I am an avid reader of Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series and this one is great. I love how Castillo delves into the Amish culture tying it into more modern day problems. Linda pens some of the most gruesome murders ever and I enjoy the methodical way she peels back the layers of the crime and ultimately solves the crime. I look forward to her next book.

This book is the first I have read by Linda Castillo. It was a compelling read that incorporates two sordid and sanguinary murders discovered by three Amish children in Painters Mill, Ohio. The primary character, police chief Kate Burkholder, is a determined and adamantine law enforcement officer who follows the dark stories and histories of the community with passion and drive to solve the mystery in front of her.

The plot of the book incorporates and interweaves the lives of some of the Amish in the community. Ultimately, there is a focus on human trafficking that seems rather circumspect to begin with but is brutally honest as a focus of the book. Castillo's book is fast moving and contemporary, and I recommend the book for any readers who are mystery aficionados.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Another thrilling installment in the Kate Burkholder series, albeit maybe one of the darkest so far. Once again I was on the edge of my seat while Kate was being her usual self and not waiting for backup. I'm always yelling at her (in my mind) to wait for help! If she was a cat with nine lives, she'd be on life #17. All of the regular crew is involved, including new officer, Mona, and Kate's now-husband Tomasetti. I wish we had a bit more between Kate and John but I'll take what I can get. The series, great as it was in book one, just keeps getting better. If you haven't discovered it yet, what are you waiting for? See you next year, Chief Burkholder.

I really enjoyed RAGE by Linda Castillo.

It was my first book by this author, but definitely won’t be my last. Castillo does an expert job of deftly interspersing Amish customs and language within this suspense thriller. When a 21 year old Amish young man is found murdered, it initially makes no sense to police why anyone would want to harm him. Shortly after, the body of another young Amish man is found, and he had been best friends with the first victim.

Soon, it becomes clear that something terrible has found its way into their town.

I liked the MC, Kate, who is chief of police. She is strong yet empathetic to her victims.

The only thing that I found a little hard to believe is that it would take the police as long as it did to even suspect what was really going on. That alone made me doubt their competence more than I’m guessing was the author’s intent. I mean, several young adult Amish girls working seedy clubs with similar tattoos on their necks, a house with locks on the outside of the bedroom doors where they know at least two of the girls had been staying, zip ties in a nightstand there…etc etc… yet it only occurs to police what might be happening after they find photos? My rating drops one star for this alone.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder has three homicides to solve. Since the victims are Amish, she knows the challenge she faces finding help from the local community. Raised Amish, she understands their reluctance and knows to be patient and persistent until answers are found. She then faces the horror that a sex trafficking operation is involved. The two young Amish men, found brutally murdered, had been grooming young Amish women, eager for a life change, by tempting them with the offer of a job and shelter. One ends up dead. The young women are forced to become sex workers, bringing much income to the “bosses” who anonymously run this multi-layered network. Kate finds the women and, despite the depravity she hears about and the constant threat to her own life, she forges on. Linda Castillo’s protagonist once again shares the hidden ways and secrets of the Amish with her readers. This time the crime seems widespread and hints at a possible sequel.

I had not heard of this author nor the series. This book’s context does not require one to have read the other books to enjoy this one. There may be some nuances missed but it did not impact my reading and opinion of the book.

As someone who grew up in Ohio not far from an Amish community, I can understand the context of the different world and lifestyle the Amish.

The book kept my interest but the plot was so-so and the characters were not memorable.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy.

This was a great book. I always read Linda Castillo books and they never disappoint. Her writing style is great and very detailed. Every story from page one to the end of the books keeps me on the edge of my seat every time.

I have been reading Linda Castillo for years now, and will grab anything new she offers! Thank you Net Galley for her latest, Rage. The chief of police in Painter’s Creek has an impossible double homicide case to solve, and with the help of her husband, an Ohio detective, they put the pieces together like an easy jigsaw puzzle. Graphic, horrible deaths are prevalent in this Amish story, leading to an awful situation that Kate couldn’t believe would be a Problem in her sleepy town. Her life will be in danger too, as it often is. You will enjoy this if you like suspenseful novels.

