The Burning: A Novel, Kate Burkholder Book 16 By Linda Castillo

Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is abruptly awakened by an urgent midnight call about a suspicious fire in the woods. Upon arriving at the scene, she discovers a charred body. The coroner identifies the deceased as Milan Swanz, an Amish man who was chained to a stake and burned alive—a gruesome, symbolic crime. Despite being an upstanding husband and father, Swanz had a troubled past and was recently excommunicated.

Kate is aware of the Amish community's preference to handle matters internally, and no one is willing to speak about the murder. As she pieces together Swanz's life, she encounters a wall of silence. The Amish seem to be protecting Swanz’s memory or hiding a deeper fear.

The case becomes personal when Kate’s brother is implicated, putting her at odds with both the Amish and the English communities, as well as her law enforcement colleagues. Her investigation takes a dangerous turn when her life is threatened by a mysterious stranger.

Determined to uncover the truth, Kate delves into Anabaptist culture and its hidden history. She unearths a secret legacy that challenges everything she believed about the Amish and her own heritage. The case reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history, forcing Kate to confront dark truths that shatter her understanding of her roots and the community she once belonged to. 📚❤️