Linda Castillo - Kate Burkholder series

[RuqeeD]

Starting with Sworn to Silence, the series features Kate Burkholder the Chief of Police in small town Painter's Creek, Ohio.
I guess the reason why I like this series is not just the crime thrillers/murder mysteries but because Linda Castillo has decided to write this within a English/Amish backdrop. She explores the life of the Amish through Kate who used to be Amish before she renounced or was ex-communicated and since this is a culture I have little knowledge in, I enjoyed her explorations into their way of living. That being said, I don't know how much liberty she's taken with the culture although she does point out in the Author's Note she tries to keep things as close to her experience with the Amish as possible.

Kate's character progression through the books (there have only been three so far) from not really wanting to have any involvement with the community she used to be a part of due to a tragic past and then having to out of necessity (that's where the murder aspect comes in) is really enjoyable to read. The presence of the secondary but important character is an almost washed out FBI agent John Tomasetti who has an equally dark past. His help and burgeoning relationship with Kate gives the Series some punch.

The latest book, Breaking Silence, has been my favourite so far. Kate is called out to an Amish farm to find three adults dead leaving four kids orphaned - as she delves deeper into the family she finds secrets and unexplained mysteries that turn the tragic deaths into something more shocking.

[bizworldusagcm]

Kate's character progression through the books (there have only been three so far) from not really wanting to have any involvement with the community she used to be a part of due to a tragic past and then having to out of necessity (that's where the murder aspect comes in) is really enjoyable to read. The presence of the secondary but important character is an almost washed out FBI agent John Tomasetti who has an equally dark past. His help and burgeoning relationship with Kate gives the Series some punch.


thank you.
BLACKLISTED

[Carrie R]

I've enjoyed her books, and I see she has a fourth one out now called "Gone Missing." I'll have to reserve it at my library. At the rate she's going, Kate Burkholder's Amish community will have one of the highest crime rates around.