Police Chief Kate Burkholder of Painter’s Mill, OH, is called to the scene where a young Amish man has been brutally murdered. Once a member of the Amish community herself, Kate now lives as English and works in law enforcement in the small town where she grew up.

She is shocked with she arrives to find twenty-year-old Aden Karn lying in the ditch by the side of a secluded road. There is a significant indication he was killed by a crossbow and left to rot in the leaves. Appalled, Kate begins her inquiry, questioning family, friends, and neighbors, only to learn that Aden was a well-liked man preparing to marry soon. His fiancé, Emily, concedes Aden was exceptionally sweet to her, hardworking, and loved by all. Still, apparently, not everyone loved him, for he would not be dead.

The state police are called to the investigation along with Kate’s boyfriend, Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Civil Investigation, and the man Kate is due to marry in a few days.

The more Kate, her officers, and others dig into the crime, the more they learn that Aden harbored a wicked temper and a penchant for alcohol and women. Still, in “rumspringa,” it is not unusual for young people to sow their wild oats, yet could Aden have sowed them too far?

As the investigation digs deeper, a young prostitute is murdered near where Aden had been located. Could these two deaths be tied together? The woman was not Amish, did not live near Painter’s Mill, and apparently did not know Aden, but these were more pieces to fit together.

More questions arise when an Amish teen announces an encounter she had experienced involving Aden and his band of misfits who hung out at a local service station. However, this young woman, filled with grief and shame, refuses to disclose her story to anyone other than Kate.

Later, when Kate confronts Emily, the young woman explodes, and Kate knows she is in a quandary. Much more is going on. Most are tightlipped, yet those who talk claim Aden was respectable, but could he really have been filled with evil?

Issue #15 in the Kate Burkholder series is as suspenseful and compelling as her previous additions. A stand-alone, this tale shares the workings of law enforcement with the principles the peaceful and family-oriented Amish live by.

An Evil Heart is another heart pounding Kate Burkholder story by Linda Castillo. This time the Chief of Police is investigating the murder of a young Amish man. The community strives for keeping to themselves and is suspicious of outsides, but Kate is able to make headways into these investigations because of her past connections to the Amish.

Kate is as interesting as the cases are intriguing. Book fifteen in this long running series is just as spell binding as the first. Kate has a wedding planned but also a murder to solve. Twisty tale with the truth hard to come by in this young man’s murder. Kate’s cases always keep me guessing and this was one was not different. This will keep you reading until the very end.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Several years ago, I saw the Neve Campbell movie featuring the character of Kate Burkholder. The former Amish girl, returned as Police Chief to an Ohio town was an interesting character. When I saw An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo offered on NetGalley from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books I knew I had to read it. The following is my unsolicited opinion.
What a beginning! The author knows how to grab attention. A young Amish man, Aden Kern, is riding along on his bike, headed to join a work crew when he is violently murdered. Kate Burkholder is called away from a wedding dress fitting with her Amish sister to this ugly scene and is launched into an intense investigation.
This book is so intriguing. As she delves into the life of a well-liked, happy and humor filled life, Kate learns that everything with Aden may not be what it seems.
With one foot each in English and Amish worlds as she tries to reconcile with her family during this important stage in her life, Kate is driven to solve this crime. What evil heart caused this death? Who is involved and why?
The characters are fine-tuned and believable in this story. The plot makes sense and can be shocking, even repulsive at times. There is crude language too which, when it's from an Amish character gives pause. This is no meek and mild romantic Amish book. This is more reflective of the real world immersed in evil. It is a page turner. Faced with another rainy day I read it in less than 24 hours. It's a solid mystery with major twists. We also see the good in another set of Amish citizens, Kate's family, and that is touching. It is a reminder that there is good and evil in this world.
This is a book that can make you think too. Just what is going on in your town?

Kate is back with another crime to solve. This is part of a series but can definitely be read as a standalone. The author does a great job of providing the necessary background. She also does a great job of explaining the ‘police talk’ that happens in the book. If you read this series in the past the format is familiar. The book opens with the crime being committed but you don’t know who is committing it. Then Kate and her team are called in to solve the crime. This is an interesting way to start the book because you know exactly how the crime was committed and get the watch the police figure it out along with who committed it.
I love the writing style as I feel as if I’m in the story. I already can’t wait for the next book in the series!

