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Sworn to Silence: A Kate Burkholder Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 6,791 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Now the subject of the Lifetime original movie, An Amish Murder
Sworn to Silence is the first in Linda Castillo's New York Times bestselling Kate Burkholder series.
A killer is preying on sacred ground....
In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and "English" residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.
Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She's certain she's come to terms with her past—until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past—and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.
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"This was a GREAT read - the main characters are flawed and imperfect ... and I LIKE them. The imperfections make them real. The plot is white knuckler - I enjoyed the ride. All I know about the Amish is what I saw on movie Witness, but I did not feel lost. Looking forward to MORE of this series and this author."
— Pamela (4 out of 5 stars)
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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 -
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 -
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 -
Impressive.
— The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) -
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 -
The story moves along at a fast clip, making this tasty little beach read.
— The Herald (Rock Hill, SC) -
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 -
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) -
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 -
“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 -
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 -
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 -
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) -
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) -
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) -
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) -
This book will keep you up late and follow you into your dreams.
— Brian Freeman -
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 -
Kate Burkholder is the real deal and Sworn to Silence is a vivid, intense, and brutal page-turner of a novel.
— C.J. Box -
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 -
Complicated, haunted protagonists, shocking murders, psychological twists and bizarre crime scenes. . . . Sworn to Silence is a nail-biting series debut.
— Chelsea Cain -
[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 -
Absolutely stunning. . . . A perfectly crafted thriller.
— Lisa Scottoline -
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
Awards
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Selected for the July 2009 Indie Next List
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A New York Times bestseller
Sworn to Silence Listener Reviews
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beatrice little, 6/17/2023
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" I love the Kate Burkholder series. I think this might be Castillo's first book, as it gives a lot of Kate's backstory. This is a great book! I have always been fascinated with the Amish way of life and these books are all really good! "
— Julie, 10/31/2018 -
" Be prepared for some really graphic scenes. I don't typically like it when an author switches between characters, but it works very well here. "
— Leaanna, 2/20/2014 -
" Another excellent book by Linda. Can't wait to read the next in the series. "
— Danielle, 2/19/2014 -
" Castillo has created a marvelous character in Kate Burkholder, the 30-year old police chief in a small Ohio town ringed by Amish farms. Kate confronts her Amish past when a series of murders shake the community. Linda Castillo has earned a spot on my reading list. "
— Kathryn, 2/17/2014 -
" I liked this book even though it was predictable. Quick and easy read but extremely graphic!! Not for the faint of heart. "
— Benchpress, 2/13/2014 -
" Really enjoyed this mystery featuring a police chief who grew up Amish and a State Bureau detective on a rapid downslide as they work to solve a case that may help bring some closure to both of them. "
— Tamra, 2/7/2014 -
" Very good series of books. Intense with vivid descriptions. It brings two worlds together. "
— Marina, 2/2/2014 -
" Excellent plot and characters involving a police chief who is an ex Amish girl. "
— Doreen, 2/1/2014 -
" Just not my thing at all. "
— Reving, 1/20/2014 -
" Some real gore and violence against women, which can be very unpleasant, but it was necessary for the story. A good "thriller" read. "
— Kym, 12/27/2013 -
" Amish murder mystery "
— Margaret, 11/2/2013 -
" Good sociopath story with a female hero! "
— Patricia, 10/20/2013 -
" Romance author Castillo begins a new series featuring former Amish police chief Kate Burkholder, who is racing to find a serial killer before he kills her. Has explicit violence and sex. Not for the sqeamish. "
