Shamed by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder, Book 11)

Shamed by Linda Castillo is the 11th book in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate Burkholder is Chief of Police in the town of Painter’s Mill, Ohio. Chief Burkholder was raised Amish but left the life when she was 18. Her early years serve her well as she bridges the differences between the large local Amish community and the non-Amish. In this latest installment, Chief Burkholder and her team race against the clock to find a missing Amish girl.

During a routine patrol of the area, Chief Burkholder comes across an unoccupied buggy at an abandoned farmhouse. As she makes her way onto the property, a young girl covered in blood and obviously traumatized runs toward her screaming that her grandmother has been killed. Kate soon discovers that the girl’s sister is missing and she fears the worst – that the person who killed the girl’s grandmother abducted her sister.

Knowing that the longer the child is missing, the more likely she will be harmed, Kate begins by interrogating those closest to the missing girl. Although family and friends cooperate and are obviously hoping for the child’s safe return, Kate can’t help but notice that almost everyone seems to be holding back. Soon, she discovers that there are long-held secrets spanning many years that must be uncovered in order to bring the girl home…but can she do it in time?

The suspense in the story is strong as each chapter opens with a notation as to the hours the girl has been missing. The reader can feel Kate’s anxiety increase with each passing hour and dead-end lead. Then, when she discovers what has been withheld, it leads her to question the Amish faith and way of life she thought she knew as well as her own feelings in the matter.

Rating: 4 stars

Pawsitively Poisonous by Melissa Erin Jackson (Witch of Edgehill, Book 1)

Pawsitively Poisonous by Melissa Erin Jackson is the first book in the Witch of Edgehill cozy series – a series that is definitely off to a good start! This first book is interesting and fun, filled with cats of all types, has engaging characters and definitely keeps the reader guessing throughout. I enjoy a good cozy but am often frustrated by the overly-silly/naive main characters or the nature of the crimes but this was a solid mystery set in a quirky small town in Oregon.

Amber Blackwood, a lifelong resident of Edgehill, Oregon – and its resident witch – runs The Quirky Whisker, a shop full of novelties, “animated” toys and herbal teas and tinctures. Amber generally maintains a low profile in order to keep her witchcraft secret but, despite the care she’s taken, the Chief of Police has been suspicious of her since he arrived in the town 3 years ago. This all comes to a head when Amber’s best friend, Melanie, is found dead…with a bottle headache tonic from Amber’s shop in her hand. With his suspicions regarding Amber and the goings-on in her shop, Amber has just become the chief’s number one suspect.

When word gets out that Melanie was poisoned, the whole town begins to look at Amber with suspicion. Needing to clear her name, as well as find out who really murdered her friend, Amber begins an investigation using her unique gifts to guide her. Along the way, Amber discovers secrets about people that she thought she knew well and takes risks that threaten to reveal her biggest secret.

Thank you to Ringtail Press, NetGalley and Melissa Erin Jackson for providing this thoroughly enjoyable story in exchange for my review. I will be watching for more in this series and plan to check out Ms. Jackson’s other series as well.

Rating: 4 stars