Book Review of the Telling by Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis is a New York Times bestselling author who is well known for her novels about the Amish and their simple lifestyle. In The Telling, she draws the Seasons of Grace series to a satisfying conclusion and answers the questions that were raised in The Secret and The Missing.


What Leads up to The Telling

The Bylers live in Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster and a secret has torn their lives apart Lettie, the mother of the family had a child out of wedlock as a teenager and she and her parents concealed this from the community. Twenty four years later, tormented with guilt and grief, Lettie disappears to embark on a search for her child who was adopted out.



The Storyline of The Telling

The Telling opens with the journey of Grace Byler and her Englischer friend, Heather Nelson to Ohio. Grace heard through the grapevine that her mother was staying with an Amish woman in the Baltic area and plans to try and bring her home to Bird-in-Hand. On arrival, it is a great let-down to find her mother has moved on with no forwarding address.
A few days later Lettie returns home on her own, having exhausted her search without finding any trace of her child. Her husband, Judah, is besides himself with joy at her return '" until she shares the reason for her disappearance.


The reader is compelled to turn the pages and find out if Judah and the church can find it in themselves to extend grace and mercy to a broken, repentant woman. Lettie is called upon to make a public confession and once the community hear of her sin, a decision is made about her future.


Beverly Lewis skilfully weaves the story together with threads of hope, forgiveness, love, romance and joy. In the final chapter questions are answered, facts are clarified and Lettie's search comes to an unexpected end.


Facts About Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis was born in Pennsylvania Dutch country and has a natural interest in the Amish due to her mother's plain heritage. She has won awards for her writing and has authored over eighty books. As a New York Times bestselling author, she has a worldwide following with some of her books being available in ten different languages.


For those who have read The Secret and The Missing, reading The Telling is a must to learn the conclusion of the story. It follows on seamlessly from The Missing and answers all the questions that have been posed. Beverly Lewis maintains interest right through to the last chapter where she knits the whole story into a touching conclusion.


Lewis, Beverly, The Telling, Bethany House Publishers, 2010