The Burning: A Novel
Jul 2024 · Kate Burkholder Book 16 · Minotaur Books
4.5star
12 reviewsreport
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320
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About this ebook
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.
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.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
12 reviews
Linda Brown
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July 9, 2024
Constant danger for Chief Burkholder😲 3.5-4🌟 stars The Burning was loaded with action and suspense, initially related to the highly unusual method of victim Milan Swanz's death and then the danger Chief of Police Kate Burkholder draws to herself during the investigation. It's all pumped adrenaline, fight for your life excitement, but for some reason it didn't fully win me over. I felt Kate was unnecessarily putting herself in danger repeatedly, knowing the murderer had her in his sights.
Linda Dossett
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July 9, 2024
First, let me just say how much I am enjoying this series, and man, there is some bad stuff happening in these particular Amish communities. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. Twisted, gruesome evil invades Kate and Tomasetti’s world. The reason and outcome are unsettling,as the story progresses, the reader is wrapped with anticipation and the possibilities of several different outcomes. This is book has a high degree of tension and is an excellent read.
Patricia White
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July 9, 2024
Grab This One Now!! It’s no surprise to me that after sixteen plus books in this series she hit it out of the ballpark with this one. A brutal murder has Kate Burkholder and her husband John Tomasetti on a bizarre case that takes them into a dark side of the Amish that nightmares are made of. This story was non stop suspense. Every year I look forward to a new book from this amazing author and she never disappoints me.
About the author
Linda 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. Critically acclaimed as “the master of the genre” (People magazine), Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including an Edgar Award, the Sue Grafton Memorial Award, a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for an Audie Award for best mystery audiobook, and an appearance on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel. Her books have sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband and a menagerie of animals, and is currently at work on her next book.
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