Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo

Most of the reviews I have posted have been standalone books, but this review is for the first in a series. The series features Police Chief Kate Burkholder of a largely Amish community in Painters Mill, Ohio. In this book, Kate moves from Columbus to her hometown of Painters Mill to become the Police Chief. She moved away as a young adult when she decided to leave the Amish community and Amish lifestyle in which she was raised.

As Kate begins her new position, a young woman is found dead and mutilated in a field. The killing resembles murders committed in the same community 16 years ago – its seems, to the town, that the killer has returned. Kate does not agree. She has a secret from that time and she cannot believe the same killer is back. If he is, everything Kate has known since she left is wrong.

As more victims are found, Kate is fired from her position. She stays in town to help investigate because she is determined to help find the killer.

There are now more than ten books in this series and I have enjoyed all of them. This book draws you into the community of Painters Mill and Kate’s character. As our community has members who are Amish, it is interesting to read about the interactions between non-Amish residents and Amish residents. The mystery in this book is really well written (a little intense in the story, but not gory). I read it when it was released in 2009 and had to wait impatiently for each new installment. If you haven’t started these books, you are in for a treat with all the books in this series waiting for you!

Check it out Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo at the Library (https://catalog.lclibs.org/polaris/search/title.aspx…).