Shattered Amish Identity
Unsolved Amish Abduction
Mary Alford
Shattered Amish Identity and Unsolved Amish Abduction by Mary Alford are riveting mysteries.
Shattered Amish Identity has Amish school teacher Hannah York is attacked; she defends herself with skills she never knew she had. CIA agent Titus Miller arrives, claiming that she’s fellow agent Lara Redmond—and that she’s in danger from a powerful enemy. Despite suffering from amnesia, Hannah is certain she’s only ever lived a quiet Amish life. But why does Titus seem so familiar, and could it be true that he loved her once? When Hannah’s family is abducted, she and Titus must work together to find them. Can Hannah trust him to help unlock the truth of her past…and keep her safe?
Unsolved Amish Abduction has an anonymous letter containing her missing sister’s bracelet lures Anna Hartzler back to her Amish hometown—and into a trap set by the kidnapper she escaped years ago. She’s rescued from another abduction by Jaxson Thomas, her former neighbor turned police officer. Now Anna must depend on Jaxson to protect her and her little girl, who he doesn’t know is his child. But as the threats grow, can he keep them safe long enough to identify and catch the culprit—before this enemy sets his sights on their daughter?
Elise Cooper: Idea for the story of Shattered Amish Identity?
Mary Alford: The idea for Shattered Amish Identity began like a lot of my book ideas—with a question that popped into my head that demanded an answer: What if an Amish schoolteacher discovered that everything she believed about her life was a lie?
Hannah York has spent years rebuilding her life after a tragic accident left her with amnesia. She finds peace in the Amish community of Rachel’s Crossing, Kentucky and has accepted that some memories may never return. But when a stranger arrives and insists, she’s actually a CIA operative presumed dead years ago, Hannah is forced to question everything she knows about herself.
I loved the contrast between Hannah’s simple Amish life and the dangerous world of international espionage suddenly crashing into it. The story allowed me to explore themes of identity, belonging, forgiveness and faith while placing an ordinary woman in extraordinary circumstances. At its heart, Shattered Amish Identity asks whether our identity is defined by our past mistakes and experiences or by who God calls us to be today.
Adding Titus Miller, a former Amish man turned CIA officer, created even more tension because he is connected to both worlds. Together, Hannah and Titus must uncover the truth about her past while outrunning a deadly terrorist organization determined to keep buried secrets hidden.
EC: How would you describe Hannah?
MA: Hannah York is resilient, compassionate, and deeply faithful, even when her world is falling apart. On the surface, she’s an Amish schoolteacher who has built a quiet life in Rachel’s Crossing after a tragic accident left her with no memory of her past. She loves her students, her community, and the simple life she’s created.
What makes Hannah unique is the tension between who she believes she is and who she may have been. She struggles with unanswered questions about her missing memories, yet she chooses to move forward in faith rather than live in fear. When dangerous men begin hunting her and evidence suggests she may be someone entirely different, Hannah is forced to confront truths she’d rather leave buried.
Despite the danger surrounding her, Hannah never loses her compassion or her belief that God has a purpose for her life. She possesses a quiet strength that surprises even her. As the story unfolds, readers discover that Hannah is far stronger, braver, and more capable than she ever imagined.
At her heart, Hannah is a woman searching for the truth—not only about her past, but about who she is meant to be. That’s what made her such a fascinating character for me to write.
EC: How would you describe Lara?
MA: Lara is intelligent, courageous, and fiercely dedicated to protecting others. As a CIA operative, she thrived in high-risk situations and possessed remarkable instincts in the field. She was the kind of agent who could think quickly under pressure, adapt to changing circumstances, and keep moving forward no matter the odds. Titus describes her as one of the best officers he ever worked with—a natural spy with exceptional talent and determination.
Beneath that strength, however, Lara was also loyal and deeply committed to the people she cared about. She was willing to put herself in danger to stop those who threatened innocent lives, even when the personal cost was high. That sense of duty ultimately placed her in the crosshairs of a dangerous terrorist organization and led to the mission that supposedly claimed her life.
What I find most fascinating about Lara is that she represents a life Hannah can’t remember but cannot completely escape. Lara’s past choices, sacrifices, and secrets cast a shadow over the entire story. As the truth unfolds, readers discover that Lara was more than a skilled operative—she was a woman who faced impossible decisions and paid a tremendous price for them.
Though Lara and Hannah are the same person, yet they seem worlds apart. One is a highly trained CIA officer accustomed to danger; the other is an Amish schoolteacher who values faith, community, and peace. Watching those two identities collide became one of my favorite aspects of writing Shattered Amish Identity.
