An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo

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.

I had no clue where Linda Castillo was leading us and I went willingly. Wow. Kate Burkholder has a busy little town and I am so glad I do not live in it.

I was surprised by where the mystery led and I love when that happens. I will warn readers that this is a dark story with darker twists. Castillo writes about a number of issues that women and cops deal with in the world and still makes the mystery a nail-biter.

Sometimes it's hard to write a review about a mystery without giving anything away because I don't want to spoil any reveals, but this is another great turnout from Castillo and Burkholder. I love the supporting cast. I will give one little spoiler: we do get to see the Tomasetti and Burkholder happy ending it took 15 books to get to.

CW: description of several sexual assaults, including a gang rape; explicit description of autopsy process

The fifteenth book in the reliable Kate Burkholder series starts with the grisly murder of a young Amish man by crossbow. The killing appears to be planned and the target deliberate, but everyone tells formerly Amish Chief of Police Burkholder that Aden Karn was polite and charming. He was planning to marry his girlfriend soon, and although he was on rumspringa, he was going to be baptized into the faith when that phase ended. Kate's investigation reveals that there was more to the victim than the face he showed to the Amish, which opens up new potential perpetrators and motives.

The disturbing search for the killer contrasts sharply with the last few days of planning for Kate's wedding to her longtime boyfriend, John Tomasetti. The couple has forged a strong bond despite their respective troubled pasts. Will Kate close the case in time to get married without endangering her life?

The books in this series have a predictable pattern. Someone is murdered in Kate's jurisdiction, she enlists her small, loyal team of officers and dispatchers, and she interviews suspects or other persons of interest. Throughout the process she is uncomfortably reminded that, although she speaks German and knows many of the Painters Mill residents, she voluntarily left the fold many years ago, and is now viewed with mistrust. The case in An Evil Heart is one of the most horrifying to date, but the emotional core of the story is Kate's dawning realization that she does have a place in the Amish community, albeit not quite the one she envisioned as a young girl.

Let's hope that Kate and Tomasetti at least get to enjoy a brief honeymoon before the next murder is committed. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.