If Linda Castillo has ever had a weak Kate Burkholder novel, Fallen isn’t it. From the first time Burkholder, police chief in Painters Mill, Ohio, sees the victim’s body, this case strikes a little too close to home.
Like Kate, Rachael Schwartz left the Amish community. Rachael hasn’t been part of her Amish family for twelve years. She thinks she’s returned to Painters Mill to make things right after she hurt so many people. The person who beats her to death in her motel room feels differently.
Kate recognizes the victim. She was younger than Kate, and Kate babysat for her a few times. Rachael was hard to handle, even as a child. As she became a teenager, she grew even wilder, even encouraging her best friend, Loretta, a quiet, well-behaved Amish girl, to attend a raver. By the time she left the community at seventeen, she had been shunned and excommunicated. And, from everything Kate uncovers, Rachael hasn’t changed her lifestyle. She lives above her means, seems to have money, and dates multiple men at the same time. Rachael still lived for excitement.
No matter how much Kate admired the spark of life in Rachael, the woman is now dead. With such a violent murder, and a victim who no longer lived in Painters Mill, Burkholder’s investigation covers part of northeastern Ohio. She works with her significant other, John Tomasetti, an agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigaton. She needs the resources they can provide, the assistance of the local sheriff’s department, and twenty-four hour support from her own small police force.
Rachael Schwartz’ death haunts Kate in the week it takes to find answers. As an outsider herself, when she was once a member of the local Amish community, she can empathize with Rachael. While Kate internalizes Rachael’s murder, and can’t sleep, it’s as Police Chief Burkholder that she owes a duty to the victim. She never forgets the victim in her cases. “This is about Rachael Schwartz, the family that mourns her, the community that will bear the scar of her death, and the bastard who killed her.”
Linda Castillo is so skilled in writing Kate Burkholder’s story that new readers can easily find their place, and those who follow the series will not feel as if we have to read an entire replay of Kate’s past before plunging into a new suspenseful story. I’m always eager to return to Painters Mill, where Kate has built a family for herself with the ragtag members of her police team and Tomasetti. Kate Burkholder recognizes that she’s not perfect. She’s a flawed lead. In this case, with Kate’s connection to the victim, Fallen is one of the strongest books in Castillo’s series.
Linda Castillo’s website is https://lindacastillo.com/
Fallen by Linda Castillo. Minotaur Books, 2021. ISBN 9781250142924 (hardcover), 311p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Excellent. This is on my hold list. They are always a one day fast read for me.
They’re a fast read for me, too, Jeff. And, mine was a library copy, so I had to wait as well.
Sounds good.
it’s very good, Carolee.
Lesa, so good to hear your experience reading the latest in this series. It is one of my very favorites and I’ve read all the books. I listened to a recent podcast with Linda Castillo and Barbara Peters and learned that Linda has moved not too far from where we have moved in the Texas Hill Country. Not too many independent bookstores out here, but you never know. Maybe I’ll get to see her at some point.
I haven’t been around much for a while as we’ve been in the midst of our relocation thing (and still are), but I always love hearing about what you’ve been reading. I’m thinking of going to Left Coast next spring. Are you thinking of attending? I did sign up for ‘More Than Malice’ and am making my way through all the panels and conversations that made up that event last week.
I so agree, Kay! Really is one of the best. I’ve never met Linda Castillo, either, although I watched the live event from The Poisoned Pen.
Yes! I’m already signed up for Left Coast in Albuquerque. If it happens, I’m going.
Since you’ve relocated, you won’t be involved in the reading group at your library anymore. Seriously, how will they cope without you?
I hope you love your new location! Sending hugs, and hope to see you at Left Coast!
Great that you’re already signed up for Left Coast. We’ll see how it goes with me. OK, the mystery book group…well, it was tough to take the step away. We’re not going to be full-time in Kerrville, but mostly. It was the right time for me to retire from the group. I think they are going to be OK. Several members have stepped up to help with things. One will kind of take over the moderating and overseeing the meetings. She was the one who would fill in when I’d be out of town or whatever. I talked to the library staff to see if there were any who would like to help out. That was funny. Most didn’t even realize that I was a library employee when the group started and that I just continued after I left the library employ. Anyway, there will be help with selecting books and scheduling the room, etc. And I’m planning on staying on their email list and also trying to read some of the selections and send my thoughts. We had several members who had moved away and still ‘read’ with us and sent reviews, etc. The biggest challenge was going back to face-to-face meetings as we had been virtual for over a year. They will have their first meeting in August and I expect to get full reports as to how things went. Ha! I suspect they will do fine. Kind of felt like a mother bird setting her chick free to ‘fly’ – LOL!
I’m already in contact with the local library and will submit my application to volunteer and also will be talking with their ‘friends’ group on how I can help out there. I’ll likely write a blog post about how that goes after I see where they need help. They do have two book groups, but not a mystery group. Wonder if…..?
Well, of course. Why not a mystery group, Kay?
Thank you. I feel as if I just caught up with you about the group, the library, etc.
Enjoy your new home library and community!
My current read. Got this at my local library early this afternoon and am halfway. So very good.
But….. I do think if one leaves Painters Mill on negative terms with the locals, it is best to stay gone. Once again we have somebody who was difficult to deal with, left for awhile, and comes back, and soon dead. Stay gone and live longer.
You should be safe not going back. Unless you go to Cabot Cove and get murdered and Angela frames someone else to keep her serial killer streak of getting away with murder unblemished.
I think you’re right, Kevin. Except for Kate. She did okay coming back. At least she hasn’t gone to Cabot Cove to try to solve a crime. She’d be dead.
Indeed. Just finished it. Heck of a read.
Great! Glad to hear you think that, too!