Our favorite Chief of Police is back with another heartbreaking crime in the Amish community, but this one is even more gruesome than usual. A severed body and multiple people dead as Kate races against the clock to keep the community safe.

Linda Castillo's books are always shocking and bingeable, and this one was no different! A fantastic read and could be read as a standalone.

I had taken a break from this Amish mystery series but found myself right back in the small Ohio town with its surrounding Amish community like I never left.

Two gruesome murders of Amish men lead Katie Buckholder down a dark, sinister path as she investigates the why and who of the tragedy. The author’s grasp of this close knit community is always central to her stories and how the police chief, at one time Amish herself, trods a delicate balance with her interaction with the group. Not one to give up, and caring deeply about the victims, Katie finds herself in the midst of a dangerous game, and the ending…..well it’s a doozy.

Highly recommended!

This was my first foray into the world of Kate Burkholder and Painters Mill. I’d never heard of this series before so I am pleased to have stumbled upon it. The storyline was engaging and a stark contrast to the stereotypical image of a quiet life in Amish society. The pace moved at a decent rate too, I never felt bored while reading. All in all, a good read!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book!

I am a huge fan of this series! I wait all year for another book and I have read every book in the series and everyone gets better and better!

At this point, Kate is an old friend to me and I love being able to check in with her and her husband.

When three young Amish boys find a body, the chief of police Kate Burkholder is called, this case is not what it appears to be at first, and it’s so much deeper and entangled then you would want to believe.

Another fantastic installment into this series…. Already anxiously awaiting the next book.!

Linda Castillo is an amazing thriller writer. Her latest, Rage, was a five star read. I loved it and I think you will too.

Rage is a book written by Linda Castillo. I love this author and have read all of her books in the Kate Burkholder Novel. It takes place in the town of Pointer Mill, Ohio. Kate is the chief of police in this town who was Amish and had left the fold. She was hired because she knows the Amish people and their ways. She is married to John Tomasetti who is an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

The book starts out with a prologue where Samuel Yutzy, an Amish man who owns Yutzy's Tree Nursury. He has regrets of the way he has lived and how he has hurt so many people. He hopes to change things. Because of this he has recently come back to the fold. A car drives up his driveway. A man gets out and tells him that they have a message for him. The man in the back seat comes out and shoots him and hits him with a baseball bat with a poker. Samuel is able to run away but the man catches up with him and shoots him again. Samuel dies.

Mandi Weaver is playing hide and seek with her brothers. While hiding she sees a dirt mound that wasn't there the week before. She goes to check it out and sees a straw hat in the weeds. She sees a seavered hand and foot. She runs to find her brother, Eli.

Kate and Kip the cow (Officer Chuck (Skid) Skidmore) who was in costume visiting the elementry school with a talk about safetly. Lois, a dispatcher at the police station notifies her that Glock has asked that she come to Sweet Potato Ridge Road. There are only two farms and the Tree Nursury on that road. She and Skid go to the location. She finds Glock standing where the kids had found the body parts. There are two mounds. She sees the hand and the straw hat as well as Glock has also found a leg with foot still attached. There are teeth marks on the leg. She calls the police station as well as Doc Coblentz, coroner of Holmes County to come to the location. She goes back to speak to the children, Their father is with them. They are Eli, Mandi and Joe. She also contacts Thomasitti and tells him what is going on.

Kate and Thomasitti go to the nursury. She finds a horse tied up in distressed. Been tied up there for 24 hours. She gives the horse water. Later she finds a horse breeder who will take the horse for the time being. Tomasetti calls her from the field. They have found blood. They go back to the murder scene. The forensic scientist has found other parts of the body and head. When the head is completely uncovered Kate sees that the haircut is Amish. He is unshaven which means he is not married. Kate recognizes him, Samuel Yutzy. She is told that he has been buried 35 to 48 hours.

Kate has to go see his parents, Orlah and Leona Yutzy. She tells them of Samuel's death. She asks them about Samuel They say that he has been away on Rumspringe and he had been doing too much frolicking. There was a girl who was a bad egg. She wore alot of make-up with lots of tatoos and that Samuel had been going around with an Englisher. Aaron Shetler was his best friend. They told Kate that Samuel had a large contract, some rich person from Millersburg. It was to landscape his house. Job got messed up. The guy was not happy with the work and was going to sue.