EC: How would you describe Titus
MA: Titus Miller is a man caught between two worlds. Raised Amish in Rachel’s Crossing, he left the Plain life after a personal tragedy shattered his future and sent him searching for a different path. He eventually joined the military and later the CIA, dedicating his life to protecting others and preventing the kind of loss he once experienced himself.
On the surface, Titus is confident, capable, and highly skilled. Years in intelligence work have taught him to trust facts rather than feelings, and he’s accustomed to operating in dangerous situations where lives hang in the balance. Yet beneath that tough exterior is a man carrying deep wounds from his past. The losses he’s endured have left him guarded and reluctant to open his heart again.
What makes Titus such a compelling character is his unwavering loyalty. Once he commits to protecting someone, he refuses to walk away. When he discovers Hannah, a woman who looks exactly like the CIA operative he once loved and believed dead, he is forced to confront old grief, unanswered questions, and the possibility that everything he thought he knew about the past might be wrong.
At his core, Titus is a protector. He’s brave, determined, and willing to sacrifice for others. But throughout the story, he must learn that some battles can’t be won through strength or training alone. His journey is as much about rediscovering faith and healing from old hurts as it is about stopping a dangerous enemy.
I loved writing Titus because he embodies both strength and vulnerability. He’s a hero who can face terrorists without flinching, yet struggles with the emotional scars of his past and the hope that God might still have a plan for his future.
EC: What about the relationship between Titus and Hannah?
MA: The relationship between Titus and Hannah is the emotional heart of Shattered Amish Identity. From the moment they meet, their relationship is built on uncertainty, secrets, and a shared past that only one of them remembers.
Titus is convinced Hannah is actually Lara Redmond, the CIA operative he once worked alongside and cared deeply for before she was presumed dead. Hannah, however, has no memory of that life. She believes she’s an Amish schoolteacher who lost her memories in a tragic accident years ago. That creates an immediate tension between them because Titus is asking her to question everything she believes about herself.
As the story progresses, they are forced to depend on one another for survival. Titus becomes Hannah’s protector as dangerous enemies close in, while Hannah challenges Titus to see beyond the facts and evidence he relies on so heavily. They both carry deep wounds from their pasts, and through their journey together they begin to find healing, hope, and the courage to trust again.
What I enjoyed most about writing their relationship was the question at its center: Can you fall in love with the same person twice? Titus remembers the woman Hannah used to be, but Hannah must decide for herself who she wants to become. Their romance grows slowly through danger, sacrifice, and faith as they learn that love is not just about who they were in the past, but who God is shaping them to be in the future.
Ultimately, Titus and Hannah’s relationship is a story of second chances—second chances at love, at faith, and at discovering that even the most shattered lives can be made whole again.
EC: What role did Nala play in the story?
MA: Nala is much more than a pet in Shattered Amish Identity—she’s Hannah’s loyal companion, protector, and at times, her first line of defense. From the opening chapters, Nala senses danger long before Hannah does and repeatedly puts herself between Hannah and those who want to harm her. In many ways, Nala becomes Hannah’s constant source of comfort and security in a world that is suddenly filled with uncertainty and fear.
Nala is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, a breed known for its intelligence, loyalty, and protective instincts, and those traits shine throughout the story. When an intruder attacks Hannah in her home, Nala immediately springs into action, giving Hannah the precious seconds she needs to fight back and survive. As the danger escalates, Nala continues to prove she’s every bit as brave as the human heroes.
Beyond the action, Nala also serves an emotional purpose. Hannah struggles with missing memories and questions about her identity, but Nala never doubts who Hannah is. Her unwavering devotion provides a sense of stability and unconditional love during a time when almost everything else in Hannah’s life is being turned upside down.
I always enjoy including dogs in my stories, and Nala quickly became one of my favorite characters. She’s courageous, fiercely loyal, and often seems to know what’s happening before anyone else does. While Titus and Hannah work to uncover the truth, Nala is there every step of the way, reminding readers that some bonds don’t depend on memories—they’re built on trust and love.
EC: What is the Red Dragon?
MA: Red Dragon is the primary antagonist and the leader of a powerful international terrorist organization known simply as Dragon. Through ruthless ambition and strategic manipulation, he has united multiple terrorist factions under his command, creating a network that operates across Europe and the Middle East. His influence is so extensive that intelligence agencies consider him one of the most dangerous terrorist leaders in the world. What makes Red Dragon particularly frightening is that he rarely appears in the open.
