Fallen

Name: Fallen
Author: Linda Castillo

Crime Fiction Suspense Thriller Adult Mystery Thriller

In New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo’s next thriller Fallen, a rebellious Amish woman leaves the Plain life, but the secrets she takes with her will lead Chief of Police Kate Burkholder down a dark path to danger and death.

When a young woman is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is shocked to discover she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a charming but troubled Amish girl who left the fold years ago and fled Painters Mill. Why was she back in town? And who would kill her so brutally?

Kate remembers Rachael as the only girl who was as bad at being Amish as Kate was―and those parallels dog her. But the more Kate learns about Rachael's life, the more she's convinced that her dubious reputation was deserved. As a child, Rachael was a rowdy rulebreaker whose decision to leave devastated her parents and best friend. As an adult, she was charismatic and beautiful, a rabble-rouser with a keen eye for opportunity no matter who got in her way. Her no-holds-barred lifestyle earned her a lot of love and enemies aplenty―both English and Amish.

As the case heats to a fever pitch and long-buried secrets resurface, a killer haunts Painters Mill. Someone doesn’t want Rachael’s past―or the mysteries she took with her to the grave―coming to light. As Kate digs deeper, violence strikes again, this time hitting close to home. Will Kate uncover the truth and bring a murderer to justice? Or will a killer bent on protecting a terrible past stop her once and for all―and let the fallen be forgotten?

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Published: July 6, 2021

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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.