Thank you to @stmartinspress @minotourbooks and Netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Kate Burkholder is back trying to solve another heinous crime in her town. This is book 17 in the serious and in my opinion, I don't think you have to read the others in the series to understand and enjoy this one. But I highly recommend the series. I started in on it at bout book 14-15 and plan to go back and read the rest! Chief Burkholder is called for a body found on a back part of an Amish farm. The murder is brutal, and they have to try to make sense of how and why this could happen! I love the mix between the Amish and the outside world. These murders are trying to make sure no one gets in their way and are going to do whatever it takes to get the Chief off their backs. I love following Kate as she try's solve this and puts pieces together with her team. This one goes deeper then they originally then they had imagined. There are a lot of tense moments that keep you tied into the story, that had me not wanting to put it down. This is definitely 0ne of my favorite police procedural series. It has a great mix of dark and twisted with hopefully moments and a great gang of characters.

Rage is the 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series, and while I always enjoy returning to Painters Mill, this one wasn’t my favorite. The story starts with a chilling discovery—two young Amish men are found murdered in brutal ways. As Kate investigates, she uncovers dark secrets hiding beneath the surface of her quiet town.
The plot had some intense moments and I liked the familiar mix of crime-solving and action. Kate’s background in the Amish community continues to give this series a unique feel. However, I found the pacing slower this time, and the mystery felt more predictable than usual. The emotional connection to the community also seemed weaker than in past books.
Even so, Castillo’s writing is strong, and the atmosphere she creates is always gripping. Fans of the series will still enjoy it, but I hope for more surprises and depth in the next one.

Tuesday is release day for Linda Castillo’s latest Kate Burkholder mystery, Rage. I’ll be honest. I didn’t find this one near as disturbing and violent as her last one, The Burning. Although the victims were young, naive Amish, I was more upset when I read the last book with the burning deaths.

When three Amish children playing hide-and-seek find body parts, Police Chief Kate Burkholder of Painters Mill is the first to respond. It does take a little while to identify the victim as Samuel Yutzy, the owner of a local tree farm. Samuel had been shot and dismembered. But, when Kate’s team looks for Samuel’s best friend, and find the redhead’s body, it quickly becomes news to all of the local Amish community. It seems Samuel and Aaron, both twenty-two, had a few secrets. What were the two young men involved in?

This is a case that bothers Kate. It doesn’t seem local. She and her husband, John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, feel as if there might be a big city connection. But, what’s the connection to a country club, a bar, and a strip joint?

As I said, I didn’t find the deaths in this book as violent as in The Burning. However, Kate hasn’t learned her lesson. She has a small but capable police team, and backup from the local sheriff and the BCI, but she doesn’t wait for back-up when she’s at a potential crime scene. Kate’s actions when she goes ahead without support bother me more than the murders in the new book.

Police Chief Kate Burkholder is faced with the brutal murders of young Amish men in this latest installment of one of the best mystery/police procedurals series. Dismembered body parts are found in the woods and identified as Samuel Yutzy, a landscaper and owner of a nursery. As Kate looks into Samuel, she tries to find his best friend, Aaron Shetler, and learns that he is missing. His body is found in a drum. These are not the types of crimes one finds in Painters Mill, Ohio. The boys had been in the city during their rumspringa (a time when young Amish can experience the outside world before formally committing to the Amish way of life). They had gotten involved with criminal types and Samuel also had a girlfriend who danced at a gentleman's club. Kate sets out to get justice with the help of her husband, John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and what she learns shocks her and puts her in danger.

Kate is a strong character, she was raised Amish but left. This gives her a connection and understanding of their lifestyle. She is brave, tenacious and has empathy. Sometimes she acts before she thinks and gets herself in dangerous positions. I have loved watching her relationship with Tomasetti evolve.

This novel grabs the reader from the start and keeps us engaged. Linda Castillo is a remarkable storyteller. The characters are well developed and her descriptions of the Amish way of life create the atmosphere that brings it all to life. This is the 17th book in the series and can be read as a stand-alone, but I really recommend reading all the previous ones to get to know Kate and the other recurring characters. I eagerly await the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for an ARC. The opinions in the review are my own.

Vicious murders. Dark secrets. Hold-your-breath danger. This is a read-one-sitting thriller that will keep your nervous system on fire as Chief Kate Burkholder tries to dig up leads without anyone else ending up dead. Castillo writes an impeccable mystery that will keep you invested in not getting anything else done.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this suspenseful novel.

