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Kate Burkholder #1
Sworn to Silence
Some secrets are too terrible to reveal . . .Some crimes are too unspeakable to solve . . . In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and "English" residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish. Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She's certain she's come to terms with her past--until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past--and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.
321 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Linda Castillo
93 books5,894 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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,583 reviews
August 27, 2021
Sworn to Silence (Kate Burkholder #1) by Linda Castillo (Author), Kathleen McInerney (Narrator)
Police chief, Kate Burkholder, has a big secret and it's coming back to haunt her. Sixteen years ago, she thought her actions had stopped a serial killer but now there are killings that mimic those of the serial killer of her past. Kate was just fourteen years old her her parents led the family down the path of not telling anyone what had happened. That silence hurt Kate but to open up now could ruin her life. She's waited too long and too many lives could be damaged if she speaks up. But, if she doesn't do something, more women will be die now.
Thirty year old Kate is tough and she'll get in your face if you breath the wrong way. She carries a lot of guilt, not only for what happened when she was fourteen but also because she let down her Amish family and community when she left the Amish way of life. She is now shunned by the Amish but her upbringing keeps her from feeling entirely "English", the term for non Amish people. The powers that be in her small town of Painters Mill are only too happy to use these present day murders as a way to get rid of Kate, who can't stand the flashy ways of the city leaders. When outside bureaus are called in, Kate seems to gain an ally in Special Agent Tomasetti, a man whose own personal trauma is even more horrible than that of Kate.
This is a very descriptive, gory book, not for the faint of heart. Kate is a bulldog that is so weighed down by her secrets that she doesn't know how to proceed and there appears to be no good answer when a serial killer is not only looking to do more but only too happy to flaunt his handiwork for all to see. I'm looking forward to listening to book two, soon.
Published June 25th 2009
Police chief, Kate Burkholder, has a big secret and it's coming back to haunt her. Sixteen years ago, she thought her actions had stopped a serial killer but now there are killings that mimic those of the serial killer of her past. Kate was just fourteen years old her her parents led the family down the path of not telling anyone what had happened. That silence hurt Kate but to open up now could ruin her life. She's waited too long and too many lives could be damaged if she speaks up. But, if she doesn't do something, more women will be die now.
Thirty year old Kate is tough and she'll get in your face if you breath the wrong way. She carries a lot of guilt, not only for what happened when she was fourteen but also because she let down her Amish family and community when she left the Amish way of life. She is now shunned by the Amish but her upbringing keeps her from feeling entirely "English", the term for non Amish people. The powers that be in her small town of Painters Mill are only too happy to use these present day murders as a way to get rid of Kate, who can't stand the flashy ways of the city leaders. When outside bureaus are called in, Kate seems to gain an ally in Special Agent Tomasetti, a man whose own personal trauma is even more horrible than that of Kate.
This is a very descriptive, gory book, not for the faint of heart. Kate is a bulldog that is so weighed down by her secrets that she doesn't know how to proceed and there appears to be no good answer when a serial killer is not only looking to do more but only too happy to flaunt his handiwork for all to see. I'm looking forward to listening to book two, soon.
Published June 25th 2009
April 19, 2019
This is the first book in the Kate Burkholder Series and I
just loved it. One of the many reasons that I loved it so much is
that I live in the Columbus, Ohio area where some of the setting is
taken place.
Kate is an eight year veteran for the Columbus, Ohio Police
Force, who returns to her home where she grew up in Painters Mill,
Ohio, where I have visited several times. She becomes Police Chief
there. She knows the Amish town and residents very well. Since she
left the Amish way of life, she is not very well liked there in the
community. A horrible mutilated body is found of a young woman in
in a field. A similar series of crimes had occurred in the community
16 years ago, where four young ladies were murdered. The
killings had stopped, and now it appears that the killer has
come back. Kate doesn't believe though that the killer has come
back, due to a secret that she and two others had kept since she
was 14 years old. If the same person has returned then everything
she knows is wrong. Also if the murder case is reopened, she risks
not only losing her career but also the lives of those that had kept
her secret.
Two other victims are discovered and Kate becomes fired
from her job, but she stays on the case on her own time while
seeking the identity of the killer and putting her own self up as
the victim.
What makes Sworn to Silence such an awesome read is that Castillo's
descriptions of the quiet and tranquil surface of life in the rural
County with the undercurrent of the violence that dramatically
reveals itself without warning.
This is now my all time favorite series.
I recommend this book to all that
love a great and fantastic thriller. I cannot wait to read the rest of
the series.
just loved it. One of the many reasons that I loved it so much is
that I live in the Columbus, Ohio area where some of the setting is
taken place.
Kate is an eight year veteran for the Columbus, Ohio Police
Force, who returns to her home where she grew up in Painters Mill,
Ohio, where I have visited several times. She becomes Police Chief
there. She knows the Amish town and residents very well. Since she
left the Amish way of life, she is not very well liked there in the
community. A horrible mutilated body is found of a young woman in
in a field. A similar series of crimes had occurred in the community
16 years ago, where four young ladies were murdered. The
killings had stopped, and now it appears that the killer has
come back. Kate doesn't believe though that the killer has come
back, due to a secret that she and two others had kept since she
was 14 years old. If the same person has returned then everything
she knows is wrong. Also if the murder case is reopened, she risks
not only losing her career but also the lives of those that had kept
her secret.
Two other victims are discovered and Kate becomes fired
from her job, but she stays on the case on her own time while
seeking the identity of the killer and putting her own self up as
the victim.
What makes Sworn to Silence such an awesome read is that Castillo's
descriptions of the quiet and tranquil surface of life in the rural
County with the undercurrent of the violence that dramatically
reveals itself without warning.
This is now my all time favorite series.
I recommend this book to all that
love a great and fantastic thriller. I cannot wait to read the rest of
the series.
July 12, 2017
I really was just being generous here with the three stars because I really had to drag myself through this book. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. The writing was mediocre and I couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters. I literally figured out the plot line in the beginning and the view point changes were annoying and unnecessary. I know it's a genre books but it was just so derivative of every other mystery book I've read, there was nothing original or good about it. You can't be a mediocre writer with boring cliched characters and a predictable plot line like come on man give me something.
April 28, 2020
4 Stars
When a Serial Killer reappears in the quiet town of Painters Mill, Ohio - it’s Chief of Police Kate Burkholder who is determined to find him and bring him to justice. After all, for Kate, this is personal.
This is not the first time a Serial Killer materialized in this sleepy town. Sixteen years ago, The Slaughterhouse Killer took the lives of several women and almost killed another one, before she got free. That experience has stayed with her forever. Kate Burkholder, was once of the Amish faith, that experience stripped her of it. Now she is an “Englisher” and is back in Painters Mill after a long absence. Taking over as the Chief of Police she has a lot to prove.
The crimes are brutal and are not for the weak of heart. Luckily for Kate, she has a great team behind her, including Glock and Special Agent Tomasetti, with the BCI.
Strong willed and smart, yet a tiny bit vulnerable, Kate Burkholder’s character draws you into this story beautifully. Tomasetti’s past also keeps you completely gripped to the storyline. Though “Sworn to Silence” is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series, it is my second foray in Linda Castillo’s series and I’m so glad that I decided to start at the beginning (thanks for the suggestion Kaceey!!).
While I guessed the culprit early on, it did not deter from my enjoyment of this fast-paced, dramatic mystery/suspense.
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook (the narration is stellar!).
Published on Goodreads on 4.26.20.
When a Serial Killer reappears in the quiet town of Painters Mill, Ohio - it’s Chief of Police Kate Burkholder who is determined to find him and bring him to justice. After all, for Kate, this is personal.
This is not the first time a Serial Killer materialized in this sleepy town. Sixteen years ago, The Slaughterhouse Killer took the lives of several women and almost killed another one, before she got free. That experience has stayed with her forever. Kate Burkholder, was once of the Amish faith, that experience stripped her of it. Now she is an “Englisher” and is back in Painters Mill after a long absence. Taking over as the Chief of Police she has a lot to prove.
