3.5 SOLID STARS
This is one of my top 5 suspense/mystery series, and I look forward to Kate's book each summer. The prologue was gripping and set the tone right away for this murder investigation. While it was intriguing mystery wise, I missed more of the personal aspects that are often prevalent with this series. Also, there was little involvement with the Amish community. However, what is lacked personally, it compensated for in action. Kate can always find herself in life/death situations. I have listened to the vast majority of this series, and I missed Kathleen McInerney's voice tremendously.

It is rare, but even after 17 books and countless novellas, I have not once ever been disappointed with this series. I cannot wait for Kate's next murder!

5 stars. Castillo has HIT A GRAND SLAM in this spine-tingling game of triple murders, terrifying fear, unimaginable secrets and a hidden agenda involving young Amish during rumspringa and the underbelly of Painters Mill looking to gain wealth by any means necessary. Lordy this was a doozy.. nothing could have driven me away from finishing this book. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is certainly no one to mess with, and come h*** or high water her commitment to solving the case is no-holds-barred no matter the danger to herself. Joining her is husband and Ohio BCI agent John Tomasetti, with her colleagues working around the clock to crack the case. Kate soon finds herself in dangerous life or death situations, and as it turns out this case goes beyond anything they’d imagined. If this is a new-to-you series I recommend you try it out by giving this book a read (can be read as a standalone). Is highly entertaining with non-stop thrills! Pub. 7/8/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it!!! I This is one of my favorite series. With the amount of crime/murders that occurs in Painters Mill and the surrounding area, Kate Burkholder definitely has job security. With the dismemberment of Samuel and Aaron being stuffed in a barrel, I'm guessing no one wanted them talking. They were extremely terrible ways to die. At first I felt horrible for them, but when the truth about everything came out and their involvement, not so much. I feel more for their families and the girls. The story kept me guessing until the end. There were so many twists and turns. Kate is definitely a cat with nine lives with how much she gets injured on the job. She needs to be wrapped in a bubble or get a police dog who is always by her side. With the amount of times she had to visit the hospital, she definitely must be on a first name basis with the doctors and nurses. The amount of cars she totals keeps increasing. I'm really not sure how she is still alive. Who knew there was a strip joint, I mean gentleman's club, so close to Painter's Mill? Skid that's who!!! I guess he's a bit of a frequent visitor to The Cheetah Club. Kate definitely owes her life to the stripper's at the club. Every interaction Kate has had at the club has been scary. Some people keep their evil well hidden and are wolves in sheep's clothing. All the men involved were true monsters. These girls were so naive and had no idea what was going to happen. I love the interaction between Kate and her officers. I love how Tomasetti and Kate end up with a cat. for their farm. He just walks into the house carrying the cat and sets it on the counter.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I can't wait to find out what's next in store for Kate and John. Maybe a baby or more cats for their barn?? Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Whenever Linda Castillo releases a new Kate Burkholder book, it's on my "must be read" list. I really enjoy these books about a former Amish, now Chief of Police, who solves crimes in Amish country in Ohio. Kate is non-stop until she solves the crime, no matter if she has to put herself in danger.

The stories are always well told and the reader is pulled into the narrative right away. In this book, a young Amish man, who started a very successful tree business is killed. When his body is discovered under disturbing conditions, Kate leaps into the investigation. And the connections start to spiral outward.

Although the personal details of the main characters continue through the series, there is nothing to keep a new reader from completely enjoying this book.

I have both the e-book and the audio version. The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, is absolutely the voice of Kate Burkholder. I enjoy listening to her voice and envisioning Kate.

Another winner in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. It is always interesting to be back in Amish country and learn a bit more about their lifestyle with each book. Tomasetti plays an active role in this one, investigating alongside his wife, Chief Burkholder. All,of the department regulars are here, along with Sheriff Rasmussen.

Vulnerable young Amish under threat😧

4.5🌟 stars
Sheriff Burkholder takes on rumspringa Amish youths whose naivety brings tragic results. Loved the mystery and its pace, set in Ohio's rural Amish country. The writing, too. The initial murders are quite gruesome and several factors lead Burkholder and crew to believe the perpetrators are not locals. The main character is a loose cannon, always barreling into trouble without waiting for back-up. As she's formerly Amish, Kate is a dab hand at interviewing members of the Amish community who usually maintain silence with the non-Amish "English" police. She's eager to resolve the case, but a bit too much of the drama sometimes revolves around the messes she finds herself in rather than the victims for whom she seeks justice!

