Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Minotaur Books (2009), Edition: 1st Ed., 336 pages
Description
A killer is preying on sacred ground....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.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member biblioholic29
Kate Burkholder grew up Amish in Painter's Mill, Ohio. When she was a young teen a series of murders gripped the town's imagination, ending when she was fourteen and leaving her to question everything she knew. At 18 she left the Amish community and became a cop. Now she's back in Painter's Mill as
It's a good premise. In the right hands, it could be a gripping thriller, full of twists and turns and heart-pounding action. Unfortunately, Linda Castillo is not the right hands.
The story is told in both 1st person by Kate and in 3rd person from the perspective of other characters including the killer. An unreliable narrator can be a fun way to keep things fresh, however the 3rd person narration was all told in past tense while Kate told her story in the present tense and I found the switches distracting. Additionally, I've never been a big fan of stories told in the present tense as I inevitably find myself wondering why the character is taking the time to journal when running for their life!
I also found the repetition extremely annoying. I'm not sure if the author forgot what she had written or if she just thought the reader might be stupid but the same information was repeated ad nauseum on several occasions. How many times do you have to describe the grain silo? Or tell us who "Pickles" is? I felt I was being condescended to more than once.
The characters were all idiots too. Several times Kate would "notice a red flag" and then promptly forget about it so that she could "notice" it again a few pages later. The "terrible secret from her past" she spends much of her time worrying about seems overdone and the constant harping about it diminishes it's impact over time. The "final reveal" of the secret should come as no surprise at all to anyone who's read a thriller or two before. Finally, Kate's reluctance to involve anyone when she finally figures out who the killer is feels contrived to provide the big climactic scene which ruined it for me.
I did manage to get through the entire book, unlike similar stories I've tried recently, so there are some redeeming qualities, mostly the premise itself. If you are a fan of thrillers and don't care about choppy editing, unrealistic dialogue and incomprehensible intuitive leaps, you'll likely enjoy this book. If, like me, you've reached a point where you want good writing in addition to a good story, this one's not for you.
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the chief-of-police and the murders have begun again. Is it the same killer from before, or someone new?It's a good premise. In the right hands, it could be a gripping thriller, full of twists and turns and heart-pounding action. Unfortunately, Linda Castillo is not the right hands.
The story is told in both 1st person by Kate and in 3rd person from the perspective of other characters including the killer. An unreliable narrator can be a fun way to keep things fresh, however the 3rd person narration was all told in past tense while Kate told her story in the present tense and I found the switches distracting. Additionally, I've never been a big fan of stories told in the present tense as I inevitably find myself wondering why the character is taking the time to journal when running for their life!
I also found the repetition extremely annoying. I'm not sure if the author forgot what she had written or if she just thought the reader might be stupid but the same information was repeated ad nauseum on several occasions. How many times do you have to describe the grain silo? Or tell us who "Pickles" is? I felt I was being condescended to more than once.
The characters were all idiots too. Several times Kate would "notice a red flag" and then promptly forget about it so that she could "notice" it again a few pages later. The "terrible secret from her past" she spends much of her time worrying about seems overdone and the constant harping about it diminishes it's impact over time. The "final reveal" of the secret should come as no surprise at all to anyone who's read a thriller or two before. Finally, Kate's reluctance to involve anyone when she finally figures out who the killer is feels contrived to provide the big climactic scene which ruined it for me.
I did manage to get through the entire book, unlike similar stories I've tried recently, so there are some redeeming qualities, mostly the premise itself. If you are a fan of thrillers and don't care about choppy editing, unrealistic dialogue and incomprehensible intuitive leaps, you'll likely enjoy this book. If, like me, you've reached a point where you want good writing in addition to a good story, this one's not for you.
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LibraryThing member elliepotten
This series was recommended to me after I mentioned enjoying a television documentary here in the UK about Amish teenagers and Amish life. Although the Amish don't feature as highly in this novel as I have a feeling they will later in the series, I'm still glad I paid attention and found a copy,
The first in Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, Sworn to Silence is serial killer lit at its finest. The series' heroine, Kate, grew up in the Amish community in Painter's Mill, Ohio, left at eighteen and is now back, sassier and a lot more worldly, as the town's Chief of Police. It is a peaceful job - until the night a body is discovered in a local field. The naked woman has been drained of blood, and a cryptic symbol is carved into her navel. Could the Slaughterhouse Killer that haunted Painter's Mill - and Kate's nightmares - sixteen years earlier have returned? As the body count rises, Kate finds herself battling not only the prejudices and misconceptions of the town council, but also the demons of her own troubled past. Can the murderer be stopped before it's Kate's turn to die?
I found this book to be an absolute page-turner, keeping me enthralled through a few busy days at work and a couple of lazy evenings too. I thought Kate was a unique and deeply relatable protagonist, despite her unconventional upbringing, and she has the same sympathetically human qualities that I like so much in Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander. The tension between the Amish and English communities, and between Kate's past and present lives, add another dimension to the plot and extra conflict and suspense to an already taut premise. The crime scenes are compulsively grisly, and although I guessed the identity of the killer quite early on, it didn't spoil the rest of the book - rather, it was delicious watching events unfold and being proved right! Oh, and there's also a small dose of very satisfying romance to temper the bloodshed... My only (very minor) gripe was the fact that when the third-person viewpoint switched characters, the tenses often did too. It took me a few minutes to adjust each time, and as a device it felt fairly redundant in this case.
This was a tiny flaw, however, and all in all I found this to be a brilliant and promising start to the series. It would be the perfect read for a crime aficionado who likes their heroines feisty, doesn't mind if their crime scenes are on the bloody 'n' bizarre side, and who fancies reading a novel with a more unusual community dynamic than is perhaps the norm. I loved it, and needless to say, the second book, Pray for Silence, is already on my wishlist!
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because it was fantastic! It was gripping, shocking, tense and fascinating - in short, everything a crime novel should be!The first in Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, Sworn to Silence is serial killer lit at its finest. The series' heroine, Kate, grew up in the Amish community in Painter's Mill, Ohio, left at eighteen and is now back, sassier and a lot more worldly, as the town's Chief of Police. It is a peaceful job - until the night a body is discovered in a local field. The naked woman has been drained of blood, and a cryptic symbol is carved into her navel. Could the Slaughterhouse Killer that haunted Painter's Mill - and Kate's nightmares - sixteen years earlier have returned? As the body count rises, Kate finds herself battling not only the prejudices and misconceptions of the town council, but also the demons of her own troubled past. Can the murderer be stopped before it's Kate's turn to die?
