Down a Dark Road A Kate Burkholder Novel Linda Castillo 9781250121288 Books
Download As PDF : Down a Dark Road A Kate Burkholder Novel Linda Castillo 9781250121288 Books
**AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER (July 2017)**
In Down a Dark Road, the electrifying new thriller in Linda Castillo's New York Times bestselling series, a convicted murderer is on the run and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must catch him before he strikes again.
"Murder in Amish country has a certain added frisson, and Castillo’s the master of the genre.” ―People magazine
“Castillo weaves the particularities of the Amish mindset into a complex mystery that will leave you crying with pity or seething with rage.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Two years ago, Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a “fallen” Amish man and a known drug user with a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed for Painters Mill.
News of a murderer on the loose travels like wildfire, putting Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team of officers on edge. But this is personal for Kate. She grew up with Joseph King. As a thirteen year old Amish girl, she’d worshipped the ground he walked on. She never could have imagined the nightmare scenario that becomes reality when King shows up with a gun and takes his five children hostage at their Amish uncle’s farm. Armed and desperate, he has nothing left to lose.
Fearing for the safety of the children, Kate makes contact with King only to find herself trapped with a killer. Or is he? All King asks of her is to help him prove his innocence―and he releases her unharmed. Kate is skeptical, but when the facts and the evidence don’t align, she begins to wonder who she should trust. Spurned by some of her fellow cops, she embarks on her own investigation only to unearth an unspeakable secret―and someone who is willing to commit murder to keep it buried.
Down a Dark Road A Kate Burkholder Novel Linda Castillo 9781250121288 Books
FINAL DECISION: A strong mystery made important by the personal emotional journey of Kate makes this book compelling. The force of the book comes not only from the twisty mystery but also the strength of Kate's emotional involvement. Plus some sweet time with John.THE STORY: As this story begins, the series heroine Kate Burkholder is still the chief of police of her small town in Amish country. She receives notification that a man, Joseph King as escaped from prison. An Amish man convicted of murdering his wife, police believe there is possibility he will come for his five children who are living in Kate's jurisdiction. Kate knows Joseph King. He was her first crush when the two were children but they haven't seen one another since Kate was fourteen. When she is ambushed by King, who has taken his children hostage, she hears a tale of a man who claims he did not murder his wife but was framed. At first, Kate doesn't believe anything King says until things begin to seem strange in the supposedly straightforward story.
OPINION: This book proves what I believe about this series -- the best stories are ones where Kate is personally connected and invested in the outcome. While the mystery is good on any level, her personal connection, the struggles the investigation causes for her are what kept me reading this book.
This case tests Kate on both a personal and a professional level. Kate has so little space for innocence in her life that the corruption of one of her sweet childhood memories challenges her. Her adult cop skepticism and her belief in her childhood friend clash dramatically as she struggles to reconcile what she knows the truth is and what her intuition tells her. The complication here is that her police intuition keeps taking her in different directions.
The fascinating thing here is that this book is also a journey of innocence, loss of innocence and holding on to something pure in the past. Although the lives of all those children have become more complicated, more nuanced and less pure and innocent, something of those people still remains in the adults they have become.
I don't want to discuss any of the particulars of the mystery since that is the central part of the story, but I really enjoyed the interaction between Kate and the Amish community here as she navigates her investigation. This book relies less on the Amish customs as a hook in the story. Indeed, this book is of the Amish community without being about the community. The story could have taken place anywhere with anyone.
There is a common theme of the dark underbelly of what appears innocent and good. This series often uses this in terms of the Amish community. The same appears here, but there is another twist that I really enjoyed.
This series continues to be a compelling read for me and I highly recommend it for those who love mystery with some romance on the side.
WORTH MENTIONING: Although this book isn't classified as a romance, I'm still compelled by the romance between Kate and BCI State agent John Tomasetti continues to pull me in although there is little drama between them and thus less "screen time".