This is one of my fave series and this particular installment is one that I’ve wanted to read for a looonnnggg time😊 The book summary lays out the premise for the primary storyline: the investigation of a brutal murder of a seemingly nice Amish man, Aden Karn. Well…..anyone who is familiar with Linda Castillo’s Painters Mill knows that in this Amish community, the crime per capita is shockingly high!

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of Aden’s death. While many in the community sing his praise, a couple of the people in his life don’t share the same positive feelings about Aden. It’s revealed pretty early in the story that some know that Aden, who was on Rumspringa, was not the sweet Amish man that everyone else is making him out to be. Yeah, that whole Rumspringa thing can be a set-up for chaos. It’s basically a free pass for Amish teens to cut loose and go crazy.

It is around the halfway point that not only is another dead body discovered, but Kate also receives a report of Aden raping a 16yr old Amish girl. Yeah, that’s not really a shocker. Once again, for those of us who have been invested in this series from the get-go, we all know that some Amish (male & female) are not the upstanding, law-abiding, religious, God-fearing, morally bound people that everyone seems to think they are. They can be just as criminally minded as the general public. This whole premise has allowed Castillo to produce some REALLY great stories over the years! 😊

Anyway, the investigation begins to go in a different direction that leads to some pretty intense and life endangering incidents for Kate and her team along with Tomasetti. The end of the investigation comes pretty quick after that. The ending was one that this devoted Kate Burkholder fan had been waiting for a looonnnggg time, and actually brought tears to my eyes!!! 😊

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #AnEvilHeart

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Aden Karn was looking forward to marrying his sweet fiancé, Emily. All the while, Kate’s own wedding day to Tomasetti draws near. But as she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places. This is the 15th book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read all the others and suggest you do too as that's the best way to get a feel for the series. Although it can be read as a standalone as enough background is given in each book. There are great plot twists which make you switch to other characters while reading the book. The ending is a complete surprise which I didn't see coming. I'm now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like twists with your mysteries then you will love this book.

United States Publication: July 11, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Aden Karn is found dead on the side of the road early one morning. At first, it looks like a hit and run but upon closer examination, it is discovered he was not just killed but brutally killed. Chief Burkholder gets called out to the investigation in the middle of her wedding dress fitting. She and Tomasetti's wedding day is just a few days away. But before Kate can really focus on marrying the love of her life, she's got to solve this crime and it's proving to be elusive. The more she learns about Karn, the more she sees that more than one person possibly wanted him dead and that narrowing down the list of suspects might be much more difficult than she originally thought.

Castillo is really good at delving into the human condition. She explores, using the Amish culture, the idea that subscribing to a religion doesn't always automatically make a person good or behave correctly. I'm really interested to see what Kate and Tomasetti's future holds as they take the next step in their relationship. And just when I wonder what new storylines Castillo could possibly come up with, she goes and writes another good one.

Another great book in the Kate Burkholder series. As Kate Burkholder balances planning her upcoming wedding and solving another murder, she once again is thrown back 8into her Amish past. Another great read in the series but reads well as a stand-alone novel too!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for my honest review

An Evil Heart is the latest in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Kate is the police chief in Painters Mill. One third of the town is Amish. Kate was raised Amish but has left the religion. She is set to marry her long time partner, Tomasetti. The investigation into the murder of a young Amish man, Aden Karn takes up the days preceding the weeding. Aden seems to be a typical Amish man. According to everyone Kate speaks with, he is a calm presence, has no enemies, is liked by everyone. But as Kate digs deeper, she finds Aden wasn’t everything he seemed to be. Kate walks a line between her up bringing and her adult life. An Evil Heart blends the English and the Amish lifestyles. The characters are well defined. The story wraps up without loose ends. I give this a solid five stars.

"I can't abide you doing what you're doing," says the killer as he finishes off his victim, a young Amish man named Aden Karn. When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder begins investigating the homicide, she is stuck by how everyone who knew Aden seems to sing his praises. Who'd want to kill him? But she knows that some people excel at hiding the evil that lurks in their heart.