Kate was going to Samuel's house. A car is there Roland (Pickles) Shumaker her 80 year part-time deputy. They go into the house. Kate goes through the filing cabinets and finds the folder marked Carter Brooks. She finds the contract there as well as the letter to sue. She also finds a picture of his girlfriend, Cassidy who works at the Cheetah Lounge. Kate wants to speak to her but she has been on the run.

Samuel's friend, Aaron Shetler is missing, not at home or reported to work. She decides to go see his parents, Ellen and Doyle Shatler, even though it is late at night. They own a chicken farm. They tell Kate that they had a fallening out with their son a few weeks ago. Doyle told him not to come around anymore. They felt he was a bad influence on their younger children. He was wearing fancy clothes, driving a car and was hanging around with the Englishers. The last time their son came with lots of money to help them pay their back taxes. Didn't know where their son got the money. They didn't take the money. He was friends with Joseph Stoltzfoos. Said Joseph and Samuel had drifted apart.

On her way home she gets a call from Dr. Coblentz calls and tells her that he is going to do the autopsy on Samuel. Kate goes to the morgue. Rick Matrone (another pathologist) is there. Thomasetti called her to come. They plan to do a more detailed autopsy the next day. They say that there were several tools that were used to chop up the body. Whoever did it was not a professional. Samuel had been shot twice. Once in the head and once in the stomach. Kate finally is able to go home.

Kate goes to Aaron's house. When checking the garage she sees some blood on the knob. She goes into the garage and finds more blood. When Glock gets there they get a phone call about a body.

While getting his cow and calf out of a ravine. They find a barrel. Something dead inside. It's a body. They call the police. Kate knows Ivan Hershberger since school days. They have gotten calls from him before about dumping on his property. She goes to the farm. Ivan tells her that there is a body in the barrel. He says he is not sure who it is but he thinks it is Aaron Shelter. Kate calls the coroner and the police. If it is Aaron the two deaths are related. They check the face and it is Aaron. Kate goes back to the Shelter's farm. Other Amish are there. Ellen is upset that Kate hadn't told her that Aaron was in trouble. She tells them that Aaron was found in a ravine and that she thinks he was murdered. As Kate is leaving William says that Aaron got the money fair and square from his job working for Samuel at the Golf Club.

Kate and Tomasetti go to the Club of Point Creek Golf Club. It is owned by a corporation out of Cincinnati and the manager is Lance Wingate. They meet with him and he tells them that he was pleased with the work that Samuel and Aaron had done.

Kate gets a call from Angelica from the Cheetah Lounge that Cassidy was there to pick up her check. Said that something has been going on. Kate decides to go there but Cassidy has already left. She had called the station and was told T.J. was on duty. She tells them to have him meet her there. When speaking to the bartender the bouncer comes up and tell her that she can't stay without buying a drink. She takes a coffee. Angelica is outback of the club on her break. She speaks to her. Brandy comes out and tells Angelica that she is wanted inside, Brandy tells Kate to check the trailer. Getting close to the trailer she feels strange. Realize she has been drugged. A man in a ski mask jumps her and throws her on the ground and beats her up. T.J. arrives. Calls the station and informs them what has happened. Ambulance and Glock arrive. She tells T.J. to get the bartender. Kate is taken to the hospital. Thomasetti comes to the hospital and tells her that whoever did this will be sorry.

At the meeting the next day Skid tells Kate that the bar had been sold 4 years ago when the owner passed. Owned by a LLC. The manager is Patrick O'Leary. Kate tells her officers that any thing to do with the club will be handled by the BCI Task Force or the Tusceralors Sheriff Department. Tomasetti tells Kate that he and Sheriff Rasmesser will be talking with the bouncer and anyone else who worked last night. The BCI has more resources and will give info to the legal to find out who owns the club. Everyog gdne is assigned a duty to check out.

Kate goes to speak to Joseph Stoltzfoos. He is in his barn. He has owned the farm about a year. Is not a full time farmer. Works for Keim Lumber for 3 years. Said he was a better friend of Samuel. Said he hadn't seen him for a few months. Backed off. Did not like the route that Samuel was taking with drugs, woman and partying and being with the Englishers. They wore suits and knew they had money. It was not for him. He was getting married and has been baptized. Said that Samuel met Cassidy at a rager outdoor party. She was Amish but her parents threw her out. She didn't have any money or a place to stay. She is not from Painter Ridge but Coshocton County. Cassidy's last name is Robinetta. Katie thinks that this is not her real name.

