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 PhireAngel | Aug 13, 2009 | 
This is the first in a series and I look forward to reading more from this author. It was very interesting to read about the Amish and the thriller kept me guessing until the very end. Linda Castillo is now on my list of authors to read! (  ) sschleicher | Dec 22, 2009 | I really enjoyed this book and it was an easy read. We all have secrets of some kind...and this story makes you think about what people may be hiding. I love reading about the Amish lifestyle and feel not enough people really know about their lives. The author kept my interest with twists and turns in the plot. The book was well written and recommend this book to everyone to read! (  ) Allie64 | Dec 20, 2009 | If you're into well-written thrillers that take their time to paint vivid characters and settings, then you'll enjoy Sworn to Silence. Castillo draws the main character, Kate Burkholder out inch by inch, coloring in her Amish background in tiny, meticulous strokes, but she manages to do this while keeping the story moving and tension mounting. In my experience, these types of thrillers are hard to come by, so if you enjoy them, then definitely give this one a read! ( ) bookgal123 | Dec 4, 2009 | I could not get past the first 5 pages of purple prose. Overwrought and adding nothing, the graphic pain of the murder victim coupled with the sentimental longing for "Mother!" were annoying and made me just quit the whole exercise. Sorry. :( (  ) alluvia | Dec 2, 2009 | I really enjoyed this thriller. The Amish characters certainly added interest to an already suspenseful story. I look forward to reading more books in the future by this author. ( ) itbgc | Nov 9, 2009 | Suspenseful plot. Interesting main character. This is a fast-paced read. Graphic as well -- not for the faint-at-heart! shainamaydel | Nov 9, 2009 | Sworn to Silence was the first book I've read by Linda Castillo, but will definitely not be the last. The story was great, with plenty of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. Some ares got extremely graphic, but it worked well in the story. I would highlt recommend this book. codiebelle78 | Nov 3, 2009 | Suspenseful plot, interesting main character, fast-paced read. A formerly-Amish police chief faces the return of a serial killer or a copycat. The case threatens to reveal a secret from her past. Contains very graphic violence and some profanity. (  ) bookappeal | Nov 1, 2009 | This was actually pretty good. A simple thriller with serial killer and a cop with a secret in her past. What really made this interesting to me was that the setting was Amish country Ohio, no more than about 10 minutes from where I live. While the main town was fictional, the surrounding areas mentioned were real and I could relate to them. You often don't find the Amish in this type of fiction so that was a different twist. As a thriller, this wasn't too bad. The twist, while not completely expected wasn't too far fetched and was in the back of my head, yet I didn't think it was real likely of an outcome, yet it was so that nice. I would recommend this to others and look forward to her Linda's future novels. ( ) harpua | Oct 25, 2009 | Kate Burkholder is the chief of police in a small Amish town in Ohio. Kate grew up Amish but left the order after a crime changed her life. Now as an adult, a brutal serial killer is on the loose and Kate needs to stop him. I really liked this book. It was riveting. Kate is one of those characters you can't help but like. The crimes in this book were very brutal and graphic. I'm not sure I needed that much gore but it did get the point across. You wanted the killer caught and quick! Very suspenseful! ( ) bookaholicmom | Oct 25, 2009 | The novel revolves around Kate Burkholder, chief of police in a town called Painters Mill, a small town with a prominent Amish population. Kate’s family is all Amish, and in fact she was Amish herself until her late teens, when she survived an encounter with the Slaughterhouse Killer, which made her realize that she no longer believed in the Amish values and way of life she grew up with. When the book begins, Kate is called to a crime scene – a young woman’s mutilated body was dumped by the side of the road, and upon further investigation the murderer is looking like it could very well be the Slaughterhouse Killer. Kate has to not only solve the crime, but also possibly expose a terrifying family secret that she’s been hiding for years. I was actually pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed Sworn to Silence. I was swept away by the mystery from the very beginning, and I could have easily read the book in one or two sittings – I really didn’t want to put it down. I also felt drawn to Kate Burkholder, and I believed her as a character. I think she’s really someone readers can relate to; she is tough and soft all at once and super intelligent but makes mistakes just like anyone else. The romance that unfolded in the novel was very enjoyable to me – it was a cute side story that I truly didn’t see coming and really added to the believability of the novel. I truly liked this novel and I’m very glad I read it, even though Sworn to Silence isn’t my typical fare. I’ve heard that the book is going to be a series starring Kate Burkholder, and I really hope that’s true because I’ll definitely read more from Linda Castillo in the future. ( ) Heatherlee1229 | Oct 22, 2009 | In Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo, Kate Burkholder, raised as Amish but who left the fold as a teenager, is the chief of police in her hometown of Painters Mill, a town known to tourists for their Amish residents. When a murder is committed with the same MO as murders committed 16 years earlier, Kate has a secret that she doesn't want to come out and takes actions to keep this secret which ultimately leads the town council to bring in outside forces to help with the investigation. The author does a good job of creating suspense and developing the characters although they are a little cliche. Overall, the book was a quick read and you wanted to know who the killer really was. (  ) su_library_student | Oct 20, 2009 | I really enjoyed this book. I had a few problems with the book, but they didn't