— Allison, 10/18/2013 -
" Truely a very good book, and was very hard to put down. I loved Kate, the mystery, and most of all Linda's writing. The book sucked me in and I didn't want to be let go. "
— Shyloh, 9/19/2013 -
" Just did not like this audio book. Thought all the characters acted stupidly throughout the book and that the violence was overdone. Need to learn to give up on audios though the narration by Kathleen McInerney was, at least, competent. "
— Sandi, 8/23/2013 -
" Very good. I really like these characters. "
— Sherry, 4/18/2013 -
" Simple, fast paced, good holiday read. "
— Neil, 4/16/2013 -
" Great thriller... But it gave me nightmares! "
— Lisa, 2/25/2013 -
" Definitely want to read the next two books(Kate Burkholder #2 @ #3)! Great story and I didn't have a clue who the killer was until it was given away! "
— Mie, 1/8/2013 -
" I really liked this book. Towards the end, it had me wanting to read faster so I could find out who the killer was. Totally surprised me at the end on who it was. "
— Angie, 7/8/2012 -
" EXCELLENT...one of the best books I've ever read. "
— Kerry, 6/27/2012 -
" #40 for 2010. "
— Craig, 6/19/2012 -
" I'm not usually a fan of thriller novels, but this one was quite good. The main character is a fall-away Amish detective hunting a horrific serial murderer in her small town. "
— Bedford, 4/19/2012 -
" This was one of those books that catches your attention at the outset, and holds it all the way through. A very enjoyable read! "
— Temple, 3/3/2012 -
" This is a new author for me, that I really liked. This first book in her series is about a female chief of police who lives in an area heavily populated by Amish. And she was raised Amish, but left the faith.Great story. "
— Barbara, 12/26/2011 -
" Good story -- if you can stand the gore. "
— Louise, 8/30/2011 -
" I absolutely love this series! Kate is a character that is complex and so interesting. I love that it involves the Amish and shows the contrasts and similarities between the different people living in the community! Keep them coming! "
— Lori, 7/7/2011 -
" Great book! I was able to get it Free on the Kindle. I will definitely be buying more of her books. <br/><br/>This book captured my attention from the get-go! It was one of those books that is hard to put down. "
— Shari, 5/21/2011 -
" Greta story. I love this book. "
— D., 5/21/2011 -
" I really liked this book. I wasn't, however, prepaired for the graphic violence. It was a bit much at times and I got a little ill. I also figured out the killer early and that always bums me out. Overall though, great read, I will continue with the series, perhaps better prepaired. "
— Emily, 5/16/2011 -
" Nice to have a new suspense author that I like to read. And I can crank through one of these in a day if I give myself the time, which is especially nice. "
— Theresa, 5/1/2011 -
" Amish + Serial Killers = great read!! "
— Jessica, 4/12/2011 -
" Not YA literature. Disturbing serial killings. Offensive language. "
— Angela, 4/4/2011 -
" Grabbed me from the first page and couldn't put it down. <br/> <br/>If you love mysteries, you will like this book. "
— Ladyacct, 4/3/2011 -
" I will definitely be following this series. I enjoyed the writing and character development. "
— Swanbender2001, 3/30/2011 -
" I liked this book even though it was predictable. Quick and easy read but extremely graphic!! Not for the faint of heart. "
— Benchpress, 3/20/2011 -
" Really enjoyed it. Wasn't sure how it would be with the Amish background but it helped set the mood. But mostly it's the characters, Kate in particular, that help make this story really engaging. Worth the time. A fast read. Can't wait to start the next book in the series. "
— Tyler, 3/17/2011 -
" This is the first in the series set in rural Ohio where the Amish and the other citizens co-exist. The sheriff is a former Amish woman and you find why she left the Amish as you read the book. Its a violent story with implications for the investigators. "
— Jacquelynn, 3/11/2011 -
" Not really my cup of tea. Wasn't horrible but wasn't my type of book. "
— Jennifer, 3/9/2011 -
" Actually got to meet Linda which was pretty cool. Her insight into the Amish community is dead on. "
— Robin, 3/8/2011 -
" I loved this book. It was a great thriller. The characters were flawed and very realistic, the villians <br/>about as evil as they come, and the setting of Amish country in winter will chill you to the bone. <br/>It had some nice plot twists that kept me guessing right up to the end. "
— Vicki, 3/6/2011
About Linda Castillo
Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. She is the recipient of numerous industry awards.
About Kathleen McInerney
Kathleen McInerney won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2011 and was a finalist for the Audie in 2010 and 2015. Her narrations have also earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has performed in New York and around the United States in both classical and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and a broad range of animation voice-overs.