Pray for Silence

By: Linda Castillo

Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

 

The New York Times best-selling author of Sworn to Silence delivers an electrifying thriller - Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must confront a dark evil to solve the mysterious murders of an entire Amish family.

In the quiet town of Painters Mill, an Amish family of seven has been found brutally murdered on their farm. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive, and no suspect. Formerly Amish herself, Kate is no stranger to secrets, but she can't get her mind around the senseless brutality of the crime. 

State agent John Tomasseti arrives on the scene to assist. He and Kate worked together on a previous case during which they began a tentative relationship, but each is wary of commitment. The disturbing details of this case will push them to their limits and force them to face demons from their own troubled pasts. When Kate discovers a diary, she realizes a haunting personal connection to the case. One of the teenage daughters may have been leading a lurid double life. 

As the case develops, Kate's list of suspects grows. Who is the attractive stranger that stole the heart of the innocent young Amish girl? Did her estranged brother - a man with a violent past who was shunned by his family and the Amish community - come back to seek out revenge? Driven by her own scarred past, Kate swears she'll find the killer and bring him to justice - even if it means putting herself in the line of fire.  

Topping her own best-selling debut, Linda Castillo once again immerses us in the world of the Amish with a chilling story that is both a fast-paced thriller and intriguing psychological puzzle.

©2010 Linda Castillo (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"Though the violence level is high, the brutality is offset by Kate’s and her team’s very capable police procedure and investigation. Another solid effort that will appeal to fans of Karin Slaughter and Tami Hoag.” ( Library Journal)

Suspenseful...

Pray for Silence is the second book in the Kate Burkholder series. Again, I thought this was an excellent book. I'm not sure I understand why there are so many negative reviews. I found this book suspenseful, well written with believable and likable characters (the good guys anyway!). These book are centered around the Amish community and aside from a really good story I also find them informative. This particular book deals with the murder of an entire family. It all seems to go back to a young Amish girl/woman working at a shop in the community, her interaction with non Amish, her naïveté and willingness to trust. Because Burkholder grew up Amish and had a traumatic experience as a child she takes this case very personally. Kathleen McInerney does an excellent job narrating. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this series and will be purchasing the remaining books. I am already listening to book #3 and it is equally as good. If you found this review helpful please indicate so. Thank You.

Good plot but writing is cliche

I really want to like Linda because I have enjoyed the first two plots but the writing is lazy. She repeats herself, she uses a ton of cliches and it is just not tight. They are more of an beach read and one that can be enjoyed. I would probably not listen to one again because I become too annoyed.

Too Predictable

Had killer figured out early so just a matter of time to get to the end.

Good Story Line, Great Performance

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Time well spent as far as the story goes. However, the focus on personal emotional trails and tribulations grew tiresome.

Recommend but don't expect surprises

I recommend this book if you're looking for a fairly routine crime thriller with an Amish slant. Actually the Amish slant is probably the most interesting part of the book though I feel like a voyeur at a circus. I quite like the 'gutsy, with angst', police captain though a tad too emotional for the job. There's a bit too much 'mills and boon' for a crime novel.

The narrator wasn't bad at all. At first I found her 'girlish' high pitch irritating but I got used to it and she does a great job with the different character voices.

Awesome!!! Betty from Butler, PA.

I am not normally a mystery listener, but I do love Amish stories of all kinds. This book kept me glued to listening. The narriator was wonderful, and the writing was detailed in a very good way. The killer is a mystery, but the reason is very normal in this troubled world. I read Linda's first book, and I would also recomend it very highly.

Cliched with Dumb Protagonists

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Kathleen McInerney?

No. David Suchet is the narrator against whom all are measured, and Ms. McInerney does not approach his greatness. She delivers the lines in one of three ways: 1) nervous stutter 2) over-the-top emotive or 3) threatening. Every scene requires one of them, apparently to the same degree. If the scene requires menace, it is treated with the same degree as the last scene that required menace. There is no modulation, but part of that is not Ms. McInerney's fault. The dialogue she is given to read is so terrible and cliched, that one could almost forgive her for the terrible narration. Almost.

What character would you cut from Pray for Silence?

All of them, including the author.

Any additional comments?

The main character (Kate) is obtuse and extremely annoying. On countless occasions, I rolled my eyes at her dumbfounded reaction to what a rationale person would believe are obvious conclusions or clues. In addition, Kate's constant brooding about her past quickly became tedious, and -- when combined with the plaintive narration -- made her into a self-absorbed character who couldn't contemplate the murders without repetitive comments and mournful regrets about her own past.

Very expected - not worth a credit

I was really keen to listen to this story - i thought the Amish setting would give some interesting culture insights and that it did do. BUT the story line was so typical - strong woman who can hold up her own, thinking of the dark handsome man all the time - and then the unravelling of the mystery, just seemed too easy. This is really a romance hiding behind a mystery - not my cup of tea. Wont read this author again.

too graphic

disappointed with this book, it was too graphic for me with way too much cursing

The language is too foul for me.

What disappointed you about Pray for Silence?

It seems like every other word was a swear word. That is so offensive to me, that I have a difficult time following the story line.

What was most disappointing about Linda Castillo’s story?

see the above

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator was fine.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Pray for Silence?

All of the offensive language. I guess I'm just old fashioned.

Any additional comments?

I won't buy anymore books by this author.

Brilliant (Book 2)

In the small Amish community of Painters Mill an entire family of seven was found slaughtered on their farm.

Chief Kate Burkholder (former Amish) and her small team have few clues.
Then Kate discovers a diary that belonged to one of the victim and is shocked to learn the girls secrets.

State Agent, John Tomasetti, himself in trouble at work, arrives to assist.

Can be read on its own but follows on beautifully from Book 1, Sworn to Silence.

Enjoyable

Enjoyable series so far. I think the narrator is very talented. Hoping that the series keeps up the standard set by the early books.