The Burning by Linda Castillo

Another good Chief Kate Burkholder who-dun-it. Amish life is apparently not as quiet as most believe. There’s always something for the readers to learn about it too, as Kate strives to solve another case.

Police Chief Burkholder is a solid go-between for asking questions of her former tribe for the police. She left the Amish and is now considered “English,” which is someone the Amish don’t want to open up to, even in a case of murder. The opening scene of this book almost had me questioning my choice of books, but as I carried on, it got tamer.

The solid characters who all have their own voices are good. Kate’s headstrong personality leads her to question again and again, getting the job done. A race to the finish will keep you alert as Kate’s husband John Tomasetti also finds himself in a bind.
I recommend this four star title to readers who like a mystery that’s easy to read and follow.

🖤🖤🖤🖤
4/5

I throughly enjoyed this book! I haven’t read anything like this in a while. This storyline/genre type used to be my go-to and I find myself wanting more! I originally requested this on NetGalley because Linda Castillo is one of my mom’s go-to authors and even though this is a book in a series, it can also be a standalone.

Kate Burkholder is the police chief in a small town in Ohio that’s in Amish country. The beginning of this story starts with the victim being burden alive at the stake. And it’s up to Burkholder to solve the who, what, where, when, and why!

I must say I loved Kate! But this woman puts up with a lot of a-hole guys. Like she deserves a medal. She goes through hell and back, and they’re still like “eh okay I guess you’re good at your job”. Like what. Get out of here. She’s a badass!!

I learned a lot about the Amish that I did not know. Growing up in central PA with Amish communities not too far away, I was surprised at realizing of how little I actually know of this community. This really delved deep into some interesting history. I’d love to know how real some of the side stories are and if there’s any truth to the more dark and mysterious aspects of them.

I definitely plan to read the rest of this series. I fell in love with Kate. And I want to hear her story from the beginning!


🥃 this is out now! Go grab yourself this book and a glass of whiskey & enjoy!

#theburning #lindacastillo #bookstagram #bookrec #arcbookreview #arc #netgalley #kateburkholder #bookreview

💙 Book Review 💙


📚The Burning by Linda Castillo

"The Burning" by Linda Castillo is a riveting mystery featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. In this 16th installment of the series, Kate investigates the gruesome murder of Milan Swanz, an Amish man burned alive.
The crime reveals dark secrets within the Amish community, making the investigation challenging as the Amish prefer to handle matters internally.
Kate, a former Amish herself, must navigate this wall of silence while facing personal and professional challenges.
Her brother becomes a suspect, and her own life is threatened.

The story delves deep into Amish history, adding a unique twist to the mystery.
Linda Castillo masterfully blends suspense, history, and complex characters, keeping readers hooked.
Kate's determination and bravery shine throughout the novel, making it a thrilling read. "The Burning" is a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, suspenseful mystery.

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

Castillo does it again! Bringing us another fantastic mystery in the amazing Kate Burkholder series! The Burning by Linda Castillo is book 16 and it’s amazing.
This is a very well written murder mystery and although it's number 16 in the series, it works well as a standalone.
A captivating and suspenseful read!
The twists and turns, the chilling and gritty nature of the plot – all in all, a fabulous book!
It is always a pleasure to revisit the characters I have become quite attached to in Painter's Mill.
I can hardly wait for the next Kate Burkholder novel!
Loved being back in the small Amish community of Painters Mill.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is the sixteenth book in the Kate Burkholder series and I have only read this one and one other - I'm so far behind! These are definitely good reads.

Description:
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder that reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history in this new installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo.

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.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed Kate Burkholder's Amish background and the unique perspective it gives her in her investigation as the Chief of Police. This murder gets personal when a spotlight is cast on Kate's brother as a person of interest in the heinous murder. There are a lot of tense moments as Kate gets in some dangerous situations during her investigation. Learned a bit about the Anabaptists (totally new to me) and the Amish and Mennonites. I enjoyed the writing style and though Castillo did a great job with pacing and tension in the story. I will certainly be reading more in this series.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the book #TheBurning by #LindaCastillo. I love the Kate Burkholder series and this book is amazing! When a man is strung up and burnt to death, Kate is out to find out who did this and why. Her brother is one of the main suspects but she doesn’t believe he could do something like this. Who is behind this crazy murder and is it connected to other murders?

