When an old friend with a shared past is arrested for murder, Kate ventures out to find the person responsible for the crime. She is met with resistance from the local police but her dogged pursuit puts her in the crosshair of a killer who wants this crime to remain as it is.

As always, Linda writes a drama that quickly became a page-turner as I couldn’t put this book down as I had to know how this was going to end. The tale moved at a frenetic pace with first the backstory of young Kate, then the present looking for clues and the discovery of a secret that sets the tone of the story moving forward. The author delivered one of the best books in the series and I can’t wait to see where we go next with Kate. As always any appearance by Tomasetti brings a smile to my face.

I always enjoy Linda Castillo books. She makes the Amish lifestyle come to life. I wouldn't want to live it, but enjoy reading about it. This one kept me guessing til the end, not what I expected at all. I missed all the regular police dept people, but I guess a small town can only have so much murder and mayhem. LOL As usual, Katie gets like a dog with a bone, and will not give up. I always like when Katies backstory is added. Helps you understand the person she has become. The only bad thing about reading one of her books, is knowing it will be awhile before there is another..

This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review. I've rated it 2-stars, which means "It was okay" within the Goodreads rating system. Hover your mouse over the stars to see the words that accompany each star rating.

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo is a series book and brings the flavor of a well-worn main character whose backstory is gradually filled in for each volume. It's just as you'd have in a long running TV series. People who were never mentioned before suddenly show up and were critically important to the MC's life. This is #14 in the chronicles of Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police and ex-Amish, baptized but left the church so under the ban but fluent in the culture.

Those identities allow her to assume various roles when policing and interacting with the communities around her, which is the series' "hook". Here, an old boyfriend has been thrown in jail in another state, and she's off to cross state lines and intrude without a PI license or regional authority in the Amish community he joined shortly after the two broke up. Also, I wonder, do different Amish churches recognize the baptism between them, are they at all in communion that way? I don't know and didn't bother to search the web, but it bugged me the whole way through the book. Would Kate have been shunned, even by a church and community that was described as being particularly strange?

Anyhoo. The mystery revolves around remains, long dead, and the evidence that points to the former boyfriend. It's up to Kate to prove his innocence. As mysteries go, it's fairly serviceable. The murder victim has a long-standing mysterious background that is gradually unveiled, and the true culprit is revealed.

The problem is that I didn't buy any of it. I'm pretty sure that even if you're a chief of police in Ohio, you have no authority whatsoever out of your jurisdiction and that without some sort of licensing, Kate's actions would have ended up with her in jail. I also kept wondering how she was able to get leave from her job. Emergency family medical leave? Mental health day?

The people that surrounded her felt like cardboard police cutouts and generic mystery book community members splashed with a bucket of Amish-esque paint. Since she's gotten to book 14, I assume there's someone or some people doing a review of the books for accuracy but this one (I have not read the others) did not feel authentic based on my experiences.

For the story itself, it was well paced, the words were readable. It was, in a word, okay. I just didn't like it very much and I couldn't find myself immersing into the story. I ended up skipping to the ending so I knew the big truth towards the middle of the book and then finished up after backtracking.

I suppose it isn't fair to compare chicklit to other modern mystery/thriller writers like CJ Box, but I found the book somewhat lacking. I wanted to like it more than I did.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. The Amish...secrets...family and friends...intrigue...what will happen next? Who? Why? When? spend an afternoon reading this book, written by a talented and gifted author, and enjoy trying to discern the outcome...I liked this book even though it moves slowly at times.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

It’s been eighteen years since Amish Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus vanished. Now the discovery of skeletal remains may finally solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Who would have shot the bishop . . . twice . . . and left him in a shallow grave?

When Jonas Bowman admits that the muzzleloader found buried with the man belongs to him, he’s arrested and charged with murder.

The Amish elders of Belleville, Pennsylvania seek out Police Chief Kate Burkholder and ask for her help. When they identify the man charged with the crime, Kate instantly realizes they have a connection. When she was growing up, Jonas’s father, Ezra, was the minister of the church in Painters Mill. Jason was her first love.