The crimes are brutal and are not for the weak of heart. Luckily for Kate, she has a great team behind her, including Glock and Special Agent Tomasetti, with the BCI.
Strong willed and smart, yet a tiny bit vulnerable, Kate Burkholder’s character draws you into this story beautifully. Tomasetti’s past also keeps you completely gripped to the storyline. Though “Sworn to Silence” is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series, it is my second foray in Linda Castillo’s series and I’m so glad that I decided to start at the beginning (thanks for the suggestion Kaceey!!).
While I guessed the culprit early on, it did not deter from my enjoyment of this fast-paced, dramatic mystery/suspense.
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook (the narration is stellar!).
Published on Goodreads on 4.26.20.
March 7, 2024
This is a Amish Thriller, and this is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series. This thriller is fast pace and beautifully written. This is not like a normal Amish book, but I love it so much. In this series we follow Kate who grow up Amish, but she never became part of the Amish church when she became an adult. She now lives in the English world, and she is the police Chief where she grow up. She deals with the Amish and the English world. The Thriller/Mystery parts of this book is so great, and the twist was the best. This book keeps you wanting to read, and I feel totally in love with the Kate character. There not many thriller series, and I do not think there is another Amish Thriller series. This book is one of kind. I have read a lot of Cozy Mystery with Amish, but there is nothing cozy about this book. This is more of a dark thriller. Great series with Great characters. I cannot wait to pick up the second book in this series.
I just found out there was a Lifetime movie basic off of this book, so I decided to watch it today. Let me say most of the things I love about the book was token out the movie. I think I would have enjoyed the movie if I had not read the book, but the book was much better.
I just found out there was a Lifetime movie basic off of this book, so I decided to watch it today. Let me say most of the things I love about the book was token out the movie. I think I would have enjoyed the movie if I had not read the book, but the book was much better.
September 19, 2023
4,5 Sterne
Ich weiß gar nicht, seit wann ich schon mit dieser Reihe beginnen möchte. Eigentlich schon seit Jahren und irgendwie habe ich es doch immer aufgeschoben. Nun bin ich sehr froh, dass ich endlich den ersten Band gelesen habe!
Die Geschichte spielt in Ohio, USA. Es gab einen Mord, den es aufzuklären gilt. Das Interessante an dieser Reihe und speziell diesem ersten Band ist der Einbezug des Lebens der Amischen Gemeinschaft im Ort. Kate Burkholder, die ermittelnde Kommissarin, war früher auch eine Amische, hat die Glaubensgemeinschaft aber verlassen.
Der Mordfall bzw. die Ermittlungen sind schon sehr spannend, zum Teil ist die Geschichte auch wirklich grausig und brutal und nichts für sensible Leser.
Mir hat diese Kombination aus Krimi/Thriller und Einblicke in das Leben der Amischen sehr gut gefallen.
Ich weiß gar nicht, seit wann ich schon mit dieser Reihe beginnen möchte. Eigentlich schon seit Jahren und irgendwie habe ich es doch immer aufgeschoben. Nun bin ich sehr froh, dass ich endlich den ersten Band gelesen habe!
Die Geschichte spielt in Ohio, USA. Es gab einen Mord, den es aufzuklären gilt. Das Interessante an dieser Reihe und speziell diesem ersten Band ist der Einbezug des Lebens der Amischen Gemeinschaft im Ort. Kate Burkholder, die ermittelnde Kommissarin, war früher auch eine Amische, hat die Glaubensgemeinschaft aber verlassen.
Der Mordfall bzw. die Ermittlungen sind schon sehr spannend, zum Teil ist die Geschichte auch wirklich grausig und brutal und nichts für sensible Leser.
Mir hat diese Kombination aus Krimi/Thriller und Einblicke in das Leben der Amischen sehr gut gefallen.
March 25, 2018
A solid 4 stars
This is book 1 in the series about a small town Ohio police chief in Amish country. Kate Burkholder was raised Amish, but left the community and became a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. She has returned as chief, hired because of her Amish background. The book opens with a gruesome torture/murder scene. It reminded me of the opening scene in the tv show Criminal Minds.
When the body is discovered, there is a Roman numeral carved on the body, the same as a series of serial murders that stopped 16 years ago. Kate has a secret. She believes that she killed that murderer 16 years ago. The mystery mounts as more bodies are found with the same signature, and I could not put this book down. I did not suspect who the killer was was until near the end.
I discovered this series when I won book 8 in a GR giveaway last year and resolved to read more. Both my wife and I enjoy this series.
There is some graphic violence. This is not a cozy mystery.
Some quotes:
Kate--"I groan inwardly at the power and speed of the Painters Mill rumor mill. If it could be harnessed to generate electricity, no one would ever have to pay another utility bill again."
Ohio BCI(Bureau of Criminal Investigation) agent Tomasetti describing Kate -"A gun toting, cursing, former Amish female chief of police. I'll be damned."
I read this library book in 3 days.
This is book 1 in the series about a small town Ohio police chief in Amish country. Kate Burkholder was raised Amish, but left the community and became a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. She has returned as chief, hired because of her Amish background. The book opens with a gruesome torture/murder scene. It reminded me of the opening scene in the tv show Criminal Minds.
When the body is discovered, there is a Roman numeral carved on the body, the same as a series of serial murders that stopped 16 years ago. Kate has a secret. She believes that she killed that murderer 16 years ago. The mystery mounts as more bodies are found with the same signature, and I could not put this book down. I did not suspect who the killer was was until near the end.
I discovered this series when I won book 8 in a GR giveaway last year and resolved to read more. Both my wife and I enjoy this series.
There is some graphic violence. This is not a cozy mystery.
Some quotes:
Kate--"I groan inwardly at the power and speed of the Painters Mill rumor mill. If it could be harnessed to generate electricity, no one would ever have to pay another utility bill again."
Ohio BCI(Bureau of Criminal Investigation) agent Tomasetti describing Kate -"A gun toting, cursing, former Amish female chief of police. I'll be damned."
I read this library book in 3 days.
March 27, 2024
Linda Castillo’s first book in the Kate Burkholder series,
Sworn to Silence,
is not for the faint of heart. This crime thriller features Kate, the chief of police in the small town of Painters Mill in Ohio. This is in the middle of Amish country and the town heavily depends on tourism. Sixteen years ago, several brutal murders terrorized the community, but the violence suddenly stopped. Kate, who was raised Amish and 14 years old at the time, realized she couldn’t commit to their lifestyle and left the area four years later. Now, she’s the chief of police in her home town after getting eight years of experience as a police officer and detective in a larger city.
But her past secrets come back to haunt her when a body is discovered in a snowy field and the details are like those of the attacks 16 years ago. Add to this, a town council that isn’t being supportive, estrangement from her family, and a brutal killer intent on continuing to terrorize the community and readers get a page turner.
The characterization is excellent, making them come to life for me. Readers of the series will be familiar with many of them. One thing that struck me as slightly odd was the number of nicknames for officers on Kate’s investigation team. Kate stands out at someone who isn’t great at delegating, likes to finish what she starts, is focused, hates the politics and media side of the job, and is respected by her officers.
This novel is graphic in places and the murder descriptions are brutal and hard to read at times. The descriptive narrative transported me to Kate and her team’s suspenseful investigation. The plot twists worked well and the ending was action-packed. Ms. Castillo is an excellent storyteller who kept me engaged with gripping scenes and a creative plot that built suspense, but also contained some disturbing scenes. Themes include trust, forgiveness, faith, family, addiction, grief, trauma, respect, values, credibility, secrets, murder, community, betrayal, isolation, and much more.
Overall, this book was briskly paced, suspenseful, and gripping. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy police procedurals, crime thrillers, and mysteries that have a strong female lead character. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was June 23, 2009.
-----------------------------------------
My 4.31 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
But her past secrets come back to haunt her when a body is discovered in a snowy field and the details are like those of the attacks 16 years ago. Add to this, a town council that isn’t being supportive, estrangement from her family, and a brutal killer intent on continuing to terrorize the community and readers get a page turner.