An excommunicated Amish man dies in an horrific manner….but why?

in Painters Mill, newly married Chief of Police Kate Burkholder asks five questions when solving a crime….who, what, when, where and why. Of those, the “why” can be the most determinative….if she knows why a crime was committed, it generally leads to who did it. When two of her officers in a remote area late at night hear a scream and smell smoke, they discover what looks like a bonfire….with a body lashed to a post in the middle of it. The victim, Milan Swanz, is a recently excommunicated man from the local Amish community, known for drinking and having a bad attitude. He is suspected of having set a fire at the cabinetry business where he worked, repeatedly cheating on his now ex-wife, and the list goes on. For Kate and her team, there are many possible “whys” for the crime and therefore many potential “who’s”. When searching the trailer where the late man had been living, Kate comes across a list of five local addresses with no names or explanations attached….and one of those addresses is that of Kate’s brother Jacob. A local man, one of Jacob’s neighbors who has a grudge against Kate, contacts the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and claims to have witnessed a verbal altercation between Jacob and Milan, adding that Kate is covering for her brother and for the Amish community (of which she was a part until she was 18) in general. Pressure is applied to remove Kate from the case, and despite that fact that she is by far the most likely person to successfully get the Amish (who do not generally share information with the “English”) in her community to talk about Milan and what had been going on in his life she is ordered to restrict herself to administrative duties. Kate has never been one to follow rules blindly….it is part of why she left her Amish life behind…but whoever is behind Milan’s murder wants her to stop investigating as well, and makes it clear that if she doesn’t step aside she will pay for that defiance with her life. When those who would have reason to want Milan dead are all members of a faith with an underlying tenet of non-violence, how did his life end in such a gruesome and violent way? And can Kate, with her husband and BCI agent John Tomasetti at her side, find the real killer or killers and clear her brother before she becomes another victim?
The Burning is the sixteenth installment in the Kate Burkholder series, and it does not disappoint (the book can also be read as a standalone for those who may not have read any of the previous titles). Kate is a fascinating and complex character, a woman raised Amish whose inquisitive nature was continually in opposition to a community who prizes conformity to their rules. For that and other reasons, at 18 she left the faith and her family behind and moved to Columbus, eventually finding a place in law enforcement. When she returned to the community where she was raised to accept the position of Chief of Police, it was not an easy reentry and she was not received with open arms, not even by her family. Over time, she has established herself as an accomplished investigator, and her knowledge of Amish ways gives her an insight not generally available to the English, ie non-Amish. Watching her work to establish her career and relationships as she struggles to reconcile the past and her present is always an interesting thread within the greater mystery in each book. In this outing she must push the people who had problems with Milan to reveal things, many of which are considered taboo in their culture, which they prefer to leave unsaid. She tries desperately to keep her brother from suspicion, knowing that if he is questioned he will refuse to speak to the police which will in turn make him look guilty. Wonderful characters and an always interesting setting continue to result in an excellent whodunnit which will satisfy author Linda Castillo’s many fans and will appeal as well to readers of Karin Slaughter, J. A. Jance and Allison Brennan. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me early access to a fantastic read.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It’s that time of year! A new Kate Burkholder book is out! This story starts off with a man burned alive at the stake!!!
Kate amd Tomasetti have their hands full trying to figure out who killed Milan Swanz. This mystery had me up way past my bedtime reading and then researching the Anabaptists. There was so much as their history that I didn’t know! This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A fast paced and fascinating mystery for Kate Burkholder when she is called to the scene of a man’s body that was tied to a stake and set on fire. Kate is the police chief in Painter’s Mill, Ohio, a community comprised of one third Amish. Kate, a former member of the Amish, is able to get the people to speak to her. The man was Amish and had been excommunicated from the church, but who would have wanted him dead, especially in such a horrific manner? Kate painstakingly questions his wife and members of the community and comes away with a picture of a man who sought revenge on those who he felt had wronged him. As she delves into the church’s past, Kate uncovers a long-ago culture that believed in righting wrongs in a most deadly manner. As she searches for more information she is threatened and warned to stop her investigation…or else! Kate has no intention of stopping even when she is sidelined after her brother becomes a suspect by the state police. Kate, won’t rest until she finds the killer and proves her brother’s innocence. One of my favorite series with non-stop danger and suspense as both Kate’s career and life are threatened. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

NYT bestselling author Linda Castillo returns following An Evil Heart with her popular Amish series, Kate Burkholder #16, with her latest, THE BURNING.

