An evil heart

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Average Rating
Publisher
Varies, see individual formats and editions
Publication Date
2023.
Language
English

Description

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal death of a young Amish man in An Evil Heart, the latest installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo.On a crisp autumn day in Painters Mill, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow, his body abandoned on a dirt road. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Who would commit such a heinous crime against a young man whose life was just beginning? The more Kate gets to know his devastated family and the people—both English and Amish—who loved him, the more determined she becomes to solve the case. Aden Karn was funny and hardworking and looking forward to marrying his sweet fiancé, Emily. All the while, Kate’s own wedding day to Tomasetti draws near... But as she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Is it possible the rumors are a cruel campaign to blame the victim? Kate pursues every lead with a vengeance, sensing an unspeakable secret no one will broach. The case spirals out of control when a young Amish woman comes forward with a horrific story that pits Kate against a dangerous and unexpected opponent. When the awful truth is finally uncovered, Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places.

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Contributors
ISBN
9781250781086
9781250893376

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Also in this Series

  • Sworn to silence (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 1) Cover
  • Pray for silence (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 2) Cover
  • Breaking silence (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 3) Cover
  • Gone missing (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 4) Cover
  • Her last breath (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 5) Cover
  • The dead will tell (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 6) Cover
  • After the storm (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 7) Cover
  • Among the wicked: a Kate Burkholder novel (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 8) Cover
  • Down a dark road (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 9) Cover
  • A gathering of secrets (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 10) Cover
  • Shamed (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 11) Cover
  • Outsider (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 12) Cover
  • Fallen (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 13) Cover
  • The hidden one: A Kate Burkholder novel (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 14) Cover
  • An evil heart (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 15) Cover
  • The burning (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume 16) Cover
  • A simple murder: a Kate Burkholder short story collection (Kate Burkholder thrillers Volume ) Cover

Author Notes

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
The Stella Crown and Kate Burkholder novels feature flawed but strong women sleuths who live in small farming towns. The fast paced stories have a strong sense of place and feature well developed characters, depicting relationships among small town residents. -- Merle Jacob
Both set in small towns, these series offer a strong sense of place, flawed and prickly heroines, well-drawn characters, and complex, issue-oriented puzzles. -- Shauna Griffin
Fans of intriguing and sympathetic detectives, richly detailed settings, and complex, often violent puzzles might enjoy both the Alexandra Cooper and Kate Burkholder mysteries. Both fight crime, often against women, and support controversial causes with fierce determination and grit. -- Joyce Saricks
The Kate Burkholder thrillers and Ohio Amish mysteries are set in Ohio Amish country and use a female sheriff and a professor as their detectives. The leisurely paced stories feature multidimensional characters and insights into Amish culture. -- Merle Jacob
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful, violent, and fast-paced, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women police chiefs," "murder investigation," and "police."
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful and fast-paced, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women police chiefs," "murder investigation," and "women sheriffs."
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful, fast-paced, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "thrillers and suspense."
These series have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "murder investigation" and "police."
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful and fast-paced, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "murder investigation" and "police."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, fast-paced, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "secrets," "engaged people," and "kidnapping."
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, atmospheric, and intricately plotted, and they have the theme "rural police"; and the subjects "secrets," "murder investigation," and "american people."
Kingdom come - Jensen, Jane
These books have the genre "police procedurals"; the subjects "amish," "former amish," and "murder"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
NoveList recommends "Ohio Amish mysteries" for fans of "Kate Burkholder thrillers". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, fast-paced, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "secrets," "murder investigation," and "murder."
Angels burning - O'Dell, Tawni
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful and fast-paced, and they have the themes "rural police" and "small town police"; the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women police chiefs," "murder investigation," and "murder."
These books have the appeal factors atmospheric and strong sense of place, and they have the themes "rural police" and "small town police"; the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women police chiefs," "murder investigation," and "murder."
NoveList recommends "Bell Elkins mysteries" for fans of "Kate Burkholder thrillers". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors fast-paced, atmospheric, and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "secrets," "murder investigation," and "murder."
These books have the appeal factors violent, atmospheric, and intricately plotted, and they have the theme "urban police"; the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; the subjects "policewomen" and "violence"; and characters that are "flawed characters."
These books have the appeal factors atmospheric and intricately plotted, and they have the themes "rural police" and "small town police"; the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women police chiefs," "secrets," and "murder investigation."
NoveList recommends "Alexandra Cooper novels" for fans of "Kate Burkholder thrillers". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
R.D. Cain and Linda Castillo write police procedurals featuring deeply flawed cops who must fight themselves and their departments to solve crimes. The sleuths have personal problems that they must deal with along with professional problems. These are fast paced, violent stories with many nasty secondary characters. -- Merle Jacob
Barton and Castillo combine sex and violence in their romantic suspense novels. Alternately steamy and gruesome, their fast-paced, gritty tales feature strong women and determined men in pursuit of both criminals and love. -- Mike Nilsson
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty, violent, and gruesome, and they have the genre "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "murder," "women detectives," and "murder suspects."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty and violent, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "small town life," "women detectives," and "serial murder investigation."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty, violent, and gruesome, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women police chiefs," "small town life," and "women detectives."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty, violent, and gruesome, and they have the genres "romantic suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murders."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty, violent, and bleak, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "small town life," "women detectives," and "small towns."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty and violent, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "small town life," "women detectives," and "fbi agents."
These authors' works have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; the subjects "small town life," "serial murder investigation," and "police"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors suspenseful, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "secrets," "murder investigation," and "small town life."
These authors' works have the appeal factors action-packed and atmospheric, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "small town life," and "women detectives."
These authors' works have the appeal factors gritty, violent, and intensifying, and they have the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "secrets," "women detectives," and "copycat murders."

