As a longtime fan of this series, now with this 13th installment plus a few novellas, I am so excited when a new book comes and it is just as strong as its predecessors. It's around this time so many series start getting stale but not this one!

For the unindoctrinated, Kate Burkholder lives in Painter's Mill, Ohio which is a small rural town highly populated with the Amish community in which Burkholder was raised but chose to leave in her late teens and became a police officer in Cleveland. She later returned as their Chief of Police. She is able to fulfill a unique role by walking the line between Amish and English.

For this book Burkholder is faced with the grizzly murder of Rachael Schwartz. Rachael, a few years younger than Burkholder had also grown up Amish and was later excommunicated for her wild ways. Nobody seemed to know why Rachael was back in town but as she looks into matters she finds that Rachael's wild side hasn't waned over the years and that she had no problem using others to get what she wanted. Apparently she was blackmailing someone who had had enough. Just when they think they have the case solved, Burkholder can't get past her gut feeling that there is more to the story. This story comes to an excitingly terrifying action-filled conclusion that had me staying awake just so I could finish and see what happened.

As always I love these books for their cultural insight, strong cast of characters in Burkholder's small police force and the man by her side, and fascinating storylines. This book is being released on July 6th and while you can start easily with this one as a stand alone, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning and enjoy all this series has to offer.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and #NetGalley for allowing me to review an advanced copy of this book.

The Amish mysteries by Castillo are pretty awesome and when I pick up the new one I know that summer is here! Castillo ups her game here in this thrilling edition to the Kate Burkholder canon. Lots of good twists and turns kept me riveted. This would be a good introduction to the series for all the newcomers and current fans won't be disappointed.

I have been a fan of the Kate Burkholder series since book 1 published in 2009. I read each book eagerly as it comes out. Fallen is the 13th book...and I enjoyed it just as much as the first!

The basics: A young formerly Amish girl is found beaten to death in a motel room. Kate Burkholder feels a strong emotional tie to this story because she is also formerly Amish and is now the police chief in the area where she grew up. Rachael was never one to obey the rules...that's why she is no longer living with the Amish. But, why such a violent, gruesome death? Kate is determined to find out the truth.

Another great story in this series! I had a review copy of the book and the audio book, so switched back and forth between the two. When I didn't have time to read the ebook, I started up the audio book! Definitely enough suspense to keep my interest from start to finish! The investigation portion of the plot revved up quickly and kept the pace up until the end. There were a few twists I didn't expect, and the ending was awesome! And, the role of Kate's boyfriend, John Tomasetti, was toned down a bit in this book. He's still there...still supportive....still assists....but just LESS. That was a relief for me, as the Tomasetti was spread on a bit thick in a couple of the past books. I want investigation....and less boyfriend. This book delivers that. Still a few kisses and his concern for Kate putting herself in danger, but he isn't mentioned on every page and isn't a key player in the entire investigation. Much better. A little Tomasetti goes a long way. :)

The audio book is narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She always does a great job of narration! She voices all the characters with skill, even the male characters. Very entertaining listening experience.

Loved this new book! Can't wait to find out what happens next!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book (St Martins Press) and audio book (Macmillan Audio). All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

Thank you St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read Linda Castillo's new thriller, FALLEN.

Rachael Schwartz was a young troubled teen that left Painters Mill. Upon her return, she is murdered and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is required to solve the case.

After a little investigating, Kate becomes aware that she and Rachael have a connection.

Follow Kate as she investigates this case.

Castillo has given us a suspenseful, thriller that shows that the darker side of life can even have an impact on a small Amish community.

Not your normal Amish tale.

If you enjoy a thriller mystery, this is the book for you.

#NetGalley

Though this is book 13 of the series, it can be read as a standalone novel. The series centers around Kate Burkholder, the local Police Chief of Painters Mill, Ohio. A fictional town that has a predominantly Amish presence. Kate herself is ex-Amish but chose early on to leave the faith behind for a different lifestyle. In this book, Kate is working tirelessly to solve the brutal murder of Rachael Schwartz, another ex-Amish woman whom Kate once knew. “Why was Rachael back in town? And who would kill her so brutally?” As Kate gets closer to the truth, her own life is placed in danger.

