An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The story follows Kate Burkholder, a police chief in the small Amish town of Painters Mill, Ohio, as she investigates a series of brutal murders that have shocked the community.

What I loved about this book was the way that Castillo weaves together multiple plotlines to create a complex and engaging story. The characters are well-developed and realistic, and the tension and suspense are expertly crafted. I found myself completely invested in the outcome of the investigation, and I couldn't wait to see how everything would play out.

One of the things that I appreciated most about this book was the way that Castillo explores the relationship between the Amish and the English (non-Amish) residents of Painters Mill. As someone who is not familiar with Amish culture, I found it fascinating to learn about their way of life and how it intersects with the modern world. Castillo treats the Amish with respect and sensitivity, and I felt like I came away from the book with a deeper understanding of their beliefs and traditions.

Overall, I would highly recommend An Evil Heart to anyone who enjoys a good thriller. It's well-written, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, and it kept me hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait to read more of Linda Castillo's work!

Thank you to Linda Castillo, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All opinions are voluntary and my own.

I am used to twist and turns when it come to this series. But even I was shocked by the turn this book took. It was not disappointing. Linda Castillo once again keeps the thrill coming with her newest novel in her well-known series.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder came home to Painter's Mill to serve her community. She left her Amish family years ago but is still affected when she finds a young Amish man killed by a crossbow. As the case progresses, she finds many dark sides to the case.
Also woven in is her upcoming wedding to Tomasetti her lawman fiance. Nerves are on edge as the story progresses and the wedding traditions that come even though Kate has left the fold. Good story with interesting background. Another winner!!

I haven't read the other books in this series, but An Evil Heart left me intrigued enough to go back and do so! Kate Burkholder is a compelling protagonist, and the story was told with the perfect amount of detail and suspense.

The context of an Amish town with a formerly Amish police chief lends a tension to the story that prevents it from being just another crime story. Castillo's way of describing the Amish community is genuine. It felt authentic, largely due to Castillo's writing style.

The plot had twists and turns that kept me reading and kept me interested all the way through. I loved the ending and the resolution.

This is one I'd definitely recommend.

It’s been far too long since I got sucked into a book. And this one was a roller coaster. I guessed the final twists, but there are so many I didn’t see coming. This was my first book by this author, so I obviously haven’t read any of the other books in the series. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t lost.

The writing is clear and descriptive. I had three problems here—literally the only reasons I didn’t give the book 5 stars. First the author uses the word grimace at least 20 times. By the end I pictured everyone with a constant grimace. I wouldn’t take any stars off for this though. Second, the author seems to have forgotten some details. Multiple times throughout this book information was changed or missing. For instance, a girl can leave one boyfriend for another, but later in the book the author states she had only had one boyfriend ever. Other examples would have spoilers. Third, the dialogue between Kate and her fiancé is mostly spoken in cliches.

What did I love about the book? The rest of the writing is amazing. I felt all of the emotions. I also hated exactly who I was suppose to. She gives us all sorts of different characters with different stories. None of them are confusing, and I was able to remember everyone I was suppose to. Reading the book in just a few days helps.

All in all, not only would I recommend this book, I would and probably will buy it for friends as a gift. I may recommend it for our book club.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC for my honest opinion.

Great entry in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate is days away from her wedding, but a gruesome murder takes priority over wedding preparations. The investigation reveals secrets that are completely unheard of for the Amish community of Painter's Mill. Each new detail makes you wonder how any of this happened without someone trying to put a stop to it. You can feel the agony the victims are expressing. You empathize with everyone affected by the cruel acts we learn about in "An Evil Heart."
I loved this book. I stayed up to finish it. I loved the way the community came together to assist with Kate's wedding. I am ready for the next book. I am ready to see what the future has in store for Kate.

Thanks to NetGalley and for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it!!! This is one of my favorite series. With the amount of crime/murders that occurs in Painters Mill and the surrounding area, Kate Burkholder definitely has job security. Who could have killed Aden so violently? Death by crossbow wasn't pain free, especially when the bolt was pulled through. The killing was deliberate and the murderer wanted Aden to pay his actions. Everyone who knew Aden had such kind words and couldn't imagine who could have done this. Some people keep there evil well hidden and are wolves in sheep clothing. Nothing good happened at the gas station. I never suspected who was behind Aden's death. There were so many possible killers. Pretty much any one who hung out at the gas station and any woman he "dated." This was one of my favorite books in the series and kept me guessing until the end. There were so many twists and turns. Kate is definitely a cat with nine lives with how much se gets injured on the job. I was hoping she wouldn't have any bruises or black eyes for her upcoming nuptials. It finally looked like John and Kate's wedding was actually going to happen. I couldn't wait to read about the celebration and then the book ends. Seriously!!!! Hopefully the next book picks up there (probably not). Loved seeing the interaction between Kate and her family. The wedding was even more special because they were part of it.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I can't wait to find out what's next in store for Kate and John. Maybe babies???? Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An Evil Heart is a great installment in the Kate Burkholder Amish series. The action starts right away with a brutal murder and the pacing never slows. I realize it is a murder mystery, but it does seem to be a little darker than some of the previous books in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

Again I read a book that's in a series without having any experience with the previous works. But in this case there is some(probably)repeating of information for the new readers to help us along with the storyline. I found this work engaging and making me search for previous entries in the series. Check out this book and author - you won't be disappointed!