take away from the overall enjoyment and overall impression. First, this seemed something new to me. While it was a thriller, and a suspenseful one with a little romance kicked in, it wasn't the same 'ole thing. I don't know if that's because of the Amish angle, or the fact that the Cheif of Police is a woman. Either way, I liked that it was a little different and that I wasn't able to solve the crime from the first half of the book. In fact, I didn't have it figured out until the very end! I had suspicions and suspects, but I wasn't sure! The crimes commited in this story are violent. This isn't something to read without knowing that up front. While I didn't feel that they were overly gorey, I'm not sure that I could watch a movie depicting what happened here. Castillo did a wonderful job of setting the scenes without making this hard to read. I'll give her big props for that. I think she has a real talent for writing. She also made the characters real. Kate and John were well developed and I enjoyed following them through this book. I also found myself really fond of Kate's favorite deputy, Glock. He wasn't overly described, which was okay since he wasn't a main character. But, I still found him intersting and liked his parts in the book. This review doesn't say much. I know that. I feel like anything that I really want to say would spoil it for someone who hasn't read it. I had actually read a few not so hot reviews of it and found that they caused me to put off reading it. However, I should remember that certain books aren't for everyone. I really liked it and think that it would make an excellent read for a book club. There are several aspects that I'd love to discuss with others, so if anyone hears of a club discussing this, let me know! ( ) kysmom02 | Oct 15, 2009 | Linda Castillo's has a strong grasp on crime fiction. Her characters are fun, tormented, exploited, and damaged, but endearing and insightful too. The Ohio Amish setting of *Sworn to Silence* for this Dayton, Oh resident is refreshing. Sworn to Silence is strong, mediocre hard-boiled crime fiction that moves with simple, sloped, exponential eloquence. Kate Burkholder's character captured my attention and held it throughout the novel. Tomasetti, though broken and splintered, remained an oak among pine. I have to say that my curiosity is piqued and I am looking forward to the next novel! ( ) thesecretllama | Oct 15, 2009 | This appears to be the first in a planned series of mysteries "starring" Kate Burkholder, chief of police in tiny Painters Mill, Ohio. Kate grew up in Painters Mill and left at the age of 18, to return some ten years later. The catch is that she was raised in the Amish community of Painters Mill and left when she chose not to remain in the Amish faith. As a result, she is under the bann, a sanctioned shunning thought to be redemptive and helpful in bringing a person back into the fold. It has not had that effect with Kate. In Sworn to Silence, the brutalized body of a naked woman is found in a snowy field. Characteristics of the crime suggest it might be the work of a serial killer responsible for four deaths in the town when Kate was a teenager, killings interwoven with events that she would prefer not to remember and not to have known now. There's a good dose of small town politics, law enforcement department politics, and relationship politics in here. There's also a well-researched peek into the Amish community. It's a good escape read, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. JeanLN | Oct 13, 2009 | Painters Mills, Ohio is a small rural town where the Amish and the "English" have lived side by side for over two hundred years. But sixteen years ago, a serial killer was on the loose and left victims in his wake shattering this peaceful community. Their innocence was lost and only one victim survived the Slaughterhouse Killer.A fourteen-year-old girl named Katie Burkholder escaped with her life but she would never be the same. When she was old enough she left the Amish community and eventually started a career in law enforcement. When Painters Mills needed a new chief of police she was asked to fill the position. With her unique perspective of the Amish and the English she understands both worlds. She was happy to return and has fit in comfortably for the last two years, until a body of a young woman was discovered in a snowy field. All the painful memories and dark secrets have flooded back and she is now unsure of what exactly happened that horrible night. Katie vows to stop this killer even if she must betray her family to do so. The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover. The image of the empty cornfield in the middle of the winter sets the perfect tone for this murder mystery. The action starts with the very first page as a crime is committed and the first body is found. The story is told from Kate's perspective and the author does an impressive job of tapping into her emotions. The characters are flawed but appealing and I was interested in knowing them. The plot is fast paced with twists and turns that intensify until the end. I will definitely be looking for the rest of this series after finishing the debut. Highly recommended. Thank you to LibraryThing's Early Reviewers for a copy of this book. ( ) Wrighty | Oct 12, 2009 | Interesting read. This story centers in Amish country, a typically quiet life that is being disturbed (again) by murders. Descriptive, slightly graphic at times. It is a page turner that you will have trouble putting down. ( ) quadmama | Oct 12, 2009 | I received this book as an early review a few months ago and I am sorry I waited so long to read it. I have never heard of Linda Castillo, but I guarantee I will be looking for more of her books, especially those in the continuing saga of Kate Burkholder. This book was an incredible read, difficult to put down, always leaving you with wanting more. The major characters are easy to root for despite their troubled pasts. Other reviews have provided more details about the characters, plot and settings. I will only reiterate that this is a great detective thriller. ( ) sundance41 | Oct 8, 2009 | I am a fan of Linda Castillo so when I saw this book in the Early Reviewers list I immediately made my request. I have read all of her romantic suspense and a few of her Harlequins and Silhouettes and have greatly enjoyed all of them. She has a gritty fast paced style that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Sworn to Silence is a mystery/thriller - a genre I rarely read - and I was enthralled from the first page. The setting is rural Ohio, part of Amish country, in the dead of winter. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of police and a fascinating character. She is tough and smart with a tragic background. The story revolves around some gruesome murders in this farming community and was gripping and fast paced from beginning to end. Castillo has a gift of description (from characters to crime scenes) that was so realistic but never boring. The plot pacing was excellent. My only complaint was that the gruesome murders were a bit much for me and I had to skim some of that. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the next book in the series. ( ) reneebooks | Oct 8, 2009 | I absolutely loved this book! Coming from someone who grew up in a small rural Ohio town, now lives in Columbus and has visited some of the towns in Amish country mentioned in the book I felt like I could have been following a news story in the Columbus Dispatch. This novel will suck you in from page one with it's thrilling plots twists and endearing characters. Castillo paints a realistic picture of small town life with heroines and heroes that are just as flawed as the rest of us which is what I believe makes this book so intriguing. ( ) medmiston | Oct 7, 2009 | Liked it! Fast pased page turner about a Police Chief in an Amish community in Ohio that appears to have a slew of serial murders (like the ones that she thought she was almost of victim of 15 years earlier). ( ) coolmama | Oct 7, 2009 | Set in Amish Country in Ohio, this book tells the story of how the police chief knows something about these murders from previous years. Now, more murders are happening and the twisting plot begins... TheJunkDrawer | Oct 2, 2009 | This book has got to be one of the best that I have read. I hope that there are others out there that Linda Castillo has written. It was written so eloquently and it wasn't a super fast read but the pace was set just perfectly. So much goes on in this book that you are never bored or left wondering why. I would have to recommend this book to anyone who isn't squeemish about murder mysteries and their details because it is a great book. I found myself relating to so much in the book about the location and everything that I was really into it and found myself wondering if it was a true story. It was definately a page turner and definately a thriller and I cannot wait to read another book by this author. Thanks for the chance to read your work of art. ( ) ablaze5 | Sep 28, 2009 | This was one of the most nail biting books i have read in a long time.It keeps you page turning from page one until finish.It has some very interesting characters and story lines that will keep you guessing who done it until the very end.Linda Castillo definately has the knack for keeping your attention thru the whole book.I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a thriller or good mystery and cannot wait to read her next book. ( ) booboo433333 | Sep 24, 2009 | Sworn to Silence is a Library Thing Early Reviewers book that I just got around to reading. And I cannot fathom why I waited. Well, other than the fact that I'm buried in books right now, that is. Anyway. If you're a fan of mystery/thrillers, you'll want to pick this one up. It's chock-full of characters you root for, crimes that'll make you shudder, and the ever-present wish that they find the killer before they find another body. What else do you want? =) (  ) drey | Sep 22, 2009 | |
Popular covers    LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumnSworn to Silence by Linda Castillo was made available through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Sign up to possibly get pre-publication copies of books. |
Kate Burkholder has returned to her childhood hometown as the chief of police, bringing a history of growing up Amish and larger city police experience. When a serial killer returns and begins to escalate after an absence of sixteen years, Burkholder is caught between attempting to do her job and trying to deal with her own past. For, we learn, she believes she killed the Slaughterhouse Killer as a young woman, an act that caused her to leave the Amish community and become an outsider to her immediate family. Now, with a burnt out former rogue state officer sent to help out, she has to juggle local politicians, other law enforcement departments, and the unknown of whether the killer is back or if she has a new problem to deal with.
Castillo does an admirable job of setting up a town with believable politics, history and personality. I particularly liked the night dispatcher, whose obsession with current crime scene television shows is treated with a gentle humor and teasing of readers who are similarly interested. Her scenic descriptions are distinct enough to give a clear image, though she makes the ones involving the victims sparse enough to keep the stomach from churning. She provides interesting insight into the Amish community and their behavior towards Kate, showing believe instances where love for family takes precendence over cultural rules.
Tomasetti, the rogue cop in state agency sent to help, was stereotypical--rugged, good looking, has a tragic background. They never send the happily married average looking guy. And of course there was the seeming obligatory romantic angle. I was a little disappointed that two people had to fall into bed together. Yes, traumatic situation and all sparking romance and celebration of life, but it didn't add anything for me.
Overall, it was well done. I probably should have figured out the killer a little earlier, but I didn't mind that I hadn't. And it was nice to see more realistic time lines (something will take 2-3 days to get, etc). Thrillers aren't a genre I read often, but I recommend Sworn to Silence for someone who likes to watch Bones, CSI, Criminal, etc.
And it's apparently going to be part of a series, about which I feel ambivalent.
Cross posted to my blog: Hedgehog Librarian