The Moving Word

Book Review of “The Secrets Beneath”

The Secrets Beneath by Kathleen Fuller is a novel inspired by a young Amish girl’s readings of Nancy Drew mystery stories. When an elderly man moves in next door and begins digging up his yard at night, Bekah Yoder finds herself in the midst of a mystery that rivals those of her heroine sleuth.

Moreover, a second mystery enters the scene when her Pennsylvania cousin, Amanda Yoder, moves in to spend the winter and no one will tell Bekah why she is living with them. Bekah and her cousin Amanda are drawn by their curiosity into more trouble and danger than they bargained for.

Kathleen Fuller weaves an Amish tale that blends a fascination with a unique portion of American subculture with an aura of mystery. The story is set in Middlefield, Ohio in the second largest Amish community in the state.

Kathleen Fuller presents a comparison of the Amish community in Ohio with the Amish community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The author has a very smooth style and the pacing of the story keeps the reader captivated until the last page is turned.

She sprinkles humor into the mix in the form of young Caleb Mullet, a young Amish boy, whose antics create a source of amusement. Created for young adults, this novel is also good by all those interested in the Amish culture.