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.

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

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Aden Karn was looking forward to marrying his sweet fiancé, Emily. All the while, Kate’s own wedding day to Tomasetti draws near. But as she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places. This is the 15th book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read all the others and suggest you do too as that's the best way to get a feel for the series. Although it can be read as a standalone as enough background is given in each book. There are great plot twists which make you switch to other characters while reading the book. The ending is a complete surprise which I didn't see coming. I'm now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like twists with your mysteries then you will love this book.

United States Publication: July 11, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Aden Karn is found dead on the side of the road early one morning. At first, it looks like a hit and run but upon closer examination, it is discovered he was not just killed but brutally killed. Chief Burkholder gets called out to the investigation in the middle of her wedding dress fitting. She and Tomasetti's wedding day is just a few days away. But before Kate can really focus on marrying the love of her life, she's got to solve this crime and it's proving to be elusive. The more she learns about Karn, the more she sees that more than one person possibly wanted him dead and that narrowing down the list of suspects might be much more difficult than she originally thought.

Castillo is really good at delving into the human condition. She explores, using the Amish culture, the idea that subscribing to a religion doesn't always automatically make a person good or behave correctly. I'm really interested to see what Kate and Tomasetti's future holds as they take the next step in their relationship. And just when I wonder what new storylines Castillo could possibly come up with, she goes and writes another good one.

Another great book in the Kate Burkholder series. As Kate Burkholder balances planning her upcoming wedding and solving another murder, she once again is thrown back 8into her Amish past. Another great read in the series but reads well as a stand-alone novel too!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for my honest review

An Evil Heart is the latest in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Kate is the police chief in Painters Mill. One third of the town is Amish. Kate was raised Amish but has left the religion. She is set to marry her long time partner, Tomasetti. The investigation into the murder of a young Amish man, Aden Karn takes up the days preceding the weeding. Aden seems to be a typical Amish man. According to everyone Kate speaks with, he is a calm presence, has no enemies, is liked by everyone. But as Kate digs deeper, she finds Aden wasn’t everything he seemed to be. Kate walks a line between her up bringing and her adult life. An Evil Heart blends the English and the Amish lifestyles. The characters are well defined. The story wraps up without loose ends. I give this a solid five stars.

"I can't abide you doing what you're doing," says the killer as he finishes off his victim, a young Amish man named Aden Karn. When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder begins investigating the homicide, she is stuck by how everyone who knew Aden seems to sing his praises. Who'd want to kill him? But she knows that some people excel at hiding the evil that lurks in their heart.

This is a great addition to this long running series. Besides the intriguing crime investigation, there's an interesting look into the lives and habits of the Amish community in Ohio. They apparently have a 'code of silence' just like the mafia, haha. On the personal side, Kate and Tomasetti's relationship is poised to take a big leap forward. If she can survive that long...

I received an arc of this exciting new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I love this series! I am a librarian at a public library, and I have told many people about this series and now there is a waiting list every time a new book comes out!

This book is about a young man who is killed riding his bike to work one day. Everyone seems to love him and have nothing but good to say, until another dead body is found. It kept me guessing who did it until he end!

This is an entertaining police procedural. Katie Burkholder is the police chief in a small mostly Amish community. With a murder on the loose, Kate is attempting to solve the crime before her wedding. The plot is filled with many twists and turns as the investigation proceeds. There are multiple people who are suspected to be the killer, but readers will be surprised by the real culprit.

Another excellent read from this author. I got caught up in the story immediately and could not put the book down. The investigation into the death of a young Amish man by a cross bow was a horrific way to die. Kate has several suspects but none seem viable. She immerses herself in the investigation even with her wedding just days away. The steady way she works through the problems and the hidden secrets that come out make for a great read. So very, very good!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Linda Castillo is one of my all-time favorite authors, and Kate Burkholder is one of my favorite characters. I actually finished this book last week in two days, but I could not decide what I wanted to say. I loved this book so much! As usual, Linda Castillo keeps us on the edge of our seats. I love how she tells the language used with this area's Amish community, and then she will tell what it means in English. I loved seeing Kate and Tomasetti getting married! It has been such a joy to see their growth in their relationship, on all levels, and see their love blossom. It is not a romance book though, do let that fool you. This is a crime book for sure, and is one that can be rather graphic. However, I LOVED this book and I cannot wait to recommend it with all my family and friends.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out super strong, and kept that same energy up throughout the rest of it. I was literally on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down.

The Kate Burkholder books are an auto buy for me. Without hesitation, every year, I jump on it to read. This year I saved the ARC I received from Minotaur Books via NetGalley for my annual beach vacation and it was a great beach read!

Kate and John Tomasetti's wedding is quickly approaching when an unexpected murder of a seemingly innocent young Amish man throws her attention to something else entirely.

One of my favorite things with this series is that the author doesn't hesitate to get into some nitty gritty, unpleasant aspects of human life and this one was no different. I certainly won't spoil anything but there was more than one moment I felt sheer grief for one or more characters in the book.

This was just over a 24 hour read for me and I will continue to jump on any Linda Castillo books!