CONNECTED BOOKS: DOWN A DARK ROAD is the ninth book in the Kate Burkholder series. This is a self-contained mystery novel but, of course, there are recurring characters and relationships secondary to the mystery. This book can be read as a standalone although it is better to be immersed in the overarching personal story as well.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
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Down a Dark Road A Kate Burkholder Novel Linda Castillo 9781250121288 Books Reviews
I've enjoyed every book in the Kate Burkholder series so far.
I noticed a (very) few comments saying "Down a Dark Road" was too predictable, the same premise as previous works, etc.. Personally, based on what I've seen or read both on the news or read in novels; murder, mystery and suspense are, unfortunately, bottomless pit genres in both fiction and real life. If there WERE limits to the base category, we'd never have had a reason to form our own city's police forces let alone consider state or federal bureaus of investigation.
Consider the TV show, "Criminal Minds" and what we've learned about "un-subs" in the world of fiction. Also, "Law and Order" and its many spin-offs, "C.S.I., [name that city], etc." All were (or are) pretty predictable but look how long they were (and still are), on the air in both original formats and reruns. And many of us probably sit and watch them all, over and over.
I happen to feel comfortable with a familiarity of characters and settings. It allows me to try to figure out who, what, why, and so on, without trying to remember new background details about the settings every single time. And, while I can certainly understand how some people might find them predictable; to me, that makes them no less enjoyable to read.
So, I'll be watching and waiting for Ms. Castillo's next Kate Burkholder novel. She hasn't let me down yet and I seriously doubt she will because, regardless of the category, there are still many sub-plots, conclusions and stones left unturned.
"It's the lingering sense of injustice that grates on my cop's sensibilities."
-- Sheriff Kate Burkholder, Down A Dark Road
Once again, suspense and murder strikes Painters Mill, Ohio. And this reader couldn't be more excited! I fell in love with this series from the first book. Now it's one of my very favorites. No need to worry if you haven't read the previous books in this extraordinary series. The author eases you into the story with enough background so that you'll never feel lost or unable to follow the storyline. Each book easily stands on its own.
Kate’s a bit of a mystery herself. Growing up Amish, she left that lifestyle at eighteen venturing into city life. Returning to her hometown years later, she’s now the town’s Chief of Police. In the 9th installment of the Kate Burkholder Series, Kate takes another step back into her past as a young girl growing up in the Amish countryside. Although raised Amish, Sheriff Burkholder is now largely shunned by both family and former friends in the Amish community. As she struggles to separate her past from the present, more layers of Kate’s life are unraveled, and readers gain a bit more understanding of the complex character she represents.
Joseph King lived next door to Kate growing up, and he was both a playmate and her first real crush on a boy. When his father was killed in an accident, Joseph’s life and personality took a turn for the worse. After Joseph was tried and convicted of murdering his wife, Naomi, he was sent to prison for life two years ago, and their children returned to Painters Mill to live with Naomi’s sister, Rebecca and her husband, Daniel Beachy.
Flash forward to present day and that same boy is now a man on the run – a prison escapee. He claims he’s innocent of the charge, and takes Kate and his five children hostage pleading with her at gunpoint to help prove his innocence. Kate begins to question whether Joseph might be telling her the truth. She agrees to help him by taking another look at the case. But before Kate has a chance to even begin her search for answers, Joseph is tragically shot and killed by a police sniper in front of his five children.
Unlike others in their community, Kate is inclined to believe the little girl’s story about a strange man who was in their house that night and killed her momma and who almost killed Sadie, too. Sadie King, now 5-years old and smart as a whip, found her mother who had been shot and killed, and tried to tell the policeman that she saw a man who wasn’t her daddy. Because of her age, she was deemed too young to be a credible witness. Because of Joseph’s run-ins with the police on various domestic violence calls, driving his horse-drawn buggy drunk with no lights, and some small drug charges, probably didn’t help his case any either, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Naomi.
When a picture surfaces of what looks like Joseph kissing Kate on the night he abducted her and the children, it causes a media storm and Kate ends up on administrative duty. The crime seems so different from her childhood memories of Joseph, and her instincts are telling her something just doesn’t feel right about the initial investigation. So, she proceeds with her own search for answers – which causes friction and danger between herself, the community and law enforcement. Plus, it also uncovers things about Joseph's past and also provides evidence that may solve a crime.
