The Burning is the latest installment of Linda Castillo's series featuring Kate Burkholder, the ex-Amish police chief of a small town in Ohio. An Amish man is found burned at the stake and Kate has a close relationship with one of the suspects. As she investigates, she uncovers a sect of Anabaptist vigilantes who mete out justice to those Amish whom they feel have committed heinous crimes. This book is excellent, my favorite in the series so far. It's fast-paced and really interesting as it explains some of the lore behind the sect. It's also a great standalone thriller for those who haven't read the other books in the series. I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

I am so glad I found this author. Her books are always wonderful. Kate has to solve another horrific crime and even though she does have obstacles facing her since she left the Amish she always prevails since the Amish trust her more than an outsider. The book is a series. If you haven't read the previous ones that's ok because it can be read as a stand alone.

Ms. Castillo has just added another 5-star read for her Kate Burkholder series. You can always anticipate and look forward to a great mystery with lots of action along with twists and turns when you pick up good ole Kate.
This is a completely believable murder mystery with a great amount of research to set the stage. (The backhoe scene was a bit farfetched but could have happened.) I read it in just a couple days because I didn’t want to put it down. Highly recommend.
I thank St. Martin’s Press along with NetGalley for providing this Galley edition for no requirement other than my offer to provide an unbiased review. This one comes in with five stars.

I’m a big fan of this series. I have read the first couple books but I had no idea how many books are in the series. I definitely need to go back and read them all. The author’s style is captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The Burning is the 16th installment of the Kate Burkholder series written by Linda Castillo. This is my favorite series of books. I always anxiously await the next publication. I have been fascinated by the Amish lifestyle for a long time, which is why I love this series. The Burning starts off quickly, with a body being found that has been burned at a stake. It is up to Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder to investigate, along with help from her now-husband, John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Kate and John make a great team. The storyline, along with the connection these two have, really stood out for me in this book. As with all of the other books in the series, this one also kept me up reading late into the night. I can’t wait to see (and read!) what Kate and John investigate next.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Chief Kate is very familiar with the Amish community as she was once part of it. This case takes her to a horrible death of a man tied up and burned to the stake. Her brother is a suspect and she has to take a step back from the case. This book was not a favorite for me. I always enjoy stories about the Amish community but this one kind of drug through slowly and got more exciting when it was closer to the end.

This is the 16th book in the chief of police Kate Burkholder series. Kate receives a very early phone call from the office. There is a horrible crime scene in the woods. Apparently, a man was tied to a stake and burned…… Alive. A hideous crime and the victim is Milan Swanz. He was an Amish man who had recently been excommunicated from the community. Why, because he repeatedly broke the Amish rules and no one, not his wife or his parents seem to care.
Kate digs right in and the more she uncovers, the more perplexing this case becomes. Even though she doesn’t feel like she is getting closer to understanding the why, she is in danger, and more than one time.
A compelling mystery that besides figuring out whodunnit, also had potential changes coming for Kate and her husband Tomasetti. That is, if they both survive. Another great read in this long time series.

When you begin a story with a victim burned at the stake, you better deliver. But would you expect less from tough-minded Painter’s Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder, and gifted storyteller Linda Castillo? What follows that gruesome beginning is a gripping story with echoes back to the creation of the Anabaptist movement and the cruel treatment they endured during the middle ages. The victim, Milan Swanz, an excommunicated Amish man, has lived a life of antagonism, for everyone and everything, creating an enemy’s list that possesses no end, including Kate's brother Joseph. Kate assembles her crew, as well as her now husband and Ohio Bureau of Investigation investigator John Tomasetti, and attempts to uncover the who and why of Swanz’s murder. Accused of protecting her brother, and removed from involvement in the case, an undeterred Kate continues her investigation, a pathway that leads her into several dramatic life and death conflicts. From the disturbing opening scene to the explosive ending, this is a book you will not put down. This series continues to roll along at breakneck speed.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

WOW! The Burning started at 100 mph and I feel like it never really stopped! I was hooked from the first page and devoured this as quickly as a mother of 3 can!

This is my first Kate Burkholder story and, although I’ve discovered that quite an extensive series precedes this, I do not feel like it was necessary to go back and read the others first. (I will because this was sooo good I want more from the author!)

Linda Castillo is a phenomenal writer! She has this amazing ability to really draw you into a book and make you feel like you’re a part of it. I found the Amish community aspect fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed the author’s use of Deutsch language mixed in with English.

