New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo delivers an electrifying thriller in which Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must confront a dark evil to solve the mysterious murders of an entire Amish family.
The Plank family moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to join the small Amish community of Painters Mill less than a year ago and seemed the model of the Plain Life–until on a cold October … on a cold October night, the entire family of seven was found slaughtered on their farm. Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive, and no suspect. Formerly Amish herself, Kate is no stranger to the secrets the Amish keep from the English–and each other–but this crime is horribly out of the ordinary.
State agent John Tomasetti arrives on the scene to assist. He and Kate worked together on a previous case during which they began a volatile relationship. They soon realize the disturbing details of this case will test their emotional limits and force them to face demons from their own troubled pasts–and for Kate, a personal connection that is particularly hard to bear.
When she discovers a diary that belonged to one of the teenaged daughters, Kate is shocked to learn the girl kept some very dark secrets and may have been living a lurid double life. Who is the charismatic stranger who stole the young Amish girl’s heart? Could the brother–a man with a violent past, rejected and shunned by his family and the Amish community, have come to seek out revenge? As Kate’s outrage grows so does her resolve to find the killer and bring him to justice–even if it means putting herself in the line of fire.
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Wow, book two was as gripping as the first. Again, I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook as I didn’t want to stop.
It is very violent in the beginning but unfortunately, that is true to life. The language is a little much but again true to life. If you have issues with the “F” bomb then you will have issues with this book. Lots of bombs.
It is sad that there are predators out there of young teens and especially young Amish teens who aren’t as wise to the cruel world. I cried thinking of what the Plank family experienced.
I’m ready for book three.
Once again, Linda Castillo delivers another suspenseful, stay-up-half-the-night-reading, chilling murder mystery novel. The fact that it involves Amish (as all the books in this series do) makes it even more shudder-worthy.
Along with feeling completely creeped out by the horrifying events that happen to the characters in this story, you can’t help but not be pulled into the blossoming–yet complicated–relationship between Kate (the Chief of Police) and State Agent John Tomasetti.
Highly recommend!
Ok, it’s official, I’m completely hooked on this series. I love the MC’s Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti. I love Kate’s motley crew of officers too. The plotlines are interesting and, unfortunately, realistic. I’m not even bothered by some of the gruesome details like some others are. That says a lot more about me than anything else like, I’ve seen way too many horror flicks and read too many horrific crime thrillers. What can I say, I like them and I like this series.
5 Stars
This is the second entry in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate was raised Amish but was a victim of a violent crime as a girl and has since left the Amish ways but serves the community as the chief of police. You would think all would be calm and serene and the city crime would be something foreign here. The book opens to a very horrific crime where a whole family is murdered. Again, Kate struggles with what happened to her 16 yrs ago when confronted with this new case
I have read almost all of this series of books and have enjoyed them all. I continue to read the remaining books. If you like Amish mystery or suspense books then these are a must read.
Definitely a page turner. I thought I had it figured out toward the end but it took a different twist and brought me back to the first suspect. I thoroughly enjoyed the book although it was tragic.
I’m loving this series! Did I like this book more than the 1st? No. Why? I have no idea because I loved this book. The story/crime was gut wrenching. Linda Castillo makes you feel like you knew the victims. And what happened to them is almost personal to you. Very few authors can do that for me, but she has managed to make me feel that way in these 2 books. That’s why I’m now on to book 3. 🙂
The characters, all of them, are fantastic. Kate and John…love them! They’re like crack, can’t get enough of them. They’ve been through some crazy stuff in their past, but they’re helping each other heal.
Check the series out, you won’t be disappointed.
MC