Rage by Linda Castillo

 Rage

Book Summary

In this gripping installment of the Edgar Award winning series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a brutal double murder that takes her into the dark underbelly of society and exposes the dangers of Amish lives gone wrong.

Summer has arrived with a vengeance in Painters Mill, and a macabre discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet to a grinding halt. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Yutzy, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. What twisted individual murdered him in such a sadistic way?

The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is found, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Yutzy’s best friend. What could these two young Amish men have been involved in that led to such violent ends?

With a heat wave bearing down, Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory characters—individuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market.

To solve the case, Kate must delve into the most sordid corners of her community, but when she gets too close, the killers target Kate herself. Will the secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?

My Thoughts

Rage by Linda Castillo takes us back to Painter’s Mill, Ohio where Kate Burkholder has an appalling murder case on her hands.  Rage is the seventeenth A Kate Burkholder Novel.  While Rage can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order.  It will allow you to get to know Kate and her backstory.  I thought Rage was well-written with developed characters.  The story has action, mystery, police procedures, suspense, and more.  Kate and her team along with John Tomasetti (Kate’s husband and an agent with BCI), Sheriff Rasmussen, and other law enforcement officers are working to unravel this case.  I could not believe the violence (it was described in detail).  

Kate finds herself in danger more than once (proving what a strong and courageous woman she is).  The mystery is complex with twists, turns, and shocking secrets.  I like the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti (they are perfect for each other).  The author’s descriptive writing transported me to Painter’s Mill where it was hot (I would not want to wear one of those Tyvek suits in that heat).  I found myself staying up late to finish the book (and my mother still yells at me to close my book and go to sleep). In addition to the violence, the story also contains foul language.  Rage is a twisty story with gripping suspense, gritty tableaus, police procedures, astonished Amish, a resilient leader, a supportive spouse, amazing action, and an exciting conclusion.

Rage is available from Amazon* as well as othe rmajor booksellers.  You can find the other A Kate Burkholder Novels here.  If you follow Linda Castillo on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, July 15 with Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs.  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

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