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Seventeen books in, and Linda Castillo still knows how to hook a reader from page one. Rage opens with a chilling discovery: the dismembered body of a young Amish man, scattered in eleven pieces. It’s a gruesome scene, so much so that even Kate Burkholder, who’s seen her share of horror, struggles to keep her composure. The brutality is front and center, setting the tone for a case that spirals into darker territory.

The victim’s past is murky. Was it a rumspringa gone wrong? A lawsuit turned deadly? Or maybe the woman his mother warned him about? Castillo lays out the possibilities with just enough ambiguity to keep you guessing. And when the victim’s best friend turns up, things get even messier. What did these boys stumble into?

Kate, Tomasetti, and the Painter’s Mill PD are pulled in every direction, chasing leads that seem to multiply faster than they can pin them down. The first third of the book is especially strong; you’re right there with Kate, sorting through the chaos, trying to make sense of the senseless.

But here’s where things start to wobble. Rage is a linear, plot-driven novel, focused on a single chain of events. For readers who crave layered subplots or emotional depth, this one might feel a bit thin. There’s room, at just over 300 pages, to explore more, but the story sticks to its straight path. And while the title nods to an Amish rage, it doesn’t quite resonate with the actual plot.

The resolution? Not exactly shocking. The clues are there, and the reveal makes sense, but it’s overshadowed by the repeated physical trauma Kate endures. Beaten, drugged, kidnapped—again. It’s starting to feel less like gritty realism and more like a pattern that undermines her intelligence and resilience. Is Castillo trying to retire her superhero, or just testing how much punishment Kate, or the reader, can take?

And where was the twist? This series has always delivered a final jolt, something unexpected that lingers. Rage doesn’t land that punch.

I’ll always pick up a Burkholder novel. The series has earned that loyalty. But would I hand this one to a new reader? Probably not. If you’re just starting out, go back to the earlier books; those had more narrative meat and emotional complexity. Rage feels like it’s running out of steam.

Still, for longtime fans, there’s comfort in the familiar rhythm. Just don’t expect this installment to leave a lasting mark.

This book was just okay for me. The story felt like it dragged along, and I had a hard time staying engaged. I don’t think this author’s style (or maybe its the genre) is the right fit for me.

#NetGalley #Rage #LindaCastillo
Publication Date July 08 2025

If you're a fan of smart, engaging mysteries with strong characters and a storyline that keeps you on edge, this one is definitely worth your time. I’ll be thinking about this book long after the last page.

RAGE by Linda Castillo is a wonderful story, so well wrought and beautifully written I couldn't read it at night. Amish country and murder? Castillo tells a convincing story starring smart, resourceful "English" outsider doing all she can to solve two murders of young Amish men in a closed, seemingly calm and peaceful community. This is the first Linda Castillo story I've read and now I'm hooked on her smart, wonderful writing. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This is my first book by author and although there are 16 other books with the main character, I didn't feel lost or confused while reading this one. It had good moments of Police Procedural, it was a quick read and didn't drag the story along; I do think some things were pretty obvious, and felt like they were things the Chief Of Police could have seen way before the end.

I can always count on a Kate Burkholder mystery to keep me turning the pages. This is the 17th in the series, and I started with #1 back in 2010! I loved this one, although I missed the familiar audiobook narrator since I had it on my Kindle this time.

4⭐
Genre ~ police procedural
Series ~ Kate Burkholder, #17
Others in the series ~ the whole series
Setting ~ Ohio
Publication date ~ July 8, 2025
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 296 (p+ 28 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 17 minutes
Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
POV ~ single 1st, and 3rd
Featuring ~ murder, violence, long chapters

Kate and her team are back investigating more brutal murders. This time it’s 21 year old men just trying to make a decent living, or were they…

I just have to wonder if Kate gets a new Explorer every time because it seems to get beat up every book, just like her. Man she takes a thrashing, but keeps on doing her best for Painter’s Mill. The whole team’s investigative skills are top notch. If my death was suspicious I'd want them on the case.

