I Enjoyed the twists regarding the son and illicit affair with his sister (although it was found that they were step brother & sister) who turned out to be more murderous. The Slabaugh family (Amish) are hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. The parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn in the cesspit. The murder scene appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by poor ventilation. However, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death. Who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? Is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?
Kate Burkholder is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. I found their relationship and Kate's drinking to drown out her past problems and attachment issues monotonous reading. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community. Overall, an enjoyable read that kept me engaged and keen to find out who was behind the killing. ( )

Thriller

Terza vicenda e, come le precedenti, avvincente e ricca di colpi di scena tanto da tenere col fiato sospeso sino alla fine.
Questa volta Kate dovrà vedersela con la morte apparentemente accidentale di uno zio e dei genitori di quattro ragazzi amish che restano così orfani e soli. Ben presto la morte di queste tre persone si rivelerà essere stato un efferato omicidio dietro al quale si nascondono inganni e terribili segreti ben difficilmente immaginabili. ( )

Enjoyed the twists regarding the son and illict affair with his sister (although it was found that they were step brother & sister) who turned out to be more murderous. The Slabaugh family (Amish) are hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. The parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn in the cesspit. The murder scene appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by poor ventilation. However, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death. Who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?
Kate Burkholder is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. I found this relationship and Kate's drinking to drown out her past problems and attachment issues monotonous reading. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.
Overall an enjoyable read that kept me engaged and keen to find out who was behind the killing. ( )

This is another book in the series written by Linda Castillo whose books focus on the Amish people of Painter's Mill, Ohio. Detective Kate Burkholder is the head of a small and mighty group of police who solve crimes and heal the wounds of those in need.

In this book, The Slabaugh family are well known and well liked. Much to the surprise of the community, the father, mother, and Uncle of the family are found dead as a result of a tragic accident. Their bodies are found in a cesspit. At first it appeared to be an accident, until the autopsy showed a large head wound on one of the dead.

Kate Burkholder and her long acquainted boy friend Thomas Tomasetti are in charge of this case. This duo is a part of every book in the series. In a community of tight-knit Amish, it is unusual for murder to occur, but as this series stresses, The Amish are not exempt from crime.

Sadly, children are left behind. Three are young, one the eldest is adopted, the oldest daughter is not married, but is pregnant. Increasingly, the adopted son is the one under suspcion.

In addition to the dead family members, there are people who are taunting and harming the Amish community. Both circumstances are under the watch of the police.

There are lots of twists and turns, and small town living is not immune from lies, and unexpected crime.

Three and 1/2 Stars for this one! ( )