A series that I stumbled upon quite recently; now I'm a devoted fan.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 6/29/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads and Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM. To be shared with kobo and Google Play upon publication.

I am always excited to catch up with Chief Kate Burkholder and the town of Painter's Mill. This is one of the few series that I keep up with and it is because Linda Castillo always brings the action with a solid plot and a well written story. Number 17 in this series does not disappoint!
After two local boys find a dismembered body, Chief Burkholder is led on a wild goose chase to find out who did it and why. As the dead body count climbs and the threats to the Chief escalate, the reader is left on the edge of their seat until the very last page.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Kate is called to the scene of a body in parts buried in Amish country. As she tries to solve the murder, another body shows up, then another. The clues lead to a club and the darkness of human trafficking. This is another gut wrenching book that reminds the reader of the darkness but also the promise that there are those who seek justice for the dead and the lost. The book will keep you reading late into the night, knowing somehow Kate and her deputies will succeed, but there success will not come easily. Another great book in this series!
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Rage, by Linda Castillo, is the 17th installment in the Kate Burkholder series. Katie, chief of police in a small town and formerly Amish, and her husband John Tomasetti are called in when a dismembered body is discovered in the woods. Soon after, a second body is located, and Katie is on the hunt for the killer.

This is another fast-paced mystery by Linda Castillo. I enjoyed this book and I love this series. I can’t wait to see what Katie deals with next.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley.

Another Kate Burkholder mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat! Although I didn't care for the graphic nature of the deaths in this one, Castillo is never salacious in her descriptions, using a more clinical approach I appreciate. Still, the murders depicted will likely make you recoil. It is a timely theme, though, and one handled well, especially in the final chapters of wrapup with Kate, who is the kind of compassionate, justice-seeking police chief we've come to know and love. Each book is like a separate gem in this series, and I'll never get enough of these mysteries!

My initial interest in this wonderful series began mostly because of the location; I'm familiar with the part of Ohio in which the stories take place. I also have an interest in the Amish, often making trips to another section of the Buckeye State that gets mentioned in the books once in a while (in fact, in this, the 17th of the series. That said, I wouldn't keep coming back for more unless the books are really, really good; they are, and this one carries on that honored tradition.

Now-veteran Painters Mill Police Chief Kate Burkholder is the primary reason for my enthusiasm, a unique character because she was born and grew up Amish but left the order in her late teens. Needless to say, that didn't sit well with anyone in the Amish community where she returned to work in law enforcement as an "English" - the term used for anyone who isn't Amish. Over the years, though, she's built up a healthy relationship with her family and neighbors, for the most part earning their respect. Kate's hunky husband, FBI agent John Tomasetti, complements her and adds both personal interest and professional help when needed - and he gets quite a bit of page time here, much to my delight.

This one begins with a grisly find - the dismembered parts of a young Amish man Samuel Eicher, who's been murdered and half buried not far from his landscaping business. According to a few sources, he and his best friend Aaron Shetler had been involved with some pretty shady characters, including a beautiful young woman named Cassidy, but by all accounts he was returning to the Amish fold. The search for Aaron takes up more of Kate's team's time, and that, too, ends in tragedy with the discovery of his body in a barrel that's been rolled down a ravine.

What on earth were the two friends into? And where is Samuel's reported girlfriend Cassidy? The search takes Kate to a couple of local bars and private clubs in which pole dancers and sex trafficking may be at play, so to speak - places in which Kate and her questions clearly are not welcome. When Kate's unrelenting investigation and yet another murder brings her way too close to the truth, she becomes the target and threatens to make a widower out of Tomasetti. It's a whirlwind finish that kept me on the edge of my recliner for sure. In short, it's another winner, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to stay tuned in by way of a pre-release copy. Bring on the next!

The Kate Burkholder series is one of my favorites. I read every book ASAP once I can get my hands on it. This is book 17 and the first time I have to say I felt a bit disappointed. I thought the the bigger secret at play was good but some of the other scenes, especially the bad guys going after Burkholder felt too familiar. it won't keep me from being eager to read the next though.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur books for this digital ARC!

