Best Selling Books by Linda Castillo

A classic tale of suspense from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo, previously published as A Baby Before Dawn in 2007 Chase Vickers never knew a day of fear. From one secret mission to another he’d stared down danger—until the blackout hit Boston, and Chase’s only love became the target of revenge. Lily Garrett, the woman he’d loved and walked away from eight months ago. Finding her wasn’t difficult; finding her pregnant was. Lily had always hated Chase’s secret, dangerous life, but now, on the run in a dark city, Chase knew he was her only hope for survival. And their baby’s. For the first time, the daredevil-turned-daddy knew bone-chilling, pulse-pounding fear. This was one mission where he couldn’t fail. Not when his baby’s life was at stake....

New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo has become renowned for her nail-biting novels of romantic suspense. Now she delivers an electrifying thriller about a secret that could mean one woman’s demise… Until now, no one has suspected the truth about down-to-earth bookseller Julia Wainright. But the arrival of six threatening letters indicates someone has discovered her secret—and wants her to pay for her sins… Ever since he accidentally killed a fellow officer, ex-cop John Merrick has been tormented by the mistakes of his past. Now, called upon to repay a favor, he will do anything to keep Julia Wainright safe. To do that, though, he’ll first have to figure out what she’s hiding… As the threats escalate, Julia and John must find a way to trust each other. Because if they don’t, a twisted stalker will make sure all the gruesome things he’s promised will come true…

A Boston Globe Best Book of 2014 Everyone in Painters Mill knows the abandoned Hochstetler farm is haunted. But only a handful of the residents remember the terrible secrets lost in the muted/hushed whispers of time—and now death is stalking them, seemingly from the grave. On a late-night shift, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of an apparent suicide—an old man found hanging from the rafters in his dilapidated barn. But evidence quickly points to murder and Kate finds herself chasing a singularly difficult and elusive trail of evidence that somehow points back to the tragedy of that long ago incident. Meanwhile, Kate has moved in with state agent John Tomasetti and for the first time in so long, they''re both happy; a bliss quickly shattered when one of the men responsible for the murders of Tomasetti''s family four years ago is found not guilty, and walks away a free man. Will Tomasetti be pulled back to his own haunted past? When a second man is found dead—also seemingly by his own hand—Kate discovers a link in the case that sends the investigation in a direction no one could imagine and revealing the horrifying truth of what really happened that terrible night thirty-five years ago, when an Amish father and his four children perished—and his young wife disappeared without a trace. And, as Kate knows—the past never truly dies . . . in The Dead Will Tell by Linda Castillo

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder that reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history in this next riveting installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo. Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is awakened by an urgent midnight call summoning her to a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives at the scene, she discovers a charred body. According to the coroner, the deceased, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. It is an appalling and eerily symbolic crime against an upstanding husband and father. Kate knows all too well that the Amish prefer to handle their problems without interference from the outside world, and no one will speak about the murdered man. From what she’s able to piece together, Swanz led a deeply troubled life and had recently been excommunicated. But if that’s the case, why are the Amish so reluctant to talk about him? Are they protecting the memory of one of their own? Or are they afraid of something they dare not share? When her own brother is implicated in the case, Kate finds herself not only at odds with the Amish, the world of which she was once a part, but also the English community and her counterparts in law enforcement. The investigation takes a violent turn when Kate’s life is threatened by a mysterious stranger. To uncover the truth about the death of Milan Swanz, Kate must dive deep into the Anabaptist culture, peering into all the dark corners of its history, only to uncover a secret legacy that shatters everything she thought she knew about the Amish themselves—and her own roots.

AGENT-PROTECTOR AND THEN SOME Special Agent Jake Vanderpol swore he''d buried all tender feelings for Leigh Michaels. Until he learned that the arms dealer she''d testified against six years ago had escaped. Suddenly the memories were back…memories of urgent kisses in hiding. But after what happened, would she trust him to save her? Danger just exploded from her past with the same raw male power that first drew Leigh to her former agent-protector. Then Jake used her as bait to get his man, and she''d fled into witness protection. Now a killer wants revenge. But who will shield her heart from the only man she''d ever let touch her—body and soul?

