Part of Kate Burkholder, book 15
First published 2023
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives at a dirt road in Painters Mill to find twenty-year-old Aden Karn dead from a crossbow bolt. The victim seemed perfect: hardworking, beloved by his family, engaged to sweet Emily. As Kate questions both English and Amish communities, everyone praises the young man's character. Yet whispers emerge about Aden's hidden darkness. Kate wonders if these rumors represent a vicious attempt to blame the victim or reveal something more sinister. Her investigation intensifies as her own wedding to Tomasetti approaches. When a young Amish woman steps forward with a shocking account, Kate faces a dangerous adversary she never expected. The truth forces Kate to confront the devastating results of a life spent in shadows.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: investigation, small-town
Setting: Painters Mill
320 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books