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    Fallen: A Novel of Suspense
    Fallen: A Novel of Suspense
    Fallen: A Novel of Suspense
    Ebook373 pages6 hours

    Fallen: A Novel of Suspense

    By Linda Castillo

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    In New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo’s new thriller Fallen, a rebellious Amish woman leaves the Plain life, but the secrets she takes with her will lead Chief of Police Kate Burkholder down a dark path to danger and death.

    When a young woman is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is shocked to discover she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a charming but troubled Amish girl who left the fold years ago and fled Painters Mill. Why was she back in town? And who would kill her so brutally?

    Kate remembers Rachael as the only girl who was as bad at being Amish as Kate was—and those parallels dog her. But the more Kate learns about Rachael's life, the more she's convinced that her dubious reputation was deserved. As a child, Rachael was a rowdy rulebreaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents and best friend. As an adult, she was charismatic and beautiful, a rabble-rouser with a keen eye for opportunity no matter who got in her way. Her no-holds-barred lifestyle earned her a lot of love and enemies aplenty—both English and Amish.

    As the case heats to a fever pitch and long-buried secrets resurface, a killer haunts Painters Mill. Someone doesn’t want Rachael’s past—or the mysteries she took with her to the grave—coming to light. As Kate digs deeper, violence strikes again, this time hitting close to home. Will Kate uncover the truth and bring a murderer to justice? Or will a killer bent on protecting a terrible past stop her once and for all—and let the fallen be forgotten?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateJul 6, 2021
    ISBN9781250142948
    Author

    Linda Castillo

    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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    Reviews for Fallen

    4/5

    113 ratings16 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Another book to devour by this author. Kate Burkholder, Painters Mill Police Chief has a complicated murder to solve. With many twists and turns she gets it solved.
    • 4/5
      In the latest installment of the Kate Burkholder series, a young former Amish woman, Rachael Schwartz, is found bludgeoned to death in a motel room. The vicious attack is so horrendous and terrible, and made worse since Kate knew the woman when she was a rebellious child. Kate knows that Rachael continued her wild ways as an adult, and asks Loretta, Rachael's childhood friend for help. Loretta tells Kate about an attack on Rachael when they were 17. To Kate's horror, she knows the person, but she doesn't realize until too late all the consequences. This was another solid Burkholder story, I enjoyed the camaraderie of Kate and her staff, and her relationship with Tomasetti. My one issue was that there was a few repetitive parts of the book that could have been improved with editing.
    • 5/5
      Fallen by Linda Castillo is a 2021 Minotaur publication. When Kate learns that Rachael Schwartz, a girl she remembers from years ago, has been murdered, she is saddened, but also flummoxed. Rachael had been a rebellious teen, then chose to leave the Amish life for good. She even wrote a scandalous ‘tell-all’ about the Amish, accusing them of impropriety, permanently severing all ties with those she grew up with, except for her old friend, Loretta, the only person she ever kept in touch with. So, why had Rachael returned home, and which one of the many she had offended murdered her so violently? Another tense outing for Kate Burkholder as she copes with her memories of her own Amish upbringing and the shocking names that have popped up on her list of possible suspects. While the discerning reader can make a few educated guesses about some plot points, the story weaves around to a stunning, spellbinding conclusion. As always, the atmosphere is unsettling, and taut. Kate’s conflicting emotions pop off the page, as the mystery deepens and points in directions she can’t bring herself to accept. I was invested in this story from start to finish, and as always, I and am amazed by how well these stories are constructed and executed. Every time I finish an installment in this series I am reminded of why it is one my favs! 4.5 stars
    • 4/5
      Fallen
      3.5 Stars

      As Chief Kate Burkholder investigates the horrific murder of Rachael Schwartz, a former member of the Amish community, she learns that the free-spirited child she remembers from her past has become a beautiful yet manipulative woman. The question is which one of the many people she antagonized actually took steps to kill her.

      While the crime and investigation aspects are well-written and intriguing, there are several problems with this installment in the series.

      To begin with, the twists and turns of the plot are very predictable, and it is relatively easy to figure out the motive and subsequently the identity of the killer. Moreover, some of the suspects are obvious red-herrings and, aside from a mention or two, remain underdeveloped and underutilized in the storyline - For example, both Levi Yoder (the man who tried to rape Loretta), and Amos Gingrich (the leader of an Amish-like cult) are completely forgotten about halfway through the book.

      There are also several loose ends, such as who forced Kate off the road and shot at her? and who was the man who accosted Loretta in her buggy?. Neither of these questions are resolved satisfactorily.

      Finally, the flashback scenes add little to either characterization or plot and only serve to slow the pacing, especially as one of them is inserted at the most intense and suspenseful part of the book.

