Another great installment in the Kate Burkholder series. I was hooked from the first page. A perfect amount of characters/suspects and suspense. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

I've skipped around a lot in this series, but have read a few and especially like the novellas that are part of this series. I enjoy the character of Kate Burkholder who is a police chief and often investigates crime dealing with the Amish community. Kate was brought up in that community, so she understands it even though she left it years ago.

The crime being investigated in this book is especially dark and violent, so that could be why this wasn't my favorite in the series. Kate also makes some questionable decisions that left me frustrated instead of engaged in the story. There were also some pacing issues and the investigation seemed to start out slow. However the end is very dramatic and action-packed, so I'm glad I stuck with the book. The epilogue includes a development that fans of the series will want to read. I would rate the book 3.5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur. Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

** spoiler alert ** Tomasetti lives!! I feel that’s important to know so, if you are like me, can actually enjoy the conclusion of this macabre tale. Kate is now investigating the death of a man burned alive at the stake. Hopefully a future book further addresses the characters that discovered him and the circumstances. Anyway - the victim was not a good person and Kate discovers he wanted revenge on those he felt wronged him…and that includes her brother, Jacob.

Another tense thriller that doesn’t disappoint!! This series has become one of my favorites and you can read this as stand-alone as well.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Burning is certainly a story full of action and suspense. Kate Burkholder has a gruesome murder to investigate. This murder doesn’t seem to be connected to the Amish. But, as Kate investigates further, she discovers there is a connection.
As usual, Kate goes rouge trying to find answers. Can she get the answers she wants? Or, will she discover things she doesn’t want to know.
Another fast paced thriller in the Kate Burkholder series.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Every year I eagerly await the newest Kate Burkholder book by Castillo! I became hooked on the series a decade ago and have yet to come up for air.
I do want to know who ensures the Chief’s vehicle because she trashes one per book, sometimes more!
Kate is like a Timex watch: she takes a licking and still keeps ticking because she gets pretty battered physically and emotionally in this one.
The opening scene is very jarring and there’s an interesting development involving Mona which I’d like ti see where that goes.
The mystery is quite involved with a different angle not yet perused in the series.
Castillo keeps coming up with great story lines and they need to go on forever!

I love all.of her murder mystery books. They start off with a bang. You never know what will happen next.

It was such a great honor tio read this book.

Linda I hope you don't quite writing cause of just love your book.

Kate Burkholder is the police chief of a small Ohio town located close to the Amish. She is called to a murder scene of Milan Swanz who was burned at the stake. He has led a deeply troubled life and had recently been excommunicated. With her force of 12 members, she talks with the Amish community as well as the town locals to try to figure out "who done it". She is newly married to a FBI agent and is also no longer a member of the Amish having left at 18. The story tells about the Anabaptist way of life and the groups that have broken off to form new groups. Everything comes to a turning point when her brother is arrested for the murder. This is a book that was hard to put down. I loved the murder mystery angle as well as learning about the Amish and their offshoots.

The Burning by Linda Castillo is the sixteenth book in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in a small town. Painters Mill is the town she grew up in as a member of the Amish community. As the Chief of Police, Kate is in an usual position for understanding the Amish and working for the “English”. She is married to Tomasetti - newly married and still figuring out things.

Kate is called out with the information that there is a suspicious fire, only to discover that there is a man being burned at the stake. The horrific crime started a headlong journey for Kate and eventually Tomasetti into trying to understand the Anabaptist past. Kate puts herself in dangerous situations asking questions and is threatened by unknown people.

Milan Swanz was an evil person. His death upset no one with his abrasive personality and his temper. Kate followed the clues, even those that lead to her own family and brother. Despite her diligence, she was put on administrative leave while the task force continued to investigate, but Kate just can’t let anything go.

I enjoyed how the tension built. I was fascinated hearing about the past of the Anabaptist. Every step into the story brought more information and pulled you in deeper. What I didn’t like was how Kate was injured (seemingly more seriously) than in the past and I felt it was too much. The Burning might be one of the better of all the Kate Burkholder series. Linda Castillo is another go-to writer for me.

