Part of Kate Burkholder, book 4
First published 2012
An Amish teenager disappears during rumspringa, the traditional period when young people experience life outside their community's strict rules. What begins as concern over a possible runaway becomes something far more sinister when searchers discover a corpse. Police Chief Kate Burkholder takes the case, drawing on both her law enforcement training and her own Amish background to navigate the tight-knit community's fears. Working alongside state agent John Tomasetti, Kate uncovers disturbing connections between the missing teen and unsolved cases spanning multiple years. The investigation reveals a pattern that threatens more than just one young life. As Kate races to piece together the killer's methods, the Amish community grapples with a violence that shatters their sense of safety. Kate must confront a ruthless murderer while protecting both the missing teenager and a way of life under siege. The case forces her to balance her roles as an outsider cop and someone who understands the community's deepest values.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, small-town
Setting: Amish Community
276 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books