Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "Gone Missing: A Police Chief Kate Burkholder Mystery" by Linda Castillo

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Review of "Gone Missing: A Police Chief Kate Burkholder Mystery" by Linda Castillo

In this 4th book in the 'Kate Burkholder' series, the police chief of Painter's Mill, Ohio assists the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) in their search for missing Amish girls. The book can be read as a standalone but familiarity with the series is a plus.

*****

Police Chief Kate Burkholder was raised Amish and speaks Pennsylvania Dutch, so she can help interview Amish people - who normally eschew interaction with 'the English.'

The book opens with a dramatic scene in which an Amish girl - distraught about long-term sexual abuse by her brother - commits suicide by jumping into an ice fishing hole on a frozen lake.

Leap ahead and Agent John Tomasetti of the BCI (who happens to be Kate's boyfriend) asks her to help investigate when two Amish teenagers - from different Ohio towns- are reported missing.

Information from a national database reveals that these incidents may be related to other local missing persons cases. Two Amish girls vanished in the past - 12 months ago and four years ago - and an Amish boy disappeared nine years ago. What's going on with these teens? Could they be runaways? Suicides? Abductees? Snatched by aliens? (Just kidding) 😊

When Kate and Tomasetti question the parents and friends of the missing youngsters, they learn that the teens had been taking advantage of Rumspringa - a time when Amish adolescents are allowed extra freedom - to act out.

Thus the kids may have been doing things like: hanging out with 'Englisher' friends; drinking; smoking; fighting; having sex; getting pregnant; and so on. This is all very 'un-Amish' behavior that goes against the Ordnung (set of rules).

While looking for the missing persons, Kate and Tomasetti consider various suspects and come across a photographer who uses a telephoto lens to snap inappropriate photos of unsuspecting Amish youngsters - at least one of whom has vanished.

Other possible suspects include an Amish girl's secret boyfriend and a jealous 'English' girl who made threats.

Eventually Kate makes a momentous discovery that helps solve the case.....and endangers her life. The book has a dramatic and bloody climax that's suspenseful and exciting.

Some readers will probably have suspicions about possible motives for the crimes, but the 'big picture' will elude even the most astute armchair sleuth.

The novel has an undercurrent of angst between Kate and Tomasetti who - though they care for each other - have a lot of baggage from their pasts. This is worrisome for Kate, who's on the cusp of getting REALLY serious with her sexy beau. So we'll have to see what happens there.

This is a solid, entertaining thriller that I'd recommend to mystery lovers, especially 'Kate Burkholder' fans.

Rating: 3.5 stars

4 comments:

JacquiDecember 20, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Looks pretty good, Barb.
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Carla Loves to ReadDecember 20, 2017 at 8:37 PM
I haven't read this one yet Barb. It sounds like a good one. Nice review.
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Barb's Book Reviews

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Review of "Gone Missing: A Police Chief Kate Burkholder Mystery" by Linda Castillo

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