Series: Kate Burkholder #1
Author: Linda Castillo
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published Date: April 1st, 2010
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Amish
Page Count: 384
Format: Kindle
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ .5
Goodreads Summary:
In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.
Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She’s certain she’s come to terms with her past—until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past—and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.
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My Review:
"A female chief of police was rare, especially in a small town. An Amish cop was unheard of."
Warning: This book contains Rape, Murder, and gory details about the murders.
Last year I accidentally read the 4th book in this series, so I did end up knowing some things, but it didn't affect the story up until the last few pages.
Kate Burkholder is the chief of police, in small-town Ohio, on top of that she is also ex-Amish and has a secret that she has kept hidden since she was 14. When a woman turns up raped, tortured, and murder with roman numerals carved into her stomach, Kate fears that someone from 16 years ago is back. While this not only shocks the town it also brings back old fears and makes the whole town on edge. But with Kate's judgment impaired with a fear that she knew who the killer is, she doesn't ask for help soon enough and the town council ends up taking matters into their own hands calling in the sheriff's department and BCI.
I love how strong of a character Kate is and how, despite being raised Amish she isn't angry at them, and has been able to maintain a pretty good relationship with them even though she is under the Bann. She still has the strong morals that they did and is still slightly naive to what can happen in non-Amish life.
I did struggle at times to believe the person from her past was the one who could possibly be doing the murders though and I found that part of the story to be a wild goose chase since no one had heard from the man since it happened.
It was a huge contrast to see John Tomasetti (BCI) how he was in this book as an alcoholic, pill-popper who, is on the verge of losing his job. It was actually sad at times since I already knew what kind of person he has become now.
I really did enjoy seeing how their relationship came to happen and why they both act the way they do.
I never once thought it would be who it was though, I figured it would have been someone from the Council since they were always getting over-involved and trying to take over the case.
I did start having suspicions though right before Kate figured it out, so it was nice to know that I wasn't too far-off. I could have done without some of the details from a few of the crime scenes since they can get pretty graphic at times.
But overall I still enjoy this series and I can't wait to read the next one.
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