing people and crime victims, that's why I chose this book. It gives a good taste of Amish culture.

I recommend this book as an alternative to the trashy, steamy, sexy novels being sold today. It provides a fascinating but wholesome and uplifting reading experience. It's for anyone with a passion for missing persons and true crime. And it is recommended for those interested in Amish culture.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via BOOKLOOKBLOGGERS in exchange for an honest review of its content. I wasn't required to give a positive review of this book.