Anyway, another wonderful, brutal and action packed edition to the series.

3.75 Stars

A leisurely paced, small-town police procedural with a predominately Amish cast, Castillo’s novel, RAGE, spotlights the worst of mankind—twisted predators disguised as ordinary people whose primary motivation is to prey on the most vulnerable.

When Amish children discover twenty-one-year-old Samuel Eicher’s dismembered body, Police Chief Kate Burkholder finds her personal connection with the Amish community only moderately advantageous. Having left the fold years prior, she struggles to regain their trust.

Following the recovery of the corpse of a second Amish man—Eicher’s best friend, Kate ratchets up the investigation only to find herself in the killer’s crosshairs. Seeking a commonality, aside from the young men’s Amish roots, and with the assistance of a frightened female defector, she learns the victims defected during Rumspringa and suspects the young adults quickly fell in with a vicious crowd.

While Castillo gives us adequate insight into most of her characters, surprisingly I found the victims much more interesting. Despite Kate being a seasoned detective, I was surprised to find she, too often, comes across as a bit naïve, careless, and somewhat slow on the uptake. I would recommend the novel to those who enjoy a measured and somewhat predictable mystery with fun but tepid romance sprinkled throughout. I extend my sincere gratitude to Linda Castillo, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC.

I will always read a Linda Castello novel & Rage did not disappoint. A woman born Amish but left the Order and became the chief of police of the town she was born into. This is a slow burn with a good plot & an ending that did not leave you hanging.
Thank for @NetGalley for the ARC

This story was interesting, fast paced, and included lots of interwoven stories that had to be unraveled to solve the mystery. I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for other Linda Castillo books to read in the future.

The book itself was fine, they just seem to follow a pattern. Unfortunately there are not really any surprises in Linda Castillo's writing. They just tend to be easy reads.

Rage is the latest addition to the "Kate Burkholder" series and with each book it seems to be getting better and better.
In this gripping installment (#17) Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a brutal double murder within the Amish community. As Kate digs deep into the lives of the victims she discovers dark secrets that quickly put her life in danger.
This well-written story, full of twists and turns, had me riveted from the first page to the last.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

It's hard to believe that this is the 17th Kate Burkholder book! Each book in this series is so fresh, new, and exciting! This book is a bit darker than the others, along with the usual mystery and suspense and I loved every minute of it!

This is one of my favorite series, and Kate is a favorite character. I can't wait to meet up with her again in book 18!!

Thank you @netgalley, @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for the #gifted e-arc and @minotaur_books for the #gifted physical copy!

Intense. Gritty. Edgy!

Master storyteller Linda Castillo returns with the highly anticipated 17th installment of her beloved Amish cop procedural series featuring Kate Burkholder, entitled RAGE.

In this gripping narrative, Kate faces perhaps her most intense and harrowing cases to date. As she investigates the shadowy underbelly of Painter's Mill, she uncovers a web of deceit and danger that reveals how easily the Amish can become entangled with a perilous crowd.

Trusting the wrong person can have deadly consequences, forcing Kate to navigate treacherous waters where each decision could mean the difference between life and death.

About...

The book starts with a brutal murder when three Amish kids discover a dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business.

Why would someone murder him in such a sadistic way?

Then, shocking news, miles away, a second body is found, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Eicher’s best friend.

What could these two young Amish men have done to deserve such violent ends?

Kate and her husband have their work cut out for them in solving the double brutal murder and the motive. However, the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they are in. There are more connections and more lives at stake.

Will the dark, sinister secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?

My reflections...

RAGE is an exhilarating tapestry of action, suspense, and corruption that ensnares readers from the very first page. The novel plunges you into a world populated by gritty realities and high stakes, where danger lurks just out of sight with every turn of the page. From The Cheetah Lounge and beyond, caught up in a trafficking ring, exploitation, damaged forever—a journey that will not be easy.

Even when you're young and Amish and ensconced in the protective web of your community, innocence can be a precarious thing. This is personal for Kate as she remembers her troubled teens and her trauma of that fateful summer when she was fourteen.

