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.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. This series is by far my favorite, so I had to get it asap. It seems like it is a smaller book than the others in the series but I could be wrong since I read it as an ebook. And, yes, I watch too many Law & Order shows so I could see what was going on before Kate and John and the rest of the group. But no less thrilling and had me from page one. Keep them coming Linda Castillo!!

PS - I did write down some notes while reading this book but they were mainly about how many times the author wrote that someone was sweating.

Thanks to Negalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

I love the characters and the mystery. I always learn something new reading a Linda Castillo book. There was a lot going on here but it was easy to follow. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Title: Rage
Author: Linda Castillo
Series: Kate Burkholder #17
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: July 8, 2025
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Pages: 304

This is #17 in the Detective Kate Burkholder series – I am a fan and have most of the stories in this series.
If you are new to this series, Kate was born Amish but left the congregation when she was
eighteen. Although she is trying to leave her Amish past, she states she misses home.

Kate is now married to John Tomasetti an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and has helped Kate in many cases involving investigation.

Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill a small isolated town in Northeast Ohio where most the residences are Amish.

On a typical hot summer's day in Painter Mill, while Kate is entertaining school kids with one of her deputies dressed up as “Kip the Cow”– a school expert on school safety. (Aww you might think this story is going to be a sweet Cozy Amish story but you would be WRONG!!)

Kate is disrupted from this fun activity (Well might be fun for Kate but the cow would tell you otherwise as it was hot in that costume!) anyway she needs to leave the school children as Samuel Eicher’s body is found dismembered not far from where Samuel’s landscaping business is located.

The investigation has barely gotten underway when a second body is found stuffed into a barrel. This time Aaron Shetler a friend of Samuel’s is found it at the bottom of a ravine.
Since this is an Amish town it isn’t always easy getting anyone to come forward with information for fear it may jeopardize their own family. Since Kate used to be Amish she understands how they feel. She speaks Dutch which helps in creating trust.

Solving this crime(s) was not easy as Kate got herself in some terrifying situations with some nasty cruel people.

It was sad how some innocent Amish teens deciding to remain Amish but convinced that there was far more fun away from the Amish life.

As one reader put it this story – “is about what happens when innocence collides with corruption”.
This story is a violent as well as an emotional read. True it is very gripping and definitely unputdownable.

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for granting me another WOW Kate Burkholder adventure.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 8, 2025.

Rage by Linda Castillo

5 Stars
320 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date: July 8, 2025

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Amish, Police Procedural, Violent Death, Sex Trafficking

A couple of Amish children uncover the dismembered body of a young unmarried Amish man, The next day while trying to rescue a cow and her newborn bull from a ravine, a farmer and his son discover a large barrel. Inside the barrel is the body of another young unmarried Amish man. The two men were known to each other and occasionally worked together.

Painters Mill police chief, Kate Burkholder gets help from Holmes County Sheriff and the GBI. Together they are led into the world of sex trafficking. They must do everything in their power to find the connections and find the victims.

The story has a fast pace, and it is written in the third person point of view. There is good character descriptions considering I have not read any of the other books in the series. Kate, formerly Amish, can communicate with the victims and their families in a way that only another Amish person could do. If you like stories with strong women main characters, Amish mysteries, or police procedurals, you may enjoy this book.

17 books -16 years. Wow!

We are back to Painters Mill and one of my very favorite Chiefs of Police, Kate Burkholder. It saddens me to think that our Amish communities suffer from the same things our large cities do, but as we learn from this novel, nobody is safe. No town is small enough, no clannish community is safe enough. Crime is everywhere, and Kate and Tomasetti are going to have their hands full this summer.

I'm not going to recap the whole book for you; others have already done so, and you can get the recap from the description of the book!

The only thing I didn't get from the book's description was the actual meat of the mystery/crime. And that is a very good thing. For a while, Ms. Castillo had me thinking that this was some kind of Mafia hit...then things started to fall into place.

Kate takes chances with her life, as if she had nine lives like a cat! But I have come to expect that in this series. And she almost meets her maker twice in this book!

These are very realistic characters with realistic lives -I can connect with them, and I think you will be able to do so also.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Minotaur Books/ St. Martin's Publishing Group/Macmillan Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.

Linda Castillo (the author of the Kate Burkholder series) has been one of my go to authors for readers advisory. I remember receiving an advance readers copy of her first book Sworn to Silence. It had yellow caution tape with black Amish Buggys instead of the words caution! That was so very clever! Her newest title in the series is Rage. It was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Linda Castillo. Twists and turns are her signature; along with a well crafted book sharing life in and out of the Amish community.. Five sparkly stars!!! Many thanks to NetGalley for sharing such a superb read with me.

Rage is the 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series. I've read every book in the series and this one doesn't disappoint! While this can be read as a standalone novel, each book in the series further develops the main character's story. So, if interested, I would recommend starting the first book in the series, Sworn to Silence.