MIDNIGHT IN MONTANA When a federal transport was ambushed and overturned in the wilds of Montana, MIDNIGHT agent Sean Cutter was given forty-eight hours to track down a desperate woman. But falsely accused, Mattie Logan didn''t want to be saved. It was Sean''s job to convince her otherwise. A former Department of Defense scientist now targeted by the terrorist known only as the Jaguar, Mattie couldn''t risk betrayal again. But neither could Sean. Caught out in the blistering cold, Mattie sought shelter beneath Sean''s broad shoulders, each needing the other''s warmth to stay alive. But would trusting one another prove to be more difficult than clearing Mattie''s name?

"When a tornado tears through Painters Mill and unearths human remains, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is tasked with the responsibility of identifying the bones and finds herself plunged into a thirty year old murder case that takes her deep into the Amish community to which she once belonged"--

After nine years as one of Chicago''s finest, Erin McNeal had come to sleepy Logan Falls for a second chance, not to be watched over by a man as infuriatingly overprotective-and disarmingly attractive-as Nick Ryan. She was no damsel in distress, but someone wanted her dead, and Nick knew better than to entrust a guilt-driven daredevil with her own safety. It was his duty to protect her-whether she liked it or not. It seemed the only thing the chief of police and his newest deputy could agree on was the one thing they couldn''t resist-each other. Could the cautious single father and the reckless beauty be cops...and lovers?

New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo immerses readers in the world of the Amish in this chilling series that is equal parts fast-paced thriller and intriguing psychological puzzle. Sworn to Silence Sixteen years ago, a brutal serial killer left a trail of victims before vanishing into thin air. Now, he may have returned, and only one woman can stop him—but can she solve the case without revealing a terrible secret that links her to the original murders? Pray for Silence In the quiet town of Painters Mill an Amish family of seven has been found slaughtered on their farm. Police chief Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive, and no suspect. Breaking Silence What appears to be a gruesome accident that left three people dead turns more sinister when evidence of foul play emerge. Together with agent John Tomasetti, Kate searches for answers and uncovers a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

From the New York Times bestselling author of DOWN A DARK ROAD comes Linda Castillo''s IN DARK COMPANY: a short story about an injured young woman with amnesia who seeks Chief of Police Kate Burkholder’s help to remember her identity—and her attacker. It’s the middle of the night in Painters Mill, and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to a scene where a mysterious young woman, battered and terrified, has sought shelter at an Amish farmhouse. She can’t remember her name or where she’s from, but she knows one thing: someone was trying to kill her. Kate suspects that “Jane Doe” remembers more than she’s letting on, but when Jane is attacked again on Kate’s watch, Kate resolves to find the truth. As Jane’s memories start flooding back and Kate dives deeper into her murky past, they must race to discover what Jane was running from—and who is still pursuing her.

In The Pact a gripping Kate Burkholder short mystery from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo, a terrifying disappearance in Amish country reveals the power of friendship. Three days before Thanksgiving, two boys disappear without a trace. Eleven-year-old Aaron Kuhns is Amish. Kevin Dennison is twelve and “English.” They’re adventurers, explorers, and inseparable best friends. When they don’t return home from what was supposed to be a fun afternoon of fishing, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must find the missing boys before the first winter storm of the season bears down on Painters Mill.

From Linda Castillo, the New York Times bestselling author of SWORN TO SILENCE and AMONG THE WICKED, this collection of stories featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder combines three amazing novellas for the first time together at a discounted price. Long Lost After closing a difficult case, Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti look forward to some down time, but their relaxation is cut short by rumors that the old house where they''re staying is haunted by a girl who disappeared twenty years earlier, leaving nothing behind but some bloody clothes by the river and rumors of a volatile relationship. Swept up in the girl''s story, and a need for justice, Kate and John begin looking into the mysterious disappearance. A Hidden Secret When a baby—only hours old—is discovered on the Amish bishop''s front porch in Painter''s Mill, Ohio, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. The newborn is swaddled in an Amish crib quilt, and the only other item found with the child is a hand-carved wood rattle, which Kate also recognizes as Amish. With the rattle and quilt as the only clues, Kate must call upon her own Amish roots, and with the help of state agent John Tomasetti, search the Amish and "English" communities of Painters Mill for clues to unravel the poignant, puzzling mystery. Seeds of Deception Readers get a glimpse into Chief of Police Kate Burkholder''s past and her Amish roots: Fourteen year old Katie Burkholder has been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard with her best friend Mattie when a group of older “English” boys, known troublemakers, interrupt. Mattie, no stranger to trouble herself, disappears into the old barn with one of the boys, and moments after they both run out, the Zimmerman’s barn is consumed by fire. Katie suspects the boy had something to do with the blaze, but he denies it. When the facts don’t add up, Katie begins her own investigation—and she doesn’t like what she finds. Will her friendship with Mattie survive the truth?

Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive and no suspect when an Amish family of seven who recently moved to Painters Mill, Ohio, is found murdered on their farm.

Remember The Night by Linda Castillo released on Apr 24, 2000 is available now for purchase.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder races against the clock to find a missing child in this original short story, "Disappeared," from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo. As a violent thunderstorm rages in Painters Mill, Kate Burkholder receives a call from a frantic young Amish woman: her two-year-old son is missing. Kate and her officers brave the downpour to search for the toddler, fearing he may have been swept away in the rising creek waters. But an explosive family secret leads Kate to believe this disappearance may be more complicated than anyone is letting on. Can she find the boy and uncover the truth before darkness falls?

When a baby-only hours old-is discovered on the Amish bishop''s front porch in Painter''s Mill, Ohio, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. The newborn is swaddled in an Amish crib quilt, and the only other item found with the child is a hand-carved wood rattle, which Kate also recognizes as Amish. The little girl seems healthy and whole; but who would abandon her and why? Though the quilt and rattle could be purchased, Kate suspects the mother is Amish, possibly young and unmarried, both of which would be powerful motives for such a desperate act. With the rattle and the baby quilt as the only clues, Kate must call upon her own Amish roots, and with the help of state agent John Tomasetti, search the Amish and "English" communities of Painters Mill for clues to unravel the poignant, puzzling mystery.

Bucolic Painters Mill is plunged into darkness in this new short mystery, from the New York Times bestselling author of Among the Wicked, featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. It’s Friday the 13th in Painters Mill and rumors of an Amish “rager”—a huge outdoor party rife with underage drinking—puts Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her small department on edge. To make matters worse, Painters Mill is in the midst of a county-wide power outage. At the height of the rager, a teenage Amish girl is attacked with a hammer and left for dead. Kate is called to the scene—an abandoned farm teeming with loud music and rowdy behavior—to find the girl unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. With the girl in a coma and an unknown attacker on the loose, Kate must discover who would want to hurt her, and why, before it’s too late.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder confronts a mysterious beast terrorizing the residents of Painters Mill in this original short mystery "Blood Moon" from bestselling author Linda Castillo. On a foggy spring night, an Amish man crashes his buggy after a large, unidentified animal spooks his horse. Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the man shaken and bleeding, claiming he was attacked by a large beast. But his description of the creature sounds like something straight out of the Amish folklore from Kate’s childhood. Throughout the night, more incidents of an aggressive animal on the loose are reported, putting the citizens of Painters Mill on edge. There’s a monster menacing the countryside, and Kate must follow its tracks into the dark woods along Painters Creek before violence tips over into tragedy.

Re-read Book 5 in the romantic suspense series Operation: Midnight by New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo. All Bo Ruskin wanted was to forget his tragic past and to reclaim his quiet cowboy life. Instead, he had orders to protect Special Agent Rachael Armitage. Furious and frustrated, Rachael would rather die than abandon her dangerous mission. For even in the safety of Bo''s Montana ranch, an international crime lord was out to grant her wish. Drawn to this mysterious, hardened cowboy from her past, Rachael was certain Bo was hiding something. But first she''d have to learn the lay of the land if she were to live to learn the truth. Riding horseback through the wilderness, would these two desperadoes go down in a blaze of glory—or passion? Originally published in 2007.

