The Hidden One

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo is the fourteenth novel in the Kate Burkholder series. It can be read as a standalone as the author provides Kate’s background information for new readers. You will be missing out though if you do not read this series from the beginning. Kate travels from Painter’s Mill, Ohio to Belleville, Pennsylvania where elders from an Amish community paid her a visit. Kate’s first love, Jonas Bowman has been arrested for murder. Ananias Stoltzfus, the bishop of the community, disappeared eighteen years ago. His remains were found two months ago in a farmer’s field along with a gun. The gun belongs to Jonas. Jonas and Ananias had been at odds at the time of the bishop’s disappearance. Kate travels to show more Pennsylvania to see if she can prove Jonas’ innocence. I thought The Hidden One was well-written with realistic, developed characters. I like that we get to learn more about Kate’s past. I did miss Painter’s Mill and Kate’s significant other, John Tomasetti. I like how the author portrays the Amish people. We see them as they are (not sugarcoated). There are explanations for the way they live and how they do things. The mystery was intriguing (I love solving the mystery before the reveal) and well-plotted. It is a cold case which makes it more of a challenge. I liked all the action in the story. Someone did not want Kate to find out the truth. You can tell that they do not know Kate (she is tenacious). There are clues to help readers solve the crime (if you pay close attention). People were judging Jonas for his past actions and not the man he is now. There was one piece of the puzzle that gave me the answer to this clever mystery. I enjoyed the suspenseful reveal. The books ending was sweet. I enjoyed reading The Hidden One. This is one of my favorite books in the series. I am looking forward to Kate’s next adventure. The Hidden One is a revealing suspense novel with a confusing cold case, an old love in jail, a beau’s birthday, meaningful memories, perilous incidents, and one curious Kate. show less

Nothing says summer like the newest Kate Burkholder novel and a murder in Amish Country. Except this murder takes place in rural Pennsylvania, not Painters Mill Ohio, where Kate is Chief of Police. And the prime suspect, Jonas Bowman, is someone who Kate knew very well when she was a teenager, rebellious and traumatized by a recent rape but still part of the community.

As a favor to the church elders, Kate travels to Pennsylvania to look into the case. She has no authority there, so she has to piece together the clues without the local police department's help. In the midst of chasing suspects and putting her life in danger (honestly, she is injured more times than in any previous book in this series), Kate also has time to reflect on show more her previous relationship with Jonas. Is she trying to prove him innocent because of their history, or are there bigger and darker issues that the local police have missed?

I appreciated the different setting for this book, as it made things more challenging for Kate, although I missed Glock, Mona, and the rest of the Painter's Mill crew. There are also very few scenes with Kate's fiancé Tomacetti, but he is in Kate's thoughts frequently even when she is far away from him. The flashback scenes to Kate and Jonas' relationship help flesh out a character who, 14 books in, is still complicated and compelling. show less

When her childhood friend and first love is arrested for murder, Kate travels into Pennsylvania to look into the crime. Eighteen years earlier, the 86-year-old Amish bishop disappeared. Now his bones have been discovered in a field carved out of the surrounding woods. Jonas Bowman's old muzzleloader was found next to the body.

When Jonas identified the gun as his, he was arrested for the murder of Ananias Stoltzfus. The church leadership don't believe that Jonas killed Stoltzfus and want Kate to look into the case. It helps that Kate was once Amish, so she has a better understanding of the mindsets of the people involved. They are hoping that her being a Chief of Police will give her an in with local law enforcement.

Kate agrees to help, show more especially since she has unresolved issues about Jonas. When she arrives, she discovers that the police aren't interested in cooperating with her and that many of the Amish are very reluctant to say anything negative about their old bishop.

But someone doesn't want Kate asking questions. She's attacked in her hotel room and her car is run off the road. Unfortunately for the criminal, Kate is a stubborn person who takes the attacks as proof that there are secrets to be discovered.

I enjoyed the setting. I also like Kate who is a complicated woman who is finally getting a handle on what she wants for her life. The information about the Amish was interesting. While I didn't figure out who the killer was, I had a pretty good idea of what some of the other secrets were.

This was an engaging and tension-filled thriller. Fans of the series will enjoy this new episode. New readers will likely be curious about this engaging main character and enjoy the mystery. show less

Book 14 in the Kate Burkholder Series, but can be read as a stand-alone. This time Kate is taken from her small community in Ohio to Pennsylvania to help an old friend accused of murder in a cold case. Kate has no problem sticking her nose in, even though she is out of her jurisdiction. I enjoy the Dutch phrases, followed with the English meaning. The Amish are simple folk, but there are a lot of layers we aren’t aware of. I missed her usual cast of characters, but look forward to see what the next books holds for Kate. We learn more of Kate’s past in this book.