      Overall, this is not one of the better installments in the series although it is better than the previous one.
    • 3/5
      Lapsed AmishReview of the Minotaur hardcover edition (July 2021)I picked up Fallen as a completely spontaneous pick based on wondering what an Amish mystery would be like. This is actually the 13th in the small town police chief Kate Burkholder series but it is mostly self contained, aside from some allusions to earlier events. I don't know anything about writer Linda Castillo but I have to assume that she does have a background with the Amish as she certainly is quite immersive about their lifestyles and manners. The book contains regular use of Pennsylvania Dutch or Deutsch, the German-based speech of the Amish. These occasional saying are immediately followed by their English equivalents so you are not left wondering what is going on. The only expression that I remember not being translated was the Rumspringa, the Amish rite of passage which must be well enough known for no more to be said.So all in all this was good small town murder mystery story with an Amish angle, as both the victim and the police chief are lapsed Amish adding an extra point of identification and sympathy to the case with the chief having even known the girl in childhood. I did really like that Burkholder and her partner are in a supportive personal and professional relationship. Too many novels with angsty and tormented protagonists get to be a bit tiresome.I do have to say that I guessed the solution (or at least a significant element of it) immediately after Chapter 1, with some details allowing specific identities after only a few more Chapters. So perhaps there is an element of the author flattering the attentive reader. I'd certainly try a few more Castillo/Burkholders in the future, probably starting with the early ones.
    • 4/5
      When a young woman is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is shocked to discover she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a charming but troubled Amish girl who left the fold years ago and fled Painters Mill. Why was she back in town? And who would kill her so brutally?Kate remembers Rachael as the only girl who was as bad at being Amish as Kate was—and those parallels dog her. But the more Kate learns about Rachael's life, the more she's convinced that her dubious reputation was deserved. As a child, Rachael was a rowdy rulebreaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents and best friend. As an adult, she was charismatic and beautiful, a rabble-rouser with a keen eye for opportunity no matter who got in her way. Her no-holds-barred lifestyle earned her a lot of love and enemies aplenty—both English and Amish.As the case heats to a fever pitch and long-buried secrets resurface, a killer haunts Painters Mill. Someone doesn’t want Rachael’s past—or the mysteries she took with her to the grave—coming to light. As Kate digs deeper, violence strikes again, this time hitting close to home. Will Kate uncover the truth and bring a murderer to justice? Or will a killer bent on protecting a terrible past stop her once and for all—and let the fallen be forgotten?Suspenseful; great series!
    • 5/5
      The story begins with the brutal murder of a young woman. And from that horrifying moment to the conclusion of the story, the author holds her readers in page-turning suspense. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is drawn deeply into the case; the murder victim is known to her from the time when they both were growing up in the Amish community. Kate left the Amish, and became a protector of people, upholding law and order. Rachael abandoned her Amish roots, using people to her advantage, and living her life on the edge of danger, until it finally caught up with her. Kate has to reconstruct Rachael’s life and last days, to find who hated her so much. But Kate finds more than she bargained for, unearthing old crimes and old victims, all of which will lead to more heartaches and death. Ultimately, choices are made from which there is no return, and again, Kate puts her life on the line. And this time, she just might have underestimated the enemy and the danger she blindly walked into. This book has it all: great writing, wonderful characters, and an intriguing and complex plot - all the things Linda Castillo consistently gives her readers. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Fallen by Linda Castillo starts off with a bang courtesy of a horrific, bloody murder. Even seasoned Police Chief Kate Burkholder has a hard time with the crime scene at the local motel. The victim turns out to be Rachael Schwartz whom Kate babysat as a child. Rachael left the community and became Englisch when she was seventeen. Rachael is the type of person who did not pull any punches. She pulled pranks, got into mischief, and managed to annoy most of the people she encountered. Rachael still did not deserve to die in that manner. Kate with help from John Tomasetti sets out to find Rachael’s killer. The characters in this series are complex, developed, and realistic. I especially enjoy Kate and John’s relationship. They are cute together and John understands Kate. I like the mix of Englisch and Amish. The mystery was well-done. It was well-plotted and a delight to solve. I enjoyed following Kate as she followed the clues, questioned suspects, and consulted with Tomasetti. There are subtle clues that can aid readers in identifying the guilty party. I did find the amount of violence (this one was a little extreme) and foul language to be a turn off (not enough to stop reading though). Fallen is the 13th A Kate Burkholder Novel. For those who are new to this series, Fallen can be read as a standalone. Personally, I have found it beneficial to read the series in order. Fallen is a complex whodunit with a motel murder, a rowdy rulebreaker, disappointed parents, severe violence, a cruel killer, and a committed chief of police.
    • 5/5
      Kate Burkholder is one of my favorite mystery and suspense books series. The action starts from the beginning and continues until the end.Kate left the Amish community some time ago but she’d sworn to protect the Painters Mill and its people.Kate, a chief of police, investigates the murder of one of the Amish girls. Rachael Schwartz was always a troublemaker, broke rules, disobeyed her parents and recently released a book in which she trashed not only the Amish people, but also the Killbuck clan. She was shunned by the Amish and excommunicated. Her parents never accepted her leaving, they saw her as fallen, same as Kate. What was she doing in the Painters Mill motel? Who murdered her so brutally and torture her so badly?Definitely very absorbing and captivating thriller. My guesses as it comes to the murderer were jumping from one person to another. I like when I am engrossed in the story which confuses me but at the same time engages me in the investigation. If you like a quick read with a mix of suspense, mystery and drama, then you should try this series. It doesn't have to be read in chronological order, as each book has its own story.
    • 4/5
      3.5/rounded up to 4Solid writing and story line in this #13 of the Kate Burkholder series. But, if you haven’t read any previous books, these can easily be read as stand-alone. This book was a little more graphic than previous books, but seemed to follow thru with the complete storyline. Kate is investigating the brutal murder of an ex-Amish girl she knew years ago. As she digs deeper, Rachel’s true self comes into light..leading you to believe there is a line of suspects. Just when you think you know the whole story, more comes into play. I can’t say this was a total surprise, but with the graphic nature it did make me wonder! Thanks to Ms. Castillo, St.Martin’s Press/Montour Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