From the New York Times bestselling author of THE DEAD WILL TELL comes a new short story offering a glimpse into Chief of Police Kate Burkholder''s past and her Amish roots. It''s autumn in Painter''s Mill, and fourteen year old Katie Burkholder has been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard with her brother. It’s just another day filled with chores—until her best friend Mattie arrives to help. Somehow, boredom transforms into fun and games whenever the girls are together. The innocent fun comes to an end when Billy Marquardt and his gang of friends interrupts. Katie is no prude, but she knows better than to associate with the older English boys, especially since they’re known troublemakers. Mattie has no such compunction. Thumbing her nose at the Ordnung and all of the Amish rules, she disappears into the old barn with Billy. Moments later, the Zimmerman’s barn is consumed by fire. Katie suspects Billy had something to do with the blaze, but he denies it. When the facts don’t add up, Katie begins her own investigation—and she doesn’t like what she finds. Will her friendship with Mattie survive the truth?

While enjoying a sleigh ride with his children, Amish widower Adam Lengacher discovers a car stuck in a snowdrift and an unconscious woman inside. He calls upon Chief of Police Kate Burkholder for help, and she is surprised to recognize the driver: a fellow cop and former friend, Gina Colorosa.

From Linda Castillo, the New York Times bestselling author of A Gathering of Secrets, comes a new Kate Burkholder short mystery, In Plain Sight: a story of star-crossed love and murder in Amish country. Seventeen year old Amish boy, Noah Kline, is struck by a car as he walks alongside a dark country road late one night in Painters Mill. Seriously injured, he lapses into a coma. Initially, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder believes it’s a straightforward hit and run, a driver that panicked and fled. But evidence soon emerges that the incident wasn’t accidental at all--and Kate uncovers a story of teenage passion and jealousy that may have led to attempted murder.

HOSTAGE TO LOVE Taking gorgeous corrections officer Emily Monroe as his hostage, undercover CIA agent Zack Devlin was trying to escape with his life. But when he helped himself to Emily’s full, red lips and her body melted into Zack’s hard edges, she didn’t know if she was in danger or in love. Both harboring old secrets and heartache, Emily and Zack were forced to run from dark intentions; finding solace in each other’s body heat, they shared passion driven by pure adrenaline. But as their search for evidence became a suicide mission, would they die having never said “I love you”?

IN THE NEWS: Ex-navy search and rescue pilot Drew Evans FAMILY HISTORY: His adopted brother is one of the genetically engineered Extraordinary Five DEEPEST SECRET: Haunted by the only mission he failed Hardened hero Drew Evans had thought his tragic past was behind him, until the woman he''d secretly loved—his best friend''s widow—stepped back into his solitary life. But single mom Alison Myers was in need of his help to save her ailing son—and quench her own hidden longings. Alison had never expected to see devastatingly handsome Drew again, the one man who made her feel the forbidden stirrings of passion. But could she trust him with the two most precious things in her life…her son and her heart? Originally published in 2003.

Eine 7-köpfige Familie der amischen Gemeinde in Painters Mill wird bestialisch ermordet. Zunächst lässt sich kein Motiv erkennen, doch dann findet Polizeichefin Kate Burkholder das geheime Tagebuch der ältesten Tochter Mary, die auf tragische Weise in dunkle Machenschaften hineingezogen wurde. Kate ist selbst bei den Amischen aufgewachsen, hat der Gemeinde aber als Jugendliche den Rücken gekehrt. Ihr neuer Fall konfrontiert sie erneut mit ihrer Vergangenheit, die Suche nach dem Täter wird fast zu einem persönlichen Rachefeldzug.

In de Bitterroot Super Max-gevangenis verdwijnen regelmatig gevangenen naar de ziekenafdeling, om vervolgens doodziek, of zelfs nooit meer terug te keren. Om uit te zoeken wat er aan de hand is, laat undercoveragent Zack Devlin zich insluiten als gedetineerde. Niet ongevaarlijk, blijkt als hij op een ochtend heel vroeg bewaarder Emily Monroe tegen het lijf loopt, die ook rondsnuffelt. Want nog voor ze allebei van de schrik bekomen zijn, worden ze gesnapt. En vanaf dat moment zijn ook zij hun leven niet meer zeker!

