Returning back to the world of Painters Mill, didn’t disappoint. This time Chief of Police Kate, finds herself smack dab in a double homicide in her small and quaint town. The targets? The Amish. Some Amish kids on their Rumspringa have decided to live in the English world, and sadly, some of them are being exploited. This was an intense investigation, and I felt like I was on the edge of my seat several times. Especially at a certain scene. OMG *cover my eyes*
The narrator, Kathleen McInerney did a good job overall. She portrayed several characters very well but I did struggle with the medical examiner's voice, but other than that it was amazing to hear the tones and inflections used for the multiple characters.
This series is perfect for readers who crave police procedural. I’m happy to say that this can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous books, but they are on my radar.

A very special thanks to Minotaur Books + Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy.

I found myself in Painters Mill again! Love having a new installment with our favorite sheriff, Kate Burkholder. This time, Amish children make a grotesque discovery that leads Kate and the team on a twisty path that leads to murder and sex crimes.
This is a dark read, but not graphic. You don’t have to read it as a series, by why wouldn’t you want to?
Kate gets herself in some sticky situations and I’d really like her to learn to have back-up, or at least Tomasetti, her husband. That’d be nice. Not her style thought I guess.
I listened to this in audiobook format and it was very well done and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review.

Every year I look forward to Linda Castillo's latest Kate Burkholder installment. Rage is book #17 and I enjoyed it just as much as book #1!

Once again we return to Painter's Mill to see all that's going on with former Amish/Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her hubby John from the Ohio Bureau of Investigations. As usual, there is a murder or two or three to solve in this Amish community. I love watching Kate figure it all out and of course she always ends up in a bit of trouble along the way. I have been reading this series since 2017 and have faithfully and eagerly looked forward to each installment. I hope there are many more to come!

Kathleen McInerney does a wonderful job as usual narrating this series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to the audio version of Rage! It is always a pleasure to sit back and immerse myself in her latest! All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 8 July 2025

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Linda Castillo, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Kathleen McInerney. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Three Amish children make a gruesome discovery in Painters Mill, and Police Chief Kate Burkholder is on the case to discover who would dismember a young Amish man. It's not long before another body is discovered. Just what is happening in her community? Will she be the next victim?

I have been reading the loving this series since the first book, and now that we are on #17, it just keeps getting better. It's a wonderful police procedural set in Amish country, and while each book could be read as a stand alone, they are much better read in order. That way, you get to see the progression of the characters' personal lives as well. This is the second book that I have mostly listened to on audiobook, and enjoy hearing the Amish language spoken aloud. This latest chapter has everything you've come to expect from this series, so don't miss it!

4.5 stars rounded up- NO SPOILERS

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC! This is one of my favorite thriller series and I was excited to get an early listen!

Linda has done it again! I started this series during COVID and I have read every single book she’s written ever since. Each of her books feels so different, but brings back the familiar characters from the series. This book kept me at the edge of my seat, and I didn’t guess the ending in this story. The narrator was great and really pulled me into the story. Can’t wait for her next book!

I have read this series from book 1 and always look forward to the next one. I LOVE Kate!

Kate is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill. When the dismembered body of a young Amish man is found, Kate is on the case. Then a second body is found. And the two were friends. Kate and her FBI husband John Thomasetti work together to navigate their way through the very private Amish community.

I love the entire series. I love that insights into Amish life, and how Kate manages both sides to her advantage and help her community. I ALWAYS get through these books in one “sitting”.

I did the audiobook version and the narrator, Kathleen McInerney is so good with her the emotion and intonation of her voice. She is truly the voice of Kate to me.

If you like mystery and learning something new you will love this!

Thank you @NetGalley for the complimentary copy of #Rage in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to @Macmillan.Audio for approving my request.

This was my first venture into Painters Mill, it will definitely not be my last. Summer is already bringing the heat in Painters Mill. The story starts off with a brutal murder. A few days later, a group if Amish children from the nearby Amish community stumble across a dismembered body. Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, is caught up with the first scene when another body is discovered. Kate uses her former Amish heritage to gain the trust of the Amish people as she gets more question than answers as the investigation unfolds. This was a very fast paced well written story. Kate gets herself into stome pretty sticky situation. The chemistry between her and her fellow officer's is great. A very enjoyable read and listen.

The narrator, Kathleen McInerney,  was spot on.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio / St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for the ALC.

