First, let me just say how much I am enjoying this series, and man, there is some bad stuff happening in these particular Amish communities. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. Twisted, gruesome evil invades Kate and Tomasetti’s world. The reason and outcome are unsettling,as the story progresses, the reader is wrapped with anticipation and the possibilities of several different outcomes. This is book has a high degree of tension and is an excellent read.

In book 16 of the Kate Burkholder series, once again there is murder and mayhem in the Amish community. Is Painters Mill home to a killer, secret Anabaptist or just another Englischer?

A shocking and brutal murder has occurred, and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder has been called in to investigate! The Burning is equal parts shocking, gripping and tension filled! I was sucked in from the very first page and attempted to do my very own super sleuthing to find whodunit.

Milan Swanz, a local Amish man was chained to a stake and burned alive in this shocking installment in the Kate Burkholder series. Investigating the case will be somewhat difficult as the Amish like to keep things to themselves and not speak ill of the dead. The investigation will lead her down many paths, one of which is the Anabaptist culture.

As I mentioned, I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I had not heard of the Anabaptist culture prior to reading this book and found myself looking it up. I love learning new things while reading. Another thing that I loved is that Kate and Tomasetti are newlyweds. Woohoo!

When Kate's brother is implicated in the murder, things get even more interesting and tense! He is not the only one that comes under suspicion during the investigation. I had my suspects lined up and had several in mind during various points of the book.

I enjoyed the mounting sense of tension and danger which kicks into overdrive toward the end of the book! I enjoyed the suspense as it ramped up and Kate found herself in dangerous situations more than once, proving herself to be like wonder woman. Nothing stopped her!

Gripping, well written, tension filled and shocking!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Police chief Kate Burkholder is back as a newlywed in the latest book in this series. The story is about a ritualistic burning at the stake murder in an Amish community known as Painter's Mill. Chief Burkholder is closely tied to the community even though she herself is no longer Amish, but it seems she may be a little too close to this particular investigation.
This book was great. I love that I'm always learning something new about the Amish religion/community. I love how persistent Kate Burkholder is even though that persistency usually gets her into dangerous situations. Although this is part of a series, I believe it could be read as a standalone.

The Burning was very well done and, as a result, very enjoyable. The characters were human with flaws, but believable. The mystery wound around with its many clues, but not too much. The interaction with the Amish community was tasteful and tactful. And the ending was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Burning. I easily give it five stars.

The Kate Burkholder series never disappoints. While this one did take a bit longer to get into than the rest, it still was a fast & easy read.

An Amish man is burned alive…found charred on a stake. Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, former Amish herself, is on the case. What starts as a hunt to find the killer(s) turns into trying to find a vigilante group of ex-Amish who think it’s their mission to get rid of lost sheep.

I really enjoyed this story and had no idea this was part of a series! Now I need to go back and read the others!

Special thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

O my goodness Linda Castillo has brought together a situation that leaves you Burning to find out what happened. Plenty of stone walls to make you grumble as to what direction is needed next. No need to read the prior books as this one does very well back to itself but, Why did you miss the other ones??. Thank you Netgalley for presenting this opportunity!

The Burning is a suspense thriller. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the gruesome murder of a man burned alive on a cross and the early Amish history involvement.

This is my first Linda Castillo book, and it won't be my last. Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as stand-alone, you can follow the story without missing much. It is a fantastic read, fast-paced, a page-turner, and has an interesting, well-crafted, and intriguing story.

Kate is well aware that the Amish prefer to solve their problems internally, without outside interference. When a man is murdered and her own brother becomes a suspect, Kate finds herself in a difficult position. She must navigate conflicting loyalties to the Amish community, of which she was once a part, as well as to the English community and her colleagues in law enforcement.

The story takes a twisty turn when some strange individuals threaten Kate’s life and she becomes the target.

For fans of suspense, crime investigation, and mystery, this book is a great read. All characters are well-developed and likable. I highly recommend it.