I loved it! Great mystery. Kate is very skilled at interpreting what is actually underneath the layers that people outwardly display whether it's talking to her family, coworkers, or anyone she encounters during an investigation. She's smart and sympathetic. Excellent author.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The cover looks great, though the title isn’t anything eye-catching. I feel like the character build was lacking in areas, but the story line was exciting.

3.5 stars. A solid, if sometimes repetitive, small-town police procedural about the murder of a young Amish man who is not what he seems. Burkholder's tough-but-tender romance with her fiance offers a wholesome relief from the sordid details of her investigation, reminiscent of Frances McDormand's character in "Fargo". Her liminal relationship to the Amish community of her Ohio hometown gives her a sympathetic but not naive perspective on the contradictions hiding beneath their strict lifestyle. I felt sometimes there was too much blow-by-blow of the investigation, with scenes that didn't reveal any details that were new to the reader. And I wasn't entirely sure why the killer felt that a brutal and hard-to-conceal murder was the only path to his goal. Still, I would be interested to check out earlier books in the series.

Castillo does an excellent job of combining Amish and English cultures while remaining respectful of the Amish. In addition she always writes an exciting and puzzling crime. And, no spoiler since it is mentioned in the first chapters, does all this in the run up to her wedding. Kate Burkholder is like superwoman.

Linda Castillo never disappoints with her books and I look forward to reading anything she puts out. This book is just another example of her wonderful writing. This is the 15th book in the series and I love how she give some background so that you are not completely lost (if you haven't read the series yet) but doesn't go into great depth so that you feel like you are trying to catch up other readers.

This book is suspenseful and engaging from the start. There is an Amish guy that is killed in a very graphic way and it is up to the Chief of Police, Kate, to find out who the killer is and stop them before they kill again. The twists and turns that take place go at a breath taking speed that keep you wanting to turn the pages and find out what is going to happen next.

If you have no read any of Linda Castillo's books, especially this series, you need to stop what you are doing and start right away. You will not be disappointed!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was my first by Linda Castillo and won't be my last. It was quite a page turner!!
If you enjoy a good mystery, this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St .Martin's Press for my ARC!

Some people spend the time leading up to their wedding taking care of last minute details. Kate, however, is not some people and neither is her fiancé Tomasetti.
In Book 15,An Evil Heart, it looks like their wedding might actually happen(Fingers crossed). But the murder of Aden Karn leaves Kate scrambling to find his sadistic killer. Everything points to him being a promising and respectful young man, but sometimes the truth is hidden underneath many layers. When another body is found, Katie is sure the deaths are related, but the who is still an enigma as much as the why.
There are some serious topics explored, and the more I learned, the more I loathed some of the characters. As always, though, the mystery was good, and Kate has her hands full even more than usual. She does have a wedding to attend soon( her own).
Did I figure out the killers identity? Yes, and no. Not until almost the author reveal, so for the most part, my guesses were absolutely incorrect.🤔
Until we meet again, Kate, I hope things are quiet for a change in Painters Mill. I am definitely a fan of this series. 4.5 stars.

An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo. Published by st Martins Press-Minatour books. This book had me engrossed page after page. It starts with the brutal murder of. young Amish man Aden Karn. He is the picture of her good, caring and hardworking young man whose life was brutally taken one early morning on a desolate road. The Amish community is rightfully shook up at the murder of one of their own. Definitely was a page turner that kept me yearning for more and a simple reminder that sometimes things are not as they seem. I did not see that coming! A first for me from Linda Castillo but now I’ll be looking for more.
Kate Burkholder # 15 in the series but can definitely be read as a standalone mystery novel.so I’d you are looking for a good book to keep you interested this one is for you. Linda Castillo did not disappoint. Publication Date July 25,2023!!

I read this as a stand-alone. I never read the other in the series. I really liked it. I liked that they shed light to SA victims. Please look up trigger warnings. The plot twist was great

"The things we learn in our formative years stay with us. Right or wrong, the lessons of our youth shape our adult view of the world. Having been raised Amish, I was taught to believe the best about people. Most of the time that philosophy serves me well. I still believe that the majority of people are fundamentally good. As a cop, though, I’m keenly aware that many are not"

This was my first time reading a book by this author and now I want to go back and read more immediately! This was #15 in Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder, however I had 0 issues reading it as as stand alone! I loved the perfect combination of crime and thriller genres. The author takes you through the case very clinically and to the point, there is so much detail that I felt like I was right there alongside Kate as she worked the case. It gives the reader's a chance to try and put together the mystery themselves at the same time the characters are. The addition of Kate being from the Amish community while investigating a crime with Amish victims was very unique and provided some extra background and context, she is a strong female lead who gives amazing insight into her job, I especially enjoyed hearing her inner struggles when it came to the moralities of the Amish community and of the crimes she was investigating.

Linda Castillo's books never fail to thrill and excite the reader! I couldn't put this book down (well, it's an e-book but you know what I mean!). Meeting Kate Burkholder and her colleagues in this latest installment of this Amish mystery series was incredibly satisfying. A fast-paced plot and intriguing solution (I was left guessing until the end!) are what I've come to expect from Castillo's books (and why I have read them all so far!). A great read.