The Burning

Kate Burkholder Book 16

Linda Castillo

Minotaur Books

The Burning by Linda Castillo once again is a wonderful read.  She seems to have outdone herself with a horrific crime and putting her main character through the wringer.

Unfortunately, this year Linda Castillo is unable to give an interview because a close family member is seriously ill, and she needs to be at home for them.  But last year in an interview she noted about this story, “Regarding the murder I want to keep things fresh.  I have readers peek back into the reformation by burning someone at the stake, and another person drowned.  This is what was done to the Anabaptists during the reformation.”

The plot begins with newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder awakened by an urgent midnight call summoning her to a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives at the scene, she discovers a charred body. According to the coroner, the deceased, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. As with most of her books, many of the victims are not well liked.  In this case, Swanz loved to argue with people, had a temper, kept grudges, sought revenge, demanded obedience and submission from his family, and was basically devoid of a moral compass.  

To uncover the truth about the death of Milan Swanz, Kate dives deep into the Anabaptist culture, finding all the dark corners of its history. She uncovers a secret legacy that verges on Amish vigilantism.  Because of her due diligence she becomes a target, realizing that violence and ruthlessness are being used to rid the world of those who “are not fundamentally good.”

As the story unfolds, her brother Jacob, known to have argued with Milan, becomes a suspect in the killing of Swanz and is arrested. Because it is now a conflict of interest, she is ordered off the case but decides to work the case behind the scenes with her husband, John Tomasetti, an Ohio BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) investigator, to prove her brother’s innocence. She knows she must continue to investigate because one of the law enforcement officers, working for the Ohio BCI, assigned to the case, has tunnel vision and only sees her brother as the suspect. Working together, Tomasetti and Kate must find the killer to clear her reputation and her brother. In the story she is attacked three times, sometimes brutally, making readers wonder if she should take some self-defense classes.

It is very interesting how Castillo explores Kate and Jacob’s relationship. He is her older brother, someone who she has looked up to as a child. She knows him well and realizes he is not forth coming with the answers to her questions. Although she sees him as honorable, she also recognizes he is keeping secrets.

There are also glimpses in the book about the relationship between Tomasetti and Kate.  They dance around the subject of starting a family.  A powerful book quote, “the part of me has always wanted children.  The idea terrifies the part of me that is a cop and knows too much about the dark side of a world that can be cruel.”

Linda commented last year, ““I loved writing this book.  Kate is still adjusting to being married and does feel the tick of her biological clock regarding having children. This is something that a lot of women have in the back of their mind, how long can I wait before I have a baby? This is where she is right now.  I think for the next several books she will only be married. Remember Tomasetti had his first wife murdered. He is cool with her being a cop and police chief.  In fact, he nicknamed her ‘Chief.’ But how much will he put up with if she is endangered or gets hurt?  This will come to a head at some point.  But in The Burning book, it is simmering in the background. If she does have a child, does she want to risk her children being without a mother.  This is a huge question. This is a high-risk profession.  Kate and Tomasetti must figure it out. It is something that will be addressed starting with The Burning book.”

Per usual this story is a winner with many twists and turns. Kate takes a dark and twisted journey with evil and danger lurking everywhere, putting both her life and career in jeopardy.  A bonus is how Castillo explore Kate’s personal life and feelings.

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