When a toy manufacturer comes to the this Amish community to enlist the Amish artisans in making toys for his company, they are very happy for the added work. But then they discover that he intends on taking their designs to his factory, leaving them out in the cold. When he turns up dead, suspicions fall on the Amish toy makers. Claire is determined to find the real killer, clearing her friends of any wrongdoing. It’s an enjoyable cozy, the mystery being accompanied by a budding romance or two. It will be interesting to see where this author takes these main characters. ( )

A man seeking to mass produce Amish toys turns up dead at a food festival. Knowing the peaceful ways of the Amish, the detective in charge of the case doesn't know where to look for suspects, but Claire, the shop owner/cozy sleuth, finds clues. The mystery lacks the interaction between the detective and cozy sleuth that it needs. The murderer was barely mentioned, so armchair sleuths had little chance of guessing the outcome unless they remember the mention. I did not feel there was a very good sense of place. I felt the Amish were an add-on instead of an integral part of the action. Perhaps this one was a tad too cozy? ( )

I am loving this series of books. It is more than just the murder,it is abt the English and the Amish,small town life and friendships.I have not guessed the murderer yet either! ( )

If it hadn't been for whiny character overload, this would have been a 4 star read. I love Laura Bradford and enjoyed the writing style and storytelling within a solid mystery. Unfortunately, Jakob's self loathing continues, which I get in reality,but still... boring, and Diane gets in the self pity game for far to long over something that realistically no one would. ( )

Assaulted Pretzel is the second book in the An Amish Mystery series by Laura Bradford. And a delightful addition it is.

Things are looking up for the quiet community of Heavenly, PA. The annual Amish Food Festival is about to kick and Rob Karble, president of Karble Toys. Karble is town to talk with Daniel Lapp, an accomplished Amish toymaker, with the understanding that the local Amish men will be producing the toys.

Clair is excited for the food festival to begin, as this is the first one she has attended and is planning on sampling a little bit of everything. First, she stops by the police station to see if Jakob, an Amish man who has given up the faith, to become a policeman. As Claire and Jakob are enjoying walking around and sampling the foods, Claire quite literally trips over the dead body of Rob Karble. Almost immediately a letter is being passed around that stated Karble had no intention of having the toys made in Heavenly.

Suspicion automatically falls on Daniel and Issac, the one who had written Karble and gotten him interested in the first place.

Claire goes into action to look for information as to who the murder might be and to also be a "go between" for Jakob and the area's Amish.

I fell that Bradford does an excellent job of depicting the Amish lifestyle and of their rules.

Looking forward to the next book in series. ( )