Maaaannnnn, I gotta say - I mostly loved this book overall, but I had some *ISSUES* with a specific, very obvious plot point - I mean, obvious from the first chapter or two - that ended up not coming true. I literally predicted a specific thing to happen several times, and it did not. And I cannot tell if I'm mad at it or not! However, that aside - this is your pretty typical visit to Painters Mill, and had all of our favorite people. A very good mystery, one that gets very intense at the end - TW for xes trafficking and xes abuse (off page). All in all, a great visit back to PM and I hate having to wait a year for the next one! 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives at the scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man. The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is discovered, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Eicher’s best friend. I was hooked from the start, as the story has all the elements of a captivating thriller.

While the suspense and twists are engaging, I did have some trouble with certain scenes involving Kate and how she handles danger as the Chief of Police. I have little tolerance for characters making foolish decisions, and unfortunately, Kate did so not once but twice, which made me roll my eyes.

Despite this, the story is well-written, with vivid descriptions that keep you turning the pages. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the story and plan to continue reading more from this series. The author is fantastic, with relatable characters and engaging plots. Overall, it’s a great story filled with nonstop action, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher, for the eARC.

Another great installment in the Kate Burkholder series! This one is a little different in its storyline (in a good way!). Definitely recommend

Rage is the seventeenth book in the Kate Burkholder series. This series is so fantastic, that you should read it from the beginning. This is a stand-alone read.

In Painters Mill, a discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet innocence to a shocking surprise. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a grisly murder of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man who owned a landscaping business.

Before Kate has a chance to find out who could do this terrible thing to Samuel, another body is discovered in a barrel who happens to be Samuel's friend, Aaron Shetler.

While working the case, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men or anything else about them. Kate will have to dig deep into the darkest parts of society to solve this one. But will she push too hard and find herself in danger.

This series in one of my all-time favorites. It is so good that it leaves you turning the pages thoroughly engrossed until the end, while hoping it never ends. The main characters are warm and familiar like family. It is a race against time to solve the crime. Just when you believe it is the end, it kicks into high gear.

Linda Castillo is at it again delivering a gripping thriller that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Rage is suspenseful, filled with unexpected twists and a mystery murder that unravels layer by layer. Linda Castillos talent for blending Amish and Civilian crime life is unparalleled. I know very little about the Amish, but find myself drawn to her books, eager to learn and be swept away by her stories. The plot has so many twist and turns that when you think you’ve figured out the killer, another twist spirals you in a whole new direction. Rage is a must read for crime thrillers. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC read! Thank you Linda Castillo for an awesome read!

Wow, this series just never disappoints! Love the dynamic between Amish and English, great characters with their own history, and always a complex mystery with twists, threats, danger, and action. This one will have you on the edge of your seat over and over again.

When young adults are brutally murdered, Kate Burkholder uncovers some awful things going on in her jurisdiction.

I was excited for this next book in the Kate Burkholder series. Rage did not disappoint. It was a quick read and touches on a very serious social issue facing our country.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Linda Castillo and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

She’s back! Police Chief, Kate Burkholder, and her motley crew (her fellow officers) along with hubby, John Tomasetti are on the case of some of the most gruesome murders in the history of the series – at least to me they are. This is probably one of the darkest and most twisted installments so far.

<b><i>”Children discovering body parts in the woods is extremely unlikely in a town like Painters Mill.” - Kate Burkholder</b></i>

Yes, this is true, but finding dead bodies in Painters Mill is not all that uncommon, at least not for Kate and her crew. I’ve said this before, but it bears mentioning again, the crime rate in Painters Mill is pretty high for such a small rural town and in this Amish community, the Amish get knocked off at an alarming rate, which makes their suspicions and caution of “the English” a rather prudent and valid attitude.