    • 4/5
      This audio book was sent to me by the publisher MacmillanAudio/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you.When Rachel Schwartz left the Amish community at 17, no one was surprised. She was a wild child who managed to break all the rules with great gusto! But when her badly beaten corpse was discovered 13 years later in a shoddy Painter's Mill motel, the community was shocked. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder even more so. She had been Rachel's babysitter and admired the young girl's free spirit, seeing something of herself in the 10 year old child she watched.This is certainly Kate's case to solve. Her staff and her lover Tomasetti are there for support, but it is Kate who is personally driven to find the woman's murderer. And there is a long list of suspects. Rachel lived on the edge in the "English" world. She had a steady boyfriend plus lovers at the same time. She lived way beyond her means as a partner in a semi-successful restaurant. And she wrote a tell-all book about the Amish community. As Kate peels back the layers of Rachel's life, she has a gut feeling that, although there are enough suspects in Rachel's present life who would have liked to see her gone, the truth may lie closer to Painter's Mill. Even in Kate's own family....Castillo does her usual excellent job depicting Painter's Mill society and the sometimes uneasy existence between the Amish and their English neighbors. In flashbacks to Rachel as a teenager, Castillo contrasts Rachel with her quiet best friend who lives the Amish way with only a few temptations to stray because she likes rock music! (A personal favorite scene of mine is a scene at a farmer's market where she is being harassed by some teenagers and Rachel dumps a pitchfork of manure over the head of the obnoxious leader.)Kate's journey to the solution is painful and deadly, but she gets there in the end. Still. it appears that Kate will be investigating some of these folks in future books. The wait will be worth it.Kate Mclnerney does a fantastic job, as usual, as narrator and there is a bonus feature in the audio book where she and the author discuss the book and the characters.
    • 4/5
      I love the Kate Burkholder series from Linda Castillo and was so excited to get an ARC of the latest from NetGalley. As always, it was a great mix of suspense, drama and had an action packed ending. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. If you like a quick read that is exciting with strong and interesting characters, then you should definitely check out this series.
    • 4/5
      As a longtime fan of this series, now with this 13th installment plus a few novellas, I am so excited when a new book comes and it is just as strong as its predecessors. It's around this time so many series start getting stale but not this one!For the unindoctrinated, Kate Burkholder lives in Painter's Mill, Ohio which is a small rural town highly populated with the Amish community in which Burkholder was raised but chose to leave in her late teens and became a police officer in Cleveland. She later returned as their Chief of Police. She is able to fulfill a unique role by walking the line between Amish and English.For this book Burkholder is faced with the grizzly murder of Rachael Schwartz. Rachael, a few years younger than Burkholder had also grown up Amish and was later excommunicated for her wild ways. Nobody seemed to know why Rachael was back in town but as she looks into matters she finds that Rachael's wild side hasn't waned over the years and that she had no problem using others to get what she wanted. Apparently she was blackmailing someone who had had enough. Just when they think they have the case solved, Burkholder can't get past her gut feeling that there is more to the story. This story comes to an excitingly terrifying action-filled conclusion that had me staying awake just so I could finish and see what happened.As always I love these books for their cultural insight, strong cast of characters in Burkholder's small police force and the man by her side, and fascinating storylines. This book is being released on July 6th and while you can start easily with this one as a stand alone, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning and enjoy all this series has to offer.Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and #NetGalley for allowing me to review an advanced copy of this book.
    • 5/5
      Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to a motel for a dead body and finds the remains of young woman she knew from her own youth. Rachael Schwartz was another who left the Amish way of life. Now, she's returned to Painters Mill in time to be beaten to death with a baseball bat.As Kate tries to discover who murdered Rachel she uncovers a number of secrets from Rachel's past. Rachael never fit in as an Amish young girl. She was too much of a troublemaker. She didn't like the rules. It doesn't help that when she left, she wrote a tell-all book about growing up Amish that has upset most of the community.Kate also learns that she was still a troublemaker and not quite ethical. Her bank accounts and income shouldn't support her lavish lifestyle. Kate and Tomasetti discover that she was probably a blackmailer. Maybe it was her blackmailer that ended her life.Even when the blackmailer is discovered, Kate is unconvinced that he was also her murder. Her continued investigation into Rachael's past and her murderer put Kate in the crosshairs of villains who will do anything to protect their secrets. This was an excellent, action-packed thriller. It is a wonderful entry into the Kate Burkholder mystery series.
    • 3/5
      I love Sheriff Kate Burkholder and her crew. Enjoy the glimpses into the Amish community, a community of which she was once a part. This one though was much more violent, viscous than her previous in series. Graphically so. My rating is lower than some, partly because of my previous sentence, but also because I couldn't make myself totally believe the who in the who done it. Not that I'll stop reading this series. I won't, but certainly hope the next is one in which I can more fully connect. Yes, and I know it's ridiculous to ask for a less viscous murder, but she has done it in the past and I hope she can in the future. Or at least less graphically described. ARC from Edelweiss.
    • 5/5
      IntenseExceptionalEye OpeningFabulousI'm sure I can come up with more words to describe what I felt about this book, but why bother? This was a fabulous addition to the Kate Burkholder series, and I can't recommend it enough, especially if you have been following this series.I can recommend this book to those who haven't been reading this series since there is enough back story to make this a comfortable read for you. Not enough back story to bore long-time readers, though.This was a single-day read for me and would be perfect for those looking for something to read over a rainy weekend! The mystery seems to be an easy one to figure out, but the author keeps you just discombobulated enough, so you are never absolutely sure of who-dun-it. I loved this book and will be re-reading it over the weekend -maybe I will re-read the whole series while I'm at it. I adore seeing how everyone has grown, how relationships have changed, and learning about the Amish and their various religious off-shoots.ARC provided by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

