Sworn to Silence (Kate Burkholder Series #1)

Should Not Be Listed Under "Christian Fiction Amish"

Linda Castillo is an excellent writer - her plot and characters are excellent. This book should not be listed un "Christian Fiction Amish"

Having an Amish theme does not make the book Christian. Ms Castillo's used of curse and swear words through out the book, and her rather vivid description of sexual scenes - do not read like any truly Christian literature I've ever read.

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

An enthralling police procedural

Painters Mill, Ohio is a quiet serene small-town until a serial killer begins carving Roman numbers into each victim's abdomen. The case is identical to what drove the current Police Chief Kate Burkholder from her Amish background as a teen; four people died sixteen years ago in an identical ritual.

Kate knows why the homicides abruptly ended back then and that the current copy cat killer cannot be the same psychopath. Meanwhile the politicians are nervous that they will be punished by the public for being soft on crime due to the lack of progress by the cops as more victims die. They set up a multi-jurisdictional task force to allegedly assist Kate, but consisting of mostly sycophant moles who report to the politicos and not the chief; she in turn finds them a nuisance examining her every move rather than that of the killer.

Although there are enough serial killers in literature to wipe out Ohio, readers will enjoy SWORN TO SILENCE; a strong police procedural refreshed by the Amish connection that enables the audience to compare how the two prime groups react to the murders then and now. Kate is a wonderful protagonist struggling emotionally with déjà vu homicides, politicians who ironically some object to Darwinism yet are the classic example of survival, and walking the thin blood line between her Amish childhood and her English job. Fans will enjoy Linda Castillo's brisk take on how two distinct groups behave with a deadly predator in their midst.

Harriet Klausner

6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Serial killer in Amish Country? Interesting!

Whew! What a storyline! Chief of Police, Katie Burkholder in Painters Mill, Amish country; who would have guessed? Sworn to Silence is chock full of chills, suspense and flawed, interesting characters! I love a strong female lead and a wonderful beginning that won't let me put the book down!! Suspense with a dash of romance...PERFECT! Compelling! Intense! Gripping page-turner! Fast-paced! Loved it!!!! I'm buying Linda Castillo's next one, for sure!!! ...

A couple of other wonderful, thrilling books I'd like to offer readers are EXPLOSION IN PARIS, by Pirrung...EXPLOSION IN PARIS ..and THE NEIGHBOR, by Lisa Gardner.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Stunned by the positive reviews.....

While the mystery was unique because it was set in Amish country, the plot was so-so, the writing pedestrian...maybe she should stick with writing romance novels.

4 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

Sworn to Silence

Sworn to Silence was a fun book to listen to on Audio Book. For one thing, there was no way I could skip ahead to the end to find out whodunit. The narrator did a great job of keeping with the "edge of your seat" writing. Speaking of which, Linda Castillo did a FABULOUS job.

Sworn to Silence is a twisted story with horrific murders set in the heart of Amish country. The writing is superb. The characters are realistic and enjoyable. The story is one that will give you nightmares. Exactly what I have come to love about mystery novels. If you are a fan of Karin Slaughter, you will enjoy this book. It is not a story I would recommend to the squeamish, but if you can handle it, you will love it! I promise!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

To Be Sworn To Silence...

When I had seen this book offered on Library Thing Early Reviewers I was very interested in the book. I didn't win the book but a fellow LTER finished with it and offered it to others. I am thrilled to have requested the book and to have had the privilege of reading Sworn To Silence.

The main character of Sworn to Silence is Kate Burkholder who grew up Amish and decided to leave the Amish way of life. She is now the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, Ohio, her former hometown. She has a secret that makes Sworn to Silence a thriller.

The plot of Sworn to Silence is that a serial murdered is back after sixteen years. After the first body is discovered questions arise as to, why such a long hiatus between these murders? Does Kate know who the murderer is?

You will be trying to figure out who the murderer is and if Kate really is hiding the identity of the murderer. You are in for a jolt of surprises and mutilation in the murders. If you can handle reading about torture and sex crimes then grab yourself a copy of Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo.

I was utterly thrilled by this book and look forward to reading more books by Linda Castillo.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't put it down!!

