An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo. I have not read this author before and I really enjoyed it. It sucks you into the story immediately. Aden Karn, a young Amish man is brutally murdered with few clues for Chief Katie Burkholder to find. He is young, handsome and everyone says he is a great guy without enemies. Katie has a lot going on including her own wedding in a few days.
This book is the latest in the Kate Burkholder Mystery Series and I plan to read them. I like the characters and I could not figure out who killed Aden.

I love the Kate Burkholder series and this latest installment did not disappoint! I was so excited that I was given an ARC that even though the book isn't being released until July 1 dove right into reading it! I am so glad I did, I loved it! Linda Castillo does a fabulous job with this series and this book is the best yet. I can't wait to read the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of An Evil Heart, written by Linda Castillo.

An Evil Heart is the 15th installment of the popular Kate Burkholder series. The series revolves around Painters Mill, Ohio police chief, Kate Burkholder, who is formerly Amish.
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In An Evil Heart, Chief Burkholder, and her fiancé, John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, are happily planning their upcoming wedding nuptials. Unfortunately, not long before the ceremony is to take place, Chief Burkholder is tasked with solving the murder of a young Amish man, who was killed while riding his bike to work.

I have read every book in this series and I anxiously await each new installment. The storylines are always suspenseful and keep me reading late into the night. I love the Amish characters, as well as the glimpses into the Amish lifestyle, which I have always been interested in. I am hoping the 16th book in the series is already well on its way to being published.

What a wonderful book and author. I loved the suspense in this story. I couldn’t put it down. Linda Castillo never lets me down. I just love all the characters. I can’t recommend this series enough. Thank you for letting me read this book!

Just days before her wedding Chief Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal crossbow death of a young, well-liked Amish man. Who could do such a thing? As she learns more about his Rumspringa behavior, she uncovers a dark side that to him and his friends that is hard to believe. Will she be able to find anyone in the close knit Amish community brave enough to come forward and tell the truth?

This was not my favorite book in the series. It seems that the stories keep getting darker and more violent and Kate took too many chances going off on her own instead of relying on the rest of her staff. I did like that her brother and sister are helping with the wedding.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an early preview of An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo.
This is the 15th book in the Kate Burkholder series.
This is only the 2nd book in the series I have had the pleasure of reading so I have some catching up to do.

Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, a primarily Amish community. Chief Burkholder left the Amish community when she was 18 years old, but found her way back as Chief of Police. She is not quite an outsider, but she also does not belong to the Amish community anymore.

Chief Burkholder finds herself investigating the death of a young Amish male who was brutally murdered by someone using a crossbow. Everyone in the community thought the victim Aden Karn was an upstanding young citizen, and was upset about the death of such a fine young man. Chief Burkholder is investigating this murder that happens days before she is supposed to get married, but nothing will stop Kate from solving this crime. Unfortunately, another body is found which creates havoc on the investigation, leading to some unpleasant discoveries about the first victim.

I truly enjoyed this novel, and can't wait to get my hands on more of the Kate Burkholder series. This was an incredibly quick read, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. It is not the typical thriller novel that I read, but a series i intend to get into.

An Evil Heart is the fifteenth book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read a few other books in the series so it was nice to see how the characters have grown and changed over the years. It was like revisiting an old friend, if that friend happened to be investigating a murder and planning a wedding at the same time.

Painters Mill Ohio is home to a large Amish community and for Kate Burkholder, the town's Chief of Police, a community to which she once belonged. Although, it's been nearly twenty years since she left the Amish life, Kate still feels a connection. As the areas top cop, and as the top cop she often finds herself in constant contact with her former community.

Kate's latest case involves the brutal murder of a young Amish man. From all appearances Aden Karn was an unlikely murder victim. He was well-liked, a hard worker, and kind to everyone. So why then would someone decide to end his life? As Kate digs into Aden's life, she uncovers secrets that leave herself questioning her assumptions about her victim and community.

Linda Castillo has created a wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking series. She delivers a fascinating view into the world of the Amish while still delivering a thrilling mystery that keeps you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Pub Date: 11 Jul 2023

An Evil Heart
by Linda Castillo
Pub Date: 11 Jul 2023

Although An Evil Heart is book #15 of the Kate Burkholder series, it's the first book I've actually read in the highly talked about series. I definitely plan on reading the rest of the series after reading this 5 star thriller.