The characterization is excellent, making them come to life for me. Readers of the series will be familiar with many of them. One thing that struck me as slightly odd was the number of nicknames for officers on Kate’s investigation team. Kate stands out at someone who isn’t great at delegating, likes to finish what she starts, is focused, hates the politics and media side of the job, and is respected by her officers.
This novel is graphic in places and the murder descriptions are brutal and hard to read at times. The descriptive narrative transported me to Kate and her team’s suspenseful investigation. The plot twists worked well and the ending was action-packed. Ms. Castillo is an excellent storyteller who kept me engaged with gripping scenes and a creative plot that built suspense, but also contained some disturbing scenes. Themes include trust, forgiveness, faith, family, addiction, grief, trauma, respect, values, credibility, secrets, murder, community, betrayal, isolation, and much more.
Overall, this book was briskly paced, suspenseful, and gripping. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy police procedurals, crime thrillers, and mysteries that have a strong female lead character. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was June 23, 2009.
-----------------------------------------
My 4.31 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
July 10, 2014
Rrrrripppp! Rrrrrrrippppp!
That's the sound of me ripping this book. If you loved this and have troll instincts, stop reading now because I will not be kind.
I really have to stop reading mysteries. I keep hoping this one will be the next P.D. James or Elizabeth George (in her good days); multidimensional interesting characters circulating in a truly gripping and suspenseful plot. Well, wrong again. "Sworn to Silence" was incredibly predictable and cliched, with stock, one-dimensional characters. Not to mention annoying and unnecessary viewpoint switching, excessive and repetitive hyping of events' drama (how many times can this be the first time in someone's long career that they were so deeply affected by whatever?), repeated gratuitous detailed scenes (how many times do we have to read yet another scene where some unsuspecting citizen finds the body, witness the victim's devastated parents learning the news of their daughter's death in an excruciating play by play, or hear all about the latest victim's evisceration?). Even the Amish angle failed to redeem the book's pedestrian qualities, especially since it felt stereotyped. What's more, reading this book felt at times like reading a sequel to a possibly more interesting but unfortunately unread book as some of the action and intrigue surrounded events that took place before the present story.
Kate, the central character, is chief of police in a small town with a large Amish population. Kate herself was raised Amish and left the fold at eighteen; yet she works in the community in which she grew up. This might have given rise to some interesting complications; sadly, the author did not develop this aspect of the story sufficiently and relevant encounters between Kate and her former compatriots were handled superficially. Kate is Kinsey Milhoune to the tenth power; a tough-as-nails female cop who both intimidates and inspires passionate loyalty in just about everyone who meets her (unless they're bad guys). I've met tough people in real life and admired their competence but not necessarily liked them personally, and also noticed that they were capable of irritating the people working under them. Not a problem for Kate, clearly, who is dearly loved by her subordinates and colleagues. Of course, her tough exterior masks a secret blah blah blah and the right guy (you'll never guess who!) will finally break down her defenses. Mr. Macho Hero is also a tough-yet-wounded figure -- no, really -- and love magically overcomes a lot of his issues which should really be a bit harder to fix.
So much for characterization. As far as the plot goes, it plods over well-worn Nancy Drew lines of red herring (which went on forever and wasn't all that interesting) followed by getting closer to the killer, followed by a dangerous confrontation with the killer (will Kate be rescued?), whatever whatever.
Once again, the high goodreads rating suggests that I'm in the minority but if you're a curmudgeon like me, you might want to look for something else.
That's the sound of me ripping this book. If you loved this and have troll instincts, stop reading now because I will not be kind.
I really have to stop reading mysteries. I keep hoping this one will be the next P.D. James or Elizabeth George (in her good days); multidimensional interesting characters circulating in a truly gripping and suspenseful plot. Well, wrong again. "Sworn to Silence" was incredibly predictable and cliched, with stock, one-dimensional characters. Not to mention annoying and unnecessary viewpoint switching, excessive and repetitive hyping of events' drama (how many times can this be the first time in someone's long career that they were so deeply affected by whatever?), repeated gratuitous detailed scenes (how many times do we have to read yet another scene where some unsuspecting citizen finds the body, witness the victim's devastated parents learning the news of their daughter's death in an excruciating play by play, or hear all about the latest victim's evisceration?). Even the Amish angle failed to redeem the book's pedestrian qualities, especially since it felt stereotyped. What's more, reading this book felt at times like reading a sequel to a possibly more interesting but unfortunately unread book as some of the action and intrigue surrounded events that took place before the present story.
Kate, the central character, is chief of police in a small town with a large Amish population. Kate herself was raised Amish and left the fold at eighteen; yet she works in the community in which she grew up. This might have given rise to some interesting complications; sadly, the author did not develop this aspect of the story sufficiently and relevant encounters between Kate and her former compatriots were handled superficially. Kate is Kinsey Milhoune to the tenth power; a tough-as-nails female cop who both intimidates and inspires passionate loyalty in just about everyone who meets her (unless they're bad guys). I've met tough people in real life and admired their competence but not necessarily liked them personally, and also noticed that they were capable of irritating the people working under them. Not a problem for Kate, clearly, who is dearly loved by her subordinates and colleagues. Of course, her tough exterior masks a secret blah blah blah and the right guy (you'll never guess who!) will finally break down her defenses. Mr. Macho Hero is also a tough-yet-wounded figure -- no, really -- and love magically overcomes a lot of his issues which should really be a bit harder to fix.
So much for characterization. As far as the plot goes, it plods over well-worn Nancy Drew lines of red herring (which went on forever and wasn't all that interesting) followed by getting closer to the killer, followed by a dangerous confrontation with the killer (will Kate be rescued?), whatever whatever.
Once again, the high goodreads rating suggests that I'm in the minority but if you're a curmudgeon like me, you might want to look for something else.
August 12, 2017
New author to me and I enjoyed it very much! The main character, Kate Burkholder, was interesting and likeable. She made mistakes but persevered and eventually got her man.
The story was excellent, lots of really gross murders, lots of police work and then a great twist at the end. I was just beginning to wonder if it could be a certain person when it turned out to be so.
I also very much enjoyed the Amish angle to the plot. It added an extra something to the whole and I learned a little about their way of life.
Altogether a really good book and an excellent start to another series:)
The story was excellent, lots of really gross murders, lots of police work and then a great twist at the end. I was just beginning to wonder if it could be a certain person when it turned out to be so.
I also very much enjoyed the Amish angle to the plot. It added an extra something to the whole and I learned a little about their way of life.
Altogether a really good book and an excellent start to another series:)
October 20, 2015
“I think most sociopaths are born, not made. Very few are created by life events.” – Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police
It’s a dark, quiet morning, the kind I usually relish while drinking a hot cup of coffee at my kitchen table with warm puppies at my feet. Today, I shiver in my onesie while I wait for my pot of coffee to brew. I’m facing the kitchen window that looks onto the otherwise idyllic, peaceful neighborhood, and thinking about the book I finished reading the day before. I wonder if someone’s secretly peeking back at me, possibly planning to ambush me later in the shower and murder me. Brrrrrr. If you’re planning on reading this, I believe Samuel L. Jackson’s Jurassic Park warning should be heeded: “Hold on to your butts.”
Painters Mill, Ohio–sleepy farming community where a third of the population are Amish. Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police has childhood ties to the community, which come back to haunt her when a string of serial murders resurface after sixteen years. Who is the killer? Why the hiatus? Why the escalation in murders and change in MO? Burkholder and her patchwork team of sidekicks are on the trail, but everyone’s got secrets.
I will be honest. There is something about cozy settings and brutality that fascinates me. Not that anything really shocks us anymore, right? One never really knows who one’s neighbors are. But the idea that something can happen in a quiet, peaceful community is always attention grabbing, and Castillo does an excellent job of really drawing in the reader. She shocks you! Lures you into pacivity, and then assaults you again. You’re never really comfortable reading through this. I may just do something I never do, and jump into the next book in the series. I don’t know if my nerves can handle it this week, but what have I got to lose other than sleep?
