The Burning by Linda Castillo was my first book from this author and this series. I didn’t realize there were other books, but this can be read as a standalone.

Narration was decent. I really enjoyed the history of the anabaptists and the Amish. The mystery wasn’t quite so mysterious, but the police procedural parts were good.

I have good news and bad news. Good news first: I have finally caught up to the most current release in this series. Bad news: now I have to wait until 2025 to read another chapter in the Kate Burkholder series. This was an action-packed read. An evil victim was burned at the stake by a couple of unknown assailants. Pretty dangerous to be out looking for them. Will they retaliate to keep their secret? Linda Castillo continues to appropriately advance the character development. Kate and Tomasetti are more and more in tune as domestic and work partners. My appreciation for their relationship grows with each installment. Perhaps we might have a little Tomasetti coming in the next book or two. There also seems to be a hint of romance on Kate's staff. Those chickens will come home to roost in a later book. And Kathleen McInerney continues to do an excellent job on narration.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest reivew.

Great new novel in the Kate Burkholder series. I love that these books work so well as stand alone novels but also are a joy to read for fans of the series. In this new read, Kate rushes to uncover the motive and murder when an Amish man, Milan, is found burned at the steak. As she starts to uncover Milan’s dark past, she realizes how close to home this crime may be.
Great read! Loved the narration for the audiobook. This was my first Kate Burkholder series to read as an audiobook and I loved it!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review

The Burning is Linda Castillo’s 16th installment in the Kate Burkholder series but my first of these fast moving, high impact detective novels. Whether you’re a loyal reader of the series or it’s your first foray, you won’t be disappointed with The Burning. Castillo provides enough context for new readers to dive right in too.
Police Captain Kate Burkholder has a gruesome case to solve. An excommunicated Amish man, Milan Swanz was burnt at the stake. Captain Burkholder’s top notch police work leads her to uncover how Amish folklore and her own extended family play a role in solving this crime. She won’t give up her pursuit even when her own life and those of her loved ones is at risk.

I recommend this book to detective novel enthusiasts and it’s suitable for a young adult audience too.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian for the chance to listen to the 16th installment of the Kate Burkholder series. As usual Linda Castillo has done an amazing job. The Burning was fast paced and kept me guessing right til the end. I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Kate Burkholder is One of the Best Female Characters in a Series

SUMMARY
In the middle of the night, two Painters Mill police officers parked on a rural road hear a scream and see a fire in the woods. They rush toward the fire and are shocked to see a man fully engulfed and tied to a pole. When police chief Kate Burkholder arrives at the scene, she identifies the dead man as Milan Swanz, an Amish husband and father.

As Burkholder and her team begin investigating, they learn that there has been no love lost between Swanz and the Amish community. He had recently been excommunicated from the church and his list of offenses was numerous. Burkholder knows that the Amish prefer to handle their problems without outside help. Swanz’s ex-wife, employer, friends, and the Amish bishop are of little help in the investigation. To solve this crime, Burkholder puts her and her new husband’s life on the line as she delves into the dark corners of the history of the Anabaptist culture.

REVIEW
THE BURNING is an engaging but ghastly murder mystery that you cannot put down. Bestselling author Linda Castillo’s writing about murder in the Ohio Amish country is always intense and impeccably well-researched.

Kate Burkholder is an emotionally strong, intelligent, and courageous woman. If you want a unique crime series with a strong female character, this is it. My favorite scene is when Kate goes toe-to-toe in a meeting with the mayor, the county sheriff, and the FBI about her handling of the Swanz case. She leans in and handles herself and the confrontation beautifully. Kate is fearless but is not afraid to ask for help. Her vulnerabilities help make the story and her character seem real. She is undoubtedly one of the best female characters in a series.

I listened to the audiobook of THE BURNING. Katherine McInerney has been narrating Linda Castillo's books for many years. She knows the characters well and voices them expertly with just the right pacing, tone, and accent. I highly recommend the Kate Burkholder series and this skillfully written and intense audiobook.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this audiobook. All opinions in this review are my own.

Publisher Macmillian Audio and Minotaur Books
Published July 9, 2024
Narrator. Kathleen McInerney
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

I love this series. Kate Burkholder is a fascinating character, and is the perfect one to carry this series along.
Kate herself has left the Amish community but is still working as a police detective. This is a very dark crime scene, one of an excommunicated man (one who has been told to leave the Amish comminuty) burned at the stake.
She is well respected by the Amish people, and knows people well enough to be able to find out what has happened. This series is fantastic and always manages to teach me more about the Amish lifestyle and theit history.
I always try and listen to the audiobooks, and to me, Kathleen McInerney the narrator is Kate Burkholder. She is superb, and portrays the story wonderfully.
Highly recommend this series.

Excellent addition to the series. Really enjoy learning about more things in the Amish culture. Good regular characters add to the depth of the storyline. Great narrator.

This sixteenth installment of the Kate Burkholder series kept me on the edge of my seat. One of the most brutal and cruel murders Chief Burkholder and her gang of deputies have investigated to date. I was concerned several times this book would be the end of the series. A solid 5 star read.

I received an advance copy of "The Burning" by Linda Castillo from NetGalley and approached it with no prior expectations. This was my first encounter with Castillo's writing, and the plot immediately piqued my interest. I was particularly taken with the protagonist, a police chief with strong ties to the Amish community. However, there were moments when I felt the story could have offered more depth.