Instead, he works from the shadows, using loyal operatives to carry out his plans while carefully protecting his own identity and location. His organization is disciplined, well-funded, and willing to eliminate anyone who threatens its goals.
In Shattered Amish Identity, Red Dragon’s presence looms over the entire story. The reason his operatives are hunting Hannah becomes one of the central mysteries of the novel. As Hannah and Titus uncover pieces of the truth, they realize that whatever secrets Hannah’s lost memories contain could pose a significant threat to Red Dragon and everything he has worked to build.
For me, Red Dragon represents more than just a villain. He symbolizes the darkness of deception, manipulation, and fear that Hannah must confront as she searches for the truth about her identity. The greater the mystery surrounding her past becomes, the more dangerous Red Dragon proves to be—and the more determined he becomes to keep those secrets buried.
EC: Idea for the story of Unsolved Amish Abduction?
MA: I’m a huge cold case fan and I wanted to write a story that would feature an unsolved cold case. Thus, Unsolved Amish Abduction was born. I wanted the reader to feel the emotional toll that an unsolved cold case plays on those involved. Not only on the victim who survives, but on the family left behind waiting for answers that may never come.
Anna Hartzler has spent ten years trying to rebuild her life after escaping the man who kidnapped her and her sister. While Anna survived, Constance disappeared without a trace. When an anonymous letter arrives containing a clue tied to her sister’s disappearance, Anna is drawn back to Rachel’s Crossing and forced to confront the nightmare she thought she’d left behind.
I wanted to explore what happens when the past suddenly refuses to stay buried. How does someone move forward when they still don’t know what happened to a person they loved? How much would they risk for the truth?
The story also allowed me to weave in a second-chance romance. Anna’s search for answers reunites her with Jaxson Thomas, the former neighbor and first love she left behind years earlier. Together they must face a dangerous enemy while confronting the secrets, regrets, and unresolved feelings that still linger between them.
At its core, Unsolved Amish Abduction is a story about faith, redemption, and hope. Even when answers seem impossible to find, God is still present in the middle of the uncertainty, guiding His children toward healing, truth, and second chances.
EC: How would you describe Anna?
MA: Anna Hartzler is a woman defined by resilience, courage, and an unwavering determination to find the truth. Ten years before the story begins, she survived a terrifying kidnapping that changed her life forever, but her older sister, Constance, never came home. Since then, Anna has carried the weight of survivor’s guilt and the unanswered questions surrounding her sister’s disappearance.
Despite everything she has endured, Anna is incredibly strong. She has faced loss after loss, including the deaths of her parents and husband, yet she continues to move forward for the sake of her young daughter, Grace. Her love for her family and her determination to uncover what happened to Constance drive many of the choices she makes throughout the story.
At the same time, Anna is vulnerable in ways many readers will relate to. She struggles with fear, grief, and regret. She wonders if she could have done something differently the night, she escaped and her sister didn’t. Those questions have haunted her for years and make her willing to risk almost anything for answers.
What I admire most about Anna is that she never gives up. Even when the truth seems out of reach and danger closes in around her, she continues fighting for the people she loves. Her journey is one of healing, forgiveness, and learning to trust God with the things she cannot control.
At her heart, Anna is a survivor—not because she escaped a kidnapper, but because she refuses to let tragedy define her future.
EC: How would you describe Jax?
MA: Jaxson “Jax” Thomas is a protector at heart. As a police officer and K-9 handler in Rachel’s Crossing, he has dedicated his life to helping others and seeking justice for those who cannot protect themselves. He’s dependable, courageous, and deeply committed to doing what’s right, even when the cost is personal.
Beneath his calm, capable exterior, Jax carries wounds from his own past. He grew up in a difficult home with an abusive father, and those experiences shaped the man he became. Rather than allowing bitterness to define him, Jax chose a path of service and protection. His faith journey and personal struggles have given him compassion for people who are hurting and a determination to stand between danger and those he cares about.
What makes Jax especially compelling is his loyalty. Even after ten years apart, he never hesitates when Anna needs help. The moment he realizes she’s in danger; his focus becomes keeping her safe and finding the person responsible for threatening her. He’s the kind of hero who doesn’t walk away when things get difficult—he steps forward.
Jax is also a man who understands loss and regret. Reuniting with Anna forces him to confront feelings he thought he had left behind and raises questions about the choices they both made years ago. As the story unfolds, readers see not only his strength and courage, but also his vulnerability and his desire to build a future that is guided by faith rather than fear.