A riveting, brutal murder mystery, a heinous crime with an Amish man burned alive. Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder that reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history. This gripping installment will keep you on the edge of your seat with an intense, complex criminal investigation with dark secrets in a tight-knit community of Amish that puts Kate and her family in harm's way.

About...

Kate Burkholder (age 36) is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, Ohio. She grew up Amish, and though she left that life behind (age 18), many cases bring her into daily contact with this community. She is newly married to John Tomasetti, who is also in the business, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and a former detective with the Cleveland Division of Police.

Set in the Ohio Amish country of Painter's Mill, Kate is awakened in the early morning and called to a fire in the woods with two of her deputies who heard screams as they discover a shocking scene. A charred body was chained to a stake and burned alive. No witnesses, and no one reported missing.

The dead man is Milan Swanz, a local Amish husband and father.

Things have been difficult for Swanz; he chose to get drunk and walk home the wrong night. Someone offers him a ride, which turns deadly, and he is burned at the stake. Swanz had a record of drunk driving, disturbing the peace, and a temper; an abuser, a child predator, an evil man, and more that they will soon find out. A man, devoid of a moral compass, a lack of self-control, and sociopathic tendencies. There is more than one compelled to do away with Swanz.

Kate leads the murder investigation, and as usual, the Amish community likes to keep things close to the belt, making it challenging to attain answers—a tight-knit community, they do not talk to cops or outsiders if there is anything involving domestic violence or anything personally related. They make great neighbors. They are hardworking, family-oriented, quiet, and helpful, but they are not always forthcoming. Certain subjects are taboo, particularly concerning their brethren, and they will not speak of it to the English if it means lying to the police.

However, her office knows that she has a good working relationship with the community and the local Amish, which makes her valuable to the investigation. There is a wall of silence between Amish and English, and incidents are less likely to draw the attention of law enforcement. The victims are far more likely to suffer in silence without recourse.

There appear to be problems between Swanz and the Amish community, being recently excommunicated from the church and other offenses.

Did the killer stage the scene to conceal evidence? Was this some kind of bizarre pseudo-symbolic execution? He was burned at the stake. Appears the killer wanted the body to be found. To what end? Prove a point, send a warning, or what?

Swanz's ex-wife, Bertha (married for 14 years, divorced for 5 months), employer, friends, and the Amish bishop are of little assistance. Kate becomes engrossed in the investigation, putting her and her husband's life in danger as she delves deep into the history of the Anabaptist culture.

The Anabaptist movement began in the 16th-century Europe during the Reformation. They believed in things like nonresistance or pacifism, separate from the rest of the world, and adult baptism. They were considered heretics and persecuted for their beliefs. Hundreds were tortured and executed, including being hanged, drowned, or burned at the stake.

The Anabaptists comprise three core groups: the Amish, the Mennonites, and the Hutterites.

Kate discovers a Hutterite community. A quarry and sixteen people live there. Who are the Schwertler Anabaptists? Kate is warned that if you cross them, they will devour you. A tale, a folklore, a dark history, do they exist?

Kate does her research about the secret police force called the Anabaptist Hunters who were charged with finding and arresting heretics. She struggles to find a parallel between Schwertlers and the case. What is the connection?

Now, the mayor does not want her on the case because they think she is protecting the Amish and her brother. But she is determined to find the person who murdered Swanz.

Could Swanz's killer be non-Amish? A psychopath looking for fame? Who had a motive for murder? Does the murder have to do with a mysterious vigilante group and Amish history? (Martyrs Mirror - an old book written in the 17th century with stories about the persecution of the early Anabaptists.)

Kate and John are working together on this case. She knows that every homicide investigation has a common theme: URGENCY. The stakes are high, and there is no room for error or wasted time.

She turns to her brother Jacob (Amish) to see if he can shed light on Swanz's background since he worked for him briefly. However, things get complicated as it later is brought to her attention that a witness claims her brother had some kind of altercation with Swanz four days before he was killed.

