Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder has found herself in the middle of a terrible murder. A young Amish man, Samuel is dismembered and left in a field. It's not long until a second body is found in a barrel, it's that of Samuel's childhood friend Aaron. The two worked on a landscaping job, but how is it all connected? And will Kate make it out alive?

While I did enjoy the plot of Rage, I found the narration rather lacking. The main character Kate, was voiced in a rather halting manner which took me out of the story. I did think the Amish characters were well acted, but overall an uneven listen. 3.25 stars.

I received this advance audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Another winner in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. It is always interesting to be back in Amish country and learn a bit more about their lifestyle with each book. Tomasetti plays an active role in this one, investigating alongside his wife, Chief Burkholder. All,of the department regulars are here, along with Sheriff Rasmussen. Kathleen McInerney does a great job narrating this book, as she does all in the Kate Burkholder series.

Every so often you pick up book 17 in a long-running mystery series, having read exactly zero of the previous ones, and you just... dive in like you’re not about to get emotionally walloped by a bunch of dismembered bodies and a heat wave. That was me with "Rage" by Linda Castillo, and honestly? No regrets. Just sweat, stress, and an intense need to start this series from the beginning because what the hell did I just walk into.

Chief Kate Burkholder is a former Amish cop with trauma, instincts, and more bruises than should be legal in a single work week. When three Amish kids stumble across literal body parts in the woods, it kicks off an investigation that spirals faster than a church potluck gossip train. The victim? A young Amish man named Samuel with a plant nursery, a landscaping business, and some sketchy connections. And early in the investigation, it turns out another Amish man is missing and he just happens to be Samuel’s best friend. So yeah. Business as gruesual.

This is not your average cozy crime. We’re talking murder, trafficking, and a town so tight-lipped you’d think secrets were a form of currency. The deeper Kate digs, the darker it gets, and soon she’s knee-deep in a case that drags her right into the most messed-up corners of her community. It’s grim, it's gritty, and it doesn’t flinch from the ugliness.

Kate is a full-blown disaster goddess and I adore her. She gets chased, nearly flattened, emotionally steamrolled, and still keeps coming back swinging. I don’t know what kind of spine she has, but it’s definitely reinforced steel and stubbornness. Her husband Tomasetti (solid brooding energy, BCI badge, great hair in my head) makes a few appearances, and I now fully understand why long-time readers are shipping them like it’s their full-time job.

The procedural aspects are sharp and unsettling. And the setting? Painters Mill is like if "Twin Peaks" and "Witness" had a very bloody baby. Amish life is portrayed with respect, but it doesn’t shy away from the complexities. Castillo knows how to build a world where peace and horror sit uncomfortably close.

Kathleen McInerney absolutely crushes the audiobook narration. Her delivery is clean, immersive, and perfectly balances the tension with character nuance. I’m fully convinced she is Kate Burkholder. And shoutout to the pacing — this book wastes no time dragging you straight into emotional quicksand and then tossing you a plot twist when you least expect it.

Do I now need to read all sixteen previous books? Yes. Immediately. Because if this is where the series is now, I need the whole unhinged origin story.

Four stars, easily. For the brutality, the badassery, the twisted moral knots, and the fact that Castillo made me side-eye every tree-lined road for miles.

Whodunity Award: For Crimes Most Dismembered In An Otherwise Peaceful Town

Big thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early access to the audiobook. And to Kathleen McInerney, for delivering a performance so good it had me pausing just to yell, “Kate, NO”.

It is always so much fun to jump back in with Kate Burkholder and see what shenanigans the not so peaceful Amish people are up to in Painters Mill. Usually police procedurals are hard for me to fully connect with but Linda Castillo has a perfect balance of mystery and intrigue built into her plots that keep me hooked.
Kate finds her self racing against time to figure out why young Amish men and women are turning up brutally murdered . Of course she excapes some pretty intense situations and outsmarts the bad guys all while keeping things steamy with her husband John Tomasetti. This book could of course be read as a stand alone, which is great, however you will not want to miss out on the previous installments,
I do hope in future books we get more glimpses into John and Kate's life.
Either way I am already looking forward to my next visit to Painters Mill-however be on the look out you are not safe as it seems there is a murder every year! But our heroine will be there in her Ford Explorer!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review this advanced copy of Rage. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for my honest original review.

This is a book in a series. However, you don't have to have read the other books. It follows a detective that used to be Amish. She must solve a case involving the murder of 2 Amish men. I enjoyed the story and writing style. I wasn't lost starting with the most recent book. I listened to the audiobook. Kathleen McInerney does a great job as narrator. She handles both the female and male voices extremely well.

