This is the fourteenth book in the Kate Burkholder series and this time Kate comes face to face with her past. She is the police chief of Painters Mill, Ohio, but she grew up in an Amish community. A boy she once knew and loved, Jonas Bowman has been arrested for the murder of Bishop Ananias Stolzfus. He has been missing for eighteen years and his body has finally been found. Jonas has a very public and heated argument with him before he disappeared. Who owned the weapon that killed him? Why Jonas. Kate has a love/hate relationship with her past. She left but a large part of her was formed by her early years. She heads to Belleville, PA to investigate unofficially and hits more than one roadblock. Through flashbacks, we learn more about Kate's early life and what happened between her and Jonas. In the present, she keeps digging, believing that he is innocent. Just when you think everything is wrapped up in a neat package, one more bombshell revelation drops.
The nice thing about this case( sorry about the murder though), is that it allows Kate to let go of some more of her past and embrace the present and the future. Another enjoyable book in this series.

Jonas needs help and Katie has the background to be that person. Chief of police, a knowledge of Jonas in his youth and being a former Amish woman make her the perfect choice. However, the twist was not expected and I, personally, did not like the direction of the ending. For every book there are those who read and enjoy and those who simply enjoy to read. I was disappointed but I do read to enjoy.

Enjoyed it, but not my favorite in the series. I would give it 3.5 stars. I have read all of the Kate Burkholder books, and they are one of my favorite series. I always look forward to reading them. The book had a good story but I felt like it was missing something. Pretty much Kate was on her own while trying to help an old "friend" out in Pennsylvania. So it was missing all the usual people in the previous books like Kate's officers in Painters Mill and Tomasetti. Tomasetti wouldn't be there to sweep in and save Kate when she needed him. There were so many twists and turns and I never guessed who was behind the death of Ananias. He was such a cruel man and enjoyed hurting people. From the start I had a suspicion of what would be revealed about Ananias's background and that he was hiding the truth about who he really was. Loved the flashbacks of Kate's childhood and also loved Jonas's family. I wished the ending would have revealed the truth about Mia and Ananais and everything that they were hiding. I wanted all the details. I did love that a book finally took place in Pennsylvania.

Definitely recommend the book, especially if you read the previous books. Enjoyed the story, characters and writing style. Can't wait to see what's next for Detective Burkholder. I'm hoping there will finally be wedding bells in the near future. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

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

Linda Castillo is back with another fantastic book about Kate Burkholder, the former Amish police chief of Painters Mills. When someone from her last is accused of murder Kate makes it her mission to find out what actually happened and try to clear the name of the wrongly accused. As she’s done in the past books, the author does a great job of being faithful to the Amish and have enough mystery to keep me glued to my pages.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

When her childhood friend and first love is arrested for murder, Kate travels into Pennsylvania to look into the crime. Eighteen years earlier, the 86-year-old Amish bishop disappeared. Now his bones have been discovered in a field carved out of the surrounding woods. Jonas Bowman's old muzzleloader was found next to the body.

When Jonas identified the gun as his, he was arrested for the murder of Ananias Stoltzfus. The church leadership don't believe that Jonas killed Stoltzfus and want Kate to look into the case. It helps that Kate was once Amish, so she has a better understanding of the mindsets of the people involved. They are hoping that her being a Chief of Police will give her an in with local law enforcement.

Kate agrees to help, especially since she has unresolved issues about Jonas. When she arrives, she discovers that the police aren't interested in cooperating with her and that many of the Amish are very reluctant to say anything negative about their old bishop.

But someone doesn't want Kate asking questions. She's attacked in her hotel room and her car is run off the road. Unfortunately for the criminal, Kate is a stubborn person who takes the attacks as proof that there are secrets to be discovered.

I enjoyed the setting. I also like Kate who is a complicated woman who is finally getting a handle on what she wants for her life. The information about the Amish was interesting. While I didn't figure out who the killer was, I had a pretty good idea of what some of the other secrets were.

