Review: A Gathering of Secrets (Kate Burkholder #10) by Linda Castillo

Print Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 10, 2018)

From Goodreads.com: When a historic barn burns to the ground in the middle of the night, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. At first, it looks like an accident, but when the body of eighteen-year-old Daniel Gingerich is found inside—burned alive—Kate suspects murder. Who would want a well-liked, hardworking young Amish man dead?

Kate delves into the investigation only to find herself stonewalled by the community to which she once belonged. Is their silence a result of the Amish tenet of separation? Or is this peaceful and deeply religious community conspiring to hide a truth no one wants to talk about? Kate doubles down only to discover a plethora of secrets and a chilling series of crimes that shatters everything she thought she knew about her Amish roots—and herself.

As Kate wades through a sea of suspects, she’s confronted by her own violent past and an unthinkable possibility.

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My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Holy cow this book! Let me preface this review with that fact that although this is book number 10 in an established series, I have not read a single one of the previous novels. That fact however, did not keep me from devouring this one in a single day! I could not put it down! Every time I thought to put the book down, the author threw in a curve ball that I not only did not expect, but that kept me reading just so I could see how it played into what had happened. 

The plot was well-developed with complex and interesting characters (even without knowing Kate's backstory she was a character I not only liked, but was invested in). The story moves at a reasonable pace, giving just enough hints, and unexpected surprises to keep the reader guessing right up until the unbelievably satisfying conclusion. And that ending!! WOW!! I did not see THAT one coming! 

I would highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy well written "who-dun-it" novels that are absolutely better than they appear to be. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                             A Gathering of Secrets is available from Amazon.com