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When three members of an Amish farming family are found dead in a cesspit in their barn, it is assumed that a terrible accident has occurred, their deaths being caused by methane gas asphyxiation. The coroner discovers one of the victims has a head wound; it is clear that this is murder. What is particularly sad is that four children have lost their parents and uncle. And there's another issue that has the police busy. Someone is attacking the local Amish population in what appears to be a series of hate crimes. The Amish are a very closed community and quite unwilling to speak with outsiders about their affairs. However, the chief of police, Kate Burkholder, grew up Amish and has a deep understanding of their culture. Although she is able to conduct an interrogation, she finds herself in deep conflict. She very much relates to the issues that the children face, particularly the teenage daughter who is experiencing some of the same dilemmas that Kate herself faced at that age before she was excommunicated. The situation has made Kate quite vulnerable. She realizes that she is in danger of losing her objectivity. Kate is aided in the investigation by state agent John Tomasetti, who is also her lover. They have a complicated relationship, one which is very well developed over the course of the book. What they uncover is truly shocking, and everything one has assumed about who is the villain and their motivation is turned on its ear. In addition to the effective plot twists, the characterization is excellent and the depiction of the Amish world engrossing. One thing that did not work well for me was the resolution of the hate crime case. It was treated rather summarily, and there was no real revelation of the motivation for these horrific acts or any insight into the villains. I also found the acts of animal slaughter in the prologue to be very disturbing. BREAKING SILENCE is the third book in the Kate Burkholder series. Castillo has done an excellent job of providing an inside look at the Amish culture without resorting to stereotypes. The book is a well-written thriller. I enjoyed BREAKING SILENCE and intend to search out the earlier books in the series. § Formerly a training development manager for a large company, Maddy is now retired and continues to enable the addiction of crime fiction fans as owner of the online discussion group, 4 Mystery Addicts(4MA), while avidly reading in every possible free moment herself.
Reviewed by Maddy Van Hertbruggen, July 2011
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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