Off the Beaten Path * Annalisa Daughety * Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries #6

When a beloved local woodcarver is implicated in a shocking hit-and-run accident on a quiet country lane, a savvy Amish boutique owner must sift through small-town secrets to clear his name and unmask the real culprit.

The Story: Written by acclaimed inspirational fiction author Annalisa Daughety, this fast-paced sixth installment in the beloved Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series turns the peaceful landscape of Ohio's Amish country into an intense investigative workspace. Cheryl Cooper is settled into her routine as a manager at the Swiss Miss Gift Shop, navigating a low-friction lifestyle within her tight-knit community sandbox. Her predictable parameters permanently fracture when a reckless driver strikes a tourist on a buggy trail and flees the scene. The investigation hits a major administrative roadblock when local law enforcement drops a defensive shield of suspicion over a gentle Amish craftsman, using a trail of circumstantial evidence as their tracking line.

Refusing to stand by while an innocent neighbor faces a permanent deadline of false imprisonment, Cheryl launches a synchronized counter-campaign. Armed with her sharp analytical toolkit, she moves step-by-step through an unvarnished ledger of old property disputes, business rivalries, and hidden family conflicts. As her tracking line brings her closer to a highly volatile secret, Cheryl must pierce through a web of small-town deception, racing against a strict ticking clock to establish the true parameters of the crime and protect her peaceful sanctuary before a cold-blooded offender strikes again.

Perfect For: Devotees of traditional, fair-play cozy puzzles, fans of clean, faith-inspired Amish fiction, and readers who cherish the warm, community-driven mystery writing of authors like Wanda E. Brunstetter, Beverly Lewis, or Marta Perry.