The book's religious undertones enriched the narrative, but at times, I found myself struggling to connect the pieces of the storyline. Some developments seemed abrupt, lacking the gradual build-up I prefer.

Overall, I rated this book three stars. While it left me wanting more in some respects, it successfully held my attention and was a swift read. I appreciated Castillo's meticulous attention to detail. I'm keen to explore more of her work and would suggest that new readers might start with her earlier books to better acquaint themselves with her style and character development.

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!

Thank you for this excellent audio book. I am a big fan of anything by Linda Castillo.
this book was in true style of Castillo books.
I loved it and would recommend it to anyone.
5 big gold Stars

Kate Burkholder is back on the case, and it’s a gruesome one. Seriously, the opening of this book is brutal but really well done. If you can get past the opening you will find yourself in an action packed mystery that still skillfully unfolds until the thrilling climax.
I haven’t gotten to visit Painters Mill in a while and I really enjoyed getting to revisit these characters. Linda Castillo crafts a deft and engaging mystery and Kate is such a badass, you have to root for her!
I listened to this in audio format. Kathleen McInerney narrated this book and it took me a little bit to get into her style of reading. She has a robotic cadence at times. After a while I got used to it and it wasn’t a big deal.
Thank you to McMillan Audio and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series - it seems to be getting a little darker and a little more into Amish History.  

A man found burned at the stake has a lot of enemies.  Recently being placed under the Ban the victim had a history violence, and a slew of people who weren't unhappy at his demise. Of those are an ex-wife, the Bishop and Kate's own brother. Kate gets sidelined due to her brothers possible involvement but refuses to let that deter her as she follows her instincts. However the people she is up against are dangerous and well hidden. 

Fantastic writing as always and good narration. Although I have read many of them I have switched to listening to the last few and it doesn't diminish the enjoyment.  I found myself riveting to the action and it was difficult to turn it off to go to bed. If you haven't read any of these I would definitely start at the beginning as the stories evolve and build on each other. Although you could probably read it as a stand-a-lone but I wouldn't recommend it.

The Burning (Kate Burkholder #16) by Linda Castillo
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: July 9, 2024

The Burning is the 16th book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. This book can be enjoyed as part of the series or as a standalone mystery.

Wow! This was such an intense book. It dealt with some heavy stuff and I was very worried for Kate. I found this one fascinating and I could not stop reading it!

The narration by Kathleen McInerney was wonderful! I loved how she brought this book to life.

I definitely recommend reading this one!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'd been a fan of the Kate Burkholder series for a long time and somehow got off track and missed a few releases, so when I had the opportunity to get this one from NetGalley, I jumped.

There's a lot to like here: I like Kate, I like the mayor, I like her team, I like that even though they're married she still calls her husband Tomasetti, I like how far Mona has come, and always to my surprise, I like the Amish.

This book opens with a hideous murder, and you ask yourself how this seemingly not-great guy killed in this gruesome way is connected to the Amish, but lo and behold, there is a connection! Even though the Amish are very reclusive, Kate's special but strained relationship with them is always fascinating to me. And, as is usually the case for any religion, there is a fringe group more secretive and extreme. This book was a good thriller, fast-paced, full of taut action as Kate goes against all other law enforcement bodies involved and conducts her own rogue investigation in a direction no one believes is real. With series you usually see the arc of a character at a glacial pace, which is true here, there's not much advancement until the very end. However, while this entire series is driven by Kate's character, this particular story is all action.

I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.

A shocking crime in Amish country puts Chief of Police Kate Burkholder on the trail of a calculating killer in this tense thriller. The Burning is a gritty, suspenseful read that ratchets up the tension from the opening pages. Castillo's deep knowledge of Amish culture and traditions lends authenticity to her vivid portrayals of the insular community. While the plot takes some predictable turns, Castillo's deft pacing and Kate's tenacious investigating make for a compulsively readable crime novel. The exploration of themes like fear, retribution, and the consequences of breaking from tradition add thematic heft to this gripping page-turner.

This is the first book I have read in this series. I found it riveting and I am now going back to read the rest of the series. Kate Burkholder is a police chief in a rural town in Ohio with a large community of Amish. A former member of the Amish community herself, she understands the religion and mindset of the Amish people. As a person who is no longer a member she struggles with left over animosity over her leaving the group. As Kate investigates the murder of an Amish man who was murdered by being burned at the stake she uncovers a dark side to the history of the Amish and a hidden society of assassins.

Very good

This was a fast-paced book that kept my attention. It opens with a man getting picked up by a driver late at night while he was walking home from a bar. He was murdered - burned at the stake. He was an Amish man who had been shunned (kicked out of the church). The small town chief of police, a woman who was raised Amish, tries to find out why he was killed. He was such a awful man that it seemed like half the town had a reason t want him dead.

The only complaint I had was that the chief of police kept getting in trouble by being caught by someone presumably involved with the crime.. She was a small-town cop, but still seemed like she would be aware enough to not keep getting in such jams. To her credit, she did not sit back and wait for. a man to save her, but I would have preferred that she did more rescuing of others.

I’ve been wanting to read a book by this author because the covers are so intriguing as this book didn’t disappoint. I loved how I was able to jump in mid series and discover that I could read it as a stand-alone. I really liked Kate. She’s one of the good ones. I loved learning more about the Amish community and enjoyed the secret society as well.
The narrator, Kathleen McInerney used a variety of tones and inflections that were very engaging. She kept me listening till the very end. I listened to this book on a day. Very addicting listen.