Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to a gruesome scene off a backroad in Painters Mill. A man is found having been tied to a pole and set on fire. And so begins the 16th installment of Linda Castillo’s
Burkholder series.

As Kate, her team, and Tomassetti begin to work the case they find the victim is known for his temper and taking vengeance against those he feels deserve it. Kate hits a wall of silence from the Amish victims including her brother. That is until rumors about an Anabaptist vigilantly group surface.

Castillo’s continues to create characters that pop off the pages. Kate and Tomassetti are newly married and we get a glimpse of a new romance between two of Kate’s officers.

I really enjoyed this book. It could be read as a stand alone. But, if you are new to this series I would encourage you to start at the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was very good and wanting to know who done it. The main character was formally Amish and a murder takes place in her hometown of a formerly Amish person as well. She has a hidden insight other officers don’t have.

Thank you for the ARC of the burning

I always enjoy Linda Castillos books. This was a good story.

I really love Linda Castillo's Kate Burholder series. I was fortunate enough to be able to read an ARC of this book (thanks Net Galley) and it was just as good as I hoped. Who knew the Amish community was such a hotbed of murder? I highly recommend this book and series and do suggest that you read them in order to really immerse into the story and characters as they develop. 5 stars

Another winner by Linda Castillo. I love the characters she creates and each novel tells us something about the Amish lifestyle and history.

I love reading series, especially mystery series (blame it on Nancy Drew!) - and I'm usually a stickler for reading any series in order. But somehow I ended up starting this series somewhere in the middle. Lucky for me, Linda Castillo is good about giving just enough backstory at times when it's needed so that I never feel totally lost, yet leaves me wanting to go back and read the books I've missed. That was the case again with this book - this is a dark and gritty book about some appalling sins and horrifying retribution. I find myself liking the fact that while Kate Burkholder is a smart and capable cop, she isn't above letting her emotions (and pride) get the better of her at times and not always making the best decisions. Kind of like us mere mortals, rather than a supercop. We feel her frustration as she not only has to battle with an unknown perpetrator, but with her (male) superiors in law enforcement. As always, it left me wanting to read more about Kate and her journey.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing copies for an unbiased review.

Every time I get to read another Chief Burkholder installment, I’m never disappointed. Each book in the series gets better and better. Book number 16 is another superb addition in this incredible series.

Chief Burkholder is now a newlywed and her personal life is always an underlying interesting part of the series. Late at night she's called to a remote area where two of her deputies have found a man tied to a post that is on fire burning in the woods.

This leads Burkholder and her new husband, Tomasetti on the hunt for the person or people responsible. Chief Burkholder must untangle this case of deadly revenge as she discovers ties to the history of the Amish culture.

This is a fast paced thriller/ police procedural that is well written and plotted out.

I am loving this series and can’t wait to see what the author has planned for book #17!

Thank you the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Stunning and an excellent addition to the series. The novel delivers gripping suspense and masterful storytelling. The mystery is chilling and the plot twists will keep the reader guessing until the end.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel started out very strong but I felt the longer it went on the more convoluted and outlandish it got. The main character also frustrated me to no end with how she placed herself and others in danger multiple times and then wondered how she got there. I liked her overall though. It was a quick read.

3.5 stars
Crime thriller based on a female police chief with an Amish upbringing. I like Kate's courage and perseverance, and I really enjoy the look at Amish customs. This book is #16 in a series and the second one I've read. I found this one to be darker and more disturbing than the other one and I liked it less. It also seemed like there was too much jumping to conclusions for professional law enforcement (not on Kate's part, however).

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

This series is easily one of my favorites. I love that they are all somewhat standalone as each book has a new killer to investigate so I can read them in any order. (I had read book 13 just before this). Kate is such a strong character and I love watching her work. The author’s writing is very smooth and to the point without unnecessary rehashing to bog the story down. I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Kate and the team.

In the latest installment of Linda Castillo's bestselling series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder confronts a chilling murder that unveils a hidden chapter of Amish history. This time, the stakes are deeply personal as the newlywed police chief is pulled into an investigation that threatens not just her life, but the delicate balance between the Amish community and the outside world.

The story begins with a midnight call that pulls Kate from her bed and into the dark woods, where a suspicious fire has claimed the life of an Amish man, Milan Swanz. The crime is horrific—Swanz was chained to a stake and burned alive. This brutal act, laden with disturbing symbolism, shocks the small town and sets the stage for a gripping and complex investigation.

Kate, who has always walked a fine line between her Amish heritage and her role as a law enforcement officer, finds herself once again caught between two worlds. The Amish, known for their preference to handle matters internally, are uncharacteristically silent about Swanz's death. Even as she uncovers that Swanz had been excommunicated and lived a troubled life, the community's reluctance to speak raises more questions than it answers. Are they protecting a dark secret, or is there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface?

The case becomes even more complicated when Kate’s own brother is implicated, putting her in direct conflict with both the Amish and the English communities. As she digs deeper, Kate's investigation takes a dangerous turn. A mysterious stranger threatens her, and the boundaries between her past and present begin to blur. The deeper she delves into the mystery, the more she realizes that the truth is intertwined with a dark and little-known aspect of Anabaptist history, one that challenges her understanding of the Amish and her own identity.

Linda Castillo masterfully weaves suspense, cultural insight, and emotional depth into this latest thriller, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Kate Burkholder’s journey is as much about solving a crime as it is about confronting the shadows of her own past, making this a compelling read for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

This was the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last! I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book.

I am a huge fan of Kate Burkholder and this series as a whole! Linda Castillo does it again with the latest addition! Book 16 and I'm here for it!

The Burning starts off intense and very dark and has you tearing through the pages. Her brother being a suspect only adds to the intrigue. Kate has to step down from the investigation but we all know Kate Burkholder too well by this point! Kate works the case on the side. Her brother's life is at stake and she will not quietly sit by and let a killer go free and her brother take the fall. Very fast paced and tense!

Cannot wait for Book 17! Let's go Kate Burkholder! 5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press / Minotaur and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review!

Forgot how much I like these books. Police Chief Kate Burkholder has really grown on me as a character. In this novel, she needs to somehow get the tight-lipped Amish community to open up about the murder of excommunicated Amish member Milan Swanz, found burned alive in the woods. Full of action, this police procedural was really enjoyable (despite the gruesome beginning).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

Strong main character with an enjoyable story. I worried at first that it would be too gory but it did not over cling to the horror.. An interesting mystery with interesting information regarding the Amish community. Recommended reading for all mystery fans.

THE BURNING is a well-written, entertaining, sometimes frustrating (but in a good way as readers and fans root for Kate) but mostly an exciting escape into a world that does finally see good beat out evil.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=87367

Linda Castillo did it again. This is one of her best books yet! I always enjoy the dynamics between her English life and her Amish background. I think Kathleen is the best narrator for this series!

Castillo continues to up her game with every new addition to the Kate Burkholder series. To avoid any spoilers, I won’t relate anything about the murderer she is pursuing, but I will say that this moves briskly with tension mounting at the turn of every page. The villain this time is very dark and very powerful, yet lurks in the shadows of folktales among the Amish community making them so difficult to identify. Everything and everyone Kate loves is truly in peril this time, and Kate is no damsel in distress. She is the woman we all hope to be.

I’m a big fan of this series of mysteries, and this is one of the best. Linda Castillo manages to come up with a spectrum of (usually gruesome) crimes involving the Amish, mixing satisfying puzzles with insights into the religion and culture, and just enough character-driven content to keep me coming back as a reader.