It’s a dark, quiet morning, the kind I usually relish while drinking a hot cup of coffee at my kitchen table with warm puppies at my feet. Today, I shiver in my onesie while I wait for my pot of coffee to brew. I’m facing the kitchen window that looks onto the otherwise idyllic, peaceful neighborhood, and thinking about the book I finished reading the day before. I wonder if someone’s secretly peeking back at me, possibly planning to ambush me later in the shower and murder me. Brrrrrr. If you’re planning on reading this, I believe Samuel L. Jackson’s Jurassic Park warning should be heeded: “Hold on to your butts.”
Painters Mill, Ohio–sleepy farming community where a third of the population are Amish. Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police has childhood ties to the community, which come back to haunt her when a string of serial murders resurface after sixteen years. Who is the killer? Why the hiatus? Why the escalation in murders and change in MO? Burkholder and her patchwork team of sidekicks are on the trail, but everyone’s got secrets.
I will be honest. There is something about cozy settings and brutality that fascinates me. Not that anything really shocks us anymore, right? One never really knows who one’s neighbors are. But the idea that something can happen in a quiet, peaceful community is always attention grabbing, and Castillo does an excellent job of really drawing in the reader. She shocks you! Lures you into pacivity, and then assaults you again. You’re never really comfortable reading through this. I may just do something I never do, and jump into the next book in the series. I don’t know if my nerves can handle it this week, but what have I got to lose other than sleep?
November 1, 2015
This was such a good read. Lately I have been struggling to find a good crime thriller book that keeps me guessing and really in suspense. I'm really glad I stumbled across this one. The pace is fast and there is a lot of suspense. I found the book very difficult to put down. I really liked the main character, Chief Kate Burkholder. She is a strong, independent woman with an Amish background. I enjoyed learning a little bit about the Amish way of life and thought it clever how the author worked this into the storyline. I was never bored at all through the story and I even didn't mind the small bit of romance thrown in towards the end (I normally don't care for it). The crime scenes were described in quite graphic detail, so I probably wouldn't recommend this if you don't like reading that sort of thing. However, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the rest in the series.
June 18, 2016
This book hooked me in the prologue and did not let go until the very last page. Whew!!!!! Easily a 5 star rating from me and tied for first place (with S.J. Bolton's Now You See Me) as my favorite read (of 45 books) in the last 12 months. Honestly, I cannot recall the last time a book pulled me in so deep that there was not a single break in my attention. Cover to cover immersion. Ms. Castillo has a number of romances/romantic suspense novels under her belt. Sworn to Silence, I believe, is her first attempt at a mystery thriller, which makes the wonderfulness of this book all the more remarkable. Furthermore, I have heard from others that some of the subsequent books in this 6 book (so far) series are even better; I can't imagine!
Why did I like this book so much? As noted above, my attention was unwavering. In addition, the setting was different with the action set in Amish country. The mystery was very well plotted out with the revelation of the bad guy a big surprise to me. I especially loved Ms. Castillo's character development. The protagonist, Kate Burkholder, is an extremely complex being. The author is slowly peeling away the layers of her personality, something that I suspect will continue as the series progresses. I love Kate Burkholder, flaws and all. There was good initial character development of other supporting players who I also suspect we will learn even more about in subsequent books. The pace of the book was perfect, always a big plus. There was no agonizing set up taking the first 15-33% of the pages, yet I did not feel any necessary background was missing. This is a rare find these days, in my experience. There was a small sidelight of romance (couldn't help yourself, could you, Ms Castillo?) which was totally nongraphic and nonintrusive to the story. I personally thought it was done perfectly. One warning, the crime scenes ARE graphic and very dark. To say the villain was deranged is an understatement.
I cannot think of anything I did not like about this book.
I strongly recommend this to all mystery/thriller fans except those who like cozy mysteries only. This is a "can't miss" novel in the genre. I repeat, DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK. I look forward to reading much more of Linda Castillo's works.
Why did I like this book so much? As noted above, my attention was unwavering. In addition, the setting was different with the action set in Amish country. The mystery was very well plotted out with the revelation of the bad guy a big surprise to me. I especially loved Ms. Castillo's character development. The protagonist, Kate Burkholder, is an extremely complex being. The author is slowly peeling away the layers of her personality, something that I suspect will continue as the series progresses. I love Kate Burkholder, flaws and all. There was good initial character development of other supporting players who I also suspect we will learn even more about in subsequent books. The pace of the book was perfect, always a big plus. There was no agonizing set up taking the first 15-33% of the pages, yet I did not feel any necessary background was missing. This is a rare find these days, in my experience. There was a small sidelight of romance (couldn't help yourself, could you, Ms Castillo?) which was totally nongraphic and nonintrusive to the story. I personally thought it was done perfectly. One warning, the crime scenes ARE graphic and very dark. To say the villain was deranged is an understatement.
I cannot think of anything I did not like about this book.
I strongly recommend this to all mystery/thriller fans except those who like cozy mysteries only. This is a "can't miss" novel in the genre. I repeat, DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK. I look forward to reading much more of Linda Castillo's works.
December 30, 2019
A great crime thriller.
I started with book 8, Among the Wicked, and have to start from the beginning. My new favorite series.
I started with book 8, Among the Wicked, and have to start from the beginning. My new favorite series.
April 13, 2020
Book 1 in the Kate Burkholder series published 2009.
Why, I ask myself, has it taken me so long to get to Linda Castillo’s work.
What a bottler of a story. ‘Page turner’ is a well worn cliché but this truly is one.
The two main protagonists ‘Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti’ are police officers with secrets, not just your run of the mill secrets but life changing secrets, secrets so deeply hidden that even they have trouble believing them.
Kate is the chief of police in a small rural town of Painters Mill. A town that’s part main stream America and part Amish. Kate was born into the Amish community but after an experience that would change her life for ever she left the community and started life anew.
When a young woman’s mutilated body is found in an empty paddock Kate is transported back 16 years. At that time a serial killer was terrorising the small community of Painters Mill and this murder looks to be done by the same killer. But it can’t be because Kate knows something that only she and her family know.
The city fathers feel that Kate is out of her depth so call in the big guns to help. A decision that does not impress Kate one little bit.
Enter John Tomasetti, a man with many problems not least of which are alcohol and prescription drugs. Much against the flow Kate find John to be helpful and supportive and the prospect of working with not as bad as she thought.
Soon other mutilated bodies turn up. With no end in sight for the killings and with no clues Kate and John are desperate for a break, something, anything to help catch this killer.
The pace is unrelenting and the tension is palpable. So get ready for some highly entertaining self isolation.
4.5 stars a great read.
January 5, 2021
Painters Mill, Ohio was where the former Amish girl, Kate Burkholder, called home. She’d been born there, left the Amish way of life and moved to Columbus where she started her police career. Now she was Chief of Police in Painters Mill and proud of her town and the position she held. But a vicious and brutal murder would take Kate back to when she was fourteen and life changed for her in many ways.
The murder looked identical to the murders sixteen years prior, but Kate didn’t know if it was a copycat killer or the same person who’d returned. She and her small police force worked every angle and when another body turned up, the nearby Sheriff and his deputies stepped up to lend a hand as well as a detective from BCI, John Tomasetti. The frustration of the team, the constant pressure from the mayor, the media and their hounding – little to no sleep was had by any police. But when a suspect was arrested, Kate didn’t feel the elation she knew she should be feeling. Did they have it wrong?
Sworn to Silence is the 1st in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo and after reading and loving it back in 2013, my feelings are identical now. What a fast paced, electric thrill ride Sworn to Silence put me on. The ending was particularly breathtaking – I loved it and will read #2 next month 😊 Highly recommended.
The murder looked identical to the murders sixteen years prior, but Kate didn’t know if it was a copycat killer or the same person who’d returned. She and her small police force worked every angle and when another body turned up, the nearby Sheriff and his deputies stepped up to lend a hand as well as a detective from BCI, John Tomasetti. The frustration of the team, the constant pressure from the mayor, the media and their hounding – little to no sleep was had by any police. But when a suspect was arrested, Kate didn’t feel the elation she knew she should be feeling. Did they have it wrong?
