Hidden in Plain Sight: Murder, Romance, and Culture Clash in New Amish Suspense PDF Free Download
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Hidden in Plain Sight: Murder, Romance,
and Culture Clash in New Amish Suspense
“Gray’s multifaceted narrative blends uneasy suspense,
slow-burning romance, and community drama, all while
leaving plenty of secrets yet to be uncovered.”
—Publishers Weekly on Unforgiven
With more than 2 million copies of her books sold, Shelley
Shepard Gray has mastered the delicate balance of faith,
romance, and suspense that readers have come to expect.
In her newest standalone novel, Unshaken, Gray offers a
tension-filled, tightly written tale that is sure to thrill fans of
both Amish fiction and romantic suspense.
When Stephanie Miller planned her visit to a dollar store in
southern Ohio, she was expecting to pick up a few items she
couldn’t find in her Amish community. She was not expecting
to find herself an innocent bystander of a drug deal gone
horribly wrong. As the sole witness to a murder, Stephanie
becomes the killer’s next target.
Hardy Anderson is always ready to help his social worker
sister, Beverly—which now includes hiding an Amish woman
until a killer can be brought to justice. Surely if they dress her
in English clothing, Hardy can hide her at the sprawling ranch
where he works.
But the killer is desperate—and there’s no telling what lengths
he will go to silence the only witness.
Join The New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard
Gray as she delivers a riveting tale of an Amish woman
caught between two worlds.
Discussion Topics
Breaking down cultural barriers in times of crisis
How faith sustains us during life-threatening situations
Protection comes in many forms
Trusting in God’s plan
Unshaken
By: Shelley Shepard Gray
Paperback ISBN: 9780800746049
$18.99; 304 pg
Release date: June 2025
Amish/Romantic Suspense
Media Contact:
Karen Steele
Publicity Manager
(616) 676-9185 ext. 100
ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com
About the Author
Shelley Shepard Gray is The New York Times and USA
Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, including
Unforgiven and Unforgotten. Two-time winner of the HOLT
Medallion and a Carol Award finalist, Gray lives in Ohio,
where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often
be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
Learn more at ShelleyShepardGray.com.
PRAISE for Shelley Shepard Gray’s
Novels
“Shepard Gray’s riveting follow-up to Unforgiven centers
on a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Readers won’t be
able to resist the propulsive plotting. This begs to be
read in one sitting.”
—Publishers Weekly on Unforgotten
“Gray’s latest Amish romantic suspense novel is a
thoughtful exploration of themes of shame,
empowerment, and forgiveness. This uplifting story of
healing reminds readers that God’s love and grace
endure even within one’s trauma and fear.”
—Booklist on Unforgotten
“This feel-good finale will delight Gray’s fans and net her
some new ones.”
—Publishers Weekly on Her Secret Hope
“Warmth, humor, and gentle faith threads round out the
story, making Her Secret Hope a lovely way to spend an
evening.”
—Reading Is My Superpower on Her Secret Hope
“A noteworthy elevation of an enjoyable series.”
—Booklist on Her Only Wish
Shelley Shepard Gray
ShelleyShepardGray.com
Facebook:
@ShelleyShepardGray
Instagram:
@Shelley.S.Gray
X:
@ShelleySGray
Media Contact:
Karen Steele
Fiction Publicity Manager
(616) 676-9185 ext. 100
ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com
Sample Interview Questions for Shelley Shepard Gray
Unshaken
What inspired you to blend elements of Amish fiction with suspense in this story of an innocent
witness to a crime?
Two things! The first was the movie Witness. Like so many people, I was swept away by the thought of an
Amish person witnessing a crime, but I was more intrigued by an Amish woman having to live “English” than
the other way around. Secondly, I was once in a dollar store in Pinecraft, and half the people inside were
Amish buying flip-flops and beach towels for their vacation. I was struck by the wide variety of people standing
in line, which (for some reason) made me start imagining all sorts of things that could happen.
