This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. The Amish...secrets...family and friends...intrigue...what will happen next? Who? Why? When? spend an afternoon reading this book, written by a talented and gifted author, and enjoy trying to discern the outcome...I liked this book even though it moves slowly at times.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

It’s been eighteen years since Amish Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus vanished. Now the discovery of skeletal remains may finally solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Who would have shot the bishop . . . twice . . . and left him in a shallow grave?

When Jonas Bowman admits that the muzzleloader found buried with the man belongs to him, he’s arrested and charged with murder.

The Amish elders of Belleville, Pennsylvania seek out Police Chief Kate Burkholder and ask for her help. When they identify the man charged with the crime, Kate instantly realizes they have a connection. When she was growing up, Jonas’s father, Ezra, was the minister of the church in Painters Mill. Jason was her first love.

Kate agrees to help, but she finds the police reluctant to talk to her about the case. Nevertheless, Kate asks questions and seeks information, finding that the town remains deeply divided concerning Jonas and the murder of the bishop.

When an attacker threatens Kate, she realizes that someone doesn’t want her to ask questions. Despite the threat, she refuses to quit.

There’s a killer in Kishacoquillas Valley, one determined to keep the past concealed. Will Kate find the truth or will the bishop’s secrets remain hidden?

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Although this book is the fourteenth in the Kate Burkholder series, it works well as a standalone with sufficient backstory for readers new to the series. As is true with other series, however, the revelations and the character development that occurs as the series progresses make a strong case for reading the earlier books.

The story, told from Kate’s point of view, stays mostly in the present. However, at times the story looks back at Kate’s interactions with Jonas. This backstory is sure to intrigue readers of the series as well as it highlights some of Kate’s own growing-up story in the Amish community. Since the bulk of the story takes place outside Painters Mill, several of the usual characters are absent and Tomasetti makes only brief appearances.

Pulling readers into the telling of the tale from the outset, the intriguing plot keeps the suspense building as the unfolding story twists in unpredictable directions. As the past and present come together, readers are sure to find themselves trying to identify the murderer.

With well-developed characters and a strong sense of place, readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before reaching the stunning denouement that is sure to be a surprise.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#TheHiddenOne #NetGalley

Kate Burkholder receives a visit from three Amish bishops from Pennsylvania, asking her to look into a cold case involving the 18 year old murder of Ananias Stoltzfus. Apparently his bones were recently unearthed and evidence led the police to arrest one of the Amish, Jonas Bowman. Kate and Jonas had grown up together in Painter's Mill, before he and his family moved out of the area 20 years ago. Kate agrees to unofficially look into the case for them, not promising any results. She soon finds herself facing resistance not only from the local police department, but also from some of the dead man's relatives. All seem convinced of Jonas's guilt, since he had a major altercation with the dead man shortly before his disappearance. But Kate is steadfast in her opinion that the boy she knew in the past would never commit this murder. Despite all odds, she struggles to unravel the few clues and prove his innocence. This is a wonderful series and each story brings us more of an insight into Kate's ever developing character. This story brings her back to the past, both the good parts and the bad parts, and helps her to come to terms with her own present, and maybe even her future. Although John, Tomasetti, is mostly absent in this story, there are still hints of how important he is to Kate's life. I loved how she set about to solve this almost decades old murder. I am looking forward to more Kate stories. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.

Linda Castillo has written another Kate Burkholder mystery set in an Amish community, The Hidden One.

Ten years before, a beloved Amish Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus disappeared. No trace of him was found. A farmer has now unearthed bones that turn out to be the bishop’s remains. The farmer had previously had words with the bishop before his disappearance and all suspicion falls on him. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, and although the Amish tend to take care of their own, the elders of this other community in Pennsylvania ask Chief Kate to investigate what has turned out to be a crime of murder.