How can this be? Will Jacob be charged with the murder? Her brother? The plot thickens. Kate is beside herself, knowing her brother is not a killer, and John, being the brother-in-law, may be cut from the case too. She must help her brother and find the real killer.

Things heat up. Has Kate become an unexpected problem for the killer? Had they underestimated her?

The Violent Criminal Apprehension Program cases in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are reviewed to see if they can find a hit related to the homicides in the Amish Painters Mill and review of cases with a crime podcaster, AmishWorldUSA. Time is running out. They must find the killer, another case killed in the same manner that would give them a clue.

To solve this crime, Burkholder is in the eye of the storm as she delves into the dark corners of the history of the Anabaptist culture and those who want her to go away.

My thoughts...

THE BURNING is an utterly captivating series! The scene at the quarry had my heart pounding! It is high adrenaline and action-packed.

In this compelling 16th edition of the Kate Burkholder series, THE BURNING delves into the fascinating, little-known history of the Amish and Anabaptist culture, which will have you googling to read more. I learned so much and something new about the Beachy Amish (a progressive subgroup known to use electronics, gas-powered tractors, and even motorized vehicles for transportation).

I love this series! Kate is fearless, intelligent, sharp, driven, and tenacious. I love her relationship with John, the community, and her department, especially this one in particular, where she and John are both working on the same case in the heat of the action and danger. Even though Kate is no longer Amish, they respect her but may not always be forthcoming with answers.

With all the dangers of the job, we find Kate reflective of her role as wife, woman, and cop, and at 36, the biological clock ticking loudly, the thoughts of motherhood and family.

Meticulously researched, the series is high-stakes, full of mystery, intrigue, and suspense. Fans will enjoy catching up with their favorite cast of characters. The author hooks you from the first page, making this an exciting addition to the series with its twists, turns, mystery, and well-developed characters.

It is unnecessary to read the previous books in the series; however, I highly recommend reading them in order to learn more about Kate and her journey.

Audiobook...

I had the privilege of reading the book and listening to the accompanying audiobook, narrated by the masterful Kathleen McInerney, one of my favorite narrators! It would not be the same if someone else narrated, as, in my mind, she is Kate. Kathleen and Linda make a perfect 'partner in crime' duo. She has been narrating the series since the beginning and knows the series and the characters, delivering an outstanding and engaging performance for all voices with perfect pacing.

Recs...

I highly recommend the Kate Burkholder series and the audiobook to those who enjoy police procedurals, smartly written crime thrillers, and captivating suspense murder mysteries.

As mentioned in my previous reviews, I love Kate and John as a duo! They remind me of Karen Slaughter's Will Trent/Sarah Linton and Lisa Gardner's DD Warren/Alex. John is strong and has had to overcome tragedy like Kate.

Special thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2024 and NetGalley for an advanced reading and listening copy for an honest opinion.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
July 2024 Must-Read Books
July Newsletter

The Burning is the 16th book in the phenomenal mystery and thriller series Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo. I didn't start this series until book 14...shocking, I know! The mysteries stand alone, so you won't be the least bit lost in keeping up. You will quickly get to know Kate, her husband Tomasetti and her co-workers and friends in Painters Mill, Ohio, which is Amish country. It's not an area that many thrillers are set in, which is a definite change of pace. Out of the three books I've read so far, this one is by far my favorite; and that's saying a lot, because they are all 5-Star books!

Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder gets a call in the middle of the night informing her of a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives, she is welcomed by the sight of a brutally charred body. According to the coroner, the Amish man, Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. Certainly there can be no more a frightful death than that! Kate knows the Amish like to keep things amongst themselves and handle their own problems without outside interference from the English, and no one wants to discuss the murdered man. Kate gathers that the man was recently excommunicated and had led a very troubled life. Why, then, are the Amish reluctant to talk about him? Are they protecting one of their own, or are they afraid of something they can't share? Her own brother is implicated in the case, and soon Kate is at odds with the Amish she was once a part of, as well as the law enforcement community when someone accuses her of protecting her brother. To uncover the truth about the death, Kate must dig into the Anabaptist culture and a part of its dark history that may change all she thought she knew about the Amish.

