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Sworn to Silence is a gripping thriller whose story will stay with you a long time. . . . Excellent pacing and clue-dropping keep suspense and interest high. Characters are believable . . . and the setting is described so well it feels like you're there in the snow with Kate. After a certain point, you'll let supper burn rather than put this book down.
— I Heart a Mystery.com
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Complicated, haunted protagonists, shocking murders, psychological twists and bizarre crime scenes. . . . Sworn to Silence is a nail-biting series debut.
— Chelsea Cain
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[Castillo] combines the protagonist's Amish background with her tough cop persona so skillfully and with such finesse, that both aspects of her character are totally believable. She also makes police procedure anything but tedious.
— Sandra Brown
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Absolutely stunning. . . . A perfectly crafted thriller.
— Lisa Scottoline
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Lovers of suspense will find no better novel to read this summer than Sworn to Silence, a teeth-chattering debut thriller from romance writer Linda Castillo. . . . This first in a series will delight fans of Chelsea Cain and Thomas Harris . . . compelling characters, excellent plotting and a hair-raising finale.
— USA Today
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Romance novelist Castillo, who grew up near Amish country, convincingly switches gears with this debut thriller, balancing chilling suspense and a nuanced portrait of the English-Amish divide. Starring a tough, complicated cop who speaks Pennsylvania Dutch as smoothly as she downs a vodka, Silence is the opening salvo in what promises to be a gripping series.
— People magazine (3 ½ out of 4 stars)
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As it turns out Kathleen McInerney is the perfect voice for Kate. She also fully voices the many other characters and keeps the pace moving breathlessly along for the intervening narration.
— SoundCommentary.com on the audiobook
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“McInerney moves smoothly from the present to the past and back again as Kate battles her demons while trying to stop a grisly serial killer. An engrossing story...
— AudioFile
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The complicated relationships between the Amish and ‘English' worlds add more drama to this suspense novel. Fast-paced and very well written, it is worth a read.
— The Oklahoman
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Sworn to Silence is one of the good ones. . . . fast-paced . . . Linda Castillo is an author to be watched and Sworn to Silence is a book to be enjoyed.
— Mystery News
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Impressive.
— The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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There's a new sheriff in thriller-ville. And her name is Kate Burkholder. . . . The thriller is marked by interesting characters, strong plotting, suspense and gore galore.
— Cleveland Plain Dealer
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The story moves along at a fast clip, making this tasty little beach read.
— The Herald (Rock Hill, SC)
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Romance writer Linda Castillo makes a successful move to crime fiction with an evocative and often heartfelt look at Amish society . . . chillingly realistic . . . Set during a bitter Ohio winter, Sworn to Silence will make you forget about any summer heat wave.
— South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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Sworn to Silence immediately shot to the very top of my 'Best Books of 2009' list. . . . A 5-star thrilling ride from Linda Castillo that fans have come to expect from this prolific writer.
— ArmchairInterviews.com
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Sworn to Silence promises to be the breakout title for [Castillo]. Katie Burkholder, a character I hope we see much more of in the future, is a great lead with a different background--a former member of a close-knit Amish community who has returned home to become Chief of Police. . . . Fans of Thomas Harris and Chelsea Cain are going to love this one.
— BookBitch.com
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Think Harrison Ford in the movie Witness and add just a touch of the Coen brothers' Fargo and you have the feel of this brilliant, nail-biting thriller. . . . Very dark, intricate and packed with twists, it literally chokes the breath from your body. It's that good.
— Daily Mail (UK)
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Castillo's hardcover debut should come with a warning: Pick up when you have time to finish. Excitement, danger, mystery, a fascinating setting and a conflicted heroine make this a book you won't put down.
— Romantic Times (Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars)
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Sworn marks Castillo's move from romantic suspense to straight mystery, and judging by this novel, the move is a good one . . . this is very well done. The small-town setting, complicated relationships among the inhabitants, and the strong but battle-scarred protagonist bring Julia Spencer-Fleming's series to mind.
— Library Journal (starred review)
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A gun-toting, cursing, former Amish female chief of police' stars in this excellent first in a new suspense series . . . Adept at creating characters with depth and nuance, Castillo smoothly integrates their backstories into a well-paced plot that illuminates the divide between the Amish and 'English' worlds.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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This book will keep you up late and follow you into your dreams.
— Brian Freeman
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With an utterly compelling protagonist, sharp twists and a setting so real you feel it, Castillo doesn't just hit the ball out of the park, she knocks the skin off the ball.
— John Hart
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Kate Burkholder is the real deal and Sworn to Silence is a vivid, intense, and brutal page-turner of a novel.
— C.J. Box
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Castillo's backdrop of Amish Country is so alive and crawling with atmosphere that you'll swear you can hear the snow crunching underfoot. Sworn to Silence packs a healthy dose of twists but it's Kate's memorable voice that will leave you wanting to hear more.
— Alex Kava