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Kate Burkholder #3
Breaking Silence
Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.
The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?
Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.
302 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2011
1,616 people are currently reading
7,833 people want to read
About the author
Linda Castillo
92 books6,195 followersLinda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Award” for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,845 reviews
September 1, 2021
Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder #3) by Linda Castillo (Author), Kathleen McInerney (Narrator)
Kate Burkholder has her hands full once again. Three adults have died in a manure pit accident, leaving 4 kids parentless. When the coroner finds one adult had a head injury, the deaths turn from accidental to something worse.
There have also been a spate of Amish hate crimes that are getting more violent as time goes on. Are these crimes all connected? John arrives from the big city to help with the investigation.
I'm liking John more and more as the series goes on. Kate isn't doing so well and the orphaned kids and their family problems are triggering Kate's trauma from her past. Kate needs professional help badly but she's not about to reach out for help. Instead she's drinking like a fish and going so far as to drive and work while drunk. There is a lot of time spent on her personal angst and one can only hope she takes steps to keep herself from spinning future downward.
Kate Burkholder has her hands full once again. Three adults have died in a manure pit accident, leaving 4 kids parentless. When the coroner finds one adult had a head injury, the deaths turn from accidental to something worse.
There have also been a spate of Amish hate crimes that are getting more violent as time goes on. Are these crimes all connected? John arrives from the big city to help with the investigation.
I'm liking John more and more as the series goes on. Kate isn't doing so well and the orphaned kids and their family problems are triggering Kate's trauma from her past. Kate needs professional help badly but she's not about to reach out for help. Instead she's drinking like a fish and going so far as to drive and work while drunk. There is a lot of time spent on her personal angst and one can only hope she takes steps to keep herself from spinning future downward.
May 13, 2020
4.25 Stars
When Chief Burkholder is called to the Slabaugh farm it appears that three members of the Slabaugh family have passed away accidentally, due to methane gas asphyxiation in the barn.
Looks however, are deceiving!
Who on earth would have it in for this nice Amish family?
Leave it to Kate Burkholder and her team to figure it out in this suspenseful thriller! Talk about a wild and crazy ride! I did NOT see this one coming folks! All I can say is Bravo, Linda Castillo, bravo!! As for Kate Burkholder, you rock!
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of this fantastic audiobook! Thank you also to Kathleen McInerney for the stellar narration!
Published on Goodreads on 5.13.20.
When Chief Burkholder is called to the Slabaugh farm it appears that three members of the Slabaugh family have passed away accidentally, due to methane gas asphyxiation in the barn.
Looks however, are deceiving!
Who on earth would have it in for this nice Amish family?
Leave it to Kate Burkholder and her team to figure it out in this suspenseful thriller! Talk about a wild and crazy ride! I did NOT see this one coming folks! All I can say is Bravo, Linda Castillo, bravo!! As for Kate Burkholder, you rock!
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of this fantastic audiobook! Thank you also to Kathleen McInerney for the stellar narration!
Published on Goodreads on 5.13.20.
November 22, 2021
3.5 stars
In this 3rd book in the 'Kate Burkholder' series, the Police Chief has to deal with a series of hate crimes as well as multiple deaths. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is a bonus.
*****
Police Chief Kate Burkholder of Painter's Mill, Ohio was raised Amish, but left the fold after a traumatic incident in her teens. Nevertheless, Kate understands and empathizes with the local Amish community, an insular group that avoids interaction with the 'English.'
Like many minorities, the Painter's Mill Amish are sometimes subject to prejudice and abuse, and - as the story opens - a couple of thugs sneak into an Amish farm and slaughter four sheep.....just for fun. This is followed by other hate crimes such as: a Molotov cocktail being hurled into an Amish buggy; an Amish farmer being beaten, tied, and left out in the freezing cold; an Amish teen being brutalized and slashed with a buggy whip; a deliberately set barn fire that results in a death; and so on.
In the midst of these incidents an Amish family experiences an unthinkable tragedy. Solly Slabaugh, his wife Rachel, and his brother Abel are found dead in the Slabaugh farm's manure pit, where the decomposing hog poop gives off deadly methane gas.
The tragedy leaves four orphans - Mose (17), Salome (15), Samuel (12), and Ike (10) - whose custody becomes a contentious issue. An excommunicated uncle wants to care for the kids, but he's strongly opposed by Amish Bishop Troyer and his congregants.
The Slabaugh disaster seems like an accident at first, but turns out to be murder. Kate and her team investigate with the help of John Tomasetti from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who's also Kate's (secret) boyfriend.
The cops have to figure out whether the Slabaugh deaths are part of the string of hate crimes - or something else - before they can identify and catch the perpetrator. This isn't easy, especially since the persecuted Amish refuse to cooperate with the authorities and won't say what they saw, who attacked them, etc.
The case takes a heavy toll on Kate, who - try as she might - can't avoid getting emotionally involved with the investigation. As a result Kate broods a lot, drinks too much, and has some blind spots in relation to the crimes. Tomasetti, who's very protective, does his best to keep Kate grounded.
The developing romance between Kate and Tomasetti is low-key since they both have distressing histories and problems with commitment. However, Kate does tend to go on a bit about how attractive and sexy Tomasetti is.....so if you like that kind of thing, there you have it! 😍 (LOL)
There are some surprises in the story as well as scenes where Kate is attacked and placed in jeopardy - so there's plenty of excitement. Kate's a very tough cookie, though, who can take care of herself.
I enjoy the 'Kate Burkholder' books, which are well-plotted, well-written, and provide interesting glimpses into Amish life. In this book the author emphasizes how important family is to the Amish, how much they value their children, and how kind they are to other people. It's touching to see Amish friends and neighbors rally around after the Slabaughs are killed - to take care of the children; look after the farm; and see to the livestock.
This is a good book that I'd recommend to readers who enjoy mysteries, especially Kate Burkholder fans.
Though it's best to read the series from the beginning to know the backstories of the main characters, I've found that each book can be read as a standalone without any problems.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
March 5, 2021
Back in 2017 I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it very much. I went on to read book 2 but for some reason that one did not work for me and I left the series there. Until now, when I have been encouraged by a group read to try again. So glad I did.
