Picoult, Jodi.  Plain Truth: a Novel.  Toronto:  Washington Square Press, 2000.

When an Amish teen discovers the body of a newborn in a dairy barn, the secluded world of the Amish and the publicized world of the American justice system collide.  Under investigation is eighteen year old Katie Fisher, defending her is Ellie Hathaway, a hot-shot lawyer trying to escape her own problems.  Added to the stresses of being a defence lawyer is the fact that Ellie must move into Katie’s home on judges’ orders.  Running a defence case on a dairy farm is interesting enough, but when it’s an Amish dairy farm, throw in the fact that there is no phone, no power, and definitely no remote Internet access. 

Despite all of this, Plain Truth is a novel about human frailties, the power of love, and the ability to forgive.  Picoult has the fantastic ability to make the reader really empathize with all of the characters in her stories.  She also provides enough twists and turns in the plot to keep readers attentive and guessing.  Thoroughly worth the time to read.