I don't know if it's because I haven't read the other books in this series, or what, but I cannot get into this. I listened to the first ~50% and am not enjoying the story or the narratation. I'm not connecting with the main character (again perhaps because I haven't read any of the rest of the series) and that is making it hard to care about the story. For me it's a DNF and I don't plan to review it publicly.

Thank you for the opportunity and the ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this title. This is the latest installment of the Kate Burkholder series. In this title, bodies start turning up in Painter's Mill, and Kate has to figure out how they are connected to a local nightclub and Country Club, and the employees that work at both places. As usual, the mystery is fast-paced and tightly plotted, and I am always ready for it to continue.

I believe this is the 2nd or 3rd I've read from this series, and HOLY COW! She reels you in, tugs on the string, and then... you're a gone-r!!! Totally obsessed!! Right from the get-go!!

Detective Kate Burkhardt is definitely one-of-a-kind.
She's a kick ass, no-nonsense law enforcement agent with a spine of steel, and a husband who's a marshmallow...and yet, he's a tough guy too!
Oh, and did I mention that she was brought up Amish, raised in their ideals and ways?? And left them when she was just a kid? So she has a truly different perspective on the things that go on in her mostly quiet neighborhood! 😮😮😮

This one opens up with some kids playing in the field, when they come upon what they think is a scarecrow or a mannequin. Instead, they come to find a body... or at least parts of it. 😕😫
Kate and her husband, and their respective teams are called.

BUT, this is only the tip of the iceberg!
Because what they uncover as the story unfurls may just change the entire landscape of the place they know and love, and call home... as well as many of the inhabitants of the place.

This one will make you gasp, tear up, curse, kiss the ground you're walking on... and a whole lot more!

All the stars for me on this one!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫

#RAGE by @LindaCastillo and narrated nicely by @KathleenMcInerney.

*** RELEASE DATE IS COMING SOON ON JULY 8, 2025 !! ***
***SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES SOON!!!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Linda Castillo’s book series is the most engaging I’ve ever read—each installment pulls me in from the first page and never lets go. I absolutely love all of her books; the character development is rich and compelling, making me feel deeply connected to the people in Painters Mill. The narrator brings every scene to life with phenomenal delivery, enhancing the suspense and emotional depth in a way that keeps me coming back for more.

This is book 17 in the Kate Burkholder series. I enjoy them even if I haven’t read them all. I like this thriller/mystery series involving the Amish because it is so different than anything else I read. I understand this is a small town sheriff but I thought it took a silly amount of time for the law enforcement agencies to figure out what was happening in this one. I liked the mystery in general and thought it was good, but I also thought it was silly that no matter how many times it went badly Kate refused to wait for back up even when it wasn’t an urgent matter. Other than that I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick read and definitely entertaining. Kate is called to the scene when some Amish children found a couple of severed body parts. This leads her on an investigation that discovers more than one life was lost in this small town.

Rage, the 17th book in the of Kate Burkholder series, is my first exposure to the work of Linda Castillo. Burkholder, who moved away from her Amish upbringing in a previous book, is the Chief of Police in the small town of Painters Mill. Rage starts with the discovery of a dismembered body (quickly identified) to be Samuel Eicher, a young landscaper who is also Amish. The investigation moves along, a second body is soon found, and Kate ultimately finds herself in grave danger.

I really liked this audiobook and came close to finishing it in one day. While none of the victims were a surprise to me, I didn’t have a good guess as to what was going on and I found the ultimate resolution to be satisfying. The book moves at a quick pace and really held my attention.

Maybe having been spoiled by the Harrison Ford movie Witness, I had higher expectations of an immersion into the Amish culture than what I experienced. I always get excited when thrillers take place in a unique setting, and some of my favorite books were set in Alaska, Norway, and Australia. As I’m 16 books behind, I have no doubt that the culture was more thoroughly covered in the author’s earlier work.

This audiobook, like the others in the series, is narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She does a very good job of distinguishing the voices of different characters. I listened at a 1.25 speed.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to listen to Rage. I will watch for future entries into the series. The above opinions are my own.

This was my first book by this author. While this was a book that was a part of a series, all of the storyline seemed to make sense even as a stand alone. I am excited to go back and read the rest of this series now based on what I read with this book. The characters were great and the storyline was super suspenseful.