John Tomasetti, Kate’s lover and an Agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, believes in Kate and lends his support as she throws herself into another difficult case – this one carrying personal ties. These two have an undeniable attraction, and I am so ready for Castillo to delve deeper into their relationship and put a fire under their commitment to each other. Their romance throughout the series has been slow going. There are several romantic encounters between the two here – but mostly this is Kate’s story – one blending her past and present. It’s filled with a compelling walk “Down A Dark Road” where Kate revisits memories and a secret she's held tightly from her childhood.
Castillo is a master at finely crafting a terrific mystery with multiple twists and turns in a compelling atmosphere. Her characters aren’t flat or one-dimensional bores, but well-fleshed out and believably drawn, making you feel as if they are old friends that you’ll enjoy cheering for each step of the way. The bad guys are some of the best I've ever had the pleasure of detesting.
Again, Castillo proves it with this heartbreaking and riveting murder/mystery that has a sadly engaging plot with devastating consequences. Mixing the possibilities of an innocent man being convicted of murder, a prison break with an ensuing hostage situation, and a case of corruption keeps the pace moving at a steady clip. Meticulous in her writing of police procedures and case details, along with the interwoven attitudes and customs of the Amish and English living side by side, she elevates the interest and frisson of excitement.
So, was Joseph King framed for a murder he did not commit, or was he guilty as charged? I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy of this book and find out the answer to that question.
FINAL DECISION A strong mystery made important by the personal emotional journey of Kate makes this book compelling. The force of the book comes not only from the twisty mystery but also the strength of Kate's emotional involvement. Plus some sweet time with John.
THE STORY As this story begins, the series heroine Kate Burkholder is still the chief of police of her small town in Amish country. She receives notification that a man, Joseph King as escaped from prison. An Amish man convicted of murdering his wife, police believe there is possibility he will come for his five children who are living in Kate's jurisdiction. Kate knows Joseph King. He was her first crush when the two were children but they haven't seen one another since Kate was fourteen. When she is ambushed by King, who has taken his children hostage, she hears a tale of a man who claims he did not murder his wife but was framed. At first, Kate doesn't believe anything King says until things begin to seem strange in the supposedly straightforward story.
OPINION This book proves what I believe about this series -- the best stories are ones where Kate is personally connected and invested in the outcome. While the mystery is good on any level, her personal connection, the struggles the investigation causes for her are what kept me reading this book.
This case tests Kate on both a personal and a professional level. Kate has so little space for innocence in her life that the corruption of one of her sweet childhood memories challenges her. Her adult cop skepticism and her belief in her childhood friend clash dramatically as she struggles to reconcile what she knows the truth is and what her intuition tells her. The complication here is that her police intuition keeps taking her in different directions.
The fascinating thing here is that this book is also a journey of innocence, loss of innocence and holding on to something pure in the past. Although the lives of all those children have become more complicated, more nuanced and less pure and innocent, something of those people still remains in the adults they have become.
I don't want to discuss any of the particulars of the mystery since that is the central part of the story, but I really enjoyed the interaction between Kate and the Amish community here as she navigates her investigation. This book relies less on the Amish customs as a hook in the story. Indeed, this book is of the Amish community without being about the community. The story could have taken place anywhere with anyone.
There is a common theme of the dark underbelly of what appears innocent and good. This series often uses this in terms of the Amish community. The same appears here, but there is another twist that I really enjoyed.
This series continues to be a compelling read for me and I highly recommend it for those who love mystery with some romance on the side.
WORTH MENTIONING Although this book isn't classified as a romance, I'm still compelled by the romance between Kate and BCI State agent John Tomasetti continues to pull me in although there is little drama between them and thus less "screen time".
CONNECTED BOOKS DOWN A DARK ROAD is the ninth book in the Kate Burkholder series. This is a self-contained mystery novel but, of course, there are recurring characters and relationships secondary to the mystery. This book can be read as a standalone although it is better to be immersed in the overarching personal story as well.
STAR RATING I give this book 4.5 stars.
NOTE I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
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