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AN EVIL HEART has been nominated for the 2024 Sue Grafton Memorial Award! "Skillful storytelling... An Evil Heart proves this is a series that
continues to soar."—Oline Cogdill, Shelf Awarness, starred review On a crisp autumn day in Painters Mill, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a disturbing call. An Amish man has been killed with a crossbow and abandoned on a dirt road. Aden Karn was only twenty years old. Who would commit such a heinous crime against a young man whose life was just beginning? From an upstanding Amish family, Karn was well liked and looking forward to getting married. But as Kate delves into his past, she hears whispers about a darker side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Sensing an unspeakable secret no one will broach, Kate pursues every lead with a vengeance. All the while, her own wedding to Tomasetti draws near… The case spirals out of control when an Amish woman comes forward with a horrific story that pits Kate against a dangerous and unexpected opponent. When the truth is uncovered, Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the wrong places. |
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HALLOWED GROUND has been nominated for the 2024 Edgar Award for Best Short Story!
A troubling discovery leads Chief of Police Kate Burkholder on a strange investigation ending at a long-abandoned Amish farm in this short mystery from bestselling author Linda Castillo. On sale now for $1.99 everywhere ebooks are sold. When a family dog brings home a human bone, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder finds herself on a desperate search for answers. Where did the bone come from? Who does it belong to? And perhaps most importantly, are the bones a result of foul play? The unsettling questions garner uneasiness, macabre theories, and ghost stories among the residents of Painters Mill. Determined to solve the mystery, Kate and Tomasetti embark on an investigation that takes them to an abandoned Amish farm—and secrets buried on hallowed ground. |
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“With great suspense, well-drawn characters and a totally unexpected
ending, The Hidden One is a standout installment in a rightfully beloved
series.” –Bookpage (starred) Over a decade ago, beloved Amish bishop Ananias Stoltzfus vanished. The mystery has haunted his small Pennsylvania community for years. When skeletal remains are unearthed, his disappearance becomes even more sinister. Unhappy with the local investigation, Amish elders ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. Kate quickly realizes she has a very personal connection to the crime. The Amish man who stands accused of murder was Kate’s first love. Forced to confront a painful episode from her past, Kate travels to Pennsylvania’s KishacoquillaValley, an isolated area where the Amish culture differs dramatically from the traditions to which she was born. Stoltzfus was charismatic and respected, but Kate soon hears he had a dark side, too. Someone doesn’t want her asking questions, but Kate refuses to back down. Is she too close to the case—and to Jonas—to see clearly? There’s a killer in the Valley who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Will they get to Kate before she can expose the truth? Or will the bishop's secrets remain hidden forever? |
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“While readers wait for the 14th book in Linda Castillo’s series
about a small Holmes County town, Blood Moon, an e-story, will
satisfy.”—Barbara McIntyre, Akron Beacon Journal Chief of Police Kate Burkholder confronts a mysterious beast terrorizing the residents of Painters Mill in this new original short mystery. On sale now for $1.99 everywhere e-books are sold. On a foggy spring night, an Amish man crashes his
buggy after a large, unidentified animal spooks his horse. Kate
Burkholder arrives on scene to find the man shaken and bleeding,
claiming he was attacked by a large beast. But his description of the
creature sounds like something straight out of the Amish folklore from
Kate’s childhood. Throughout the night, more incidents of an aggressive
animal on the loose are reported, putting the citizens of Painters Mill
on edge. There’s a monster menacing the countryside, and Kate must
follow its tracks into the dark woods along Painters Creek before
violence tips over into tragedy. |
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"Exhilarating...Castillo adds surprising twists to the gripping plot and touches upon police brutality and Amish discrimination. This sterling entry can be easily read as a standalone.” –Publishers Weekly (starred) “An absolute cracker of a book.” –Booklist (starred) When a young woman is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is shocked to discover she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a charming but troubled Amish girl who left the fold years ago and fled Painters Mill. Why did she come back? And who killed her so brutally? As a child, Rachael was a rulebreaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents and best friend. As an adult, she was charismatic and beautiful, a rabble-rouser with a keen eye for opportunity no matter who got in her way. Her no-holds-barred lifestyle earned her a lot of love and enemies aplenty—both English and Amish. As the case heats to a fever pitch and long-buried secrets resurface, a killer haunts Painters Mill. Someone doesn’t want Rachael’s past—or the mysteries she took with her to the grave—coming to light. As Kate digs deeper, violence strikes again, this time hitting close to home. Will Kate uncover the truth and bring a murderer to justice? Or will a killer bent on protecting a terrible past stop her once and for all—and let the fallen be forgotten? |
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A short mystery in which formerly Amish Chief of Police Kate Burkholder
must race against the clock to find a missing toddler before tragedy strikes. On sale now for $1.99 everywhere e-books are sold. "Narrator Kathleen McInerney quickly pulls listeners into the frightening mystery...Her emotionally balanced portrayal of Burkholder is believable and makes listeners feel like they are solving the mystery right alongside her." -- AudioFile Magazine As a violent thunderstorm rages in Painters Mill, Kate Burkholder receives a call from a frantic young Amish woman: her two-year-old son is missing. Kate and her officers brave the downpour to search for the toddler, fearing he may have been swept away in the rising creek waters. But an explosive family secret leads Kate to believe this disappearance may be more complicated than anyone is letting on. Can she find the boy and uncover the truth before darkness falls? |
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A collection of six Kate Burkholder short mysteries in print for
the first time. These stories were originally available only in
e-book format. While on vacation with her partner John Tomasetti in LONG LOST, Kate
discovers that the old house where they're staying is haunted by a An abandoned baby is discovered on the Amish bishop's front porch in
A HIDDEN SECRET, and Kate is called in to investigate. SEEDS OF DECEPTION unearths the secrets of Kate Burkholder's own
Amish past—and lays the groundwork for her future career in law In the midst of a power outage in Painters Mill, a teenage girl is
attacked at an Amish party in ONLY THE LUCKY. IN DARK COMPANY is the story of an injured woman with amnesia who
seeks Kate's help in trying to remember her attacker’s identity...and that may have led to attempted murder. |
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Read an Excerpt |
“Bestseller Castillo’s suspenseful 12th Kate
Burkholder mystery…Castillo presents a loving, realistic portrait of
Amish life. Readers will hope "A pulse-pounding Amish thriller (really!)