Breaking Silence is set in an Amish community which is currently experiencing a series of hate crimes. Then three people die on one farm and it appears to be murder. People die in quite extraordinary ways in this series and there is a lot of gruesome detail. There is also a lot of police work which is well written and realistic.
I was so proud of myself for working out who the killer was and then the author threw an incredible curve ball right at the end. Who could have predicted that? Obviously I enjoyed the whole book and I am looking forward to continuing the series.
Breaking Silence is set in an Amish community which is currently experiencing a series of hate crimes. Then three people die on one farm and it appears to be murder. People die in quite extraordinary ways in this series and there is a lot of gruesome detail. There is also a lot of police work which is well written and realistic.
I was so proud of myself for working out who the killer was and then the author threw an incredible curve ball right at the end. Who could have predicted that? Obviously I enjoyed the whole book and I am looking forward to continuing the series.
July 18, 2017
The third in the Kate Burkholder series and also very well done.
There are hate crimes being committed against the Amish and Kate has to figure out if a murder is part of those crimes or something different. The hate crimes are also made more difficult to solve because of the Amish folks’ unwillingness to get involved with the English world. Thus, the title, Breaking the Silence, is especially poignant as Kate strives to get even one of the Amish to do just that.
The more I learn of Kate, the more I appreciate her and feel an affinity with her. She's sharp and insightful but warm and caring. She struggles to find the balance between caring and being impartial. Her relationship with Tomasetti continues to evolve.
This is a straightforward, no nonsense police procedural. The writing is detailed yet crisp, giving you enough color to be able to picture the scenes. And Castillo throws in some spot on commentary such as “insomnia is an insidious thing: a silent and invisible malady that robs the afflicted not only of sleep but also peace of mind, sometimes for months on end.” Or this which I loved - “the alcohol has rendered my IQ somewhere between that of a toddler and a German Shepherd.”
Looking forward to reading the balance of the series.
There are hate crimes being committed against the Amish and Kate has to figure out if a murder is part of those crimes or something different. The hate crimes are also made more difficult to solve because of the Amish folks’ unwillingness to get involved with the English world. Thus, the title, Breaking the Silence, is especially poignant as Kate strives to get even one of the Amish to do just that.
The more I learn of Kate, the more I appreciate her and feel an affinity with her. She's sharp and insightful but warm and caring. She struggles to find the balance between caring and being impartial. Her relationship with Tomasetti continues to evolve.
This is a straightforward, no nonsense police procedural. The writing is detailed yet crisp, giving you enough color to be able to picture the scenes. And Castillo throws in some spot on commentary such as “insomnia is an insidious thing: a silent and invisible malady that robs the afflicted not only of sleep but also peace of mind, sometimes for months on end.” Or this which I loved - “the alcohol has rendered my IQ somewhere between that of a toddler and a German Shepherd.”
Looking forward to reading the balance of the series.
December 17, 2018
An easy 4 stars
This is book 3 in the Kate Burkholder series and although it can be read as a stand alone, you should probably start with book 1 Pray for Silence. There are hate crimes being committed against the Amish, who refuse to cooperate with the English(Amish for outsiders) police. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, Ohio, a small town in Amish country. She was raised Amish, but left for the outside world as a teenager.
There are many twists and turns in this book and I read it in 3 days, finding it hard to put down half way through. Some of the elements involved in this story: incest, buried secrets and Kate's own memories of a traumatic incident in her Amish past.
One quote: "Killing someone changes you in ways most people can never understand. It stains your soul with ineffable darkness."
This is book 3 in the Kate Burkholder series and although it can be read as a stand alone, you should probably start with book 1 Pray for Silence. There are hate crimes being committed against the Amish, who refuse to cooperate with the English(Amish for outsiders) police. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, Ohio, a small town in Amish country. She was raised Amish, but left for the outside world as a teenager.
There are many twists and turns in this book and I read it in 3 days, finding it hard to put down half way through. Some of the elements involved in this story: incest, buried secrets and Kate's own memories of a traumatic incident in her Amish past.
One quote: "Killing someone changes you in ways most people can never understand. It stains your soul with ineffable darkness."
June 22, 2015
Following a series of attacks directed at the Amish community, law enforcement concludes they are hate crimes. When the Slabaugh parents and uncle, Amish farmers, are found dead in their barn, it's not immediately clear whether the crimes are related. One of the many issues pursued by Kate and her team is to investigate all and determine if there is a connection.
This story had so many twists and turns I almost got whiplash! Every time I thought I had things solved, another wrench would be thrown into my suppositions. As with the first two books, the crimes are gritty and require multi jurisdictional support. Connecting the clues was a wonderful challenge.
Kate and John Tomasetti make progress in their relationship but it's not easy. I really like how they're portrayed, boils and all, adding a strong, realistic element to their story.
I'm hopelessly hooked on this series, especially the audio performance by Kathleen McInerney who continues to make a really good story exceptional. I've already got the next book in the queue.
This story had so many twists and turns I almost got whiplash! Every time I thought I had things solved, another wrench would be thrown into my suppositions. As with the first two books, the crimes are gritty and require multi jurisdictional support. Connecting the clues was a wonderful challenge.
Kate and John Tomasetti make progress in their relationship but it's not easy. I really like how they're portrayed, boils and all, adding a strong, realistic element to their story.
I'm hopelessly hooked on this series, especially the audio performance by Kathleen McInerney who continues to make a really good story exceptional. I've already got the next book in the queue.
July 6, 2020
3,5 Sterne
Kann ich sagen, dass mich dieser Thriller sehr gut unterhalten hat oder kommt das zu morbide rüber? :D
Aber genau das war dieses Buch für mich: gute, solide Unterhaltung, bei der es sich leicht abschalten lies, da man der Handlung doch recht leicht folgen kann. Wie vielleicht der ein oder andere weiß bin ich nicht die allergrößte Thriller-Leserin, aber ab und an verlangt es mir einfach nach einem gepflegten Mord, der mit allen Mitteln der Kunst aufgeklärt wird.
