Kate Burkholder · #7.5
Seeds of Deception
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE DEAD WILL TELL comes a new short story offering a glimpse into Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's past and her Amish roots.
It's autumn in Painter's Mill, and fourteen year old Katie Burkholder has been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard with her brother. It’s just another day filled with chores—until her best friend Mattie arrives to help. Somehow, boredom transforms into fun and games whenever the girls are together. The innocent fun comes to an end when Billy Marquardt and his gang of friends interrupts. Katie is no prude, but she knows better than to associate with the older English boys, especially since they’re known troublemakers. Mattie has no such compunction. Thumbing her nose at the Ordnung and all of the Amish rules, she disappears into the old barn with Billy.
Moments later, the Zimmerman’s barn is consumed by fire. Katie suspects Billy had something to do with the blaze, but he denies it. When the facts don’t add up, Katie begins her own investigation—and she doesn’t like what she finds. Will her friendship with Mattie survive the truth?
The series
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.
Read full series description
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.
#1 · 2009Sworn to Silence 
#2 · 2010Pray for Silence 
#3 · 2011Breaking Silence 
#4 · 2012Gone Missing 
#4.5 · 2013Long Lost 
#5 · 2014Her Last Breath 
#6 · 2014The Dead Will Tell 
#6.5 · 2015A Hidden Secret 
#7 · 2015After the Storm 
#7.5 · 2016Seeds of Deception 
#8 · 2016Among the Wicked 
#8.5 · 2017Only the Lucky 
#9 · 2017Down a Dark Road 
#10 · 2018A Gathering of Secrets 
#11 · 2019Shamed 
#11.5 · 2020The Pact 
#12 · 2020Outsider 
#12.5 · 2021Disappeared 
#13 · 2021Fallen 
#13.5 · 2022Blood Moon 
#14 · 2022The Hidden One 
#14.5 · 2023Hallowed Ground 
#15 · 2023An Evil Heart 
#15.5 · 2024Dark Storm Rising 
#16 · 2024The Burning 
#17 · 2025Rage 
#18 · 2027The Betrayed 
#19 · TBAKate Burkholder Book 19 Be the first reviewer
Sign in and write the first reader review.
