New Releases by Linda Castillo

In this gripping installment of the Edgar Award winning series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a brutal double murder that takes her into the dark underbelly of society and exposes the dangers of Amish lives gone wrong. Summer has arrived with a vengeance in Painters Mill, and a macabre discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet to a grinding halt. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. What twisted individual murdered him in such a sadistic way? The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is found, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Eicher’s best friend. What could these two young Amish men have been involved in that led to such violent ends? With a heat wave bearing down, Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory characters—individuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market. To solve the case, Kate must delve into the most sordid corners of her community, but when she gets too close, the killers target Kate herself. Will the secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?

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.

In this short mystery from bestselling author Linda Castillo, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must race through a dangerous blizzard to save an elderly Amish woman from a sinister foe. Newlyweds Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti are happily spending their honeymoon at a beautiful Lake Erie cabin that was once part of an historic Amish settlement. But when a violent storm suddenly erupts, Lovina Nisley, the Amish owner of the cabin, goes missing. Lovina is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, so it initially appears the elderly woman simply took the wrong path, but her disappearance takes an ominous turn when her husband reveals that a developer has been threatening them if they refuse to sell him their home. With temperatures dropping and local law enforcement unable to reach them, Kate and Tomasetti must brave the perilous weather to find her. But will they reach Lovina in time to save her life?

Jednoho podzimního dne je policejní náčelnice Kate Burkholderová přivolána na odlehlou venkovskou cestu k tělu amiše zastřeleného kuší. Zavražděný Aden Karn byl teprve jednadvacetiletý oblíbený mladík ze vzorné amišské rodiny. Při odhalování Karnovy minulosti se však ke Kate donesou i zvěsti o jeho temnější stránce. Co když Aden Karn nebyl jen ten všemi obdivovaný, milý muž, milující svou snoubenku? Nebo jsou to všechno jen zákeřné pomluvy, které mají oběť očernit? Kate postupně zjišťuje, že se Aden obklopoval pochybnými přáteli, jejichž chování vůbec nezapadá do její představy o laskavém a slušném mladíkovi. A když za ní přijde mladá amiška s hrůzostrašným příběhem o násilí, jehož se na ní měl Aden Karn dopustit, na povrch začne vyplouvat nová tvář oběti...

Un nuovo capitolo dell'appassionante saga gialla di Kate Burkholder, una delle detective più amate dai lettori di tutto il mondo. Painters Mill, Ohio. È in un motel di quella cittadina tranquilla che viene trovato il cadavere di Rachael Schwartz, una ragazza che da tempo non si faceva più vedere nei dintorni. Era una amish, ma si era ribellata alla comunità, ripudiando quella cultura e quei luoghi. A indagare sulla sua morte è la detective Kate Burkholder, anche lei amish, un tempo, e anche lei allontanatasi da quel mondo. Non solo: Kate conosceva la vittima quando erano ragazzine, ma poi le loro strade si erano separate. Da quanto Kate ricorda, Rachael era sempre stata un'anticonformista, una con le idee chiare, contro i genitori, le tradizioni, il mondo intero. Se n'era andata da giovane e aveva fatto carriera, con carattere e senza guardare in faccia nessuno. Kate scopre che sono in molti quelli che avrebbero potuto considerarla una nemica, un obiettivo da eliminare, e che c'è qualcosa di oscuro nel suo passato. Un passato che può - in qualche modo - aver provocato la sua morte. Forse c'è una vergogna da voler insabbiare, forse c'è una caduta in disgrazia che dev'essere tenuta nascosta. Forse gli amish devono rimanere amish e non uscire dai loro confini. Forse chi prova ad allontanarsi troppo dal sentiero tracciato può rischiare di lasciarci la pelle.

2024 EDGAR AWARD WINNER FOR BEST SHORT STORY A troubling discovery leads Chief of Police Kate Burkholder on a strange investigation ending at a long-abandoned Amish farm in this short mystery from bestselling author Linda Castillo. When a family dog brings home a human bone, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder finds herself on a desperate search for answers. Where did the bone come from? Who does it belong to? And perhaps most importantly, are the bones a result of foul play? With Halloween approaching, the unsettling questions garner uneasiness, rumors, and macabre theories among the residents of Painters Mill. Determined to get to the bottom of the case—and stop the ghost stories upsetting the town—Kate and her soon-to-be husband John Tomasetti embark on a sweeping investigation. Will their search for the source of the human remains uncover the truth? Or will it lead them to an even darker discovery buried on hallowed ground?

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!

