unusual thriller that kept me engrossed from the start

thank you netgalley and to the publisher for the review copy

An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo takes us back to Painter’s Mill, Ohio days before the wedding of Kate Burkholder and her fiancé, John Tomasetti. An Evil Heart is the fifteenth A Kate Burkholder Novel. While it can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading the series in order. It allows readers to get to know Kate and see how her relationship with John came about. Each book in the series builds upon the previous one. I thought An Evil Heart was well-written with realistic, developed characters. Kate Burkholder is a strong, smart woman. Her background (being raised Amish but she is now Englisch) helps her when it comes to cases she handles. John Tomasetti works for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He is a good partner for Kate. He understands her long hours and her devotion to her job. The pair work well together when John joins Kate on a case. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder’s latest case is a gruesome one. Amishman Aden Karn was killed on his way to meet his ride to work. Kate delves into the case. Kate questions Karn’s family, friends, girlfriend, roommate, and coworkers. She wants to get to know the victim and discover what could have led to the victim’s demise. Kate works to piece together the clues and then narrows in on the guilty party. Kate is methodical in her investigation. She is a hard worker. Kate has a good team to assist her. The mystery can be solved early in the story. The why takes longer to uncover. The reveal scene was action packed and full of suspense which had me quickly flipping the pages. There are graphic details that could disturb some readers and trigger others. The story also contains foul language. Kate and John’s wedding day is special. The planning is emotional for Kate. She grew up Amish and dreamed of an Amish wedding. But now she is English. Kate wants to find a way to merge the two cultures. Kate is also working on her relationship with her family. The wedding can, hopefully, bring the Burkholder clan closer. The author beautifully blends the whodunit and Kate’s life into one engaging story. I especially enjoyed the ending. An Evil Heart is a suspenseful story with a macabre murder, wedding worries, dubious acquaintances, an unusual weapon, a curious clue, and a cruel killer.

This is my second Kate Burkholder book and I don't feel lost not having read most of the earlier works.

If you are squeamish the first chapter is pretty brutal. Kate is a few days from her wedding to Tomassetti when the body of a young Amish man is found on a back road. In the course of her investigation he seems to be extremely well liked and respected but is he that squeaky clean? The story unfolded bit by bit like the layers of an onion to a page turning conclusion.

Would I read more in this series? Absolutely. I would definitely recommend this series to friends. I love reading about the Amish and how Kate's past and future come together.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur for providing me with a digital copy.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Obviously, I haven't read Linda Castillo so I wasn't familiar with the female cop who must be in her previous books, Kate Burkholder.

I found Kate to be very interesting as much as the story was. This book was as interesting a story as Kate's character. I think I'm fascinated with Amish and their traditions and it was An Amish man's murder in the prime of his life.

I really enjoyed this, it's always a surprise to find a good book with a surprise ending.

4 stars!

The violent murder of Aden with a crossbow sets off revelations of revelations in Painters Mill, especially after a young woman also found murdered. Kate Burkholder, the Chief of Police, knows Aden's parents and, having grown up Amish in the small town, also knows most of the others who come under the microscope or their families. Oh, and in the middle of an intense and disturbing investigation- she's meant to be preparing for her wedding, which is fast approaching. This is the latest in a series that continues to engage and amaze the reader with its careful approach to the Amish community and the complicated mysteries. The characters are always well drawn (none more so than Kate and her officers- I'm fond of Pickles) and there's always a surprise twist. Those who have been reading this from the beginning, as I have, should be pleased with how Kate's wedding turns out. Don't worry though- this will also be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I look forward to a new novel from Castillo every summer because they are always a rewarding and page turning read. This is no exception. Highly recommend.

Yeah, I came into this one a little late. It was obvious we were in the middle of the series. It did not make the present mystery hard to follow.

Kate Burkholder has returned to her hometown. She is now not fully trusted by her former community. Still, when a young Amish man is murder in a horrific way, she is able to talk to the community she left. What comes out is a tale of how young men behave when they think no one is watching.

While the stories that unfolded were compelling, the actual resolution fell a little flat. Still, there were enjoyable characters and an interesting group of people to meet.

