This is apparently book 15 in a series, but did work as a standalone as I'd never read and of Linda Castillo's books before. However, reading the previous books would have built the characters up better for me.

An Evil Heart is a solid crime thriller. At times it had me anxious in anticipation and at other times almost crying with how emotional it made me.

We follow the formerly Amish Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, as she faces not one, but two murders all while preparing for her wedding day.

I had no clue where Linda Castillo was leading us and I went willingly. Wow. Kate Burkholder has a busy little town and I am so glad I do not live in it.

I was surprised by where the mystery led and I love when that happens. I will warn readers that this is a dark story with darker twists. Castillo writes about a number of issues that women and cops deal with in the world and still makes the mystery a nail-biter.

Sometimes it’s hard to write a review about a mystery without giving anything away because I don’t want to spoil any reveals, but this is another great turnout from Castillo and Burkholder. I love the supporting cast. I will give one little spoiler: we do get to see the Tomasetti and Burkholder happy ending it took 15 books to get to.

This is the newest book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo, and it doesn’t disappoint. Castillo weaves a web of intrigue that Kat must navigate while finalizing her wedding plans to long time significant other John Tomasetti.
A young Amish man, Aden Karn is brutally murdered. Kate, the Painter Ridge police chief and former member of the Amish community finds herself hitting brick wall after brick wall in this investigation. She knows something is off, that she’s not getting the whole truth, but until people start cooperating fully she and her staff will be getting no time off.
I have been a fan of Linda Castillo since reading the first book, Sworn to Silence. This installment is riveting as Castillo pulls back the layers until the final scene.
I throughly enjoyed this book! Castillo is one of my automatic buys and look forward to each new release. It is part of a series and I am one of those people who needs to start from the very beginning. But, I encourage every one to read this book! It’s fantastic!!
Full disclosure, I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review.

I've been reading this series for a very long time. I read book one shortly after it came out in 2009, and I've read each new book since then with the same enjoyment each time. An Evil Heart is the 15th book in the Kate Burkholder series. And, I will keep reading each new book, novella and short story in this series until the very final word. #hooked. Totally.

I like Kate Burkholder as a character. She's not only an excellent cop, but also a very strong person. She had the strength to overcome a horrific childhood trauma and to walk away from the Amish lifestyle when it wasn't right for her. She had the strength to bear the consequences of her decisions.

The plots in this series are always good. She interacts with the Amish as a county law enforcement officer and as a former community member - mixing those two portions of her personality in just the right way to get the job done without being biased or ever misled. The books also give a glimpse into what it is like to live where modern society bumps up against the Amish Community. Some Amish don't like "Englishers'' and some non-Amish don't like having to slow down for buggies/horses. But most are willing to co-exist peacefully.

This time around Kate investigates the case of a murdered young Amish man. Aden was young, gregarious and just starting his adult life. Who ended his life so cruelly and violently, leaving his body abandoned on a dirt road?

Turns out.....everyone has secrets.

Another great book in this series! The plot moves at a perfect pace. There is a lot of investigation, suspects and twists, as usual. The suspense kept me totally engaged in the story from start to finish. This series never disappoints!

I am definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Evil is everywhere, even in the small Amish community of Painters Mill. Kate Burkholder is faced with the brutal murder of, by all accounts, an upstanding young Amish at the beginning of his life. This happens just day before her much anticipated wedding to her long time love. Then, a body surfaces and she needs to figure out if there is one or more killers on the loose, and how or if they are related.

Once again, Castillo weaves a tale so dark in this tight knit, closed mouth Amish neighborhood. Introduced to this author thru NetGalley, I quickly became a fan. Her books are always page turners, twisted and dark, and I throughly enjoy them. Her characters are so honest and grapple with the confines of their Order when called upon. While I was pretty sure I guessed the killer, the authors subtle comments started pushing me in a different direction. Though quiet, plain and God fearing, the Amish still wrestle with everyday issues we might think they are immune to.

Thanks to St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!

Kate Burkholder, chief of police in Painters Mill, is getting married to her longtime love, Tomassetti. But she has a new worrisome case: a young Amish man, Aden, who everyone has praised for his kindness, has been murdered with a crossbow. Then there's another murder, and the Amish, typically reticent about speaking ill of their people, start to talk to Kate. Maybe Aden wasn't the saint he's been described as? Could he have done something so unspeakable that the killing was revenge? What was his relationship with women, particularly when he had been drinking, since he was on rumspringa? Kate's wedding is getting closer, and she hopes to wrap up the case soon, but it seems unlikely when there are so many loose ends and disturbing revelations.

An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo is book number 15 in the Kate Burkholder series.
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder grew up a debit Amish yet many years ago she left her faith, she keeps the town of Painters Mill safe and is well liked by the Amish community.