Sie war aufsässig und rebellisch. Doch kannte der Mörder auch ihr dunkles Geheimnis? In einem Motel in Painters Mill wird die Leiche einer jungen Frau gefunden – brutal ermordet. Als Kate Burkholder zum Tatort gerufen wird, ist sie schockiert. Sie kennt das Opfer von früher. Rachael Schwartz war eine charmante, aber auch rebellische junge Frau, die der strengen Ordnung ihrer amischen Familie vor vielen Jahren für immer entfloh. Doch warum kehrte sie jetzt zurück? Und wer hat sie so brutal umgebracht? Kate erinnert sich, dass Rachael als Kind und Teenager genauso aufsässig war wie sie selbst damals, Rachael hielt sich nicht an die Regeln, beachtete keine Konventionen und hinterließ Familie und Freunde nach ihrer Flucht völlig zerstört. Es gab einige, die ihr nichts Gutes nachsagten. Doch was nur wenige wussten: Rachael hütete ein dunkles Geheimnis. Und derjenige, der Rachael getötet hat, wird alles daran setzen, dass ihr Geheimnis nicht ans Tageslicht kommt. Dafür ist ihm jedes Mittel recht. Um die ganze Wahrheit aufzudecken und den Mörder zur Strecke zu bringen, braucht Kate einen ausgeklügelten Plan. Sonst wäre Rachaels Geheimnis für immer vergessen. Und ihr Schicksal bliebe ungesühnt.

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.

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.

Ovdovělý amiš Adam Lengacher, který vzal své děti na projížďku na saních, narazí cestou na auto, které uvízlo v závějích, a opodál najde bezvládnou ženu. Zavolá tedy náčelnici policejního oddělení v Painters Millu Kate Burkholderové. Ta se k nehodě neprodleně dostaví a zažije šok: v oné neznámé poznává Ginu Colorosovou, policistku a spolužačku ze studií na policejní akademii. Gina jí prozradí, že je hledaná za vraždu policisty. Tvrdí, že ona je nevinná, že za jejím obviněním stojí spiknutí zkorumpovaných policistů, které chtěla odhalit.Kate požádá o pomoc svého přítele agenta Johna Tomasettiho a společně se pouštějí do vyšetřování případu. Záhy se však ukáže, že nikdo o té noci, kdy Gina údajně zastřelila kolegu, nechce mluvit...

Lügen, Korruption und tödliche Intrigen Der Anruf von Adam Lengacher, einem verwitweten amischen Familienvater, erreicht Kate Burkholder mitten in einem Schneesturm. Er habe eine halb erfrorene Frau auf seinem Grundstück gefunden, sie sei eine "Englische" und Kate solle sofort kommen. Kate erkennt die Frau sofort: Es ist Gina Colorosa, ihre Team-Partnerin von damals auf der Polizeiakademie in Columbus. Doch jetzt ist Gina auf der Flucht. Und das vor ihren eigenen Kollegen. Sie soll einen Kollegen ermordet haben. Doch Gina behauptet, diese Tat nicht begangen zu haben. Man wolle sie aus dem Weg räumen, weil sie kurz davor war, Unregelmäßigkeiten in ihrer Dienststelle aufzudecken. Je näher Kate der Wahrheit kommt, desto näher kommt den beiden Frauen auch der auf sie angesetzte Mörder.

In New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo’s new thriller Fallen, a rebellious Amish woman leaves the Plain life, but the secrets she takes with her will lead Chief of Police Kate Burkholder down a dark path to danger and death. When a young woman is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is shocked to discover she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a charming but troubled Amish girl who left the fold years ago and fled Painters Mill. Why was she back in town? And who would kill her so brutally? Kate remembers Rachael as the only girl who was as bad at being Amish as Kate was—and those parallels dog her. But the more Kate learns about Rachael''s life, the more she''s convinced that her dubious reputation was deserved. As a child, Rachael was a rowdy rulebreaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents and best friend. As an adult, she was charismatic and beautiful, a rabble-rouser with a keen eye for opportunity no matter who got in her way. Her no-holds-barred lifestyle earned her a lot of love and enemies aplenty—both English and Amish. As the case heats to a fever pitch and long-buried secrets resurface, a killer haunts Painters Mill. Someone doesn’t want Rachael’s past—or the mysteries she took with her to the grave—coming to light. As Kate digs deeper, violence strikes again, this time hitting close to home. Will Kate uncover the truth and bring a murderer to justice? Or will a killer bent on protecting a terrible past stop her once and for all—and let the fallen be forgotten?

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?