It’s another good book in this series. It’s full of action and suspense from page one. I thought it was a good mystery that kept me guessing to the end. Looking forward to the next one.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her officers will face one of the most devastating cases to take place in the town of Painters Mill, Ohio. She will need the investigative experience of her husband, BCI John Tomasetti, to solve this case and bring those involved to justice. She is called out to the scene of a young Amish man who has been murdered, dismembered and buried in shallow graves. She doesn’t believe this was done by locals, as they would be aware of the damage done by scavengers. When the friend of the deceased man is later found, dead, at another site, what could they have been involved in that might have led to their deaths? Delving into the newer venues in the area, The Cheetah Lounge and The Club at Paint Creek she learns that some of the younger Amish girls, during rumspringa, are now employed at the venues. Kate left the Amish community when she was eighteen and is able to question the girls in their own language. She believes that they might be under some kind of control, by the owners, or maybe drugs? Were the Amish men responsible for getting the girls jobs and finally realize that the girls were in danger? Kate is used to having a target on her back, but when her life is threatened, can she count on the ones that she is trying to save, to help save her? A powerful mystery, and series, with a cast of continuing characters that are like a family to Kate. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

It’s hot and muggy in Painters Mill, Ohio and things are heating up for Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team. Rage by Linda Castillo is chilling, suspenseful, and dark. Kate calls her husband Tomasetti with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Sheriff Mike Rasmussen for assistance as murders start to pile up for the team. A dismembered body that is found by children is only the beginning of this story. As the team investigates, it becomes clear that someone will stop at nothing, including killing police officers, to hide their crimes. Can they be exposed and arrested before this happens?

The characterization is excellent, making each person come to life for me. Readers of the series will be familiar with many of them. One thing that struck me as slightly odd was the number of nicknames for officers on Kate’s investigation team. She likes to finish what she starts, is focused, hates the politics and media side of the job, and is respected by her officers. She’s loyal, driven, intelligent, has good instincts, and is courageous, but she’s also impulsive and ends up alone in situations where she needs backup. Kate comes alive and it’s easy to connect with her and want her to succeed in finding the killer. Since she grew up Amish, she is mindful of the divide between them and the English communities and tries to bridge the divide and earn the trust of both sides.

As usual, the novel is descriptive to the point of being graphic at times with the murder descriptions. However, it also easily transported me to Painters Mill in summer. The plot twists worked well and the ending was action-packed. Ms. Castillo is an excellent storyteller who kept me engaged with gripping scenes and a creative plot that built suspense. The story captivated me from beginning to end. However, it is somewhat over-the-top from the standpoint that some events should have resulted in characters being on medical leave rather than retraining immediately to work. Ms. Costillo is clearly a master at building tension and delivering exciting results that keep readers engaged. Themes include trust, greed, respect, innocence, naivety, secrets, murder, and complicated family and community relationships.

Overall, this book was gritty, suspenseful, action-packed, and gripping. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy police procedurals, crime thrillers, and mysteries that have a strong female lead character. However, be aware that it is also unsettling at times. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author. This is the seventeenth book in the series.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Linda Castillo provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 08, 2025.

For some even innocence has a price

When three young Amish children playing hide and seek in the woods near Painters Mill, Ohio, come across the dismembered body of a young man, it is both gruesome and tragic. Local Chief of Police Kate Burkholder soon identifies the victim as Samuel Yutzy, a 21 year old local Amish man who was the founder and owner of a small landscaping business, who after a period of wildness during his rumspringa years had straightened out his life. There are few if any clues as to who killed him or why, but as Kate and her officers (with the help of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the person of Agent John Tomasetti, who is also Kate's romantic partner) dig into Samuel's life, they are led to an upscale country club, a brew pub and a "gentleman's club" in a nearby city. Their search for Samuel's best friend Aaron and the attractive but rebellious young woman with whom Samuel had been keeping company proves challenging, and more dead bodies soon turn up. What is behind this rash of killings? With what was Samuel involved that would cost him his life? Navigating an investigation within the Amish community is always a challenge, even for Kate who was raised in the religion (although she left the faith when in her late teens), but this case proves dangerous for reasons that seem to emanate from outside the community...and Kate's life is on the line as she works to identify the killers and bring them to justice.
This is the 17th installment in the Kate Burkholder series, one which can be read as a standalone for those who haven't read the previous books (but those who have read at least a few of the preceding ones will have more insight into the protagonist). Kate is a fascinating main character, a dedicated and determined law enforcement officer whose deep ties to the Amish community enable her to be effective in her job but whose experienced growing up within the community have left her with scars. The mystery is, as I have come to expect from author Linda Castillo, a fast-paced thriller that weaves dark themes into the tale set in a seemingly placid small town and also provides an interesting peek into the culture and mores of the Amish. My only criticism is that Kate, whose impulsive behavior is pretty hardwired, charged alone into situations one after the other that left her vulnerable to attack. All in all, this is a solid addition to the series, a compelling read that will satisfy fans of the series and also appeal to readers of Karin Slaughter, Nevada Barr and Lisa Gardner. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to this latest great mystery from a fantastic author in exchange for my honest review.