I found this book to be an absolute page-turner, keeping me enthralled through a few busy days at work and a couple of lazy evenings too. I thought Kate was a unique and deeply relatable protagonist, despite her unconventional upbringing, and she has the same sympathetically human qualities that I like so much in Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander. The tension between the Amish and English communities, and between Kate's past and present lives, add another dimension to the plot and extra conflict and suspense to an already taut premise. The crime scenes are compulsively grisly, and although I guessed the identity of the killer quite early on, it didn't spoil the rest of the book - rather, it was delicious watching events unfold and being proved right! Oh, and there's also a small dose of very satisfying romance to temper the bloodshed... My only (very minor) gripe was the fact that when the third-person viewpoint switched characters, the tenses often did too. It took me a few minutes to adjust each time, and as a device it felt fairly redundant in this case.
This was a tiny flaw, however, and all in all I found this to be a brilliant and promising start to the series. It would be the perfect read for a crime aficionado who likes their heroines feisty, doesn't mind if their crime scenes are on the bloody 'n' bizarre side, and who fancies reading a novel with a more unusual community dynamic than is perhaps the norm. I loved it, and needless to say, the second book, Pray for Silence, is already on my wishlist!
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
After the discovery of the mutilated body of a young woman, the residents of Painter's Mill, Ohio are fearful that a serial killer has returned after a 16-year hiatus. Police chief Kate Burkholder is one of three people who know differently. When she was a 14-year-old Amish girl, Kate killed the
I had trouble getting into the story in the first half of the book. Once I reached the last third of the book, I stayed up well past my bedtime in order to finish it. The suspense was too great to stop listening. One of my biggest problems in the first half of the book was trying to figure out the jurisdictional boundary of the Painter's Mill police department. The bodies were found in areas that, from their descriptions, were isolated and rural. I would have thought that the County Sheriff would have had jurisdiction rather than the police department. That question troubled me all the way to the end of the book. Also, I had a slight problem with Tomasetti's sudden transformation from alcoholic prescription drug addict to romantic hero. I think it would have worked better for Tomasetti's psychological state to have been more ambiguous when his character was introduced.
I like Kate, and her relationship to the Amish community creates some interesting tensions for a crime series. She's a bit of an outsider as a relatively young female in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and she's an outsider among the Amish community she chose to leave. This book reminded me of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series, so her readers might want to give this one a try.
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serial killer. Her family covered up the death and they haven't spoken of it since. Although the small town police department is too small to handle a murder investigation of this nature, Kate is reluctant to ask for assistance from either the Holmes County Sheriff's Department or the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Eventually the three agencies join forces, and Kate works hard to meet everyone's expectations while secretly trying to confirm that she had, in fact, killed the serial killer. Perhaps her family only thought he was dead, and he's returned to take up where he left off?I had trouble getting into the story in the first half of the book. Once I reached the last third of the book, I stayed up well past my bedtime in order to finish it. The suspense was too great to stop listening. One of my biggest problems in the first half of the book was trying to figure out the jurisdictional boundary of the Painter's Mill police department. The bodies were found in areas that, from their descriptions, were isolated and rural. I would have thought that the County Sheriff would have had jurisdiction rather than the police department. That question troubled me all the way to the end of the book. Also, I had a slight problem with Tomasetti's sudden transformation from alcoholic prescription drug addict to romantic hero. I think it would have worked better for Tomasetti's psychological state to have been more ambiguous when his character was introduced.
I like Kate, and her relationship to the Amish community creates some interesting tensions for a crime series. She's a bit of an outsider as a relatively young female in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and she's an outsider among the Amish community she chose to leave. This book reminded me of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series, so her readers might want to give this one a try.
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LibraryThing member jd234512
I was really looking forward to reading this book, as it was one that I had received in a giveaway and enjoy the prospect of reading and reviewing a book that is new and goes out into the world with so potential. Additionally, while my reading does not usually take me to the genre of thriller(I
Unfortunately, it seemed to fall short in many ways. It was incredibly cliche and formulaic and did not seem to strive to push any new boundaries for the genre. It seems as if the only thing truly being presented was the novelty of using the Amish and their landscape(surroundings, culture, people, etc.), which did not provide enough to push it into new territories (in spite of their extremely unique and fascinating lifestyle which could lend itself to a more interesting plot). I found Kate Burkholder to be the typical tough girl(I would assume if a movie was made, Michelle Rodriguez would be cast) with a rough past and overall not very interesting. I would much rather have heard more about Detrick and how he became the monster that he was. Having a dual story with him running throughout(without revealing his identity) would have created a greater connection with him as the two converged at the end. Instead we are left a fairly quick ending to a rather complicated case otherwise.
All in all, I couldn't give it one star because it was a nice, light read that went very fast(which I don't normally read), but the simplicity of it all will not allow me to give it a higher rating next to those I overall enjoyed much more.
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read mostly classics and non-fiction), it is one of my favorite types of movies. There's absolutely nothing like a well-crafted thriller with brilliant characters that keep you guessing. This is what I anticipated when I began reading this book.Unfortunately, it seemed to fall short in many ways. It was incredibly cliche and formulaic and did not seem to strive to push any new boundaries for the genre. It seems as if the only thing truly being presented was the novelty of using the Amish and their landscape(surroundings, culture, people, etc.), which did not provide enough to push it into new territories (in spite of their extremely unique and fascinating lifestyle which could lend itself to a more interesting plot). I found Kate Burkholder to be the typical tough girl(I would assume if a movie was made, Michelle Rodriguez would be cast) with a rough past and overall not very interesting. I would much rather have heard more about Detrick and how he became the monster that he was. Having a dual story with him running throughout(without revealing his identity) would have created a greater connection with him as the two converged at the end. Instead we are left a fairly quick ending to a rather complicated case otherwise.
All in all, I couldn't give it one star because it was a nice, light read that went very fast(which I don't normally read), but the simplicity of it all will not allow me to give it a higher rating next to those I overall enjoyed much more.
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LibraryThing member serenitybb
I received this book through the Early Reviewer Program and this is my first time reading anything by Linda Castillo.