This was an engaging and tension-filled thriller. Fans of the series will enjoy this new episode. New readers will likely be curious about this engaging main character and enjoy the mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book in the wonderful Amish detective series featuring Chief Kate Burkholder, written by Linda Castillo, wonderfully narrated by Kathleen McInerney. 5 stars!

This book finds Chief Burkholder leaving her job in Ohio and traveling to Amish country in Pennsylvania when elders asked her to help a church member who was accused of murdering a bishop a decade ago. The bishop's remains were recently unearthed, along with the murder weapon belonging to her childhood friend, Jonas. But Kate's investigations leave her in danger as well as she gets too close to the truth.

I have anxiously awaited each book in this series and love each one. This one was a bit different because we don't get to follow the regular police crowd from Kate's office in Painters Mill, Ohio. But these mystery books are always so well written and keep me intrigued, as well as always teaching me more about the Amish culture. This is the first time I also listened to the audiobook, and thought the narration was wonderful. I especially liked hearing the Deutsch spoken. This is a fabulous series - even though you could read each as a stand-alone, you must start at the beginning!

Is it possible to not be able to gush and praise about this book or series?? Every summer I anticipate the newest Kate Burkeholder book. The Hidden One reveals even more about Kate’s past. Her former love, Jonas, has been arrested for the murder of his bishop. Kate is asked to investigate.
The mystery is like a wagon wheel. Kate starts at the center and then trials each spoke, kicking up clues carefully sifting through all the information. I loved all the clues, trying to discern the truth, and being astonished at the end.
Castillo needs to write 2-3 of these a year because just one is not enough to satisfy my craving.

Wow! Linda Castillo has done it again! I love reading the Kate Burkholder series. If you enjoy reading mysteries or if you enjoy reading Amish fiction, these books are for you. Kate Burkholder, former member of the Amish and current police chief of the Painters Mill Police Department, is tasked to look into a case that involves an Amish bishop and a former friend who is a member of the Amish community in Pennsylvania. Kate doesn't believe that Jonas killed his bishop but who did? Kate puts her life at risk and travels to Pennsylvania at the request of Amish elders to help them close the case on the murdered bishop and to clear Jonas' name. Can Kate solve the case? Will she be able to provide Jonas with the freedom he claims to deserve and get back to his family?

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Had not read any of the previous novels by Ms. Castillo but will read the others as found this interesting as I lived in that area of PA and then OH. The Amish are very interesting folks and after living around them have always wanted to read more about them. This may be a novel but it does include many interesting facts.

“The Hidden One” is my first Linda Castillo novel, and despite not having read the previous installments to her Kate Burkholder series, I had no problem getting completely immersed in this unique and enthralling murder mystery set against an Amish backdrop.

Boasting a multi-layered storyline and well-developed, complex characters, the narrative and accompanying mystery unfold at a steady pace, keeping me engaged every step of the way. And while I did solve the mystery long before the actual reveal, that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

If you are looking for a mystery that will draw you in right from the very start and hold you captive right up until the very end, then check out “The Hidden One.” You won’t be disappointed!

Linda Castillo never disappoints and The Hidden One followed that.

Fast paced and a good read. I have really enjoyed getting to know Kate more and more. This book gives you more information on her past. I would definitely recommend this book as well as the whole series to people.

Great plot!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Now THAT is the Kate Burkholder I've been missing! The last few in this series left me wanting more and this one delivered! Called on to help her past love interest out of a bind Kate once again shows that she's one of the best detectives around. I really loved how we got a little glimpse of Kate's past in this one. I'm already excited for the next in the series.

14 novels in and I still absolutely love this series! Formerly-Amish Police Chief, Kate Burkholder, lives in the same small Amish community in which she grew up and manages to straddle both the Amish and the English world to solve crimes. The characters all have so much depth and this one was no different. Kate is asked to help a man she knew when they were kids in another Amish community who has been arrested for a murder he didn't commit. And the who did it in this one is great but not nearly as fascinating as to the why. Lots of good flashbacks to Kate's past as well, which is always interesting.