This book started out with a bang and never let up the entire time! Truly, this is one of the best thrillers I've ever read in in my 59 years on this earth. The beginning of this tale was truly chilling. I knew what was coming from reading the synopsis, but I wasn't expecting just how brutally the author would be able to bring it to life. It was absolutely terrifying. I don't know much about Amish culture, besides going to Pennsylvania Dutch Country with my family as a kid. It is much more complex than I ever imagined. The Amish like to keep their problems within their own community without outside interference, and it's difficult to understand at times how they can when there can be such deep, dark secrets, such as abuse. There is so much more to historical Anabaptist culture than I could ever have imagined. I was compelled to look up the Schwertler Anabaptists after reading about them. Most Amish followed the tenet of pacifism, but the Schwertlers were "of the sword". You are definitely going to want to learn more. The non-stop action was explosive, but it's the characters that keep me coming back for more! Kate Burkholder has quickly become one of my all-time
favorite heroines; she is so unique! Kate grew up Amish, but left the life and her family years ago. Her parents are now gone, but she is renewing her relationship with her brother Jacob and his family. Kate is newly married to John Tomasetti - she calls him by his last name - and he is not only her husband but her best friend. Tomasetti is also with law enforcement, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. I just adore their relationship; they can be playful, but each knows the other has their back totally. They worked on this case together, and their most thrilling scene was near the end; I was breathless! When Kate's brother Jacob was implicated in the murder of Swanz, a member of another law enforcement agency accused her of covering for him. She had to step aside, but that didn't stop her investigation. It was hurtful when some of her law enforcement friends had to go against her, but Tomasetti and most in her department stood beside her. The villains in this story - one in particular - were some of the most frightening killers ever. I figured out whodunnit, but it didn't ruin the non-stop suspense. I hope their will be many more stories for Kate, Tomasetti and the Amish community of Painters Hill. LOVE this series!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Burning by Linda Castillo
Kate Burkholder series #16. Cop procedural thriller, mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone but characters lives and situations flow in a continual fashion throughout the series.
Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is awakened by an urgent midnight call about a suspicious fire in the woods. An Amish man has been burned at the stake and Kate does the bulk of the investigation because of her ties to that community. When her brother becomes a suspect by other officials, they order Kate off the investigation. But too late, as the killers already have Kate in the sights and know she needs to be stopped before she finds too many answers. Kate is not one to give up. She’s going to protect and serve with her last breath if it comes to that. And it just might.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook copy of this story. The audiobook is performed by Kathleen McInerney. The performance is done well with distinct voices for the main characters. Since it’s Kate’s POV alone, the majority is her investigating and taking the reader along for the ride. At one point, Kate herself is attacked and held at gunpoint. That scene alone is why audiobooks are so popular. The reader is in the exact same position of frustration, and anger and fear of that gun going off.
This is an audiobook you will need to keep at 1.25 speed at the fastest. Anything higher, makes the voices sound digital and not alive. The narrator uses a lot of pauses and subtle variations in the performance that are lost at higher speeds. Especially during the autopsy analysis with doctor Coblentz and the department assistant, as well as passages of Kate describing scenes or giving background information. I tried several different speeds and feel the best performance is at 1.25.
For a veteran and lover of audiobooks, if you prefer a higher speed for playback, I suggest reading, rather than listening to this one.

Suspenseful, history filled and pulse-pounding.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

When a man recently excommunicated from the local Amish church is found burned alive at the stake, Painter’s Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder faces a wall of silence about the victim from the Amish who knew him, including Burkholder's own brother. As she and her team make slow progress on the case, Burkholder's relationship with individuals in the local Amish community and her understanding of their culture is an asset, but becomes a conflict-of-interest when her brother comes under suspicion. Driven to find the killer, Burkholder won't shy away from the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may end up being.
Although I was a little late in discovering this series, it's now a must-read for me and I eagerly look forward to each new installment. I don't think you need to read them all in order, although it provides history on the characters and you get to see them grow over time. Even if you jump in here on book 16, you won't have trouble following anything. I find the main characters are nuanced and interesting, and the plot, as always, is intelligent and exciting. This one gets a bit gruesome in descriptions of the victim, but it's a minor part of the book that even the squeamish should be able to power through.

I saved reading this book until I had an uninterrupted weekend because I know from experience that the latest Linda Castillo book would be a terrific book to read. And it was! In The Burning, the 16th book in her series featuring former Amish chief of police Kate Burkholder, all the regular components are present. Strong pacing, dialogue, sense of place. and wonderful insight into the Amish way of life. These are strongly character driven novels that usually include a fairly brutal murder but somehow don’t feel gory. Although this book can be read as a stand alone I highly recommend starting at the beginning.