Ich fand die Handlung hier sehr vielfältig, da es neben dem einen großen Fall, auch noch mehrere kleinere Delikte gegen die Amischen aufzuklären gilt. Die Spannung kam hierbei zwar irgendwie ab und an etwas zu kurz, vor allem zur Mitte des Buches. Dennoch fand ich das Ende dann wieder sehr spannend und ich habe auch mit den Plottwists nicht gerechnet (außer mit einem, da hatte ich so eine Ahnung...).
Was mir die Bücher aber leider immer etwas vermiest ist unsere Protagonistin Kate Burkholder, ich werde mit ihr und ihrer Art einfach nicht warm. Sie ist mir stellenweise einfach zu widersprüchlich bzw. inkonsistent in ihren Handlungen/Gedanken. Ebenso wenig weiß ich übrigens mit John anzufangen... Aber ansonsten sind das bisher immer solide Thriller für Zwischendurch gewesen und ich werde die Reihe definitiv auch weiterverfolgen, da ich das Setting ziemlich spannend finde.
Kann ich sagen, dass mich dieser Thriller sehr gut unterhalten hat oder kommt das zu morbide rüber? :D
Aber genau das war dieses Buch für mich: gute, solide Unterhaltung, bei der es sich leicht abschalten lies, da man der Handlung doch recht leicht folgen kann. Wie vielleicht der ein oder andere weiß bin ich nicht die allergrößte Thriller-Leserin, aber ab und an verlangt es mir einfach nach einem gepflegten Mord, der mit allen Mitteln der Kunst aufgeklärt wird.
Ich fand die Handlung hier sehr vielfältig, da es neben dem einen großen Fall, auch noch mehrere kleinere Delikte gegen die Amischen aufzuklären gilt. Die Spannung kam hierbei zwar irgendwie ab und an etwas zu kurz, vor allem zur Mitte des Buches. Dennoch fand ich das Ende dann wieder sehr spannend und ich habe auch mit den Plottwists nicht gerechnet (außer mit einem, da hatte ich so eine Ahnung...).
Was mir die Bücher aber leider immer etwas vermiest ist unsere Protagonistin Kate Burkholder, ich werde mit ihr und ihrer Art einfach nicht warm. Sie ist mir stellenweise einfach zu widersprüchlich bzw. inkonsistent in ihren Handlungen/Gedanken. Ebenso wenig weiß ich übrigens mit John anzufangen... Aber ansonsten sind das bisher immer solide Thriller für Zwischendurch gewesen und ich werde die Reihe definitiv auch weiterverfolgen, da ich das Setting ziemlich spannend finde.
May 5, 2018
The third book in the Kate Burkholder series and going strong. This is one of my favorite new (to me) series.
The story opens with a pair of men committing a hate crime. Sneaking onto the farm of an Amish woman and killing her sheep. This is just the latest in a series of similar hate crimes against the Amish around Painters Mill. Then things taken an even more gruesome turn. The on duty police officer gets another call. There are three people down in a manure pit at the Slabaugh farm.
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder gets called out too. The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children. The parents and an uncle are found dead in a poorly ventilated cesspit in the barn. At first it would appear to be a tragic accident but during the autopsy the coroner discovers that one of the victims had suffered a head wound before death. It was not caused by the fall into the pit and it was no accident. The Slabaugh's were killed. But who would want them dead and why? Is it related to the recent string of hate crimes?
Because there are ongoing hate crimes the state sends in agent John Tomasetti with whom Kate has developed a complex relationship. They work together to try and figure out who killed the Slabaugh's and why. The case takes a heavy toll on Kate who can't help but get emotionally involved having been raised Amish. She is drinking more than she probably should and becomes close with the four orphaned Slabaugh children, especially with the daughter, 15-year-old Salome.
The title of the book comes from the Amish resisting help from outsiders and refusing to press charges against those who commit despicable and cowardly crimes. In order to solve these crimes Kate will need to break the silence. Because Kate was raised Amish but left there is some tension between her and the Amish community but also an understanding of the people. Life in the Amish community is vividly portrayed in this series.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy strong female lead characters such as Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series or Angela Marsons's Kim Stone series.
The story opens with a pair of men committing a hate crime. Sneaking onto the farm of an Amish woman and killing her sheep. This is just the latest in a series of similar hate crimes against the Amish around Painters Mill. Then things taken an even more gruesome turn. The on duty police officer gets another call. There are three people down in a manure pit at the Slabaugh farm.
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder gets called out too. The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children. The parents and an uncle are found dead in a poorly ventilated cesspit in the barn. At first it would appear to be a tragic accident but during the autopsy the coroner discovers that one of the victims had suffered a head wound before death. It was not caused by the fall into the pit and it was no accident. The Slabaugh's were killed. But who would want them dead and why? Is it related to the recent string of hate crimes?
Because there are ongoing hate crimes the state sends in agent John Tomasetti with whom Kate has developed a complex relationship. They work together to try and figure out who killed the Slabaugh's and why. The case takes a heavy toll on Kate who can't help but get emotionally involved having been raised Amish. She is drinking more than she probably should and becomes close with the four orphaned Slabaugh children, especially with the daughter, 15-year-old Salome.
The title of the book comes from the Amish resisting help from outsiders and refusing to press charges against those who commit despicable and cowardly crimes. In order to solve these crimes Kate will need to break the silence. Because Kate was raised Amish but left there is some tension between her and the Amish community but also an understanding of the people. Life in the Amish community is vividly portrayed in this series.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy strong female lead characters such as Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series or Angela Marsons's Kim Stone series.
March 23, 2023
This is an Amish Thriller, and this is the 3rd book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read and review the first and second book in this series. I have to say I love the Kate character in this series, and I am loving getting to know the other characters. I have to say I do not think that this book was a good as the first or second book in this series. I did enjoy this book, but I think the beginning was a little slow to get going. I also think the middle started to feel like it was coming to a end then it started up again. I just overall feel the pacing in this book was a little off. I also think the storyline was a little bit weird. I will still be picking up the 4th book.
February 26, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
A very amateurish detective story but an entertaining audiobook.
A very amateurish detective story but an entertaining audiobook.
March 8, 2021
Being woken at 4am was never a good thing, but Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder wasn’t prepared for what she found at the Slabaugh farm that morning. Both parents plus the uncle who was visiting had perished in the hog pit, the methane gas as strong and potent as anything to kill. Their four children, three boys and one girl, orphaned in a moment in time. When the coroner declared it wasn’t an accident, the shock reverberated throughout the community.