"Sworn to Silence" introduces us to Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police in Painter's Mill, Ohio. This small community has an Amish population, which Kate was a member of before she
Sixteen years ago there was a serial killer in this small community and it looks like he has returned to continue where he left off. As Kate tries to catch this killer, she tries to hide a secret that she has kept for the past sixteen years. Could this secret hold the key to solving these recent murders?
Thinking she lacks the experience, the town council goes behind her back and brings in BCI Agent John Tomasetti. Agent Tomasetti has his own demons to deal with as they both hunt the hunter.
Linda Castillo does a wonderful job of hooking you in. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. First, I had to find out about the secret Kate was keeping, then had to find out more on John, by then, I just had to find out who the killer was. I thought I would just read a few chapters, instead, I finished this book all in one night. A terrific read with interesting characters. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read who-done-its!
"Sworn to Silence" introduces us to Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police in Painter's Mill, Ohio. This small community has an Amish population, which Kate was a member of before she
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decided not to join the church when she turned 18. After being banned from the church, she moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she joined the police acadamy. When her mother became ill, she moved back to town to help take care of her and the farm. While she was there, the current Police Chief stepped down and this is when the town council asked her to become Chief.Sixteen years ago there was a serial killer in this small community and it looks like he has returned to continue where he left off. As Kate tries to catch this killer, she tries to hide a secret that she has kept for the past sixteen years. Could this secret hold the key to solving these recent murders?
Thinking she lacks the experience, the town council goes behind her back and brings in BCI Agent John Tomasetti. Agent Tomasetti has his own demons to deal with as they both hunt the hunter.
Linda Castillo does a wonderful job of hooking you in. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. First, I had to find out about the secret Kate was keeping, then had to find out more on John, by then, I just had to find out who the killer was. I thought I would just read a few chapters, instead, I finished this book all in one night. A terrific read with interesting characters. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read who-done-its!
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LibraryThing member innermurk
“Sworn To Silence” was a really fun read. It is subtitled: A Thriller, and it delivers. Unlike some, this plot is fast paced, logical, and takes the reader on believable twists and turns without resorting to gimmicks and tricks to bring everything together in the end. Most mysteries play
The heroine in the story is Kate Burkholder, a former Amish girl who has turned to the “outside world” and become the chief of police in a town where both worlds coincide. Her past is revealed in a somewhat abrupt manner as we discover she murdered a serial killer in her youth, a killer that has now returned to terrorize the town she is supposed to protect. She is a believable and more importantly very likeable character. Her role is somewhat idealized by her subordinates, but it wasn’t so much over the top that it became a dues ex machina for the storyline. Her ability to understand both worlds makes her the ideal view of the story that unfolds. Both worlds are also portrayed sympathetically and without the patronization that so often accompanies any novel that includes a religious or minority sect.
The supporting characters in the novel are also well rounded and likeable or unlikeable as they are called upon to be. There was just enough jargon used that it seemed authentic, but not enough to obscure or confuse the reader.
The villain in the end is very well concealed and then unfolded in such an explosive manner that it mirrors what a true scenario of escalation would be.
The only complaint I have is that Kate refuses to look at a very obvious possibility that the man she killed in her youth was not the serial killer. This seems to blind her to the only other possibility that she does choose to pursue, and while the storyline builds around that, and it could be considered a mere character flaw, without further explanation it seems to be an error that the author overlooked.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this story and look forward to more novels featuring Kate.
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themselves out in a way that the reader knows way beforehand who the murderer is, but this one strings you along and is only revealed as the characters themselves discover the clues. This makes for excitement and suspense that lasts through the entire plot.The heroine in the story is Kate Burkholder, a former Amish girl who has turned to the “outside world” and become the chief of police in a town where both worlds coincide. Her past is revealed in a somewhat abrupt manner as we discover she murdered a serial killer in her youth, a killer that has now returned to terrorize the town she is supposed to protect. She is a believable and more importantly very likeable character. Her role is somewhat idealized by her subordinates, but it wasn’t so much over the top that it became a dues ex machina for the storyline. Her ability to understand both worlds makes her the ideal view of the story that unfolds. Both worlds are also portrayed sympathetically and without the patronization that so often accompanies any novel that includes a religious or minority sect.
The supporting characters in the novel are also well rounded and likeable or unlikeable as they are called upon to be. There was just enough jargon used that it seemed authentic, but not enough to obscure or confuse the reader.
The villain in the end is very well concealed and then unfolded in such an explosive manner that it mirrors what a true scenario of escalation would be.
The only complaint I have is that Kate refuses to look at a very obvious possibility that the man she killed in her youth was not the serial killer. This seems to blind her to the only other possibility that she does choose to pursue, and while the storyline builds around that, and it could be considered a mere character flaw, without further explanation it seems to be an error that the author overlooked.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this story and look forward to more novels featuring Kate.
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LibraryThing member jaltergott23
I just finished reading Sworn to Silence, which I received as an ARC. It was a good book - not great, but definitely worth a read. What prevented it from being a great book for me: 1. the conclusion seemed a bit too rushed; 2. the romance between Kate and John seemed obligatory and unnecessary for
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moving the story along; 3. The changes in POV (going from 1st person to 3rd person) didn't quite work for some reason. However, the story did pull me in from the beginning and kept me turning pages trying to figure out what would happen next and who the killer was. I liked seeing the contrast between the Amish and English cultures from Kate's point of view, although I would have enjoyed more details of Kate growing up in an Amish community and her decision to leave it. Perhaps this info will be included in upcoming books in the series - which I look forward to reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member MaryC22
Make sure you have some time to read before you pick up Sworn to Silence. This is a smart serial killer novel set in Ohio Amish country in the dead of winter. Linda Castillo has put together a cast of characters that I want to know more about. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti are
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fighting their own demons along with the horrific crimes that are taking place in the small town rural setting. The twists and turns are perfectly timed and my planned hour of reading turned into four hours. Hopefully I'll be able to read more novels with Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti as featured characters. I'm very pleased to find a new thriller author to put on my list to follow. Show Less
LibraryThing member auntmarge64
This first in a new mystery/suspense series comes with an unusual lead character: an ex-Amish female police chief working in her hometown. The mystery is more grisly than difficult to solve (I picked out the murderer about halfway through), but the action (and the need to review the book for Early
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Reviewers) kept me reading. The story is told from many different viewpoints, and while that's not usually a problem, here it was weird because one of those viewpoints is in first person, while the rest are third person. I found this disconcerting, and it made it harder than it should have been to get into the rhythm of the narrative and forget the writing. The characters had potential, but they never came fully to life, and the visceral charge of really relating to at least one of them never materialized. Show Less
LibraryThing member SouthernGirlReads
Linda Castillo is a master crime fiction writer. At no time during this book was there a lull in the story or even a moment that was not edge-of-your-seat thrilling. I'm not a huge murder mystery reader, but Ms. Castillo has lit a fire under me that leaves me excited to read more of her work. SWORN
Kate Burkholder is an original and interesting lead character that is so believable that I instantly became her ally in this quest to find the killer. She's tough, but not too over-the-top. Bringing in the Amish element, not only to the general storyline, but into Kate's personal background was genius. I loved the contrast between the Amish and newer English ways of life. She does a great job of showing how two totally different cultures can exist side by side in a modern world. The supporting cast of characters are genuine and just as original as Kate's character. You can feel the bond these people have created in the short two years Kate has been their leader and you can feel the loyalty. That's not to say that all of the characters are on Kate's side. There is some conflict at play from certain other characters that gives the story a realistic feel as well.
