Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo is the first book in the new “Kate Burkholder” thriller series. Publisher: Minotaur, June 2009

A killer preying on sacred ground…

In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as chief of police. Her Amish roots and big-city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She’s certain she’s come to terms with her past–until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again, but to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past–and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.

This was a great and thrilling ride. From the first line to the last sentence, I could not put this book down. My rating: 4.5 stars

*new-to-me author