With John Tomasetti arrived from BCI to help out, plus the escalation in hate crimes toward the Amish, Kate and Tomasetti were frustrated at the lack of progress in their investigations. Plus, Kate was feeling a strong emotional pull toward the four children. Would they discover who had done this terrible thing?
Breaking Silence is the 3rd in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo, and my second read of it. I had forgotten the massive twist at the end, and it knocked me for six again! I thoroughly enjoy Castillo’s writing and am ready to read #4 in April. Highly recommended.
With John Tomasetti arrived from BCI to help out, plus the escalation in hate crimes toward the Amish, Kate and Tomasetti were frustrated at the lack of progress in their investigations. Plus, Kate was feeling a strong emotional pull toward the four children. Would they discover who had done this terrible thing?
Breaking Silence is the 3rd in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo, and my second read of it. I had forgotten the massive twist at the end, and it knocked me for six again! I thoroughly enjoy Castillo’s writing and am ready to read #4 in April. Highly recommended.
November 29, 2017
EXCERPT: Pickles was midway to his cruiser when his radio cracked to life. "What now?" he growled.
"Pickles, I got a ten-fifty-two out at the Slabaugh farm. David Troyer just called, said they got three people down in the manure pit."
"Shit." Pickles fumbled for his lapel mike. Back in the day, a cop had a radio in his cruiser. If he chose to ignore a call, he could. Now, you carried the damn thing around like some weird body part, one end clipped to your belt, one end stuck in your ear, and a microphone pinned to your chest like some damn medal. "You call EMS?"
"They're en route. Thought you might want to get out there."
Pickles heaved another sigh; he'd just about had all the mud and shit he could handle for one night. But he knew a manure pit could be a dangerous place. There were all sorts of nasty gases that would do you in faster than a gas chamber if you weren't careful. "What's the twenty on that?"
"Three six four Township Road Two."
Pickles knew the area. It was a dirt track south of town that would be hell to traverse without a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Figuring this was the end of his Lucchese boots, he cursed. "You might want to call the chief."
"Roger that."
"I'm ten-seventy-six," he said, and forced his old legs into a run.
THE BLURB: Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.
The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?
Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.
MY THOUGHTS: I knew Castillo was good, but this is the best of the Kate Burkholder series yet. Breaking Silence is a real page turner.
There are multiple themes running through Breaking Silence, hate crimes, incest, psycological manipulation, bullying. There are no graphic descriptions, nothing to cause alarm for those for whom one or more of these subjects may be triggers. Everything is dealt with with a great deal of sensitivity. And yet Castillo still manages to deliver a riveting read.
I don't even begin to understand those who commit hate crimes. What do the perpetrators hope to achieve? It seems to me to be a pointless waste of time on all fronts. I was no closer to understanding it at the end of the book.
The end of the book . . . Just when I thought everything was solved and sorted, Castillo turned in upside down and inside out, and we were off in pursuit of the criminal again. There are lots of twists and turns and plenty of action in this read. Highly recommended. ☆☆☆☆☆
I listened to the audio book version of Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, published by MacMillan Audio via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
"Pickles, I got a ten-fifty-two out at the Slabaugh farm. David Troyer just called, said they got three people down in the manure pit."
"Shit." Pickles fumbled for his lapel mike. Back in the day, a cop had a radio in his cruiser. If he chose to ignore a call, he could. Now, you carried the damn thing around like some weird body part, one end clipped to your belt, one end stuck in your ear, and a microphone pinned to your chest like some damn medal. "You call EMS?"
"They're en route. Thought you might want to get out there."
Pickles heaved another sigh; he'd just about had all the mud and shit he could handle for one night. But he knew a manure pit could be a dangerous place. There were all sorts of nasty gases that would do you in faster than a gas chamber if you weren't careful. "What's the twenty on that?"
"Three six four Township Road Two."
Pickles knew the area. It was a dirt track south of town that would be hell to traverse without a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Figuring this was the end of his Lucchese boots, he cursed. "You might want to call the chief."
"Roger that."
"I'm ten-seventy-six," he said, and forced his old legs into a run.
THE BLURB: Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.
The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?
Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.
MY THOUGHTS: I knew Castillo was good, but this is the best of the Kate Burkholder series yet. Breaking Silence is a real page turner.
There are multiple themes running through Breaking Silence, hate crimes, incest, psycological manipulation, bullying. There are no graphic descriptions, nothing to cause alarm for those for whom one or more of these subjects may be triggers. Everything is dealt with with a great deal of sensitivity. And yet Castillo still manages to deliver a riveting read.
I don't even begin to understand those who commit hate crimes. What do the perpetrators hope to achieve? It seems to me to be a pointless waste of time on all fronts. I was no closer to understanding it at the end of the book.
The end of the book . . . Just when I thought everything was solved and sorted, Castillo turned in upside down and inside out, and we were off in pursuit of the criminal again. There are lots of twists and turns and plenty of action in this read. Highly recommended. ☆☆☆☆☆
I listened to the audio book version of Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, published by MacMillan Audio via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 26, 2021
Another Amish murder and Kate to the rescue to solve the case.
These just keep getting better and better. The writing is sharper, the story telling more concise, and the darkness still creeping around the edges.
The Slabaugh family is murdered in a poo pit for their animals. The methane literally gassed them to death, or did it? The remaining family members struggle to figure out how this could happen. Mix in some Amish hate crimes by the local townies and this left me on edge to figure it out the entire time.
Looking forward to continuing on with this series.
These just keep getting better and better. The writing is sharper, the story telling more concise, and the darkness still creeping around the edges.
The Slabaugh family is murdered in a poo pit for their animals. The methane literally gassed them to death, or did it? The remaining family members struggle to figure out how this could happen. Mix in some Amish hate crimes by the local townies and this left me on edge to figure it out the entire time.
Looking forward to continuing on with this series.
October 11, 2021
Another excellent entry in this mystery series, which is set in Ohio’s Amish country.
