Book Review: "The Amish Wife" by Gregg Olsen

Though I didn't completely enjoy the first book I read by this author, I was recommended to read The Amish Wife since apparently, it was much better in terms of its writing. I can say that this is definitely the case and though I don't think I have ever heard of this case apart from in passing, the terrifying case of the murders of one man from the amish community is so well-researched here, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read it. Kindle Unlimited yet again of course - I like things cheap and cheerful, especially if I'm going to buy other books second hand in paperback form. Well, let's have a look at how Gregg Olsen walked into an amish community in Ohio and tried to investigate a murder of a woman, apparently covered up by her infamous husband.

You've probably heard of an Amish man who committed some murders, including that of his son, some time back now. But, this book investigates the death of his wife and how it was apparently not an accident at all, nor was it natural causes as was reported by the coroner. Now, his wife died in a barn fire after it was thought that the original fire was put out (it was not as there were still embers burning). Apparently, she had died within the confines of the barn fire but was found outside of the barn and had also been listed as dying of a heart attack. Eli Stutzman was the husband involved here and obviously, that name conjures up some dark images. He was giving changing accounts of what had happened and ultimately our author goes to meet with the man who earlier that day, was helping the couple write out a will. Again, apparently this was on the wife's request not the husband's. This is something that our author wants the reader to find hard to believe of course.

Anyways, as the book goes on it becomes more and more clear that the husband probably did murder his wife. The first thing we have to consider is the fact that she was found outside of the barn with burns consistent to being singed not by flamed but from the heat of the fire. Yes, this is consistent with having suffered something beforehand to put her in that position outside but, if the husband noticed that there were still embers alight then why did he not consider to move his wife away from the possibility of a fire? Yeah... Secondly, the changing story gives us a lot to think about. If he was standing right there, then why does his story change over and over again? The author definitely wants us to look at every hard fact in this case and think about one thing: if this man was responsible for the death of his son then why do we think he would not be responsible for the death of his wife as well?

One of the things that horrified me in the book was the fact he would write letters home and scribble notes in the side as his own son even though, mathematically speaking, his son would have been dead by this particular point. He was just trying to convince people he was still alive. I cannot even fathom how awful you have to be to not only murder your own kid but then lie about doing it to others, making him out to be well and truly still alive by pretending to have the writing and vocabulary of a small child in the margins of various letters to extended family and friends. Horrifying and dreadful stuff.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was much better than my previous read of Gregg Olsen's work. I think I will continue with this author in the near future but there's so much on my TBR at the moment it may be some time before I come back. I am aware that there is a prequel to this book and for the life of me, I cannot remember what it is called. If I come back then it might be that one I choose to pick up first.

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