In a child abduction, every second counts. Think how far a car can go in just a few seconds. Think how long it takes before a kidnapping is reported or enough information is gathered to a preliminary make a report. Seconds count. Seconds that turn into minutes, hours; and then the days when family, friends and cops secretly begin to give up hope and just want a body to bring home. No one speaks those dark thoughts aloud.
In Shamed Kate Burkholder the Painter Mill’s police chief is called to an abandoned house where an Amish grandmother has been stabbed to death in what looks like a frenzied rage; a special needs granddaughter has been taken and another child left behind. The three went to the abandoned farm to pick walnuts, where they had been many times before with no reason to suspect the horror awaiting them
. The Amish are a closed society, only reluctantly accepting help from the “English”. Kate was raised Amish but left the religion as a young adult. The Amish have very mixed feelings about dealing with her, but the fact that she knows the lifestyle (lifestyles of the rich and famous it ain’t) and can speak the language sometimes goes a long way in alleviating the suspicion of dealing with the English.
This is a can’t-turn the- pages-fast-enough- mystery. It is also a straight-up thriller. There is very little of the personal with Kate or her state agent boyfriend John Tomasetti. Castillo provides a count down of the time for the reader, upping the tension.
As always the insight into the Amish community is fascinating. It truly is a harsh, closed society, but one that will do anything for a member of the community; except tell the truth when it might save a child’s life.
I’m taking a star away because there were a few mistakes that I found odd in the 11th book of a police procedural. Burkholder put blood evidence into a plastic bag instead of paper-that’s a forensics 101 mistake. Also the book referred to another character’s murder as happening either at night or in the morning. Kate was almost a witness so there should not have been any doubt. Also, I thought it was unclear whether or not Kate had shot another character.
Shamed is a terrific addition to the Burkholder series. A perfect reason to stay inside with the air conditioner and read.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"You see a lot of things when you're the chief of police in a small town."

FINAL DECISION: Loved this one. Pulse pounding exciting mystery/suspense with plenty of Kate and John together. Plus, this one once again gives more complexity to the Amish.

THE STORY: An Amish grandmother is murdered and her young granddaughter is kidnapped. Chief Kate Burkholder is in a race against time to find the girl. The investigation leads Kate to uncomfortable information about the Amish that challenges what she thought she knew about them. She discovers that there are a lot of secrets to be uncovered.

OPINION: I loved this book. I was drawn into the story from the first page and the pacing of the book kept me breathless throughout. This was a fast paced and dramatic book until the very end.

I'm a big fan of this series especially because Kate is such an independent and competent character. She makes mistakes and she thinks too much, but everything she does comes from deep caring. Kate's emotional connection to cases is always both problematic but also part of her great strength as an investigator. As always, Kate's connection to the Amish give her an entry to the important people in the investigation, but often the reality conflicts with Kate's faith in the Amish.

Here, there are serious secrets at work and Kate has to discover the truth in order to save the girl and find the killer.

There was a lot happening in this book which made it a read that I couldn't put down. Every time I finished a chapter, instead of being able to put the book down, I wanted to know what happened next. I ended up reading the book in one large gulp.

I also really enjoyed that Kate's love interest John is involved in the case rather than just being on the sideline. Kate and John work so well together that I love them having more "screen time" together. I was a little disappointed that we didn't get more followup from the prior book, but I always enjoy seeing how their relationship is developing.

Fans of the series will find all the elements that make this series worth reading. New readers will also get an exciting read as this book can be a gateway to the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: The format of this book add to the tension of the story. The construction is a bit different than others in the series but it works well here.

CONNECTED BOOKS: SHAMED is the eleventh book in the Kate Burkholder series. This book has a self-contained mystery and thus can be read as a standalone. There are ongoing character developments that will have less impact if the series is not read in order.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Shamed
Linda Castillo

Shamed by Linda Castillo is book eleven in her Kate Burkholder series. Though this novel is part of a well-established series it reads well as a standalone. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I was throughly impressed.

Kate Burkholder is the Police Chief of Painters Mill, Ohio, where a third of the community is Amish. Kate was raised Plain, Amish, but left the community at age eighteen, because she didn’t agree with all of the rules and traditions. She was offered the position of Police Chief partly because of her ties to the Amish.

Kate is called to the scene of the vicious murder of an Amish grandmother and the kidnapping of her seven-year-old special needs granddaughter. The Amish community members deny knowing anything that would help solve this crime, but it’s clear to Kate that some of them are not being fully forthcoming. Kate is conflicted. She’s known most of these people her entire life and understands their reluctance that is related to their beliefs, but she also has a murder to solve and a little girl to rescue. Can she convince the Amish to help her solve this difficult and emotional case before a child becomes the next murder victim?