I’ve always been fascinated with the Amish— but as I learn more about their culture, I realized I’ve let the pastoral views of the charming buggy driven by young Amish in their “plain” clothes lull me into forgetting that they are still people with wants, needs, and desires.
Castillo does a great job of balancing Amish community and crime while maintaining respect because of her ex-communicated Amish police chief. Really it’s a great literary choice to have Kate’s viewpoint during investigations— and the resulting tension as she deals with former Amish acquaintances.
This particular murder mystery is somewhat gruesome but cleverly moves among a number of red herrings. And that ending? It was a killer!!
Can’t wait to read the next one.
I’ve always been fascinated with the Amish— but as I learn more about their culture, I realized I’ve let the pastoral views of the charming buggy driven by young Amish in their “plain” clothes lull me into forgetting that they are still people with wants, needs, and desires.
Castillo does a great job of balancing Amish community and crime while maintaining respect because of her ex-communicated Amish police chief. Really it’s a great literary choice to have Kate’s viewpoint during investigations— and the resulting tension as she deals with former Amish acquaintances.
This particular murder mystery is somewhat gruesome but cleverly moves among a number of red herrings. And that ending? It was a killer!!
Can’t wait to read the next one.
May 27, 2019
It all starts with three tragic and horrifying deaths on an Amish farm outside Painters Mill. Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene. Two men and a woman have fallen into the manure pit below the Slabaugh family barn. Overcome by methane gas, they are all dead. What first appears to be an accident might be something else. Something much more violent and shameful. Murder. Hate crimes targeting Amish are also ramping up in the county. Kate wants to catch whoever has been attacking the Amish, but runs into investigation problems. The Amish don't want to be involved with a police investigation. Kate grew up Amish, leaving the church as a teenager, so she understands. But she wants to solve the case before the assaults turn deadly.
I love this series! A new book (#11) is coming out in July and I was behind a few books. So, I decided to start reading the series at book 1 again....and then read Shamed before its July 16th publication date. Broken Silence is book 3 in the Kate Burkholder series and I'm totally enjoying re-reading these first few books. Kate Burkholder is such a strong main character. She's a wonderful police officer and investigator. And perfect for the job at Painters Mill. She grew up Amish, so she speaks Pennsylvania Dutch fluently and understands the culture. It does cause her some pain though because she is still shunned for leaving the church.
Book 1 of this series was made into a television movie, An Amish Murder, in 2013. The movie stars Neve Campbell as Kate. I wonder why they only did the one movie?? The full movie is on Youtube....just search for it. Not bad...although the book is better. :)
Breaking Silence has some great suspense and a few twists I didn't see coming. Great story! Moving on to book 4, Gone Missing.
I love this series! A new book (#11) is coming out in July and I was behind a few books. So, I decided to start reading the series at book 1 again....and then read Shamed before its July 16th publication date. Broken Silence is book 3 in the Kate Burkholder series and I'm totally enjoying re-reading these first few books. Kate Burkholder is such a strong main character. She's a wonderful police officer and investigator. And perfect for the job at Painters Mill. She grew up Amish, so she speaks Pennsylvania Dutch fluently and understands the culture. It does cause her some pain though because she is still shunned for leaving the church.
Book 1 of this series was made into a television movie, An Amish Murder, in 2013. The movie stars Neve Campbell as Kate. I wonder why they only did the one movie?? The full movie is on Youtube....just search for it. Not bad...although the book is better. :)
Breaking Silence has some great suspense and a few twists I didn't see coming. Great story! Moving on to book 4, Gone Missing.
July 29, 2017
Damn! I seriously love this series so much. It has just the right amount of darkness that I love in a thriller and the characters are all fantastic. I really just can't get enough of it.
July 17, 2020
Volume 3 in the Kate Burkholder series.
This time an Amish farmer couple and the husband’s brother are found dead on the farm, leaving 4 children behind.
Kate and her lover and soulmate Tomassetti have to figure out what happened and if all this is connected to the increasing hate crimes against the Amish.
Altogether an interesting crime with unexpected solution in an (at least for me) interesting environment.
Downgraded 3 stars from me.
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Dies ist Band 3 der Kate Burkholder-Serie über Kriminalfälle in Kates Bezirk, in dem viele Amische leben.
Kate ist selbst in einer amischen Familie geboren und aufgewachsen, hat sich aber im Laufe ihrer Jugend vom amischen Leben distanziert. Der Grund dafür liegt in einem wirklich traumatischen Erlebnis, das auch in diesem Buch kurz angeschnitten wird.
Durch ihre Vorerfahrung in der amischen Gemeinde ist Kate natürlich die ideale Schnittstelle zwischen den Amisch und den „Englischen“ und die Autorin kann dem Leser so viel über die amische Lebensart vermitteln.
In diesem Buch treten in Kates Bezirk zunehmend Hassdelikte gegen Amische auf, die sich in Art und Heftigkeit steigern. Dann werden auf einer amischen Farm das Farmerehepaar und der Bruder des Ehemannes tot in der Odelgrube aufgefunden. Zurück bleiben die 4 Kinder des Paares.
Kate muss nun mit ihrem Freund und Seelenverwandten Tomassetti erstmal klären, ob es sich hier um einen Unfall oder eine Fortsetzung der Hassverbrechen handelt oder ob womoglich hier ganz andere Dinge vorgehen. Natürlich gelingt es ihr, hier bis zum Ende eine relativ erschütternde Klarheit herbeizuführen.
Was mir nicht so gut gefallen hat war, dass Kate in diesem Band durch ihre psychisch belastende Vorgeschichte und ihre daraus entstandenen Alkoholprobleme und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bei mir nicht wirklich Sympathiepunkte sammeln konnte. Ich habe die Vorgängerbände schon vor längerer Zeit gelesen und entweder das hat mich da noch nicht so gestört oder Kate war anders dargestellt.
Dennoch fühlte ich mich insgesamt gut unterhalten und vergebe abgerundete 3 Sterne.
This time an Amish farmer couple and the husband’s brother are found dead on the farm, leaving 4 children behind.
Kate and her lover and soulmate Tomassetti have to figure out what happened and if all this is connected to the increasing hate crimes against the Amish.
Altogether an interesting crime with unexpected solution in an (at least for me) interesting environment.