SWORN TO SILENCE is first and foremost a story about serial murders, so there are some disturbing accounts regarding the brutality of the victims, but its not to the point that I had to skip over it. I don't like gore in the books that I read. Linda Castillo knows the perfect balance to ensure the reader gets the true feel for what the characters are dealing with without going too far. She even manages to bring in a physical attraction between Kate and another great character but smartly, doesn't veer too far from the main point of the book, which is solving these murders. Most of the book is told from Kate's perspective in the first person, but there are times when the reader is following John Tomasetti, a profiler brought in from another agency to help with the case, and those parts are told in the third person.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy suspenseful crime novels. There is not one dull moment in this book. If you're interested in learning more about Linda Castillo and her books, please visit her website. You can also read an excerpt from the new installment. PRAY FOR SILENCE. If you've never read her books, I encourage you to give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
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TO SILENCE was released in June of 2009 and is the first in the new Kate Burkholder Series. I'm excited to tell you that the second book, PRAY FOR SILENCE, just came out on June 22nd of 2010. I'm looking forward to reading it very soon.Kate Burkholder is an original and interesting lead character that is so believable that I instantly became her ally in this quest to find the killer. She's tough, but not too over-the-top. Bringing in the Amish element, not only to the general storyline, but into Kate's personal background was genius. I loved the contrast between the Amish and newer English ways of life. She does a great job of showing how two totally different cultures can exist side by side in a modern world. The supporting cast of characters are genuine and just as original as Kate's character. You can feel the bond these people have created in the short two years Kate has been their leader and you can feel the loyalty. That's not to say that all of the characters are on Kate's side. There is some conflict at play from certain other characters that gives the story a realistic feel as well.
SWORN TO SILENCE is first and foremost a story about serial murders, so there are some disturbing accounts regarding the brutality of the victims, but its not to the point that I had to skip over it. I don't like gore in the books that I read. Linda Castillo knows the perfect balance to ensure the reader gets the true feel for what the characters are dealing with without going too far. She even manages to bring in a physical attraction between Kate and another great character but smartly, doesn't veer too far from the main point of the book, which is solving these murders. Most of the book is told from Kate's perspective in the first person, but there are times when the reader is following John Tomasetti, a profiler brought in from another agency to help with the case, and those parts are told in the third person.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy suspenseful crime novels. There is not one dull moment in this book. If you're interested in learning more about Linda Castillo and her books, please visit her website. You can also read an excerpt from the new installment. PRAY FOR SILENCE. If you've never read her books, I encourage you to give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: She hadn't believed in monsters since she was six years old, back when her mom would check the closet and look beneath her bed at night.
Kate Burkholder was born and raised Amish in small Painters Mill, Ohio, but a traumatic event when she was fifteen made her turn her back on her
But the nude, tortured body of a young woman throws Kate's life right back into the nightmare that occurred when she was fifteen. The murder has all the earmarks of the Slaughterhouse Killer who plied his horrible trade in the area sixteen years ago. Whispers begin to circulate, but Kate knows it has to be the work of a copycat. Why? She knows why the murderer stopped killing all those years ago. It's a secret that she has to try to keep while she's working this current case.
Convinced that she alone has the solution to the investigation, Kate is slow to ask for help from other law enforcement agencies, so the town politicians take matters into their own hands and set up a multi-jurisdictional task force with the county sheriff and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent, John Tomasetti, lending a hand. The sheriff is all sweetness and light around anyone in a position of greater authority, but his real agenda is to undermine Kate's credibility. Tomasetti, on the other hand, is an entirely different piece of work, called "dead weight" and a "train wreck" by his superiors. Tomasetti has been sent in hopes that he will fail brilliantly and allow the BCI to get rid of him.
So there are all sorts of things swirling around in Sworn to Silence. The two main characters, Burkholder and Tomasetti, are the type of character that I enjoy reading about: strong, intelligent and flawed. It's how they work past their flaws that makes this book so strong.
The plot is well-paced, and I only had the vaguest inklings of the identity of the Slaughterhouse Killer. Castillo does reveal the killer's identity toward the end, which left me to wonder how long it would be before Burkholder figured it out. This device certainly ratcheted up the suspense.
The depiction of a small town in Amish country was well done, especially in the way that the Amish tried to keep themselves separate from the rest of the community in an attempt to handle situations according to their own beliefs.
The characters were vivid in my mind, especially the graveyard dispatcher, whose role models are Kate and Stephanie Plum. Since the book tends to be grim, humorous tidbits like this added a welcome touch of lightness.
Even the landscape played a part in the book. There can be something more than a little spooky about farm country in the winter:
" My speedometer hits eighty miles per hour on the highway, but I slow to a reasonable speed once I reach Thigpen Road because it's slick with snow. The Huffman place is down a short lane and surrounded by skeletal trees, like bony fingers holding the place together."
Strong story and strong characters mean that this is a series I will be visiting again and again.
Kate Burkholder was born and raised Amish in small Painters Mill, Ohio, but a traumatic event when she was fifteen made her turn her back on her
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upbringing and leave her home. Now she's back in Painters Mill as police chief, and although her people tend to pretend she isn't there, she's well thought of in the community, and she's hired good people to work with her. Her job is everything to her.But the nude, tortured body of a young woman throws Kate's life right back into the nightmare that occurred when she was fifteen. The murder has all the earmarks of the Slaughterhouse Killer who plied his horrible trade in the area sixteen years ago. Whispers begin to circulate, but Kate knows it has to be the work of a copycat. Why? She knows why the murderer stopped killing all those years ago. It's a secret that she has to try to keep while she's working this current case.
