Part of Kate Burkholder, book 5
First published 2013
Rain pelts the windshield as an Amish deacon drives his three children home through the dark. A speeding car crashes into them, killing the father and two children instantly. The third child survives but lies unconscious in intensive care, unable to speak. Kate Burkholder initially assumes she's investigating a tragic accident caused by a drunk driver. Then evidence surfaces suggesting someone deliberately targeted this family. The deacon's widow grieves while her surviving son fights for his life, possibly the only witness to murder. Kate realizes she's hunting a calculated killer hiding among Painters Mill's residents. Her investigation leads her into the community's shadows, where she discovers that an exceptionally beautiful Amish woman may hold the key to the crime. As Kate digs deeper, she uncovers secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about the Amish world where she grew up. The case forces her to confront the darkness that can exist even in seemingly peaceful places.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: investigation, secrets
Setting: Painters Mill
320 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books
Content warnings: death, violence