It was a pleasure to return to this series in this 9th installment as I have read and enjoyed the previous titles that feature Chief Kate Burkholder of the Painters Mill Police. Formerly Amish, Kate is in a unique position to deal with crimes in her Ohio town as it is populated by Amish.

Joseph King, convicted of murdering his wife a year earlier, escapes from the custody of the Mansfield Correctional Institution, a maximum security state prison about 100 miles from Painters Mill. When she's notified of Joseph's breach of security, Kate doesn't really believe that he will come to Painters Mill even though his children still live there with relatives. The news about Joseph brings back a lot of Kate's childhood memories as they were close as children and she just can't believe how he had changed into a drug abusing, alcoholic, abusive criminal. Turns out she may be the only one who still has any faith left in him as he tells Kate that he did not kill his wife. She can't leave it alone and this novel deals with Kate's personal mission to find out the truth.

Not really a good choice to read as a standalone, this book furthers our knowledge of Kate's personal history as a young girl growing up Amish. This peek into that community and the details are part of what makes this series unique and what keeps me hooked. I recommend this popular series for that reason even though the outcome of this plot line was easy to predict -- I'd say it's really more about characterization than any kind of suspense crime thriller.

Thank you to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for this book ARC to read and review.

The Kate Burkholder mysteries never disappoint. If you haven't read these, start with the first one and enjoy a character driven mystery set in a small Ohio town. Looking forward to the next one.

I truly love this character. She's smart, sassy and beautiful. I like the way that Castillo combines the world of the Amish to today's world. Can't wait to read the next one in the series.

I've read the first book in this series and I planned to read them in order, but I also really want to work on my Netgalley shelves, so I picked this one up and could not put it down. I was dying to find out what happened. Luckily, I think this series is okay being read standalone, but I will definitely pick up all the other books in between as time goes on.
Kate Burkholder is a fantastic character and this setting is so fascinating. Castillo's crime writing is great.

RATING: 4 STARS
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)

"Eight years ago Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a "fallen" Amish man and, according to local law enforcement, a known drug user with a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed for Painters Mill.

News of a murderer on the loose travels like wildfire and putting Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team of officers on edge. A nightmare scenario becomes reality when King shows up with a gun and kidnaps his five children from their Amish uncle’s house. He’s armed and desperate with nothing left to lose.

Fearing for the safety of the children, Kate leaps into action, but her frantic search for a killer leads her into an ambush. When King releases her unharmed, asking her to prove his innocence, she begins to wonder whether the police are hiding something, and she embarks on her own investigation to discover the truth." (From Amazon)

Another stellar Kate Burkholder novel. I loved the gritty intense plot that had Kate smack in the middle of the case. Kate being attached to the Amish community it is a intriguing look into a cultural we don't get to see very often. I recently read another author writing suspense mysteries set among the Amish but it was not as thrilling as this series. I would recommend this suspense novel to anyone that likes Karin Slaughter or Harlan Coben.

It was nice to get back to work with Kate Burkholder. There were moments of disbelief for me, but it was still a good story, and it held my attention. I enjoy this series as a whole and always look forward to the next.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Eight years ago Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a "fallen" Amish man and, according to local law enforcement, a known drug user with a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed for Painters Mill.
News of a murderer on the loose travels like wildfire and putting Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team of officers on edge. A nightmare scenario becomes reality when King shows up with a gun and kidnaps his five children from their Amish uncle’s house. He’s armed and desperate with nothing left to lose.
Fearing for the safety of the children, Kate leaps into action, but her frantic search for a killer leads her into an ambush. When King releases her unharmed, asking her to prove his innocence, she begins to wonder whether the police are hiding something, and she embarks on her own investigation to discover the truth.

Aside from this being such a great book - it has to be said what a fabulous series and character has been created by Linda Castillo. I haven't read all of them but I do know that when a new one comes out, I can always recommend it to customers who I know love these kinds of stories.