One crisp autumn morning she is called to the scene of a DOA in the middle of the road, a 20 year old Amish man Aden Karn has been murdered in the most horrific way, by a crossbow. As she investigates she learns how well liked Aden was, the Amish community is in shock yet as her investigation takes hold, there is more to Aden that people will admit, Aden had a dark side.
Kate and her love John Tomasetti are due to be married any day but Kate just can’t get this case off her mind and must follow it through to the end.

This series is one of my favorites and I was excited to be chosen to listen to the audiobook and read this book. The line between Kate and Tomasetti is real, I love their quips towards each other, the way they care for each other with true tenderness. This is a couple I’ve been rooting for since they met in the beginning of the series.

Between Katie, Tomasetti, the officers at the Painters Mill police station, (especially learning police code) and the Amish community, the way Linda Castillo is able to tie everything together to make a cohesive story is masterful.
Spoiler Alert - I would love book 16 to open up at Kate & Tomasetti’s wedding, as I am upset to have missed “being there”.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read/listen to An Evil Heart, I give this book 5 stars.

#Netgalley #bookreview #thriller #amishthriller #favoriteauthor #favoriteseries #gripping #hardtoputdown #edgeofseat #heartpounding #mysterythrillersuspense #mustread2023

Kate Burkholder, Book 15
An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo
This entry into the series was somewhat grim and dark. The only relief was the wedding and the family relationships.
The culprit in the murder was not really a surprise but the ending was satisfying although, the ending was somewhat abrupt. This may not have been my favorite in this series but I will continue with the next book when it comes out.
Thanks to NetGalley

The fifteenth Kate Burkholder has Kate trying to solve two murders just days before her long-awaited wedding to Tomasetti.

Twenty-one-year-old Aden Karn was shot to death via a crossbow while riding his bike to work. Everyone from his parents to the girl he is courting tell Kate that he was a friendly, hardworking, helpful man that everyone loved. It doesn't look like anyone wanted him dead but nothing about the murder looks like an accident either.

Kate investigates but penetrating the Amish wall of silence isn't easy from Kate despite the fact that she was once a part of the Amish community herself. That might, in fact, make it harder. Then a second body is found. She was a part-time prostitute from a nearby town. She was found wrapped in plastic and with evidence of physical and sexual abuse on her body.

Kate feels that the two cases are connected but the connections are anything but clear cut. With Tomasetti busy with a kidnapping case of his own, Kate isn't able to call on his assistance as much as she would like. But the more she investigates, the more she comes to learn that Aden Kern wasn't the man everyone said he was.

This was another excellent episode in this long-running series. I liked the way Kate is reconnecting with her brother and sister as the wedding plans build. I liked the setting of the story and the connections to the Amish community where Kate grew up. I liked Kate's determination to find the killer even though she really comes to hate the victim. Tomasetti reminds her that she doesn't fight for the victim because of who they are but because of who she is.

This gripping page-turner won't let you go until the very end. Every story in this series continues to be fresh. I'm always excited when a new book comes out and this one is a perfect example of why. These characters feel like old friends. There are plenty of surprises and I didn't see the reveal coming. I loved the ending too!

Great book full of suspense and a great addition to the series this book is five star a great book would make a great show on prime or. Netflix

As Chief of Police of a small town, Kate Burkholder knows people are often not what they appear to be, sometimes hiding an evil nature. As a former Amish woman, she realizes how secrets of this community are buried deep. In Linda Castillo’s latest mystery we witness heinous acts committed by men and kept secret by their victims. Kate is good at her job; she has a mind driven by solving crimes and a heart that bridges the Amish and English worlds, enabling her to do so with compassion. Another enjoyable read by this author.

An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo is the 15th book in the Kate Burkholder series. The novels focus on the life of Kate Burkholder, the chief of Police in Painters Mill. The town is made up of Amish and English, which adds a great element to the storylines as the cultures do occasionally clash. What adds to the novels is the fact that Kate Burkholder was brought up plain (Amish) and has family that lives in Painters Mill. All of the stories focus on crimes (usually with a death) that Kate ends up solving, sometimes in unique ways. There is also a personal story within the mysteries with Kate and Tomasetti. They are to be married in a matter of days.

Kate is called in on a dead Amish young man. He was found dead on the side of the road with his bicycle nearby. Noone saw anything and even the murder weapon is unknown at the beginning. Kate and her people work the mystery asking questions and are focused on finding out all about Aden Karn. The more questions, the deeper the mystery and more questions are asked. It seems that not all is clear in this case and there are some discrepancies in the different stories.

The mystery is fascinating. It is always interesting how information is slowly eked out as you are held on tender hooks to find the solution. Kate Burkholder is a fascinating character and her dogged determination to solve crimes makes the book fascinating!

Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

Thrilling, gripping and fast-paced.. this has all the things I love in a crime novel!!! Book 15 in the Kate Burkholder series follows Police Chief Kate as she attempts to solve two extremely viscous murders. Are they connected? If so, who is behind it? Kate digs in to find those answers as she prepares her wedding to Tomasetti which is only a few days away. I loved this unique mystery that unfolded layer-by-layer that left not much to go on.. but of course Kate is excellent at solving crimes. With the deaths of a beloved young Amish man on “rumspringa” and a young woman found bound and gagged in a creek.. Kate works day and night to get these murders solved. I ADORE her character + this series. So good. Loved it and highly recommend!!! 5 stars — 7/11/23

I have read every installment in the Kate Burkholder series, and I found this story one of the best. From the first chapter you will be taken to a place where nothing is as it seems to be. On his way to work, while riding his bike down a lonely stretch of road, a young Amish man is murdered.. This is the beginning of the twists and turns to solving this exciting mystery.. One thing that I really like is that when a new character is introduced in the story, we get a little background of this person, and how they relate to the murder victim. You are never going to guess the ending, so you will find this great story hard to put down. I highly recommend An Evil Heart.

Thank You to NetGalley, The Publisher St. Martin’s Press and the Author Linda Castillo for allowing me to read this great mystery for an honest review.

Some trigger warnings---drugs, physical violence, rape, gang rape, and of course, murder.

Finally, after all the ups and downs, Kate and Tomasetti are going to make it to the altar...or are they?

Just days before their wedding, a horrible and unusual murder occurs. One of the town's young Amish men, someone who is beyond reproach, is murdered in the most grisly way. I was actually struck dumb by this murder. Naturally, this falls into Kate's jurisdiction, and she rushes headlong into it, wedding or no wedding!

Meanwhile, Tomasetti has his own horrible case to take care of—a double kidnapping.

I can't believe that I read most of this book believing that I had outsmarted the author and I knew exactly who did it and why. *smacks self in head* Nope, I should have never been so cocky to think that I could beat the Queen of this genre!

After 15 books, you would think that this author would be running out of steam or that the series would be going stale. Ms. Castillo I nowhere close to going stale or losing her steam. This series is actually getting better and better with each book published. Time for me to do a series re-read!

I can hardly believe that I was one of Ms. Castillos first fans. I had just read her first book and was excitedly talking about it to a friend at a book convention. Ms. Castillo happened to be standing behind me in line as I was speaking and heard me. She introduced herself and graciously (and somewhat breathlessly) thanked me for my kind words. I'll never forget that.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Minotaur Books, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all.

Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, , OH. The are has a large Amish community, to which Kate used to belong. Kate has been called away from having a fitting for her wedding dress to investigate a body which has been found on a rural road. The body is that of 20 year old Aden Karn - Amish, and on Rumspringa.
He had been violently killed using a crossbow. and left of this dirt road. Was this a hunting accident? Was he a target for some reason?
All accounts point to his being a stand up guy, He has a steady job where he works hard and is respected, an Amish girl who he planned to marry, a roommate who was his best friend. Kate is tasked with solving this case in the days leading up to her wedding. A wedding being thrown by her family, still in the Amish community as she marries her law enforcement fiancee' Tomasetti. What could possibly go wrong?
This killing was personal, but why? Kate uses her knowledge of the Amish community and her gut instincts in pursuit of the truth. Will this be the case that cuts to close to home? Will she make it to the alter?

This is a great read, the first of the series that I have read, but it won't be the last, now that I have found it !

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARc of this book.

Not a spoiler, since it’s in the description: Kate and Tomasetti are finally getting married! But, first Kate has to solve yet another murder in Amish country! There wasn’t anything very shocking or surprising with this mystery but it was pretty gruesome and potentially triggering. Personally, the crime and the investigation took a backseat for me because I was more focused on what was happening next with Kate and Tomasetti. If you have been along for the ride the whole time, I think you will find this a very satisfying next book in the series.

Another outstanding murder case for Kate Burkholder, chief of police in small town Painter’s Mill, Ohio. An Amish man has been viciously murdered with a cross bow and left lying in the road. Kate, former Amish, walks a fine line between her life now and when she was Amish, having left the church years ago. While needing to find justice for the murdered man, Kate is due to marry her fiancé, BCI Detective John Tomasetti, in less than a week. Her investigation begins to lead her down a dark and unexpected path as details of the man’s life, during Rumspringa, come to light. When a woman’s body is pulled out of the water, are the two cases connected, and if so, how? It will take a young Amish girl who provides information that will help lead Kate to the killer. If you have not read the series (you really should…one of my all-time favorite series), you will have enough backstory to understand the storyline and characters. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)