that’s all too relevant to our time.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred) crime fiction.” –Booklist (starred) desperate for help. Ten years ago, Kate and Gina were best friends at the police academy, rookie cops together—but time has changed them both. Now Gina is in serious trouble and on the run for her life, and the only person she trusts is Kate. But can Kate trust her? With whisperings of corruption and the threat of rogue cops seeking revenge, Kate and Gina hunker down at an Amish farm. But as a blizzard bears down, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, Kate must confront a reality that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she's devoted her life. |
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A short mystery in which
a terrifying disappearance in Amish country reveals the power of
friendship. On sale now for $1.99 everywhere “The story is as intense as any involving missing
children, compounded by the blizzard and the possibility of foul
play.”—Barbara McIntyre, Three days before Thanksgiving, two boys disappear without a trace. Eleven-year-old Aaron Kuhns is Amish. Kevin Dennison is twelve and “English.” They’re adventurers, explorers, and inseparable best friends. When they don’t return home from what was supposed to be a fun afternoon of fishing, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must find the missing boys before the first winter storm of the season bears down on Painters Mill. |
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Read an Excerpt |
“The intelligent, insightful Kate continues to be
an appealing character, and Castillo delivers new sides to her persona
with each outing. “Shamed” "Electrifying...a morally complex
tale.” ―Publishers Weekly "...readers looking for a fierce-female-fronted procedural should check out Castillo’s best-selling series, from the get-go.” ―Booklist
An Amish grandmother is murdered on an abandoned farm, her seven year
old granddaughter abducted. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder plunges |
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A short mystery about star-crossed love--and
murder--in Amish country. On
sale now for $1.99 everywhere e-books are sold. Mill. Seriously injured, he lapses into a coma. Initially, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder believes it's a straightforward hit and run, a driver that panicked and fled. But evidence soon emerges that the incident wasn't accidental at all--and Kate uncovers a story of teenage passion and jealousy that may have led to attempted murder. |
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Read an Excerpt |
Audie Award Finalist “An atmospheric thriller about fear, revenge, and
the dark side of Amish life, A Gathering of Secrets is the latest
reminder that Linda Castillo is "Magnetic."--People magazine
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A short mystery about an injured
young woman with amnesia who seeks Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's
help to remember her identity--and |
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Read an Excerpt |
An instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller! "Castillo weaves the particularities of the Amish mindset into a complex mystery that will leave you crying with pity or seething with rage.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Two years ago, Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and
sentenced to life in prison. He was a "fallen" Amish man and, according
to local |
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Bucolic Painters Mill is plunged into darkness in
this Kate Burkholder short mystery available for $1.99 everywhere
e-books are sold.
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Read an Excerpt |
"Castillo builds suspense brilliantly,
using both the snowbound setting and the difficulty of working as an
undercover Amish woman to great advantage."--Booklist “Razor-sharp. . .compelling. .
.exquisite.”—Criminal Element
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called
upon by local law enforcement in rural, upstate New York to assist on a
developing situation that involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the
death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between
the Amish and "English" communities, the sheriff asks Kate to travel to
New York, pose as an Amish woman, and infiltrate the community. |
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Kate Burkholder short mystery available for .99 cents everywhere ebooks are sold. It's
autumn in Painter's Mill, and fourteen year old Katie Burkholder has
been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard with her brother.
It’s just another day filled with chores—until her best friend Mattie
arrives to help. Somehow, boredom transforms into fun and games whenever
the girls are together. The innocent fun comes to an end when Billy
Marquardt and his gang of friends interrupts. Katie is no prude, but she
knows better than to associate with the older English boys, especially
since they’re known troublemakers. Mattie has no such compunction.