In this installment, Kate is called to investigate when three siblings find pieces of a body in the woods on their property. It is a gruesome discovery that kicks off a string of murders that doesn't quite sit right with Kate and her husband, John Tomasetti. As expected, the story is full of twists and turns. I was genuinely surprised with some and others were slightly predictable. I do like the direction it went as I feel like it's an important topic that could use more awareness.

Having read the whole series up to this point, I will say that I wish there were more development with Kate and Tomasetti. Their story seems to have stalled a bit in the last few books. It would be really interesting to see some other characters play a bigger part in the story at some point. Many of these characters have been around since the beginning, so getting more info on them would be really cool!

As a fan of the series, I would put Rage among my favorites. This series offers plenty of entertainment with a vivid setting, an interesting cast of characters and clever investigations of a variety of crimes.

After a brutal set up in the opening chapters, we follow Painter’s Mill Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, lead her team and colleagues in solving a double murder. She does so in her usual smart and stubbornly persistent style. This time around the opening crime is just the tip of the iceberg as the plot evolves down a twisty (as well as twisted) path which uncovers connections to some bigger and, sadly, sordid contemporary issues.

Among the pluses: the pace which is a nice balance of police procedures with page-turning action; the authenticity that Kate’s background brings to the plot. Having grown up Amish, she has great insight into their way of life and the path of those who chose to leave as did several characters; and the ongoing development of the characters and series storylines.

There are two bothersome issues I have to mention. The first, her personal disregard for her own safety by walking into dangerous situations. It has happened multiple times in recent books where she is injured but, fortunately, she always calls for back up in advance and recovers quickly. The other is that, as clever as she is, she somehow didn’t notice doors that locked from the outside...

I highly recommend Rage but, if you are new to the series, I would also recommend reading a few of the earlier ones first - although not required.


FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early e-copy of this book!

I couldn't believe my luck when this turned-up on NetGalley. Every summer I look forward to the new Kate Burkholder mystery, and I was ecstatic about getting a jump start on my summer, and being lucky enough to read it early. This is the 17th Kate Burkholder mystery in Linda Castillo's series, and although you can start with this one, you will be missing the rich history of Painter's Mill, Ohio and all of its Amish and English residents if you start here rather than at the beginning.

Kate Burkholder is formerly Amish, and is police chief of a little town called Painter's Mill in the heart of Ohio's Amish country. It is the hottest and stickiest part of the summer and Kate, along with her husband John Tomasetti (who is employed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) are called to investigate a murder. A group of Amish children have discovered a leg, shallowly buried in the woods. The investigation team soon discovers the rest of the body--also in pieces. It is the body of Samuel Yutzy, an Amish man who owns the local nursery. At first Kate struggles to find a connection as to why he was so brutally murdered. Does it have anything to do with the owner of the local microbrewery, who was suing Samuel for some landscaping work he was unsatisfied with? Does it have to do with the mysterious woman whose picture Kate finds in Samuel's house? Is it connected to the local bar that employs exotic dancers? Were his friends involved?

Linda Castillo does enjoy putting Kate through the ringer, and as with most of the stories, Kate ends up in the hospital after being roughed-up by someone who believes she's gotten too close to solving the murder. Kate's insurance company must love her! Nevertheless, I always enjoy taking a trip back to Painter's Mill, Ohio. I like catching up with some of the other employees of the Painter's Mill Police department, and I always enjoy hearing about the latest renovations on John and Kate's farm. Linda Castillo also includes wonderful descriptions of Ohio Amish Country and Amish Culture. She has done a ton of research on this front, and she even includes passages of Kate speaking with Amish people in Pennsylvania Dutch.

Linda Castillo has created one of modern crime fiction’s most iconic characters in Kate Burkholder. Raised Amish, but left the order, and is now the Chief of Police in the small Ohio town of Painters Mill. One would think such a small, rural community would be free of major crime, but anyone who has followed this series knows otherwise. In this story, Samuel Eicher, a young Amish man with a checkered past who has resurrected himself and established a new life as a landscaper, has gone missing. Simultaneously, a murdered, dismembered, and partially buried body is located. It’s Samuel. Kate and her husband, BCI Investigator John Tomasetti, dive into the investigation. Then, the body of Samuel’s best friend, Aaron Shelter, turns up stuffed in a barrel and deposited in a ravine. To Kate, the murders don’t seem to be the work of locals and are more likely perpetrated by outside forces. But who? And why? What could Samuel and Aaron have been involved in? As Kate digs into what becomes a dark and convoluted investigation, she becomes the target of the ruthless killers. Wonderfully written and plotted, this latest in the series is a must read.


DP Lyle, award-winning author (Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series), Lecturer, and Story Consultant and Co-creator of The Outliers Writing University
https://www.dplylemd.com/

Linda Castillo st her best! Once again Sheriff Kate, former Amish solves the murders if three young Amish people. The murders seem unrelated but, her questions nearly cost her her life as she discovers a trafficking ring and the unscrupulously men behind it. Very exciting and believable. Highly recommended.