Downgraded 3 stars from me.
--------------------------------------------
Dies ist Band 3 der Kate Burkholder-Serie über Kriminalfälle in Kates Bezirk, in dem viele Amische leben.
Kate ist selbst in einer amischen Familie geboren und aufgewachsen, hat sich aber im Laufe ihrer Jugend vom amischen Leben distanziert. Der Grund dafür liegt in einem wirklich traumatischen Erlebnis, das auch in diesem Buch kurz angeschnitten wird.
Durch ihre Vorerfahrung in der amischen Gemeinde ist Kate natürlich die ideale Schnittstelle zwischen den Amisch und den „Englischen“ und die Autorin kann dem Leser so viel über die amische Lebensart vermitteln.
In diesem Buch treten in Kates Bezirk zunehmend Hassdelikte gegen Amische auf, die sich in Art und Heftigkeit steigern. Dann werden auf einer amischen Farm das Farmerehepaar und der Bruder des Ehemannes tot in der Odelgrube aufgefunden. Zurück bleiben die 4 Kinder des Paares.
Kate muss nun mit ihrem Freund und Seelenverwandten Tomassetti erstmal klären, ob es sich hier um einen Unfall oder eine Fortsetzung der Hassverbrechen handelt oder ob womoglich hier ganz andere Dinge vorgehen. Natürlich gelingt es ihr, hier bis zum Ende eine relativ erschütternde Klarheit herbeizuführen.
Was mir nicht so gut gefallen hat war, dass Kate in diesem Band durch ihre psychisch belastende Vorgeschichte und ihre daraus entstandenen Alkoholprobleme und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bei mir nicht wirklich Sympathiepunkte sammeln konnte. Ich habe die Vorgängerbände schon vor längerer Zeit gelesen und entweder das hat mich da noch nicht so gestört oder Kate war anders dargestellt.
Dennoch fühlte ich mich insgesamt gut unterhalten und vergebe abgerundete 3 Sterne.
November 6, 2015
This is my first novel by Linda Castillo and my first book ever about Amish County and I have only good praise for it. It’s been a ling time since I loved a crime novel that wasn’t translated. I am a general fan of crime novels and in my opinion it has become so frequently written about that the true essence of it is totally lost. So many write about it and it’s hard to find one that is truly compelling but may of the translated novels on crime are pretty good and gripping. I guess cuz they normally translate only the best of the best but this book surely fall under thee very good category of crime novels. I’m actually sad I got the third book and not the first one but beggars can’t be choosers as they say and I did find this in the Good market and the fact I found such a good book there is a surprise. Really I have no clue why people would want to give away such good books but maybe they might be having their own circumstances.
So now talking about the book. Like I mentioned above it’s an Amish crime novel which gives a new twist to crime novels. As everyone knows Amish crowd is somewhat reserved in their ways. Maybe that’s putting it slightly but nonetheless the fact that Castillo chose such a theme that I haven’t read so far is a nice break from all other crime novels. Also the fact that she has written a whole series on it is nice. Not just one Amish county novel. The book is written in such a way that you wouldn’t actually dislike the Amish ways.
The story itself was written in a way to attract the attention of the reader and us guessing and re-guessing. Well the ending was something I never guessed in my life.
I am pretty much looking forward to read the whole series cuz I’m pretty much intrigued in this theme. I hope I’ll have the pleasure to find the other books too ☺
So now talking about the book. Like I mentioned above it’s an Amish crime novel which gives a new twist to crime novels. As everyone knows Amish crowd is somewhat reserved in their ways. Maybe that’s putting it slightly but nonetheless the fact that Castillo chose such a theme that I haven’t read so far is a nice break from all other crime novels. Also the fact that she has written a whole series on it is nice. Not just one Amish county novel. The book is written in such a way that you wouldn’t actually dislike the Amish ways.
The story itself was written in a way to attract the attention of the reader and us guessing and re-guessing. Well the ending was something I never guessed in my life.
I am pretty much looking forward to read the whole series cuz I’m pretty much intrigued in this theme. I hope I’ll have the pleasure to find the other books too ☺
February 17, 2022
Linda Castillo has pulled off another thrilling mystery with big twists. The characters are vivid and realistic! I get completely absorbed in this series! The audiobook was a great listen - the narrator was completely believable. CAN be read as a stand alone, but I recommend starting with first in the series for a full background of the characters.
August 2, 2015
Two cultures living side by side interacting and isolating is a trope or motif which I enjoy in most writing. This series presents the small town of Painter's Mill and the two cultures--Amish and middle America--struggling to live side by side. In the middle is the intrepid Chief Burkholder with one foot in her Amish upbringing and one foot firmly planted in her new life among the Englischers.
When I first watched An Amish Murder on Lifetime (don't judge me), I liked the mystery. I was intrigued when I saw the movie was based on the novel Sworn to Silence, I thought maybe, just maybe, there was a multidimensional portrait of the Amish and their struggle to live in symbiosis with the English culture. Perhaps there were more of Chief Kate Burkholder's secrets to uncover hidden within the novels because we all know the book is always better, right? RIGHT?
Wrong. By the third installment, the prose has broken down to the point where either Kate or her love interest, Tomasetti, vow to get those evil, Amish hating, sons of bitches. Oh, those sons of bitches--so evil, so full of hate, so needing to be caught. Because they are evil sons of bitches. Sons of bitches who have taken their hatred of the Amish to the level that only evil sons of bitches can. Son. of. a. Bitch.
The Amish world serves as a stage setting, a place for those evil sons of bitches to wreak their havoc. Like the fake town in Blazing Saddles,the farms and kitchens of the Amish look Amish and smell Amish--a lantern here, a buggy there-- but there is little substance underneath. Enter Chief Katie stage left. She remembers those kind, gentle folks and now she is no longer part of their world because of an evil son of a bitch. She understands each ritual as no other person can, but her back is turned to them and theirs to her. A smattering of Pennsylvania Dutch serves as a prop for Kate to question or "overhear" information but a three dimensional portrait of the Amish fails to materialize. I'm not saying chunks of exposition had to be in each and every scene, but it would have been nice if Kate had other memories besides the fact that she was young and innocent until the evil son of a bitch came in and ruined her Amish paradise forever.