    Book preview

    Fallen - Linda Castillo

    CHAPTER 1

    She knew coming back after so many years would be difficult, especially when she’d left so much hurt behind when she departed. She’d hurt the people she loved, never wasting a moment on the notion of regret. She’d sullied relationships that should have meant the world to her. She’d blamed others when misfortune reared its head, never admitting she might’ve been wrong. Mistakes had always been the one thing she was good at, and she’d made them in spades.

    Once upon a time she’d called Painters Mill home. She’d belonged here, been part of the community, and she’d never looked too far beyond the cornfields, the quaint farmhouses and winding back roads. Once, this little town had been the center of her universe. It was the place where her family still lived—a family she hadn’t been part of for twelve years. Like it or not, her connection to this place and its people ran deep—too deep, in her opinion—and it was a link she could no longer deny no matter how hard she tried.

    This saccharine little town with its all-American main street and pastoral countryside hadn’t always been kind. In the eyes of the seventeen-year-old girl she’d been, Painters Mill was a place of brutal lessons, rules she couldn’t abide by, and crushing recriminations by people who, like her, possessed the power to hurt.

    It took years for her to realize all the suffering and never-lived-up-to expectations were crap. Like her mamm always said: Time is a relevant thing and life is a cruel teacher. It was one of few things her mother had been right about.

    Painters Mill hadn’t changed a lick. Main Street, with its charming storefronts and Amish tourist shops, still dominated the historic downtown. The bucolic farms and back roads were still dotted with the occasional buggy or hay wagon. Coming back was like entering a time warp. It was as if she’d never been gone, and everything that had happened since was nothing more than a dream. The utter sameness of this place unsettled her in ways she hadn’t expected.

    The Willowdell Motel sure hadn’t changed. Same trashy façade and dusty gravel parking lot. Inside, the room was still dressed in the same god-awful orange carpet. Same bad wall art. Same shoddily concealed cigarette smoke and the vague smell of moldy towels. It was a place she shouldn’t have known at the age of seventeen.

    If life had taught her one lesson that stood out above the rest, it was to look forward, not back. To focus on goals instead of regrets. It took a lot of years and even more sacrifice, but she’d clawed her way out of the cesspit she’d made of her life. She’d done well—better than she ever imagined possible—and she’d forged a good life for herself. Did any of that matter now? Was it enough?

