Fallen: A Novel of Suspense

Linda Castillo

Jul 2021 · Kate Burkholder Book 13 · Sold by Minotaur Books

About this ebook

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

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

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

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

Ratings and reviews

Fallen by Linda Castillo starts off with a bang courtesy of a horrific, bloody murder. Even seasoned Police Chief Kate Burkholder has a hard time with the crime scene at the local motel. The victim turns out to be Rachael Schwartz whom Kate babysat as a child. Rachael left the community and became Englisch when she was seventeen. Rachael is the type of person who did not pull any punches. She pulled pranks, got into mischief, and managed to annoy most of the people she encountered. Rachael still did not deserve to die in that manner. Kate with help from John Tomasetti sets out to find Rachael’s killer. The characters in this series are complex, developed, and realistic. I especially enjoy Kate and John’s relationship. They are cute together and John understands Kate. I like the mix of Englisch and Amish. The mystery was well-done. It was well-plotted and a delight to solve. I enjoyed following Kate as she followed the clues, questioned suspects, and consulted with Tomasetti. There are subtle clues that can aid readers in identifying the guilty party. I did find the amount of violence (this one was a little extreme) and foul language to be a turn off (not enough to stop reading though). Fallen is the 13th A Kate Burkholder Novel. For those who are new to this series, Fallen can be read as a standalone. Personally, I have found it beneficial to read the series in order. Fallen is a complex whodunit with a motel murder, a rowdy rulebreaker, disappointed parents, severe violence, a cruel killer, and a committed chief of police.

I have to state from the beginning that I have read all of the Kate Burkholder series and these books are favorites of mine. That being said, I also need to state that this is the most graphically violent one that I have read. When a former Amish young woman returns to Painter’s Mill, she is brutally murdered on her first night in town. Chief Burkholder has to investigate and find the killer, with numerous possible suspects since Rachael Schwartz was not a rule follower herself. The usual team of deputies is there to assist her, along with a new dispatcher whom I enjoyed getting to know. Kate’s longtime love interest, FBI agent John Tomasetti, was also involved in the investigation. I did miss the romance between the two of them; it was present but not a real focus on this book. Most of the book was about Kate trying to discover why Rachael was in town and what got her killed in such an horrific way. The book was written with a sense of empathy for the grieving parents as well as a fast pace because of the necessity to find the killer quickly. I always enjoy the characterization employed by this author as she gives me a glimpse into the Amish way of life as well as that of those like Kate who have left that belief system behind. Although this is the thirteenth book in the series, it can certainly be read as a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but was somewhat dismayed and surprised at the description of the murder and the crime scene afterwards. It was very disturbing, but it also lent itself to reasons for haste in solving the murder. The time frame is dual, from the past when Rachael was growing up to the present when she returns to town and is killed. This was very well done and flowed seamlessly between the two, keeping me captivated throughout. This book was what I would describe as hard core violence, with an edginess about it that I had not noticed in the previous books. I look forward to reading the next one to see if it continues this trend or if it goes back to the light Amish mystery that I had become accustomed to. Fans of Castillo will not want to miss this latest one because of the insight into the characters and the wonderful way that the author handles balancing life between two different lifestyles. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This series just gets better every time. Kate Buckholder is called to the scene of a horrendous murder scene. This one hits a little to close to home. Kate has grown so much as a character since the series started and every adventure is exciting, fresh and edge of your seat awesome. “I figured you wouldn’t be able to go long without hearing the sound of my voice.” manage a pretty decent rendition of a laugh. But Tomasetti’s an astute man—or maybe I’m not as good at my seasoned-cop equanimity as I think, because he asks, “What’s wrong?” I love Tomasetti so much and he is Kates perfect match.

About the author

Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and an appearance on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel. In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next book.