There are some good points--the mysteries are compelling. You do want to find out who the evil sons of bitches are and see them brought to justice. While Kate can be repetitive, her past IS filled with secrets and darkness with which she struggles. Her lover, Tomasetti, is also a hot mess and somehow their hot messiness works when they are together.
I doubt i'll be returning to the town of Painter's Mill. Too many evil sons of bitches.
When I first watched An Amish Murder on Lifetime (don't judge me), I liked the mystery. I was intrigued when I saw the movie was based on the novel Sworn to Silence, I thought maybe, just maybe, there was a multidimensional portrait of the Amish and their struggle to live in symbiosis with the English culture. Perhaps there were more of Chief Kate Burkholder's secrets to uncover hidden within the novels because we all know the book is always better, right? RIGHT?
Wrong. By the third installment, the prose has broken down to the point where either Kate or her love interest, Tomasetti, vow to get those evil, Amish hating, sons of bitches. Oh, those sons of bitches--so evil, so full of hate, so needing to be caught. Because they are evil sons of bitches. Sons of bitches who have taken their hatred of the Amish to the level that only evil sons of bitches can. Son. of. a. Bitch.
The Amish world serves as a stage setting, a place for those evil sons of bitches to wreak their havoc. Like the fake town in Blazing Saddles,the farms and kitchens of the Amish look Amish and smell Amish--a lantern here, a buggy there-- but there is little substance underneath. Enter Chief Katie stage left. She remembers those kind, gentle folks and now she is no longer part of their world because of an evil son of a bitch. She understands each ritual as no other person can, but her back is turned to them and theirs to her. A smattering of Pennsylvania Dutch serves as a prop for Kate to question or "overhear" information but a three dimensional portrait of the Amish fails to materialize. I'm not saying chunks of exposition had to be in each and every scene, but it would have been nice if Kate had other memories besides the fact that she was young and innocent until the evil son of a bitch came in and ruined her Amish paradise forever.
There are some good points--the mysteries are compelling. You do want to find out who the evil sons of bitches are and see them brought to justice. While Kate can be repetitive, her past IS filled with secrets and darkness with which she struggles. Her lover, Tomasetti, is also a hot mess and somehow their hot messiness works when they are together.
I doubt i'll be returning to the town of Painter's Mill. Too many evil sons of bitches.
August 24, 2017
Breaking Silence is the third book in the Kate Burkholder series. I did not like it as much as the previous installments, and to be honest, I don't think Kate Burkholder has any business being the Chief of Police. Kate's issues over her past are getting a little old at this point. She is drinking a lot and even driving while drunk now, which is unacceptable for anyone, but as Chief of Police it especially crosses a line. She is supposed to be an example of upholding the law for goodness sake! She might be a fictional character, but this actually made me really angry, especially because I know someone who was hit and severely injured by an off duty cop who was driving while drunk. I don't care if Tomasetti followed her home, she shouldn't have been behind the wheel. I have a hard time sympathizing with her after this.
Tomasetti on the other hand grew on me. He seems to have made huge strides in overcoming his demons and is now trying to help Kate who seems to be spiraling downward. There was some movement forward in the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti also, which I liked.
Other issues I had with the book were:
-The Amish kids were treated and described a lot younger than they were. The 10 and 12 year old seemed as though they were 3 and 6.
-Inaccurate behavior for an Amish kid, even if this kid was .
-Some of the red herrings really didn't make sense. Especially one of them, it was like the author had the idea to include it to throw us off, but couldn't come up with a good reason for it to have happened.
- Kate and Tomasetti once again angered me with the way they treat suspects. They really didn't have to arrest that poor guy right in front of his kids. They could have stepped out onto the porch with him first.
For some reason I'm still interested in this series. I really can't figure out why since I now dislike the main character quite a bit. Maybe it's because I want to see her overcome her demons and get to a better place. I don't know, but I will probably stick with the series a little longer.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
Tomasetti on the other hand grew on me. He seems to have made huge strides in overcoming his demons and is now trying to help Kate who seems to be spiraling downward. There was some movement forward in the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti also, which I liked.
Other issues I had with the book were:
-The Amish kids were treated and described a lot younger than they were. The 10 and 12 year old seemed as though they were 3 and 6.
-Inaccurate behavior for an Amish kid, even if this kid was .
-Some of the red herrings really didn't make sense. Especially one of them, it was like the author had the idea to include it to throw us off, but couldn't come up with a good reason for it to have happened.
- Kate and Tomasetti once again angered me with the way they treat suspects. They really didn't have to arrest that poor guy right in front of his kids. They could have stepped out onto the porch with him first.
For some reason I'm still interested in this series. I really can't figure out why since I now dislike the main character quite a bit. Maybe it's because I want to see her overcome her demons and get to a better place. I don't know, but I will probably stick with the series a little longer.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
October 30, 2014
I am really enjoying this series. Chief Kate Burkholder is investigating a series of brutal murders and attacks of the Amish. Are they related? Frustration grows as the Amish are not very helpful to the police, preferring to deal with things in their own way. Kate uncovers some very disturbing behaviour by some Amish teenagers and things get increasingly tense. The book illustrates the difficulties of trying to live "separately" in these times and the pressure it can put on young adults trying to find their place in the world - in this case with tragic consequences.
December 6, 2016
Book number 3 in this series, and so far I'm a huge fan! If you never read any of these books, do yourself a favor, start with book number 1....and don't look back...
So many wonderful reviews here, so I'm not even going to bother to write more about this book...a bread read, a great series by a great writer...that's all you need to know!
So many wonderful reviews here, so I'm not even going to bother to write more about this book...a bread read, a great series by a great writer...that's all you need to know!
October 27, 2019
Just when you think you got it all figured out - BAM! Castillo throws you a curveball Wow!
So here's the plot, the Slabaugh's are a hardworking Amish family, one fateful morning right before breakfast - the parents and uncle are found dead in the barn. At first glance it appears that their deaths are accidental; however, what fun would that be?
5 stars for this read!!
So here's the plot, the Slabaugh's are a hardworking Amish family, one fateful morning right before breakfast - the parents and uncle are found dead in the barn. At first glance it appears that their deaths are accidental; however, what fun would that be?