    Tossing her overnight bag onto the bed, Rachael Schwartz figured she’d waited long enough to make things right. The time had come for her to rectify the one wrong that still kept her up nights. The one bad decision she hadn’t been able to live down. The one that, for years now, pounded at the back of her brain with increasing intensity. She didn’t know how things would turn out or if she’d get what she wanted. The one thing she did know was that she had to try. However this turned out, good or bad or somewhere in between, she figured she would simply have to live with it.

    The knock on the door came at two A.M. Even as she threw the covers aside and rolled from the bed, she knew who it was. A smile touched her mouth as she crossed to the door. Recognition kicked when she checked the peephole. The quiver of pleasure that followed didn’t quite cover the ping of trepidation. She swung open the door.

    Well, it’s about damn time, she said.

    A faltering smile followed by a flash of remembrance. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.

    She grinned. No such luck.

    Sorry about the time. Can I come in?

    I think you’d better. We’ve a lot to discuss. Stepping back, she motioned her visitor inside. I’ll get the light.

    Her heart strummed as she started for the night table next to the bed. All the words she’d practiced saying for months now tumbled in her brain like dice. Something not quite right, but then what had she expected?

    I hope you brought the wine, she said as she bent to turn on the lamp.

    The blow came out of nowhere. A sunburst of white light and sound, like a stick of dynamite igniting in her head. A splintering of pain. Her knees hit the floor. Shock and confusion rattled through her.

    She reached out, grabbed the night table. A sound escaped her as she struggled to her feet, teetered left. She turned, spotted the bat, saw the other things she’d missed before. Dark intent. Buried rage. Dear God, how could she have been so naive?

    The bat came down again. Air whooshed. She staggered right, tried to escape it. Not fast enough. The blow landed hard on her shoulder. Her clavicle snapped. The lightning bolt of pain took her breath. Mewling, she turned, tried to run, fell to her knees.

    Footsteps behind her. More to come. She swiveled, raised her hands to protect herself. The bat struck her forearm. An explosion of pain. The shock pulsing like a strobe.

    Don’t! she cried.

    Her attacker drew back. Teeth clenched. The dead eyes of a taxidermist’s glass. The bat struck her cheekbone, the force snapping her head back. She bit her tongue, tasted blood. Darkness crowded her vision. The sensation of falling into space. The floor rushed up, struck her shoulder. The scrape of carpet against her face. The knowledge that she was injured badly. That it wasn’t going to stop. That she’d made a serious miscalculation.

    The shuffle of feet on carpet. The hiss of a labored breath. Fighting dizziness, she reached for the bed, fisted the bedsheet, tried to pull herself up. The bat struck the mattress inches from her hand. Still a chance to get away. Terrible sounds tore from her throat as she threw herself onto the bed, scrabbled across. On the other side, she grabbed the lamp, yanked the cord from the wall.

    The bat slammed against her back. A sickening wet-meat punch that rent the air from her lungs. An electric shock ran the length of her spine. Unconsciousness beckoned. She swiveled, tried to swing the lamp, but she was too injured and it clattered to the floor.

    Get away! she cried.

    She rolled off the bed, tried to land on her feet. Her legs buckled and she went down. She looked around. A few feet away, the door stood open. Pale light spilling in. If she could reach it … Freedom, she thought. Life. She crawled toward it, pain running like a freight train through her body.

    A sound to her left. Shoes against carpet. Legs coming around the bed. Blocking her way. No! she screamed, a primal cry of outrage and terror. No time to brace.

    The bat struck her ribs with such force she was thrown onto her side. An animalistic sound ripped from her throat. Pain piled atop pain. She opened her mouth, tried to suck in air, swallowed blood.

    A wheeze escaped her as she rolled onto her back. The face that stared down at her was a mindless machine. Flat eyes filled with unspeakable purpose. No intellect. No emotion. And in that instant, she knew she was going to die. She knew her life was going to end here in this dirty motel and there wasn’t a goddamn thing she could do to help herself.

    See you in hell, she thought.

    She didn’t see the next blow coming.

    CHAPTER 2

    The winters are endless in northeastern Ohio. People are stuck indoors for the most part. The sun doesn’t show itself for weeks on end. When the relentless cold and snow finally break and the first tinge of green touches the fields, spring fever hits with the force of a pandemic.

    My name is Kate Burkholder and I’m the chief of police in Painters Mill, Ohio. Founded in 1815, it’s a pretty little township of about 5,300 souls that sits in the heart of Amish country. I was born Plain, but unlike the majority of Amish youths, I left the fold when I was eighteen. In nearby Columbus, I earned my GED and a degree in criminal justice, and I eventually found my way into law enforcement. But after I’d been in the big city a few years, my roots began to call, and when the town council courted me for the position of chief I returned and never looked back.