Sworn to Silence is the 1st in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo and after reading and loving it back in 2013, my feelings are identical now. What a fast paced, electric thrill ride Sworn to Silence put me on. The ending was particularly breathtaking – I loved it and will read #2 next month 😊 Highly recommended.
February 2, 2021
Solid first book in a new-to-me mystery series.
I’ve always found the Amish community fascinating— although I’ve never personally met anyone Amish. As someone who ended up settling in Ohio, I’ve driven thru countless Amish areas. I’ve visited my share of Amish tourist traps and love an occasional Amish baked delight or recipe!
Not only did I like the former Amish Chief Kate Burkholder but I think she did a great job of mixing an evil crime with a pastoral and bucolic fictional town in Ohio.
Looking forward to continuing this series. Thanks to all the the GR readers who reviewed the series so highly that I finally gave it a try.
PS— this is no cozy mystery series despite the small town setting
I’ve always found the Amish community fascinating— although I’ve never personally met anyone Amish. As someone who ended up settling in Ohio, I’ve driven thru countless Amish areas. I’ve visited my share of Amish tourist traps and love an occasional Amish baked delight or recipe!
Not only did I like the former Amish Chief Kate Burkholder but I think she did a great job of mixing an evil crime with a pastoral and bucolic fictional town in Ohio.
Looking forward to continuing this series. Thanks to all the the GR readers who reviewed the series so highly that I finally gave it a try.
PS— this is no cozy mystery series despite the small town setting
November 20, 2010
When you go to work and can't concentrate because a book you left at home keeps calling your name-shows a great book! That's exactly what happened to me with this book.
March 1, 2016
Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
A Chilling Tale in a Beautiful Place - 4.5 Stars
I am going to start this review with a confession. For reasons now lost to the ravages of time, I long had a prejudice against female authors. My impression was that books by female authors would be sappy, romantic, emotional or uninteresting. I went to university, got married and had two girls. Once the I got the aforementioned out of the way, I got back into reading and asked myself why it was I didn't read books by female authors. I have to say I was a stupid man for holding a stupid prejudice. The majority of the best crime/mystery fiction I have read in the past several year have been written by women. I have discovered Tana French, Sharon Bolton, Chelsea Cain, Belinda Bauer, Denise Mina to name a few. These women have written intricate tales with deep and nuanced characters. They have avoided many stereotypes and have skillfully written male and female characters. Their female characters are at times tragic and broken while encapsulating strength and determination. To the other female authors whose wonderful books I will soon discover, please accept this as my sincere apology.
Now that my soul has been laid bare, on to this book.
Should you ever want to vacation in a peaceful and idyllic place, let me suggest Holmes County Ohio and the surrounding towns and cities. There you will find small towns with wholesome names such as Sugarcreek and Walnut Creek. The towns are a mix of modern and traditional with dollars stores and clothing shops run by "English" residents and quilt shops, bake shops and furniture stores run by local Amish residents. My wife and I have vacationed here several times and we look forward to returning again. Now imagine that a brutal killer is terrorizing this beautiful and peaceful place, abducting and killing young women, English and Amish alike. To me, this type of terror in this setting is far more horrific.
Plot summary
Kate Burkholder is the main character and police chief of the small town, Painter's Mill. The town, like much of the surrounding area, is made up of two distinct cultures, the English and the Amish. Kate is a product of both cultures. Until her teens, she grew up and was raised Amish. After living through some horrific events in her teens, she left the Amish way of life and live the "English" life. Although a part of both worlds, she doesn't belong to either but is tasked with keeping law and order in both. A woman is found dead with roman numerals carved into her stomach. This shocks the town and spreads panic as this appears to replicate a series of murders 16 years earlier. The old murders, dubbed "The Slautherhouse Killings" are personal to Kate and despite the fact everyone believes the old killer has returned, she believes someone else is at work. As a result, her judgment is impaired and she make a series of poor decisions. Murders continue to pile up until the chilling and gripping final confrontation.
The Good
Best of Both Worlds
I thought the setting and setup of the novel was fascinating. The novel was series of contrasts that flowed from beginning to end. Kate was a product of two cultures, neither of which truly accepted her. This made her both compelling and relatable. Who hasn't felt as if they didn't fit in at some point in their life. The author expertly weaves this theme throughout the story while providing interesting and telling insights into both cultures.
In my opinion, the most interesting characters are those that have elements of strength and fragility. While Kate is a strong character, she is haunted by the events in her past. These events lead her to make decisions that the reader knows are wrong, misguided or selfish. While she retains a strong sense of morality from her Amish upbringing, he past has allowed her to justify bad behavior. Without a doubt, Kate Burkholder is one of the most interesting main characters I have read in a very long time.
The Bad
&%!# It
Kate is not the only broken characters. Early in the novel we are introduced to John Tomasetti another officer of the law with a recent past as an avenging angel. There are many ways to make your character seem rough around the edges, troubled, tortured or broken. The author chose to use adult language to punctuate his lack of care for the world. It got to the point that I was simply annoyed and put off with the language. If he shows up in future novels, I hope he is forced to spend a few months with an Amish family and he is shamed into cleaning up his mouth. Overall, the adult language was excessive and detracted from the rating.
Audiobook Notes
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. In this case, the narrator impacted on the overall rating. For the first quarter of the book I found her narration to be unappealing and lacking in emotion. The voice she used for John Tomasetti was a bit painful. She attempted a deep gruff voice that came off as more grating. Fortunately, she came into her own as the story progressed and her narration in the final confrontation was stunning and was dripping with emotion. It made for a powerful scene. Despite a rough start and a bad voice for one character, her narration was a 4 of 5.
Final Thoughts
I should note that the subject matter is dark. If you see that this is set amongst the Amish and are expecting a "cozy mystery" in the like of some book like "A quilting circle murder", you will be very disappointed. There is a dark edge to our killer that would fit right into an S.J. Bolton novel. This is an excellent book and about as close to five stars as I can get without going the whole way. If you like tense thrillers with a dark antagonist, this book is for you.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 3.5
While there is no graphic sex, there is significant discussion of sex as related to assaults. Victims are sexually assaulted and there is some discussion on how sexual assault and torture were related. There is a scene where there is an attempted sexual assault that is moderately graphic. There is sexual tension between some characters and there is some "lead up" to sex and sex is ultimately implied.
Language - 4.5
As stated above, I took some issue with the language in the book. There was the entire gambit of language moderate to high use of mild obscenities, scatological terms and religious exclamations. There was also moderately high use of the f-word. This book is not suitable for younger readers.
Violence - 4
As with most crime thrillers, violence is an integral part of the story. I gave this a 4 as most of the violence inferred through the examination of the victims bodies and was, for the most part, moderately graphic. The final confrontation is quite graphic and will be disturbing for some readers. Readers who are not comfortable with sex crimes should avoid this novel.
A Chilling Tale in a Beautiful Place - 4.5 Stars
I am going to start this review with a confession. For reasons now lost to the ravages of time, I long had a prejudice against female authors. My impression was that books by female authors would be sappy, romantic, emotional or uninteresting. I went to university, got married and had two girls. Once the I got the aforementioned out of the way, I got back into reading and asked myself why it was I didn't read books by female authors. I have to say I was a stupid man for holding a stupid prejudice. The majority of the best crime/mystery fiction I have read in the past several year have been written by women. I have discovered Tana French, Sharon Bolton, Chelsea Cain, Belinda Bauer, Denise Mina to name a few. These women have written intricate tales with deep and nuanced characters. They have avoided many stereotypes and have skillfully written male and female characters. Their female characters are at times tragic and broken while encapsulating strength and determination. To the other female authors whose wonderful books I will soon discover, please accept this as my sincere apology.
Now that my soul has been laid bare, on to this book.