At his core, Jax is a guardian—steady, honorable, and willing to fight for the people he loves. Those qualities make him the perfect partner for Anna as they face the dangers of the past together.
EC: What is the relationship between Jax and Anna?
MA: The relationship between Jax and Anna is built on a shared history, first love, and years of unanswered questions. Long before the events of Unsolved Amish Abduction, they were neighbors and close friends who gradually fell in love. During one of the darkest periods of Anna’s life, after she and her sister were kidnapped, Jax became the person she trusted most. He helped her through the trauma and gave her a sense of stability when everything else felt uncertain.
Their relationship took a deeper turn, but circumstances pulled them apart. Jax left Rachel’s Crossing to escape his abusive father, while Anna was sent away from the community shortly afterward. Neither had the opportunity to say goodbye properly, and both carried regrets about how things ended.
When Anna returns to Rachel’s Crossing ten years later, they are no longer the teenagers who once dreamed about a future together. Both have experienced heartbreak, loss, and disappointment. Yet despite the years between them, there is still a deep connection that neither has completely forgotten. Reuniting forces them to confront old feelings, painful memories, and secrets that have remained hidden for far too long.
What I love most about their relationship is that it is ultimately a story of second chances. As they work together to solve the mystery surrounding Constance’s disappearance, they begin to rediscover the trust and friendship that first brought them together. Their journey isn’t just about catching a criminal—it’s about healing old wounds, finding forgiveness, and learning that God’s plans can be bigger than our mistakes and regrets.
At its heart, Jax and Anna’s relationship is one of enduring love. Even after ten years apart, danger, loss, and secrets, they discover that some bonds are strong enough to survive the passage of time and emerge even stronger than before.
EC: What role did Constance play in the story?
MA: Although Constance is missing for most of the story, she is one of the most important characters in Unsolved Amish Abduction. Everything that happens revolves around her disappearance and the questions she left behind. Her absence drives the investigation, influences Anna’s choices, and creates the mystery at the heart of the novel.
Constance was Anna’s older sister, but she was also her best friend. Where Anna tended to be more cautious, Constance was adventurous and willing to push boundaries. It was Constance who convinced Anna to sneak out into the woods the night they were kidnapped, a decision that changed both of their lives forever.
Throughout the story, Constance becomes a symbol of both hope and guilt for Anna. Anna has spent ten years wondering what happened to her sister and questioning whether she could have done something differently. That uncertainty has shaped every major decision she has made since the kidnapping. When new clues surface, Anna is willing to risk everything for the chance to finally learn the truth.
Constance also serves as the emotional thread connecting the past and present. Through memories, clues, letters, and revelations, readers come to understand who she was and why finding answers matters so much to Anna. Even though she isn’t physically present for much of the novel, her influence is felt in nearly every chapter.
Constance is the reason Anna returns to Rachel’s Crossing, the reason Jax and Anna are reunited, and ultimately the key to unlocking the mystery that has haunted everyone for a decade. In many ways, Constance’s story is the heartbeat of Unsolved Amish Abduction.
EC: What role did Grace play in the story?
MA: Grace plays a vital role in Unsolved Amish Abduction because she gives Anna something precious to fight for beyond finding answers about the past. As Anna’s young daughter, Grace represents hope, family, and the future Anna has worked so hard to build despite the tragedies she has endured.
While the mystery centers on Constance’s disappearance, Grace raises the stakes in a very personal way. Anna’s greatest fear is not what might happen to her, but what could happen to her daughter. Every decision Anna makes throughout the story is influenced by her desire to protect Grace and give her the safe, loving childhood that Anna herself lost when she was kidnapped.
Grace also serves as a living connection between Anna and Jax. Unknown to Jax at the beginning of the story, Grace is his daughter. That secret adds an emotional layer to the novel and creates both tension and vulnerability as Anna struggles with when and how to reveal the truth.
Beyond her role in the plot, Grace brings warmth and light to the story. She reminds both Anna and Jax that life is about more than the pain of the past. Her innocence, curiosity, and trust help soften some of the darker moments and give the characters a glimpse of what they stand to gain if they can overcome the dangers surrounding them.
In many ways, Grace represents God’s gift of hope after heartbreak. She is a reminder that even after loss, healing is possible and new beginnings can emerge from the most difficult circumstances. While Constance’s disappearance ties the story to the past, Grace points everyone toward the future.
