The Amish community in Painter's Mill, Ohio, has been
experiencing a rash of hate crimes lately, but the Chief of
Police Kate Burkholder is having a problem getting a handle
on these crimes. A large part of the issue is that the
Amish don't report the crimes, wanting to have nothing to do
with the English. Although Kate is frustrated by this, she
understands the mindset, having been raised Amish.
But things take a turn when she receives a call from
dispatch in the middle of the night sending her to the
Slabaugh farm. There, she finds three people dead -- a
father, mother, and the father's brother, leaving four
children suddenly orphaned. At first glance, it appears
that the adults slipped into the manure pit in the barn, but
the investigation reveals that the they were actually
murdered. Have the hate crimes escalated into murder?
The county sheriff calls in state agent John Tomasetti to
help with the hate crimes investigation, since the sheriff
knows that he and Kate have worked well together in the
past, and he knows that Kate has a connection with the Amish
community. However, Kate and John have to decide whether to
keep the hate crimes investigation and the homicide
investigation separate or combine them.
Meanwhile, events surrounding this case are bringing up
memories for Kate related to her own past. Is she too close
to this case to be able to work it effectively? Can she
keep a professional distance and solve this in time to
prevent more deaths?
This book was riveting from the very first page. The
author's ability to draw the reader in and keep the reader's
attention was absolutely right on target. The balance
between the action and investigation in the book and the
relationship between Kate and John was absolutely perfect, too.
As someone who has some passing familiarity with the Amish
communities, I really appreciated the author's commitment to
getting the details about the Amish religion and lifestyle
correct, without sensationalizing or exoticising the
community. This book was a fantastic read, even without
having read the other books in the series.
When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to a farm
in the Amish community of Painter's Mill, Ohio, nothing
could prepare her for the horror and tragedy she
encounters. Solly and Rachel Slabaugh, and his brother
Abel, have drowned in the manure pit leaving the four
children as orphans. As the investigation progresses, it
seems that the Slabaugh deaths were not an accident, and
the case suddenly becomes a murder enquiry.
Agent John Tomasetti and Kate have worked together before,
and now he is called back to Painter's Mill to help seek
out the perpetrators of what appear to be serious hate
crimes against the Amish. Whether these crimes and the
Slabaugh murders are linked is hard to establish because the
Amish are very proud and private people who do not enjoy
involvement from outside.
As the case deepens, Kate develops a bond with the
children, particularly the 15-year-old daughter, Salome.
Maybe she is reminded of herself at that age, and maybe
there's something about this case which stirs up memories
for her.
The events surrounding the deaths puzzle her - something
doesn't feel right. As more information comes to light, a
tragic incident turns into something much more shocking.
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