There are a few tics that the author has that annoy me. In the previous book, the constant defining of the police 10-?? code was that tic, in this one, it's the clunky way in which the German the Amish speak is translated to English.

As far as the central murders go, I'm always amazed at how small the Painters Mills police force is, and how much they rely on outside support. Of course, it's an easy way to weave Burkholder's husband (an FBI Agent) into the action. Stil... In this one, there are outsiders brought in to oversee the case because Kate's brother is implicated (which makes sense). On the other hand, because she was Amish, she has a rapport with the locals that most English won't. And as per usual in these cases, she runs her own investigation. No guesses as to which solves the murder first.

There's some interesting history of the Amish, and other Anabaptist movements, and how that has influenced today; I confess I did some digging and it's not entirely implausible that it could be real. I can't go any further without spoilers, sorry.

Definitely a good entry into the series. And if it's your first, you won't find it difficult to get into this world, as the necessary "previously" part is woven into the text (sometimes a little heavy handedly, sometimes casually).

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

The Burning was a thrilling murder mystery that sucks you in from the first pages with a horrifying death. Kate is a Chief with excellent instincts and a no nonsense demeanor. Both the good guys and the bad guys keep it interesting with lots of action. Despite everyone who is trying to stand in her way, Kate holds her own as the exemplary police chief of a small Amish community. An excellent read from the first page to the last.

WOW!

This author had been recommended to me so when I saw this book pop up for review I requested it and was lucky enough to be approved and have now added a new author to my list of authors with a style of writing that captivates me and has me turning the pages, gripped by the story and the characters.

I know, for anyone who has been reading this series, starting at book 16 is a crime! There is so much backstory for each of the main characters, even starting at this book I could tell there is a lot that has brought them to where they are now, however, it did not diminish my ability to absolutely love this book and I will be heading back to book 1 in the series.

Ok, onto the story, which is instantly engaging and screaming at Milan about stranger danger, knowing something bad is coming, but never would have anticipated what was about to happen.

The opening scene sets the stage for the investigation by Chief Katie Burkholder who teams up again with now husband, Tomasetti who have a relationship and banter that I loved.

With Milan being former Amish, Kate's own background and connection to the Amish community will be pivotal to uncovering the reasons behind this gruesome crime and uncovering who was responsible.

With a tip being phoned in that links Katies brother to the case, a new BCI agent is assigned to the case, Chambers, an arrogant man who is constantly condescending to Kate, his favorite line.... with all due respect.

Like a cat with nine lives, Kate comes close to using all these up as the killers know the only way to get away with murder is to remove the threat that she is. Over and over, you will be on the edge of your seat as she battles to survive.

This is a great mix of mystery, suspense, education into the Amish community and the strong bond and working relationship Katie and Tomasetti have.

Another great read - this one quite quick. I'll keep reading this series. The only thing I've noticed is at the end of every book, Kate Burkholder just runs flat out into life-threatening danger. A la Trixie Belden. So maybe she could stop doing that...

I've been undecided on my rating. On the one had I really did enjoy it, it grabs you right from the very beginning. On the other hand the amount of abuse Kate takes in this one and still doesn't even slow down is so unbelievable that it takes away from the story. For me it did anyway. And the crime in this one was just a little bit off for me. I don't want to say that it was underdeveloped because I don't think that's the word I'm looking for. Maybe it will come to me later and I can edit. Still going to give this one a 4 stars...but just barely. As always I look forward to next July and the next installment in this series!

This novel is down the line in a series but I think is the first one I have read. I felt it read well on its own. Castillo gives enough information along the way that I could understand the action of the main characters and the atmosphere of the town and Amish community. Castillo's writing style is good, giving readers a balance of character development and action. The plot moved along well and at a good pace.

I was intrigued by the unusual murder. It turned out to be relevant to finding the villains. I appreciated learning quite a bit about the history and culture of the Anabaptists. The information is woven into the plot as an essential aspect of the investigation and did not seem intrusive. There was a serious bit of suspense near the end testing Burkholder's determination to survive.

This is an entertaining novel and a good continuation of the series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.