Content: mention of domestic abuse, rape, and child abuse

Posting Reviews on Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble immediately and on Amazon Publication Date, July 9.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

This is another great Kate Burkholder book! I have not read all of the others but I love that I am able to jump back into the story and remember most of the characters. Now I want to go back and read the others I missed. I enjoy the interactions with the Amish as well as learning more about how they live and interact with others. This book had Kate investigating a horrific murder while also trying to deal with the politics of the other agents involved. This kept my attention and was reading late into the night.

Right in line with Linda Castillo's other Kate Burkholder series...I am a huge fan of this author and always find her books quick reads and enjoyable. Lots of twists and turns - I will say that this book was a bit darker than the previous ones in the series, but done well.

SYNOPSIS
Receiving a call in the middle of the night is never a good sign, especially when it's directed to the Chief of Police. For Kate Burkholder, that call marks the beginning of an investigation into a horrifying murder that seems to have ties to her Amish background. The victim, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was found chained to a stake and burned alive, according to the coroner's report.

Kate understands the Amish preference for handling issues internally, without involvement from the outside "English" world. However, with her connections within the community, she starts piecing together details about Swanz's troubled life that led to excommunication from the faith. Yet, the Amish community remains tight-lipped about him. Is this silence to protect one of their own, or is there a deeper fear preventing them from sharing the truth?

Things take a personal turn for Kate when her brother, Jacob, is implicated in the case, leaving Kate in conflict with the Amish community, the broader English community, and her fellow law enforcement officers.

THOUGHTS

As the 16th entry in the Kate Burkholder series, THE BURNING continues to prove that the series deserves its longevity. At the heart of this mystery is a look into the early roots of the Anabaptist culture, its martyrs, and defenders. Once again, the author, Linda Castillo delivers an intriguing crime mystery that demonstrates the separateness of the Amish and “English” communities without making judgments on either. In Castillo’s narratives, there are good and bad people on both sides. While the crime at the center of the story is gruesome, the unfolding story suggests that the victim, Milan Swanz, has a dark side that reaches deep into the lives of the Amish community that Kate has known all her life.

The Painter’s Mill community both the Amish and English are portrayed with an authenticity that rings true despite the cultural divide. Even as the Amish close ranks and largely refuse to help Kate as she tries first to solve Milan Swanz’s murder but then to understand the perpetrators’ motives, the actions of all the characters appear quite rational within the constraints of the dual societies.

One standout aspect of THE BURNING’s story is its portrayal of the tender side of Kate and Tomasetti’s romance. Castillo avoids clichés, instead showcasing a relationship that continues to evolve without falling into tired tropes. As newlyweds, grappling with balancing their personal and professional lives, their connection adds depth to their characters and the story. Their relationship has evolved throughout the series managing to stay sweet and sound. Kate's connections: marital, familial, and professional—serve as the foundation to seamlessly transition between her roles as a wife, sister, and Chief of Police. This portrayal reflects the realism and consistency that Castillo has maintained throughout the series.


RECOMMENDATION 4 Stars
THE BURNING earns a strong recommendation. Linda Castillo skillfully immerses readers in the intricacies of life within the Painter's Mill community, where the coexistence of Amish and English cultures fuels the novel's suspenseful narrative.

Thank you to Netgalley for access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#Theburning #Netgalley

I love this series. Castillo writes about a culture I've had only passing encounters with a few times, and the setting and culture are complex and lovingly drawn.

In this book, a dark chapter in Amish and Anabaptist history echoes in a contemporary, horrible crime. Burkholder has both a professional and personal need to get to the bottom of the case, as her brother becomes a suspect.

