Thirty-three year old Painter’s Mill
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder has seen plenty of bad things over the years.
Going to dinner at her brother’s house might be worse. She has a considerable
amount of dread as she and John Tomasetti drive to dinner and it does not take
long for that dread to be justified.
Family tensions and issues are forgotten as a deadly tornado roars towards Painter’s Mill. In the aftermath, a skull is found by members of the local Boy Scout troop while they were clearing debris. That skull is just one small part of a complex case going by thirty years in “After the Storm: A Kate Burkholder Novel.
Family tensions and issues are forgotten as a deadly tornado roars towards Painter’s Mill. In the aftermath, a skull is found by members of the local Boy Scout troop while they were clearing debris. That skull is just one small part of a complex case going by thirty years in “After the Storm: A Kate Burkholder Novel.
“”You know it is going to be an
interesting call when you have to ask if the skull is attached to the body,’
Glock says.’” (Page 53)
It was and the case is complex and
provides the main storyline of the novel. Competing for Kate Burkholder’s
attention are two secondary storylines that also provide around half of the
plot in this compelling read. Kate’s personal life, which now includes her
complicated romance with John Tomasetti has always provided considerable depth
to the series. That certainly is present here in this very complicated tale.
Tornadoes as well as hurricanes have
become clichéd storytelling devices in recent years as every author seemed to
use one or the other in their books. Author Linda Castillo uses the tornado
here for some of the most intense and suspenseful moments this reviewer has
read in quite some time. Those depictions of the tornado and its aftermath are
only rivaled by the intense and fitting conclusion at the end of the novel. After
the Storm: A Kate Burkholder Novel is one of the best books this
reviewer has read all year and should be on your reading list. In all
likelihood the read will be on the shortlist for numerous awards next
year.
This is a series that should be read
in order. It began with Sworn To Silence reviewed here.
After The Storm: A Kate Burkholder
Novel
Linda Castillo
Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Publishing
Group)
July 2015
ISBN# 978-1-250-06156-0
Hardback (also available in audio and
e-book formats)
319 Pages
$25.99
Material obtained from the good
folks of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
I loved this book, too ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love Glock and all of Kate's team. That team helps to make this series special.
ReplyDelete