As a dedicated reader of Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, I approached "Rage" with keen interest, having received an ARC via NetGalley. While it certainly maintains the series' characteristic elements, I found this particular installment not quite reaching the heights of some of its predecessors.

One aspect that felt a little prolonged was the investigative journey; it appeared to take Kate and Tomasetti a bit more time than usual to piece together the critical clues. A recurring thought throughout my reading was the frequency with which Kate placed herself in jeopardy by not awaiting backup, a trait that, while integral to her character, is beginning to test the boundaries of credibility.

Nevertheless, it's a common characteristic for any long-standing series to have its varied moments. Despite these minor observations, the core appeal of the series remains firmly intact. If you've enjoyed the previous adventures of Chief of Police Kate Burkholder, I am confident that "Rage" will still provide a satisfying read and keep you immersed in her world.

Rage by Linda Castillo is the newest in the Kate Burkholder series. As with all the Kate Burkholder books, Kate works in a small Ohio town as the chief of police and also a former Amish. This background works in her favor when working to solve crimes in Painters Mill that involve Amish. I enjoy how Castillo is able to bring awareness to various facets of the Amish culture throughout these books. I always enjoy reading about the characters of Painters Mill and look forward to the next in the series!

Fast-Paced Page-Turner

Rage, the seventeenth book in the Kate Burkholder series, is a fantastic, fast-paced, contemporary, multilayered mystery. Author Linda Castillo's descriptive writing had me feeling like I was right there, seeing and experiencing everything. It makes for a gripping story that, once you start reading it, you can't put it down till the very end. The twists and turns kept me guessing and turning pages. Even when I suspected who did it, I couldn't put it down because there was so much more I needed to know.

If you enjoy fast-paced mysteries that will keep you glued to the pages, then this one is definitely for you. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and voluntary.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. It has been some time since I had picked up a Kate Burkholder mystery and I am glad I picked up this one. I felt the story telling was creative and timely and started to look at the challenges that young Amish men and women face as they go through their Rumspringa and decide if they want to be baptized. At the same time it wove in a realistic mystery. The forensics explanations are always on point, if a bit gruesome, and even though there was some predictability regarding the antagonists, it was still an entertaining read.

All the Kate Burkholder books have been exciting; this one is even more exciting. It begins with Samuel Yutzy feeling happy, having changed his ways. Then, he is brutally killed. Three children were playing hide and seek in the woods and one comes across a mound of earth with lots of flies buzzing around. Then she notices a straw hat and a boot. Then she sees a hand sticking out of the dirt, and screams and runs to her older brother. Chief Berkholder is at the elementary school when she feels her phone vibrate and sees 911. Glock has gotten the call that some Amish kids found a body. It turns out that Yutzy had been shot and then cut into pieces with some kind of saw. Kate interviews a lot of folks who knew him, but didn't get far in finding who did it. A few days later, Yutzy's best friend Aaron Shetler is found dead in a barrel in a ravine. They soon find that Samuel and Aaron had been working for some shady characters. As Kate Burkholder begins looking into some of the shady characters, she puts herself into a very dangerous position and the book becomes even more exciting. I had a lot of trouble putting the book down. I don't want to give away any more of the excitement, so you'll have to read it yourself!

I thank St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

Another quick read in Amish country. Love this series, love the main character mostly, and it is that love that keeps me coming back for more. The stakes always are raised immediately, and the protagonist finds her way into trouble (and then back out). Modern day (?) Amish Trixie Belden.

4.25 stars

This is only the 2nd in the Kate Burkholder series I have read but I've really enjoyed my time with both. While at certain points you do have to suspend your belief a little over things that have taken place it's so well done you barely even notice. Your jaw will drop a couple of times and your heart will hurt over the subject matter. Can't wait to see what happens with Kate next.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Early Readers and Netgalley for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone who's read my reviews of the Kate Burkholder series knows I love it. I've had problems with some of the books in the past, but I still love the series. I was bordering between 3 and 4 for this one, unfortunately. The characters were great - themselves as I know them (sort of). The story was great. My problem was that Kate and Tomasetti became stupid in the heat of the story. They both have worked in the city and have been exposed to horrible things as cops (and personal), so someone please explain how they took so long figure out was going on. The evidence was right in front of them and I knew with the very first clue, but they needed a lot more to figure it out. I guess they were trying to create tension, but that part of the book didn't work for me. Will I read the next book? Of course! I love this series, flaws and all.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.