Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

405 pages

"The discovery of a dead infant in an Amish barn shakes Lancaster County to its core. But the police investigation leads to a more shocking disclosure: circumstantial evidence suggests that eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher, an unmarried Amish woman believed to be the newborn's mother, took the child's life. When Ellie Hathaway, a disillusioned big-city attorney, comes to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to defend Katie, two cultures collide - and for the first time in her high-profile career, Ellie faces a system of justice very different from her own. Delving deep inside the world of those who live 'plain,' Ellie must find a way to reach Katie on her terms. And as she unravels a tangled murder case, Ellie also looks deep within - to confront her own fears and desires when a man from her past reenters her life." -Back Cover

The pros: Lancaster. Having been one of those tourists who stares at the Amish and takes pictures in front of the Intercourse, PA sign I gained a new respect for them and their way of life and if I go there again I will be a different kind of tourist. I thought of them as a bit strange and different, not so much as people who are similar to me in many ways. I admire them for their beliefs and for their desire to be "in the world but not of it."

The story. I liked the melding of two worlds and I liked that Ellie had a connection to the Amish world through her aunt. It was fun to read about her having to help around the farm and petition for electricity to do her work.

Katie's dad. He was a tough nut but every now and then he'd crack.

Coop. He's one likable psychiatrist.

The cons: The ending. I pretty much had the who-done-it part figured out and I almost wish that the author would have left it ambiguous. Telling us in the end just made me frustrated with that character for not doing the right thing earlier on (or ever really).

Language & some adult content. That's one of the things that I hate about "adult" books; I have to read with a pen so I can cross out offensive words. I'm not very good at quitting a story once I've started unless it's completely offensive. I get too interested in finding out how the story's going to end. I think that's one of the biggest reasons why I love YA/Kid's books. You don't have to always be on your guard and the stories are often just as interesting. This book had some language (including a few of the big ones) and some adult content. It wasn't graphic but still. So, I liked this book, but I'd recommend it with reservation because of those things.