Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Breaking Silence  By  cover art

Breaking Silence

By: Linda Castillo
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The New York Times bestselling series hailed as "gripping" (People magazine) and "compelling" (USA Today) returns with Police Chief Kate Burkholder called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.

The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs' children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

Chock full of twists and chills and set against the unusual world of the Amish, this series "will delight fans of Chelsea Cain and Thomas Harris" (USA Today).

©2011 Linda Castillo (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“In addition to creating exceptionally well drawn characters and crafting a gripping plot that takes some shocking turns to a heart-pounding conclusion, Castillo probes with keen sensitivity the emotional toll taken by police work. The third in this series of thrillers (after Sworn to Silence, 2009, and Pray for Silence, 2010) is another winner.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Castillo has created a gripping series about police chief Kate Burkholder, who was raised in an Amish community but left during her teens, which creates a constant tension between herself and the community but also an understanding of the people involved. Life in the farming area is vividly portrayed and both the sociological background and the physical setting add greatly to the mystery. The mystery is complicated but clearly plotted with a heart-stopping ending.” —RT Book Review (4 ½ stars)

“This is the third in a stupendous series . . . Written at a thrilling pace, with haunting images, Breaking Silence is a novel worth staying up all night to reach the end.” —New York Journal of Books

What listeners say about Breaking Silence

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    498
  • 4 Stars
    216
  • 3 Stars
    59
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    496
  • 4 Stars
    153
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    440
  • 4 Stars
    187
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

disappointing

I was interested by the book's description and looking forward to the setting in an Amish community. However the lengthy descriptions of Chief Burkholder's brooding about her conflicted feelings about the Amish community got in the way of the story line.Hard to imagine her in directing the work of a police department --- even a small one. I think some judicious editing would have helped this book because, basically the story is a good one with some good plot twists.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Castillo does it again. Never would have guessed the murderer. Can't wait to read the next book in the Katie Burkholder series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Story

Would you try another book from Linda Castillo and/or Kathleen McInerney?

Good story bad narrating. Her voice when she was doing the male characters gave me the creeps.

What did you like best about this story?

I love Amish stories. Since this was a thriller made it all the better.

Do you think Breaking Silence needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes!!!! But get a different narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Not Great

The author engaged in a lot of unnecessary exposition, "I shouldn't have felt that way, but I did, and I wondered if it was because I was raised Amish and understood so much about her life." The reader gave Tomasetti's voice a strange, raspy quality intended, I think, to convey masculine depth. Instead, it made him sound like a bad Clint Eastwood imitator. The real problem, however, is the writing which is awkward, and often devolves into cliches.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

At first, I was enjoying the story. However, the narrator really did a terrible job with the voice for the male main character; she was fine with the female voice. Nonetheless, I was enjoying the mystery until the last three or four chapters, when the storyline took a turn toward the absurd! No spoilers - just in case you want to read something as far-fetched as Chamberlain's story. It had potential, but then truly disappointed. (And I normally do not give bad reviews! I'm an easy audience.)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic story full of emotion

Such a brilliant, suspenseful story. As always, Kathleen McInerney’s performance pulls you right in and brings the characters to life. Well worth a listen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good Amish mystery story. Unlikeable heroine.

What made the experience of listening to Breaking Silence the most enjoyable?

I have listened to 3 of the Kate Burkholder Amish mysteries by Linda Castillo. I love the premise, love the idea of an amish murder mystery. The mystery/murder elements of the story were intrigingly horrible with some nasty bad guys.. And the whodunit held my interest. I really liked some of the side characters, Glock, Skid and Pickles were nice supporting characters, and I really really liked Tomasetti. But, as much as I tried over 3 books, I just really disliked Kate. And its very hard for me to remain engaged in a series when I am unable to "root" for the main character.

What could Linda Castillo have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I didn't like Kate. I grew very tired of being reminded over and over and over about her growing up Amish, and how every little bitty thing, every aspect of her job, every Amish child she encounters throw her into a whiney, brooding mess who is mired in memories and flashbacks. I felt she had no backbone. I got tired of being repeatedly told that her tragic Amish past gets in the way of her being able to function. We are told over and over how every nearly every amish encounter throws her into loooong angsty internal monologs. I am disappointed. I'm not sure if I will listen to others in the series, but the interesting mystery aspects of the story,, for me, are over-shadowed by too much whining.

What about Kathleen McInerney’s performance did you like?

I liked her performance for the most part. Some of her male voice were a bit weird, but not too distracting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not moved actually, but some of the "bad" guys had me cringing, and grimacing when the utter nastiness of their actions are revealed. And there is a "bad" guy "twist and reveal" close to the end of Breaking Silence that took me completely by surprised. I did not see it coming.

Any additional comments?

I thought the stories twists and turns were terrific. I wish I knew that Kate Burkholder had some character development. I am completely on the fence on whether I will continue to listen to further books in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too bad it has profane language

I started this book and was upset there was unnecessary profane language, stopped and considered asking for my money back. Then after a month tried again, and found the story was pretty interesting. But then again, the language started up again. If it was pertinent to the story I get it, but none of it was...too bad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The connection growing between Kate and Tommaseti!

Nothing stands out enough to critique at this moment. I’m enjoying the foundation of the characters being built in this series of books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Foul language

Cause I like these stories I am truly amazed that the language is so very necessary and many of the freezes. The author uses are very repetitive throughout your books. This is my last one that I purchasing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!