Kate grew up Amish but left that life behind at an early age and became the Chief of Police in the town of Painters Mill, Ohio. Many of her cases do bring her in contact with the Amish community.

There was never a dull moment in this book. I had a hard time putting the book down, I read it in two days. It was gripping, shocking, tense, and a real thriller! I highly recommend this 5 star thriller.

Synopsis::

On a crisp autumn day in Painters Mill, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow, his body abandoned on a dirt road. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Who would commit such a heinous crime against a young man whose life was just beginning?

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a copy of this E-ARC. All opinions are strictly my own.

An Evil Heart is a shocking small town mystery involving the Amish community that reiterates the facts that evil can exist among all people regardless of race, religion, or upbringing. I enjoyed the local police and sheriff departments investigation of the murders and the novel overall.

I was happy to get an ARC of An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo . I have read her books about the Amish community in the past and always enjoy them . Kate left the Amish way of life to become a chief of the police department and in this story she is chasing down a killer that used a crossbow to kill a well liked young man. In the midst of this case she is supposed to be getting married but has no time to plan anything. There’s a lot of twists and turns that keeps you turning the pages and on the edge of your seat . I highly recommend this book.

You can never go wrong when you enter Painters Mill and follow Kate Burkholder!

In this installment of Linda Castillo's Amish based book series there's a murder of an Amish man *gasp* shocker I know!

But here comes Kate to solve the case with help from the usual cast of characters. I just adore all of her officers and tomasetti and in this book it remains true.

I don't want to give a single spoiler (the dead Amish man is not a spoiler it happens in the first chapter!) but I do want to say that there are some authors out there that have mystery/thriller/suspense series that when you've read one in the series you read them all. But not Linda Castillo. Every story is different. You never feel like you read this before.

Also note that they do not have to be read in order! The only thing that will mess you up is the state of her relationships and the roles of the cops.

5 stars!

Kate Burkholder is thrown back to her Amish roots to solve a violent murder. The unraveling of the truth parallels her past and why she left the Amish order. The author gives you layers to unpack along with Kate and has you questioning what is the lesser of two or more evils.

In "An Evil Heart", the 15th Kate Burkholder thriller, Amish golden boy Aden Karn is killed while riding his bicycle to work. The weapon used is unusual, and the killing has a distinctly personal feel.

Although her wedding is less than a week away, as police chief Kate must complete the unpleasant tasks of notifying the victims next of kin and his devasted fiancee, while trying to find the killer of a young man who seems to have no enemies.

I have read every book in the Kate Burkholder series. Although I enjoyed them all, the last couple of entries were starting to get a little repetititve. "An Evil Heart" is a welcome change: it reads like a police procedural, and is very, very dark. Long time fans of the series will be pleased with the contunued development in Kate's personal life.

I received an eARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

First, I want to thank NetGalley for my advance copy of An Evil Heart. I have read all of the books in this series by Linda Castillo and was tickled to read this one. Although the formula remains similar from book to book, I believe that there are enough differences that the books don't blend into one another. In this book Chief of Police Kate again walks the line between two worlds: the Amish upbringing of her childhood and the years since she left that church. While formulaic in that there is usually a scene where Kate, surprisingly, puts herself in jeopardy unnecessarily, it is easy enough to overlook this factor and sit back and enjoy a pleasurable read. The mystery kept me guessing so job well done for An Evil Heart!

An Evil Heart was an intense installment—the crime element was gruesome. However, as usual with this series, I was completely engrossed and couldn’t put it down until I finished. I loved the tender moments re: Kate and her family, and the ending was wonderful—the series continues to hold my interest.

An Evil Heart is the 15th book in Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series. Days away from Kate's marriage to John Tomasetti, the body of a young Amish man, Aden Karn, is found on a rural road just outside of Painters Mill, Ohio, the fairly small and predominantly Amish community where Kate serves as the Police Chief. An apparent victim of a brutal murder, the initial investigation portrays Aiden as a very likable, popular and upstanding young man. As Kate interviews those who knew Aden a darker and perhaps evil personna emerges. Add to that, the body of a young woman wrapped in plastic and discarded is discovered. An Evil Heart is a well-crafted suspense novel that held my interest from the first page to the final word. Kate is dogged in her efforts, supported by her team, and her pending wedding added warmth. I'm a fan of this series, and An Evil Heart is a great addition, a very satisfying read. I received an ARC of this book, that in no way impacted my review.

