AN EVIL HEART by Linda Castillo

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Snowbound secrets, shifter wars, family lies, and epic battles — September delivers it all.

AN EVIL HEART
Linda Castillo

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko
Posted July 11, 2023

The last thing Chief of Police Kate Burkholder expects to investigate is the violent death of a seemingly beloved Amish man. Aden Karn is killed on the roadside by a crossbow--he was only 20 years old. But Kate knows from her own experience before she left the Amish lifestyle, that evil can be found anywhere.

Investigating this murder and believing this young man was about to be baptized and marry his young fiancée she starts hearing some very dark tales. Who would kill him? What was the reason and was the darkness she heard whispers of the truth or just tales to cover up other crimes?

With her wedding to her lover Tomasetti coming closer, Kate wants to solve this case and get the darkness and evil behind her.

AN EVIL HEART by Linda Castillo is unquestionably one of those books that will hold you in its grip as you turn the pages to find out the truth. It is a surprisingly twisted read. When one expects a certain behavior from people and is still shocked by the truth. Evil doesn’t come in one size, type, age, nationality, or background. Kate has her hands full trying to discover the truth, especially when half of the people she is trying to help don't trust her.

If you are a fan of author Linda Castillo’s writing style and her Kate Burkholder books, AN EVIL HEART will quickly become one of your favorites.

SUMMARY

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal death of a young Amish man in An Evil Heart, the latest installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo.

On a crisp autumn day in Painters Mill, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow, his body abandoned on a dirt road. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Who would commit such a heinous crime against a young man whose life was just beginning?

The more Kate gets to know his devastated family and the people—both English and Amish—who loved him, the more determined she becomes to solve the case. Aden Karn was funny and hardworking and looking forward to marrying his sweet fiancé, Emily. All the while, Kate’s own wedding day to Tomasetti draws near...

But as she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Is it possible the rumors are a cruel campaign to blame the victim? Kate pursues every lead with a vengeance, sensing an unspeakable secret no one will broach.

The case spirals out of control when a young Amish woman comes forward with a horrific story that pits Kate against a dangerous and unexpected opponent. When the awful truth is finally uncovered, Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places.