I love this series so much, but this one definitely needed more Tomasetti. Despite that, I enjoy the ways Castillo keeps coming up with ways to keep the stories fresh and it's always interesting when a case takes Kate out of Painters Mill. It usually means less time with Tomasetti, though, which is disappointing but the ending more than made up for it. These books are so well written and the author's ability to paint a vivid picture and drop you right into the scene is top notch. When it comes to modern mysteries, in my opinion, she is the best at describing a scene and ratcheting up the suspense. Excellently paced, the right amount of suspense, clever mysteries, an amazing, mature romance that keeps getting stronger every book make this series my number one recommendation for mystery fans. The only issue I had was I felt like we had seen this one plot point before, in book nine. I'd have to go back and re-read it, but I thought Joseph King was her first love? Regardless, it was well handled and it was great seeing flashbacks of Kate as a teenager. Although, I don't think Mike Trout was playing baseball twenty years ago. ;) (Could be this is edited in the print version and in no way affects my rating/review of this book) Thank you as always to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for the DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This remains my most looked forward to book every year and my number one recommended series for patrons.

It's always so good to be back in Painters Mill! This is one of the best series around and I have read and love them all. Most are easy 5-Star, can't put down reads. There are a few, however, that just don't quite grab me from the get-go, but are still solid 4-stars. Sadly, this was one of the latter. The main problem for me was that the story is not set in Painters Mill and all of the characters that I love and feel like I know are just on the extreme peripheral, heard from only at the beginning. Glock, T.J., Pickles, Tomasetti and Mona. Especially Mona! I was so excited that Mona is now a full-fledged officer and was so looking forward to hearing more from her. Her character is barely a blip in this one. Glock, always so solid, was just a mention in the beginning. Pickles and T.J., usually bringing comic relief, once again, just a mention. And most of all, Tomasetti! I love when he and Kate work together on a case, but his character was just barely in the background throughout here. Overall, the story is a solid. and well written one. Kate Burkholder, formerly Amish and now the Police Chief of Painters Mill, is asked by Amish elders from Belleville Pennsylvania to help prove the innocence of Jonas, one of their own, arrested for the murder of a Bishop. Jonas and Kate have teenage history, so she is more than willing to help. This is all well and good, but I missed the familiarity of Painters Mill, as the entire story takes place outside of it. I get that it must be hard for the author to keep coming up with new ideas. Afterall, there can't be that many murders and crime in a small, Amish based town and I do applaud how she is able to do just that. Especially with 14 books so far in the series! BUT, please, please bring all of my old friends back in the next book! Love the ending and definitely looking forward to more from that!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Linda Castillo and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this much appreciated ARC!

This is #14 of 14 in a series about Police Chief Kate Burkholder. I liked the fact that even though I had not read any of her others in the series I was able to keep up enough to enjoy this book. I know this was an ARC, so I am hoping that some of the pronouns will be replaced with the character's name. There were a couple of places where I lost track of which person was speaking. (Going back to re-read didn't help.) Also, after the confrontation with Henry, Kate's arm was in a sling. However, when she got to Mary Elizabeth's barn no mention was made of her disabled arm. What she was able to do with an arm that had been injured seemed a bit far-fetched.
That being said, I ordered the first book in the series and intend to finish the series. I like Ms. Castillo's writing style very much and I like her heroine, Kate Burkholder.
Thank you, #MinotaurBooks for this chance to find a great new series.

In The Hidden One, chief of police Kate Burkholder is soon out of her jurisdiction and out of her comfort zone as she travels to Belleville, Pennsylvania on the request of three Amish septuagenarian church leaders. The gentlemen visit Katie in Painters Mill and share that they believe that Jonas Bowman (an Amish man from Kate’s past) has been wrongfully accused of a crime. They offer to pay her expenses and ask that she travel from Ohio to Pennsylvania to help with the investigation. Kate agrees to the trip but is soon met by resistance from the Pennsylvania police. Kate quickly discovers that someone in the tight Amish community does not want her digging into the case. Katie is delivered a few rough warnings, but her persistence does not waver. This case is impactful for Kate and she will be forever changed. The case ultimately forces her to make peace with her past and reconcile her future. Linda Castillo’s fourteenth in the Kate Burkholder series does not disappoint- it is one of the best books in the series. There is excellent character development, a healthy dose of suspense, secrets and twists, and generous glimpses into the Amish lifestyle that make the series so appealing. Readers will also enjoy a few more insights into Kate’s childhood and what makes her tick.

I have read all of the books in this series, and I always enjoy them (some more than others). There was nothing wrong with this book, but it wasn't the most exciting, so I would not say that this is a favorite of mine in the series.