‘***** Linda Castillo wordt vergeleken met Karin Slaughter. En terecht.’ – Gooi- en Eemlander Politiechef Kate Burkholder is een harde tante, maar als ze met de Slaboughzaak te maken krijgt, moet ze er alles aan doen om emoties buiten de deur te houden. Vier kinderen zijn verweesd achtergebleven na een tragisch ongeluk waarbij de ouders en een oom door verstikking in een put met methaangas zijn omgekomen. De autopsie wijst iets anders uit. Was het moord? Intussen wordt Kate’s district geteisterd door haatmisdaden tegen de amish en algauw vermoedt ze een verband tussen de moord en de andere gewelddadige acties. De overheid stuurt profiler John Tomasetti om te helpen. Kate heeft een complexe relatie met hem, maar groeit tijdens deze zaak nog meer naar hem toe. Terwijl ze hun handen vol hebben aan de haatacties in de amishgemeenschap, komt een duister geheim van de Slaboughfamilie aan de oppervlakte drijven. De moordenaar blijkt al die tijd veel dichterbij te zijn geweest dan ze hadden gedacht. ‘**** Ook in dit deel wordt weer een zeer gevoelig onderwerp aangesneden, maar Castillo doet dat ingehouden en met gevoel.’ – Crimezone.nl ‘Naast uitmuntend beschreven personages en een intrigerend plot dat een paar onverwachte wendingen neemt terwijl je met je hart in je keel naar een einde leest, weet Castillo met grote gevoeligheid door te dringen tot de emotionele belasting van politiewerk.’ – Booklist, starred review

Es ist Herbst in Painters Mill und die 14-jährige Katie Burkholder und ihr Bruder Jacob sollen in Zimmerman's Orchard Äpfel pflücken. Keine Arbeit, die Katie gerne macht, doch als ihre Freundin Mattie auftaucht, um zu helfen, wird die Stimmung schon besser. Mattie ist seit Kindertagen ihre beste Freundin, diejenige, der sie alles anvertraut. Der Spaß hat ein jähes Ende, als Billy Marquart mit seinen Freunden auftaucht. Billy ist ein Raufbold, der keinem Streit aus dem Weg geht. Doch Mattie weiß, wie man den 'Englischen' umgeht und verschwindet mit Billy in der nahen Scheune. Kurze Zeit später lodern Flammen aus der Scheune, doch Mattie leugnet, dass sie etwas damit zu tun hatte. Katie verdächtigt Billy, doch da ist etwas, das nicht zusammenpasst. Wer lügt hier? Je mehr Katie herausfindet, umso misstrauischer wird sie. Wird ihre Freundschaft zu Mattie die Wahrheit verkraften?

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.

Policejní náčelnici Kate Burkholderovou požádá o pomoc šerif z newyorského venkova, aby místním pomohla vyřešit záležitost týkající se samotářské amišské osady a úmrtí mladé dívky. Jelikož šerif není schopen překonat zeď mlčení, která stojí mezi amiši a zbytkem místních, požádá o pomoc Kate, která má v přestrojení proniknout do místní komunity. Katin partner, státní agent John Tomasetti, je zásadně proti tomu, aby přijala tak neobvyklý úkol, protože dobře ví, že mezi amiši bude mít Kate velmi omezené možnosti spojení s vnějším světem – a ještě menší možnost přivolat si pomoc. Ale Kate už nemůže couvnout, obzvlášť když v okolí osady kolují znepokojivé zvěsti o ohrožených dětech...

Před osmi lety byl Joseph King za vraždu své ženy odsouzen na doživotí. Podle místní policie to byl „padlý“ amiš a známý uživatel drog se vznětlivou povahou. Teď King utekl z vězení a míří do městečka Painters Mill. Novinky o uprchlém vrahovi se šíří jako požár a v týmu policejní náčelnice Kate Burkholderové panuje nervozita. Když se King v městečku ukáže s pistolí a z domu jejich amišského strýce unese svých pět dětí, noční můra se stane skutečností. Kate má o děti strach, a tak se vrhne do akce, jenže v průběhu zběsilého pátrání po vrahovi sama padne do jeho spárů. King ji ale propustí nezraněnou a požádá ji, aby dokázala jeho nevinu. A tak se Kate začne pídit po pravdě.

