I had to look up what number this is in the Kate Burkholder series. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. If Linda Castillo writes it, I’m reading it. Ever since Sworn to Silence, I’ve been hooked like an Amish quilt at a county fair.
As usual, Castillo lures you in with peaceful scenery—gentle rain, a bike ride, maybe even a rainbow or two—and then BAM! Someone gets shot in the chest with a crossbow. A crossbow, folks. Talk about putting the "what just happened?!" in your mystery. The victim? A young Amish man, just biking to work, minding his own business. Or so we’re led to believe...
This book hit a slightly more reflective note for Kate. She’s still sharp as ever, but with her wedding approaching, she’s pausing a bit more. It worked. It gave depth to her character and reminded me that behind the badge is someone still piecing together her place between two worlds.
A highlight for me was Bishop Troyer showing up for Kate’s wedding. If you know anything about shunning in the Amish community, you know how big of a deal that is. It made me unexpectedly proud of a fictional bishop. That's the magic of Castillo—she makes these characters real.
Now, let’s talk victim. I won’t spoil anything, but my sympathy level plummeted faster than a buggy on a downhill slope. Turns out, not every tragedy is tragic once the full story unravels. The motive? Completely believable. Drugs, alcohol, and a questionable moral compass are a bloodbath waiting to happen.
I teared up during the wedding prep scenes. Kate’s memories of her mother’s saying—"A marriage may be made in heaven, but man is responsible for the wedding"—touched me more than I expected. Especially when your wedding village has to churn butter and sew dresses without electricity. My idea of a rustic wedding is running low on ice cubes, so hats off to Kate.
Pacing-wise, Castillo nailed it again. It moved fast enough to keep me flipping pages but not so fast that I had to call in because 'the cat unplugged my alarm clock'.
One of Castillo’s greatest strengths is how she weaves the English and Amish worlds together. They stay distinct, but the overlap feels real, sometimes uncomfortable, and always compelling.
Bottom line: If you’re a fan of the series, An Evil Heart is another strong entry. If you’re new, do yourself a favor and start with Sworn to Silence. Trust me, it’s a wild and wonderful ride through Painters Mill.
