I have never written a book review before. I always felt my opinion was too subjective. But I figured, I read them right? I chose this for the first one because I felt so strongly about it, but I am afraid it won't be a popular opinion.
While I really did enjoy her first book in this series, "Sworn to Silence", I cannot say the same for this one. You could actually save your money or your credit and just re-read the first one. There is enough repetition between the first and second and then just in the second one alone, deja-vu comes to mind. If you removed all the repetitious and unnecessary dialogue, I believe you would have only half a book. The rest felt very much like filler. The words sigh, grimace and shrug (and all variations thereof) were used so many times I started to laugh when I read them.
I think the editor dropped the ball on letting this one fly. There were so many ridiculous and implausible scenarios. Two of my favorites being: Frost on the windshield of a car and sweltering heat in the same day. Is that even possible? They were also swarmed by mosquitoes that day and I'm pretty sure the frost would have killed them. Also, going to a noisy pool playing and football watching bar for some "peace and quiet"? Men should try that one more often.
There were also a constant barrage of clues and mysteries that the Chief of Police couldn't figure out right away, that were so rudimentary it made realty hard to swallow. However, I did finish the book just to see how it turned out, albeit cracking up every time someone sighed, shrugged or grimaced.
In a nutshell, there are always certain similarities involved in every series of books, but this really lacked any (or enough) fresh ideas or new scenarios. It even stormed during the big climax just as it did with the first book. Enough said....
While I really did enjoy her first book in this series, "Sworn to Silence", I cannot say the same for this one. You could actually save your money or your credit and just re-read the first one. There is enough repetition between the first and second and then just in the second one alone, deja-vu comes to mind. If you removed all the repetitious and unnecessary dialogue, I believe you would have only half a book. The rest felt very much like filler. The words sigh, grimace and shrug (and all variations thereof) were used so many times I started to laugh when I read them.
I think the editor dropped the ball on letting this one fly. There were so many ridiculous and implausible scenarios. Two of my favorites being: Frost on the windshield of a car and sweltering heat in the same day. Is that even possible? They were also swarmed by mosquitoes that day and I'm pretty sure the frost would have killed them. Also, going to a noisy pool playing and football watching bar for some "peace and quiet"? Men should try that one more often.
There were also a constant barrage of clues and mysteries that the Chief of Police couldn't figure out right away, that were so rudimentary it made realty hard to swallow. However, I did finish the book just to see how it turned out, albeit cracking up every time someone sighed, shrugged or grimaced.
In a nutshell, there are always certain similarities involved in every series of books, but this really lacked any (or enough) fresh ideas or new scenarios. It even stormed during the big climax just as it did with the first book. Enough said....
Helpful Score: 3
In the second outing for police chief Kate Burkholder, a person--or persons--have slaughtered all seven members of the Amish Plank family at their home in Painters Mill, Ohio. The bodies of the two teenage daughters show signs of torture. At first, it appears the father, Amos, killed his wife and five children, then shot himself. When clues point to a killer outside the family, Kate, who left the Amish community decades before, zeroes in on 15-year-old Mary, who may have flirted with the idea of living in the English world. Lending a hand is Kate's on-again/off-again boyfriend, John Tomasetti, an agent suspended from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Identification for failing a recent drug test in the wake of his own family's murder about two years earlier. Castillo excels at detailing gory crime scenes, but she leaves Kate and John as little more than cookies cut from the same troubled cop mold.
Castillo can describe crime scenes in detail, but here it seems overwrought. And, let's face it, with what both Burkholder and Tomasetti have done in their personal and professional lives, it's a wonder they still have jobs. The case rattles Burkholder, who left the Amish faith as a teenager after she was raped by an Amish man. Helping her through the stressful investigation is John Tomasetti, a big-city cop battling his own demons (his wife and young daughters were murdered a few years before). The two had a brief affair, but time has passed and both have hesitations about rekindling the romance. They have plenty to distract them as they search for a killer who may have more sinister acts in store. Though the plot fizzles a bit at the end (I guessed the killer), a unique setting and a very human heroine make this a good recommendation.