The latest case for Chief of Police Katie Burkholder. An Amish man, Milan Swans, is found burned at the stake with an unclear motivation and surrounded by potential suspects - including Chief Burkholder's own brother. As the case builds it becomes clear that Swans may have had made more enemies and possibly links a mafia-like organization as secrets begin to slowly unfurl. Chief Burkholder delves deeper into Anabaptist history in order to understand how this murder may be linked to other cold cases. Not only is Chief Burkholder on the hunt for the killer, but she has pressure from other law enforcement agencies who question her ability to set aside her connections to persons of interest and assess whether she is hiding evidence.
This is a fast-paced thriller that included the interesting history of the various Amish communities and Linda Castillo has mastered pacing and building a suspenseful case with plenty of twists and turns. I typically like to try to guess the person(s)-of-interest and motivations in Mystery books, but Castillo had me questioning everyone until the final moments. My only qualm is: when is Chief Burkholder going to learn to wait for backup!!!

Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder finds herself with a case that has ties to The Anabaptist History. Many people are involved but especially Kate's brother Jacob. No one wants to speak ill of the dead but doesn't have kind words for Milan Swans either. Will the past help with the present? Find out in The Burning.

I would like to thank Minotaur Books for this ARC via Netgalley.

The Burning is book 16 in the Kate Burkholder Amish mystery series. The author provides enough background information to allow the reader to begin at any of the books. However I will say that having prior knowledge of her main character, Kate, greatly expands the focus beyond the crime under investigation.
This time the crime is particularly challenging. Milan Swanz is burned alive at the stack in a wooded area outside of Painters Mill, Ohio. Trigger warning: the chapter dealing with his abduction and murder is particularly gruesome. Kate who is former Amish and now the police chief of the small town she grew up in needs all her skill in dealing with the Amish and knowledge of Anabaptist history to solve this case.
Milan Swanz is a bad dude. He’s excommunicated Amish with a long list of transgressions against the faith and a list of several others who might want to seek revenge for wrongs he has done them. But burning at the stack seems to have much more motivation than simple revenge.
As always, Linda Castillo has written a gripping story with lots of cozy elements. There is a good mix of pacing from slow and insightful to almost breath holding action. Strengths are character development, depth of insight into the Amish culture, the reappearance of many secondary characters in the Painters Mill community, and a couple of chapters written from the point of view of the unnamed perpetrator.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

After a particularly gruesome murder, this entry had all the things I like about Kate Burkhokder mysteries: a twisting trail as Kate investigates the life of the dead, depth of characterization, the inter-twining personal and professional lives due to a small town, and new-to-me information about the history of Anabaptists. I especially enjoy the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti as it continues to evolve and grow. This was a page turner for me. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Burning starts out with a very gruesome murder: an Amish man is burned at the stake. Symbolic? It turns out he was not a very good person and had recently been excommunicated by the bishop and fellow church members. No one will really miss him, not even his wife and children. But who would be driven to kill him in such a ritualistic and shocking manner, risking their immortal soul?

Kate Burkholder, once a member of the Amish community herself but now the police chief in her hometown of Painters Mill, Ohio, is probably better able than most law enforcement officers to question the Amish to get some answers. She has insights that others do not. But she is put on the hot seat when it is learned her brother has a strong motive for murdering the man and it is perceived she is protecting him. Being placed on administrative duty doesn't stop her from investigating however.

Once again, Linda Castillo has created an exciting, page-turning mystery with very interesting characters. Highly recommend this one for your summer reading.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Burning by Linda Castillo is the latest installment in the Kate Burkholder series. In this book, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the murder of an Amish man by burning at stake- reminiscent of a little-known era of Amish history. Once she begins to investigate, much more comes to light that pulls her and her family into the crosshairs of this gruesome killer.

I discovered Linda Castillo's books about 2 years ago and since then I have read all and look forward to her new releases each year. As someone who has lived in and visited Ohio frequently, I enjoy the setting of all her books. I also enjoy the Amish angle as that is very unique in what I have read. Linda Castillo is and continues to be an auto-read author and think her books would appeal to those who enjoy police novels!