4.5/5⭐️

Full Disclosure: This is 14th in a series of which I’ve only read the first. But, even though obviously some things had evolved, I had no problems following along with the same great cast of characters.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is asked to journey from OH to PA to help an old Amish friend who has been jailed for a cold case 18-year-old murder. Her sleuthing is met with resistance both from the police (she’s out of her jurisdiction) and the killer (some violent attacks). This one involves coverups, a surprise twist, and more insight into Kate’s formative years.

I love Castillo’s writing. Her character development is top notch. And this storyline, while perhaps a bit over-the-top with the twist, is still compelling and entertaining reading. I was hooked. My only unease came from an underage relationship…consensual, but still 15 and 19. But I will say that in the context of the story (it was a one-time encounter) and how the relationship was viewed by both parties in the future, it was written in a tactful way.

Now I need to go back and read the previous 12.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing the free early arc of The Hidden One for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This was ok but I did not realize it was part of a series. I was totally sold on Kate as MC, I would start the whole series over to learn more about her. She is a total badass.

Still a recommended book because of Kate as the main character. IT IS A SERIES.

Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Castillo and St Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 7/5/22

This is so crazy that I am giving my review on a author I hadn't read before but had heard tons about. I just didn't think I would ever like this style of book. My Mom reads as much if not more books than me and I usually trust her judgment but not always. This was the case with Linda Castillo for years and finally I tried The Hidden One. Really such a surprise and enjoyment! First let me say that I was wrong to be such an auto pilot of "NO" I won't like these books. Ha! What a surprise! This author has action, suspense, surprised ending and great characters. Who knows in this world what will throw you a curve but this did. I will now get to enjoy going back and checking out her past books that I turned my nose up at so many times. If you're like me and didn't think you would like books on Amish families, then think again and give it a try. This is great advice and such a mystery why I took so long to try her!

The Hidden One
by Linda Castillo
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
Minotaur
Kate Burkholder #14
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I haven't read all the books in the series but the ones I have read were very good. I need to take a break from the genre I usually read so I was excited to get this ARC.
This is a very multi-layered plot and there is more action than I’ve ever read in this series before. I enjoyed the way the author portrays the Amish people, without judgment and with honest explanations of their lifestyle and beliefs.
There is a lot of human emotion in this book.
The characters are well developed and the setting of the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside is well described.

This mystery was not easy to figure out and it wasn’t until the final pages that the pieces of this puzzle fell into place.
This is just a great mystery series with believable characters and the pacing was great. I will recommend 5 stars

I received a complimentary ARC, of The Hidden One by Linda Castillo, in exchange for my honest review.
This book is another in a long list of amazing works by Ms. Castillo. She weaves the story seamlessly, painting pictures in your mind that put you right there in the moment. The characters are so vivid, so real, you feel a connection to them. I've grown to care for the characters, feel their emotions, their happiness or heartbreak. I can not say enough about this fabulous work!
Kate Burkholder, chief of police from Painters Mill, is visited by the elders of Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania asking for her help. Years ago, their Bishop, Ananais Stoltfus, disappeared without a trace. Skeletal remains have been unearthed by an Amish man clearing his land and they are the bishop's. Along with the remains, there was other evidence tying one of their own to the murder. The man accused is Jonas Bowman, a man that Kate grew up with, Kate's first love that went wrong.
Jonas has a family, a woodworking business, a good life that he has built, but there was a horrible situation with Jonas's father and Jonas threatened the bishop.
As Kate digs into the case, she hears disturbing things about the bishop, things that make her question the possible reasons for his murder.
Someone doesn't want Kate nosing around, someone will stop at nothing to keep their secrets long buried. Is Jonas involved? Are there others who know the truth about that night and are hiding evidence? Will Kate live long enough to solve this case?

Give me all the Kate Burkholder! She’s the best! I have to say that this particular installment in the series felt much more like a detective novel than many of the other books in the series (I’ve read the 1st 4 or so and the last 4 or so). Not to say that the other books weren’t detective novels or that style/genre, but The Hidden One you really felt, or I really felt, that I was following Kate through the steps and figuring things out with her as she was discovering what was happening.

It was a pretty special story and I wish that there was some more explanation on the key plot twist, but that is how it goes sometimes. I can see some people saying that it’s a cop out on Costilla’s end to drop a bomb and then just let it explode without much explanation; but it works for the story and the characters. Anyway, top notch installment and I’m all for the world of Kate. She’s the best!

A plot that flowed smoothly, interesting characters with great dialogue, and suspense that held my interest to the end, made this a terrific read. It was hard to put down until I was done. .

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, well written and featuring a very interesting protagonist. It grabbed my attention from the first page and just kept getting better. Set in Amish country, the story is narrated by a female police chief who was raised Amish, speaks the language, but has left to live among the “English.” Using her knowledge of and respect for the ways of the Amish, she works to solve an 18-year-old murder for which a former lover has been accused. The pace at which she finds usable information is realistic, yet the story never lags. With a few flashbacks, the author sets the stage, keeping the reader’s interest, while allowing a believable series of current events to eventually expose the killer and the killer’s motive. The author creates a great sense of place, interesting characters, and a plausible story with a satisfying conclusion. I plan to read more of her books.