Thanks to Ms. Castillo, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC opinion is mine alone.

The Hidden Ones by Linda Castillo is a 2022 Minotaur publication.

Kate travels to Pennsylvania to try and help Jonas Bowman, and old Amish friend, with whom she has a complicated history. Jonas is accused of murdering an Amish bishop whose remains have been found after he disappeared eighteen years ago. The evidence against Jonas is solid, but Kate can’t believe the man she knows would murder anyone and desperately wants to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The more she digs the more information that comes to light, the more nervous some people in the Amish community become, going to far as to send Kate a strong warning that her involvement is not welcome…

This installment is pivotal to the series, in my opinion. We get a glimpse of show more Kate as a teenager as she works through some past issues that will have an impact on her future. These memories she shares with readers are emotionally intense, and is as crucial to the story as the mystery is.

The mystery, while one can certainly try to guess whodunit and why, remains elusive, slowly unwinding with some unexpected surprises that certainly caught me off guard. I liked the change of location, which is nice every now and I enjoyed the way Kate handled her role as an outsider on all fronts.

I was, as always, mesmerized by the plot, and the atmosphere, which always has a dark quality to it. If you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed with this installment!

Once again, I’m reminded of why eagerly anticipate every new chapter in this series- I just wish we didn’t have to wait so long in between installments!

4.5 stars show less

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

It’s been eighteen years since Amish Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus vanished. Now the discovery of skeletal remains may finally solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Who would have shot the bishop . . . twice . . . and left him in a shallow grave?

When Jonas Bowman admits that the muzzleloader found buried with the man belongs to him, he’s arrested and charged with murder.

The Amish elders of Belleville, Pennsylvania seek out Police Chief Kate Burkholder and ask for her help. When they identify the man charged with the crime, Kate instantly realizes they have a connection. When she was growing up, Jonas’s father, Ezra, was the minister of the church in Painters Mill. Jason was her first love.

Kate show more agrees to help, but she finds the police reluctant to talk to her about the case. Nevertheless, Kate asks questions and seeks information, finding that the town remains deeply divided concerning Jonas and the murder of the bishop.

When an attacker threatens Kate, she realizes that someone doesn’t want her to ask questions. Despite the threat, she refuses to quit.

There’s a killer in Kishacoquillas Valley, one determined to keep the past concealed. Will Kate find the truth or will the bishop’s secrets remain hidden?

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Although this book is the fourteenth in the Kate Burkholder series, it works well as a standalone with sufficient backstory for readers new to the series. As is true with other series, however, the revelations and the character development that occurs as the series progresses make a strong case for reading the earlier books.

The story, told from Kate’s point of view, stays mostly in the present. However, at times the story looks back at Kate’s interactions with Jonas. This backstory is sure to intrigue readers of the series as well as it highlights some of Kate’s own growing-up story in the Amish community. Since the bulk of the story takes place outside Painters Mill, several of the usual characters are absent and Tomasetti makes only brief appearances.

Pulling readers into the telling of the tale from the outset, the intriguing plot keeps the suspense building as the unfolding story twists in unpredictable directions. As the past and present come together, readers are sure to find themselves trying to identify the murderer.

With well-developed characters and a strong sense of place, readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before reaching the stunning denouement that is sure to be a surprise.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#TheHiddenOne #NetGalley show less

In all of my years of reading, I have never been even the tiniest bit tempted to skip to the end to see who-dun-it and why. However, with this book, I was sorely tempted, and it took a lot of effort to stay the course!

I have loved this author since the very first book, but this particular book was the most fascinating one of Ms.Castillo's that I have read, yet It was filled with twists, turns, action, mystery, and a ton of suspense.

If I try to explain just what this book is about, I just might give away a crucial spoiler so I won't even try. I'll just say that Kate has been called to help an old friend who has been accused of murder. She is out of her jurisdiction and can't use many of her recourses to help herself find out what show more happened. But she perseveres and, of course, solves everything But this is not a simple murder. Oh no, this is so much more.

I'm amazed at how the author came up with this idea, and I wish there would be a novella that would explain just how things would turn out for everyone involved.

I highly recommend this book, and no, you do not really need to read any of the other books in this series to get into this book. show less