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Book Summary and Reviews of Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo

Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo

Down a Dark Road

A Kate Burkholder Novel

by Linda Castillo

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Published:
  • Jul 2017, 304 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In this electrifying new thriller in the New York Times bestselling series, a convicted murderer is on the run and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must catch him before he strikes again.

Two years ago, Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. Now King, a "fallen" Amish man known as a drug user with a violent temper, has escaped, and he's headed for Painters Mill.

News of a murderer on the loose travels like wildfire, putting Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team of officers on edge. But this is personal for Kate. She grew up with Joseph King. As a thirteen year old Amish girl, she'd worshipped the ground he walked on. She never could have imagined the nightmare scenario that becomes reality when King shows up with a gun and takes his five children hostage at their Amish uncle's farm. Armed and desperate, he has nothing left to lose.

Fearing for the safety of the children, Kate makes contact with King only to find herself trapped with a killer. Or is he? All King asks of her is to help him prove his innocence - and he releases her unharmed. Kate is skeptical, but when the facts and the evidence don't align, she begins to wonder who she should trust. Spurned by some of her fellow cops, she embarks on her own investigation only to unearth an unspeakable secret - and someone who is willing to commit murder to keep it buried.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. Castillo weaves the particularities of the Amish mindset into a complex mystery that will leave you crying with pity or seething with rage." - Kirkus

"Kate is a likable cop and the Amish setting is infinitely fascinating. Series fans will appreciate this solid outing." - Library Journal


"As with other books in the series, the story is told from Kate's first-person point of view, which gives an immediacy and intimacy to the action - and makes it easy for those new to the series to jump right in. Castillo works in fine details and insight into Amish life, but this is no gentle read - there is plenty of tension and some good red herrings that will keep any mystery reader satisfied." - Booklist

This information about Down a Dark Road was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Linda Castillo Author Biography

Pic: Author website

Originally from Ohio where her Amish thrillers are set, Linda Castillo knew from an early age that she wanted to be a writer—and penned her first novel at the age of thirteen. She is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Heart, and a nomination for the prestigious Rita.

Her debut thriller, Sworn to Silence, garnered starred reviews from Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Booklist—and hit the New York Times bestseller list for four consecutive weeks.

In her spare time Linda enjoys riding horses, especially trail riding, and dabbles in barrel racing. She resides in Texas with her husband, three dogs, a barn cat, and two Appaloosa horses.

Link to Linda Castillo's Website

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