Shamed is one of those book that refuses to release the reader before the last page is read. The characters are compelling and relatable. The plot is suitably complex and believable. I truly enjoyed this book and will read the previous books in the series, as well as future additions. I give Shamed 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers who enjoy a good mystery. There is some violence that not might be suitable for sensitive readers.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Shamed was another excellent murder mystery by Linda Castillo. The story kept me guessing as the plot took unexpected paths. This book was fast paced and engaging. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

This was a good installment in the series. I debated giving it 3.5 stars because I thought the characters were dumbed down a little to keep the mystery going. It was actually very easy to figure out, but I left it at 4 stars because Kate wasn't nearly as reckless as she normally is. Of course, she also had a lot of help this time around as well. Tomasetti was in on most of the investigation, as well as the local sheriff and the police department from another county. I wasn't crazy about the way the book ends without any clear knowledge of whether or not someone did something they were suspected of doing. That being said, I still enjoyed the book, and the way everything else was wrapped up.

Compared to most of the other books in the series this book focuses mostly on the mystery and much less on the personal issues and lives of the characters. That wasn't a bad thing since a lot of the personal issues have been ironed out at this point. There was less personal interaction between Kate and Tomasetti, but at the same time he seemed more supportive and less worried about her. That was most likely due to the fact that he had nothing to worry about, since Kate wasn't being her normal reckless self. Kate, in general, has become a very likeable character as this series has progressed and I continue to look forward to reading about her and Tomasetti, and everyone else in Painter's Mill.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

If you haven't read this series- start here! If you have read it, know that you're going to get another great Kate Burkholder story. Kate is an ex-Amish Chief of Police in Amish Ohio. This starts with the violent murder of Mary Yoder and the abduction of her grandchild Elsie, who has special needs. Castillo does a great job with the tension of police dealing with a kidnapping, especially one that then expands into additional murders. It will quickly become clear that Mary was murdered because of Elsie but not why or how deep that goes. Castillo doesn't shy away from violence, and there's a fair amount of it here. THere's also great atmospherics, some great characters (the Bishop(s) in particular), and a good story that will keep you turning the pages. The terrific thing about these novels is that you (or at least I) always learn a little something new about Amish culture even as you enjoy the mystery. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is a great read.

Linda Castillo manages to still create interesting stories eleven books into this series (though the amount of violent crime that manages to occur in this small community is kind of frightening), and Shamed shows this with a new, different story. The main focus of this one is finding the person who murdered a grandmother before kidnapping her grandchild, and Kate has to unravel a big web of secrets to get to the truth in this one- while the clock is ticking on finding this girl. Kate seems to function on a almost superhumanly small amount of sleep through this story, but what I really enjoy about her is the tenacity she has in her quests to solve this crime.

Another great mystery from Linda Castillo! When an Amish grandmother is brutally murdered and one of her grandchildren kidnapped, Kate and Tomasetti work hard to figure out why and bring the girl home. Filled with twists, I couldn't put the book down and read it one sitting.

Eleventh in the series, this book can be read as a standalone. In fact, the book is very focused on the mystery and while you are aware Kate and John are a couple, there's no vague references to their pasts that make you feel lost.

I really enjoy this series and the detail provided about the Amish lifestyle. Anyone looking for a great mystery series can easily find it with this one. Many series start to feel stale after a while, but that does not apply here. I look forward to the next one!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

"Shamed" is the 7th book in this series I've read (out of 11 total), and the stories are as fresh as they were in the beginning. Chief Kate Burkholder is inherently likeable. Her quirky deputies and dispatchers are fun and memorable.

This novel focuses on a little girl who has gone missing. She's Amish and has special needs, and Kate knows not all parts of the story of her disappearance are adding up. There are too many strange coincidences that are likely linked to the crime. Kate has to navigate the Amish world to uncover secrets and lies.

Kate's relationship with Tomasetti takes a backburner in this installment due to the nature of the crime, but that didn't bother me at all. The story is fast-paced and heartbreaking at the same time. I highly recommend this novel to any mystery lover.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
As with most of Linda Castillo's books, the twists and turns are amazing. I'm always intrigued with stories that feature the Amish community, so this was right up my alley.

Loved this book!!! I can't believe this is the eleventh book in the series. This was my favorite book so far. There were so many twists and turns. The first murder was so gruesome and unexpected, so naturally I was hooked. For living in a small community, Chief Kate Burkholder has her share of horrible crimes. Who knew there could be so much murder in such a small community? Loved when everything was finally revealed. So many secrets. I know the people involved thought they were doing something good, but were they really? The story was very fast paced. I loved everything about it- the story, characters and writing style.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous ones. This is one of my favorite series. I can't wait to read the next one. Hoping Kate and Tomasetti's wedding will be happening soon!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shamed by Linda Castillo is the 11th book in the Kate Burkholder mystery series, and another great book. I love this series, and this book is no exception. Kate was raised Amish, but she left the community and now she is the Chief of Police in Ohio. Kate covers both the Amish and Englischers area. When a Amish grandma is found stabbed to death in a abandon house, Kate, her officers, and boyfriend, Tomasetti, investigate. There are so many twists and turns in this book, like always. This is one of my favorite mystery series, and I strongly recommend this book. To understand Kate more, I also recommend you read the books in order, you will not be disappointed. I anxiously await Kate's next case.