Been the 15th in a series you would expect repeats. Not so Linda Castillo managed again to produce a unique mystery. As in the past we see Kate Burkholder trying to come to terms between her Amish past and her current lifestyle. Family ties with her siblings are slowly getting repaired and they have come to accept Kate and her Husband to be as part of the community.
A horrible murder of a young man is derailing Kate’s wedding planning. Makes you even wonder if she will have time to get married.
Who was hating the victim so much that they would kill him in the manner they did?
For all we can see the victim was good, hard working & loved by everybody. What is missing?
Kate is having a challenging time seeing the logic of it all. Read the book and see if you can guess the why and the who prior to finishing it.
A day after I finished the story, I listened to the audio version narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Sometimes it is better to read a book, other times it is better to listen to a narrator reading it. In this case I enjoyed both equally and both versions deserve a solid four. I hope to read more of Kate in the future.

These characters have become like family to me. I love how every year I get to work alongside Kate and Co. trying to solve another Amish murder in Painters Mill, which must have the highest per capita murder rate in the entire country, lol. There's always a pulse-racing, shocking beginning which leads into an intriguing investigation, intertwined with personal events that move the characters forward, and then finally the reveal that has you on the edge of your seat Another fantastic 5 star book and this one has my favorite ending of the whole series!

4.35⭐
Genre ~ police procedural
Series ~ Kate Burkholder, #15
Others in the series ~ Can't list them all, so here's the series link
Publication date ~ July 11, 2023
Page Count ~ 311
Audio length ~ 9 hours 25 minutes
Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
POV ~ single 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ murder, references to r@pe, se*ual assault

How is it that I've aged 14 years and Kate has barely aged at all 🤣. I hate that I have to wait a whole year before I get my next fix of this wonderfully graphic series.

Kate is back solving another brutal murder in Painter's Mill, while simultaneously getting ready to finally marry Tomisetti. Long time readers will agree that we've been waiting ages and ages for this moment.

We open up with Aden getting shot with a crossbow and thus sets forth the investigation into his death. We've got another murder thrown into the mix to keep us on our toes.

Overall, another fast paced, great addition to the series. Yes it's technically a standalone, but Kate's life is progressing even though there's a new murder to solve each time.

I was fortunate enough to have a kindle and an audio copy.
Narration notes ~ a bit robotic, but a fine job. It's not the voice I picture in my head for Kate, but it'll do.

An Evil Heart was another well planned murder mystery. Kate's relentless abilities as a cop make this series one of my all time favorite series to read. This particular mystery had many little details to piece together to figure out who was guilty of murder. The ongoing theme continues: anyone is capable of murder under certain circumstances, and people are not always who they seem.

A fascinating series about an ex-communicated Amish police chief, Kate Burkholder, of the same small town that she grew up in. The Amish setting along with it's great writing, and exciting plotlines makes this a series worth reading. This is the 15th Burkholder novel and Castillo is still going strong.

Don't think for a minute that because these books take place in a primarily Amish community that the crimes are tame by any means. In fact this may be one of the most brutal and gruesome yet. In the first few pages a brutal murder on an unsuspecting Amish teen by way of crossbow is laid out in vivid detail. The problem is that this boy was said to be loved by all and they have no one in the way of suspects until the cracks begin to show under the constant pressure of Burkholder and her loyal deputies.

This book will read as a standalone, but you will love it enough to go back and start at the beginning, so know that it will give some spoilers to the background stories of Kate and some other characters.

I would like to give many thanks to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Linda Castillo delivers another great installment in the Kaye Burkholder series. This one seemed a little darker than some of her prior books, and content warning for rape and sexual assault.

Shortly before Kate’s wedding to Thomasetti, an Amish man is murdered on his way to work. By all accounts he was well-regarded - a kind, sweet young man cut down in his prime. Who would want to kill him? And why?

Read how: 📱
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Setting: Painter Mill, Ohio
POV: 1
Theme: Police investigation, murder and rape

I am not new to the Kate Burkholder series; An Evil Heart is my fifth book. So far I’ve read 1-4 and now book 15. Even though this is a huge gap I didn’t feel lost because the author did a great job providing a little bit of everyone's background.
What I enjoyed about An Evil Heart was the rawness. There’s were some part that was hard to read but Castillo did it in a respectful way. I enjoyed the police procedures and see how slowly everything came together.
I am also really happy that Kate and Tomasetti getting married 😍

Thank you to the publishers at Minotaur and Netgalley for a copy of An Evil Heart in exchange go an honest review.


Recommended this book if you are looking for a strong female character with an intense storyline.

An Evil Heart is the 15th book in the absolutely exciting Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Granted, I’ve only read two so far and I started with book 14, but only a few pages into that first book and I was hooked! This one was just as riveting as the last one. I am now a HUGE Kate Burkholder fan, and I’ve been buying up the previous installments that I missed. This story started off with a bang and the thrills never stopped.

