This novel started out very strong but I felt the longer it went on the more convoluted and outlandish it got. The main character also frustrated me to no end with how she placed herself and others in danger multiple times and then wondered how she got there. I liked her overall though. It was a quick read.

3.5 stars
Crime thriller based on a female police chief with an Amish upbringing. I like Kate's courage and perseverance, and I really enjoy the look at Amish customs. This book is #16 in a series and the second one I've read. I found this one to be darker and more disturbing than the other one and I liked it less. It also seemed like there was too much jumping to conclusions for professional law enforcement (not on Kate's part, however).

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

This series is easily one of my favorites. I love that they are all somewhat standalone as each book has a new killer to investigate so I can read them in any order. (I had read book 13 just before this). Kate is such a strong character and I love watching her work. The author’s writing is very smooth and to the point without unnecessary rehashing to bog the story down. I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Kate and the team.

In the latest installment of Linda Castillo's bestselling series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder confronts a chilling murder that unveils a hidden chapter of Amish history. This time, the stakes are deeply personal as the newlywed police chief is pulled into an investigation that threatens not just her life, but the delicate balance between the Amish community and the outside world.

The story begins with a midnight call that pulls Kate from her bed and into the dark woods, where a suspicious fire has claimed the life of an Amish man, Milan Swanz. The crime is horrific—Swanz was chained to a stake and burned alive. This brutal act, laden with disturbing symbolism, shocks the small town and sets the stage for a gripping and complex investigation.

Kate, who has always walked a fine line between her Amish heritage and her role as a law enforcement officer, finds herself once again caught between two worlds. The Amish, known for their preference to handle matters internally, are uncharacteristically silent about Swanz's death. Even as she uncovers that Swanz had been excommunicated and lived a troubled life, the community's reluctance to speak raises more questions than it answers. Are they protecting a dark secret, or is there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface?

The case becomes even more complicated when Kate’s own brother is implicated, putting her in direct conflict with both the Amish and the English communities. As she digs deeper, Kate's investigation takes a dangerous turn. A mysterious stranger threatens her, and the boundaries between her past and present begin to blur. The deeper she delves into the mystery, the more she realizes that the truth is intertwined with a dark and little-known aspect of Anabaptist history, one that challenges her understanding of the Amish and her own identity.

Linda Castillo masterfully weaves suspense, cultural insight, and emotional depth into this latest thriller, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Kate Burkholder’s journey is as much about solving a crime as it is about confronting the shadows of her own past, making this a compelling read for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

This was the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last! I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book.

I am a huge fan of Kate Burkholder and this series as a whole! Linda Castillo does it again with the latest addition! Book 16 and I'm here for it!

The Burning starts off intense and very dark and has you tearing through the pages. Her brother being a suspect only adds to the intrigue. Kate has to step down from the investigation but we all know Kate Burkholder too well by this point! Kate works the case on the side. Her brother's life is at stake and she will not quietly sit by and let a killer go free and her brother take the fall. Very fast paced and tense!

Cannot wait for Book 17! Let's go Kate Burkholder! 5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press / Minotaur and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review!

Forgot how much I like these books. Police Chief Kate Burkholder has really grown on me as a character. In this novel, she needs to somehow get the tight-lipped Amish community to open up about the murder of excommunicated Amish member Milan Swanz, found burned alive in the woods. Full of action, this police procedural was really enjoyable (despite the gruesome beginning).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

Strong main character with an enjoyable story. I worried at first that it would be too gory but it did not over cling to the horror.. An interesting mystery with interesting information regarding the Amish community. Recommended reading for all mystery fans.

THE BURNING is a well-written, entertaining, sometimes frustrating (but in a good way as readers and fans root for Kate) but mostly an exciting escape into a world that does finally see good beat out evil.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=87367

Linda Castillo did it again. This is one of her best books yet! I always enjoy the dynamics between her English life and her Amish background. I think Kathleen is the best narrator for this series!

Castillo continues to up her game with every new addition to the Kate Burkholder series. To avoid any spoilers, I won’t relate anything about the murderer she is pursuing, but I will say that this moves briskly with tension mounting at the turn of every page. The villain this time is very dark and very powerful, yet lurks in the shadows of folktales among the Amish community making them so difficult to identify. Everything and everyone Kate loves is truly in peril this time, and Kate is no damsel in distress. She is the woman we all hope to be.

I’m a big fan of this series of mysteries, and this is one of the best. Linda Castillo manages to come up with a spectrum of (usually gruesome) crimes involving the Amish, mixing satisfying puzzles with insights into the religion and culture, and just enough character-driven content to keep me coming back as a reader.

The Burning is the 16th Kate Burkholder book. The story does start out dark, however, it quickly turns to the investigation. Kate is the Chief of Police in an area that is predominately Amish. She was raised Amish but has left the religion. Kate’s brother is a suspect in the murder, so she has to recuse herself from the investigation. This leads to problems in the Amish community. They don’t talk to outsiders or talk poorly of people who are dead. Kate uses her skills to still work the case while keeping her family safe. The Burning is another winner by Linda Castillo.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder with ties to the Amish community. This is book 16 in the
Kate Burkholder series.

Kate Burkholder is a police chief I would want guarding my town. She is tough and knows how to get things done. I enjoyed reading this book and this series. The characters feel like old friends when I open the page. A great police procedural with a equally great character story.

THE BURNING, Kate Burkholder #16
Linda Castillo, author
Mystery/Thriller

Follow along as a former Amish practitioner turned Chief of Police Kate Burkholder as she once again dives into the Amish community to solve a murder. This time it is personal though as her brother is the suspect.

I am a huge fan of this series. They can be read as standalone books, I picked them up mid-series. It has everything expected from a mystery with a dash of Amish fun facts in the mix. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

This book engages the reader right from the beginning. An Amish man is burned at the stake, Milan Swanz, a local Amish man was chained to a stake and burned alive and the investigationi takes off. Kate, the small town Ohio police chief, she is formerly Amish. is awakened in the early a.m. and called to investigate a fire in the woods. Two of her deputies happened to be close to this site when they heard an anguished scream. What they discovered is a charred body chained to a stake and burned alive. Added to the mystery is an interesting background history of a little-known Anabaptist sect that may or may not be responsible for a few of these types of murders. The reader is grabbed from the beginning and flips through the pages. Engaging, and thrilling. Recommend this one = pick it up and enjoy the ride. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and the author.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I always enjoy Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder books that tell us about life in the Ohio Amish community of Painters Mill. Kate was brought up Amish but left the fold and became the local sheriff. She has the ability to bridge the gap between the Amish and the English in order to bring criminals to justice.

This is one of Kate's strangest cases. A man is found burned at the stake. This is reminiscent of how the Amish were treated in Europe many years earlier. Kate has to discover who is taking this extraordinary action against a member of the community. When suspicion falls on Kate's brother, the case becomes very personal.

I look forward to future Kate Burkholder novels.

I love this series. I look forward to each new book, the characters are constantly growing. It’s interesting to see how the Amish deal with crimes & how the police have to interact with them. #TheBurning #NetGalley

Linda Castillo has written another exciting novel of Chief Kate Burkholder who finds the body of an excommunicated Amish man. He had been burnt at the stake! In searching for his killer she finds a lot of history she was unaware of. Her lawmakers boyfriend almost lost his life helping her and around every corner is a new complication.
Fascinating and gripping this one is her best yet!!