Review | Kate Burkholder Series by Linda Castillo
UPDATE | NEW BOOK REVIEW for Sworn To Silence (Book 1)
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The Hidden One by Linda Castillo
Series: Kate Burkholder | Book 14
2022 Publication Date: July 5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW
One of the wonderful bonuses of discovering an amazing series is the deep dive and total immersion you experience into the world of the story.
In writing the series, the author is so well-versed on the details of the characters and location this deep dive has the scuba swim wonder of diving into waters that turn the reading “color saturation dial” from 1 to 10. It is a complete delight and a perfect “escape” reading experience.
More best book series authors who have mastered the “scuba reading swim” are William Kent Krueger, Louise Penny and — new to the scene — Joanna Schauffhaussen… And I now add Linda Castillo to that list too!
This is only my 2nd Castillo book to read and both books have swept me away from page 1.
Also... A great thriller earns a spot on my T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read list when the story is both thrilling and insightful. The Hidden One accomplishes both with a beautiful sub-theme of living with the memories of a first love. Simply stunning undercurrent to this already thrilling story.
Perfect for readers looking for a best thriller book pick that feels right at home on the literary fiction book shelf as well.
BONUS: Although the Kate Burkholder Series is a cumulative series (with 14 books to date!), you can jump in at any point and be “in the flow” of the story easefully. The author has a real talent for both introducing her characters to new readers while still giving previous readers the feeling that you are reuniting with a good friend… ✨😎✨
Pages: 320
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Detective Thriller
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Fallen by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder Series | Book 13)
T.I.M.E. TIP: Although this is a cumulative series, you can read this book series as standalone books… As for me, I started with Book 13 but, after finding both Books 13 and 14 landing on my T.I.M.E. Favorite Books list, I intend to circle back from Book 1 in order... I can hardly wait!.. ✨😎✨
MORE T.I.M.E. TOP BOOK PICKS from…
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
MORE T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEWS for the Kate Burkholder Series by Linda Castillo
Sworn To Silence | Book 1 (Kate Burkholder Series)
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
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Buckle your seatbelts, readers... Sworn To Silence (Book 1 | Kate Burkholder Series) is not for the faint of heart...
I started this crime fiction series with Book 13 (Fallen) and Book 14 (The Hidden One). And immediately, Linda Castillo and her beautifully written Kate Burkholder Series landed on my T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read and T.I.M.E. Best Thriller Novels and Crime Novels lists.
So, I really wanted to go back to the beginning and read this series in order.
I listened to Book 1 via audiobook (narration by Kathleen McInerney was top-notch!)... And must admit that I had quite a few sleepless nights while reading, as this story unearthed tons of nightmares and fears from the shadowed corners of my imagination.
A bonus from the audiobook was a wonderful author interview with Linda Castillo that gave some background to her experience as a graduate of two police academies and growing up in Ohio alongside Amish communities which give her writing an authenticity that is even more chilling.
The clash of cultures between the dark potential of modern society and the inherent goodness of the Amish lifestyle — along with the challenges — brings a unique setting and dramatic tension to this thriller series.
Enter this world with the understanding that you will be stepping into the shoes of what too many victims in our world endure... And the high-stakes decisions and unbelievable challenges that cops face every single day in trying to bring justice to victims... While also trying to keep us from becoming victims in the first place.
As for me... I'm signing up for a self-defense class pronto... ✨😎✨
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In her hometown of Painters Mill, Ohio, Police Chief Kate Burkholder investigates a series of brutal serial killer murders that have disturbed the peaceful Amish community.
But what is even more disturbing is the same telltale details from a series of terrible crime murders that happened sixteen years ago. Murders that were never solved. And Kate herself, as a young woman, was the last victim and only survivor.
As she digs into the details of the current cases, she must confront her own dark secret past as a survivor of potentially the same killer. With the unwelcomed help of her investigative partner John Tomasetti, Kate races against time to catch the killer before he strikes again.
Sworn To Silence is a chilling suspense novel that will keep you (and all thriller fans!) on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
Fallen | Book 13 (Kate Burkholder Series)
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great characters. Thrilling story. Wonderful series...
Although Book 13 was my first read from this series, I had no challenges from not reading the previous books...
However, I plan to remedy that ASAP!… ✨😎✨
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When a young woman is found brutally murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is surprised to find she used to know the victim…
Rachael Schwartz was an Amish girl who left Painters Mill and the Amish way of life years ago. So, why was she back?
Kate remembers Rachael as a kindred spirit in sharing the same challenges of growing up as an Amish woman as she did as well. They both broke the rules and were not very good at it.
But Rachael took it to a whole new level. As a child, she was not only rebellious but an intentional rule breaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents.
As an adult, she was beautiful and gathered admirers with her compelling charm. But with no qualms to take matters into her own hands no matter who got in her way, her string of admirers also included a string of enemies - both English and Amish people.
As the case gets more intense, and secrets from the past come to light, a killer starts to dig in at Painters Mill. Someone doesn't want people to know everything about Rachel or the secrets that died with her.
As Kate investigates further, the killer makes another strike, this time even closer to home.
The Hidden One | Book 14 (Kate Burkholder Series)
See my T.I.M.E. Book Review HERE
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When the skeletal remains of a beloved Amish bishop, Ananias Stoltzfus, are discovered after he disappeared over a decade ago, Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate...
It quickly becomes clear that the bishop's disappearance was not as simple as it seemed. There is evidence of foul play, and it seems that someone has been hiding a dark secret for years.
The elders from the Kishacoquillas Valley travel to Painters Mill to see and appeal to the police chief, Kate Burkholder, for help with solving the crime. Kate quickly realizes that she knows the man who is accused of murder, Jonas Bowman.
Jonas was her first love when they both lived in Painters Mill and, if she accepts the case, she will have to face a painful memory from her past at the center of her past relationship with him.
Kate goes to Kishacoquillas Valley to investigate and learns that things are not always what they seem in the Amish community... Nor do the local authorities or community welcome her "interference."
Adding to those complications... There is more than one side to Bishop Stoltzfus and she needs to find out what he was hiding before he was killed.
Someone wants to stop Kate from asking too many questions... And Kate is hesitant to ask some questions of herself as well.
But she refuses to stop looking for answers.
As Kate gets closer to the truth, the threats increase... as well as her doubts to remain willing to see the truth, no matter what it reveals.
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