I reviewed an arc from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you.

Love this series featuring Kate Burkholder, written by Linda Castillo. As police chief in Painters Mill, Burkholder works quickly to solve a brutal murder and kidnapping in Amish country. Long kept secrets are revealed as Burkholder works diligently to find the little girl that was kidnapped.

I love Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series. Her description of Amish life and the dual loyalties of her main character are quite fascinating. The plot moves quickly and makes for a great summer beach read. I recommend this series to my customers who love Sue Grafton and Catherine Coulter.

I loved Linda Castillo, and can't wait each time a new book is published! This book did not disappoint me at all! I love her writing and the story lines! She is one of the top authors I always recommend to anybody wanting mystery!

This is one of the most consistently excellent mystery series out there. After getting one of these on Netgalley, I read the entire series, some of the books more than once. I’ve recommended them quite often at my library.

Simply amazing!!!! I love Kate and her ties to the Amish community. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Shamed by Linda Castillo is book 11 in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read all in this series. Shamed could be read as a stand alone but if you like mysteries and thrillers, you will want to read them all. When I started this, I was only going to read a couple chapters and pick it up the next day. That didn't happen. I could not put it down..
The story opens with an Amish grandmother and 2 of her granddaughters gathering nuts for baking on an abandoned, neighboring farm. A fun afternoon soon turns to murder and a kidnapping.
When Kate is called to the scene she finds the grandmother stabbed numerous times, a missing granddaughter and a bloody crime scene. Why is there only one of the girls gone and why does the remaining little one saying the devil was there.
She has her work cut out for her and only a tire track of a pick up and a large size boot print that could point to numerous residents of the county. Then throw in the tight lipped Amish. She has her worked cut out for her. Her Amish upbringing and gut instinct will be thrown in overdrive and have her traveling over county lines for not only answers but, also have her placed in the line of danger.
Castillo provides not only the mystery but touches on the personal lives of the Painter Mills police department. There is not one in this series that is not great but this is one of the best.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

In this 11th book in the 'Kate Burkholder' series, Kate - the Chief of Police of Painter's Mill, Ohio - is searching for a killer and a kidnapped child. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Sixty-year-old Mary Yoder is a well-liked Amish woman who lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Miriam and Ivan Helmuth, and their eight children. The family loves Mary's walnut layer cake, so when walnut season rolls around, Mary takes her granddaughters Annie (5) and Elsie (7) down the road - to the abandoned Schattenbaum farm - to collect walnuts for the winter.

When Mary notices movement in the dilapidated Schattenbaum farmhouse, she goes in to take a look. Shockingly, the grandmother confronts a man lurking there, who viciously stabs her to death, then abducts 7-year-old Elsie. Later, when Chief of Police Kate Burkholder speaks to Annie, the child says 'Da Deivel' (the devil) took her sister.

Miriam and Ivan Helmuth beg Kate to find their beloved Elsie, a special needs child who is particularly delicate and vulnerable. Elsie has Cohen Syndrome, a genetic disorder that's more prevalent among the Amish than the general public. The Amish consider children a gift from God, and think of special needs youngsters as an especially great blessing.

Mary's murder and Elsie's abduction lead to a large police operation in which Kate, along with the Sheriff's Department and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (OBI), desperately search for the killer and the child. Kate's boyfriend, John Tomasetti, who's an agent with the OBI, is especially helpful in speeding up analyses of blood and DNA.

Of course inquiries begin at the Helmuth home, and when the parents are asked if they know anyone that would want to harm Mary - or if they have any information that would help the investigation - they seem oddly reticent. Even Kate, who was Amish before she left the fold and speaks fluent Pennsylvania Dutch, can't get them to open up.

In time, Kate's probe steers her to Bishop Troyer, who leads the Amish community of Painter's Mill, and then south to Crooked Creek - where Mary Yoder had relatives. Almost everyone Kate speaks to, however, is hiding something. Sadly, more murders occur before Kate can get a line on the perpetrator.

Kate's small stable of detectives, Pickles, TJ, Glock, and Skid, assist with the investigation, working overtime as needed. In addition, Kate's dispatcher, Mona - who yearns to be a real police officer - becomes a cop-in-training. As always, it's fun to visit with these recurring characters.

A central tenet of the Kate Burkholder series is the Amish tendency to be secretive, solve their own problems, and not interact with 'Englishers.' This almost always slows down Kate's investigations and makes her job that much harder.

In this book, however, this plot point REALLY doesn't make sense. The 'secret', if revealed, would speed up Kate's investigation exponentially, and would help her find the kidnapped child MUCH more quickly. Who would keep mum in these circumstances? I don't buy it.

Nevertheless, I like police procedurals and enjoyed the novel. I'd recommend the book to readers who enjoy mysteries, especially Kate Burkholder fans.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Linda Castillo) and the publisher ( Minotaur Books) for a copy of the book.