    This morning, I’m in the barn with my significant other, John Tomasetti, who is an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. We met in the course of a murder investigation shortly after I became chief, and after a rocky start we began the most unlikely of relationships. Much to our surprise, it grew into something genuine and lasting, and for the first time in my adult life I’m unabashedly happy.

    We’re replacing some of the siding on the exterior of the barn. Tomasetti made a trip to the lumberyard earlier for twenty tongue-and-groove timbers and a couple of gallons of paint. As we unload supplies from the truck, a dozen or so Buckeye hens peck and scratch at the dirt floor.

    Our six-acre farm is a work in progress, mainly because we’re do-it-yourselfers and as with most endeavors in this life, there’s a learning curve. We’re hoping to replace the siding this coming weekend. Next weekend, we prime and paint. The weekend after that, weather permitting, we might just get started on the garden.

    I hear you finally got another dispatcher hired, Tomasetti says as he slides a board from the truck bed and drops it onto the stack on the ground.

    She started last week, I tell him. Going to be a good fit.

    Bet Mona’s happy about that.

    Thinking of my former dispatcher—who is now Painters Mill’s first full-time female officer—I smile. She’s not the only one, I say. The chief actually gets to take the occasional day off.

    He’s standing in the truck bed now, holding a gallon of paint in each hand, looking down at me. I like her already.

    I drop the final board onto the stack and look up at him. Anyone ever tell you you look good in those leather gloves? I ask.

    I get that a lot, he says.

    He’s in the process of stepping down when my cell phone vibrates against my hip. I glance at the screen to see dispatch pop up on the display. I answer with, Hey, Lois.

    Chief. Lois Monroe is my first-shift dispatcher. She’s a self-assured woman, a grandmother, a crossword-puzzle whiz kid, and an experienced dispatcher. Judging by her tone, something has her rattled.

    Mona took a call from the manager out at the Willowdell Motel. She just radioed in saying there’s a dead body in one of the rooms.

    In the back of my mind I wonder if the death is from natural causes—a heart attack or slip-fall—or, worse-case scenario, a drug overdose. A phenomenon that’s happening far too often these days, even in small towns like Painters Mill.

    Any idea what happened? I ask.

    She says it’s a homicide, Chief, and she sounds shook. Says it’s a bad scene.

    It’s not the kind of call I’m used to taking.

    I’m on my way, I say. Tell Mona to secure the scene. Protect any possible evidence. No one goes in or out. Get an ambulance out there and call the coroner.

    It takes me twenty minutes to reach the motel. I took the time to throw on my uniform and equipment belt, and made the drive from Wooster in record time.

    The Willowdell Motel is a Painters Mill icon of sorts. The sign in front touts MID-CENTURY MODERN with CLEAN ROOMS and a SPARKLING POOL in an effort to lure tourists looking to spend a few days relaxing in Amish country. The locals don’t see the place with such optimism, especially when the pool isn’t quite so sparkling, the façade is in dire need of fresh paint, and the rooms haven’t been renovated since the 1980s.

    I pull into the gravel lot to find Mona’s cruiser parked next to the office, the overheads flashing. She’s exited the vehicle and is standing outside room 9 talking to a heavyset man wearing camo pants and a golf shirt. I’ve met him at some point, but I don’t recall his name. Likely, the manager. I park the Explorer next to her cruiser and pick up my radio mike. Ten-twenty-three, I say, letting Dispatch know I’ve arrived on scene.

    I get out and approach them. Mona glances my way, looks unduly relieved to see me. She’s twenty-six years old and has been a full-time officer for a few weeks. She’s as enamored with law enforcement now as she was on her first day on the job. Despite her lack of experience, she’s a good cop; she’s motivated, has good instincts, and she’s willing to work any shift, which is a plus when you only have five officers in the department.

    I take her measure as we exchange a handshake. She’s pale-faced; her hand is shaking and cold in mine. Mona is no shrinking violet. Like most of my officers, she prefers action over boredom, and she’s never investigated a crime that didn’t intrigue her in some way. This morning, she’s stone-faced and I’m pretty sure I see a fleck of vomit on her sleeve.

    What do you have? I ask.

    Deceased female. She motions with her eyes to room 9. She’s on the floor. Chief, there’s blood everywhere. I have no idea what happened. She glances over her shoulder at the man who’s straining to hear our every word, and lowers her voice. It looks like there was one hell of a struggle. I can’t tell if she was stabbed or shot or … something else.

    I turn my attention to the man. You the manager?

    Doug Henry. He taps the MANAGER badge clipped to his shirt. I’m the one called 911.

    Any idea what happened? I ask. Did you see anything?