As for this book itself? Well, it is another in the list of excellent mysteries featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. A blend of cold case and current mystery, this story takes us back a little to Kate's younger years, and her loyalties are called into question. With the right blend of thriller, action and mystery, this novel is right up there with the best of its genre.

As I said previously, I never have any hesitation in recommending Linda Castillo books to customers...


Paul
ARH

I was so excited to receive this book as an ARC and am grateful to the author, publisher, and Netgalley. This is one of my all-time favorite series, and this was a great new addition.

After Joseph, an Amish father, is sent to prison for the murder of his wife, he manages to escape and be with his family again. He maintains his innocence and finds Kate Burkholder, who he proclaims this fact to, a girl who was once a friend (and even a crush). Kate uses this former bond with Joseph, however, it seems like this might backfire.

Joseph is desperate to find the truth and prove his was not guilty of the crime he has been charged with and is serving time for allegedly committing. How can they find the truth? What is the truth? Is Joseph a victim of a wrongful conviction, or just a really good deceiver.

This is a book that grabs you right from the start and does not let go. It lets us see more of Kate and her background, which I always love. It feels like every time we get a new novel we get to peel off another layer of Kate and her life. I loved getting to know her family and life before she left the Amish life behind.

This is a great new novel that I think everyone will love. Kate Burkholder fans will be happy for sure.

Minotaur Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Down a Dark Road. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Joseph King, a friend from Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's past, was convicted of murdering his wife. After escaping from prison, Joseph heads immediately to Kate's jurisdiction of Painter's Mill because his children are being raised there by family. When Kate gets involved in the standoff and the subsequent investigation that follows, will she be able to separate the boy she knew from the man he became? When circumstances change and put Kate's life in danger, will she have no choice but to let go of the past?

My favorite part of the Kate Burkholder series is the main character herself. She is strong, determined, and tough, with the ability to persevere despite difficult circumstances. There is a personal side to Kate, but that part of her life does not overshadow the real reason for the book: the case at hand. With Kate's ability to bridge the Amish world with the English one, Down a Dark Road has a dimension to it that is unique and interesting. I have only read a few of the Kate Burkholder books, but I did not feel as though I was missing any part of the story. I would recommend Down a Dark Road to readers who like police procedural thrillers and I look forward to more Kate Burkholder stories in the future.

Slow at times but I like the regular characters. Had to skim through some parts.

Down a Dark Road is a great installment in the Kate Burkholder Series. Kate and Tomasetti are wonderful characters, as usual, and the storyline was thrilling and suspenseful. Another winner from the author!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Chief Burkholder is notified that a former local man has escaped from prison and may show up in town to see his kids. Kate is shocked to learn that it is Joseph King, a childhood friend. The family that is taking care of the kids needs to be notified. When she arrives she is horrified to find that Joseph is there and is claiming that he is innocent. Kate stays behind to try and talk him into giving up. He will not and wants her to help investigate. When she leaves and starts investigating, her integrity is called into question. Determined to find the truth no matter what it may do to her career, she finds that she has stepped into something that someone wants to keep secret. Loved Kate's tenacity and determination. Another great installment in this series.

Another great addition to the Kate Burkholder series! Set in Amish country, this thriller is full of twists and turns. This one can be read as a stand-alone, but do yourself a favor and read the entire series.

I'm a huge fan of all the Kate Burkholder novels and this one did not disappoint. Kate is confronted with her past as she gets involved with trying to prove the innocence of a man she's known since childhood. A thrilling ride full of suspense with not enough Tomasetti for my taste, but that's the only flaw.

Another great installment in this series. I love the setting, which provides a lot of local areas and adds to the enjoyment of the book. Also, the characters and their relationships keep me coming back and enjoying each book. The mystery in this one was interesting but not all that hard to figure out.

Down A Dark Road
Kate Burkholder, Book #9
Linda Castillo
5 Stars


Synopsis:

In this electrifying new thriller in the New York Times bestselling series, a convicted murderer is on the run and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must catch him before he strikes again.