Convinced that she alone has the solution to the investigation, Kate is slow to ask for help from other law enforcement agencies, so the town politicians take matters into their own hands and set up a multi-jurisdictional task force with the county sheriff and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent, John Tomasetti, lending a hand. The sheriff is all sweetness and light around anyone in a position of greater authority, but his real agenda is to undermine Kate's credibility. Tomasetti, on the other hand, is an entirely different piece of work, called "dead weight" and a "train wreck" by his superiors. Tomasetti has been sent in hopes that he will fail brilliantly and allow the BCI to get rid of him.
So there are all sorts of things swirling around in Sworn to Silence. The two main characters, Burkholder and Tomasetti, are the type of character that I enjoy reading about: strong, intelligent and flawed. It's how they work past their flaws that makes this book so strong.
The plot is well-paced, and I only had the vaguest inklings of the identity of the Slaughterhouse Killer. Castillo does reveal the killer's identity toward the end, which left me to wonder how long it would be before Burkholder figured it out. This device certainly ratcheted up the suspense.
The depiction of a small town in Amish country was well done, especially in the way that the Amish tried to keep themselves separate from the rest of the community in an attempt to handle situations according to their own beliefs.
The characters were vivid in my mind, especially the graveyard dispatcher, whose role models are Kate and Stephanie Plum. Since the book tends to be grim, humorous tidbits like this added a welcome touch of lightness.
Even the landscape played a part in the book. There can be something more than a little spooky about farm country in the winter:
" My speedometer hits eighty miles per hour on the highway, but I slow to a reasonable speed once I reach Thigpen Road because it's slick with snow. The Huffman place is down a short lane and surrounded by skeletal trees, like bony fingers holding the place together."
Strong story and strong characters mean that this is a series I will be visiting again and again.
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LibraryThing member Macophile
This is definitely a scary book. I am not really into murder mysteries that are chock full of Blood and Gore, and from page one that is what this book is. It is fast moving and sweeps you up into the story- but it doesn't hesitate to give you full fledged descriptions of the murders and the results
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of the violence that take place in the book- from trying to dig up dead bodies to the description of the evisceration of a young girl. (this is why it only got 4 stars and not 5). It is fast paced, but it doesn't leave you feeling like you have missed out on any possible plot line, and most importantly it does keep you guessing all the way to the end. All of the characters are believable, and the main characters are, for the most part, likable. While it wasn't quite my cup of tea- if you like shows like Criminal Minds you will probably love this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member rainbowdarling
I'm not usually a fan of thrillers, but the local nature of the story and the plot summary intrigued me, which led to me requesting it from the Early Reviewers program.
I was disappointed to find that the whole book fell flat. The story starts well enough with several chapters introducing characters
The police portion of the story - or at least when the characters were acting like police personnel instead of regular people - felt forced. As if the things they were saying weren't entirely the norm, or perhaps as if the author was trying too hard to make it sound authentic. It didn't sit well.
As the story progressed, particularly when all the major characters were introduced, things became more and more obvious. I started to be able to predict what was going to happen, and even figured out more or less what would happen at the climax of the story about 150 pages into this over 300 page book. Then, within a few pages, the book is over. It's just over. There's no real resolution, and there's no winding down from what happened.
I was not overly impressed with the book. Some of the writing felt trite, and the rest was too predictable to enjoy, once the story really got going. For a novel labeled as a thriller, it certainly was lacking in thrills.
I was disappointed to find that the whole book fell flat. The story starts well enough with several chapters introducing characters
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from their own points of view. The reader is given tidbits of information which seemingly mean nothing, but because of their apparently insignificant nature tend to stick in the mind, as if it's obvious that this will be important for later. The police portion of the story - or at least when the characters were acting like police personnel instead of regular people - felt forced. As if the things they were saying weren't entirely the norm, or perhaps as if the author was trying too hard to make it sound authentic. It didn't sit well.
As the story progressed, particularly when all the major characters were introduced, things became more and more obvious. I started to be able to predict what was going to happen, and even figured out more or less what would happen at the climax of the story about 150 pages into this over 300 page book. Then, within a few pages, the book is over. It's just over. There's no real resolution, and there's no winding down from what happened.
I was not overly impressed with the book. Some of the writing felt trite, and the rest was too predictable to enjoy, once the story really got going. For a novel labeled as a thriller, it certainly was lacking in thrills.
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LibraryThing member schwager
Linda Castillo’s "Sworn to Silence" is a graphic thriller set among the peaceful Amish countryside of Ohio. While some elements of the book were predictable, the setting and character development made it a wonderful read.
The central character of police chief Kate Burkholder brings a unique
This is a good mystery and I look forward to joining Kate in Amish country again soon. Thank you Early Reviewers program - can't wait to pass this recommendation around the teachers' lounge.
The central character of police chief Kate Burkholder brings a unique
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perspective to the job having been raised among the Amish. The author handles the delicate balance of opposing cultures very well, and it proves to be the most fascinating aspect of this book.This is a good mystery and I look forward to joining Kate in Amish country again soon. Thank you Early Reviewers program - can't wait to pass this recommendation around the teachers' lounge.
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LibraryThing member hippolytus
Author Linda Castillo leaps from romantic suspense to hardcore mystery with the first in her Kate Burkholder series. "Sworn to Silence," a gritty and fabulously written novel, revolves around Painters Mill, a sleepy town in northeastern Ohio with a large Amish community. Police Chief Kate
The suspense is ruthless; once you begin reading, it's impossible to stop. Castillo's writing is reminiscent of early Patricia Cornwell: brutal, terrifying, and utterly compelling. Kate Burkholder is a welcome addition to the canon of strong female sleuths, and you will eagerly anticipate the next installment of her story. Linda Castillo is an author to watch.
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Burkholder, raised Amish but shunned when she declined to join their church at the age of eighteen, has returned to her hometown after making a life for herself as an officer in Columbus, haunted by the memory of a serial killer from her youth. Now once again ensconced in Painters Mill, Burkholder is horrified when the killer from her past returns to wreak more havoc. But is it the same killer, about whom she hides a shocking secret, or is a copycat taunting her, determined to make her his ultimate prize?The suspense is ruthless; once you begin reading, it's impossible to stop. Castillo's writing is reminiscent of early Patricia Cornwell: brutal, terrifying, and utterly compelling. Kate Burkholder is a welcome addition to the canon of strong female sleuths, and you will eagerly anticipate the next installment of her story. Linda Castillo is an author to watch.