Linda Castillo writes some very intense, vivid scenes. Her writing draws you in, and she is able to keep the suspense level going throughout. The story flows well, the crime is believable, and the characters are realistic. There were plenty of could-be suspects which helped to keep me engaged. I had no idea what the outcome would be and was satisfied with the conclusion.

Though I have read a few books within this series, I haven’t read them all. I am inclined to start from the beginning and see what I have missed out on. I would highly recommend this book and series to anyone looking for a riveting, descriptive police procedural crime novel. Don’t let the Amish theme detour you, because I can assure you, the books contain some of the most horrendous, gritty crime elements you can think of.

Thank you to Linda Castillo, Minotaur Books, and Net Galley for a copy of this book. It was an intense, fast-paced thriller, and a great addition to the series.

Another 5 star book from Linda Castillo. This is the series I look forward to every year and it never disappoints me. I recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller (with the exception of those who don't like graphic violence as this series does get a bit dark). Castillo is great at creating suspense and these books usually bookend with a heart-pounding scene. In this novel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is investigating the murder of a former Amish woman named Rachael Schwartz, whose mysterious return to Painters Mill is cut short when she is brutally murdered in a motel room. It seems a lot of people had reason to hate Rachael, within both the Amish and English communities. With flashbacks to the past, secrets and twists this novel was a page-turner and an excellent addition to this series. The mysteries are always superb but what really keeps me coming back is the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti. Castillo always leaves you with a little bit of longing for more. As always, I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this fantastic series.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to a motel for a dead body and finds the remains of young woman she knew from her own youth. Rachael Schwartz was another who left the Amish way of life. Now, she's returned to Painters Mill in time to be beaten to death with a baseball bat.

As Kate tries to discover who murdered Rachel she uncovers a number of secrets from Rachel's past. Rachael never fit in as an Amish young girl. She was too much of a troublemaker. She didn't like the rules. It doesn't help that when she left, she wrote a tell-all book about growing up Amish that has upset most of the community.

Kate also learns that she was still a troublemaker and not quite ethical. Her bank accounts and income shouldn't support her lavish lifestyle. Kate and Tomasetti discover that she was probably a blackmailer. Maybe it was her blackmailer that ended her life.

Even when the blackmailer is discovered, Kate is unconvinced that he was also her murder. Her continued investigation into Rachael's past and her murderer put Kate in the crosshairs of villains who will do anything to protect their secrets.

This was an excellent, action-packed thriller. It is a wonderful entry into the Kate Burkholder mystery series.

Love this book. Love this author. Love this series. I was holding my breath at the end. One complaint. Marry them please! I highly recommend this book! Full of suspense.

Kate Burkholder is chief of police in an Amish town. It is a great series. It holds your attention. There is a murder victim who used to be Amish. You learn about Amish life.. when you start reading you don’t want to put the book down.

I often take days or longer to read a novel. However, I devour the Kate Burkholder series, and Fallen was no exception, as I read it straight through in one day. This was another exciting installment with a protagonist who is easy to root for—highly recommended.

First and formost let me just let y'all know this SERIES!!! I mean the Kate Burkholder series and Linda Castillo are just perfection for me. I am from PA so the Amish culture has always interested me. I also love that this book kept me glued to my kindle.... if I wasn't reading I was listening to it!

I love this series of books by Castillo. I am so interested in the Amish culture and love the writing style of Castillo. I loved all of the twists in this book and I stayed up a couple of nights turning pages!

I have been addicted to Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder’s series since 2009. It is my drug of choice as far as books are concerned. I gush about each new arrival, but rarely has a series kept getting better and better as this one has. While I do feel bad for the Amish who get bumped in the books, usually there is an equal predator who is so pernicious they should be taken off the streets. I love the chief’s crew, Glock still is my favorite. Mona is fast approaching favorite status as well. I love the rapport and synergy between Kate and Tomasetti. Castillo has allowed Kate to significantly soften during the series. However, thank goodness Kate has 9 lives because Castillo likes to give her hard knocks. Read Fallen and you won’t want to get back up for awhile.