Should you ever want to vacation in a peaceful and idyllic place, let me suggest Holmes County Ohio and the surrounding towns and cities. There you will find small towns with wholesome names such as Sugarcreek and Walnut Creek. The towns are a mix of modern and traditional with dollars stores and clothing shops run by "English" residents and quilt shops, bake shops and furniture stores run by local Amish residents. My wife and I have vacationed here several times and we look forward to returning again. Now imagine that a brutal killer is terrorizing this beautiful and peaceful place, abducting and killing young women, English and Amish alike. To me, this type of terror in this setting is far more horrific.
Plot summary
Kate Burkholder is the main character and police chief of the small town, Painter's Mill. The town, like much of the surrounding area, is made up of two distinct cultures, the English and the Amish. Kate is a product of both cultures. Until her teens, she grew up and was raised Amish. After living through some horrific events in her teens, she left the Amish way of life and live the "English" life. Although a part of both worlds, she doesn't belong to either but is tasked with keeping law and order in both. A woman is found dead with roman numerals carved into her stomach. This shocks the town and spreads panic as this appears to replicate a series of murders 16 years earlier. The old murders, dubbed "The Slautherhouse Killings" are personal to Kate and despite the fact everyone believes the old killer has returned, she believes someone else is at work. As a result, her judgment is impaired and she make a series of poor decisions. Murders continue to pile up until the chilling and gripping final confrontation.
The Good
Best of Both Worlds
I thought the setting and setup of the novel was fascinating. The novel was series of contrasts that flowed from beginning to end. Kate was a product of two cultures, neither of which truly accepted her. This made her both compelling and relatable. Who hasn't felt as if they didn't fit in at some point in their life. The author expertly weaves this theme throughout the story while providing interesting and telling insights into both cultures.
In my opinion, the most interesting characters are those that have elements of strength and fragility. While Kate is a strong character, she is haunted by the events in her past. These events lead her to make decisions that the reader knows are wrong, misguided or selfish. While she retains a strong sense of morality from her Amish upbringing, he past has allowed her to justify bad behavior. Without a doubt, Kate Burkholder is one of the most interesting main characters I have read in a very long time.
The Bad
&%!# It
Kate is not the only broken characters. Early in the novel we are introduced to John Tomasetti another officer of the law with a recent past as an avenging angel. There are many ways to make your character seem rough around the edges, troubled, tortured or broken. The author chose to use adult language to punctuate his lack of care for the world. It got to the point that I was simply annoyed and put off with the language. If he shows up in future novels, I hope he is forced to spend a few months with an Amish family and he is shamed into cleaning up his mouth. Overall, the adult language was excessive and detracted from the rating.
Audiobook Notes
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. In this case, the narrator impacted on the overall rating. For the first quarter of the book I found her narration to be unappealing and lacking in emotion. The voice she used for John Tomasetti was a bit painful. She attempted a deep gruff voice that came off as more grating. Fortunately, she came into her own as the story progressed and her narration in the final confrontation was stunning and was dripping with emotion. It made for a powerful scene. Despite a rough start and a bad voice for one character, her narration was a 4 of 5.
Final Thoughts
I should note that the subject matter is dark. If you see that this is set amongst the Amish and are expecting a "cozy mystery" in the like of some book like "A quilting circle murder", you will be very disappointed. There is a dark edge to our killer that would fit right into an S.J. Bolton novel. This is an excellent book and about as close to five stars as I can get without going the whole way. If you like tense thrillers with a dark antagonist, this book is for you.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 3.5
While there is no graphic sex, there is significant discussion of sex as related to assaults. Victims are sexually assaulted and there is some discussion on how sexual assault and torture were related. There is a scene where there is an attempted sexual assault that is moderately graphic. There is sexual tension between some characters and there is some "lead up" to sex and sex is ultimately implied.
Language - 4.5
As stated above, I took some issue with the language in the book. There was the entire gambit of language moderate to high use of mild obscenities, scatological terms and religious exclamations. There was also moderately high use of the f-word. This book is not suitable for younger readers.
Violence - 4
As with most crime thrillers, violence is an integral part of the story. I gave this a 4 as most of the violence inferred through the examination of the victims bodies and was, for the most part, moderately graphic. The final confrontation is quite graphic and will be disturbing for some readers. Readers who are not comfortable with sex crimes should avoid this novel.
May 23, 2015
Painters Mill, Ohio Police Chief Kate Burkholder is suddenly faced with what looks like the re-emergence of a serial killer who hadn't struck in the last 16 years. The killer's signature is to leave Roman numerals carved on the murdered victim. Kate's conflicted as she's harboring a secret that relates directly to the case. Painters Mill is a town where the Amish and "English" have coexisted for years. Kate straddles both cultures as she was raised Amish but left when she was a teenager.
I've had this book on my shelf for a long time even though it was strongly recommended by friends. Thinking it was on the cozy side of the mystery genre (not my favorite side), I backburnered it until now. Let me make this clear...this story is polar opposite of a cozy; gritty, gruesome and gnarly.
I really liked this story with its flawed characters and unusual setting. Kate's still trying to come to terms with her past, which shapes her perspective in the present. John Tomasetti, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) agent sent to help Kate, has his own demons and forges an uneasy alliance with her. The cultural aspects of the Amish community are interesting, especially when contrasted with the realities of the coexistence with those outside of their world.
While Kate makes many errors of judgment driven by her personal involvement in the case, she's still an admirable character. The case wasn't easy to resolve and kept my interest through the end. The narration by Kathleen McInerney was exceptional and I plan to continue the series in audio format. I'm officially hooked and could smack myself for putting off reading this book.
I've had this book on my shelf for a long time even though it was strongly recommended by friends. Thinking it was on the cozy side of the mystery genre (not my favorite side), I backburnered it until now. Let me make this clear...this story is polar opposite of a cozy; gritty, gruesome and gnarly.
I really liked this story with its flawed characters and unusual setting. Kate's still trying to come to terms with her past, which shapes her perspective in the present. John Tomasetti, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) agent sent to help Kate, has his own demons and forges an uneasy alliance with her. The cultural aspects of the Amish community are interesting, especially when contrasted with the realities of the coexistence with those outside of their world.
While Kate makes many errors of judgment driven by her personal involvement in the case, she's still an admirable character. The case wasn't easy to resolve and kept my interest through the end. The narration by Kathleen McInerney was exceptional and I plan to continue the series in audio format. I'm officially hooked and could smack myself for putting off reading this book.
December 9, 2022
Living in western Wisconsin, it’s easy to be intrigued by the Amish settlements that surround us, so it’s not unusual for our local library readers to be interested in finding a nice, gentle romance set in secluded Amish communities.
However, read the prologue of Linda Castillo’s Sworn to Silence, and this is nothing close to nice and gentle! The violence is pretty graphic and disturbing from page one, but somehow Castillo keeps the pages turning while you get well researched insight into the quiet, traditional ways of the Amish.
Main character, Police Chief Kate Burkholder, grew up Amish but left her family and her own secrets behind when she was 18. She returned years later when her mother was dying of cancer and now is faced with protecting the town from a serial killer and keeping her own secrets buried.
This is always my go-to title to recommend to readers ready to leave the gentle romances for a more gritty mystery, and most of them return for the rest of the series!
Like many longer series I admit that I’m not current with the most recent releases, but you can’t go wrong diving into book one. Plus, now over 13 years into the series you can pick up each subsequent title without a wait and be all caught up before #15’s scheduled publication in 2023.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
However, read the prologue of Linda Castillo’s Sworn to Silence, and this is nothing close to nice and gentle! The violence is pretty graphic and disturbing from page one, but somehow Castillo keeps the pages turning while you get well researched insight into the quiet, traditional ways of the Amish.
Main character, Police Chief Kate Burkholder, grew up Amish but left her family and her own secrets behind when she was 18. She returned years later when her mother was dying of cancer and now is faced with protecting the town from a serial killer and keeping her own secrets buried.
This is always my go-to title to recommend to readers ready to leave the gentle romances for a more gritty mystery, and most of them return for the rest of the series!