    Well, checkout is at eleven. Maid isn’t here today, so I gotta clean. I called the room around ten thirty. No one picked up, so I waited until eleven and knocked on the door. When she didn’t answer, I used my key. He blows out a long breath. I ain’t never seen anything like that in my life and I used to work down to the slaughterhouse. There’s blood everywhere. Stuff knocked over. I got the hell out of there and called you guys.

    Who is the room registered to? I ask.

    Last name is Schwartz, he tells me.

    It’s a common name in this part of Ohio, both Amish and English. If memory serves me, we have at least two families here in Painters Mill with that last name. First name?

    I can go look it up for you, he offers.

    I’d appreciate it. I turn my attention to Mona. You clear the room?

    Grimacing, she shakes her head. Once I saw her, I figured this was more than I could handle and got out.

    Anyone else been in the room?

    Just me.

    Coroner and ambulance en route?

    She nods. Sheriff’s Office, too.

    I start toward room 9. Let’s clear the room, I tell her. Make sure there’s no one else inside. Quick in and out.

    I go through the door first. Stay cognizant of evidence. Don’t touch anything.

    Roger that.

    It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dimly lit interior. I smell the blood before I see it. The dark, unpleasant smell of metal and sulfur. A few feet away, a red-black pool the size of a dinner plate is soaked into the carpet. A smear on the bedspread. Spatter on the headboard and wall. A finer spray on the ceiling. On the other side of the bed, I see the victim’s hands.

    Clear the bathroom, I tell Mona. Eyes open.

    I feel the familiar quiver in my gut as I move to the bed—that primal aversion to violent death. No matter how many times I see it, I always get that shaky feeling in the pit of my stomach, that shortness of breath. I round the foot of the bed and get my first look at the body. The victim is female. Lying on her stomach. Legs splayed. One arm beneath her. The other arm is outstretched, clawlike hand clutching carpet, as if she’d been trying to drag herself to the door. She’s wearing a pink T-shirt and panties. Socks.

    I wish for better light as I approach. I pull my mini Maglite from my utility belt, flick it on. The beam tells a horrific tale. A lamp lies on the floor, shade crushed, the cord ripped from the wall. Whatever happened to this woman, she fought back, didn’t make it easy for the son of a bitch to do this to her.

    Good girl, a little voice whispers in the back of my brain.

    Bathroom is clear, comes Mona’s voice.

    Blood?

    No.

    I glance over my shoulder, see her silhouetted against the light slanting in from the door. My mind has jumped ahead to the preservation of evidence; I’m keenly aware that I’m in the process of contaminating that evidence. No way around it.

    Go outside and get the scene taped off, I tell her, hearing the stress in my voice. No one comes in. No vehicles except the coroner.

    Ten-four.

    I’m no stranger to violence or the unspeakable things human beings are capable of doing to each other. Even so, for an instant I can’t catch my breath.

    The woman’s head is turned away from me, her chin tilted at an unnatural angle. I see strawberry-blond hair matted with blood, the scalp laid open, a small red mouth at the back of her head. Green-blue fingernail polish. Gold bracelet. Pretty hands. And I’m reminded that just hours ago, this woman cared about such mundane things as a manicure and jewelry.

    Careful not to disturb the scene, I sidle around to the other side of the woman. I know immediately she’s dead. The left side of her face has been destroyed. Cheekbone caved in. Eyeball dislodged from its socket. Nose an unrecognizable flap of skin. Tongue protruding through broken teeth. A string of blood and drool dribbling onto the carpet to form a puddle the size of a fist.

    I shift the beam of my flashlight to her face. Recognition flickers uneasily in my gut, the stir of some long-forgotten memory. A punch of dread follows, because at that moment I do not want to know her. But I do and the rush of nausea that follows sends me back a step.

    Bending, I put my hands on my knees, and blow out a breath. Damn.

    I choke out a sound I don’t recognize, end it with a cough. Giving myself a quick mental shake, I straighten, look around the room. A high-end purse with leather fringe has been tossed haphazardly onto the chair. An overnight bag sits on the floor in front of the cubbyhole closet. I go to the chair, pluck a pen from my pocket, and use it to flip open the flap. Inside, I see a leather wallet, a cosmetic case, a comb, perfume. I pull out the wallet. I notice several twenty-dollar bills as I open it and I know that whoever did this didn’t do it for money.

    Her driver’s license stares at me from its clear-faced pocket. The floor tilts beneath my feet when I see the name. Rachael Schwartz. The dread bubbling inside me burgeons as I stare down at the photo of the pretty young woman with strawberry-blond hair and her trademark almost-smile. It’s the kind of smile that shouts I’m going places and if you can’t keep up you will be left behind! But then that was Rachael. Hard to handle. High emotion and higher drama. Even as a kid, she was prone to making mistakes and then defending her position even when she was wrong, which was often. If you hurt her or angered her, she lashed out with inordinate ferocity. Faults aside, her love was fierce and pure. I know all of those things because I was one of the few Amish who understood her, though I never said as much aloud.

