Gone Missing: A Thriller (Kate Burkholder) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Gone Missing" the 4th book in her Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.

Product Description

Rumspringa is the time when Amish teens are allowed to experience life without the rules. It’s an exciting time of personal discovery and growth before committing to the church. But when a young teen disappears without a trace, the carefree fun comes to an abrupt and sinister end, and fear spreads through the community like a contagion.

A missing child is a nightmare to all parents, and never more so than in the Amish community, where family ties run deep. When the search for the presumed runaway turns up a dead body, the case quickly becomes a murder investigation. And chief of Police Kate Burkholder knows that in order to solve this case she will have to call upon everything she has to give not only as a cop, but as a woman whose own Amish roots run deep.

Kate and state agent, John Tomasetti, delve into the lives of the missing teen and discover links to cold cases that may go back years. But will Kate piece together all the parts of this sinister puzzle in time to save the missing teen and the Amish community from a devastating fate? Or will she find herself locked in a fight to the death with a merciless killer?

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next book in this series, also set in Amish Country and featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. Visit www.lindacastillo.com to learn more.

Product Details
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (June 19, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312658567
ISBN-13: 978-0312658564

My Review:

Agent John Tomasetti who works for the BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) has asked Chief of Police Kate Burkholder (who is a former Amish) to help them with their investigation of finding Amish girls that are missing.  John has asked to be a Amish liaison.

Kate and John travel to different Amish communities within a 100 mile radius to find information about the Amish teens.  During their investigation they come to the conclusion all the Amish teens have something in common.  They are all rebelling against their extremely strict upbringing.  As Kate investigates further she finally deals with her Amish background and why she left that lifestyle.  John also deals with his nightmares of losing his wife and two daughters three years ago.  This case hits hard with John because the Amish girls would be the same age as his daughters if they had lived.

There were some truly vile suspects:

1.  A church that vocalizes their hatred of the Amish lifestyle and their Reverend leader that tries to covert their Amish teenagers;

2.  A photographer who was charged with taking pornographic pictures of Amish teens (without them knowing);

3.  An ex-communicated Amish man who helps those in need who want to leave the Amish lifestyle.

This book really held my interest with the well written storyline and well developed characters.  I read this book within a day that tells you how much I enjoyed it.  We learn more about Kate and John's past and how they are dealing with it now compared to when we first met them in "Sworn to Silence".

This book deals with the plot which is fast paced which leads to lots of twists and turns.  The book ends in a twist and turn even after we find out who the culprit is.

4/5