This was another great addition to the Kate Burkholder series from Linda Castillo. It was a suspenseful and good story - fans of the series will not be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Aren't the Amish known for their gentle and quiet ways? 
    Kate Burkholder, the chief of  police, reveals the evil side of the Amish community and this time it's an exceptional challenge for her.
    A man is founding burning at the stake in her community: who is he and why this archaic method of punishment. 
    This is where the author educates the readers in the history of the Amish and its darker side. Every book by Castillo delves into a different aspect of community life and this unsavory chapter goes back many years.
    Kate, in doing her job, ruffles a lot of feathers that result in her having some serious physical altercations with the perpetrators, being removed from active involvement on the case and in a constant battle with the local politician who wants to shame her. She is overwhelmed but relentless.
    Tomassetti, now her husband, works with her on the case and has his own brush with death which makes them both look at life differently. 
    The descriptive picture of Amish life: buggies, suspenders, black hats, silent demeanor and the evolution of the relationship between Kate and Tomassetti leaves the reader educated and ready for the next installment.

Another dark, gripping, and thrilling read from Linda Castillo in the sixteenth book from the Kate Burkholder series.

Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a probable murder to find a man tied to a post on top of a stack of burning pallets. Once identified as a recently excommunicated member of the Amish community, Kate finds herself returning back to the close-knit and familiar area. Despite being the current Chief of Police, Kate was born and raised Amish but chose another path when she was 18.

Despite her departure from the community, members are most likely to speak to Kate over other “English.” She understands the tradition, culture, and customs and has developed a respectful relationship with many current community members.

As she begins her investigation, she discovers the murdered man has few who liked him and plenty who had a problem with him. Then, Kate’s brother’s name comes up. Considering he is still Amish, their relationship is still being rebuilt but Kate absolutely believes her brother had nothing to do with the murder. When Kate is attacked and told to “back off” and allow justice be served in a way they see fit, she dives into the past of the Amish culture. The more she learns, the more trouble she finds herself in.

This was a super engaging read and one I feel you could enjoy whether you’ve read the others in the series or not. Going into this book, I didn’t know it was a series so I started with book one and have read the first five books so far. Since reading those, I’ve become a huge fan and can’t wait to see what Linda Castillo writes next!

This is the 16th in the Kate Burkholder series and every book is gripping. Kate is the chief of police in the rural town of Painter Mill, Ohio. It is an area that includes Amish or Anabaptists. Kate was once a member and understands their culture and ways. In this outing a man is burned alive after being chained to a stake. As the investigation progresses it hits close to home as her brother had an altercation with the dead man. I like Kate and enjoy these procedural police mystery thrillers. The books can be read alone but to see Kate’s personal life progress they should be read in order. I’ve missed a few that I need to seek out. This is for fans of Castillo’s and anyone who enjoys a good murder investigation. (4.5 Stars)

Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series is not only an auto buy/read for myself, my sister and best friend all also read each new book the summer it comes out. It has become a common item we get to talk about when we see each other once a year.

The Burning did not disappoint. I love seeing the family ties that Burkholder still has to the Amish community. I was angry for her and the way some peers in law enforcement responded in this novel but logically, it makes sense how it played out and that emotional connection is one of the things I love about this series, Even without being remotely Amish or having any personal ties myself, I feel the emotions Burkholder experiences deeply and I love that!

An Amish man tied to a stake and burning is a case no one in Painter's Mill ever expected to be in their area. Chief Kate Burkholder is puzzled by this crime, especially since she grew up Amish. When she starts investigating.she ends up with more questions than answers.

I enjoy this series. Castillo has developed all the characters so well. I always feel like I am visiting old friends when I read a new book by her. She grabs the reader at the first pages and doesn't let go until the end. I always fly through the Kate Burkholder books. Kate is a complicated person that has dealt with a lot of things throughout this series, but still survives. The Kate Burkholder is a suspense series that always has a little clean romance sprinkled throughout.

If you enjoy suspense, thrillers, or police procedurals and haven't read this series, you should give it a try. It can be read as a standalone, but I think you would enjoy them all.

Tentative Publishing Date July 9, 2024

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Linda Castillo for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

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