You could read this book as a standalone if you had to but I highly recommend starting at the beginning. You will get so much more enjoyment out of it and find a new favorite author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Goodreads for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a longtime fan of Castillo and the Kate Burkholder series, and I think this might be my favorite book in the series. I read it in less than a day, and am already wishing I had the next book. While I love the normal supporting cast of Tomasetti, Glock, Pickles, and Mona etc., this book really lets Kate shine. She doesn't have her usual back-up or her resources and so she uses her detective skills and stubborn determination to set things right.

The backstory of her and Jonas was perfectly bittersweet. They were two pure-hearted teenagers who were torn apart by circumstances beyond their control, and it was wonderful to see them alternately connecting, tip-toeing around each other, and blending their pasts with their presents. Jonas and his family were such great characters that I would love to see more of them in the future.

What I particularly liked about The Hidden One is that while Kate takes risks and does things that she shouldn't, she isn't rash and stupid about it. She takes her gun and her phone. She calls 911, and tells people where she's going. She respects that she means a lot to people and owes it to them to come home safe at the end of the case. We still get the drama and the excitement without feeling like she's being stupid.

I also thought the twist at the end was perfect. Just when you think the case is solved, you find out it isn't, and Castillo does a good job of revealing the twist, keeping it understated and therefore more realistic and impactful. I liked that Kate didn't see it coming, and that while I wasn't surprised, I wasn't expecting it, either.

In the past, I have felt like Castillo's presentation of the Amish was a bit too defensive. She writes about how Amish people are just like others; they do bad things including sexual assault, adultery, and murder, but then has spent a lot of time - too much time - explaining why the Amish and their ways are really good and should be looked up to. It always felt like she was straddling a fence and it was irritating. I noticed that it was getting worse in the last couple of books. There is none of that here, and the book is better for it. We are presented with these characters, in this setting, and we are talking about them, not the Amish as a whole. I really hope she continues with this approach in the future.

I have one complaint. I wanted an epilogue about the truth about the bishop and his wife. Not giving us that information felt like a cop-out. There didn't need to be a lot of specifics, but a bit more than what we got would have been nice.

In sum, The Hidden One is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I've read this entire series in order, and The Hidden One is a wonderful addition to the series. I found it unique because John Tomasetti, Kate Burkholder's fiance, hardly appears in this book. Nor do the familiar and unique set of officers with whom she works in Painters Mill. To begin with, that made for an interesting change.

Kate is asked by the town elders of Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania to look into a death in their Amish community. A set of bones from a ten-year-old disappearance has been found. They belong to Ananias Stoltzfus, an Amish bishop, and the murderer is a Amish man. Jonas Bowman, who was Kate's first love, is the accused murderer.

Kate accepts their pleas and goes to the small town where she meets Jonas' wife, Dorothy, and his children, who are adorable. Once she is able to see Jonas in jail, a lot of old feelings and memories return. This begins a plot structure of back and forth where Kate remembers the past and then comes back to the present.

She finds a great deal of resistance in the town, most of them believing Jonas Bowman is the killer. Other suspects appear, and Castillo does a great job of spreading around the clues that point to Jonas and the red herrings that send the reader to others.

The characters are well defined, especially the Bowman family. Kate is forced to go back and relive a terrible event that happened in her life, and also come to an understanding of what those early days with Jonas meant to her. The action scenes, especially when Kate fights against unknown perpetrators are amazing. This new entry in the Burkholder stories reveals a past that still affects the present and a side of Kate that reader hasn't seen before. I'd highly recommend it.

Linda Castillo has done it again. Another action packed Kate Burkholder thriller. I really enjoyed this new leg of the Kate/John thriller.

\Another winner from Linda Castillo! If you love the Kate Burkholder series, this new installment is sure to please.

When remains of an Amish Bishop are found in another town, Kate Burkholder is called upon for help. The suspect is a former friend of Kate's and if she doesn't do something fast, he's going to be sent to prison for the rest of his life!

When Kate goes digging around where she doesn't belong, trouble ensues. What else is new?

Though this series is a tad formulaic, I admit to loving it.
3.75 stars.

