Ruth Benziger

Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Award” for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.

In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.

A deadly fire exposes the dark side of Amish life in this harrowing new thriller in the New York Times bestselling series.

When a historic barn burns to the ground in the middle of the night, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. At first, it looks like an accident, but when the body of eighteen-year-old Daniel Gingerich is found inside—burned alive—Kate suspects murder. Who would want a well-liked, hardworking young Amish man dead?

Kate delves into the investigation only to find herself stonewalled by the community to which she once belonged. Is their silence a result of the Amish tenet of separation? Or is this peaceful and deeply religious community conspiring to hide a truth no one wants to talk about? Kate doubles down only to discover a plethora of secrets and a chilling series of crimes that shatters everything she thought she knew about her Amish roots—and herself.

As Kate wades through a sea of suspects, she’s confronted by her own violent past and an unthinkable possibility.

My Review

A young boy dies in a fire and leaves behind a torrent of secrets for Chief Burkholder to uncover. Daniel Gingerich burns in a fire and it seems like an accident at first. Then, the investigation proves it was murder. Daniel was known to be a hardworking nice boy. What Burkholder discovers after interviewing people and finding secrets buried, is that things are not what they appear. Secrets are kept and it’s up to Kate to find them out and what she finds is disturbing. Justice isn’t served because the outcome is not what you would want to hope for.

I was actually not sure where this was going at first. I had my suspicions and they ended up being right, I just had the wrong reason in my head. I was excited to see that Mona the graveyard dispatcher was finally promoted to officer. I’d been waiting for that to happen and I was happy for her.

I also was happy for Kate and John to set some permanence that I’m sure we will see happen in future books. He always knows how to make her happy and cheer her up after a terrible ordeal. Kate does seem to almost die every book. So, there is that.

I’d say that this book was similar to the others but I was still not exactly sure what happened and it did leave a few questions unanswered for me. Overall, it was a good tale and Castillo left me breathless at times. I think it was a sad story all around and nothing good could’ve come from it.

In this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo, a devastating murder exposes an Amish family’s tortured past.

The peaceful town of Painters Mill is shattered when an Amish grandmother is brutally murdered on an abandoned farm. When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on the scene, she learns that the woman’s seven-year-old granddaughter is gone, abducted in plain sight. Kate knows time is against her—the longer the girl is missing, the less likely her safe return becomes. The girl’s family is a pillar of the Amish community, well-respected by all. But Kate soon realizes they’re keeping secrets—and the sins of their past may be coming back to haunt them. What are they hiding and why?

Kate’s investigation brings her to an isolated Old Order Amish settlement along the river, a community where family is everything and tradition is upheld with an iron fist. But the killer is close behind, drawing more victims into a twisted game of revenge. Left behind at each new crime scene are cryptic notes that lead Kate to a haunting and tragic secret. What she uncovers threatens to change everything she thought she knew about the family she’s fighting for, the Amish community as a whole—and her own beliefs.

As time to find the missing girl runs out, Kate faces a harrowing choice that will test her convictions and leave one family forever changed.

My Review

Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder stumbles across a scene where a grandmother is murdered, a young girl is traumatized, and another girl is missing. The manhunt for the missing girl leads Kate on a neverending and confusing journey to neighboring towns. There is a lot about the case that isn’t clear, many are leaving questions unanswered, and some are purposely leaving out key details needed to find Elsie.

This case was interesting because we have a list of murders and the culprit wasn’t all that obvious until more than halfway through the novel. I had my suspicions on what was happening and where Elsie might’ve been. However, I was genuinely surprised by the shocking turn of events. It also didn’t leave us with clear answers. People made decisions they thought were for the best without knowing whether they were warranted. So, I found it difficult to forgive their actions. I understand Kate’s inability to agree with keeping it within the Amish community.

Worse than the case and finding Elsie, we see the lives of four people could’ve been completely different. I enjoyed this one and liked the mystery of it.

Linda Castillo follows her instant New York Times bestseller, Shamed, with Outsider, an electrifying thriller about a woman on the run hiding among the Amish.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder’s past comes back to haunt her when she receives a call from Amish widower Adam Lengacher. While enjoying a sleigh ride with his children, he discovered a car stuck in a snowdrift and an unconscious woman nearby. Kate arrives at his farm and is shocked to discover the driver is a woman she hasn’t seen in ten years: fellow cop Gina Colorosa.

Ten years ago, Kate and Gina were best friends at the police academy, graduating together as rookies with the Columbus Division of Police. But the reunion takes an ominous turn when Kate learns Gina is wanted for killing an undercover officer. Gina claims she’s innocent, that she was framed by corrupt officers who want her gone because she was about to turn them in for wrongdoing.

Kate calls upon state agent John Tomasetti for help and with a blizzard bearing down, they delve into the incident. But no one wants to talk about what happened the night Gina allegedly gunned down a fellow cop. Even Tomasetti is stonewalled, his superior telling him in no uncertain terms to back off.

With whisperings of corruption and the threat of rogue cops seeking revenge, Kate and Gina hunker down at Adam Lengacher’s farm. As Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, Kate must confront a reality that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she’s devoted her life.

My Review

Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder is surprised to find an old friend of hers has been hurt and found her way to an Amish farm. Gina Colorosa was Kate’s friend when she left the Amish faith. Lost, living in her car, and hungry, Kate was taken in by Gina as a girl. They discovered they wanted to be police officers and did just that.

After a falling out, Kate left Colombus police and took the job as chief in Painters Mill. Years later, she’s face-to-face with Gina once again. This time, Gina is in trouble. Kate has questions and doubts Gina’s credibility. So much so, she enlists John Tomasetti’s help in finding out the truth. While Tomasetti is doing some digging, Kate’s job is to keep Gina out of the snowstorm and away from an Amish man.

Things come to a head and Gina may or not be the person Kate remembers. There is a clear division of corruption going on in Columbus. It’s too much to know until it’s too late. With a harrowing ordeal, a close encounter with two officers, and the truth coming out, Castillo paints a scary picture.

Kate reflects on what happened ten years before, how she dealt with this case, and what the future holds. I can only guess that her future will be bright and Tomasetti is that person for her. No more dragging her feet. I think she’s ready for that commitment.