Wow! This book is the story of a woman walking the fine line of being not only a former member of the Amish community but also the chief of police in a small town investigating a horrific murder of a young Amish man. But not all is as it seems. The book has very graphic descriptions right off the bat of the murder so, if you’re not into that sort of thing, this book may not be for you. There is a continuing story line that keeps moving forward but this book can be read as a stand alone (this was my first foray into this author’s work). Very well written and would recommend

Author: Linda Castillo
Series: Kate Burkholder #15
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
My Rating: 4.4 Stars!

This is #15 in the Detective Kate Burkholder series
Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill a (fictional) small Northeast Ohio town where most the residences are Amish.
I have read many but not all in this series, although I enjoy Amish mystery novels and find the culture super interesting; I wasn’t pleased with Kate in the very early stories so I skipped a few in the series ~ however, totally loved the last several I read and have been looking forward to this story.
If you are new to this series, Kate was born Amish but left the congregation when he was eighteen.
Although she is trying to leave her Amish past, she states she misses home.

Kate is in a relationship with John Tomasetti who is an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and usually helps Kate in cases involving investigation. In fact, in this story Kate and Tomasetti are making plans for their upcoming wedding.

Story starts with Kate Burkholder responds to a call which turns out to be young Aden Kam an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow, Aden is well liked from an upstanding Amish family.

As Kate investigates the case she finds that Aden Karn was engaged to Emily and looking forward to their upcoming marriage.

Wow Wow Wow.
Although this story was disturbing and very emotional, I could not put it down! Author, Linda Castillo did not disappoint! She definitely gets better with every story!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for granting me this WOW early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 11, 2023

An Evil Heart: A Kate Burkholder Novel by Linda Castillo opens just a few days before Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is to be wed to John Tomasetti. Fall has come to the Amish country side Surrounding Painters Mill, Ohio, and the land is pretty as the trees take on their fall colors. Kate’s on the wedding is soon destroyed as she has a case to work. What might have been a simple hit and run is instead a murder. Not just a murder, but a brutal and savage execution.

Aden Karn is the victim of being shot twice by a crossbow. A bolt was fired into his abdomen a couple of inches above his navel. Then, with the twenty-year-old man gravely wounded, the shooter manually pushed the bolt through his body and out his back. That freed bolt was retrieved, and then is forced deep into his mouth before being fired again through the back of the throat and back of his head. The person who did this wanted to inflict a lot of pain and terror to kill in such a brutal way.

Aden Karn initially seems to have been a great guy. But, nobody’s perfect. As Chief Burkholder and her team work the case, it becomes clear that Karn was hiding a lot of dark things. Plenty of folks had a reason to kill him. Isolating who did it gets increasingly complicated and more difficult in An Evil Heart: A Novel.

After the events of The Hidden One took Kate Burkholder away from home, An Evil Heart keeps her local and makes the tale stronger thanks to the inclusion of the usual secondary characters. All the regulars are fully involved in this brutal and violent case. The latest in this long running series as a complicated and detailed read that works on all levels. Well worth your time, it is nice to have Burkholder and the gang back together in the powerfully good, An Evil Heart: A Novel by Linda Castillo.


My reading copy came by way of an ARC by way of NetGalley. The currently scheduled release date is July 11th.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023

In "An Evil Heart," Linda Castillo delivers another thrilling installment of the Kate Burkholder series. The brutal murder of Aden Karn, a well-liked and upstanding Amish young man, sets the stage for a gripping investigation by Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. As Kate delves deeper into the case, she uncovers secrets and scandals that threaten to unravel the tight-knit community of Painters Mill.

Castillo masterfully weaves together a complex web of intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the very end. Kate Burkholder is a compelling and relatable protagonist, and the supporting cast of characters is equally well-drawn. The author's portrayal of Amish life and culture adds a unique and fascinating dimension to the story.

The pacing is brisk, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The climactic reveal is shocking and satisfying, tying together all the threads of the mystery in a satisfying way.

Overall, "An Evil Heart" is a gripping and well-crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of the Kate Burkholder series as well as newcomers to the series. The only reason I didn't give this book a full 5 stars is that the ending felt a bit rushed and tidy. Nevertheless, it's a solid 4-star read that I highly recommend.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Linda Castillo, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing me with an eARC of "An Evil Heart" in exchange for an honest review.