This book is definitely not for the faint of heart as it has brutal imagery at times. The story itself though was interesting and original and kept my interest from start to finish.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read this ARC before it’s expected release date of July 9, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the privilege of reading this book.

The Amish culture has always intrigued me. Most of the books portray a culture with harmony a little to no crime or disputes. Everything is peaceful and tranquil. The Amish do not speak of crime or tensions among there people.

Linda Castillo dives into the crimes that are unspoken amongst the Amish people. The crime in this book is so horrible. An Amish man is literally burned at the stake.

The Amush are closed mouth and hesitate to speak ill of anyone on their community which makes it difficult to uncover the facts, discover what happened, and find the criminal.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat and readingbway part your bedtime.

Block out time for this one. It's a page turner.

This is the 16th volume in the Kate Burkholder series, one of my favorite series written by one of my favorite authors. Kate and Tomasetti are settling into married life, after returning from their honeymoon, which was covered in the recent short story DARK STORM RISING. In the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, a deputy discovers a man burning at the stake. Kate's investigation pulls her into the history of the Amish and the Anabaptists, going back to the 1600s. This history is new to the series and was new to me and led me to some investigation of my own. Because of that, and because I love the way Ms. Castillo writes, this is my favorite book so far in the series. The author can skillfully create a scene so beautifully that I feel like I am right there with Kate. The author chooses unique adjectives and nouns to bring her story to life. I highly recommend this book and the entire series! Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Natalie Sun for providing an ARC.

Kate used to be Amish and now she must use all her connections to solve a terrible mystery. But how do you explain the terrible things that your victim knows or what might have happened when no one will talk. The story is well paced but it is a little gory if you don’t like the police procedurals. Clearly part of a series and definitely doesn’t disappoint.

It’s that time of year again!
What time you ask? The release of the latest book from Linda Castillo, of course! Yet another excellent addition to my favorite series!

In Book 16, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the gruesome murder of an Amish man. He was found tied to a post and burned alive. Who would kill a God-fearing man in such a brutal way? What possible motive was there? Is there more to this murder than meets the eye?

If you can get through that jolting beginning you’re in for a treat!

Once again, Kate needs to channel her Amish upbringing to pry open the doors of the tight-knit community that does its best to keep the common people out.

I just adore Kate’s character. A driven, tough as nails police chief but also the newly married, loving wife of Tomasetti. They make an amazing team and I can’t wait to see them grow as a couple.

This is one series that has remained as strong as ever. And now the wait begin. Tik-tok, tik-tok…

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press

The Burning (Kate Burkholder #16) by Linda Castillo in my opinion is edgiest, and most gruesome of
all of the books in the series and I loved it from the first page to the end of the story!

If you are a series reader than you know most of the characters so there aren't any surprises there. The
new characters (Bertha Swanz, Milan Swantz, Clarence Raber, Isaiah Hofer) introduced in the book bring
added intrigue and dimension to the story.

The story does have possible triggers for some readers [ rape & child abuse (hide spoiler)], but they are
alluded to and not described in detail. There are many accusations spread around in the story, some
against Kate that hamper her investigation into Milan Swantz's death. There is also what I would call a
"boys club" of law enforcement officers that stand between Kate and her successful investigation.

What I didn't like [ was the number of times Kate is attacked & hurt, yet even with what seems like severe
injuries she is able to push on, a bit too super-human for me. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I found the book to be well written with a mystery that held my attention, and very enjoyable.

I would like to thank the author, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with
a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book will be published in all formats with an expected publication date of July 9 2024.

For me this was a four out of five star read.

Witchcraft? That’s what some folks in and around Painters Mill, Ohio, are saying after an Amish man, Milan Swanz, was found burned to death “at the stake”. His death is ruled a homicide and presents a challenge for police chief Kate Burkholder in Linda Castillo’s popular series with her 16th book titled The Burning.

As the former Amish woman, Chief Burkholder, begins her investigation, she meets resistance from members of the Amish community. While they admit that Swanz had been excommunicated, they are reluctant to speak ill of the dead. Even his estranged wife is reticent to give much information. Kate returns time and again to nudge, prod, and push the woman for information. There are other sources: former co-workers, the bishop, and his wife, and even her own brother.

What everyone - her law enforcement colleagues, her husband John Tomasetti, who is an investigator with the Ohio Bureau of investigation, Amish community, including her family - all know that she will doggedly pursue any and all leads until she gets to the truth. When her brother’s name comes up as a witness, Kate is suspected of covering up for him and is asked to step aside while the investigation continues. This does not sit well with her. Those who have read previous books in the series can imagine what happens next.