Castillo can describe crime scenes in detail, but here it seems overwrought. And, let's face it, with what both Burkholder and Tomasetti have done in their personal and professional lives, it's a wonder they still have jobs. The case rattles Burkholder, who left the Amish faith as a teenager after she was raped by an Amish man. Helping her through the stressful investigation is John Tomasetti, a big-city cop battling his own demons (his wife and young daughters were murdered a few years before). The two had a brief affair, but time has passed and both have hesitations about rekindling the romance. They have plenty to distract them as they search for a killer who may have more sinister acts in store. Though the plot fizzles a bit at the end (I guessed the killer), a unique setting and a very human heroine make this a good recommendation.
Helpful Score: 2
Very ineresting book, gripping and action packed. A lot of cursing. This book keeps the blood pumping fast.
Marianne S. (sfc95) -
Helpful Score: 1
Absolutely excellent. Read it in one day because I could not put it down. I can't wait fo rthe next installment.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a strong sequel and I do hope that this series continues! It is very good. While, like the first book, the plot was not entirely unpredictable, the level of suspense was well maintained throughout. The resolution wasn't completely satisfactory, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. As I much as I want this series to continue on, I do wonder how much it can feasibly continue. For a town that seems renown for its lack of violence, there sure does seem to be quite a lot of violence present!
Next Thriller Please. I couldn't put the book down and kept me on my toes till the very end. Loved it.
Robin M. (robinmy) -
Police Chief Kate Burkholder leads the investigation into a horrific crime. Seven members of an Amish family have been found murdered at their home. Two of the victims, both teenage girls, show signs of torture. Kate and her team are aided in the investigation by BCI Investigator John Tomasetti. As time ticks by with no real suspects, Kate finds a diary hidden at the farm house which may turn out to be their best lead.
This is the second book in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate grew up Amish but left the community years ago. This crime brings back bad memories from her past and a secret she has been keeping for sixteen years. Her on-again/off-again relationship with Tomasetti is complicated as they are both wary of getting in over their heads. There is a lot of suspense in this story; but the very graphic depictions of the crime scene may bother some readers. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the second book in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate grew up Amish but left the community years ago. This crime brings back bad memories from her past and a secret she has been keeping for sixteen years. Her on-again/off-again relationship with Tomasetti is complicated as they are both wary of getting in over their heads. There is a lot of suspense in this story; but the very graphic depictions of the crime scene may bother some readers. My rating: 4 Stars.
I like this series by Castillo, she writes about a part of the Amish that you're curious about, although it is a horrific crime and there is a lot of repeat, it is still a good book about the small Amish community at Painter's Mill.
I felt as though I were right there with Kate - all the sights and sounds and smells!! I'm now hooked on this series!!
Another great thriller by Linda Castillo. It continues from Linda Castillo's first book, "Sworn to Silence". The main character is Kate Burkholder, the Police Chief in a small Amish community. An entire family of seven is found slaughtered on their farm. Kate and her small force have few clues, no motive and no suspect. State Agent John Tomasetti arrives on the scene to assist. He and Kate worked together on a previous case in "Sworn to Silence". This is a vivid, intense, and brutal page-turner of a novel. I look forward to the next book in this series.
A very chilling mystery. I could hardly put the book down until I finished it.
Excellent murder story, involving the Amish it gives you a small look into the lives of this non-violent religious group. Good characters and it is all easy to keep up with, not a lot of descriptions that are not necessary and not too many characters that you can't keep track of them. Excellent--recommend!