Eight years ago Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a "fallen" Amish man and, according to local law enforcement, a known drug user with a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed for Painters Mill.

News of a murderer on the loose travels like wildfire and putting Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team of officers on edge. A nightmare scenario becomes reality when King shows up with a gun and kidnaps his five children from their Amish uncle’s house. He’s armed and desperate with nothing left to lose.

Fearing for the safety of the children, Kate leaps into action, but her frantic search for a killer leads her into an ambush. When King releases her unharmed, asking her to prove his innocence, she begins to wonder whether the police are hiding something, and she embarks on her own investigation to discover the truth. (Goodreads)



Review:

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Kate is such a strong woman, with a strong sense of right and wrong. But she also has a vulnerable side (which see does not want anyone to know about or see). When she sees her childhood friend again, she cannot help but remember the fun they had together as kids and knows she has to figure out if he is a cold blooded killer or not. I really enjoyed getting to see an insight into her childhood and it helped to see how Kate became the woman she did. It always help to learn as much as you can about someone’s past and I thought this was a clever way to accomplish that.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action take place and listening to conversations. I could feel the tension during the standoff and I could feel Kate’s tension as she tried to piece together what happened eight years ago. She is also very talented in creating suspense with just the written word. The book pulled me in from the very first page and took me along until the very last page. I could feel Kate’s frustration, her sorrow and her need to see justice done as if I was feeling them myself. That makes for an intensely satisfying read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who who enjoys a well crafted mystery suspense. This is not a cozy mystery, it is much more hard core. But that is okay, if you want to read a real thriller, then this book is for you. My mom really loved this author and reread her books often. I can see why my mom liked her so much. I do too.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This Kate Burkholder novel had to be my favorite to date! I absolutely loved how much time we got to spend in Kate's childhood through her memories. This was a page turner no doubt, and once I started I couldn't put it down. The plot development was top notch and I didn't see it ending the way it did. Another fantastic title from Linda Castillo. Have already recommended it to several of my library's patrons and it is already circulating well.

I read this book in one day at the beach and thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast, moving plot, that had some unexpected turns, Kate is at her best ignoring protocol and seeking justice for Joseph and Naomi King. Castillo through this series adds a small insight into the world and thoughts of the Amish. The emotional involvement of Kate takes the story to a new level of complexity and interferes with Kate's judgment. Sometimes when an author writes a series revolving around the main character, it can become stale and redundant...not so with this series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest you start with book one, Sworn to Silence.

A good read. A quick read with never a dull moment. Intense and entertaining. I enjoyed reading this book.

I grew up near several Amish communities and know as well as anyone that they’re generally about as normal and boring as anyone; they simply belong to a different, more intense religious practice. But there’s something about any secretive religious sect that is just fascinating and, when written about in the right way can add a creepy feeling to a good story.

Linda Castillo strikes that balance yet again in the latest Kate Burkholder novel. This book was a great ride, from beginning to end.

Kate – an ex-Amish police chief – becomes embroiled in what was thought to be a closed case when her former childhood friend, convicted of the murder of his wife, escapes from prison and takes his four children and Kate hostage. He insists that he didn’t kill his wife and begs Late to look into it. Then he lets her go. As Kate begins to investigate, she realizes that maybe Joseph wasn’t as guilty as everyone thinks he was. If that’s the case, who really killed his wife? Or is Late blinded by her childhood memories and unable to see the truth?

This novel starts at a running pace and doesn’t let up. It was just a thrill from start to finish and Castillo pulls no punches, adding details that really pull you in and make you gasp. I loved it.

I guessed the gist of the ending, but I didn’t mind it, since there’s so many questions about how the bigger picture will turn out. (I’m really trying not to spoil things so I hope all that makes sense.) There’s a lot questions involved so there’s more than enough to keep you interested.

However, at least one of my questions didn’t get answered, which is why it’s a four-star read instead of a five-star.

Overall, I loved it and am completely hooked on the Kate Butkholder series. Highly recommended