Mystery

A Simple Murder by Linda Castillo is a 2021 Minotaur publication.

I usually balk at the novellas published in-between full-length novels- even if they are a part of one of my all-time favorite series, for reasons I won’t detail here. That said, when I saw this compilation of Kate Burkholder novellas, I decided to put my qualms aside, mainly because they were part of a collection and not singles.

As per usual when grouping short stories together in one volume, some entries are stronger than others and this collection is no exception. That said, they are all solid stories and worth the read- especially if you are a big fan of the series.

If have heard all the glowing reviews for this series but are daunted by the prospect of starting with book one and trying to catch up- this collection should have enough information from the past to the present to give you enough confidence to jump in anywhere- even some of the most recent installments and go from there.

Overall, this is a solid group of short stories and does the series justice. I’m happy to seem group together in a single book- a great idea for old and new fans alike.

4 stars ( )

A collection of six Kate Burkholder short stories published between 2013-2019. Well written as always. There's even one about Kate when she was a teenage Amish girl before she left the fold. ( )

Compilation of 6 Kate Burkholder short stories. These novellas are quick snippets of investigations that Kate is researching, or they provide an insight into her Amish history and how now, as an English (non-Amish) she interacts with the Amish. ( )

Castillo does it again with this enjoyable collection of Amish mystery short stories. Like her Kate Burkholder book series, the stories feature Kate along with a recurring cast of characters.

Often, with short stories, it's rare that I like them all. Some are good. Others...not so much. Not the case here(pardon the pun). ( )