    Closing my eyes, I bank the rise of emotion, shove it back into its hole. Son of a bitch, I whisper.

    I knew Rachael Schwartz since she was in diapers. She was seven years younger than me, the middle child of a Swartzentruber family here in Painters Mill. The Swartzentruber sect is an Old Order subgroup and its members adhere to the timeworn traditions in the strictest sense. They eschew much of the technology other sects allow, such as the use of gravel for long lanes, indoor plumbing, and even the use of a slow-moving-vehicle sign for their buggies. The Schwartzes had five kids and I babysat them a few times when I was a teenager. Her mamm and datt still live in the old farmhouse off of Hogpath Road.

    I lost track of Rachael over the years. I heard she left Painters Mill at some point, before I returned here as chief. She was the only girl I’d ever met who was worse at being Amish than me.

    Using my cell, I snap a photo of the license in case I need to reference the information later.

    Chief?

    I startle, turn to face Mona, hoping my face doesn’t reflect the riot of emotions banging around inside me. You get the crime scene tape up? I ask.

    Yes, ma’am. Something flickers in her eyes. She cocks her head. You know her?

    I sigh, shake my head. Not well, but… I don’t know how to finish the sentence, so I let the words trail off.

    Mona gives me a moment; then her gaze flicks to the purse. Anything?

    Driver’s license. Cash. I acknowledge the thought that’s been nudging at the back of my mind. No cell phone. Have you seen one?

    No.

    I use the pen to go through the scant items inside, then drop the wallet back into the purse.

    By the time I’ve finished, I’ve got my head on straight. I start toward Mona. I’m going to call BCI, I say, referring to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Get a CSU out here. In the interim, we need to canvass, starting with the motel rooms. Check with the manager to see which ones are occupied. Start with the rooms closest to this one and work your way out. Talk to everyone. See if they saw or heard anything unusual.

    You got it.

    We exit the room. On the sidewalk outside the door, I stop, draw a deep breath, let it out, draw in another. Get Glock out here, too, I say, referring to Rupert Glock Maddox, my most experienced officer. We got four vehicles here in the parking lot. I’ll find out which one belongs to her and we’ll get it cordoned off, too.

    Got it, Chief.

    Pulling out my cell, I call Dispatch. Usually, we communicate via radio. Because I don’t want Rachael’s name floating around on the airwaves in case someone is listening to a police scanner, I opt for my cell.

    Run Rachael Schwartz through LEADS, I tell Lois, referring to the Law Enforcement Automated Data System, which is a database administered by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and allows law enforcement to share criminal justice information. Check for warrants. Phone number. Known associates. Whatever you can find. I glance down at the photo on my phone and recite the address off her license. Check property records, too. Find out who owns the property where she lives.

    Roger that.

    I hit END and turn to the motel manager, who’s standing a few feet away, smoking a cigarette. She dead? he asks.

    I nod. Can you tell me which rooms are occupied?

    Two. Four. Seven. And nine.

    I nod at Mona and she starts toward the room two doors down.

    Do you know which vehicle belongs to Schwartz? I ask the manager.

    He looks down at the paper in his hand. Let’s see if she included the info on her check-in form. Here we go. He motions toward the Lexus parked a couple of spaces down from the room. Right there.

    Was she alone? I ask.

    I didn’t see anyone else. No other name on the form. And she only requested one key.

    I nod, look around, spot the security camera tucked under the eave a few yards away. Are your security cameras working?

    Far as I know.

    I need to take a look, I say. Can you get the recordings for me?

    I think so.

    What time did she check in?

    He glances down at the form in his hand. A little after eight P.M. yesterday.

    I nod. Would you mind sticking around for a while in case I have some more questions?

    I’ll be here until five.

    I thank him and hit the speed dial for Tomasetti.

    CHAPTER 3

    I figured you wouldn’t be able to go long without hearing the sound of my voice.

    I manage a pretty decent rendition of a laugh. But Tomasetti’s an astute man—or maybe I’m not as good at my seasoned-cop equanimity as I think, because he asks, What’s wrong?

    There’s been a homicide, I tell him. At the motel.

    A beat of silence and then, What do you need?

    A CSU, for starters.

    Shooting? Stabbing? Domestic? What do you have?

    Not sure. Beating, I think. Hard to tell because there’s a lot of trauma. Victim is female. Thirty years old.

    I’ll get someone down there ASAP. He waits, reluctant to end the call, knowing there’s more. What else, Kate?

    Tomasetti, this girl … she was Amish once. I mean, years ago. I heard she left. I stumble over my words, jumble them, take a moment and clear my throat. I knew her. I mean, when she was a kid. Growing up.

    "Any idea who might’ve done

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