After the Storm: A Kate Burkholder Novel

I've finished "After the Storm" the 7th book in her Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.

Product Description

In this electrifying thriller by New York Times bestseller Linda Castillo, Kate Burkholder must uncover a family's long-hidden past to solve a brutal murder.

When a tornado tears through Painters Mill and unearths human remains, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder finds herself tasked with the responsibility of identifying the bones -- and notifying the family. Evidence quickly emerges that the death was no accident and Kate finds herself plunged into a thirty year old case that takes her deep into the Amish community to which she once belonged.

Meanwhile, turmoil of an emotional and personal nature strikes at the very heart of Kate's budding relationship with state agent John Tomasetti. A reality that strains their fragile new love to the breaking point and threatens the refuge they've built for themselves -- and their future.

Under siege from an unknown assailant -- and her own personal demons -- Kate digs deep into the case only to discover proof of an unimaginable atrocity, a plethora of family secrets and the lengths to which people will go to protect their own.

About the Author

Linda Castillo is the New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Burkholder novels, including Sworn to Silence, which was recently 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 the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, the Holt Medallion and a nomination for the RITA. In addition to writing, Castillo's other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband.


Product Details
Series: Kate Burkholder (Book 7)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (July 14, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250061563
ISBN-13: 978-1250061560

My Review:

4/5

The Dead Will Tell: A Kate Burkholder Novel

I've finished "The Dead Will Tell" the 6th book in her Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.

Everyone in Painters Mill knows the abandoned Hochstetler farm is haunted. But only a handful of the residents remember the terrible secrets lost in the muted/hushed whispers of time—and now death is stalking them, seemingly from the grave.

On a late-night shift, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of an apparent suicide — an old man found hanging from the rafters in his dilapidated barn. But evidence quickly points to murder and Kate finds herself chasing a singularly difficult and elusive trail of evidence that somehow points back to the tragedy of that long ago incident. Meanwhile, Kate has moved in with state agent John Tomasetti and for the first time in so long, they're both happy; a bliss quickly shattered when one of the men responsible for the murders of Tomasetti’s family four years ago is found not guilty, and walks away a free man. Will Tomasetti be pulled back to his own haunted past?

When a second man is found dead—also seemingly by his own hand — Kate discovers a link in the case that sends the investigation in a direction no one could imagine and revealing the horrifying truth of what really happened that terrible night thirty-five years ago, when an Amish father and his four children perished — and his young wife disappeared without a trace.

And, as Kate knows — the past never truly dies in The Dead Will Tell by Linda Castillo.

Product Details
Series: Kate Burkholder (Book 6)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (July 8, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250029570
ISBN-13: 978-1250029577

My Review:

4/5

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

Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Breaking Silence" the 3rd book in her Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.

Product Description

The New York Times bestselling series hailed as “gripping” (People magazine) and “compelling” (USA Today) returns with Police Chief Kate Burkholder called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.

The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death — clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes — and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.


Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312374992
ISBN-13: 978-0312374990

My Review:

Storyline:  A 911 call was made to go to Slabaugh's farm house. The Slabaugh's are Amish. Kate responded right away and was first on scene. She saw two male victims face down in the manure pit with poor area ventilation and a third victim was an Amish female lying face up. Kate went down into the pit to try to save the mother of four children. It was too late. Mother, father and uncle all died from the pit's Methane gas by the time EMS and the fire department arrived. Kate thought this was an accident until Doc Coblentz, in his preliminary examination, found that the father, Solly Slabaugh, had blunt-force trauma to the head that caused his death.

There have been a rash of hate crimes against the Amish like killing an old lady's sheep, forcing the Amish buggies off the road, and just plain nasty intimidation vetted towards innocent people for no particular reason. The injured or violated don't want to press charges or even contact the police.  Minor crimes are one thing, but now things have taken a terrible turn. Agent John Tomasetti was requested to help with the investigation of the hate crimes. Kate and John believe the hate crimes and the murder of Solly Slabaugh are not related.

Characters:  Kate and John have both grown from the first book to now.  This case is really affecting Kate and she is still dealing with her demons and a past.  She was once a Amish too but was forced out after a tragic incident when she was 14.  She drinking heavily and smoking to deal with her pain.  John also has a painful past but he has dealed with it and meeting Kate has helped him out of that dark place.

Romance:  Kate and John have an on again and off again relationship.  They both have come from deeply damaged pasts and really understand what each other is going through.  I'm glad they both took their relationship to the next level.

Killer(s):  They were truly nasty characters with twisted reasons on why they were killing and the cruel things they were doing to other people.  Truly some sick and twisted people out there.

This series has a great blend of truly horrifying crimes, well written characters and the right amount of romance.

This book had lots of twists and turns it was shocking to find who the killer and motive of why Slabaugh were killed.  What a great ending and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

5/5

Thanks Minotaur Books/St Martin's Press for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!