The book summary introduces the primary storyline of the two Amish friends, Samuel and Aaron being brutally murdered. What the book summary doesn’t mention is the lawsuit against Samuel, a tree farmer and landscaper, from a wealthy and respected local business owner for some shoddy work. There are also questions surrounding the possible relationship between Samuel and Cass, a local exotic dancer (and formerly Amish), who seems to have disappeared around the same time that Samuel was murdered.

Most of the story revolves around Kate and her crew, along with Tomasetti, investigating the case. Kate believes the murders have a “big city” vibe to them and that perhaps Samuel and Aaron had gotten involved in something that was out of their depth of handling, especially since Samuel had just recently returned home and to the Amish fold from his Rumspringa period. It’s deep into the second half, and as the body count increases, that Kate and the team realize that the danger and threats are much closer to home. The end comes to an intense and scary end for Kate, who in true bad@$$ form, takes a beating and gets up swinging – every time!!!

The continuing character development of Kate and Tomasetti, along with some of the other characters continue to exhibit that all is not what it seems in Painters Mill. Kate is a total bad@$$ and I love that about her. The pacing was steady to fast, never dragging, at least not to me. The storyline was interesting and the writing was classic Castillo, who is a really good writer and storyteller; I really enjoy her work. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #Rage

A great addition to the Kate Burkholder series. I really enjoyed the mystery and that it shined light on something that is a major issue in the United States.

With that said, I felt like last book had the close of a big character arc for Kate and Tomasetti. I would like to have the next one start a new arc or have something unexpected happen.

All in all, I will continue to read this series because I have a great time with it and it's something to look forward to in the summer time.

SYNOPSIS

It’s summer in Painters Mill, when a macabre discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet to a grinding halt. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. What twisted individual murdered him in such a sadistic way?

The investigation has barely begun when, 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 been involved in that led to such violent ends?

With a heat wave bearing down, Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory characters—individuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market.

To solve the case, Kate must delve into the most sordid corners of her community, but when she gets too close, the killers target Kate herself. Will the secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?

THOUGHTS
RAGE, the latest installment in Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series, delivers a gripping mystery that builds steadily but never drags. The story opens with the grotesque discovery of a dismembered body, quickly followed by a second victim, setting the tone for a dark and twisting investigation. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is in top form—sharp, determined, and, as always, shadowed by a past she can never quite escape.

What makes RAGE stand out isn’t just the case itself—though it’s tense and deeply satisfying—but how Castillo continues to evolve Kate as a character. Caught between the Amish world she left and the modern one she now serves, Kate’s ongoing struggle with identity adds emotional weight to every choice she makes. Her mix of resilience, compassion, and grit keeps her among the most compelling protagonists in crime fiction.
Castillo also shines at building atmosphere and suspense—not just through the case’s escalating danger, but through the silence and guardedness of the Amish community Kate knows so well. The oppressive summer heat pressing down on Painters Mill becomes a character in itself, heightening the tension as Kate unearths a chilling black market and gets dangerously close to a predator who may be closer than she thinks.

Fast-paced and emotionally layered, RAGE proves once again that Castillo can weave complex social issues into a thriller without ever losing the human heart of the story. With a conclusion that’s both satisfying and thought-provoking, this is a standout addition to the series.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering Kate Burkholder, RAGE is an addictive read that reinforces why she remains one of the most enduring heroines in modern crime fiction. Highly recommended.

RECOMMENDATION 4 Stars
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing this ARC for an unbiased review.
Pub Date: Jul 08 2025 | Archive Date: Jul 22 2025

Dead bodies are popping up in Painters Mill, all young adults, and Kate and her team have to get to the bottom of who is killing all of these Amish young people. I've been following Kate and the Painters Mill crew for years (decades?) and Linda Castillo never gets it wrong. This entry was even better than most. It was fast and fun and hard to put down.

However, I just have to say, Kate - WAIT FOR BACKUP TO ARRIVE!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

quick, well written thriller that briskly took you through the mystery. the only book i've read from this series so far, but a great one. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.