This was the 2nd book I have read from Linda Castillo. I read Pray For Silence first. I thought they were both really good reads. If you like a good mystery...then this is a goodie. Warning...pretty graphic details!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

ENJOYED!

A good Amish mystery that turned out to be a heart-pounding suspense. ENJOYED!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

GREAT READ!!!

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is the best book I've read in a long time. It kept me in suspence and my chest tight at times. The ending was thrilling and unexpected. I found myself trying to guess throughout the entire book of who the killer was and I was confused until the end. I definitely recommend this book as a GREAT thriller!!!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awesome

Kate was Amish. She still lives in her mostly Amish community, but she is no longer a part of the religion. She is a police chief.
A serial killer is back. Kate is holding back a secret that may blow the case open. Will she open up old wounds that could bring her family and the Amish community into a bad situation? Will she cover for them and herself and let the killing continue?
Because of politics, she is fired. Was it just politics? Several people are hiding key facts. Kate keeps working on the case, though she is fired. This is about to get her killed.
Who killed these girls?
I love the Amish/Mennonite genre. I believe that Castillo has single-handedly created a new sub-genre-Amish suspense. This is brilliant. However, this is not a feel-good Amish book. There is suspense, some gore, and foul language. This is a page-turner that must be added to the top of your reading list.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great exciting story!

What a great read! I am excited for this book to come out so I can talk about it with my friends. It is a trilling book. Also the main character has quite a past. One that some may not be familiar with. The author blends the storyline and characters so well that I found it hard to put down. Something original that I really enjoyed! Thank you and Bravo!! I hate to give too much away so I try to keep the infomation and plot very brief so too much is not given away. So if you are like me/ please stop reading. The police chief is a lady who has grown up in this small town. Her family has not been involved in her life for religious reasons. She is an excellent cop but with a few personal problems. Suddenly a murder happenens in this small docile town and then another and the past is going to haunt everyone again. Is it the same serial murderer? And why would he come back??? Hope you enjoy!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!

Refreshing read. Kept me up late at night. Sorry it had to end. Now what am I going to read?!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!!!

This is the first Linda Castillo book I have read, and it will not be the last! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a mystery with a twist.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Unique Story, Good Thriller

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will look for more in this series. The novel was well-paced and kept your interest by having multiple story lines going on--finding out and catching the serial killer, delving into Kate's family issues, John's personal issues, etc. I also liked how the author interwove both first- and third-person narratives to tell the story. My only complaint was that I would have liked to get more into the mind of the killer. Except for the "profile" that John provided, we didn't get to learn anything about the killer's mindset and how or if his impending divorce had anything to do with his wife putting two and two together.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

VERY DISAPPOINTED

This book is written in the first person. I wish the reviews would state when this is the case.. I dont enjoy books in the first person. I was very disappointed with this. I was able to make it to page 6 then had to put it down

1 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Looking forward to the next book!

I've read many of Linda Castillo's books, but this one is my very favorite so far!

In Sworn to Silence, Linda Castillo creates a strong, vivid characters within a suspenseful, heart-thumping thrill-ride of a story.

Kate Burkholder,the lead protagonist, is refreshingly unique and possesses a depth that makes a reader want to know more about her, and why she abandoned the Amish life, yet came home to serve and protect the community she left behind. Kate's counterpart, John Tomasetti, fighting demons of his own, is more than a match for her, with an intriguing multi-layered character of his own that magnetizes our attention to the page. Each struggles to come to terms with their past, while focusing on a very real evil haunting Painters Mill.

If those two weren't enough, Sworn to Silence boasts a community of players that add rich texture and flavor to the novel.

I look forward to reading more about Kate and Tomasetti, and more intrigue in Painters Mill.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Thriller That Will Keep You Reading

Just when you think you have has your fill of serial killer novels this one steps out as something different and well crafted and will catch your attention in a couple chapters
The characters are intriguing and you will find they are as easy to read about as the thriller of a story of murders in an Amish community.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great story!

Love this author!

Great Book - It is hard to put down! Fast Read.

This is the first in a sequential series of three books; you will surely end up with all three books. You will never guess the outcome!

Could not put it down!

Read it straight through! GREAT read!!!