Books & Spoons Review: WHEN SECRETS STRIKE by Marta Perry

In Laurel Ridge, Pennsylvania, a community once united must suspect one of their own 

Amish quilter Sarah Bitler's dreams no longer feature a husband and family. Instead, she searches for success in the quilt shop within Blackburn House, a place once tarnished with deadly secrets. She refuses to let the past influence her future…until an ominous fire forces them to collide. 

Firefighter Aaron King was the first to touch Sarah's heart—and the first to break it. Now a widower and father of two small girls, his return to Sarah's life brings her buried feelings to the surface. As a string of horrific incidents tears apart their community, an arsonist's wrath threatens to destroy them all. With Aaron as the only suspect, Sarah must follow her instincts to find the truth. But to protect an innocent man, she might risk her heart to Aaron again…and risk her life to an unknown killer.

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​Arson, murder, physical attacks spread fear amongst the small community, as it seems one of their own is out to get them all..
I have seen a lot of Amish stories out lately, and as I saw this title, thought it might be the perfect one for me to try out.
I liked the characters, they were all so helpful, kind and supportive each other in all matters. They were easy to like, to understand, and accept. The Amish ways, culture, habits, were interesting. And as I am a quilter myself, I found that part interesting as well.
The crimes were multiplied, and seemed somehow personal. The fear was palpable at times, and certainly there were many twists in the plot to move the story on, and keep the interest.
At the same time as I admire the peaceful, no hurry ways of the Amish, I admit, this story could have moved a bit faster. The focus on the story was the people, not the action, and things happening in the community. So the tension and fierceness of the constantly happening crimes is dulled after the fact, every time. That doesn't mean the story isn't good, it actually was, and I grew attached to the people in it, felt the connection between them. But I could have enjoyed more intensity and speed into the tale. 
But, as it was, an interesting, crime filled story, from the small town where the English and the Amish live in a peaceful co-habitants, until the arson cases and other mysteries starts to build fear amongst the folks
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side