Kate Burkholder #16
By: Linda Castillo
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 9781250781116
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Publication Date: 07/09/2024
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC) (ARC)
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder that reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history in this next riveting 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 Review
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! 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. 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.
@JudithDColilns | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
Praise
Praise for The Burning:
"Riveting... fans will be eager for the latest well-developed mystery set in Ohio's Amish country." ―Library Journal, starred
“A brutal, gripping look at murder in a self-enclosed community with many secrets to hide.” ―Kirkus Reviews
Praise for An Evil Heart:
"Skillful storytelling... An Evil Heart proves this is a series that continues to soar."
―Oline Cogdill, Shelf Awareness, starred review
“Characters you care about and a clear-eyed look at their unique culture make this series the best of the Amish bunch.”
―Kirkus Reviews
"Castillo’s punchy prose and well-developed characters keep the pages turning... Series fans will be eager for the next entry."
―Publishers Weekly
About the Author
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.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
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