As she investigates, things are not adding up. Just who was Bishop Stoltzfus? There is no record of him having existed until he came to Kishacoquillas Valley, nor no mention of his wife. Something strange is happening or did happen long ago. It is up to Kate to find out what happened to the bishop and who murdered him and why. The mystery and suspense in this novel kept me involved and intrigued. I usually shy away from Amish-themed books, but this is one I liked.

Amish bishop Amanias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. Skeletal remains show evidence of foul play. The town elders arrive in Painters Mill to ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. She realizes that she has a personal connection to the crime. Jonas Bowman is the Amish man who stands accused of murder. He was Kate's first love. Kate travels to Pennsylvania's Kishacoquillas Valley. Though Bishop Stoltzfus was highly respected, she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that resulted in his own brutal death? This is the 14th book of the series. You can read each book as a standalone but it is best to read it as a series. The twists keep the pages turning. The ending is a complete surprise. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like the action then you will love this book. l am thankful to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite series! When Kate Burkholder Heads to PA to help a childhood friend convicted of murder, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery with no badge and no backup.

Linda Castillo never disappoints!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books, NetGalley and Linda Castillo for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Page Turning Adventure!!

Can you believe this is book 14 in the Kate Burkholder series. Still just as thrilling and exciting as the first.

An old friend is arrested for murder in a Pennsylvania Amish community. Kate is asked to investigate but someone doesn’t want the truth to come out.

There are flashbacks from Kate’s childhood. She has grown so much as a character during the 14 plus books.

Tomasetti and Her relationship has blossomed in the last couple of stories and I’m so glad.

“You still love him?” “No, but I care. Too much. I feel guilty for . . . what happened. To him. His family. The role I played. I want to make it right. I’m not sure how. It might be too late.”

Let me tell you the ending was shocking.

I’m a huge fan of this series and look forward to every new story. Keep up the wonderful work.

The 14th book in the Kate Burkholder series did not disappoint!

Kate, Chief of Police in Painter’s Mill, Ohio, finds herself in Pennsylvania, investigating the murder of an Amish bishop. The accused is a former boyfriend of Kate’s, Jonas Bowman. Kate was not invited to investigate this crime by the local police department, so she is pushed out at every turn. Does Kate know the boy she used to date? Kate will stop at nothing to find out the truth.

This was a great addition to the Kate Burkholder series. I enjoyed the addition of another location and the slight variations in the Amish culture portrayed in this book. The twists will drop your jaw and keep you turning the pages eager to find out the truth.

I want to thank Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. This is the 14th book in Castillo’s Kate Burkholder Amish series. I’ve read all 14 of these books and this was the worst one yet. I absolutely loved the first one, and I’d recommend it highly. After that, a few were really good but most were just average.

This particular book finds Kate in a neighboring county, trying to help her old friend Jonas who’s been accused of murdering an Amish elder. For a murder mystery, this book is so slow paced and so boring. The victim is not a good person which makes it really hard to care what happened to him. The flashbacks add absolutely nothing to the story. I gave it 2 stars because I do like the character of Kate and her boyfriend.

I think it’s time for Castillo to put this series out of its misery and start a new, fresh series.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

This was another suspenseful and interesting book in the Kate Burkholder,
Painter’s Mill Police Chief series.

This time, Kate is asked to investigate a cold case in Pennsylvania, involving a childhood friend and teenage romantic interest from twenty years ago.
She gets into the usual dangerous situation with folks that do not want her
investigating.

She is clever and persistent. She is not easily intimidated and she is able to put all the facts and clues together to solve her crime. She eventually gets her man or woman perpetrator.

The mystery is presented in a logical way and there may be surprises, but they always make sense. You don’t have to have read the 13 books that come before this in the series, but if you enjoy this one, you may want to go back and read the others.

Linda Castillo's books do not fail! A great mystery, thriller, with lots of adventure as well. I have enjoyed this series and the latest installment of Chief Kate Burkholder's cases doesn't disappoint. An enjoyable, well-written, and satisfying read.