The author masterfully weaves vivid, evocative descriptions that paint a haunting picture of a disturbing and unsettling murder, intricately binding the lives of many as they navigate a world fraught with unseen monsters.

How could innocent Amish boys and girls find themselves ensnared in such a malevolent web that culminates in their brutal deaths or the survivors, trafficked, burdened with trauma? Their heartbroken families turn to the tenacious Kate for answers, hoping she can pierce through the shroud of darkness that surrounds their loss.

As is often the case, the tightly-knit Amish community remains reluctant to share its secrets, complicating Kate's quest for the truth. The walls of silence are thick, and each interaction feels like a dance around hidden truths.

In this gripping narrative, Kate, alongside her determined team and her husband Tomasetti, with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, finds herself deeply entwined in this heart-wrenching investigation. The killers are relentless, willing to go to any lengths to bury their secrets and evade justice.

Kate’s character shines with relentless determination, sharp intellect, and unwavering courage. The author expertly balances the tension, creating a pulse-pounding atmosphere while developing rich, complex characters that draw you in and make you care deeply about their fates. This intense cop procedural, steeped in crime fiction and suspense, will keep you perched on the edge of your seat, breathless with anticipation.

I have always appreciated the dynamic between Kate and her husband as they navigate their challenging personal and professional lives against a backdrop of darkness, grief, and the stark realities of human evil. Their journey and cases delve into profound themes of trust, greed, desperation, secrets, loyalty, innocence, and the intricate relationships within families and the Amish communities.

I wholeheartedly recommend this captivating series and eagerly await more enthralling installments in the future.

Audiobook ...

A Kate Burkholder mystery is incomplete without the remarkable talents of Kathleen McInerney, whose narration profoundly transforms the story. Her award-winning performance adds an intricate layer of emotion, suspense, and intensity that pulls listeners in from the very first moment. With each character she portrays, McInerney brings depth and nuance, creating an engaging and gripping listening experience that lingers long after the final chapter. I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook for anyone seeking a thrilling auditory adventure.

Recs...

RAGE is a must-read for devoted fans of the author and the beloved Kate Burkholder series. It also caters to those who relish intelligent police procedurals and suspenseful thrillers that delve deep into the intricacies of human nature. The narrative is anchored by strong, complex female protagonists who bravely confront perilous situations, making it a compelling choice for readers who appreciate this dynamic. Additionally, fans of authors like Karin Slaughter, Lisa Unger, and Lisa Gardner will find much to enjoy within the pages of this thrilling installment.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2025, and NetGalley for an advanced reading and listening copy as well as a hardcover copy.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 8, 2025
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3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Another great installment in the Kate Burkholder series! Gritty, fast-paced, and emotionally intense, Rage dives into some dark subject matter while still keeping the character driven core that makes this series so compelling. The Amish setting continues to offer a unique and haunting backdrop for Castillo’s tightly plotted mysteries.

The audiobook, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, is clean and well-paced. While a bit flat at times, her delivery fits Kate’s no-nonsense personality and keeps the story moving smoothly. At times i found myself switching to the eARC because of this.

Highly recommended this series for fans of procedural thrillers with rich atmosphere and strong female leads.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book.

I really jumped into this one at #17, but that was ok. I have visited the Amish before and was able to connect with the characters quickly. The mystery was intriguing and kept me hooked. I will go back and start from the beginning!

First thanks to #netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. This is the first book I've read in this series and I really enjoyed it.
Without giving too much of a spoiler, the novel opens one's eyes that even in private communities like the Amish, there is crime. It was interesting to learn a bit of the lifestyle without the crime and also how people will stray from a closed community.
The writing is well done, the beginning was a bit slow but that could be because I didn't know the background of the main character.

Fantastic so much fun! Great premise and even better story! I need more now I can't wait!! A must read for fans of Linda Castillo!!

This did not disappoint! Page turner from the very first page. Police chief Kate Burkholder is back- piecing together the body of an Amish nursery owner- literally. As she follows the clues she discovers something sinister afoot in her small town.