Thumbing her nose at the
Ordnung and all of the Amish rules,
she disappears into the old barn with Billy. Moments later, the Zimmerman’s barn is consumed by
fire. Katie suspects Billy had something to do with the blaze, but he
denies it. When the facts don’t add up, Katie begins her own
investigation—and she doesn’t like what she finds. Will her friendship
with Mattie survive the truth? |
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"Series fans as well as first-time readers will be enthralled by this compelling and atmospheric mystery set in the heart of Amish country."--Library Journal
“Remarkable. . . hidden family secrets and unlikely murderers turn the
serene landscape into fertile ground for this chilling tale.”—Publishers
Weekly
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. |
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Kate Burkholder short mystery available for .99 cents everywhere ebooks are sold.
When a baby-only hours old-is
discovered on the Amish bishop's front porch in Painter's Mill, Ohio,
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. The newborn
is swaddled in an Amish crib quilt, and the only other item found with
the child is a hand-carved wood rattle, which Kate also recognizes as
Amish. |
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Read an Excerpt |
A Boston Globe Best Books of 2014 “Murder in Amish country has a certain added frisson, and Castillo’s the master of the genre.”--People Everyone in Painters Mill knows the old Hochstetler farm is haunted. Ghost stories abound, but no one knows what really happened that terrible night thirty-five years ago when an Amish father and his four children perished--and his young wife disappeared. When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of an apparent suicide--a man found hanging from the rafters in his barn--evidence quickly points to murder, and she finds herself following an elusive trail that 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 a long time, she's happy. Their newfound bliss is 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. When a second man turns up dead, Kate discovers a link that sends the investgation in a direction no one could imagine and uncovers a horrifying truth that reaches deep into the past and strikes at the very heart of Painters Mill. As Kate draws a bead on a stone cold killer, a murderer vows to right old wrongs and kill anyone who stands in the way. |
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Kate Burkholder short story available for .99 cents everywhere ebooks are sold. It’s autumn in Painters Mill, and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti are taking a much-needed vacation at a small bed and breakfast an hour outside of town. After closing a difficult case, they’re looking forward to some down time, but their relaxation is cut short by rumors that the old house where they’re staying is haunted by a girl who disappeared twenty years earlier, leaving nothing behind but some bloody clothes by the river and rumors of a volatile relationship. Swept up in the girl’s story, and a need for justice, Kate and John begin looking into the mysterious disappearance of Angela Blaine. They discover long-buried secrets—and unravel a mystery with an unexpected outcome. |
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“A stunner . . . Castillo once again displayes her mastery of edge-of-your-seat suspense.”—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review) "This compelling mystery combines increasing nuance
and complexity with heart-stopping action.” A rainy night, an Amish father returning home with his three children, a speeding car hurtling toward them out of nowhere . . . What at first appears to be a tragic, but routine accident becomes personal for Chief of Police Kate Burkholder when she discovers that the victims are the husband and children of her childhood friend, Mattie. As Kate delves into the case, she comes face to face with her Amish past and memories of growing up with Mattie. The investigation takes on a more sinister cast as evidence emerges that nothing about the crash was accidental. Desperate for answers, Kate begins to suspect she's not looking for a reckless drunk who fled the scene of a brutal hit and run, but instead she finds herself on the trail of a stone cold killer living amid the residents of Painters Mill. It is a search that takes her on a chilling journey into the darkest reaches of the human heart and makes her question everything she has ever believed about the Amish culture into which she was born. |
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“Exciting . . . Castillo ratchets up the tension nicely before the disconcerting ending.”—Publisher’s Weekly "...fast-paced thrill ride through the always fascinating Amish country of Ohio..."--Library Journal 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 a presumed runaway turns up a dead body, the case quickly becomes a murder investigation. 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 teens and discover links to cold cases that go back years.Will Kate piece together all the parts of this sinister puzzle in time to save the missing teen from a devastating fate? |
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“Exceptionally well-drawn characters and a gripping plot that takes some shocking turns to a heart-pounding conclusion . . . Another winner.”—Booklist (starred review) “…a stupendous series . . . Written at a thrilling
pace, with haunting images, Breaking Silence is a novel worth staying up
all night to reach the end.” —New York Journal of Books 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, indicating foul play. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaugh’s 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. |
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"Violent and earthy, and completely impossible to put down."--BookPage 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 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. 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? 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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“Lovers of suspense will find no better novel to read this summer than Sworn to Silence, a teeth-chattering debut thriller…”—USA Today “Sworn to Silence is the opening salvo in what promises to be a gripping series.”--People magazine Sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community of Painters Mill, Ohio. A young Amish girl, Katie Burkholder, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence, and for Katie, the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish. Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate Burkholder is back. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate for Chief of Police. 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 name him, she would betray both her family and her Amish past—and expose a dark secret that could destroy her. |
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