EC: Who played a more pivotal role in the story Nala or Tracker?
MA: Both Nala and Tracker are much more than pets—they are true partners to the heroes and heroines of their respective stories. Nala serves as Hannah’s loyal protector in Shattered Amish Identity, repeatedly sensing danger and helping keep Hannah safe as enemies close in around her. She provides comfort, companionship, and protection during Hannah’s journey of discovering the truth about her identity.
Tracker, however, is woven even more deeply into the investigation in Unsolved Amish Abduction. As Jax’s K-9 partner, Tracker is an active member of the law enforcement team. His tracking abilities, instincts, and training directly contribute to the search for clues and the pursuit of the person responsible for the crimes. He isn’t simply protecting the characters—he’s helping solve the mystery.
From a story perspective, Nala is the emotional and protective anchor of Shattered Amish Identity, while Tracker functions as both protector and investigator in Unsolved Amish Abduction. If Nala had been removed from her story, Hannah would have lost an important source of protection and support. If Tracker had been removed from Unsolved Amish Abduction, several key investigative moments would have been far more difficult to accomplish.
So, my answer would be thatTracker played the more pivotal role in moving the plot forward, while Nala played the more personal and emotional role in her story.
The truth is, though, I love them both. As a dog lover, I enjoy creating canine characters that are every bit as memorable and courageous as their human counterparts, and both Nala and Tracker earned their place in their stories.
EC: Was the kidnapper pure evil and how would you describe them?
MA: One of the things that makes Unsolved Amish Abduction unique is that the villains aren’t strangers lurking in the shadows—they’re people Anna loved and trusted. The ultimate revelation that Constance and her mother are behind the crimes adds an emotional layer to the story because the true danger comes from betrayal rather than an unknown enemy.
I wouldn’t describe either of them as “pure evil.” Instead, I would describe them as deeply broken individuals whose choices led them down a dark path. Both women allow bitterness, resentment, and selfish ambition to shape their decisions until they become willing to hurt the very people they should have loved and protected.
Constance is especially tragic because she begins the story as the person Anna has spent ten years mourning and searching for. In Anna’s mind, her sister is a victim. The truth is far more complicated. Constance is intelligent, manipulative, and willing to exploit Anna’s love and guilt to achieve her own goals. What makes her such a compelling antagonist is that she understands Anna better than almost anyone and knows exactly how to use that knowledge against her.
Constance’s mother serves as both an enabler and a driving force behind much of the deception. She is calculating, controlling, and fiercely protective of the secrets she has spent years hiding. Together, she and Constance create a dangerous partnership built on lies, manipulation, and a willingness to sacrifice others for their own interests.
For me, the real theme behind these villains is the destructive power of unchecked bitterness and deception. Rather than turning to faith, forgiveness, or truth, they choose to nurture their grievances and justify increasingly harmful actions. By the time the story reaches its climax, they have become trapped by the very lies they created.
That is what makes them frightening—not that they are monsters, but that they are people who continually chose darkness over light. Their story serves as a powerful contrast to Anna and Jax, who must learn to trust God, seek truth, and find healing despite the pain of the past.
EC: Next book(s)?
MA: There will be two more visits to Rachel’s Crossing coming up before I begin an exciting new chapter with a brand-new series set in Colorado.
Releasing in October, Secrets in Amish Country follows Eve Lantz as she returns home after her brother’s sudden death only to find herself targeted by a mysterious gunman. Still struggling to come to terms with her father’s unsolved murder, Eve teams up with her childhood friend, Assistant Police Chief Casey Masterson, to uncover the truth. What begins as a search for answers soon reveals deadly secrets that someone is willing to kill to protect.
Then, in February 2027, Rachel’s Crossing comes to an exciting conclusion with Guarding the Amish Child. U.S. Marshal Gideon Brenneman must protect a young Amish boy who witnessed his mother’s murder. When an ambush forces Gideon and the child to go on the run, they’re rescued by Officer Lexie Ashford, Gideon’s former partner and the woman he never forgot. Together they must shield the boy from relentless killers while unraveling a conspiracy that reaches far deeper than they imagined.
While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to Rachel’s Crossing, I’m excited about what’s ahead. After Guarding the Amish Child, I’ll be launching a new Love Inspired Suspense series set in the mountains of Colorado. Readers can expect many of the elements they love in my books—danger, faith, romance, unforgettable characters, and plenty of twists—along with a stunning new setting filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered.
I can’t wait to share these stories with readers and take them on the next adventure.
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