“Searching for Samuel” Explores Missing Person Mystery in Ohio’s Amish Country Where Community Response Reveals Cultural Heart

MINFORD, Ohio — USA Today bestselling author Serena B. Miller returns to the beloved community of Sugarcreek, Ohio, with “Searching for Samuel,” the compelling second installment in her acclaimed “Secrets of Sugarcreek” series. Following the successful February launch of the cozy mystery collection with “A Stranger for Christmas,” Miller deepens her exploration of small-town mysteries that prove the most gripping puzzles often involve the secrets we keep rather than crimes we commit.

When Samuel Troyer, a devoted Amish family man, vanishes without a trace while cycling to work, his brother-in-law, Lucas, and Amy must search for him before it’s too late. Their desperate hunt for Samuel forces Amy and Lucas to confront the feelings for one another they’ve been trying to ignore, while uncovering secrets that threaten to tear apart their quiet Sugarcreek community.

Miller’s research for “Searching for Samuel” led to several surprising discoveries that became important story elements. “How do you create a missing persons’ poster when you’re Amish and there’s no photos of you?” Miller wondered while developing the storyline. “The Amish typically don’t allow photographs, which creates a real challenge for law enforcement in missing person cases.”

This research question became a pivotal plot point when Miller realized her character, Amy, would have unknowingly broken Amish protocol by taking a forbidden photograph—a mistake that becomes crucial to the search effort.

The house-to-house search that Amy and Lucas undertake revealed another aspect of Amish culture that Miller has experienced first-hand—Amish hospitality. “Every home they visited in their quest for clues about Samuel’s disappearance, offered the same generous hospitality—fresh baked goods, hot coffee, genuine concern,” Miller explains. “I’ve learned that when trouble comes to an Amish family, so does help. It’s not just individual families responding; it’s an entire community mobilizing.”

One of Miller’s most surprising research discoveries involved driver’s licenses. “I learned that some Amish continue to keep their driver’s licenses up to date as a ‘just in case’ situation,” Miller reveals. “Lucas’s character reflects this reality—he renews his license every five years for identification purposes, even though owning a car is forbidden. Most people assume Amish people never learn to drive, but many do get licenses during their Rumspringa and quietly maintain them.”

Beyond the cultural research challenges, the writing process presented Miller with an equally complex creative obstacle: crafting a compelling romance that couldn’t reach immediate resolution. “I had to write a love story that couldn’t be completed right away,” Miller explains. “Amy and Lucas come from two completely different worlds—she’s an unchurched Manhattan ghostwriter and daughter to a celebrity. He’s a farmer committed to his Amish faith. I couldn’t just wave away the very real differences between their worlds, so the challenge to me became how to maintain romantic tension without upsetting my readers who want to see characters they care about find happiness together by the end of the book. Sometimes the most authentic love stories are the ones that acknowledge that love alone isn’t always enough to bridge every divide.”

“Searching for Samuel” builds upon the foundation established in February’s series opener while advancing the complex relationship between Amy Stanton, who inherited her ex-stepfather’s Sugarcreek farm, and Lucas Hershberger, her Amish farm manager. The novel demonstrates Miller’s continued mastery of authentic Amish-English cultural dynamics while exploring the deeper mysteries that emerge when a peaceful community faces genuine crisis.

The “Secrets of Sugarcreek” series has established itself as a fresh take on the cozy mystery genre, proving that compelling suspense can emerge from the stories behind everyday objects and the secrets that people try to keep, rather than relying on traditional crime elements.

Miller is a USA Today bestselling author and winner of the Romance Writers of America “RITA,” the American Christian Fiction Writers “CAROL,” and a finalist for the “CHRISTY.” Her signature storytelling has leaped from page to screen multiple times, with “The Sugar Haus Inn” becoming the award-winning UPTV movie “Love Finds You in Sugarcreek,” which captured the coveted “Templeton Epiphany Award.” Her mastery of heartfelt narratives has since inspired acclaimed Hallmark Channel features “An Uncommon Grace” (2017) and “Moriah’s Lighthouse” (2022).

“Searching for Samuel: A Secrets of Sugarcreek Novel” is published by L. J. Emory Publishing and is available in print and digital formats through major retailers.