Another great edition to the Amish based mystery series Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder left her Amish fold as a teen but utilizes those ties in her police work when issues arise involving the Amish people. In The Hidden One, Kate is called back to her old world as she hopes to assist her first love who has been accused of murder.

This story is particularly special in the series as we flashback to when Kate was Amish and learn more of her backstory. This is book 14 in the series and it is clear that Kate has grown as an individual - the flashbacks really highlight these changes!

I love Linda Castillo's style and this book is another gem. If you like a straightforward mystery, love a strong female character, are interested in the Amish and their culture, then The Hidden One is for you!

I have read all of Linda Castillo's books and this one did not disappoint. The reader gets a closer look at Police Chief Kate Burkholder's life as a teenager and how an incident in her past comes back to haunt her in her present day job.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder has the unenviable job of being in charge of keeping the peace in a community that consists of a heavy Amish population. As a former Amish person, she has insight into their way of life that help give her an advantage in dealing with their resistance to law enforcement and they strange way of handling crime amongst them. When Kate's high school sweetheart is arrested for the murder of an Amish bishop, the elders of that community travel to Painter's Mill to seek her help in proving his innocence. With little thought of her own security, Kate travels to their town and works as a regular citizen to uncover the truth about who killed the Bishop, which involves finding out that the revered man was not what he presented himself to be. It's an exciting read with memories of young love and a surprise ending.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and Linda Castillo seems to be having fun with her Kate Burkholder series. She’s just finished her 14th installment of this popular Amish mystery series with The Hidden One. For readers like me, who have read each of the previous novels, it’s a bit sad to see Kate leave her team behind and head to Pennsylvania, where a childhood friend has been accused of murder. We barely get to see the Painter’s Mill, Ohio, gang – Glock, T.J., Pickles, Margaret, Skid, and Mona. Heck, we don’t see much of the Chief’s live-in-lover either, John Tomasetti.

The Diener – elected officials of the church district – from Belleville, Pennsylvania, pay a visit to Kate and ask her to help one of their own, Jonas Bowman, who has been arrested for the murder of an elderly Amish man, Ananias Stoltzfus. Kate is shocked. While she’s not seen Jonas for many years, the idea that he could have killed someone is unfathomable. The two were friends, close friends growing up. She has no official standing in Pennsylvania, but she vows to do whatever she can to help Jonas.

In the Prologue, we see the death occur. What we don’t see is who kills the former bishop. Throughout the novel, we begin to see conflicting pieces of the man’s life, his strict adherence to Amish principles, but, according to some, his temper and even violent behavior. Kate wonders, could this have provoked someone. Even so, no one deserves to be murdered. To the family and community, Stoltzfus wandered off and disappeared. His body was found 18 years later. He’d been shot twice. An old musket was next to him in a shallow grave.

What about Jonas? As Kate meets with Jonas, her heart and mind flash back to many times during her childhood and teenage years. She was a strong-willed child who was conflicted about what it meant to be Amish, to live by the rules, to be female within Amish culture. With adolescence, this became a struggle, especially when an older, attractive young man sent shock waves through her body and soul. Eventually, Jonas and his family were sent away, and Kate blamed herself.

Fortunately for Kate, she has a strong, understanding man in Tomasetti. He is confident in their relationship, in her.

As for the murder charges, local law enforcement is not eager to share with an outsider, and the family of the deceased resents her interference. As far as they are concerned, the killer is where he belongs.

This was one of my favorite books in the entire series. It flows so well from one scene to another. As in each Burkholder book, there are memories from Kate’s past. This time, they are bittersweet, but she is able to put them aside, knowing that she has someone special to go home to. Don’t think it’s all smooth sailing, however. Kate wouldn’t be Kate if trouble didn’t find her. And it does, more than once. As usual, it’s nothing she can’t handle.

I received an ARC version of The Hidden One from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. Thanks also to Minotaur Books and the author. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

I'm a big fan of her work, and if you haven't read anything by her you need to change that!