Thanks NetGalley for the audio version of Rage! I still love this series but do feel it's getting time to come to an end. I mean how many times can one person be kidnapped, beat, shot at, etc and survive? I still really enjoy the setting and plot lines! When someone comes in the library looking for a good series it will always be my first recommendation. Maybe Kate and Thomas Eddie can start a family soon and ride off into the sunset LOL

Linda Castillo delivers a chilling, tightly wound mystery that digs deep into the complexities of grief, justice, and vengeance. In Rage, Chief Kate Burkholder is pulled into a harrowing case when a seemingly isolated act of violence exposes a web of dark secrets hiding beneath the surface of a quiet Amish community.

With Castillo’s blend of atmospheric tension and authentic character development, this installment grabs you from the opening pages and refuses to let go. The emotional depth is as gripping as the procedural drama, and Kate’s moral conflicts hit harder than ever.

📖 Fast-paced, gritty, and emotionally resonant—Rage is a standout for fans of crime thrillers with heart. If you’re into layered mysteries and strong female leads who won’t back down, this one’s for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Linda Castillo and MacMillan Audio for the ALC of this book.

Linda Castillo's books about the Amish of Ohio are dark, sinister and give a look at the life of the Amish. Describing lifestyle and customs as well as using vernacular language adds to the atmosphere of the stories. I have never been to the Amish community in Ohio but I am a bit familiar with the Amish of PA as I have friends that live in Lancaster.

Castillo's stories are often tragic and explore the time when the Amish youth get a chance to see what the non-Amish life can be like. Often the naive ways of the Amish lead to sadness, mistakes and sometimes disaster. This is the story of Rage by Linda Castillo.

4⭐
Genre ~ police procedural
Series ~ Kate Burkholder, #17
Others in the series ~ the whole series
Setting ~ Ohio
Publication date ~ July 8, 2025
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 296 (p+ 28 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 17 minutes
Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
POV ~ single 1st, and 3rd
Featuring ~ murder, violence, long chapters

Kate and her team are back investigating more brutal murders. This time it’s 21 year old men just trying to make a decent living, or were they…

I just have to wonder if Kate gets a new Explorer every time because it seems to get beat up every book, just like her. Man she takes a thrashing, but keeps on doing her best for Painter’s Mill. The whole team’s investigative skills are top notch. If my death was suspicious I'd want them on the case.

Anyway, another wonderful, brutal and action packed edition to the series.

Series notes:
I think you should read them all in order because they’re great, but I suppose it’s not absolutely necessary. Each book follows a different murder, but Kate’s life is progressing.

Narration notes:
A bit robotic at times, but she does well overall.

Whenever Linda Castillo releases a new Kate Burkholder book, it's on my "must be read" list. I really enjoy these books about a former Amish, now Chief of Police, who solves crimes in Amish country in Ohio. Kate is non-stop until she solves the crime, no matter if she has to put herself in danger.

The stories are always well told and the reader is pulled into the narrative right away. In this book, a young Amish man, who started a very successful tree business is killed. When his body is discovered under disturbing conditions, Kate leaps into the investigation. And the connections start to spiral outward.

Although the personal details of the main characters continue through the series, there is nothing to keep a new reader from completely enjoying this book.

I have both the e-book and the audio version. The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, is absolutely the voice of Kate Burkholder. I enjoy listening to her voice and envisioning Kate.

Long-running series aren’t for everyone, but I absolutely love coming back to a new Kate Burkholder novel each year. There's something comforting about returning to a familiar cast, a narrator whose voice feels like an old friend, and an author whose writing you can count on to deliver. Even the first chapter never fails to give me goosebumps — Castillo always starts with a bang.

Each case is unique, and Rage was a true nail-biter. Kate ends up neck-deep in danger more than once, and the twists kept me hooked. What makes this series stand out is how it blends thrilling mystery with insight into the Amish community. If you’re even a little bit curious about Amish life in the U.S., this book (and series) is a must.

Kate is such a compelling character: a former Amish woman who was excommunicated at 18 and later returned as the Chief of Police in the same rural area. Her journey of rebuilding family ties while solving dark, disturbing crimes gives the series real emotional depth. It’s fascinating — and chilling — to see how these seemingly peaceful communities can hide such sinister secrets.

For fans of crime fiction and character-driven thrillers, the Kate Burkholder series continues to deliver. Rage is no exception.