Separate from the World is the sixth in a series of mysteries set in the Amish community of Holmes County, Ohio. The author, Paul L. Gaus teaches chemistry at the College of Wooster in Ohio, and lives near many of Ohio’s Amish communities. He is familiar with the Amish and sympathetic with their views.
Amish romance stories are perhaps most common, but Paul Gaus, a retired chemistry professor, has been writing Amish murder mysteries since 1997, set in the Amish country of Holmes County, Ohio, where he lives. Originally published by Ohio University Press, Gaus's books are now being republished by Penguin as “The Amish Mystery Series.” The first title in the series, l"Blood of the Prodigal, " which addresses shunning – the Amish practice of exiling disobedient church members into the mainstream society – was released last month. All six of Gaus's books will be released by Penguin, one a month, from now through February. Monitor contributor Brendan Pelsue spoke with Gaus recently.
Ohio native Paul L. Gaus is a recently retired professor of Chemistry at The College of Wooster and is co-author of the best-selling senior textbook, Basic Inorganic Chemistry. Paul took an interest in writing fiction, and began to write mystery novels set in Holmes County, Ohio, spawning the popular Ohio Amish Mystery series.