Like many longer series I admit that I’m not current with the most recent releases, but you can’t go wrong diving into book one. Plus, now over 13 years into the series you can pick up each subsequent title without a wait and be all caught up before #15’s scheduled publication in 2023.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
October 14, 2014
"Sworn to Silence" by Linda Castillo is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series. After reading two recent novels in the series that I won through Goodreads Giveaway, I was so impressed with the writing , I went and ordered all her other books in the series. This is the review of her first novel, a gripping,tense story of a sexual serial killer in Painters Mill in Ohio, home of the Amish community. I am now hooked on the series.
After sixteen years, it appears that a serial murderer is back, torturing and killing young women in the area of Painters Mill, Ohio, a community where Amish and English people have live side by side. Kate Burkholder, the Chief of police, grew up in an Amish household in the area but, after a traumatic experience as a teenager, she left the faith and moved to Columbus to become a policewoman and, later, a homicide detective. Now, back in the community, she must live in both worlds. Kate with her background understands the pacifistic culture of her jurisdiction, and the Pennsylvania Dutch language...but she doesn't belong in either world.
Assisting Kate in tracking down the murderer is John Tomasetti, agent for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. John also has a traumatic past and is as lost as Kate is. The two are drawn together professionally and personally as they work to identify the murderer.
This is an intriguing story and very well-written. Sworn to Silence is written in two “voices” - the traditional third-party past tense and Kate’s first-person present tense. These two viewpoints, add strength to the plot and allow the two voices to blend together.
I highly recommend this fast-paced quality novel. I now look forward to reading Pray for Silence, the sequel.
December 21, 2018
What would I do without the thrillers my aunt borrows me to read? XD
I guess this was just an okay read for me and I liked it enough to continue to read it until the end.
I think it's safe to say that my time on goodreads made me picky when it comes to books and in earlier days I probably would have given this four stars. Now? Not so much. >_<
I just don't understand why the tough, solitary heroine always has to have a love interest. And then it's always so insta-lovey that I can't help but roll my eyes. You complain about YA being full of insta-love? Read one of those thrillers and it will make your toes curl! *lol*
I mean she's so independent and lives alone and then this guy comes along (it's always a fellow policeman or FBI guy) and even though he's nothing special and doesn't even look that hot (the opinion of our heroine, not mine) she still can't help herself and feels that warm fuzzy feeling in her stomach? *shakes head*
URGH! I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. (Maybe the rapid head-shaking is responsible for it though, I guess I'll never know.)
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I like my thrillers without a forced love story, that the plot was rather flat and that the villain could have had more depth. =)
Maybe this was just one of those "it's not the book but me" cases. *shrugs*
I really hope you'll like it more than I did! ;-)
I guess this was just an okay read for me and I liked it enough to continue to read it until the end.
I think it's safe to say that my time on goodreads made me picky when it comes to books and in earlier days I probably would have given this four stars. Now? Not so much. >_<
I just don't understand why the tough, solitary heroine always has to have a love interest. And then it's always so insta-lovey that I can't help but roll my eyes. You complain about YA being full of insta-love? Read one of those thrillers and it will make your toes curl! *lol*
I mean she's so independent and lives alone and then this guy comes along (it's always a fellow policeman or FBI guy) and even though he's nothing special and doesn't even look that hot (the opinion of our heroine, not mine) she still can't help herself and feels that warm fuzzy feeling in her stomach? *shakes head*
URGH! I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. (Maybe the rapid head-shaking is responsible for it though, I guess I'll never know.)
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I like my thrillers without a forced love story, that the plot was rather flat and that the villain could have had more depth. =)
Maybe this was just one of those "it's not the book but me" cases. *shrugs*
I really hope you'll like it more than I did! ;-)
June 28, 2018
Sworn to Silence is KILLER! What a great novel. I almost did not make it passed the opening scene. It is very, very gruesome!
Yes, I know. What was I doing then reading this book? Well, for one it has been liked and recommended by so many and frankly, two, no one told me that the cases in this novel are so horrific. So…I will warn you now… before you read this book, know that these triggers are all over: rape, murder, sadomasochism (SM), porn, masturbation, meat hooks, chains, blades, blood, guts, slaughter, slicing, beating, shooting, tying up, gagging, burning, suffocating……take a breath…..rape with objects, strangulation, hanging, abduction, decomposition and autopsies…..This may not even be all!
Painters Mill, Ohio. A rural place where the Amish and English live side by side. It has been so for many years and through common effort, everything is peaceful. The Amish work hard on their farms, follow the “Ordnung” of their order and deal with issues in the community among themselves.
Kate Burkholder, the local chief of police, was born into the Amish community and chose to leave it after a violent incident that happened 16 years ago when she was only 14 years old. A secret that her family kept hidden from everyone and one she rather not think about.
The body of a woman (after the gruesome opening scene!!!) is found in a snow field on a very cold Ohio evening in winter. Upon the autopsy, Kate learns that this woman had been tortured, raped and killed, and holds the signature markings of similar cases by a serial killer that murdered in the area 16 years ago. At first, Kate does not directly draw the idea that this may have something to do with her past secret, but as a few more murders happen, she begins to backtrack her own experiences to investigate a connection.
Kate is a very capable and experienced chief in her department. As the cases begin to add up and everyone is working around the clock, the people in the area begin to panic. The town council is keeping a close eye on the investigation and Kates’ methods. Despite an extra police officer that is sent to help in the investigation, Kate never calls in the FBI or any other larger enforcement. After being highly criticized upon her failure to do so, she is let go immediately.
Kate has to backtrack her life up close and personal. That includes talking to her estranged Amish brother and his wife. As she is beginning to follow the lead of her personal investigation, she also gets involved in a budding romance with the police officer that was helping out at the station. Ultimately this saves her life at the end, as every town has its bad egg.
***
What I liked about this novel is that every (good!) character was relatable to. Everyone had a story, nothing seemed to far-fetched. The working relations were good, the banter and trust among the fellow police was there and well written…it almost could have been happening right next door.
This novel is almost 10 years old and the beginning of a series. Considering the violence that is going on in this novel, it seems hard to believe that acts as such were even thinkable. But I guess, crimes are timeless. They probably do happen and have happened always, which makes this novel a great thriller back then as well as now.
I never could figure out who the bad guy was till a certain turning point in the novel. This was an added bonus I think, as new characters were introduced that may have been half shady and my suspicions kept changing. So this really kept me on my toes.
I highly recommend.
Yes, I know. What was I doing then reading this book? Well, for one it has been liked and recommended by so many and frankly, two, no one told me that the cases in this novel are so horrific. So…I will warn you now… before you read this book, know that these triggers are all over: rape, murder, sadomasochism (SM), porn, masturbation, meat hooks, chains, blades, blood, guts, slaughter, slicing, beating, shooting, tying up, gagging, burning, suffocating……take a breath…..rape with objects, strangulation, hanging, abduction, decomposition and autopsies…..This may not even be all!
Painters Mill, Ohio. A rural place where the Amish and English live side by side. It has been so for many years and through common effort, everything is peaceful. The Amish work hard on their farms, follow the “Ordnung” of their order and deal with issues in the community among themselves.
Kate Burkholder, the local chief of police, was born into the Amish community and chose to leave it after a violent incident that happened 16 years ago when she was only 14 years old. A secret that her family kept hidden from everyone and one she rather not think about.
The body of a woman (after the gruesome opening scene!!!) is found in a snow field on a very cold Ohio evening in winter. Upon the autopsy, Kate learns that this woman had been tortured, raped and killed, and holds the signature markings of similar cases by a serial killer that murdered in the area 16 years ago. At first, Kate does not directly draw the idea that this may have something to do with her past secret, but as a few more murders happen, she begins to backtrack her own experiences to investigate a connection.
Kate is a very capable and experienced chief in her department. As the cases begin to add up and everyone is working around the clock, the people in the area begin to panic. The town council is keeping a close eye on the investigation and Kates’ methods. Despite an extra police officer that is sent to help in the investigation, Kate never calls in the FBI or any other larger enforcement. After being highly criticized upon her failure to do so, she is let go immediately.
