Once again Linda Castillo takes us to the Amish community of Painters Mill. A gruesome discovery is made by three Amish children. It is the dismembered body of a young Amish man buried in a shallow grave. Next the body of the first victim’s best friend is found in a barrel at the bottom of a ravine. What had these two young Amish men been involved in that led to their gruesome murders. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder has a troubling double murder to solve. I am a big fan of Linda Castillo’s Amish series. This was no exception. An exciting page turning read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley for this arc.

I loved this book. I’m so into any thriller that leans more towards investigative and psychological thriller. The plot was solid and I loved the characters. Another solid work from Linda Castillo.

Rage by Linda Castillo is another one of her great Amish mystery. Chief burkholder and tomasetti solve another one

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to investigate the murder of an Amish man near Painters Mill. Struggling to find clues, it seems as though a ghost murdered the young man. Soon, Kate, her fellow officers, and her BCI investigator husband are on the case of another murder that could be related to the first.

The brutal details of the case trouble Kate, and her investigation leads her closer to danger. Will she find the killer or killers before someone else gets hurt?

This well-written and fast-paced book is addictive. I wanted to keep reading way past my bedtime to follow along with Kate as she worked to solve the case. I enjoy Castillo's straightforward style and engaging dialogue. I look forward to another installment in the Burkholder series in the future.

This visit to Painter's Mill was a nail-biter! I absolutely could not IMAGINE what was going to happen next in Rage!

#17 finds Police Chief Kate Burkholder being called out after three Amish children discover human remains while playing in the woods. Kate determines the body belongs to a young Amish nursery owner in Painters Mill. From there, the mystery deepens ... as does the danger.
Kate Burkholder, having been Amish herself, walks a fine line between Amish and Englisher communities, and the author describes both sides beautifully! As always, I was fascinated to learn more about Amish living.

I love the relationship Kate and Tomasetti share and I hope this series never ends!! Rage can be read as a standalone, but readers will get so much more out of it if they start with book #1.

Thank you, #MinotaurBooks, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Rage has an expected publication date of July 8, 2025.

#LindaCastillo #Crime #Suspense #Amish #StrongFemaleProtagonist

Another excellent installment with our favorite ex Amish chief of police, Kate Burkhalter. I always enjoy a visit to Painters Mill. This series consistently delivers exciting stories with dark and at times, gruesome details. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am always excited when a new Kate Burkholder mystery releases. Chronicling the chief of police in the small town of Painters Mill with a large Amish population, the series is a blend of cozy mystery and police procedural. I enjoy seeing the recurring characters: Chief Kate Burkholder and her husband John Tomasetti (a state investigator), and officers Mona, Glock and Skidmore.

During a sweltering summer in Painters Mill, coyotes dig up the dismembered body of a young Amish man. Within days a second body, that of his close friend, is discovered. The ensuing investigation reveals ties to a craft brewery, a posh country club, and a gentlemen’s club. The clues do not line up with the typical drug ring characteristics. Kate and her staff are unsure what they are dealing with. The common denominator seems to be young Amish in the Rumspringa stage who attend “ragers” or parties know for drugs and underage drinking.

Fans of the series will not be disappointed in this latest installment.

This novel is the latest in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate is the chief of police in Painter Mills. There’s a large amish community of which Kate was born into before leaving as a teenager. When dead bodies start popping up, bodies of young amish adults, chief Burkholder must use her knowledge of the amish community and the English community to help solve the case before more people end up dead. This was a compelling book with lots of action. It’s also a standalone book.

Linda Castillo’s *Rage* is another gripping entry in her Kate Burkholder series, set in the seemingly peaceful Amish town of Painters Mill. The story kicks off when the dismembered body of 21-year-old Amish landscaper Samuel Eicher is found by three kids, shattering the town's calm. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder dives into a brutal investigation that becomes even murkier when Samuel’s best friend, Aaron Shetler, is discovered dead in a barrel nearby.

What makes *Rage* compelling is Castillo's exploration of a dark underbelly within the community, contrasting sharply with the quiet life of the Amish. As Kate digs deeper, she encounters resistance and fear, especially when a mysterious woman connects the victims to a shadowy black market.

Kate is a nuanced character, facing tough challenges that test her resolve and morality. As she becomes a target, the tension builds to a thrilling climax.

Castillo’s sharp writing and vivid atmosphere keep the suspense alive. *Rage* adeptly tackles themes of betrayal and justice while reminding readers of resilience.

Verdict:
A tense and engaging thriller, *Rage* is one of the strongest installments yet, sure to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Definitely a must-read!