The life of your protagonist, Stephanie Miller, changes dramatically after she witnesses a murder at a
dollar store. How does this incident challenge common perceptions about the separation between
Amish and English worlds?
Though things have changed a bit, when I first started writing romances featuring Amish characters, I would
hear from lots of people chastising me for not following every “rule” they read about online. I would do my best
to gently remind people that every Amish community is different and that most Amish are well aware of things
going on in the “outside” world—they simply choose not to live that way. That said, I created Stephanie’s
character to have been so traumatized by things that happened in her past that she would be open to both
doing whatever she needed to survive and living “English” for a short amount of time.
Can you tell us about the research that went into crafting an authentic portrayal of how an Amish
woman might handle being thrust into witness protection?
I’ve been fortunate to have been able to write several books over the years that involve law enforcement
professionals. I have a wide variety of notes from people I’ve interviewed in order to make this work of fiction
seem possible.
Hardy Anderson has to help hide Stephanie by having her dress English. How does this external
transformation affect her internal journey?
I actually think that Stephanie’s internal journey affected her ability to change her outward appearance.
Because she’d already lost her parents suddenly and had been forced to dramatically change her life
afterward, she’s able to accept Hardy’s help. If she’d been a sheltered, happy young woman before
witnessing the murder, I don’t think she would have been so willing to do whatever she needed to do in order
to survive.
How does the ranch setting play into both the suspense elements and potential romance between
Stephanie and Hardy?
I happened to really love the ranch setting. My family had a ranch when I was growing up in Texas, so
thinking about cows and horses actually makes me very happy. I also wanted Stephanie and Hardy to be
fairly isolated so they would be forced to get to know and trust each other. I also enjoyed creating some
strong secondary characters to help both Stephanie and Hardy on their journey.
Your books have sold over 2 million copies. What do you think draws readers to stories about the
Amish community?
I know readers love to learn about the Amish and become immersed in a world that is different from their
own—at least on the outside. Personally, I’ve always tried to write the most gripping novel I can in which my
characters just happen to be Amish.
How do you balance writing about serious crime and danger while maintaining the traditional values
and faith elements readers expect from Amish fiction?
I happen to think that the addition of crime and danger makes adding values and faith elements easier. I think
just about everyone turns to their faith in times of pain or danger.
What unique challenges did you face in writing a character who has to navigate both Amish and
English worlds while under threat?
Boy, it was difficult! I rewrote several scenes over and over again in an attempt to make the scenes seem
realistic yet taut, but also from a young Amish woman’s perspective. For me, it was a balancing act to keep
the story fast-moving and not bogged down with tons of description while giving enough details for the reader
to understand how my Amish heroine must be feeling.
Can you share about the process of crafting realistic suspense in a story involving a community
known for nonviolence?
I love writing novels that place characters out of their comfort zones. Those uncomfortable situations often
force my characters to do unexpected things, whether they’re hoping to survive or just fall in love. Because of
that, I envisioned Stephanie being the type of woman to do whatever she needed to do in order to stay alive.
However, the setting was really important for Unshaken. I don’t think I could’ve written this story if it had been
set in the Amish community. It was one of the reasons I placed it on a sprawling ranch.
What do you hope readers take away from this story about faith, protection, and finding strength in
unexpected circumstances?
I write every novel with the same goal in mind: to write a book that’s entertaining and hard to put down. It
would be an honor if people are inspired by Hardy’s and Stephanie’s journeys as well.
What are you working on next?
I’m so excited to share that I’m currently working on the first book in my new trilogy for Revell. The series is
called The Amish Widows Club, and it features Amish, Mennonite, and English characters.
How can readers connect with you?
I have a website, ShelleyShepardGray.com. I’m also on Instagram and Facebook and have a private reader
group on FB called Shelley Shepard Gray’s Buggy Bunch. I also visit about 10–12 libraries a year. That’s my
favorite way to connect with readers!
To schedule an interview or request a copy of the book, please contact:
Karen Steele, Publicity Manager | PH. (616) 676-9185 | ksteele@BakerPublishingGroup.com