There's a depth to Castillo's series that I always find totally entrancing. When a new Burkholder book comes out, it immediately goes to the top of my tbr pile. The personal tragedies that both Tomasetti and Burkholder have lived through give weight to their current actions and relationship. The mystery is always well-written, with three-dimensional characters and tight but complex plotting. This one doesn't disappoint and has a couple of edge-of-my-seat scenes, too. I always recommend this series!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every year I look forward to reading the new installment in the Kate Burkholder series. I love reading about Kate's interactions with the Amish community and her deepening relationship with Tomasetti.

When an Amish man is found chained to a stake and burned to death, Kate needs to find his killer. This book has a complex plot and was another page turner for me. The hours flew by on a long plane ride. I will admit, however, that there were times that I began to wonder if Kate was related to Wonder Woman. That being said, I love Kate and am eagerly awaiting Linda Castello's next book in this series.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

As usual, Linda Castillo doesn't disappoint. I thought her case from her latest book had such a grisly murder but she may have surpassed that this time. I love the character of Kate Burkholder. The tie in with the Amish is very interesting. I encourage anyone who wants an interesting series to get into to read these books. Always entertaining and interesting.

Kate is back and better than ever. She takes a lot of crap thrown at her in this installment and she is capable of beating it all back and making a difference in her town. The character is as strong as ever and I love to see her develop, even 16 books in. I still wonder how so much bad stuff happens in and around her town, but I guess those are the breaks. Regardless, this book was great and I loved the historical aspect of it and how Kate overcame the odds. A perfect lead-up to what I assume is the next chapter in her life. I'm curious where things are going to go, but there was a pretty big hint at the end of this one. It will be interesting, to say the least.

Chief Kate Burkholder’s newest case involves an excommunicated Amish man, who was burned at the stake in the middle of the night. No one in Painters Mill will miss Milan Swanz; nevertheless, it is murder. During the investigation Kate finds a list of addresses in Swanz’s home – apparently a list of people he had grudges against. Among the addresses is the farm of Kate’s brother, Jacob, who refuses to discuss his relationship with the deceased.

When Jacob becomes a person of interest, Kate is relegated to administrative duties. Not to be dissuaded, Kate follows up on a lead regarding a type of vigilante group she vaguely remembers hearing about as a child. This takes her to the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center in Holmes County (a real museum) to research the Schwertlers (loosely translated ‘of the sword’) and Balthasar Hubmaier who was burned at the stake in 1528 (a historical person). At this point, I paused in the book and fell down a Google hole. I was fairly familiar with Anabaptist history, but this was new to me.

This new installment is a page-turner. Readers will enjoy getting reacquainted with the Painters Mill police force, as well as exploring a little-known aspect of Amish history. Highly recommended.

I thought this book was exceptional. I love when a series gets better with each book and this one did. It was very suspenseful. It liked how her brother was brought in as one of the many suspects. I highly recommend this book, series and author.

I loved it! All of the books in this series are excellent. Kate treads in gray areas of all sorts in this one. She has to prod to reveal painful secrets from everyone involved but she knows the law and what needs to be done and when to step away. Such a great read.

Linda Castillo delivers another gripping installment in the Kate Burkholder series with this chilling mystery! We find Kate, newly a Chief of Police, pulled into a horrific case – a brutal murder with a disturbingly symbolic twist.

The victim, Amish man Milan Swanz, is found chained and burned alive. The close-lipped Amish community offers little help, forcing Kate to navigate a complex web of secrets and simmering tensions. As she investigates Swanz's troubled past and recent excommunication, a crucial question arises: Why are the Amish so reluctant to speak about him?

The case takes a personal turn when Kate's own brother becomes implicated, throwing her loyalties into question. But the danger doesn't stop there – a mysterious threat emerges, targeting Kate herself.

Castillo masterfully weaves suspense with cultural exploration. We delve into the often-unseen depths of Amish life, uncovering a hidden history that challenges everything Kate thought she knew about her community and her own roots.

This is a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted mystery with a unique setting. Buckle up for a thrilling ride as Kate races to uncover the truth before it's too late