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LibraryThing member readafew
Sworn to Silence was a pretty good book, the opening was fairly intense and makes you jump in with both feet. It starts as first person during the last 10 minutes of the most recent victim of a serial killer. You want him punished! The book keeps up a good pace and it never gets boring. There was
Chief Kate Burkholder has been the chief of police for the sleepy little town of Painters Creek, Ohio. She was raised Amish, but after a traumatic experience at 14, her views on life changed rather dramatically. Eventually she left her family and town (under the bann) to strike out on her own and by luck more than anything ended getting a criminal justice degree and becoming a police officer. Coming home for her mother's funeral, the local 'English' asked her to be the chief of police since the current chief just retired. After 2 years of successfully running the police department one of the officers finds a murdered woman in a cow pasture and it appears to be the work of the serial killer who terrorized the town 16 years earlier. Is it the same person? Where have they been for 16 years? Why are they back now?
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one place in the middle where 2 important people seemed to be bent on destroying themselves and their careers in almost teen aged angst, but it is short lived. I will say that there were a couple questions that kept coming up in my head as I read that just weren't answered until the last third of the book, but just asking the questions would be too much of a spoiler. I also was able to pick out the killer immediately after the killers profile was put together and then had to wait almost a hundred pages to have it confirmed.Chief Kate Burkholder has been the chief of police for the sleepy little town of Painters Creek, Ohio. She was raised Amish, but after a traumatic experience at 14, her views on life changed rather dramatically. Eventually she left her family and town (under the bann) to strike out on her own and by luck more than anything ended getting a criminal justice degree and becoming a police officer. Coming home for her mother's funeral, the local 'English' asked her to be the chief of police since the current chief just retired. After 2 years of successfully running the police department one of the officers finds a murdered woman in a cow pasture and it appears to be the work of the serial killer who terrorized the town 16 years earlier. Is it the same person? Where have they been for 16 years? Why are they back now?
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LibraryThing member InDreamsAwake
I would have given this book 3 stars, except for the fact that I read the last half of it in one sitting and when a book grabs me like that then I must give it due credit. The police thriller genre is a departure from what I usually read, so I assume it's not fair to critique the writing itself,
That aside, if you enjoy a good police thriller complete with twists and turns and a psychopathic serial killer, then Sworn to Silence delivers. If you do read a lot in this genre and tend win at Clue, then you'll figure out fairly quickly that it was Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick. But Castillo still does a great job at keeping the suspense going even after the killer is revealed. The character development was believable, especially that of the main character, Chief of Police and ex-Amish dweller, Kate Burkholder. She was a likable character (which is important if you're trying to create a series based on a character). The Amish angle lent for some compelling plot twists. Be warned, the crime scene descriptions were graphic, but not gratuitous because it definitely enhanced the suspense in the race to capture the monstrous killer.
I would recommend this book (unless you're a literati). I will be anticipating the next adventure of Kate Burkholder which is supposed to come out in Spring, just in time for beach read season.
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which would not be a 4 star. The points of view changed so much it gave me whip-lash, from 1st person to 3rd person, many times even within the same chapter. And the verb tense was all over the place as well, which was distracting.That aside, if you enjoy a good police thriller complete with twists and turns and a psychopathic serial killer, then Sworn to Silence delivers. If you do read a lot in this genre and tend win at Clue, then you'll figure out fairly quickly that it was Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick. But Castillo still does a great job at keeping the suspense going even after the killer is revealed. The character development was believable, especially that of the main character, Chief of Police and ex-Amish dweller, Kate Burkholder. She was a likable character (which is important if you're trying to create a series based on a character). The Amish angle lent for some compelling plot twists. Be warned, the crime scene descriptions were graphic, but not gratuitous because it definitely enhanced the suspense in the race to capture the monstrous killer.
I would recommend this book (unless you're a literati). I will be anticipating the next adventure of Kate Burkholder which is supposed to come out in Spring, just in time for beach read season.
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LibraryThing member Talbin
I received Sworn to Silence as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
In Linda Castillo's Sworn to Silence, Kate Burkholder - the formerly Amish, female police chief of rural Painters Mill, Ohio - generally deals with domestic disputes, drunk drivers, and the occasional cow on the road.
This was a taut, well-written thriller. Castillo does an excellent job of drawing the characters, and the setting comes alive. I thought that she handled the Amish-country aspects of the story quite well, giving the reader the impression that while the Amish have different customs than the English (the non-Amish), they are essentially like everyone else - good people trying their best. Although the mystery was somewhat easy to solve (there were only 2-3 real potential subjects, and by about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way through the book is was fairly clear who the bad guy would be), Castillo kept the suspense alive and kept the reader wonder how, specifically, it would all work out. One thing that I very much appreciated was that Castillo's text length was appropriate to the story. It seems as if the "thing" now is to write long, long books with detail that could have easily been edited out, but Castillo stayed away from that trap. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next Kate Burkholder mystery.
In Linda Castillo's Sworn to Silence, Kate Burkholder - the formerly Amish, female police chief of rural Painters Mill, Ohio - generally deals with domestic disputes, drunk drivers, and the occasional cow on the road.
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However, on a cold winter night one of her officers discovers a dead body in a field, and Kate must confront a serial killer who seems to have returned after a 16-year silence and a horrific secret from her own past. As more young women are found dead, Kate must deal with the city council's political pressure to bring in officers from other agencies, including Sheriff Nathan Detrick and John Tomasetti, a federal agent with a mysterious past.This was a taut, well-written thriller. Castillo does an excellent job of drawing the characters, and the setting comes alive. I thought that she handled the Amish-country aspects of the story quite well, giving the reader the impression that while the Amish have different customs than the English (the non-Amish), they are essentially like everyone else - good people trying their best. Although the mystery was somewhat easy to solve (there were only 2-3 real potential subjects, and by about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way through the book is was fairly clear who the bad guy would be), Castillo kept the suspense alive and kept the reader wonder how, specifically, it would all work out. One thing that I very much appreciated was that Castillo's text length was appropriate to the story. It seems as if the "thing" now is to write long, long books with detail that could have easily been edited out, but Castillo stayed away from that trap. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next Kate Burkholder mystery.
