An Evil Heart Review

Author: Linda Castillo

Series: Kate Burkholder #15

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Audio by MacMillan Audio

Narrators: Kathleen McInerney

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Purchase Link: Amazon

5 Bloody Hearts

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio for the audiobook arc.

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.

Review:

AN EVIL HEART is book #15 in Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, and it's another riveting thriller in the series!  When Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to a murder scene along a highway, she's shocked at the brutality and cruelty of the kill.  The victim Aden Karn is a young Amish man with a stellar reputation and a promising future.  No one has an unkind word to say about him.  His death by crossbow shocks the community and confounds the investigators. But as Kate digs deeper, what she discovers is quite different from what's she's been told as it appears there are some dark, ugly secrets being covered up.  With her wedding to Tomasetti only days away, Kate vows to solve this case before saying I Do.  Will she make it to the church on time?

The character of Kate Burkholder is unique in that she grew up as a member of the Amish Community only to eventually turn away from the lifestyle.  However having lived the life, she has the ability to move freely among the people with an understanding of their customs in a way other policemen can't, and she uses this to her advantage to solve some graphic, gruesome and emotionally disturbing crimes.  Castillo's writing is sharp and well-structured, and she has the ability to pull readers into the scenes alongside the characters while challenging them to solve the crime.  As in previous books, AN EVIL HEART is a heart pounding story with graphic death scenes with several red herrings thrown in to keep the investigators and readers on their toes.  The pace is quick and the tone dire.  While all books in this series stand alone, the character development is huge and for this reason I highly recommend reading the books in order.

Narrator Kathleen McInerney does a fantastic job rendering AN EVIL HEART with the perfect tone and pacing to keep readers listening. I highly recommend the audiobook version if you're a fan of audiobooks.  Highly recommended to fans of this series and fans of great psychological thrillers.

Synopsis:

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.