Kate agrees to help, but she finds the police reluctant to talk to her about the case. Nevertheless, Kate asks questions and seeks information, finding that the town remains deeply divided concerning Jonas and the murder of the bishop.

When an attacker threatens Kate, she realizes that someone doesn’t want her to ask questions. Despite the threat, she refuses to quit.

There’s a killer in Kishacoquillas Valley, one determined to keep the past concealed. Will Kate find the truth or will the bishop’s secrets remain hidden?

=========

Although this book is the fourteenth in the Kate Burkholder series, it works well as a standalone with sufficient backstory for readers new to the series. As is true with other series, however, the revelations and the character development that occurs as the series progresses make a strong case for reading the earlier books.

The story, told from Kate’s point of view, stays mostly in the present. However, at times the story looks back at Kate’s interactions with Jonas. This backstory is sure to intrigue readers of the series as well as it highlights some of Kate’s own growing-up story in the Amish community. Since the bulk of the story takes place outside Painters Mill, several of the usual characters are absent and Tomasetti makes only brief appearances.

Pulling readers into the telling of the tale from the outset, the intriguing plot keeps the suspense building as the unfolding story twists in unpredictable directions. As the past and present come together, readers are sure to find themselves trying to identify the murderer.

With well-developed characters and a strong sense of place, readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before reaching the stunning denouement that is sure to be a surprise.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#TheHiddenOne #NetGalley

Kate Burkholder receives a visit from three Amish bishops from Pennsylvania, asking her to look into a cold case involving the 18 year old murder of Ananias Stoltzfus. Apparently his bones were recently unearthed and evidence led the police to arrest one of the Amish, Jonas Bowman. Kate and Jonas had grown up together in Painter's Mill, before he and his family moved out of the area 20 years ago. Kate agrees to unofficially look into the case for them, not promising any results. She soon finds herself facing resistance not only from the local police department, but also from some of the dead man's relatives. All seem convinced of Jonas's guilt, since he had a major altercation with the dead man shortly before his disappearance. But Kate is steadfast in her opinion that the boy she knew in the past would never commit this murder. Despite all odds, she struggles to unravel the few clues and prove his innocence. This is a wonderful series and each story brings us more of an insight into Kate's ever developing character. This story brings her back to the past, both the good parts and the bad parts, and helps her to come to terms with her own present, and maybe even her future. Although John, Tomasetti, is mostly absent in this story, there are still hints of how important he is to Kate's life. I loved how she set about to solve this almost decades old murder. I am looking forward to more Kate stories. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.

Linda Castillo has written another Kate Burkholder mystery set in an Amish community, The Hidden One.

Ten years before, a beloved Amish Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus disappeared. No trace of him was found. A farmer has now unearthed bones that turn out to be the bishop’s remains. The farmer had previously had words with the bishop before his disappearance and all suspicion falls on him. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, and although the Amish tend to take care of their own, the elders of this other community in Pennsylvania ask Chief Kate to investigate what has turned out to be a crime of murder.

As she investigates, things are not adding up. Just who was Bishop Stoltzfus? There is no record of him having existed until he came to Kishacoquillas Valley, nor no mention of his wife. Something strange is happening or did happen long ago. It is up to Kate to find out what happened to the bishop and who murdered him and why. The mystery and suspense in this novel kept me involved and intrigued. I usually shy away from Amish-themed books, but this is one I liked.

Amish bishop Amanias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. Skeletal remains show evidence of foul play. The town elders arrive in Painters Mill to ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. She realizes that she has a personal connection to the crime. Jonas Bowman is the Amish man who stands accused of murder. He was Kate's first love. Kate travels to Pennsylvania's Kishacoquillas Valley. Though Bishop Stoltzfus was highly respected, she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that resulted in his own brutal death? This is the 14th book of the series. You can read each book as a standalone but it is best to read it as a series. The twists keep the pages turning. The ending is a complete surprise. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like the action then you will love this book. l am thankful to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite series! When Kate Burkholder Heads to PA to help a childhood friend convicted of murder, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery with no badge and no backup.

