Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper

Kappy King, the Amish heroine of this unsatisfying series launch from romance author Lillard (Lorie’s Heart), looks into the death of her neighbor Ruth Peachey, who raised puppies on her Blue Sky, Pa., farm before her fatal head injury. Kappy phones Ruth’s daughter, Edie, who left the church and Blue Sky, and asks her to return because her mentally challenged brother, Jimmy, who used to help their mother with the puppies, needs her. Jimmy needs Edie even more after he’s arrested for Ruth’s murder. Kappy and Edie set out to find the real killer. Most of the Amish won’t acknowledge Edie, except for a neighboring farmer who’s interested in buying Ruth’s farm. Meanwhile, store owner Hiram Lapp pursues Kappy romantically, and Edie flirts with Jack Jones, a detective on the case. The action builds to a disappointing resolution. Lillard’s rather cursory treatment of the Amish won’t please fans of the Amish mysteries of Linda Castillo and Paul Gaus. Agent: Mary Sue Seymour, Seymour Agency. (Jan.)