Kate goes to see Edna Miller who has moved from Painter Ridge. She and her husband, Herman, now live in Canal Lewisville where they own a cabinet shop Miller's Cabinet Works. Kate asks about Cassidy and is told that her real name is is Willia Ann Borntrager. Her farther is dead. Mother sold the farm and now lives in town. She works for the Village Laundromat. Kate goes to speak to her and finds out that Cassidy was renting a house in Painter Ridge on Lost Creek Road. Kate and Mona go to check out the rental and while there near the garage they hear a motor start in the garage. It comes crashing out and hits Mona. After calling for an ambulace Kate takes chase with gunfire and ends up in a ditch.

This is where the story takes off. There is so much going on that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the suspenseful ending. There is always so much suspense building up throughout the book. Makes me unsettled wondering what will happen to Kate and turning the pages to find out. I look forward to the next book in this series. Linda's books keep me coming back for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

I have been with Linda Castillo (and, by proxy, Chief Kate Burkholder) from the beginning. Growing up in central Pennsylvania, surrounded by Amish, these books bring me right back to my hometown and the culture surrounding the Amish community. I absolutely love the amount of research Linda Castillo has done to make these books authentic and informative. I will say, with the number of books in the series, I am curious as to when Chief Burkholder will finally get her much deserved vacation from her life constantly being threatened - poor woman! Even though the flow of the books is a bit predictable at this point, Linda Castillo always keeps me coming back for more! I am so grateful to have received an advanced copy of this book. Thank you, NetGalley!

Loved this book in the latest series by Linda Castillo! I couldn’t put it down. It was very suspenseful. She has written quite a few books in this series and they are still good! I like all of the characters too. Thank for letting me read this.

I love this authors writing and even after the number of books in this series she still has a way of keeping you engaged in the lives of Painters mill not every series can do that . This book was good and read it in two days .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Thanks to Minotaur books and Netgalley for this wonderful eARC.

I have been addicted to the Kate Burkholder series now for many years. I was raised a Quaker in a small Iowa town, and I have met many active Amish as well as those who have chosen to leave the fold.

Linda Castillo does such a beautiful and respectful job describing both the compelling things about Amish life as well as the limiting aspects of a life outside of modern conventions.

It amazes me that every book Linda Castillo writes in the Kate Burkholder series is even BETTER than her previous offering, she never fails to continue improving her skill in creating ever more compelling stories.

Rage (a dual meaning in this book, both Rage as in anger and Ragers, the youthful Amish parties) was my favorite Kate Burkholder book yet. Also, although I am not a fan of romance stories, I truly enjoy the quietly supportive and loving relationship between Kate and her husband, they respect and are ALWAYS their to support each other.

I found it equally heartwarming how Kate, at the end of this story counselled a young woman struggling with whether the Amish world was somewhere she still belonged - letting the young woman grow in her patience for herself.

Somehow this terrifying book about sex trafficking and murder ultimately became a loving and hopeful story - that is the magic of the Kate Burkholder series, and I hope that Linda Castillo never lets this series end.

5 Stars from this grateful reader / reviewer, I cannot think of even one small improvement that could be made in this book; it is perfect as it is.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing the copy of Rage by Linda Castillo. A new book by Castillo is always exciting because I love this series. You can read this as a standalone, but I would heartily recommend reading the series because it adds so much to the character development. The story was gripping and I loved how the clues finally all added up so Kate could solve the murders. I also loved Kate's humanity when dealing with the victims and using her Amish background to relate to them. If you want a fast-paced mystery that will keep you enthralled to the end, do not miss this book! 5 stars

In this 17th book in the series, Kate Burkholder finds a dismembered body buried in shallow graves, leading her into an investigation of multiple murders. It appears that young Amish women on Rumspringa are being targeted. Kate's hubby Tomasetti brings his talents to the investigation as well. I love the way this author writes, making her police procedurals suspenseful and exciting. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing an ARC.

Rage by Linda Costello, five stars. I look forward to Linda’s books each year and this one was one of her best. This book was gruesome, but not as bad as some of them. There are several Amish people who wind up dead and Kate with her staff are trying to solve the murders. There are a lot of bad people in this book and luckily they all did get justice at the end.
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Can you really ever go wrong with a Linda Castillo book?? Her latest Kate Burkeholder "Rage" is SOOOO good!! So good to be back in her world.