Kate Burkholder , who used to be Amish but left to live a life outside the Amish and is now a police chief, is approached by 3 bishops to come and investigate the death of an Amish bishop who disappeared 20 years ago.
Kate is very interested in solving the case as the accused man is a person she had a relationship with as a young teenager.
All is not what it seems in the Amish community and Kate finds herself in a lot of trouble.
This book is full of mystery ad suspense, and I found it very interesting as my grandparents and parents both grew up in Pennsylvania near where this book takes place.

I love sliding back into a good Linda Castillo book. Chief of police, Kate Burkholder, is at again in Linda Castillo's newest book in the series. This one brings someone from Kate's past into her present. As Kate races against the clock to save her old friend , Jonas, someone is out to get her. Like always Kate comes out on top. I love Kate's personality and seeing her relationship with Tomasetti flourish in this book. We get more of a glimpse of Kate's past and a previous boyfriend. The way the author describes the Amish community really makes you feel like you are a part of. Definitely a good and fast read.

This is the 14th novel in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate is the chief of police in Painters Mill, Ohio. The series is unique because Kate is a formerly Amish police officer, which gives her a special connection to the Amish citizens in her hometown. In this installment, Kate is asked to help an important person from her childhood when they're arrested and charged with murder. She travels to Pennsylvania to determine if the person is as innocent as everyone believes, and who is truly responsible if so.

I absolutely love this series. It is an exciting police procedural with enough character development in each book to keep longtime readers of the series pleased with where it's going. I enjoy the author's descriptions of Amish customs and beliefs. Being from Pennsylvania myself, I particularly enjoyed her vivid descriptions of the Pennsylvania countryside! Overall, this is a well-paced, twisty novel where the ending takes you by surprise. Definitely recommend this novel, as well as the series, to anyone that enjoys police procedurals, mysteries, or suspense/thrillers.

Let me start by saying that I have read every book in this series, and love Kate Burkholder. Kate has been asked to look into a cold case from Pennsylvania involving Jonas, who was her first love, has been accused of murdering Ananias, an elderly bishop whose remains were found recently. Kate’s life is threatened several times as it appears someone is trying to kill her and get her out of the way. Kate is persistent and that pays off, there is a twist I did not see coming at the end. I really enjoyed this book. Now to wait another year for #15!

#netgalley

It's hard to believe that this is the 14th installment of this series, it feels as fresh as the first! the Chief of Police of Painter's Mill, OH, Kate Burkholder, is visited by three elders of an Amish community from Pennsylvania, they ask her to look into the murder of a Bishop that had occurred 18 years ago, but his body had recently been found and a local woodworking man, Jonas, has been arrested for it. Kate agrees, even though she has no jurisdiction outside of her state. Her decision may have been influenced by her having known Jonas when she was a young girl, and an incident that happened between them, revealed in flashbacks, that she is trying to atone for. She goes to Lancaster County to investigate and after contacting the local police for more information, is stonewalled. Going on what little she has gleaned, she starts asking questions of those she knows were involved in some way with the bishop. This leads to her getting attacked in her hotel room, run off the road and down an embankment, even after these events she is still stymied by the local police, though one officer does share some information with her. Kate is persistent and that pays off, there is a twist I did not see coming at the end. I really enjoyed this and though it's 14 in the series, I would say you could read as a stand alone. Thank you to #Netgalley and #Minotaur for the ARC.

Ananias Stoltzfus, an Amish bishop of Pennsylvania, disappeared ages ago. But his remains are found by a farmer plowing. He was shot. What happened? Who would have killed the well-regarded man of God? Formerly Amish chief of police Katie Burkholder is called in to consult. To her surprise, the accused killer is none other than her childhood crush, Jonas Bowman. Jonas moved away from Painter's Mill to the Pennsylvania community long ago.

Someone out there doesn't want Katie to get to the bottom of the mystery and threatens her. Does Katie want Jonas to be innocent so much that she can't clearly see the issues? Can she figure it all out in time to keep herself safe?

4.5 Stars! Such a good read! I have read every one of the Kate Burkholder series and this one is right up there, very much a favorite. Linda Castillo weaves a good story and her descriptive, tight writing draws you into the mystery and anticipate what’s to come. While all the books in the series are good, this one is fresh, captivating, and a great read. I give this book 4.5 stars as I really liked the plot and the backstory. I missed the characters in Painters Mill and although her time with Tomasetti was significant, I hope we get to spend more time in Painters Mill soon. Looking forward to the next chapter in this series.
I am grateful to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advance copy to read and review. Opinions are my own.