Kate Burkholder, the Chief of Police of Painters Mill, Ohio, is called to the scene of a horrendous murder. Aden Karn was a twenty year old Amish man, and he’s dead after being brutally shot by a crossbow. (Really, is there any way to be shot by a crossbow besides brutally?) Everyone, both Amish and English, seemed to like the young man. Aden was funny, hardworking and was looking forward to marrying Emily, his sweet fiancée. Kate herself was quickly nearing the date of her own wedding to her love, Tomasetti. As Kate begins to uncover leads, there are whispered, dark rumors about Aden. How could they possibly be true about such an admired young man? However, a young Amish woman comes forward with a terrifying story, and Kate is soon pitted against a deadly, unknown killer. Will she even be around for her own wedding?

One thing really differentiates this mystery/thriller series from most others, and that is its location and inhabitants: Amish Country in Ohio. Not the usual big city here, which is a refreshing change of pace. The people of the area are hardworking, live simply and their lives revolve around God and their community. Yet there is still a hidden, dark underbelly that seems even more horrific in such a peaceful setting. Kate Burkholder is a unique, complex character. and she has quickly become a favorite of mine. Kate grew up Amish, but is no longer. Events when she was young sent her on a different path than her family and community. Now she’s back and is the Chief of Police for Painters Mill. Her parents are gone, but she is rebuilding her relationships with her siblings. They are actually having Kate and Tomasetti’s wedding at the farm where she grew up. She’s a tough police officer, but she is kind and gets along superbly with the officers under her. She’s also respected by the community, though some are not pleased she is no longer Amish. I love her relationship with Tomasetti, who is in another branch of law enforcement. He’s not only Kate’s lover and fiancé, but also her best friend. He’s tough and protective, but respects her position and skills. Tomasetti also had a difficult life before Kate. When he took Kate to see his former wife and two children before the wedding, it was deeply touching and made me tear up. The case in this book was thrilling! I had no idea where any of this was going. There were red herrings, more than I expected in an Amish community. The murder of Aden in the beginning of the book was quite graphic, so beware. You’ll be stunned at the true story of Aden, the murder and suspects. The scene in the cornfield near the end of the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat and sweating bullets! Don’t worry if this is your first foray into Kate’s world; the mystery stands alone. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

🏹🌄Tales of the dark side in Ohio Amish country: good & suspenseful😲🚨

My first read of a Kate Burkholder murder mystery by Linda Castillo and it definitely won't be the last! I loved the plot with all its twists and how it got darker and more surprising with every layer peeled away.

I was totally confused, not guessing who to suspect next as the police try to find the link between dark night activities and the violent death of a young Amish man along an Ohio country road. In the course of the investigation, the victim's good reputation comes under hard scrutiny and the possible reasons for his slaying slowly leak and mount. And by the end, the death toll had risen, Police Chief Kate Burkholder was in mortal danger and I was still caught off guard by the murderer's identity.

This story is well put together, fast-paced and a thoroughly fascinating read. I found the preparations for Kate's upcoming marriage and her brief quiet times with her fiance provided some good interruptions to the building tension. of the case.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

TW: descriptions of sexual and physical assault.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder of Painter’s Mill, OH, is called to the scene where a young Amish man has been brutally murdered. Once a member of the Amish community herself, Kate now lives as English and works in law enforcement in the small town where she grew up.

She is shocked with she arrives to find twenty-year-old Aden Karn lying in the ditch by the side of a secluded road. There is a significant indication he was killed by a crossbow and left to rot in the leaves. Appalled, Kate begins her inquiry, questioning family, friends, and neighbors, only to learn that Aden was a well-liked man preparing to marry soon. His fiancé, Emily, concedes Aden was exceptionally sweet to her, hardworking, and loved by all. Still, apparently, not everyone loved him, for he would not be dead.

The state police are called to the investigation along with Kate’s boyfriend, Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Civil Investigation, and the man Kate is due to marry in a few days.

The more Kate, her officers, and others dig into the crime, the more they learn that Aden harbored a wicked temper and a penchant for alcohol and women. Still, in “rumspringa,” it is not unusual for young people to sow their wild oats, yet could Aden have sowed them too far?

As the investigation digs deeper, a young prostitute is murdered near where Aden had been located. Could these two deaths be tied together? The woman was not Amish, did not live near Painter’s Mill, and apparently did not know Aden, but these were more pieces to fit together.

