Shamed

Name: Shamed
Author: Linda Castillo

Crime Fiction Suspense Thriller Adult Mystery Thriller

In Shamed, a gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo, a devastating murder exposes an Amish family’s tortured past.

The peaceful town of Painters Mill is shattered when an Amish grandmother is brutally murdered on an abandoned farm. When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on the scene, she learns that the woman’s seven-year-old granddaughter is gone, abducted in plain sight. Kate knows time is against her―the longer the girl is missing, the less likely her safe return becomes. The girl’s family is a pillar of the Amish community, well-respected by all. But Kate soon realizes they’re keeping secrets―and the sins of their past may be coming back to haunt them. What are they hiding and why?

Kate’s investigation brings her to an isolated Old Order Amish settlement along the river, a community where family is everything and tradition is upheld with an iron fist. But the killer is close behind, drawing more victims into a twisted game of revenge. Left behind at each new crime scene are cryptic notes that lead Kate to a haunting and tragic secret. What she uncovers threatens to change everything she thought she knew about the family she’s fighting for, the Amish community as a whole―and her own beliefs.

As time to find the missing girl runs out, Kate faces a harrowing choice that will test her convictions and leave one family forever changed.

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Published: July 9, 2019

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Kate Burkholder

The series

Full series details →

The Kate Burkholder series invites readers into a world where the lines between faith, justice, and morality blur, all set against the haunting backdrop of a small Amish town. With every twist and turn, this gripping crime series pulls you into the complexities of rural Ohio, where tradition clashes with the darker aspects of human nature. At the heart of it all is Kate Burkholder, an unflinching police chief whose Amish upbringing and gritty law enforcement career collide in powerful ways.

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As a woman raised within the Amish community, Kate Burkholder offers a unique perspective—both a part of the insular world she serves and an outsider, navigating the complex relationships and unspoken secrets that permeate it. Her deep ties to the people and traditions of Painters Mill make her an empathetic yet relentless force as she uncovers hidden truths and faces the darker sides of a seemingly peaceful life. The cases she tackles often delve into the very heart of the Amish community, exploring themes of faith, retribution, and the struggles between adherence to tradition and the need for justice.

Each book in the series plunges readers into a new, pulse-pounding mystery, carefully crafted with tight suspense and an immersive atmosphere that leaves you holding your breath. Castillo’s sharp storytelling brings to life the tension between the Amish and the outside world, creating a world where danger lingers just beneath the surface of everyday life.

In this series, the stakes are never just about solving the crime—they’re about grappling with the personal, moral, and emotional cost of seeking justice. Kate Burkholder’s internal struggles with her past, her role as a law enforcer, and her complex relationship with the community she serves create a multi-layered narrative that resonates deeply with readers. This compelling blend of psychological depth and high-stakes drama keeps fans of the Kate Burkholder series coming back for more, each installment adding another layer to this unmissable story.