Much thanks to Linda Castillo, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spoilers

I find it baffling that Kate and Co didn't suspect sex trafficking until the eleventh hour, when it was fairly obvious to me as soon as they visited the strip club. Vulnerable young women + super shady business + creepy men with zero respect for women = illegal sex trade going on.

I found the heat entirely relatable, as we just had very humid indices of 103-105 over the past weekend. Not fun.

Not entirely sure why the title is "Rage." No one was particularly motivated by anger.

For as often as Kate talked about being nauseous, I half suspected she was pregnant, but that was shot down. And that's fine, she and Tomasetti need home to be their sanctuary away from work.

Loved it overall. Very compelling case, love Kate's friendships with her deputies, love her relationship with Tomasetti.

Linda Castillo has done it again. I was in a listening slump and tried several audio books and gave up on all of them. Just when I thought I wasn't in the listening mood, I started this one and I can't even explain it - there's just something about Castillo's writing that draws the reader in and Kathleen McInerney always does a fantastic job narrating this series! Once again Kate is called to solve a murder in her Amish town of Painters Mill, a 21-year-old Amish man has been murdered and his body dismembered. Before Kate can even get started, a second body of another Amish man is found. Yet no one in the small town is willing (or their too scared) to talk about what's going on. With very little info to go on, and the rumor of sex trafficking, Kate must work relentlessly to find the killers before it's too late and more lives are lost. I really enjoyed it and always look forward to the next one!

It’s hard to believe this is the 17th book in the series. I have enjoyed every one of them as audiobooks and Kathleen McInerney continues to bring the characters to life in this latest book. They mystery behind the double murders was very suspenseful and kept me interested throughout the narration. My one and only complaint is how much damage Kate continues to take and the amount of stupid decisions she makes. As the police chief some of the things that happened to her shouldn’t or wouldn’t be happening to her at her rank in a department even if the department is extremely small.

As always, a compelling mystery full of violence and inhumanity, where the innocence of the Amish intersects with the cruelty of modern criminals. I don't know how the author keeps creating these gripping, disturbing stories but I love them and wish her many more.Iin fact I recommended them to a room full of people recently and everyone was curious about such a fascinating premise.

I had no idea Rage was book number 17 in the series, but I just started reading it anyway and felt like I got everything. The Amish setting really made the story feel spooky and intense in a good way. Fair warning, it gets pretty gross, they don't hold back on describing dismembered bodies and all sorts of nasty smells but I was totally hooked. The book moved quickly, the mystery was gripping, and the person reading it did a fantastic job.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Kathleen McInerney does a stupendous job narrating this story.

Kate Burkholder is back with another Amish murder mystery!

Amish children discover a young Amish man who has been shot and dismembered. He may have been involved in something illegal, but no one seems to want to talk. Then there are two more murders of young Amish people who were breaking away during their rumspringa, and it becomes clear that something evil is going on.

This is another great installment in this series! It can be read as a standalone as well. This has strong police and medical procedure along with the darker underbelly of life. I think it is great that the crime was tied to some contemporary societal problems.

Rage, the 17th installment in Linda Castillo's long-running series, holds up to the standard set throughout the previous works. Once again, through first person narration, the reader is placed in the eyes of Chief of Police Kate Burkholder, as she investigates multiple murders of Amish young adults in Ohio. With the help of her loyal staff and her husband, John Tomasetti, a Bureau of Criminal Investigation officer, Kate unravels the crimes like peeling an onion, layer by layer. As readers have come to expect, Castillo writes vividly and equally adeptly at creating complex but plausible plots, developing characters, and describing physical environments. Kathleen McInerney's expert narration is a bonus addition to the text; she brings life to the characters in what is the second-best form of "reading," reading for oneself being my preferred form. There are times when I wanted to scream at Kate for taking chances that seemed reckless. After so many years of experience, she should know better. Most fans of the series will not be disappointed.

I have been a big fan of this series of books and the main character Kate Burkholder, but this one was a little of a let down. The plot was intriguing and as always, the beginning scenes of the book hooks you with the storyline. I didn't like that the author used Kate making stupid decisions and risking her life multiple times to just move the plot along. Although the mystery aspect was a little lacking, there was a good bit of suspense and this was a quick read. As always, the narration of this series was spot on.

Book 17 in the Kate Burkholder series! It can be read as a stand alone, however reading others in the series will give you a better understanding of the characters and community dynamics.

That said, this was another intriguing, suspenseful and solid listen. The same narrator, Kathleen McInerney? has done the entire series and her voice is connect d to these characters for me. Her narration is stellar. I’ve listened to all 17 over the years and look forward to each new installment.

The story takes place in Painters Mill, Ohio in Amish country. The author does a good job of educating the reader about the customs and beliefs of the Amish community. Kate and her husband, Tomasetti, are both members of law enforcement and in this book they stumble into a disturbing underworld while investigating multiple murders. Descriptions of the setting, emotions, thoughts and relationships are well done.