More questions arise when an Amish teen announces an encounter she had experienced involving Aden and his band of misfits who hung out at a local service station. However, this young woman, filled with grief and shame, refuses to disclose her story to anyone other than Kate.

Later, when Kate confronts Emily, the young woman explodes, and Kate knows she is in a quandary. Much more is going on. Most are tightlipped, yet those who talk claim Aden was respectable, but could he really have been filled with evil?

Issue #15 in the Kate Burkholder series is as suspenseful and compelling as her previous additions. A stand-alone, this tale shares the workings of law enforcement with the principles the peaceful and family-oriented Amish live by.

An Evil Heart is another heart pounding Kate Burkholder story by Linda Castillo. This time the Chief of Police is investigating the murder of a young Amish man. The community strives for keeping to themselves and is suspicious of outsides, but Kate is able to make headways into these investigations because of her past connections to the Amish.

Kate is as interesting as the cases are intriguing. Book fifteen in this long running series is just as spell binding as the first. Kate has a wedding planned but also a murder to solve. Twisty tale with the truth hard to come by in this young man’s murder. Kate’s cases always keep me guessing and this was one was not different. This will keep you reading until the very end.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Several years ago, I saw the Neve Campbell movie featuring the character of Kate Burkholder. The former Amish girl, returned as Police Chief to an Ohio town was an interesting character. When I saw An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo offered on NetGalley from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books I knew I had to read it. The following is my unsolicited opinion.
What a beginning! The author knows how to grab attention. A young Amish man, Aden Kern, is riding along on his bike, headed to join a work crew when he is violently murdered. Kate Burkholder is called away from a wedding dress fitting with her Amish sister to this ugly scene and is launched into an intense investigation.
This book is so intriguing. As she delves into the life of a well-liked, happy and humor filled life, Kate learns that everything with Aden may not be what it seems.
With one foot each in English and Amish worlds as she tries to reconcile with her family during this important stage in her life, Kate is driven to solve this crime. What evil heart caused this death? Who is involved and why?
The characters are fine-tuned and believable in this story. The plot makes sense and can be shocking, even repulsive at times. There is crude language too which, when it's from an Amish character gives pause. This is no meek and mild romantic Amish book. This is more reflective of the real world immersed in evil. It is a page turner. Faced with another rainy day I read it in less than 24 hours. It's a solid mystery with major twists. We also see the good in another set of Amish citizens, Kate's family, and that is touching. It is a reminder that there is good and evil in this world.
This is a book that can make you think too. Just what is going on in your town?

Kate is back with another crime to solve. This is part of a series but can definitely be read as a standalone. The author does a great job of providing the necessary background. She also does a great job of explaining the ‘police talk’ that happens in the book. If you read this series in the past the format is familiar. The book opens with the crime being committed but you don’t know who is committing it. Then Kate and her team are called in to solve the crime. This is an interesting way to start the book because you know exactly how the crime was committed and get the watch the police figure it out along with who committed it.
I love the writing style as I feel as if I’m in the story. I already can’t wait for the next book in the series!

This is one of my fave series and this particular installment is one that I’ve wanted to read for a looonnnggg time😊 The book summary lays out the premise for the primary storyline: the investigation of a brutal murder of a seemingly nice Amish man, Aden Karn. Well…..anyone who is familiar with Linda Castillo’s Painters Mill knows that in this Amish community, the crime per capita is shockingly high!

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of Aden’s death. While many in the community sing his praise, a couple of the people in his life don’t share the same positive feelings about Aden. It’s revealed pretty early in the story that some know that Aden, who was on Rumspringa, was not the sweet Amish man that everyone else is making him out to be. Yeah, that whole Rumspringa thing can be a set-up for chaos. It’s basically a free pass for Amish teens to cut loose and go crazy.

It is around the halfway point that not only is another dead body discovered, but Kate also receives a report of Aden raping a 16yr old Amish girl. Yeah, that’s not really a shocker. Once again, for those of us who have been invested in this series from the get-go, we all know that some Amish (male & female) are not the upstanding, law-abiding, religious, God-fearing, morally bound people that everyone seems to think they are. They can be just as criminally minded as the general public. This whole premise has allowed Castillo to produce some REALLY great stories over the years! 😊

Anyway, the investigation begins to go in a different direction that leads to some pretty intense and life endangering incidents for Kate and her team along with Tomasetti. The end of the investigation comes pretty quick after that. The ending was one that this devoted Kate Burkholder fan had been waiting for a looonnnggg time, and actually brought tears to my eyes!!! 😊

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #AnEvilHeart