Linda Castillo never disappoints!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books, NetGalley and Linda Castillo for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Page Turning Adventure!!

Can you believe this is book 14 in the Kate Burkholder series. Still just as thrilling and exciting as the first.

An old friend is arrested for murder in a Pennsylvania Amish community. Kate is asked to investigate but someone doesn’t want the truth to come out.

There are flashbacks from Kate’s childhood. She has grown so much as a character during the 14 plus books.

Tomasetti and Her relationship has blossomed in the last couple of stories and I’m so glad.

“You still love him?” “No, but I care. Too much. I feel guilty for . . . what happened. To him. His family. The role I played. I want to make it right. I’m not sure how. It might be too late.”

Let me tell you the ending was shocking.

I’m a huge fan of this series and look forward to every new story. Keep up the wonderful work.

The 14th book in the Kate Burkholder series did not disappoint!

Kate, Chief of Police in Painter’s Mill, Ohio, finds herself in Pennsylvania, investigating the murder of an Amish bishop. The accused is a former boyfriend of Kate’s, Jonas Bowman. Kate was not invited to investigate this crime by the local police department, so she is pushed out at every turn. Does Kate know the boy she used to date? Kate will stop at nothing to find out the truth.

This was a great addition to the Kate Burkholder series. I enjoyed the addition of another location and the slight variations in the Amish culture portrayed in this book. The twists will drop your jaw and keep you turning the pages eager to find out the truth.

I want to thank Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. This is the 14th book in Castillo’s Kate Burkholder Amish series. I’ve read all 14 of these books and this was the worst one yet. I absolutely loved the first one, and I’d recommend it highly. After that, a few were really good but most were just average.

This particular book finds Kate in a neighboring county, trying to help her old friend Jonas who’s been accused of murdering an Amish elder. For a murder mystery, this book is so slow paced and so boring. The victim is not a good person which makes it really hard to care what happened to him. The flashbacks add absolutely nothing to the story. I gave it 2 stars because I do like the character of Kate and her boyfriend.

I think it’s time for Castillo to put this series out of its misery and start a new, fresh series.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

This was another suspenseful and interesting book in the Kate Burkholder,
Painter’s Mill Police Chief series.

This time, Kate is asked to investigate a cold case in Pennsylvania, involving a childhood friend and teenage romantic interest from twenty years ago.
She gets into the usual dangerous situation with folks that do not want her
investigating.

She is clever and persistent. She is not easily intimidated and she is able to put all the facts and clues together to solve her crime. She eventually gets her man or woman perpetrator.

The mystery is presented in a logical way and there may be surprises, but they always make sense. You don’t have to have read the 13 books that come before this in the series, but if you enjoy this one, you may want to go back and read the others.

Linda Castillo's books do not fail! A great mystery, thriller, with lots of adventure as well. I have enjoyed this series and the latest installment of Chief Kate Burkholder's cases doesn't disappoint. An enjoyable, well-written, and satisfying read.

Another great edition to the Amish based mystery series Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder left her Amish fold as a teen but utilizes those ties in her police work when issues arise involving the Amish people. In The Hidden One, Kate is called back to her old world as she hopes to assist her first love who has been accused of murder.

This story is particularly special in the series as we flashback to when Kate was Amish and learn more of her backstory. This is book 14 in the series and it is clear that Kate has grown as an individual - the flashbacks really highlight these changes!

I love Linda Castillo's style and this book is another gem. If you like a straightforward mystery, love a strong female character, are interested in the Amish and their culture, then The Hidden One is for you!