I’m a big fan of the Kate Burkholder series. Even with book #13, it still feels fresh. This time, a young woman who was expelled from the Amish community comes back to Painters Mill and is violently killed in her hotel room. There are lots of possible suspects, as the woman had tangled with many people within the community, even writing a tell-all memoir filled with all sorts of juicy tidbits. I was surprised that Castillo introduced a lot of suspects at the beginning but most don’t really go anywhere. I would have liked to have learned more about one of those possibilities.
I love this series as it mixes a semi-cloistered community with real world crime. Castillo always gives the reader a good sense of the beliefs of the Amish community. She consistently keeps me guessing as to who is behind the crime. And boy, this time, I had no clue.
This can be read as a standalone but you won’t have the full background of either Kate or Tomesetti.
I was also thrilled to find an interview between the author and narrator at the end of the audiobook. Kathleen McInervey has been the narrator of this series for quite a while and does a good job.
I had both the written and audiobook version of this book. My thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for advance copies of this book.

4 solid stars for another excellent addition to this series.
All of Linda Castillo's books start off with a bang. This one is no exception. A violent, horrific murder starts off the book in the first chapter. My wife and I both enjoy this series. Kate Burkholder is the police chief in a fictional small town in Northeast Ohio, called Painters Mill. She has a small force of 5 and 1/2 (1 part timer) officers, including Kate. She was born Amish but left the congregation many years ago, after an incident explained earlier in the series. After spending several years with a big city police department, she accepts the Painters Mill offer to become Police Chief because of her Amish background. About half of the town population is Amish.
Kate is in a relationship with John Tomasetti, a detective with the Ohio BCI(Bureau of Criminal Investigation). Kate does solve the murder. There are some twists and turns in the plot. The plot moves along briskly, and I feel like the recurring characters are old friends after reading 15 books in the series, including 2 short stories.
I recommend that you read this series in order, as there are continuing plot lines that explain Kate's past.
One quote: "The death of a child is the worst news that a parent can receive. It's the kind of slow agony they take with them to the grave. It changes the order of their world. Steals the joy from their lives, their hope for the future."
Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Linda Castillo for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

This is book 13 in the series. Rachel Swartz leaves the Plain life but takes secrets with her. Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder is shocked when she finds that Rachel has been brutally murdered. She is told that Rachel has many enemies. When long buried secrets resurface, Kate must find the murderer before he strikes again. I love this series. Castillo is a great writer and storyteller. The book has twists and turns I didn't see coming and the ending is a complete surprise. Can be a standalone but should start at book 1 in order to get all the background on the characters. Looking forward to book 14. Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a free copy for an honest review.

Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder was raised Amish. But as a child she always pushed the limits of the religion. As an adult Kate left the area and became a police officer. When the chief position in her home town became available, Kate chose to move back.
Rachael Schwartz was also raised Amish. She also chose to leave for what appear to be similar reasons as Kate. Rachael is brutally murdered in a Painters Mill motel. Kate can’t help but see similarities in their lives. Although there is an age difference, Kate can remember the younger girl from her childhood.
All of the Kate Burkholder books mingle Amish and English customs and morals. Kate depends on her upbringing to solve cases in the area. The books are fast moving and often have endings I didn’t see coming. I’m always ready to read a new Linda Castillo book.

I have not read other books in this series, but was intrigued with the idea of a murder in an Amish Community. Rachel Schwartz, who left the Amish community, inexplicably returns to her hometown and is savagely beaten to death. Kate Burkholder, who is now the chief of police and also formerly Amish, knew Rachel as a child and young adult and is in charge of the investigation, which delves into Rachel's past and brings up old emotions for Kate.
This story is well-written though I had a hard time suspending disbelief at the ending.
I'm sure fans of the series will not be disappointed as the mystery of Rachel's death unfolds.
Recommended for fans of detective fiction.

I'm still in shock over "who did it" in Fallen by Linda Castillo. An exceptionally well written mystery that allows the reader to catch up with Kate and friends.

This is the first time I have tried Linda Castillo and I don’t know why I waited so long.
My Mom has read all of them and loves her books. I have always favored Karen Slaughter
But now I have a new author with a lot of her books waiting for me to try!
This Amish community has a murdered woman who took secrets with her when she
died. She was beaten to death with a baseball bat.
The Chief of police knew the victim and also was raised in the Amish way.
It Is a great suspenseful story and will keep you glued to your book and you have
a hard time trying to guess who the killer is and I love that kind of book.