In this 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series, the Police Chief investigates the murder and dismemberment of an Amish man. The novel provides enough background information to be read as a standalone.
*****Police Chief Kate Burkholder grew up in an Amish community in Painter's Mill, Ohio but left as a teenager.
After Kate became a law enforcement officer, Painter's Mill offered her a job and she returned to head the police department. Kate's Amish background is advantageous because she speaks Pennsylvania Dutch and is familiar with Amish culture.
Kate is now married to John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The couple's dual law enforcement careers are advantageous, because, when it's appropriate, Tomasetti can provide support for Kate's investigations.
When the dismembered body of 21-year-old Amish landscaper Samuel Yutzy is found on a secluded road, Chief Kate Burkholder hurries to the scene. Puzzled by the bizarre murder, and looking for a motive, Kate talks to Samuel's parents, Orlah and Leona Yutzy.
The Amish are VERY diffident about speaking to outsiders, but Samuel's parents tell Kate that their son was on rumspringa (a period of freedom for Amish youth) and "Like a lot of Amish boys, got to going out and running around like them English youngsters do. Drinking and whatnot."
The Yutzys also say Samuel brought a girl named Cass to dinner - a troublemaker with a painted-up face, tattoos, and woman parts hanging out all over the place, who smoked by the barn. A girl who looked English but sounded Amish. Orlah and Leona Yutzy would be even more shocked to know Cass is a dancer in a gentleman's club.
Kate learns that two of Samuel's best friends are Aaron Shetler, who works at the tire center of a farm store; and Joseph Stoltzfoos - who has a small farm. Kate can't find Aaron at work or at home, and when she locates Joseph, he says he hasn't seen Samuel in months. Joseph says, 'I didn't like the road he was going down. Sammy was partying a lot. Drinking. Smoking dope. Picking up women. Taking them home.'
On top of his other concerns, Samuel was having trouble with a club owner called Carter Brooks. Brooks was suing Samuel, and Brooks' letter of intent to sue states: "I hired Samuel Yutzy, owner of Yutzy's Tree Nursery, to landscape my home at 1923 Marigold Road. I paid $10,569 for a hedge, six shade trees, two ornamental trees and a pavestone walkway....After the job was finished a storm came through and water flooded my basement. An engineer told me landscaper Yutzy did not install a drain as he should have.' Brooks is suing for over $15,000, a huge sum for the Amish youth.
When Kate interviews Brooks, the club owner admits "I think Samuel was an honest guy. I'd have settled for less than the fifteen. It was sort of an ask-for-a lot-get-a little strategy."
All this gives Kate and her team a lot to investigate, and things escalate further when a body is found in a barrel at the bottom of a ravine, and another body is found in the woods. All the deceased are Amish, and Kate comes to suspect drug dealing or some other criminal activity.
Much of the novel is a police procedural where Kate, her deputies, and Tomasetti investigate the multiple killings. As usual, Kate blithely strides into dangerous situations without backup, and gets beat up and almost killed (twice). I've mentioned in previous reviews that this trope is getting old, but I've come to accept it will happen in every book. 😕
It turns out the murders have serious implications for rural Ohio, where urban crime seems to have reared its ugly head.
I always enjoy Kate Burkholder mysteries, but I do have a couple of cavils about this novel.
First, the reason for dismembering Samuel and placing another body in a barrel is not clear. The deceased could just have been left where they were killed. After all, it's not like the murders wouldn't be discovered otherwise in this close Amish community. (It's not Los Angeles after all.)
Second, the story takes place at the height of summer, and Kate CONSTANTLY describes her discomfort: "I was sweating profusely beneath my uniform"; "Despite the sweat dripping down my back, I motion toward the leg that Glock discovered"; "I'm standing outside the crime scene tape, sweating like a sieve beneath my Tyvek suit"; "I'm sweating profusely as I slip the second pair of gloves over the first"; and much more. I can empathize, but the perspiration talk seems to be overdone.
On the upside, Castillo's Amish mysteries are always off-the-beaten-track and engaging. In addition, it's nice to get a glimpse of Kate and Tomasetti at home in their farmhouse, where they enjoy private time, have meals and drinks, and discuss the case. In this book, Tomasetti finds a cat, a Manx, who's now a member of the household - and who might help with the mouse population in the barn.
The book will appeal to readers who like Amish mysteries, especially Kate Burkholder fans.
Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Castillo, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book
Rating: 3.5 stars
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