Published Reviews

Publisher's Weekly Review

At the start of Castillo's thrilling 15th mystery featuring Ohio police chief Burkholder (after 2022's The Hidden One), the body of 21-year-old Aden Karn turns up on a desolate road with crossbow wounds in his abdomen and mouth. Raised in a respected Amish family, Aden was happily engaged to a respectable young woman and appeared to be an unlikely target for a violent crime. As Kate begins her investigation, however, she learns that Aden might have been more complicated than he seemed: he was reportedly a mean drunk who often visited the shady Brass Rail Saloon, and was friends with Vernon Fisher, a young man on rumspringa who spends most of his time drinking, smoking, and womanizing. Meanwhile, the strangled body of 26-year-old Paige Rossberger is found half-submerged in a nearby creek. Paige wasn't Amish, but Kate becomes convinced there's a connection between the murders. Though some readers will piece the puzzle together more quickly than Kate does, Castillo's punchy prose and well-developed characters keep the pages turning, and a subplot involving Kate's upcoming nuptials to her longtime love will tug at readers' heartstrings. Series fans will be eager for the next entry. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary. (July)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

When a young Amish man is brutally murdered with a crossbow, police chief Kate Burkholder's investigation isn't easy. Aden Karn was a hardworking young man, beloved by his parents and many in the community. Emily, who hoped to marry him, knew her parents approved. But a violent killer intended Aden to suffer before he died. When Burkholder hears rumors that Aden hung out at a local bar because he was on rumspringa, she didn't think she'd learn anything unexpected. The bartender, however, knew a different side of the victim. He saw a man who turned violent against women when he drank too much. When a young woman's broken body is found wrapped in plastic in a local creek, Burkholder suspects a connection because they're such unusually heinous crimes in the small Painters Mill community. With two gruesome murders on her hands, Kate has little time for preparations for her upcoming wedding to Tomasetti. VERDICT The follow-up to The Hidden One is a compelling, violent police procedural, alleviated by the love and tenderness surrounding the upcoming wedding. Those who watched Kate's developing relationship will enjoy the storyline surrounding the wedding and the skill with which the author juggles crime and kindness.--Lesa Holstine