A buddy read with Kaceey that we both enjoyed.

Thanks to Minotaur Books for the galley, and the e-galley via Netgalley and thanks to Macmillan Audio for the alc.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is enjoying a quiet Saturday in Painters Mill as The Hidden One: A Novel of Suspense by Linda Castillo begins. Off duty and out of uniform, she is in town to pick up a birdhouse for her significant other, John Tomasetti. His birthday is next week and she plans to give the handcrafted birdhouse to him as a gift.

She soon is requested by dispatch to come to the office as three men are there and want to see her as soon as possible. The Amish men have come from Pennsylvania and have serious business. So much for getting the bird house picked up now.

Chief Burkholder goes to the office and meets with Bishop Nelson Yoder, Deacon Nathan Kempf, and a minster by the name of Mahlon Barkman. They are the elected officials of the church district in “The Kish Valley” in Central Pennsylvania. They bring word that Jonas Bowman has been arrested for the murder of Bishop Ananias Stolfzfus.

Eighteen years ago, Bishop Stolzfus vanished without a trace. Two months ago, while one of the members of the church was cutting hay pm his land, he found human remains. What was left of the person allowed the police to determine that it was Bishop Stolzfus. Found nearby was a muzzleloader that belonged to Jonas Bowman.

The local police believe that Jonas shot him and then buried the body and the gun. Jonas and the Bishop were clashing a lot over various issues in those days and young Jonas was known for his temper. The cops think it was an open and shut murder. Since Jonas admitted it was his gun and has no explanation for anything, including the identity of who might have taken it, the police have locked him up and pretty much quit investigating the case.
Long ago when she was a young teen, Chief Burkholder knew Jonas. They were friends and then a lot more. He as an important part of her life for several years. Then he and his family moved and she lost touch as she was going through her own tough times.

While the Bishop and Jonas had a nasty history, and Jonas hated the deceased for good reason, he swears he did not do it. The church elders have come to Chief Burkholder on his behalf as he has a wife and kids. They are sure Jonas did not do it. Since he won’t ask for help, they are asking on his behalf. They want her to come to Pennsylvania where she has no jurisdiction and investigate.

As has happened before in this long running series, the past is going to play a major role in Burkholder’s action in the here and now. The arrest of Jonas Bowman stirs up a lot within her and she does not want to have to deal with it. However, she will, and goes to Pennsylvania and investigates because the past and the current murder charge has to be dealt with for all involved. Put simply, her motivation to go and see what she can do to clear him is that she owes him for what she did, and they did, so very long ago.

The Hidden One: A Novel of Suspense is another good one in the series. This reader likes it much better when she is working at home in Ohio and thus all the secondary characters are present and engaged. Instead, this time she is far from home and working an increasingly difficult and dangerous case without the people readers know and love involved.
Still, despite that fact, The Hidden One: A Novel of Suspense is a solidly good read and well worth your time.


My reading copy came by way of a digital ARC via NetGalley. The book is currently scheduled to be released on July 5th.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2022

"The Hidden One" by Linda Castillo
Minotaur Books
July 5, 2022
10-1250781051

Suspense/Thriller


In this, the 14th issue of the Kate Burkholder series, we find Kate, the police chief for Painters Mill, Ohio, visited by the elders of the Amish community of Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania. Minister Mahlon Barkman, Deacon Nathan Kempf, and Bishop Nelson Yoder have come to ask for her assistance regarding a local murder, because she was once Amish and is familiar with their ways. The deceased, their bishop, Ananias Stoltzfus, went missing 18 years prior. A farmer in their community discovered a bullet-ridden skull while plowing his fields, which was identified as that of Stoltzfus.

Kate learns a suspect is in custody, and it is none other than Jonas Bowman, a man Kate had a crush on when she was young. A rebellious teenager, Kate never felt she belonged, though she and Jonas were friends. She could talk about anything and everything, and he seemed to understand her angst.