"Kate Burkholder races against the clock to find a missing Amish girl. An Amish grandmother is murdered on an abandoned farm, her seven year old granddaughter abducted. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder plunges headlong into a case that quickly becomes a race against the clock. She knows the longer the girl is missing, the more likely a tragic outcome. The family of the missing girl is well thought of--a pillar of the Amish community. Their pain is palpable and they cooperate in every way, but Kate soon learns they''re keeping secrets... The investigation takes Kate to an isolated Old Order Amish settlement along the river in southern Ohio. At first, the community seems upstanding and helpful. But when Kate starts asking questions, they stonewall her--and the situation soon becomes dangerous. What are they hiding and why? After an attempt on her life, Kate unearths a haunting and tragic secret that changes everything she thought she knew about the family for whom she is fighting, the Amish community as a whole--and everything she thought she knew about herself. Will she reach the girl in time to save her life?"--

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.

O staré farmě Hochstetlerových se v Painters Millu šušká, že je prokletá. Policejní náčelnice Kate Burkholderová je přivolána na místo, kde se zdánlivě vlastní rukou sprovodil ze světa starý muž. Záhy však důkazy prozradí, že šlo ve skutečnosti o vraždu, která navíc nějak souvisí právě s dávným incidentem na farmě Hochstetlerových. Když je objeven další mrtvý muž, opět zdánlivý sebevrah, vyjde na světlo spojitost mezi oběťmi a postupně se odkrývají děsivé podrobnosti z oné noci před pětatřiceti lety, kdy zahynul amišský otec a jeho čtyři děti, jejichž matka beze stopy zmizela...

When Landis, a prosecutor, finished an important trial and returned home, she was shocked to see who was waiting for her?Jack Lacroix! Although he’s a detective, he’s also the one who killed Landis’s older brother. Why was he there when he should be in prison? When Lacroix collapsed out of nowhere, Landis realized that he’d been shot! Why had such a hateful man shown up in her life?

Only one man can keep her and her baby safe in this classic book of heart-stopping suspense by New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo! Originally published as The Phoenix Encounter in 2003. Agent Robert Davidson never recovered from the horror of watching the woman he loved die in a war-ravaged country. But he thought he could handle returning to Rebelia on a mission. Only nothing could have prepared him for the shock of finding Lily still alive—with a child. With Lily’s and her son’s life in danger, Robert must set aside his jealousy—and desire—in order to protect her and the boy. Except there is one more secret yet to be revealed—which will change Roberts’s life forever.

"The Gingerich barn burns to the ground in the middle of the night and eighteen-year-old Daniel is missing. When Daniel''s body is found inside--burned alive-- Chief of Police Kate Burkholder''s investigation of the murder of the well-liked young Amish man reveals a plethora of secrets and a chilling series of crimes"--

Er war vom rechten Weg abgekommen. Er wusste, dass nur noch Gott ihm helfen konnte. Oder Kate Burkholder, Polizeichefin in Painters Mill. Seit zwei Jahren sitzt Joseph King wegen des Mordes an seiner Frau Naomi hinter Gittern. Er gilt als ein "gefallener" Amischer, einer der ständig mit dem Gesetz in Konflikt geriet. Doch diese Tat hat er immer vehement bestritten. Jetzt ist er ausgebrochen, hat seine fünf Kinder als Geiseln genommen. Als Kate Burkholder die Kinder auf eigene Faust befreien will, wird sie von King überwältigt. Seine Forderung an sie lautet: Du kannst gehen, aber finde den Mörder meiner Frau! Als Kate diesen zwei Jahre alten Fall wieder aufgreift, ahnt sie noch nicht, wie gefährlich diese Ermittlung werden und welches Drama daraus entstehen wird.

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.

Marty Hogan was a good cop, until a shocking case sent her to the razor’s edge... A sadistic killer pushed Chicago cop Marty Hogan past her limits—and it was all caught on video. She lost her job, her sense of self, her entire world...until an open detective position in small-town Texas gave her a chance at redemption. But she’s about to learn that the past always catches up... Police Chief Clay Settlemeyer knows all about mistakes and second chances—he’s still earning his own, so he’s willing to give Marty the opportunity to prove herself. But when her ex-partner is murdered, it looks like Chicago is coming to small-town Texas with a vengeance! “Castillo’s novel resonates with its blend of stalking menace and rich characterization.” —Romantic Times, 4 Stars “Linda Castillo writes with power, passion, and a voice you’ll never forget!”—New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayne “OVERKILL is another winner from Linda Castillo. Having a great conflict and creating great characters are just two of the reasons Linda Castillo is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for romantic suspense. I can''t wait to read more.” —Romance Junkies “Ripped straight from the headlines and guaranteed to cause...There is a happy ending here, but Castillo makes them work for it. So when it comes, it’s worth it.” —Paperbackreader.com