5 stars for this read!!
June 21, 2019
Kate Burkholder is police chief in Painter's Mill, an Amish town in Holmes County, Ohio. Having been raised Amish, Kate feels a deep connection to the community. She has seen her fair share of brutal crimes, and the latest has her on an emotional rollercoaster.
When Kate is called out to the Slabaugh farm to investigate the seemingly accidental deaths of the father, mother and Uncle, she is heartbroken for the four orphaned children. Upon further investigation, it appears the family was murdered, and Kate is determined to bring the murderer to justice. On top of that, a series of hate crimes against the Amish have escalated from misdemeanor crimes to serious incidents. Kate is feeling the pressure, is drinking too much and suffering from insomnia. She is grateful when her friend and lover, John Tomasetti, is called in to look into the hate crimes. Together they work work to solve these heinous crimes and offer the emotional support they both need.
Gritty and twisted, another great mystery in the ongoing series.
When Kate is called out to the Slabaugh farm to investigate the seemingly accidental deaths of the father, mother and Uncle, she is heartbroken for the four orphaned children. Upon further investigation, it appears the family was murdered, and Kate is determined to bring the murderer to justice. On top of that, a series of hate crimes against the Amish have escalated from misdemeanor crimes to serious incidents. Kate is feeling the pressure, is drinking too much and suffering from insomnia. She is grateful when her friend and lover, John Tomasetti, is called in to look into the hate crimes. Together they work work to solve these heinous crimes and offer the emotional support they both need.
Gritty and twisted, another great mystery in the ongoing series.
February 27, 2021
2.5
audio version
Kate, Kate, Kate...... Unprofessional and over emotional Kate. *sigh*
I like the setting and the side characters. I love John. But Kate gets worse each book. She's just the worst cop. If there's a bad decision, she makes it. I can't buy everyone being so devoted to her. I would be horrified if I had to work with someone so unprofessional in such a dangerous job. Also, I don't want to hear anymore of her inner dialogue and her problems. I'm trying one more book (cuz, seriously, I love John). If Kate's still such a hot mess in it I'm gonna have to tap out on this series.
Also, the author uses the same sentences over and over each book. If I wasn't doing this on audio and driving a lot of the time I would keep a list to include. Same sentences, thoughts, over and over each book. Often multiple times each book.
Same narrator as the last two books. I enjoy her.
audio version
Kate, Kate, Kate...... Unprofessional and over emotional Kate. *sigh*
I like the setting and the side characters. I love John. But Kate gets worse each book. She's just the worst cop. If there's a bad decision, she makes it. I can't buy everyone being so devoted to her. I would be horrified if I had to work with someone so unprofessional in such a dangerous job. Also, I don't want to hear anymore of her inner dialogue and her problems. I'm trying one more book (cuz, seriously, I love John). If Kate's still such a hot mess in it I'm gonna have to tap out on this series.
Also, the author uses the same sentences over and over each book. If I wasn't doing this on audio and driving a lot of the time I would keep a list to include. Same sentences, thoughts, over and over each book. Often multiple times each book.
Same narrator as the last two books. I enjoy her.
January 17, 2016
This is the third book in this series and it was just okay for me. The mystery was pretty good, there are two plots going on at once, a killing of Amish parents and an Uncle in a manure pit and the other is a series of really nasty hate crimes against the Amish citizens of Chief of Police Kate's town.
I think my biggest problem I had with the book was all the time spent on Kate's wrestling with her personal demons, the drinking and smoking she resorts to whenever she has trouble handling a situation or something in a case reminds her of some of the horrors of her past.
There was also some time spent on Kate and John and their new relationship and since they both have some really awful stuff to deal with from their pasts and deep wounds that need to heal this could take some time to develop.
The mystery is pretty good a few surprises but I did see a few of the twists ahead of time.
All in all this book was good, not great, and I still want to continue to read the next books in the series.
I think my biggest problem I had with the book was all the time spent on Kate's wrestling with her personal demons, the drinking and smoking she resorts to whenever she has trouble handling a situation or something in a case reminds her of some of the horrors of her past.
There was also some time spent on Kate and John and their new relationship and since they both have some really awful stuff to deal with from their pasts and deep wounds that need to heal this could take some time to develop.
The mystery is pretty good a few surprises but I did see a few of the twists ahead of time.
All in all this book was good, not great, and I still want to continue to read the next books in the series.
October 21, 2015
~3.5 stars~
Once again, Kate Burkholder is caught up with the darker side of a small-town crisis. Life amongst the Amish hits a snag when two parents and an uncle are found dead at the bottom of a manure pit in their barn. {Yikes, it gives new meaning when I think of composting and my garden!} To make matters worse, hate crimes have found a home in Painters Mill, Ohio.
We see less of her police staff in BREAKING SILENCE and more of Tomasetti. The door to Kate's fragile past creaks open a little wider and John offers a much-needed shoulder to lean on. I like John with his warts and all. The suspense is good but not as intense as the first two stories in the series. Still, Ms. Castillo takes a subject that is taboo and expounds on it.
Though some people consider the author's stories murder-mysteries, I think of them as sooty thrillers connected by the characters. It is hard to imagine that in a community of 5,000-plus people, this amount of nasty crime is committed. More so, because the peaceful Amish are included.
Once again, Kate Burkholder is caught up with the darker side of a small-town crisis. Life amongst the Amish hits a snag when two parents and an uncle are found dead at the bottom of a manure pit in their barn. {Yikes, it gives new meaning when I think of composting and my garden!} To make matters worse, hate crimes have found a home in Painters Mill, Ohio.
We see less of her police staff in BREAKING SILENCE and more of Tomasetti. The door to Kate's fragile past creaks open a little wider and John offers a much-needed shoulder to lean on. I like John with his warts and all. The suspense is good but not as intense as the first two stories in the series. Still, Ms. Castillo takes a subject that is taboo and expounds on it.
Though some people consider the author's stories murder-mysteries, I think of them as sooty thrillers connected by the characters. It is hard to imagine that in a community of 5,000-plus people, this amount of nasty crime is committed. More so, because the peaceful Amish are included.
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