3 stars

Three Amish children find the dismembered body of 21 year old Samuel Yutzy, a local Amish landscaper. Then a second body is found, that of 22 year old Aaron Shetler, Samuel’s best friend. Were the two involved in something that lead to their violent deaths? (See, I’m no ex-Amish CoP, but I’m going with “signs point to true.”)

This looks to be the 16th in the Kate Burkholder series; Burkholder was raised Amish and is Chief of Police in her small Ohio town. I have read a grand total of one before this one, and that is only because I am low-key fascinated with and by the Amish. Is every book about the Amish or does she have regular crimes? So, this was fine. And a bit depressing.

Rage is the seventeenth installment in Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, centered on the formerly Amish chief of police of the bucolic Painter's Mill. Despite having already delivered sixteen gripping thrillers that are centered on crimes involving the Amish, Castillo gives us another thriller with a story that feels both familiar in its setting but fresh in its plot. Rage sees Kate Burkholder investigating the murder of not one, not two, but three young Amish individuals. While there are connections between the three individuals, there's nothing pointing to why these three young people are murdered. The investigation takes us to some of the seedier sides of Painter's Mill, and the discovery of a sinister underbelly to the town. Thrilling in its conclusion, we get plenty of mystery, action, and sweet moments between Kate and Tomasetti. While we see a resolution to the majority of the mystery, a few threads are left hanging at the end of the novel, making me quietly excited about seeing threads of this novel continue in future works. As someone who has been reading the Kate Burkholder series for years, this novel feels like a 'welcome home' to us from the familiarity of Painter's Mill while still simultaneously being able to thrill me with a new mystery.
 
Kate and Tomasetti's relationship feels so comfortable at this point in the series, and I'm here for it. I feel like the bit of uncertainty that I used to feel about Tomasetti - the possibility that one day he will just decide that he isn't cut out for a relationship again and leave - is pretty much gone at this point. Happily married, Tomasetti is Kate's number one supporter and you just know that now he has committed, he's in 1000% for his woman. The comfortable familiarity they exhibit with each other makes the on-page relationship moments between them that much sweeter to read.

'Rage' is another five-stall installment from seasoned author Linda Castillo. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur books for providing me with an eARC of this novel to read and review.

I look forward to the next Kate Burkholder book every year, and this one did not disappoint! A series that is now 17 books strong is impressive. I recommend this series to EVERYONE.

There were so many twists and turns in this one that I could not put it down. And although I thought fairly early on that we were dealing with <spoiler>some sort of trafficking</spoiler> I did not think it would be that big. I always love the overarching personal stories of Kate and Tomasseti as well as her officers, that you miss if you read these books as a stand alone.

Thanks to Netgally for the ARC.

I was so excited to see the latest visit with Katie Burkholder show up so it went to the top of my list. Linda Castillo does not disappoint and with no real rehashing, was straight into the latest case. Defiantly could be a stand alone with intense settings that will carry you through to the end. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another great story to this series! Great plot, detective work and mystery set in Painters mill. Can’t wait for the next one. Thank you netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC! Absolutely page turner! This is my first by this author but it was beautifully written. Hard to put down!

Another great Kate Burkholder book. I have read every single book in this series. Rage does not disappoint. Great characters and great storyline. Sex trafficking is a big problem now . Very well written book. Loved it !

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this exciting novel.

It's a hot August when Kate receives the news that body parts have been found in a ravine. A few days later, another body is found in a barrel. Kate and her team work ceaselessly to found what happened. But the killers want to stop her, and almost succeed.

This was a very exciting story, and I read it very quickly. Good job - I'm looking forward to more in this series.

This is another great book in the series by Linda Castillo, but this can be read as a stand alone book. The book was filled with the authors usual combination of mystery and suspense. A few twists towards the end added to the enjoyment of this book. This is a book which I would recommend to those who enjoy mysteries, bonus if you want a series!
Thanks to St. Martin's press and NetGalley for my review copy of this book.

Thank you SO MUCH for letting me read this ARC. I look forward to reading Linda's Amish murder mysteries every year, and each book is better than before. This was a bit more graphic and modern than most of her writing, but it was a fantastic page turner and I can't wait to share it with my audience. Thank you!

Rage is my first book by Linda Castillo.

I was introduced to Kate Buckholder as she unravels the mystery of two young murder victims all while juggling her personal life.
Fast-paced with quick chapters keeps the reader moving along wanting one more chapter.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to read more books by Linda.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the ARC.