Anathema

By Colleen Coble

Book Overview

When Hannah refuses to forgive a terrible sin she becomes "anathema"--shunned. But the real question is, can she forgive herself? Visitors come to Parke County, Indiana to enjoy the lush farms, to buy the Amish quilts, and to experience the peaceful ways of the Amish families who live there. But when a double murder rocks this quiet community, the Amish residents resolve to forgive even this unfathomable offense. Hannah, however, finds forgiveness out of reach--both for the murderer and for herself. She harbors a secret shame: while the crime was committed in her own home, she was out meeting with her forbidden love, her English beau, Reece. The elders of the community insist that Hannah must forgive her family's killer or be shunned. When Hannah refuses, she runs away with Reece, leaving behind the only life she's ever known. Years later, Hannah must journey back to the place she no longer calls home. Can she find the forgiveness and belonging she so desperately desires?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595542477
• ISBN13: 9781595542472
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc
• Length: 327 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

one of the best

I have read many books about the Amish and this it top of the line. Couldn't wait to get home from a stressful day and get back in the book. I hope there is a #2 with the characters. There was an element of suspense and I would recommend it to anyone.

Page-turning Suspense at Its Best

In Anathema, Colleen brings her fiction to Indiana for the first time, this time in the heart of Parke County and a close-knit Amish community. This book is richly layered with conflict. But it's not all external conflict related to finding the killer and staying alive. Hannah is so conflicted about the Amish faith she abandoned and the problems that she created for herself when she left. She has a hard time separating those she controlled from the ones she didn't ask for...and is left paralyzed. She's also running scared from her abusive husband, but he's found the one tool that could drag her back to him. Matt hides a secret from Hannah that can only destroy the relationship they may have. But he doesn't see that he has a choice. He's also torn between duty and the past. Add in a host of supporting characters, and the texture and twists of the plot form a tangled weave that pulled me through the pages and chapters. I have to admit, I did not fully guess the killer. I was close -- only the person I thought was the killer was the accomplice.

Great book about the Amish

Colleen Coble slices up a small, intriguing section of the Amish life for us, while throwing in a great mystery. The main characters are real, believable, and easy to identify with. I love her descriptions of Amish life, and I even learned a few things about their culture. Great book, great author--Highly recommended!

It would be an "Anathema" to pass up this great read!

Anathema pulls you in from the very first page and doesn't let you go until you close the book. I found the characters to be true-to-life... flawed like you and me. Full of suspense, twists and turns, as well as a sweet love story. The notes about the quilt patterns before each chapter were really fun. I love ALL Colleen's stories and this one was no exception. I highly recommend the book. Great work Colleen!

A great read!

Amish fiction is very popular right now, but Coble has a fresh take on it that shouldn't be missed. There's something very disturbing about murder in the peaceful Amish community, and that juxtaposition is a great hook. Coble writes a page-turner here, one also filled with a sweet love story, great characters, and stellar writing. Amish suspense at its best!