Linda Castillo has made the series extremely accessible for anyone who wishes to pick it up at any point, a factor that makes Down a Dark Road a must-read for both newcomers to the series and longtime fans ...latest installment finds Kate’s past and present colliding dramatically when a prisoner escapes from the nearby Mansfield Correctional Institution ...when Kate drives out to their farm to do a well-being check, she herself is taken hostage by King ...it’s only halfway finished. Kate begins an investigation of her own on a case that is not only cold but also closed in the mind of law enforcement ...is certainly one of the best installments of the series thus far and is a great place to start, given its strong characterization of Kate Burkholder past and present and the terrific mystery that forms the core of the book. It’s a must-read for this summer.
Kate, who narrates her tale in the first person is tied to her roots while somehow needing to prove Joseph is not a killer. Fast-paced and filled with tension, Down a Dark Road delves into Amish teachings and tradition and how they deal with the 'English' world and its legal system ...back story is interplayed revealing Kate's formative years and her life as it is now outside the Amish populace ... Down a Dark Road is the ninth addition to the Kate Burkholder series. It is well-written and fleshed out to stand alone; however, the plot, locale, and characters warrant reading the previous novels.
A call about a prison break arouses memories of Painters Mill Police Chief Kate Burkholder’s happy childhood and a keen sense of present danger. Joseph King, who lived next door to Kate when she was growing up, was both her playmate and her first crush. His life and personality changed... After a checkered career, he married lovely Naomi and they had five children before he was sent to prison for murdering her ... After Kate promises Joseph she'll look into his case... As she talks to witnesses and looks through questionable case records, Kate realizes that even her position may not protect her from the consequences of her search ... Castillo once again weaves the particularities of the Amish mindset into a complex mystery that will leave you crying with pity or seething with rage.