In The Burning, Linda Castillo presents some dark aspects of certain Anabaptist groups, which are a far cry from the pacifism practiced by most Amish people. Without the help of her husband and support of her team, Kate knows she would be in big trouble. Has she met her match this time?

Except for the must-do things at home, I had a hard time putting this book down! It may be one of the darkest Burkholder books yet, but I found it quite engaging.

I received a digital copy of The Burning in return for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Linda Castillo.

5 stars

Wow, this was the first Linda Castillo book that I had read, and I will certainly look (and read) more of her titles. As a mystery lover, I was not disappointed. Her added Amish slant is also of interest to me having recently been to the Driftless region of Wisconsin which has a large Amish community. I appreciated that she writes about the Amish with respect and understanding.

I read this book in one sitting, I was so engrossed by the characters, the plots, and the expected (it is a mystery) but unexpected twists.

I'm not even sure where to begin. Linda Castillo has a mind and an imagination that is a gift. The Burning is the latest in the Kate Burkholder series. The title pretty much sums up the plot. A body is found burned and it's up to Kate to figure out what happened. But this one hits a little close to home. While the Amish have always played a vital part in Castillo books with Kate Burkholder, this particular book involves her family directly. To make the plot even better, Kate has to try and solve the crime without her official title of police chief. If you are a Linda Castillo fan, I don't need to convince you to read this book. If you are not, you are truly missing out! The burning can be read stand alone, but I would recommend going back and reading the entire series. I voluntary received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

4.5 tension-filled thriller

Linda Castillo has a winning formula featuring Kate Burkholder (a formerly Amish) police chief who fights crime in her town of Painter’s Mill, Ohio. Kate has recently married Tomasetti, who’s also in law enforcement. They work together on most cases! I’m not sure how appropriate this is, but it makes for good reading!

This time, Kate is called to the scene of a brutal and gruesome murder. The reader gets a first-hand account of what the victim has gone through in the early pages. These scenes are not for the faint of heart!

As the whole team digs into who the victim is, we learn more about an Amish group called the Anabaptists and connections to similar crimes in the past. The victim, Milan, was disliked by many, so there is no shortage of suspects in the case. Although violence is not the usual Amish way of things.

The Amish can be very closed-mouthed to outsiders, so Kate has the best shot of solving the case, but will everyone around her make it through unscathed? Suspicions fall on her brother, and Kate worries that he’s somehow involved. As the case intensifies, so does the danger that Kate frequently finds herself in. She seems to be a superhero because she escapes the most fraught situations.

This one has a thrilling conclusion, and I wondered just how strong Kate’s superhero powers were and if they would extend to Tomasetti.
And will her vehicle need to be replaced again? The police force must have an unlimited budget in Painter’s Mill!

This was my first Linda Castillo book!! I didn’t realize this was part of a series so I feel like I just couldn’t connect as well with the characters. I will definitely be going back and starting at the beginning!

Right out of the gate we meet Milan who is horrifically murdered. I was a little shocked at how gruesome it was but it really set the tone for the rest of the story. I learned a lot about the Amish community and that was super interesting to me. As Kate works this case, she learns that Milan is not well liked and has had a lot of issues in the community which caused him to be excommunicated. It all kind of goes downhill for him and there are a LOT of people who have had run ins and disagreements with him. Kate is put through the wringer but bounces back SO fast. She seemed like the energizer bunny even after a couple near death experiences. I just wanted to tell her to go sleep 😅

Once her brother is arrested for the murder, Kate isn’t allowed to work the case but she can’t give up so we see her continue on and gets into some seriously scary situations. I was on edge for her!! Overall, this was a solid thriller with a plot very unlike anything I have ever read. I can’t wait to read more from Linda Castillo so I can get to know these characters better!

Thank you so much Netgalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for the ARC 🫶🏻

4.25 Stars
This is one of the best books in the Chief Kate Burkholder series. As is usual in this series, there is a murder near the small town where Kate is the Chief of Police. The murder victim was an excommunicated Amish man, but the nearby Amish community is very tight lipped with regards to his excommunication and any reason for his murder. Kate herself grew up in the Amish community, and is beginning to learn more about this man, when she is pulled off the case due to "a conflict of interest'. As Kate predicts, the Amish are even less forthcoming with the other investigators, so Kate continues to research on her own. She comes up against a secret Anabaptist group and just the act of looking into this group, puts her in grave danger.

This is a must read for fans of this series!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.