Tutti a Painters Mill sanno che sulla fattoria degli Hochstetler aleggia un tragico mistero. Ma solo in pochi ricordano il terribile segreto tramandato dal sospiro del tempo, e ora ne sono perseguitati. Il detective Kate Burkholder è chiamata a intervenire sulla scena di quello che sembra un suicidio: un anziano uomo trovato impiccato alle travi del suo fienile diroccato. Ma gli indizi portano piuttosto a pensare a un omicidio. Quando viene rinvenuto un secondo cadavere, Kate capisce che il caso è direttamente collegato a ciò che accadde in una terribile notte di trentacinque anni prima, quando un padre amish e i suoi quattro figli morirono e la loro giovane madre scomparve senza lasciare traccia.

Fjerde bog i serien med tidligere amishpige, nu politichef, Kate Burkholder som hovedperson. Linda Castillo har med god grund fundet sit danske publikum. Hun er en krimiforfatter på højde med Karin Slaughter, hvilket hendes danske fans har fået øjnene op for. Første bog i serien er Tvunget til tavshed, anden bog er Bøn om tavshed, og tredje bog er Bryd tavsheden. De to første findes allerede som store paperbacks og til efteråret gælder det også Bryd tavsheden.

En amishkrimi med Kate Burkholder. # 6 i Kate Burkholderserien “Det er effektivt, foruroligende og troværdigt. Kort sagt leverer Castillo glimrende underholdning.”

"The discovery of an Amish bishop''s remains leads chief of police Kate Burkholder to unearth a chilling secret in this new thriller from bestselling author Linda Castillo. Over a decade ago, beloved Amish bishop Ananias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. The mystery of what happened to the esteemed old man has haunted his small Pennsylvania community for years. When skeletal remains showing evidence of foul play are unearthed and revealed to be the bishop''s, his disappearance becomes even more sinister. Unhappy with the local investigation, Amish elders arrive in Painters Mill and ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. Kate quickly realizes she has a very personal connection to the crime. The handsome Amish man who stands accused of the murder, Jonas Bowman, was Kate''s first love. Forced to confront a painful episode from her past, Kate travels to Pennsylvania''s Kishacoquillas Valley, an isolated area where the Amish culture differs dramatically from the traditions in which she was raised. Kate learns that Stoltzfus was charismatic and highly respected, but she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that brought a series of tragedies to his family and resulted in his own brutal death? Someone doesn''t want Kate asking questions. But even after being accosted and threatened in the dead of night, she refuses to back down. As evidence emerges, Kate must ask herself: Is she too close to the case--and to Jonas--to see clearly? There''s a killer in the Valley who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Will they get to Kate before she can expose the truth? Or will the bishop''s secrets remain hidden forever?"--

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called upon by the sheriff''s department in rural, upstate New York to assist on a developing situation that involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between the Amish and "English" communities, the sheriff asks Kate to travel to New York, pose as an Amish woman, and infiltrate the community. Kate''s longtime love interest, State Agent John Tomasetti, is dead set against her taking on such an unorthodox assignment, knowing she''ll have limited communication--and even less in the way of backup. But Kate can''t turn her back, especially when the rumor mill boils with disturbing accounts of children in danger. She travels to New York, where she''s briefed and assumes her new identity as a lone widow seeking a new life. Kate infiltrates the community and goes deep undercover. In the coming days, she unearths a world built on secrets, a series of shocking crimes, and herself, alone ... trapped in a fight for her life.

Investigating the disappearance of an Amish teenager, chief of police Kate Burkholder and state agent John Tomasetti stumble on a dead body at the same time another girl goes missing, and later discover sinister links to numerous cold cases.

Volné pokračování detektivních příběhů, odehrávajících se mezi amiši, s policejní náčelnicí Kate Burkholderovou. Na opuštěné farmě je zavražděna amišská babička, a navíc je unesena její sedmiletá vnučka. Policejní náčelnice Kate Burkholderová se případem okamžitě začíná zabývat. Uvědomuje si totiž, že čím déle bude dívka pohřešovaná, tím menší je šance, že se ji podaří nalézt živou a zdravou. Navíc rodina dívky je v rámci amišské komunity velmi vážená. A přestože se její členové snaží s policií spolupracovat, dozvídá se Kate, že i oni skrývají nejedno tajemství. Nakladatelská anotace. Kráceno.