Part of Kate Burkholder, book 14
First published 2023
Chief of police Kate Burkholder receives an unsettling request from Amish elders. The skeletal remains of Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus have surfaced after more than ten years, showing clear signs of murder. The case takes a personal turn when Jonas Bowman, Kate's former love, faces accusations in the killing. Kate travels to Pennsylvania's Kishacoquillas Valley, where Amish customs differ sharply from those she grew up with. The respected bishop had enemies and secrets that someone killed to protect. Kate faces threats and attacks as she digs deeper into the mystery. Her emotional connection to Jonas clouds her judgment while a murderer works to silence her permanently. Kate must determine whether Jonas committed the crime or if the real killer will strike again before she uncovers what Bishop Stoltzfus died to conceal.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Pennsylvania, Kishacoquillas Valley
Period: More Than Ten Years Ago
384 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Minotaur Books