A Gathering of Secrets : A Kate Burkholder Novel

A deadly fire exposes the dark side of Amish life in this harrowing thriller by bestselling author Linda Castillo.


When a historic barn in Painters Mill 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 peaceful, religious community to which she once belonged. Is their silence a result of the Amish tenet of separation? Kate doubles down on her search for the truth only to discover a whole new world 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…


“RIVETING.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY



“Another rewarding crime novel that looks beyond the idealized image of the Amish.”—Kirkus reviews

Praise for A Gathering of Secrets:

“Magnetic.”—People Magazine

"A captivating story by a gifted storyteller." —The Washington Book Review

“Exquisitely plotted…a standout in a stellar series.”—Associated Press

"An atmospheric thriller about fear, revenge, and the dark side of Amish life...Linda Castillo is a true master of suspenseful police procedurals." —Bustle

“Riveting...Castillo's sensitive handling of her subject matter builds a nuanced, often troubling picture of insular, patriarchal communities in which silence allows predators to thrive.”—Publishers Weekly

“Taut and troubling...Castillo renders crime fiction that shocks, soothes and examines the concept of justice.”—Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

“Another rewarding crime novel that looks beyond the idealized image of the Amish.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Another strong entry in a New York Times best-selling series.”—Booklist

Praise for the Kate Burkholder novels:

“Murder in Amish country has a certain added frisson, and Castillo’s the master of the genre.” —People magazine

“Thrilling...Castillo skillfully sets each scene, compelling readers to fear the raging stream, sense the tension in a room.” —Publishers Weekly for Down a Dark Road

“[An] incisive and affecting series...a harrowing plot; a heroic and fully human protagonist; an ability to engage heart and mind; and a reminder that no place is immune from the intrusion of evil.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch for Among the Wicked