FALLEN (2021)

Fallen by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

FIRST LINE: "She knew coming back after so many years would be difficult, especially when she'd left so much hurt behind when she departed."

With a dynamite opening, this 13th Amish mystery is off and running.

Rachael Schwartz left her tiny Ohio community, and her Amish faith a decade ago. Returning hoping to right a wrong, she is brutally murdered in her motel room. When Kate Burkholder, the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, recognizes Rachael the pain of it becomes personal. Kate herself had left the Amish community years earlier.

The first Kate Burkholder story I discovered was Her Last Breath #5 (Jul 17, 2015). Then I quickly devoured Sworn to Silence #1 (July 21, 2015) and Pray for Silence #2 (July 26, 2015). Then I stopped. I found the crimes against the Amish, especially the young women, too overwhelming. But because the series is so popular, I decided to try again. I'm glad I did. Although violence and death occurred in Outsider #12, there was more than enough life and happiness to balance the story. Fallen #13 reverts to the ugly violence and lives destroyed, but that didn't stop me from turning pages.

Linda Castillo can be counted on for a captivating plot and the reader is assured of a thrilling read. Although this is a series, the author provides more than enough repetition to remind the reader of the things they need to know. A few chapters labeled 2008 fill in the backstory proving more clues. And, as always, a highlight of the book is the translated Amish phrases and cultural details.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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