Vivian Q. (bellasgranny) -
Sadly disappointed. I really enjoyed "Sworn to Silence" and looked forward to reading this one. I'm happy that I didn't spend any money on it since I could not finish it. The gory descriptions of the killings of the Plank family are not for the faint of heart and I had a hard time reading through the first 40 pages or so. My biggest problem, however, is that Ms. Castillo must think her readers are stupid. Why else, would we need to be reminded on every other page that Kate Burkholder grew up Amish and KNOWS what it's like and how it feels and how one can keep secrets. We get it, Ms. Castillo. So repetitive and unnecessary. Also unpalletable, are Ms. Burkholder's serious lapses in judgment since she is supposedly an experienced police officer. The book was overlong and in need of some serious editing. I seriously doubt that I will read the next in the series.
I wanted to give the book 4 stars but couldn't. The constant foul language was unnecessary and frustrating, the continued reminders of the previous "case" book took away a bit from the current story. I didn't need to be reminded every time of what the Amish tradition consisted of or just anything that the author thought the reader needed to be educated about regarding the plain way of life. If I want to learn about the culture, I would pick a more appropriate channel. More frustration came my way due to the above but I plowed ahead although that distracted me a great deal from the story which by the way was very predictable. No much new there except for the fact that the victim (s) was Amish.
I do give lots of credit to Ms. Castillo for her ability to draw the attention of a reader with her very descriptive way to put together a gruesome murder scene. That part was very well done, the olfactory factor was not neglected either since I could smell the crime scene very vividly, a big plus.
I will read the next book, this little editorial glitch will not stop me from reading the next in the series.
By the way, I'll be deleting this book from my wish list here at PBS.
I do give lots of credit to Ms. Castillo for her ability to draw the attention of a reader with her very descriptive way to put together a gruesome murder scene. That part was very well done, the olfactory factor was not neglected either since I could smell the crime scene very vividly, a big plus.
I will read the next book, this little editorial glitch will not stop me from reading the next in the series.
By the way, I'll be deleting this book from my wish list here at PBS.
Beautiful hardback book.
Painters Mill is an idyllic small town in Ohios Amish country. But even the most peaceful of landscapes is not immune to violent crime. The second installment in Castillos strong series (after Sworn to Silence, 2009) finds Police Chief Kate Burkholder once again face-to-face with pure evil. This time around its the murder of the Planks, an Amish family who invited trouble when pretty 15-year-old daughter Mary became enamored with a non-Amish man, who seduced her and documented their sexual episodes on tape. The case rattles Burkholder, who left the Amish faith as a teenager after she was raped by an Amish man. Helping her through the stressful investigation is John Tomasetti, a big-city cop battling his own demons (his wife and young daughters were murdered a few years before). The two had a brief affair, but time has passed and both have hesitations about rekindling the romance. They have plenty to distract them as they search for a killer who may have more sinister acts in store. Though the plot fizzles a bit at the end, a unique setting and a very human heroine make this a good recommendation for readers seeking an alternative to the urban whodunit.
Painters Mill is an idyllic small town in Ohios Amish country. But even the most peaceful of landscapes is not immune to violent crime. The second installment in Castillos strong series (after Sworn to Silence, 2009) finds Police Chief Kate Burkholder once again face-to-face with pure evil. This time around its the murder of the Planks, an Amish family who invited trouble when pretty 15-year-old daughter Mary became enamored with a non-Amish man, who seduced her and documented their sexual episodes on tape. The case rattles Burkholder, who left the Amish faith as a teenager after she was raped by an Amish man. Helping her through the stressful investigation is John Tomasetti, a big-city cop battling his own demons (his wife and young daughters were murdered a few years before). The two had a brief affair, but time has passed and both have hesitations about rekindling the romance. They have plenty to distract them as they search for a killer who may have more sinister acts in store. Though the plot fizzles a bit at the end, a unique setting and a very human heroine make this a good recommendation for readers seeking an alternative to the urban whodunit.
Arlene L. (poolmysteryreader) reviewed Pray for Silence (Kate Burkholder, Bk 2) on + 63 more book reviews
very good second in series
I loved this book, and I don't usually read this genre!
Excellent book. I love this author and can't wait to read the next book in this series.