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Kirkus Book Review

Evil abounds among the Ohio Amish. Painters Mills police chief Kate Burkholder is ready to wed her longtime love, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent John Tomasetti. No longer Amish, she's both happy and nervous that her family wants to join in her wedding celebration. When a dead body is found in the middle of a quiet country road, it's initially thought to be a hit-and-run, but a closer look reveals a grisly murder. The dead man is Aden Karn, a well-liked Amish youth of 21 on Rumspringa, the time young Amish people get a taste of living in the outside world. Aden was shot twice with bolts from a crossbow that were then removed. Emily Byler, who'd had a serious relationship with Aden, is devastated. Searching for enemies, Kate comes up with Amish-born Vernon Fisher, who instead of joining the church hangs out at a garage he bought with a rowdy group of friends. Fisher had purchased a truck that Aden and his roommate, Wayne Graber, had fixed up, but it stopped working and he wanted his money back. Fisher's nasty temper and rude behavior make him an obvious suspect, but something feels off to Kate, who works with a police task force to dig up background information on Aden and anyone who knew him. Though the Amish resist talking to the police, Kate gradually learns that Aden wasn't as nice as he seemed, spending time in bars and picking up women for casual sex. When a prostitute--beaten, sexually assaulted, and killed--is found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a creek, Kate is convinced there's a connection. Several nasty secrets emerge, and Kate's almost killed before the killer is caught. Characters you care about and a cleareyed look at their unique culture make this series the best of the Amish bunch. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Library Journal Reviews

When a young Amish man is brutally murdered with a crossbow, police chief Kate Burkholder's investigation isn't easy. Aden Karn was a hardworking young man, beloved by his parents and many in the community. Emily, who hoped to marry him, knew her parents approved. But a violent killer intended Aden to suffer before he died. When Burkholder hears rumors that Aden hung out at a local bar because he was on rumspringa, she didn't think she'd learn anything unexpected. The bartender, however, knew a different side of the victim. He saw a man who turned violent against women when he drank too much. When a young woman's broken body is found wrapped in plastic in a local creek, Burkholder suspects a connection because they're such unusually heinous crimes in the small Painters Mill community. With two gruesome murders on her hands, Kate has little time for preparations for her upcoming wedding to Tomasetti. VERDICT The follow-up to The Hidden One is a compelling, violent police procedural, alleviated by the love and tenderness surrounding the upcoming wedding. Those who watched Kate's developing relationship will enjoy the storyline surrounding the wedding and the skill with which the author juggles crime and kindness.—Lesa Holstine

Copyright 2023 Library Journal.

Copyright 2023 Library Journal.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

At the start of Castillo's thrilling 15th mystery featuring Ohio police chief Burkholder (after 2022's The Hidden One), the body of 21-year-old Aden Karn turns up on a desolate road with crossbow wounds in his abdomen and mouth. Raised in a respected Amish family, Aden was happily engaged to a respectable young woman and appeared to be an unlikely target for a violent crime. As Kate begins her investigation, however, she learns that Aden might have been more complicated than he seemed: he was reportedly a mean drunk who often visited the shady Brass Rail Saloon, and was friends with Vernon Fisher, a young man on rumspringa who spends most of his time drinking, smoking, and womanizing. Meanwhile, the strangled body of 26-year-old Paige Rossberger is found half-submerged in a nearby creek. Paige wasn't Amish, but Kate becomes convinced there's a connection between the murders. Though some readers will piece the puzzle together more quickly than Kate does, Castillo's punchy prose and well-developed characters keep the pages turning, and a subplot involving Kate's upcoming nuptials to her longtime love will tug at readers' heartstrings. Series fans will be eager for the next entry. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary. (July)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly.
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