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LibraryThing member ijustgetbored
Strong first entry in a series, and I await further books eagerly. I like Kate Burkholder very much as a character; she's well-developed, and her personality comes through really well. She's a multilayered character with an interesting background. Her staff, particularly Glock, are also
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well-developed characters and form a strong supporting cast. The novel's premise-- has a serial character returned after a sixteen year lapse?-- is gripping and will keep you speeding from chapter to chapter. It's strong as a procedural, with multiple-agency troubles and conflicts keeping things shaken up. It's not for the weak-stomached; it's graphic, and the descriptions of the families in loss are bound to shake you up. It's a strong debut, and I look forward to more; I'm interested to see where Castillo takes the series after starting out with a serial killer in a small town scenario for her first novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bumpersmom
Received this as a Library Thing Early Reviewer and writing a review is such a small price to pay for the enjoyment I got from reading this author's debut thriller.
The reader is introduced to Kate Burkholder a young Chief of Police in a small Ohio town who is investigating the discovery of the
The author is brilliant in her telling. The characters are believable, the scenerios are realistic, you can almost feel the bitter cold weather as the story unfolds.
I look forward to reading more books by Linda Castillo, and especially more about Kate Burkholder and I recommend this to anyone who has a penchant for murder mysteries in series format. It should be interesting to learn more about the character's background and this town's social dynamic with the modern day English facing off against the traditional Amish community.
The reader is introduced to Kate Burkholder a young Chief of Police in a small Ohio town who is investigating the discovery of the
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discarded body of a brutally murdered young girl. The similarities of this crime appear to be almost identical to that of four young women killed 16 years eariler during the reign of terror of what had been labeled the Slaughterhouse Killer. Has he returned? After so many years, has this killer returned to once again bring paralyzing fear to this small community.The author is brilliant in her telling. The characters are believable, the scenerios are realistic, you can almost feel the bitter cold weather as the story unfolds.
I look forward to reading more books by Linda Castillo, and especially more about Kate Burkholder and I recommend this to anyone who has a penchant for murder mysteries in series format. It should be interesting to learn more about the character's background and this town's social dynamic with the modern day English facing off against the traditional Amish community.
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LibraryThing member Cherylk
Painters Mill, Ohio is a quiet Amish town. People come for the peace and quiet. That is exactly how Chief of Police Kate Burkholder likes it. Unfortunately the quietness is about to be shattered. Deputy T.J. Banks was out trying to corral one of the local farmer's cows when he sees a bloody trail
Sworn to Silence is the first book I have read by this author. This is a good read. Who knew that lurking in the quiet Amish town of Painters Mill lurked a sinister killer and the cop who is knows his idenity but refuses to speak, even if it means Kate could lose her job. I couldn't put this book down. Hopefully you will be just as suprised as I was by who the killer is. I recommend anyon who is looking for a new author to try our that you look no further than Linda Castillo.
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leading him to the naked body of a woman. Her throat has been slashed and she has some Roman numerals craved into her. The last time Kate saw a Roman numeral was sixteen years ago. At that time she had come face to face with one of the worse monsters' imaginable. She thought that nightmare was over but she was wrong. As the body count rises, Kate starts to feel the pressure to stop the killer once and for all. Agent John Tomasetti with the BCI has joined Kate to help solve the case. The only person not realyl thrilled with Agent Tomasetti's assistance is Kate. The only question that remains is...What is Kate hiding and why is she sworn to silence?Sworn to Silence is the first book I have read by this author. This is a good read. Who knew that lurking in the quiet Amish town of Painters Mill lurked a sinister killer and the cop who is knows his idenity but refuses to speak, even if it means Kate could lose her job. I couldn't put this book down. Hopefully you will be just as suprised as I was by who the killer is. I recommend anyon who is looking for a new author to try our that you look no further than Linda Castillo.
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LibraryThing member awssis
This is one of Linda Castillo's most suspenseful book I've read! The main character is a very complex woman that drives us to like her. Painter's Mill comes across as this sweet serene town until murder comes knocking, then it's Kate who has to try to solve them, and deal with her haunting past at
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the same time. A great read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cats57
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
16 years ago a serial murderer/rapist was killed by one of his victims...or was he?
In present day Painter's Mill Ohio; a community of approximately 6000 people and a third of them Amish, on one bitterly cold January night Officer T J Bank, while answering a call
Or do they? Is it possible that the first killer didn't die from his wounds? As the killer escalates, the Mayor and several of his cronies call in different law enforcement agencies, which for her own personal reasons Kate was praying wouldn't happen. Among the agencies called out, John Tomasetti, a has been cop, with a drinking and drug problem and his own ghosts from his past clinging like leeches and who is now with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation comes calling. And just to make Kate's life even more difficult she calls for and gets `help' in the form of a County Sheriff Nathan Detrick.
Secrets that had been kept for 16 years, betrayals of those secrets, families torn apart by secrets, injustices corrected, and justice meted out in the way of the vigilante are just some of the things you will find in Sworn to Silence.
Sworn to Silence is not Ms Castillo's first novel, she has written a number of romantic suspense novels for Berkley Sensation and I can state for a fact that this novel is nothing like what you'd find at that publisher! There is no sentimental triteness, no impossible trysts in between the action. There is just plane action, mystery, suspense (and a whole lot of that!) with a touch of police procedural thrown in.
If you love action suspense you are gong to love this book. It's sure to be a winner with mystery and police procedural fans too. I started and finished in the same day because I just couldn't put it down. I had to see if I could match wits with the author and sadly I found myself somewhat lacking because I never saw the ending come out of left field. Although in retrospect clues had been sprinkled about, albeit thinly!
A highly satisfying nail biting roller-coaster of a read. I can't wait to see more like this come from Ms Castillos pen.
If you like books like Night Sins and Guilty as Sin by Tami Hoag but with less romance, then you really must try this book. Night Sins/Guilty as Sin
16 years ago a serial murderer/rapist was killed by one of his victims...or was he?
In present day Painter's Mill Ohio; a community of approximately 6000 people and a third of them Amish, on one bitterly cold January night Officer T J Bank, while answering a call
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about cows that have escaped, finds a body of a young woman. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder ( formerly Amish now, not so much) sits in on the autopsy of this victim and finds the one piece of evidence to prove that they must have a copycat killer in their midst. Or do they? Is it possible that the first killer didn't die from his wounds? As the killer escalates, the Mayor and several of his cronies call in different law enforcement agencies, which for her own personal reasons Kate was praying wouldn't happen. Among the agencies called out, John Tomasetti, a has been cop, with a drinking and drug problem and his own ghosts from his past clinging like leeches and who is now with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation comes calling. And just to make Kate's life even more difficult she calls for and gets `help' in the form of a County Sheriff Nathan Detrick.
