After another murder takes place in Painters Mill, newlywed Kate Burkholder with the help of her new husband John Tomasetti are on the case. This novel is filled with action and suspense and I simply could not put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kate and John’s relationship unfold throughout this series and was thrilled we finally got a glimpse into their wedded “bliss”. Linda always seems to find a way to bring some kind of connection between Kate and one of the suspects, whether it be an old Amish friend, ex-boyfriend or close relative, which grips really grips me.

Book after book I find myself scratching my head at Kate though as to why she gets herself in these predicaments with the perps, finding it quite predictable. She is one lucky girl as she always finds her way out of it, usually with the help of Tomasetti or someone from her team.

Since we’ve seen Kate and John’s relationship bud and flourish, I’m hoping Linda creates a new relationship we can watch unfold!

Installment 16 of Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series did not disappoint! I love how Kate does such a great job switching between her roles and the differing communities. I can't wait for the next in the series! Linda Castillo is on my always-read list!

The Burning by Linda Castillo is a thrilling novel. The characters are well developed and I particularly like the main character, a formerly Amish woman sheriff. Ms Castillo crafted a detailed plot that carries the book and keeps you reading. I thought the history and ties to the Anabaptists made the book really interesting. Readers of suspense will also find a lot of that in this book. It is a unique novel and I highly recommend it. It is not typical Amish fiction, rather more edgy thriller. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I love this series! Even though we are now at #16 with several novellas in the mix, it has not and I mean NOT gotten old and staid. Kate and Tomassetti are now finally married and they still work so well together. Kate has been called in the middle of the night because of a murder in the middle of the woods, a burned body, and it turns out it is an Amish man. So many twists and turns and even when her brother is implicated Kate does not stop investigating. Even if you have not read anything in this series, you could pick up this one and enjoy it but I recommend you start closer to the beginning of the series to see how Kate and Tomassetti have developed and grown, you will not be disappointed.

A man is burnt at the stake and Kate must uncover what happened. This case will take her back into her former life in Amish country.

I read book # 15 in this series! It is a good series, nothing super spectacular about it. Just a solid mystery series. It was interesting to go into another world and understand another’s culture. This is a series, however, any of the books can be read as a standalone.

I love this series! Linda Castillo continues to write thrilling Amish country mysteries. I love that the characters develop and change as the series goes on.

Another great read from Linda Castillo!!! The Kate Burkholder series continues in the fast paced thriller that will have you hooked from the beginning. Adding more connections with Kate's family, this book continues a great series.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Another great installment (#16) of the Chief of Police Kate Burkholder series. As always the story is exciting and never dull! The beginning starts off with a bang: a winter scene and something on fire in the woods. Really takes off from there. The writing is solid and the tells the story of a gruesome murder of an Amish man. Good development of story and Kate's character. She is newly married to FBI Agent Tomasetti and I love the way their marriage and working skills are developing. I can't wait for them to grow as a married couple. I liked the book so much that I purchased the Audible audiobook so when I couldn't read I could listen while driving/etc. Excellent narration as usual by Kathleen McInerney. I'm so glad she narrates all the Kate Burkholder audiobooks. I loved this book and cannot wait for her next installment.
I highly recommend this book or audiobook to anyone who enjoys suspense/mystery/police procedurals.
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a twisty, edge of your seat thriller. I have read a few backlist entries in this series, but this is by far my favorite. I love how, even though at times it is challenging, Kate finds a way to relate to and navigate between her Amish and English worlds. This was a gruesome story, but the folklore explained behind it made me invested in the story. There were several times where I held my breath because of the situations that Kate found herself in. Thoroughly enjoyed and would 100% recommend.

I really enjoy the Kate Burkholder series. Linda Castillo does a great job of creating a good mystery while incorporating Amish/Mennonite/Anabaptist culture. She sets the scene so well that the reader really ends up caring about the characters and the community. This does have a few triggers including domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse.

A dark and chilling installment in Linda Castillo long running series set against the backdrop of Amish culture. Can be read as a stand alone. Gripping and suspenseful. A solid read

The Burning by Linda Castillo is a gripping entry in the Kate Burkholder series, blending a chilling murder mystery with the tense dynamics of the Amish community. The story follows Kate, a former Amish woman turned police chief, as she investigates a brutal killing that unravels long-held secrets and hidden resentments. Castillo’s writing is atmospheric, effectively capturing the stark contrast between the close-knit Amish world and the darker elements lurking beneath its surface. While the central mystery is compelling, the plot feels somewhat predictable at times, and some secondary characters lack depth. Still, Kate’s strong character and the setting make it a solid choice for fans of crime fiction with a unique cultural twist.

I absolutely love all of Linda Castillo books and this one was no different. Someone is out to get people and they are killing them in the most gruesome way. Police Chief Kate Burkholder was raised Amish and so she know all the taboos and what people will talk about and what they won't but she also knows that everyone in the group will know something about the murder and death of Milan Swanz.
What she is not prepared for is how his life impacted to many people in their group and why he was killed in the manner he was. How had he been so evil and yet he worked for so many people and did so much damage before he was killed. And who, obviously not an Amish person, could have killed him in such a way as to send such a message to those around him.
Kate and her husband also a law officer must work together but not too closely as to make sure people still respect her as the chief and don't see her being too weak. Things really start to fall apart when her brother is implicated in the process of finding evidence and other agencies feel that she is too close to the case and want to take over. Kate knows that the Amish will close ranks and not talk to them so she will not be able to completely find out just what is going on in her district.
Get ready for a wild ride, learning more about how different sects in the group work and how tough Kate is and how she is just right for her job.