This is number 14 in the Kate Burkholder series, and while I dove in somewhere around book 11, you'll probably get more out of this one if you've read a few of the others first. I absolutely love Kate Burkholder as a character. She grew up in an Amish community but left when she was 18, after some troubling personal experiences. She's now the Chief of Police of a small town called Painter's Mill in Ohio.

In this book, Kate is called to investigate when an Amish bishop's remains are found. This discovery uncovers another secret from a decade ago. The more she unlocks the darker the situation becomes. Things become even more complicated when it turns out that the person accused of the murder is Kate's first love.

The mystery of it all will keep you turning the pages, but the interesting pieces of Amish life and tradition also kept me from putting this one down. If you need an interesting mystery in your life, definitely pick this one up!

Another great addition in the Kate Burkholder series! Can't get enough of the Amish story. A real page turner with a new local of Pennsylvania.

The Hidden One is another great Chief Katie Burkholder book by Linda Castillo. The mystery in the Amish community that she solves has an unexpected conclusion. As always, Tomasetti is there for love and support.

I have not read every book in this series but I enjoyed the ones that I did read. I needed a break from thrillers and I hoped this would be just the ticket!! I was right and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!!

Kate Buckholder is the chief of police in the small town of Painter’s Mill. She gets a visit from two Amish bishops from the town where she grew up, Belleville. Some skeletal remains have been uncovered along with a rifle. The remains of those of past bishop Ananias Stoltzfus who has been missing for over a decade.

The police have taken Jonas Bowman into custody because he readily admitted that the rifle was his and it was known that he had some past and very public arguments with the bishop. The evidence is circumstantial and these bishops aren’t so sure they have the right man.

Kate and Jonas had a long ago high school romance but she has known Jonas since she was 6 years old. With this long history and Kate’s reputation of getting to the bottom of things, they ask her to come and help with the investigation – although it will not be in an official capacity. Kate was also raised Amish and can speak their language and knows their ways.

On her arrival she meets with Jonas and is convinced that he didn’t commit this crime. The police aren’t very happy with her digging around and with the exception of one deputy they aren’t willing to share what evidence they have, etc.

Kate has a way of making people open up to her and soon she is sure that there is much more to the story of Ananias Stoltzfus – he perhaps isn’t the man they thought they knew.

This is a very multi-layered plot and there is more action than I’ve ever read in this series before. Kate’s life is threatened several times but she never gives up. She uncovers secrets long buried and makes connections that others didn’t see.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
I enjoyed the way the author portrays the Amish people, without judgment and with honest explanations of their lifestyle and beliefs.

There is a lot of human emotion in this book. There are those who just want Jonas locked away because of things he did in his youth and those that are hiding secrets that are damaging.

The characters are well developed and the setting of the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside is well described.

This mystery was not easy to figure out and it wasn’t until the final pages that the pieces of this puzzle fell into place.

This is just a great mystery series with believable characters and the pacing was great.

I can absolutely recommend this novel to Ms. Castillos fans and others who want to investigate this wonderful series.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Formerly Amish Kate Burkholder is the chief of police in her hometown of Painters Mill. She prides herself on her ability to keep the peace, run an efficient squad, and help get to the bottom of important cases. Her reputation has reached many English and Amish communities. That is why the town elders from another Amish community come seeking her help.

The bones of an Amish bishop - Ananias Stoltzfus - are found two decades after his disappearance. Knowing Kate's success navigating the Amish community and solving crimes the elders ask her to look into the murder. The evidence prove he was murdered. The evidence also points to Jonas Bowman as the murderer. Jonas Bowman and Kate have a steamy history that makes the situation personal.

As Kate investigates and looks into the type of person the bishop was she realizes he was not the person everyone believed he was. And when Kate starts receiving threats to stop investigating she is even more determined to figure out the secret.

Linda Castillo once again brings the book world a suspense thriller that will have readers turning pages. With each new clue and piece of evidence given readers are filled with questions that will have them on the edge of their seats.