Part of Kate Burkholder, book 13
First published 2021
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder faces a personal case when Rachael Schwartz is found murdered in a Painters Mill motel. Kate knew Rachael years ago as a rebellious Amish girl who broke rules and eventually left the community, devastating her family and friends. Now Rachael has returned to town, only to die brutally. Kate sees uncomfortable parallels between herself and the victim, both women who struggled with Amish expectations. The investigation reveals Rachael grew into a charismatic but ruthless adult who made enemies among both English and Amish residents. Her beauty and opportunistic nature brought her admirers and adversaries in equal measure. As Kate digs into Rachael's past, buried secrets emerge that someone desperately wants to keep hidden. The killer strikes again, targeting people close to Kate. She must uncover the truth about what Rachael knew and why she really came back to Painters Mill before the murderer silences her permanently.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Painters Mill
320 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books
Content warnings: violence