The Amish are known for being peace-loving and non-violent:

"It's impossible to lump a culture into a box and profess to know everything about it. It can't be done, and anyone who claims otherwise is a fool. But there are cultural norms that can--and should--be taken into consideration, especially when it comes to the Amish. The culture is steeped in tradition. They are a religion-centric sect and prefer to remain separate from the rest of the world. They are a patriarchal society and pacifistic in nature. The family unit is the core of Amish life. They're decent, hardworking people. They're good neighbors. Good friends.

"All of that said, the Amish aren't perfect. They're human, and they suffer with all the same failings as the rest of us. They lose their tempers. They make mistakes. They behave badly. They break the rules. Sometimes they break the law. Some of the behaviors Ananias Stoltzfus partook in went beyond human frailties."

Some regarded Bishop Stoltzfus as a beloved leader; however, Kate knows there had been bad blood between him and Jonas's father when Stoltzfus excommunicated him from the church. Though Kate remembers Jonas was angry about this, she finds it hard to believe he would seek revenge.

Kate travels to Ohio to help Jonas and dig into this case to discover the actual killer. Though holding a grudge against the bishop is not cause for an arrest, what ties him to the death is a muzzleloader found at the scene that belongs to Jonas.

Kate visits Jonas's wife, Dorothy, to ask about the gun. Dorothy says it was always propped up by the wall, so she never noticed when it was gone. She also tells Kate about Stoltzfus's attitude toward the community. Though he went missing years ago and was well into his 80s, Dorothy adds that the man "was strict and tough on anyone who broke the rules."

A visit to law enforcement doesn't offer any answers:

"Information is a priceless commodity during an investigation. The more you know, the closer you are to the big solve. Unfortunately for me, information is the one thing the sheriff's department won't share. I'm no stranger to being stonewalled. When you're a cop, there's always someone with an agenda who's willing to lie, cheat, and steal to keep you in the dark."

Realizing the local constabulary will not help, she heads out on her own to talk to several residents. No one wants to comment because the Amish are close-mouthed and do not want involvement with outsiders, but Kate speaks to them in Deutsch, and they learn she was once one of them, some open up a bit to admit the bishop had been hated.

Many things came to light when he went missing that do not seem like coincidences to Kate. Talking to his daughter and son does not help, for they adamantly believe Jonas is responsible for their father's demise.

Kate is surprised by hearing so many negative comments about the bishop, making her wonder how he ever got the position:

"Initially, I believed Ananias Stolzful was a kindly old man. An Amish bishop who, in the eyes of a few, was too strict. The more I learn about him, the more I've come to believe he was not benevolent. The bishop was judgmental, vindictive, and possibly violent."

As Kate digs deeper into this mystery, she discovers Stoltzfus and his wife were not who they purported to be. The bishop's wife's suicide not long before he disappeared also leads to more questions. Then when Kate gets accosted during the night in her hotel and finds her vehicle with a smashed windshield and four slashed tires, she believes she is getting close to finding the perpetrator.

This novel stands alone as well as the other books in the series and provides ominous and chilling drama. The Hidden One offers insight into the Amish ways, giving examples of their vernacular and culture as well as those of country law enforcement. Filled with hair-raising suspense, this novel leaves a jaw-dropping conclusion.

I will start right out by saying I am a fan of Kate Burkholder but I did not find this series until the last book but I am picking up the previous books and reading them (out of order) and loving them. Kate is the Chief of police in Painters Mill, Ohio, and she receives a visit from town elders/bishops from Pennsylvania to let her know that her former friend, Jonas Bowman had been arrested for the murder of Amish bishop Ananias Stoltzfus who disappeared many years ago and his bones/body had just been discovered and Jonas' gun was found near the body. They have come asking for her help. Of course, she has to take a vacation to go and help. We find out through flashbacks during the story that she and Jonas had a romance and that may have led to her leaving the Amish but he stayed. Kate is met with resistance from the authorities except for one deputy who does help her. Along the way her life is threatened more than once and she narrowly escapes with it and we do not find out who the real murderer is until almost the end. I particularly enjoyed her homecoming when she returned to her home with Tomesetti.