Unique Amish crime fiction series continues with an unusual plot.

Could someone be killing the bad Amish people? That's the premise of this latest installment in the Kate Burkholder series when she is called to the crime scene where a man has been burned at the stake. The dead man was a troubled person and mean as a snake.

I've always liked the series because of the Amish connection as I've learned a lot about their religion and way of life. Now Kate has finally married Tomasetti and has sort of settled into her new life with him. Although no longer Amish herself, she still has a very strong connection to her past and especially to her older brother who now lives on their parents' farm. When he's targeted by the Painters Mill law enforcement as a suspect in the murder of the burnt man, Milan Swanz, Katie is told to step aside from the investigation.

Does she do that? Of course not, and that's where the narrative went off course for me. Her stupid decisions and maverick attitude once again bring her near death -- but miraculously she's hardly hurt at all despite the battles that ensue and the beatings she takes. How she survives defies believability. Anyway, I ended up disappointed with how this story played out and there were still quite a few unanswered questions due to how the bad guys ended up. I definitely would have liked to hear a lot more about this shady, secretive group of avengers.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was OK but did not do a very good job at all with the male voices. This is my first audio in the series, so I don't know if they continue to use the same person for reading but I won't likely do another audiobook.

Linda Castillo is a master storyteller. Each book is filled with suspense at every page turn. The Burning lives up to a long legacy in a wonderful series.

I love the Kate Burkholder Series and this one did not disappoint! Kate has to figure out what happened to a member of the Amish community and that never goes well. Then her brother is implicated which makes things even more difficult. Things get stressful for Kate and it's an intense ride!

Another great installment in this favorite series. When Kate's latest case hits close to home she is taken off it, but it does not stop her from her own investigation. A secret among the Amish lends itself to this story. Looking forward to what Kate and Tomasetti's future holds.

Five Happy Dance Stars 💃💃💃💃💃

Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is awakened by an urgent midnight call summoning her to a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives at the scene, she discovers a charred body. According to the coroner, the deceased, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. It is an appalling and eerily symbolic crime against an upstanding husband and father.

Kate knows all too well that the Amish prefer to handle their problems without interference from the outside world, and no one will speak about the murdered man. From what she’s able to piece together, Swanz led a deeply troubled life and had recently been excommunicated. But if that’s the case, why are the Amish so reluctant to talk about him? Are they protecting the memory of one of their own? Or are they afraid of something they dare not share?

When her own brother is implicated in the case, Kate finds herself not only at odds with the Amish, the world of which she was once a part, but also the English community and her counterparts in law enforcement. The investigation takes a violent turn when Kate’s life is threatened by a mysterious stranger.

To uncover the truth about the death of Milan Swanz, Kate must dive deep into the Anabaptist culture, peering into all the dark corners of its history, only to uncover a secret legacy that shatters everything she thought she knew about the Amish themselves―and her own roots.

This is an Amish thriller mystery series. It is one of my favorite series. I have read every book in this series unloved every one of them. You don't need to read them in order but once you read one of them you most likely will want to read all of them. Her books are very dark.

The murder in this book was so gruesome and this book made my heart pound. It was such an intense read. The murder is a little graphic. It is a fast-paced read. It is action packed straight from the beginning to the very end. It is horrific and a nightmare.

Before you open up this book make sure you don't have any plans. Because all you will want to do is read this book. Lock your doors and turn off your phone.

I love all the characters in this series. They are all well done This book gave me a book hangover because I couldn't put it down and it kept me reading it into the morning hours.

I want to thank Netgalley, St Martin's Press for the copy of this book and exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely not what I expected! This book was so good and I read it in a few days I feel like sometimes when the amish community is written about its not well researched but in this book t was. You could feel the tension between charatcers

I have been an avid reader and fan of the Kate Burkholder series since the first book came out in 2009. The Burning is the 16th book in this series, and I enjoyed just as much as I did all the prior books. Some long-standing series lose steam by the time they get past a certain number of books, but the Kate Burkholder series still has strong characters and plots each time. Linda Castillo never disappoints!

This time, Kate is called to the scene of a mysterious fire, only to discover it's also the scene of a horrific murder as well. Why would someone chain an Amish man to a stake and then burn him alive? Kate soon faces opposition from all sides due to the grisly nature of the crime, reluctance of the Amish to open up to outsiders, and a suspect who is very close to her.

I enjoyed this book immensely from start to finish. The suspense and plot kept me totally engrossed in the story. The story moved along at a perfect pace with plenty of investigation and possible suspects. Kate really shines as a strong main character in this newest book. It was a rough investigation. Made for a very twisty, suspenseful story!

I backtracked about half way through the book and started over again with the audio book version. I love having suspense stories read to me...so it was worth starting over to enjoy the audio. Kathleen McInerney always does a great job narrating this series. The audio is about 10 hours long. I enjoyed every minute!

A great addition to this series! I can't wait for the next book in this series -- always a wonderful read!

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