Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a gruesome murder in the woods - an Amish man named Milan Swanz was burned at the stake. What could this man have possibly done to provoke such a violent and horrifying crime? Trying to get answers from the Amish community is almost impossible, as they do not speak ill of the dead. She must push hard to get the smallest amount of information and what she discovers is troubling. There are plenty of people with motives to hurt Milan – he had a temper, was abusive, and caused trouble wherever he went. Worst of all, he was excommunicated. But Kate still can’t get the answers that she needs.

A list found in his belongings brings several neighbors and associates to the forefront of their investigation, including Kate’s brother. Because of that, representatives from other agencies try to get Kate recused from the case. And as she’s the only law enforcement officer with a chance of getting assistance from the Amish, the case is jeopardized. Now she has to fight to maintain her position leading the investigation, directing her team, and researching Amish culture. Can she and her team solve this case before anyone else suffers at the hands of this brutal murderer? Or does her focus put her squarely in the killer’s sights?

The story was entertaining, even though it was sometimes a bit dark. It’s the only procedural series I’m familiar with whose main character is a Chief of Police and not a detective. Although she’s portrayed as having the same level of involvement with a case that the detectives do rather than being behind a desk most of the time. I’m not sure that’s accurate. And she gets into some physical confrontations that she handles like a stuntwoman, which is definitely not realistic but doesn’t bother me too much. I think if you’re a fan of this series, you’ll like this one - it’s like every other procedural except with a heavy dose of Amish. And if that appeals to you, then go for it!

I do love a series. Especially, when Linda Castillo is writing it. Chief of police Kate is great. I enjoy how she is developed. You don’t have to read whole series, but it helps

This was a stellar book — the 16th in the series by this author .
I read books 1-3 of this series a few years back and it was easy to jump forward in time and easy to understand the characters making it readable as a stand alone. I do find the murder in this book quite graphic would be great for those who enjoy Kathy Reich books . I really enjoyed the investigation aspect of the story and the main character Kate is really likable and you easily get invested in the characters. I also enjoy that you learn facts about the Amish and sub groups as well in this authors novels . Looking forward to going back and trying some more of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and
St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC . This is my honest review .

This is book 16 of Kate Burkholder series. I finished this book in one day, I could not put it down. Yes, I've read every single book in this series. She hooked me with the first book 'Sworn to Silence' and each book gets better and better. There are no parts of Linda Castillo's books that I swipe through. Instead, I get into the book and find it difficult to get out. LC does a great, no fantastic job of developing characters making an interesting mystery. surrounded by Amish and their ways. Kate Burkholder is a character that I like so well that I found myself getting angry for her and LC actually scared me at one point, If you haven't read the other books in this series, you could read this as a stand alone but I would highly suggest you start at book 1 and go through the series, of course I have to warn you, if you do that, they will spoil you for other books. Yes, they are that good. Big thank you for the ARC to Net and NS at MacMillan.

I really enjoyed these books about Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. The storyline I thought was well laid out and the murder that took place was a bit more grisly than usual. I find the parts about the early Amish history linked to the murder intriguing.

Yet another twisty thriller from Linda Castillo! An extremely gruesome murder leads to a discovery of a group of people who believe they are doing the right thing. Chief Burkholder shows us all why she is the woman for the job in Painters Mill. Castillo’s descriptive writing hooks me every time. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

When it comes to an Amish thriller, Linda Castillo never misses. She can take an idea and weave into an immersive story with an intricate plot that you wonder the entire time where it's going. And when it's over, it all makes sense. You're not looking at plot holes. You're not wondering how things add up. Her stories make sense.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder has a gruesome murder to solve in The Burning. Another mystery in this series by Linda Castillo that did not disappoint. Along the way, Kate learns about a little known faction from the past- Anabaptists and their practices. Once believed to be folklore, she learns things about the Amish that are the opposite of their ways. The fact that they do not wish to speak ill of the deceased, Milan, complicates matters more. The death of Milan is quite gruesome, but by the end, we understand the origins of the method of death. Quick read. I was immediately sucked in and wanted to know why this had happened to Milan.

I have never heard of Linda Castillo before and I wonder why because this book is incredible! (I'll get more of her books now). The Burning refers to the murder at the beginning of the book - a man is burned "at the stake" if you will. But who did it? It's rather complex as the victim really had no friends and tons of enemies. Police Chief Kate Burkholder's job is to investigate and capture the perpetrator(s). Even though she is ex-Amish, she knows about the community - but she doesn't know about a dark history that everyone thought was folklore.
I really enjoyed learning about the Amish community and their language. I also enjoyed the main character - a woman - is the police chief and she gets lots of respect from her male counterparts.
Thank you Minotaur Books and Net Galley for introducing me to this author. I've gotta cut this review short because I've got to get more of her books...

Kate Burkholder has another Amish murder in Painters Mill. A man is ritualistically murdered and Chief Burkholder needs to know why. Stories from her youth point in a certain direction, but she still has questions. As always, Kate does not give up even when threatened. When one of the suspects is someone she loves, she works even more diligently to find out who is responsible. Another excellent Kate Burkholder book! Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advance ebook.

This is the 4th or 5th novel I've read by the author, and I continue to be impressed with her skills. Realistic characters and dialogue, interesting plots intertwined with the Amish culture make for a winning combination. This book featured a gruesome crime, a lot of inter-agency squabbling, and an Anabaptist group stretching back centuries.