Secrets that had been kept for 16 years, betrayals of those secrets, families torn apart by secrets, injustices corrected, and justice meted out in the way of the vigilante are just some of the things you will find in Sworn to Silence.
Sworn to Silence is not Ms Castillo's first novel, she has written a number of romantic suspense novels for Berkley Sensation and I can state for a fact that this novel is nothing like what you'd find at that publisher! There is no sentimental triteness, no impossible trysts in between the action. There is just plane action, mystery, suspense (and a whole lot of that!) with a touch of police procedural thrown in.
If you love action suspense you are gong to love this book. It's sure to be a winner with mystery and police procedural fans too. I started and finished in the same day because I just couldn't put it down. I had to see if I could match wits with the author and sadly I found myself somewhat lacking because I never saw the ending come out of left field. Although in retrospect clues had been sprinkled about, albeit thinly!
A highly satisfying nail biting roller-coaster of a read. I can't wait to see more like this come from Ms Castillos pen.
If you like books like Night Sins and Guilty as Sin by Tami Hoag but with less romance, then you really must try this book. Night Sins/Guilty as Sin
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LibraryThing member julyso
T.J. Banks discovers the body of a woman out by a farm while out on a call, rounding up some stray cows. This murder is similar to four murders that took place 16 years ago in Painters Mill, Ohio. Soon more murders follow. Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, grew up Amish in this community, but at
I enjoyed the character of Kate Burkholder, a strong, independent woman who stays strong throughout the book. BCI agent John Tomasetti also joins the investigation and adds a little mystery and romance to the story. The mystery is well-paced and keeps you guessing throughout. I look forward to more books by Linda Castillo.
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age eighteen she left the faith because of dark secret she shares with her estranged family. She is now torn between solving these murders or exposing her own past. I enjoyed the character of Kate Burkholder, a strong, independent woman who stays strong throughout the book. BCI agent John Tomasetti also joins the investigation and adds a little mystery and romance to the story. The mystery is well-paced and keeps you guessing throughout. I look forward to more books by Linda Castillo.
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LibraryThing member SamSattler
With "Sworn to Silence," the first book in her new Kate Burkholder series, Linda Castilllo makes the big jump from romance novels to suspense thrillers, and she makes the transition look easy. Castillo’s Kate Burkholder, police chief in little Painters Mill, Ohio, is an unusual woman. Raised in
Once the target of a serial killer who claimed the lives of several of the town’s young women, Painters Mill has been a sleepy little community ever since the murders mysteriously stopped sixteen years earlier. Kate, with ties to both the communities she deals with everyday, and still fluent in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect the Amish prefer to speak to each other, proves to be a popular police chief and she is happy with her decision to return to Painters Mill.
Now, though, the town’s worst nightmares have become its new reality. Someone is kidnapping and killing young women in the area in what seems to be exactly the same way they were tortured and butchered sixteen years earlier. As the murders continue, and Kate does not seem eager to call in outside help, the town leaders lose confidence in her ability to protect them from the sadistic killer who is killing their daughters.
Kate knows that she needs help from experts but, for very personal reasons, she fears bringing in that kind of expertise. She knows who the killer is but cannot name him without exposing a dark secret of her own and betraying her family in the process. By directing the investigation in a certain direction, she hopes to catch the killer without having to expose her family’s secret.
"Sworn to Silence" is at times a brutal novel because Linda Castillo describes what happens to the killer’s victims in vivid terms, painting pictures that are hard to forget - crime scenes that have even hardened policemen struggling not to vomit. However, Castillo’s refusal to blink at the crime scene, in combination with her well crafted characters, makes the Kate Burkholder series one that I will look forward to reading for years to come.
"Sworn to Silence" is not a flawless novel. One of its main characters, Kate’s love interest, achieves an unbelievable turnaround in his personal habits when he is sent to Painters Mill to work on the case, and the book’s ending might seem a bit formulaic to those who consider themselves veteran readers of the genre. These, though, are minor distractions in a book filled with promise of better things to come.
Rated at: 4.0
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the Amish tradition, she is the only person in her immediate family to opt for life in the wider world upon reaching the age at which she could choose her own future. Surprising even herself, Kate chose a career in law enforcement that, several years later, made her the perfect choice to fill the role of police chief in her old hometown.Once the target of a serial killer who claimed the lives of several of the town’s young women, Painters Mill has been a sleepy little community ever since the murders mysteriously stopped sixteen years earlier. Kate, with ties to both the communities she deals with everyday, and still fluent in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect the Amish prefer to speak to each other, proves to be a popular police chief and she is happy with her decision to return to Painters Mill.
Now, though, the town’s worst nightmares have become its new reality. Someone is kidnapping and killing young women in the area in what seems to be exactly the same way they were tortured and butchered sixteen years earlier. As the murders continue, and Kate does not seem eager to call in outside help, the town leaders lose confidence in her ability to protect them from the sadistic killer who is killing their daughters.
Kate knows that she needs help from experts but, for very personal reasons, she fears bringing in that kind of expertise. She knows who the killer is but cannot name him without exposing a dark secret of her own and betraying her family in the process. By directing the investigation in a certain direction, she hopes to catch the killer without having to expose her family’s secret.
"Sworn to Silence" is at times a brutal novel because Linda Castillo describes what happens to the killer’s victims in vivid terms, painting pictures that are hard to forget - crime scenes that have even hardened policemen struggling not to vomit. However, Castillo’s refusal to blink at the crime scene, in combination with her well crafted characters, makes the Kate Burkholder series one that I will look forward to reading for years to come.
"Sworn to Silence" is not a flawless novel. One of its main characters, Kate’s love interest, achieves an unbelievable turnaround in his personal habits when he is sent to Painters Mill to work on the case, and the book’s ending might seem a bit formulaic to those who consider themselves veteran readers of the genre. These, though, are minor distractions in a book filled with promise of better things to come.
Rated at: 4.0
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Awards
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-06-04
Physical description
336 p.; 9.52 inches
ISBN
1615231072 / 9781615231072