ARC Review: The Hidden One by Linda Castillo

The Hidden One
Author: Linda Castillo
Series: Kate Burkholder (Book 14)
Publication: Minotaur Books (July 5, 2022)

Description: The discovery of an Amish bishop's remains leads chief of police Kate Burkholder to unearth a chilling secret in The Hidden One, a new thriller from bestselling author Linda Castillo.

Over a decade ago, beloved Amish bishop Ananias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. When skeletal remains showing evidence of foul play are unearthed, his disappearance becomes even more sinister.

The town’s elders arrive in Painters Mill to ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help, but she quickly realizes she has a personal connection to the crime. The handsome Amish man who stands accused of the murder, Jonas Bowman, was Kate’s first love. Forced to confront a painful episode from her past, Kate travels to Pennsylvania’s Kishacoquillas Valley, where the Amish culture differs dramatically from the traditions she knows. Though Bishop Stoltzfus was highly respected, she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that resulted in his own brutal death?

Someone doesn’t want Kate asking questions. But even after being accosted and threatened in the dead of night, she refuses to back down. Is she too close to the case―and to Jonas―to see clearly? There’s a killer in the Valley who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Will they get to Kate before she can expose the truth? Or will the bishop’s secrets remain hidden forever?

My Thoughts: When her childhood friend and first love is arrested for murder, Kate travels into Pennsylvania to look into the crime. Eighteen years earlier, the 86-year-old Amish bishop disappeared. Now his bones have been discovered in a field carved out of the surrounding woods. Jonas Bowman's old muzzleloader was found next to the body.

When Jonas identified the gun as his, he was arrested for the murder of Ananias Stoltzfus. The church leadership don't believe that Jonas killed Stoltzfus and want Kate to look into the case. It helps that Kate was once Amish, so she has a better understanding of the mindsets of the people involved. They are hoping that her being a Chief of Police will give her an in with local law enforcement.

Kate agrees to help, especially since she has unresolved issues about Jonas. When she arrives, she discovers that the police aren't interested in cooperating with her and that many of the Amish are very reluctant to say anything negative about their old bishop.

But someone doesn't want Kate asking questions. She's attacked in her hotel room and her car is run off the road. Unfortunately for the criminal, Kate is a stubborn person who takes the attacks as proof that there are secrets to be discovered.

I enjoyed the setting. I also like Kate who is a complicated woman who is finally getting a handle on what she wants for her life. The information about the Amish was interesting. While I didn't figure out who the killer was, I had a pretty good idea of what some of the other secrets were.

This was an engaging and tension-filled thriller. Fans of the series will enjoy this new episode. New readers will likely be curious about this engaging main character and enjoy the mystery.

Favorite Quote:

There is a moment in the course of an investigation when you know it's going to come together. It's a frenetic time. You don't know how all the information fits or if it will come to you in the right order. All you know is that the answer is buried somewhere in the slapdash pile of data churning in your head.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.