The story drew me in and kept my interest throughout. I found myself talking out loud in frustration with Kate and her tendency to put herself in harms way! I know a book is good when it evokes strong emotions from me.

Without giving any spoilers, trigger warnings regarding the subject matter should be noticed. Nothing too graphic, but may be disturbing for some.

I received and arc from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and leave my review voluntarily.

Kate is a total badass, and the continued development of her and Tomasetti proves Painters Mill still holds plenty of secrets. The pacing was solid, the story compelling, and Castillo’s writing is as strong as ever. I’m giving this a 4.3, rounded down to 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a layered mystery that I really enjoyed! From the chilling opening to the final reveal, I was hooked. Kate Burkholder is such a solid lead, and I liked how the story dug into the darker sides of the Amish community. Some parts felt a bit familiar, but the tension and emotional weight kept me invested. A solid, satisfying read!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Author: Linda Castillo

Genres: Fiction/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Chief Kate Burkholder has been called to investigate two murders in Painter's Mill. 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish was dismembered, and his friend Aaron Shelter was found miles away in a barrel dumped in the ravine. Now, Chief Kate Burkholder must uncover the dark and unsettling events that led to their brutal murders. As she digs deeper, hidden secrets begin to surface—ones that could explain why these two young Amish men met such violent ends.

Tropes and Themes: Amish mystery, small town secrets, cultural differences, and sex trafficking.

Thoughts: Linda Castillo is such an amazing writer. I was thrilled when approved to listen to the audiobook. First, I absolutely loved Kathleen McInerney’s narration. Her voice perfectly matched the tone of the book and kept me fully engaged throughout. One of the best parts was hearing her speak the Amish language, creating authenticity and it made the story even more immersive. I couldn’t stop listening.

Furthermore, I really love how the author identified that sex trafficking, grooming and recruitment occurs in all cultures and communities. This type of behavior is occurring more frequently not only with females but males as well. This type of "business" is dark, often very tragic and when others choose not to speak out, it continues to fester itself throughout society. Samuel began to identify that his actions had become detrimental to others, which did not align with the values and beliefs of his faith. However, it was too late when he decided to step away from this other life he created for himself.

Overall, I really love how the author uses vivid imagery to bring the scenes to life. It makes it so easy to picture the scenes as if I was watching a movie. Linda Castillo never ceases to amaze me as she is an amazing storyteller. This was definitely a five-star read.

For anyone who enjoys a gritty, plainspoken cop story, TAGE by Linda Castillo will positively fill the bill. The farming community, Painters Mill, sits squarely in Ohio's Amish country, which is known for its closed, protective family environment. Except when it isn't. It transpires that, before being formally baptized, 20-something Amish men sometimes sow some wild oats amongst the "Englischer." After a few of those oats end-up with the pole dancers at The Cheetah Lounge, one young Amish man's dismembered body is found in a shallow grave and another's is packed in a barrel. Enter Chief Kate Burkholder, head of understaffed local police force and, herself, raised as Amish. The murders are baffling! The young men were good friends, had no known enemies, and were well thought-of among the Amish. But Kate discovers a sinister side to the Cheetah that has spilled into the seemingly bucolic community. Then, a young woman is also murdered, which is unheard of in Planters Mill. Kate's search for the killers gives us the kind of well-plotted thriller that makes for a real page-turner.

Kate Burkholder is back! The ex-Amish cop we all know and love returns in another gripping installment—and once again, her passion and dedication to protect her people shine through.

Linda Castillo delivers yet another strong addition to the series. The mystery surrounding the brutal murder of Amish boy Samuel Eicher is intense, and Kate gives it everything she’s got to find the truth. The story flows so well, with the perfect mix of emotion and suspense.

I also love Kate’s team—though I always find myself wishing for more Tomasetti scenes (he’s definitely my book boyfriend in this series!).

A solid, page-turning mystery that keeps the series going strong. Can’t wait for the next one!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

I had the opportunity to read Rage: A Novel by Linda Castillo, the latest installment in the Kate Burkholder series. This is the second book I’ve read in the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Castillo once again delivers a layered and compelling mystery that explores the complexities of life on the fringes of the Amish community.

One of the things I really appreciate about this series is how accessible each book is—you don’t need to have read the others to understand or enjoy the story. The author weaves in just enough background to keep new readers informed without slowing down the plot. The character of Kate continues to evolve in meaningful ways, and the plot was filled with unexpected twists that kept me turning pages.

Castillo’s attention to cultural detail and emotional nuance really elevate the story. This was a strong, engaging read and a great example of why I keep coming back to this series. I’m looking forward to picking up more of these books in the future.