I appreciate the mixture of English and Amish phrases, and the insight into this fascinating culture. I truly am looking forward to the next installment.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Life has been difficult for Milan Swanz, but this night an offer of a ride home turns into something much more malevolent and soon he finds himself chained to a stake.

And then the unthinkable happens. Milan Swanz is burned alive.

Officers Chuck Skidmore and Mona Kurtz hear Swanz’s tortured scream, but they are too late to save the man. Painters Mill Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene where there are few clues and no answers.

Why was Milan Swanz burned alive? And who is responsible for the heinous crime?

=========

Sixteenth in the Kate Burkholder series, this story delves into the little-known early Amish history to reveal a dark and troubling legacy. Pulling readers into the telling of the tale from the outset, the unfolding story is one of mystery and suspense. With all the expected characters in place, readers will find this intriguing tale an exciting addition to the series.

The brutality of the crime sets the stage for a complex and compelling plot that finds Kate digging into Amish history. Relentless in her pursuit of the truth, she soon finds herself in danger and readers will find themselves turning pages as fast as possible to discover what comes next.

One of the highlights of the Burkholder stories is the relationships between the characters and the cohesiveness of the officers in the department. Readers of the series as well as those who enjoy police procedurals will find much to appreciate in this captivating tale.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#TheBurning #NetGalley

The Burning is another compelling story in Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series. The crimes in this series are always extremely dark, and The Burning is no exception, That can make parts of the book a bit difficult to read, but the investigations and investigators are always interesting and engaging and that makes the whole novel well worth reading.

I love the ensemble of recurring characters in this series: Kate’s colleagues and members of her family. Her relationships are frequently fraught, but the character development is wonderful. I do wonder how long Kate will be able to keep at her job since she seems to experience a great deal of trauma and many vehicular mishaps.

I look forward to each entry in this series and was very happy to read an early copy via NetGalley.

I have read all the series of Kate Burkholder. This book pulled me into the story and made me want to keep reading , Kate Burkholder is the police chief in the small town of Painter’s Mill, Ohio. She is former Amish. The story begins when Kate is called to a brutal crime scene. She has no leads and not a lot to go. Kate's brother has had a disagreement with the victim, and is charged with murder, Chief Burkholder is relentless in this one. She follows every lead, and will do what it takes to clear her brother’s name. The thing that never ceases to amaze me is how people continue to underestimate her - that’s always a big mistake. I love the bond of the officers, the small town feel, and Kate and Tomasetti!

#netgalley

Thank you so much for letting me read Linda Castilo's newest book! I wait every year for her amazing Amish murder mysteries, and this one did not disappoint. I do feel like I missed something in a previous book when the main character casually mentioned her parents' death. I wish there was more to this story - i adore and appreciate the history and clear research the author provides. Thank you!!

Detective Kate Burkholder is awakened in the middle of the night to the scene where a body has been burned to death. Milan Swanz was chained to a stake and still alive when he died. He is an Amish man who lived a very troubled life, was excommunicated and had many enemies. It is up to Kate to find his murderers but since the Amish protect their own and are very reticent, it is very difficult for her to make much headway on the case. A major question for Kate was why was Milan brutally burned at the stake while still alive? When Kate starts to dig deep in her investigation her life is also in danger.

This is another great book in this series. I never get tried of reading about Kate, I continue to learn more about the Amish lifestyle and the respect Linda Castillo has for the Amish is very noteworthy.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Burning by Linda Castillo is a thriller packed with suspense. The book opens with a horrific murder. This is not what you expect in a quiet community like Painter's Mill. A man has been burned alive. Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her team set out to investigate and soon learn more about the victim and the Amish community. The investigation points to a dark history of the Amish community some thought to be only folklore. Burkholder's determination to find the truth puts her on the outs with the Amish community she left when she turned eighteen and law enforcement when her brother is named as a suspect. The truth will be more jarring than anyone imagined.

This is a great series. You don't have to read the books in order. They are great as stand-alone reads. This character is a favorite of mine. I enjoy seeing her investigative process in the book. I appreciate that the work/home theme is portrayed as well. I enjoy this series and look forward to the next entry.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Linda Castillo didn’t disappoint with her newest Katie Burkholder book.

This book was hard to put down and caught my attention from the start. This is one of my favorites series to read and the newest didn’t disappoint.
If you’ve liked Linda Castillo’s previous books. You’ll enjoy this one as well!

This book was not for me. It’s one of the dangers
of ebooks- you can’t make the same judgements as you can with a book in hand.
If you are already a fan of this author, you will likely enjoy this one. For me, the frequent mentions of the differences of Amish life, as well as the frequent reminders that our protagonist grew up Amish, so she’s In The Know, distracted from the story in this book.

I was so excited to read Linda Castillo’s latest Chief Kate Burkholder book.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down.

Who knew life in Amish country could be so exciting or so dangerous. The homicide in this book concerns the burning at the stake of an Amish man that was most likely a sociopath and whose history of evil deeds followed him through his life.

Kate gets removed from the investigation when her brother, Jacob, becomes a suspect and is arrested for the murder. Kate doesn’t stop investigating on her own and drags her husband John Tomasetti into the investigation.

When it comes down to the end of the book, Kate and John have never been in more serious trouble and more danger before.

If you read and like this book, you will no doubt have to go back and read the 15 that came before in the series!

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.