Kate has to backtrack her life up close and personal. That includes talking to her estranged Amish brother and his wife. As she is beginning to follow the lead of her personal investigation, she also gets involved in a budding romance with the police officer that was helping out at the station. Ultimately this saves her life at the end, as every town has its bad egg.
***
What I liked about this novel is that every (good!) character was relatable to. Everyone had a story, nothing seemed to far-fetched. The working relations were good, the banter and trust among the fellow police was there and well written…it almost could have been happening right next door.
This novel is almost 10 years old and the beginning of a series. Considering the violence that is going on in this novel, it seems hard to believe that acts as such were even thinkable. But I guess, crimes are timeless. They probably do happen and have happened always, which makes this novel a great thriller back then as well as now.
I never could figure out who the bad guy was till a certain turning point in the novel. This was an added bonus I think, as new characters were introduced that may have been half shady and my suspicions kept changing. So this really kept me on my toes.
I highly recommend.
July 25, 2014
My first book by this talented author, and her first book, so a great place to start.
Another one of our monthly Book Pals books, so thank you Sue for picking this book for me.
A powerful, strong gripping, tense, chilling story of a sexual serial killer in Painters Mill In Ohio, home of many Amish residents.
Former Amish girl and now Chief Of Police has a case on her stands, and her past that might come back to haunt her.
A very well written, great paced, great strong characters.
The last few chapters charge at furious pace, I personally just had to read the last 50-70 pages and I guessed the serial killer correctly.
Another author I just have to read more!!
Highly recommended, great writing, great tension, great personalities.
Another one of our monthly Book Pals books, so thank you Sue for picking this book for me.
A powerful, strong gripping, tense, chilling story of a sexual serial killer in Painters Mill In Ohio, home of many Amish residents.
Former Amish girl and now Chief Of Police has a case on her stands, and her past that might come back to haunt her.
A very well written, great paced, great strong characters.
The last few chapters charge at furious pace, I personally just had to read the last 50-70 pages and I guessed the serial killer correctly.
Another author I just have to read more!!
Highly recommended, great writing, great tension, great personalities.
May 31, 2023
This is the first book in the Kate Burkholder mystery series.
When I opened the book and began reading, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue. I have grown weary of dark stories. The paragraph begins:
"She hadn't believed in monsters since she was six years old, back when her mom would check and look beneath her bed at night. But at the age of twenty-one, bound and brutalized and lying naked on a concrete floor that was as cold as ice, she believed."
I thought, 'oh no what am I in for here?'
I felt torn between closing the book because of the horror of what to expect (yes I read the inside of the book cover again) and continuing the read - because I really do love this character Kate, and I wanted to meet her in her very first story. So, I managed to get through it.
As disturbing as the violence against women in this novel is, (and I am not going to mince words about it) - this might be difficult for you to read. This is my warning for all readers choosing to read this book.
Still, this author does an amazing job of writing her characters. They are complex. They are believable. And that is what makes this book a page-turner. Just be aware of how real it will feel. 3.5 stars
When I opened the book and began reading, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue. I have grown weary of dark stories. The paragraph begins:
"She hadn't believed in monsters since she was six years old, back when her mom would check and look beneath her bed at night. But at the age of twenty-one, bound and brutalized and lying naked on a concrete floor that was as cold as ice, she believed."
I thought, 'oh no what am I in for here?'
I felt torn between closing the book because of the horror of what to expect (yes I read the inside of the book cover again) and continuing the read - because I really do love this character Kate, and I wanted to meet her in her very first story. So, I managed to get through it.
As disturbing as the violence against women in this novel is, (and I am not going to mince words about it) - this might be difficult for you to read. This is my warning for all readers choosing to read this book.
Still, this author does an amazing job of writing her characters. They are complex. They are believable. And that is what makes this book a page-turner. Just be aware of how real it will feel. 3.5 stars
July 13, 2016
Gelungener Auftakt! Die Zahlen der Toten hat mich von Anfang an gepackt mit einem spannenden Mord, vielen Verdächtigen und komplexen Beziehungen der einzelnen Charaktere untereinander. Kate und ich waren uns zu Beginn zwar nicht so grüne (ich fand sie etwas zu plump und übellaunig, fast ein bisschen kindisch-trotzig manchmal), weshalb ich auch einen Stern abziehen muss. Die Story war super geplottet und hatte genug Wendungen um dauerhaft spannend zu bleiben. Noch dazu möchte ich den Schreibstil von Linda Castillo gern, man kam flüssig durch die Seiten, die Story war sinnvoll in viele Kapitel angeteilt und es gab interessanten Perspektivwechsel.
Ich freue mich auf alle Fälle (Wahnsinns Wortwitz auch an dieser Stelle!) auf den nächsten Fall mit Kate Burkholder und hoffe auf noch etwas mehr Einbeziehung der Amish.
Ich freue mich auf alle Fälle (Wahnsinns Wortwitz auch an dieser Stelle!) auf den nächsten Fall mit Kate Burkholder und hoffe auf noch etwas mehr Einbeziehung der Amish.
December 28, 2009
Just recently I was talking about violent acts against women in books and how sometimes, if gratuitous, it can turn me off. There's a fine line for me in what moves the plot forward and what is over the top and just plain too much. I got turned off on James Patterson for just this reason. Right or wrong this bothers me even more when women write violent scenes, as is the case in Linda Castillo's Sworn to Silence. I have to weigh the merits of the violence to the overall story. Would the story have had the same impact with less descriptive murders. In this case, I'd have to say yes. I was immediately hooked on the broken characters of Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police of Painters Mill, and John Tomasetti, Special Agent who together try to solve a series of horrific serial murders similar to those committed years ago by a fiend dubbed The Slaughterhouse Killer. Kate's character sings true. She harbors haunting secrets from when she was a teen living the plain life of the Amish and as an adult is now under a bann, having left the Amish life behind. Tomasetti, is dealing with his own nightmares after the murder of both wife and daughters to someone trying to get back at him in the most awful way. Burkholder and Tomasetti make a great team and I'm rooting for them both from the get-go. But the violence of the crimes in the end turns me off. Ok, the prologue hooked me. I see the monster, I feel the terror and I am hooked. I get it; I did not need to be graphically reminded throughout of the killer's depravity. Still, I'll give Kate and John another chance as I'm certain there will be a sequel. It's a brutal tale and if you can skip over man's inhumanity to women in this case, an engrossing debut.
March 21, 2015
This was my first ever Linda Castillo book. It won't be my last.
Kate Burkholder, of Painter's Mill, Ohio, is not your regular Police Chief. She was brought up in Painter's Mill in the Amish faith, but left both when she was 18.
Now back, she is faced with a serial killer, one she thought she had dispatched 16 years earlier. Not only is she battling the killer, and Amish prejudices against the English, but a multi-jurisdictional task force set up by the town council, some of whom seem more intent on hindering her investigation than helping it.
Tightly written, with great characterisation, this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Kate Burkholder, of Painter's Mill, Ohio, is not your regular Police Chief. She was brought up in Painter's Mill in the Amish faith, but left both when she was 18.
Now back, she is faced with a serial killer, one she thought she had dispatched 16 years earlier. Not only is she battling the killer, and Amish prejudices against the English, but a multi-jurisdictional task force set up by the town council, some of whom seem more intent on hindering her investigation than helping it.
Tightly written, with great characterisation, this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.
February 21, 2016
Great book! Katie Burkholder is a sensitive (yet damaged) and kick-ass Chief of Police in a small town in Ohio with a large Amish population. Being formerly Amish herself, she has a special insight.
Of course, it can't be too idyllic. So, a serial killer has to come to town. Thing is, he'd been there before.
This is a great mystery/thriller with wonderful pacing. The characters are quirky, but not too quirky and then there is the stereotypical small town politics where politicians put the tourist trade above the police work.
Can't wait to see more of Katie Burkholder.
Of course, it can't be too idyllic. So, a serial killer has to come to town. Thing is, he'd been there before.
This is a great mystery/thriller with wonderful pacing. The characters are quirky, but not too quirky and then there is the stereotypical small town politics where politicians put the tourist trade above the police work.
Can't wait to see more of Katie Burkholder.
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