I have read all of Linda Castillo's books and this one did not disappoint. The reader gets a closer look at Police Chief Kate Burkholder's life as a teenager and how an incident in her past comes back to haunt her in her present day job.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder has the unenviable job of being in charge of keeping the peace in a community that consists of a heavy Amish population. As a former Amish person, she has insight into their way of life that help give her an advantage in dealing with their resistance to law enforcement and they strange way of handling crime amongst them. When Kate's high school sweetheart is arrested for the murder of an Amish bishop, the elders of that community travel to Painter's Mill to seek her help in proving his innocence. With little thought of her own security, Kate travels to their town and works as a regular citizen to uncover the truth about who killed the Bishop, which involves finding out that the revered man was not what he presented himself to be. It's an exciting read with memories of young love and a surprise ending.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and Linda Castillo seems to be having fun with her Kate Burkholder series. She’s just finished her 14th installment of this popular Amish mystery series with The Hidden One. For readers like me, who have read each of the previous novels, it’s a bit sad to see Kate leave her team behind and head to Pennsylvania, where a childhood friend has been accused of murder. We barely get to see the Painter’s Mill, Ohio, gang – Glock, T.J., Pickles, Margaret, Skid, and Mona. Heck, we don’t see much of the Chief’s live-in-lover either, John Tomasetti.

The Diener – elected officials of the church district – from Belleville, Pennsylvania, pay a visit to Kate and ask her to help one of their own, Jonas Bowman, who has been arrested for the murder of an elderly Amish man, Ananias Stoltzfus. Kate is shocked. While she’s not seen Jonas for many years, the idea that he could have killed someone is unfathomable. The two were friends, close friends growing up. She has no official standing in Pennsylvania, but she vows to do whatever she can to help Jonas.

In the Prologue, we see the death occur. What we don’t see is who kills the former bishop. Throughout the novel, we begin to see conflicting pieces of the man’s life, his strict adherence to Amish principles, but, according to some, his temper and even violent behavior. Kate wonders, could this have provoked someone. Even so, no one deserves to be murdered. To the family and community, Stoltzfus wandered off and disappeared. His body was found 18 years later. He’d been shot twice. An old musket was next to him in a shallow grave.

What about Jonas? As Kate meets with Jonas, her heart and mind flash back to many times during her childhood and teenage years. She was a strong-willed child who was conflicted about what it meant to be Amish, to live by the rules, to be female within Amish culture. With adolescence, this became a struggle, especially when an older, attractive young man sent shock waves through her body and soul. Eventually, Jonas and his family were sent away, and Kate blamed herself.

Fortunately for Kate, she has a strong, understanding man in Tomasetti. He is confident in their relationship, in her.

As for the murder charges, local law enforcement is not eager to share with an outsider, and the family of the deceased resents her interference. As far as they are concerned, the killer is where he belongs.

This was one of my favorite books in the entire series. It flows so well from one scene to another. As in each Burkholder book, there are memories from Kate’s past. This time, they are bittersweet, but she is able to put them aside, knowing that she has someone special to go home to. Don’t think it’s all smooth sailing, however. Kate wouldn’t be Kate if trouble didn’t find her. And it does, more than once. As usual, it’s nothing she can’t handle.

I received an ARC version of The Hidden One from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. Thanks also to Minotaur Books and the author. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

I'm a big fan of her work, and if you haven't read anything by her you need to change that!

This is number 14 in the Kate Burkholder series, and while I dove in somewhere around book 11, you'll probably get more out of this one if you've read a few of the others first. I absolutely love Kate Burkholder as a character. She grew up in an Amish community but left when she was 18, after some troubling personal experiences. She's now the Chief of Police of a small town called Painter's Mill in Ohio.

In this book, Kate is called to investigate when an Amish bishop's remains are found. This discovery uncovers another secret from a decade ago. The more she unlocks the darker the situation becomes. Things become even more complicated when it turns out that the person accused of the murder is Kate's first love.

The mystery of it all will keep you turning the pages, but the interesting pieces of Amish life and tradition also kept me from putting this one down. If you need an interesting mystery in your life, definitely pick this one up!

Another great addition in the Kate Burkholder series! Can't get enough of the Amish story. A real page turner with a new local of Pennsylvania.