Blood Moon
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder confronts a mysterious beast terrorizing the residents of Painters Mill in this original short mystery "Blood Moon" from bestselling author Linda Castillo.
On a foggy spring night, an Amish man crashes his buggy after a large, unidentified animal spooks his horse. Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the man shaken and bleeding, claiming he was attacked by a large beast. But his description of the creature sounds like something straight out of the Amish folklore from Kate’s childhood. Throughout the night, more incidents of an aggressive animal on the loose are reported, putting the citizens of Painters Mill on edge. There’s a monster menacing the countryside, and Kate must follow its tracks into the dark woods along Painters Creek before violence tips over into tragedy.
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Linda Castillo
Linda Castillo’s gripping, atmospheric thrillers have carved a space for themselves among the best in contemporary crime fiction. Known for her Kate Burkholder series, Castillo weaves tension, suspense, and emotional depth into every page, creating stories that haunt readers long after the final chapter. Set in the Amish community of Painters Mill, Ohio, Castillo’s work explores the complexities of faith, justice, and the darkness lurking beneath quiet, rural life.
Kate Burkholder
The Kate Burkholder series invites readers into a world where the lines between faith, justice, and morality blur, all set against the haunting backdrop of a small Amish town. With every twist and turn, this gripping crime series pulls you into the complexities of rural Ohio, where tradition clashes with the darker aspects of human nature. At the heart of it all is Kate Burkholder, an unflinching police chief whose Amish upbringing and gritty law enforcement career collide in powerful ways.
Kate Burkholder consists of seventeen primary books, and includes nine additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

