Books On Board
series Reading Order

Kate Burkholder Books in Order

28 Books
3 Reading orders
2009 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

To get the most out of Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's journey, we highly recommend reading the series in publication order, which also functions as its chronological order. Because Kate's personal relationships, particularly her evolving partnership with state agent John Tomasetti, and her status within the Painters Mill community develop continuously over time, reading the series out of order can lead to major spoilers. Below is the complete, recommended path combining the full-length novels and the bridging novellas.

  1. Sworn to Silence (Novel, 2009)
  2. Pray for Silence (Novel, 2010)
  3. Breaking Silence (Novel, 2011)
  4. Gone Missing (Novel, 2012)
  5. Long Lost (Novella, 2013 — Book 4.5)
  6. Her Last Breath (Novel, 2013)
  7. The Dead Will Tell (Novel, 2014)
  8. A Hidden Secret (Novella, 2015 — Book 6.5)
  9. After the Storm (Novel, 2015)
  10. Seeds of Deception (Novella, 2016 — Book 7.5)
  11. Among the Wicked (Novel, 2016)
  12. Only the Lucky (Novella, 2017 — Book 8.5)
  13. Down a Dark Road (Novel, 2017)
  14. In Dark Company (Novella, 2018 — Book 9.5)
  15. A Gathering of Secrets (Novel, 2018)
  16. In Plain Sight (Novella, 2019 — Book 10.5)
  17. Shamed (Novel, 2019)
  18. The Pact (Novella, 2020 — Book 11.5)
  19. Outsider (Novel, 2020)
  20. Disappeared (Novella, 2021 — Book 12.5)
  21. Fallen (Novel, 2021)
  22. Blood Moon (Novella, 2022 — Book 13.5)
  23. The Hidden One (Novel, 2022)
  24. Hallowed Ground (Novella, 2023 — Book 14.5)
  25. An Evil Heart (Novel, 2023)
  26. Dark Storm Rising (Novella, 2024 — Book 15.5)
  27. The Burning (Novel, 2024)
  28. Rage (Novel, 2025)
  29. A Dark Path (Novella, 2026 — Book 17.5)

Understanding the Short Story Collections

If you prefer not to purchase or track down individual e-novellas, Linda Castillo has compiled them into convenient print and digital collections. These compilations make it easy to catch up on the shorter adventures that expand the lore of Painters Mill.

  • A Simple Murder (2021): This first anthology compiles the first six novellas of the series: Long Lost, A Hidden Secret, Seeds of Deception, Only the Lucky, In Dark Company, and In Plain Sight.
  • A Dark Path (Scheduled for July 14, 2026): This second anthology collects the subsequent five novellas (The Pact, Disappeared, Blood Moon, Hallowed Ground, and Dark Storm Rising) and introduces a brand-new, exclusive title short story, A Dark Path.

What to Know Before You Start

Set in the fictional town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the series features Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. Kate is a compelling protagonist because of her unique background: she was raised Amish but chose to leave the community (a process known as going 'English') after surviving a series of terrifying crimes in her youth. This gives her an insider’s understanding of the insular Amish community, yet keeps her at a permanent, often painful distance from her own family and heritage.

Linda Castillo’s thrillers are famous for their dark, atmospheric, and often graphic depictions of crime. They are procedurals with a psychological edge, contrasting the peaceful, simple lifestyle of the Amish with brutal acts of violence. While the crimes are self-contained in each book, the emotional trauma Kate carries, her relationship with recovering addict and agent John Tomasetti, and her standing in the town are recurring threads that build from book to book.

Practical Reader Advice

Can the books be read as standalones? Yes, the mystery at the center of each novel is resolved by the final page. However, you will miss out on the emotional stakes, character evolution, and the complex relationship dynamic between Kate and Tomasetti if you read them out of order. We strongly advise starting with the very first book, Sworn to Silence.

Do the novellas matter? The novellas offer quick, satisfying insights into secondary characters and smaller-scale investigations in Painters Mill. While they are not mandatory to follow the main plot of the novels, they enrich the reading experience. The easiest way to read them is via the collections A Simple Murder and A Dark Path at the natural pauses in the series timeline.

Adaptations: If you want to see Kate Burkholder on screen, the first novel Sworn to Silence was adapted into a 2013 Lifetime television movie titled An Amish Murder, starring Neve Campbell as Kate.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best starting point for the Kate Burkholder series?

The best place to start is with the first novel, Sworn to Silence (2009). Starting here is essential for understanding Kate's backstory, her trauma, and the origin of her relationship with John Tomasetti.

QDo I need to read the Kate Burkholder novellas in order?

While the novellas are optional, they fit chronologically between the novels. You can read them individually as you go, or read them together in the collections A Simple Murder and A Dark Path.

QAre the mysteries in the Kate Burkholder books resolved in each book?

Yes, each novel features a self-contained crime that is fully resolved. However, the overarching character growth and relationships continue across the books, making publication order the best way to read them.

QIs Painters Mill, Ohio a real place?

No, Painters Mill is a fictional town created by Linda Castillo. However, it is heavily inspired by real towns in Ohio's Amish Country, such as Millersburg and the surrounding Holmes County area.

QIs there a movie adaptation of the Kate Burkholder series?

Yes, the first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into the 2013 Lifetime TV movie An Amish Murder, starring Neve Campbell as Chief Kate Burkholder.

QWhen does the latest Kate Burkholder book come out?

The 17th novel, Rage, was released in July 2025. The next major release is the short story collection A Dark Path, scheduled for July 14, 2026.