This is a great addition to this long running series. Besides the intriguing crime investigation, there's an interesting look into the lives and habits of the Amish community in Ohio. They apparently have a 'code of silence' just like the mafia, haha. On the personal side, Kate and Tomasetti's relationship is poised to take a big leap forward. If she can survive that long...

I received an arc of this exciting new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I love this series! I am a librarian at a public library, and I have told many people about this series and now there is a waiting list every time a new book comes out!

This book is about a young man who is killed riding his bike to work one day. Everyone seems to love him and have nothing but good to say, until another dead body is found. It kept me guessing who did it until he end!

This is an entertaining police procedural. Katie Burkholder is the police chief in a small mostly Amish community. With a murder on the loose, Kate is attempting to solve the crime before her wedding. The plot is filled with many twists and turns as the investigation proceeds. There are multiple people who are suspected to be the killer, but readers will be surprised by the real culprit.

Another excellent read from this author. I got caught up in the story immediately and could not put the book down. The investigation into the death of a young Amish man by a cross bow was a horrific way to die. Kate has several suspects but none seem viable. She immerses herself in the investigation even with her wedding just days away. The steady way she works through the problems and the hidden secrets that come out make for a great read. So very, very good!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Linda Castillo is one of my all-time favorite authors, and Kate Burkholder is one of my favorite characters. I actually finished this book last week in two days, but I could not decide what I wanted to say. I loved this book so much! As usual, Linda Castillo keeps us on the edge of our seats. I love how she tells the language used with this area's Amish community, and then she will tell what it means in English. I loved seeing Kate and Tomasetti getting married! It has been such a joy to see their growth in their relationship, on all levels, and see their love blossom. It is not a romance book though, do let that fool you. This is a crime book for sure, and is one that can be rather graphic. However, I LOVED this book and I cannot wait to recommend it with all my family and friends.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out super strong, and kept that same energy up throughout the rest of it. I was literally on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down.

The Kate Burkholder books are an auto buy for me. Without hesitation, every year, I jump on it to read. This year I saved the ARC I received from Minotaur Books via NetGalley for my annual beach vacation and it was a great beach read!

Kate and John Tomasetti's wedding is quickly approaching when an unexpected murder of a seemingly innocent young Amish man throws her attention to something else entirely.

One of my favorite things with this series is that the author doesn't hesitate to get into some nitty gritty, unpleasant aspects of human life and this one was no different. I certainly won't spoil anything but there was more than one moment I felt sheer grief for one or more characters in the book.

This was just over a 24 hour read for me and I will continue to jump on any Linda Castillo books!

Every summer I eagerly await the newest Castillo book. Here’s what I know will be in it. First, Kate is going to give her case her all. Second, someone in the Amish community or close to it is going to die.
I can find no new words to gush over this series that I haven’t said in all my previous reviews.
I adore this series and hope it never CK es to an end’
This book does have a very special ending.

This fifteenth book in the Kate Burkholder series is remarkable. I've enjoyed all of Linda Castillo's books about the former-Amish police chief. She doesn't disappoint.
This time Kate is investigating the murder of a young Amish man, Aden Karn. He was brutally killed on a country road. I must say this book contained two murders that were horribly brutal, and that was the only drawback I'd cite. It was difficult to read about them. The town of Painters Mill is abuzz with talk about Karn's murder. At first, it seems that his death makes absolutely no sense. He was from a fine, upstanding Amish family with many friends. But, as Kate digs more deeply into his demise, she begins to realize that all is not as it appears.
At the same time, she is preparing for her marriage to Tomasetti, her lover of several years. Will the Amish community and her family attend the wedding?
As always, Castillo weaves the plot and subplot throughout the novel, and the pace never flags. Her characters never disappoint, and the Amish country around Painters Mill seems like a place we'd like to come back to again and again.

An Evil Heart is the 15th book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Don't let the 15th scare you away, I found this easy to enjoy as a standalone mystery and I have not read the previous books (yet).

This is one of those books that grabs you from hte start and leaves you guessing until the very end. There were so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat and I found this fascinating!

The characters were interesting and well developed. I look forward to reading the other books in the series so I can learn more about them. Kate Burkholder was fascinating and I need to get to know her better!

If you're looking for a mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further! You will love An Evil Heart!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Always a solid and remains so at #15 in the series. Lots of emotions in this one. Thanks to Netgalley in exchange for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes July 11