DARK ANGEL

Author: Karen Harper ISBN: 0778321797 6/2005 SUSPENSE Publisher: MIRA

One morning Leah Kurtz goes to wake her adopted infant daughter and instantly knows something is terribly wrong. She is convinced that her baby has been switched with another child. Afraid that no one will believe her, Leah turns to an unlikely ally, despite the fact that her Amish community frowns on its members seeking help in the outside world. Dr. Mark Morelli studies the genetic illnesses that plague the Amish, but he has other, private reasons for coming to Maplecreek...reasons that may be tied to the mysterious disappearance of Leah's daughter. Together, Leah and Mark must uncover a conspiracy—before there are deadly consequences.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

How could a love affair between an Amish woman and an Italian doctor be anything but awkward, clumsy and asexual? Ask Karen Harper, author of DARK ANGEL. Ms. Harper has written a believable and yes, even erotic romance between these two characters; Leah Kurtz and Mark Morelli. Now before you become mislead, this book is not a romance. It is a suspenseful, murder mystery littered with scary crimes and kidnappings.

DARK ANGEL is the story of an Amish community that, like many others, is plagued by deadly genetic diseases. Leah Kurtz, a member of this community, has just adopted her recently deceased best friend’s baby. Leah is optimistic that her baby does not have the same disease that killed her mother and she will risk everything to find a cure, including her life.

Mark Morelli is the Italian doctor/geneticist who has come to live among the Amish in hopes of curing genetic diseases. Mark needs Leah as his liaison so that the Amish community will trust him. Even though the community as a whole has accepted Mark, there are many people who want Leah and Mark out of the way so that they may conduct genetic testing of their own. Leah and Mark must find out who before there are deadly consequences.

Ms. Harper’s DARK ANGEL is a fantastically frightening thriller. The plot, although a little slow at first, quickly unfolds to reveal a complex and intriguing story. The rural setting, along with the continuous stream of spooky crimes, leaves the reader haunted. The main characters, Leah and Mark, have depth and are well-written. The secondary characters really bring this novel to life. Ms. Harper provides just enough character description to blur the line between friend and foe, which keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Dark Angel is a must read!

Kendra Wheeler