Linda Castillo's series continues with a serious topic--sex trafficking. The murder of a young Amish man starts Katie Burkholder, chief of police, on a hunt for who did it and leads to uncovering a sex-trafficking ring in the Amish community.

Gripping, shocking and full of danger, Rage, grabbed my attention from the very first page and never let go! If there is a crime in Painters Mill, you know that Chief of Police Kate Burkholder will be on the case! This is the 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series and Linda Castillo has delivered yet again! Plus, readers get to see Kate's husband, John Tomasetti, on the case as well.

A dismembered body of a local Amish man is found, Kate is called to the scene. When the body of the man's best friend is also found murdered, the community is rocked. Initially no one is willing to talk but when a woman finally comes forward, Kate learns that the Amish victims had dark dealings with some violent and dangerous individuals. Secrets, lies, manipulation, power, control, and diabolical characters, make for a timely and gripping read.

Kate Burkholder, who was once Amish herself, is one tough cookie who often takes dangerous chances in the pursuit of justice! She finds herself in more than one sticky situation with some vile and violent characters. I enjoy her grit, her determination, her drive, and her commitment to solving crimes.

I enjoyed the action, the plot, and the characters. This book, like the others in the series, gives readers glimpses into Kate's professional and personal life. She is a well-rounded character who I root for every single book. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting danger, and the relevant storyline.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping, and hard to put down!

4.5 Energizer Bunny Kate

I have been a fan of this series for years (up to #17 now), and I am dubbing Police Chief Kate Burkholder the Woman Who Just Won’t Stop. She’s always at risk of totaling her car, chasing after bad guys, and recovering quickly from injuries.

The action this time takes place during a sweltering summer in Painters Mill. Things are not peaceful as body parts are discovered. As the body is identified as a local Amish man, Samuel, Burkholder’s crew gets to work. Why was this young man so brutally murdered?

As often happens with the Amish community, people are reluctant to speak with Kate or her officers. What was Samuel doing in the weeks and months leading up to his death? And where is his best friend, Aaron?

We visit some new venues in Painters Mill, a local strip club, and a luxury country club. How are these connected to the current case? Secrets, rage, and dark forces swirl through town, threatening Kate specifically. Will she have what it takes to solve the case and make Painters Mill safe again?

If you are curious, these are best enjoyed in order, starting with “Sworn to Silence.”

Kate Burkholder #17
Rage by Linda Castillo

On a typical hot summer's day in Painter Mill, while Kate is entertaining school kids with one of her deputies dressed up as a cow, such simple things come to a screeching halt when a dismembered body is found. Soon enough another body is found. Both bodies indicate that the killer(s) were very intentional with the message they are conveying. These people need to be found and stopped before more people die.

I'm in awe of Kate. She can be pulverized, practically drown in pig slop, endure surviving the totaling of countless vehicles, make a little stop at the hospital and still be home to have dinner with her sweetheart hours later. She doesn't let us down here as she investigates something that could be much bigger and more widespread than Painter Mill has ever encountered.

The two young men killed were of the Amish community and had been living their wild years but seemed ready to settle down and pick up living good Amish lives. Now it seems their wild times might not have been innocent teenage/young men fun. Something very dark and dirty is lurking and even if some of the young Amish kids know secrets, they are not talking, they seem to be willing to keep secrets to the end of time. Possible messages have been received, someone is controlling what is said and done and there might be no escape for those who want to get away from evil. But what is the evil, who is the evil?

It's not necessary to read any or all of the books before this one. This book works as a standalone although it's fun for me to look back at all Kate has gone through and see that it's never going to stop. Surely she should have a concussion or ten by now, Kate is made of some tough stuff and she's still "going in without backup". Fun and gory stuff, another Kate Burkholder winner!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Another fantastic installment in the Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. i have read every book in the series and they get better with time. I literally read this book in one sitting (staying up way too late to finish it). Looking forward to recommending this book and series. Thank you to NetGalley and thepublisher for the ARC.

Another Kate Burkholder story knocked out of the ballpark. I say it in my reviews, but Linda Castillo has written 17 books in this series and they never falter. Rage had some add humor despite the seriousness of the crimes in the story. The characters in this series continue to evolve which keeps the series my absolute favorite.