An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo (Review by Stacey Lorenson)

Book Rating: 4.0

An Evil Heart is a propulsive murder mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last page. The author’s inclusion of Amish tradition and dialect offers readers an inside perspective on this unique enclave of American culture while juxtaposing Amish religious ideals against the darker side of life.

A young man is brutally murdered in the small Amish parish in Painters Mill, setting in motion a chain reaction of inquiries of who this man really was and why someone would want to kill him in such a vindictive manner. Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, and her department work around the clock to find Aden Karn’s murderer. As a longtime resident of Painters Mill, with family ties to the community, the pressure to solve the murder becomes a personal priority as well as professional. The citizens of Painters Mill find themselves challenged by secrecy and lies while the innocent pay the price for the evil that exists among them. It becomes clear that Aden was not the Boy Scout everyone perceived him to be. The case takes on an unexpected twist when a second body is discovered, intensifying the hunt. Will the killer strike again?

In this 27th installment of the Kate Burkholder series, Castillo has created a strong female antagonist who is a fierce defender of truth and justice, all of which contributes to a thoroughly enjoyable heroine in An Evil Heart.