Linda Castillo's "Rage" is an outstanding addition to her long-running Kate Burkholder series. As a devoted reader of police procedurals and murder mysteries, I found this novel to be an absolute page-turner that showcases Castillo's unparalleled storytelling prowess.

The plot is intricately woven, filled with suspense and unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Castillo's ability to craft a narrative that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant is truly remarkable. Each chapter pulls you deeper into the mystery, making it impossible to put the book down.

What sets "Rage" apart are its wonderful, well-developed characters. Kate Burkholder is as compelling as ever—strong, nuanced, and deeply human. The supporting cast adds depth and richness to the story, creating a vivid world that feels authentic and immersive.

The police procedural elements are meticulously detailed, adding realism without bogging down the narrative. Castillo's expertise in balancing procedural accuracy with gripping storytelling is evident throughout the novel.

Overall, "Rage" is an excellent installment that will delight both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. It's a must-read for anyone who loves murder mysteries with strong characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!

Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

SUMMARY: In a quiet Amish community, a young boy makes a gruesome discovery - a dismembered body, leading to a police investigation led by Chief Kate Burkholder. The 21-year-old victim was a local businessman with ties to another victim who meets a similar fate. As Kate delves into the shocking murders, she encounters a wall of silence from residents, hinting at deeper issues beneath their peaceful facade.

The investigation reveals the victims' connections to dangerous individuals involved in crime. With mounting pressure and her safety at stake, Kate navigates her community's complexities to uncover the sinister forces at work. As the stakes rise, she races against time to solve the mystery before more lives, including her own, are lost.

MY THOUGHTS: This chilling tale of secrets and betrayal features relatable characters. Kate, a former Amish community member, offers unique insights and is recently married to John Thomasetti, an Ohio State Investigator who appears throughout the story. The supporting cast is equally engaging, and the unexpected twists kept me captivated.

This is the first book I have read in this series, and it stands strong as a standalone. Now I’m eager to read the rest! I enjoyed both the print and audio versions; Kathleen McInerney's narration perfectly captures Kate's voice, which drew me into the story. Mystery lovers won't want to miss this one, no matter the format!

We start off knowing that Samuel regretted something that he did and that whomever he did it to - is NOT forgiving. Kate and her team start to investigate and the bodies start to pile up. No clues. No motive is appearing. Nothing…well except for Samuel’s friends are getting killed

I love a Kate Burkholder mystery. Linda Castillo quickly ropes us in, and we are entangled in an investigation that had me scratching my head. Rage moves quickly and it wasn’t until I was close to the end that I realized that I still didn’t know who did it and the book was almost over! This is the sign of a really good mystery.

Normally, I would give this book a five-star review except there is a mistake in the story. Kate and Tomasetti confer over a body and Tomasetti says, “Looks like a gunshot wound at her temple, too.” Now this is the same MO as another body found earlier. In the same time period and at the same time, Kate, Tomasetti, and the coroner are talking and the coroner says to them about the gunshot to the head, “You missed it initially because there was bleeding. And her hair was covering it.” (Ch. 21) Now the coroner could be talking about when Kate initially came upon the scene, but she wasn’t there to figure out the how of it. She saw all of the blood around the head and face, but the only reason she went so close (and potentially contaminating a crime scene) was to possibly identify the victim. I had to actually go back and forth and read this whole section a few times and sat with it before making a decision.

Then there is the title of the book. I’m so confused about the title because this story is not about “Rage”. It’s cold-blooded and sterile (the murders - not the story). I would be interested in hearing why the author chose this word for the title.

In saying all of the above, I loved this story. It’s action packed, violent, gory, and there are sweet moments with Kate and Tomasetti. I love the team. We just need to add a queer person to the team and it would be perfect and reflect real life. Either way, I once again was consumed with Rage and read it in one sitting.

Rage should be on your summer beach reading list. It’s a great addition to the Kate Burkholder series.

It’s always with a regret that I read the last word of a Castillo book. Because I know it’s going to be a long wait until the next adventure for the Chief.
It’s hot, sticky, and dissident Amish are literally attracting flies as bodies keep popping up.
Kate is confounded about the deaths but won’t stop until she’s sussed out the villains.
There is one scene where Tomasetti barrels in to save the day and I loved it!
Read Rage because it’s all the rage!

The latest book in the Kate Burkholder series is one that was hard to read and also hard to put down. Dealing with some triggering topics like human trafficking and abuse, the author did a great job of thoroughly covering these topics in a way that made the fiction seem real and gave me empathy for the characters involved. I really enjoyed the way Kate and Tomasetti went about solving the mystery, even though Kate was throwing herself into harm’s way repeatedly. I figured out part of the mystery about halfway through, but was happily surprised when all of the many hidden details were revealed. I enjoyed the repeat characters from the series and the realism of the investigation and coroner scenes. This was an enjoyable read, gory at times, but completely engaging and riveting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

A terrific addition to the long running series that will also be just as great as a standalone. Kate Burkholder, who left the Amish, is the Chief of Police of Painters Mill, Ohio and happily married to Ohio Bureau of Investigation officer John Tomasetti. She's got a real mess on her hands after a group of Amish children discover a dismembered body partially buried in the woods. It only gets worse when an Amish man trying to get his cow out of a ravine opens a barrel. This is a sadly topical page turner that sees Kate wade through the muck of exploitation to find the villain who murdered a pair of friends and then....What's the connection with the Cheetah Club? What about the Country Club? And the Brewery? Trust that Kate and her team will work it out but not without some danger to Kate. I'm a fan of this series because the mysteries are clever and the atmospherics are good-not just among the Amish but also little things like in this case the heat. And Castillo is a wonderful storyteller. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I look forward to time with Kate every July and this one, like the others, was a satisfying read that has me tapping my feet eager for the next.

Castillo writes in a unique, gritty manner where the raw detail makes the story come to life. We get a feel for the Amish community and their innate protection of each other, along with the secrets that they hold.

But we also get an in-depth view of the crime and activity that goes on behind the scenes that is not common knowledge.

This particular story latches on to vicious crimes and grizzly murders, all in the name of protecting criminal activity that is not typically expected in our culture and society.

With a tough-as-nails detective, who is from their world, we dive into the culture, trying to solve the murders. Kate is smart and uber resilient, especially as she becomes a target as well. Her husband, Tomasetti, is a sweet breath of fresh air and comfort, helping with his resources as well.

If you enjoy unsuspecting, gritty cases like this, Castillo keeps the reader on the edge with her highly developed, kick butt characters, her intense descriptions, and a simmering love story that still needs to be told! Castillo seems to fly under the radar, but I am quickly becoming addicted to her stories!

Rage is the 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Another fantastic read in this series, I really enjoy the books concerning the Amish that contain strong women sheriffs. Dead bodies are piling up right and left in Painters Mills. I could not put this book down.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Rage is the 17th novel in Linda Castillo's award-winning Kate Burkholder series, a series I've been following since its inception, and while I'm always glad to return to Painters Mill, a mostly Amish community, in which Kate has risen to the level of Chief of Police, it saddens me to say that this novel is among my least favorite book in the series, and I'm giving it a 3-star rating.

The novel opens with several children playing hide and seek, a game which comes to an abrupt end when they discover the dismembered and shallow burial of Samuel Yutzy, a 21-year-old Amish man who runs a nursery and does landscaping as well. Soon after that horrific discovery, the body of his best friend, Aaron, is also found, and Kate Burkholder, and her husband, John Tomasetti , as usual, are on the case.

While the mystery of who killed these two young Amish men and why, and there are more dead and missing characters to follow, as well as Kate herself repeatedly putting herself in imminent danger, this novel read more like a police procedural than a mystery. For this reader, quite early in this novel, I correctly guessed who the bad guys were and what they were up to--none of it good. Additionally, I found this a rather slow read, with a lot of filler, that slowed the pacing down even more.

Yes, Kate, having been raised Amish puts that connection to good use, but I missed more of a connection to the Amish community of Painters Mill that was far more present in many of her previous novels. It's either that, or I'm beginning to feel that this novel was a bit more formulaic than some of the works that preceded it.

Additionally, while this wasn't a bad read--Ms. Castillo does write well, the title, "Rage," just didn't quite seem to suit the story line. Mystery fans and those who follow this series won't be disappointed, but for this reader, it was a bit of a let down.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - May 25, 2025
Publication Date - July 8, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @lindacastilloauthor, @stmartinspress, @minotaur_books and @netgalley!

So far, this is my third book by Linda Castillo and it's another hit! In fact, this is one of my favourite thriller series ever! Rage is part of a series of thrillers that feature Amish communities, which adds such an interesting layer to read about. This book is very bingeable, the pacing feels great with the right mix of detective work and action. I always look forward to interactions between Kate and her husband, the little bits we get of them together are such a tease! The graphic descriptions help set the tone and atmosphere, which is something Linda Castillo does so well. The author is already working on her next book and I'm so excited to see what it's about!

If you like thrillers involving Amish communities and a female detective, you should try Rage and the rest of this series!

Get excited to read Rage, available July 8! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

Thanks to #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #Rage. This book was amazing! 5 stars! I devoured it in 1 afternoon. The character development was excellent but the fast moving plot was what made the book hard to put down. I am committed to reading everything in this series now. Bravo! Just a good, solid mystery with everything you could want in a book.