Linda Castillo began her mystery “An Evil Heart” by making sure that the victim was likable and relatable. In “The Burning,” the 16th installment in Castillo’s exciting Kate Burkholder series about a police chief in a small Holmes County town, the victim is anything but likable.
The crime is as gruesome as anything Castillo has ever concocted. Kate is called to the scene of a fire; by the time she arrives, two of her officers have determined that what seemed to be a bonfire out of control is a man being burned alive on a pole.
After the victim, Milan Swanz, is identified, the team begins looking into his life. The euphemism they use is “deeply troubled,” another way of saying he was a “no-gooder,” as his ex-wife describes him. His former employer says “I’ll not speak poorly of an Amish brother,” but it’s clear that Swanz was a malcontent. The Amish elders have gone so far as to excommunicate him, a shocking action.
Kate, who had left the Amish years before, is considered to be an intermediary between the Amish and “English.” She learns much more about the Anabaptist sects and their history going back to the 16th century, including a shadowy group that may or may not still exist.
Kate’s personal life gets put on hold a bit: She and her husband have been married only two months —– she calls him “Tomasetti” and he calls her “Chief.” When Kate’s brother falls under suspicion for the crime, her impartiality is questioned. Her staff remains steadfast but two of Tomasetti’s fellow Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents are determined to undermine her. The mayor, as always, evades commitment.
Kate’s imprudent tendency to get into grave danger without backup hasn’t changed. When will she ever learn?
Book 15, “An Evil Heart,” won an Edgar Award presented by the Mystery Writers of America; the G.P. Putnam’s Sons Memorial Award is presented to the “best novel in a series featuring a female protagonist.” “Hallowed Ground” won the Edgar for Best Short Story.
“The Burning” (320 pages, hardcover) costs $28 from Minotaur . Castillo’s book tour, including a half-dozen Ohio appearances, has been postponed.
Awards
“Go Find Daddy” by Ashland author Steve Goble has been nominated for a Shamus Award in the Best Hardcover PI Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America. The awards will be presented Aug. 31 at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Nashville.
Events
Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights): Mike Petrello signs “Rock Shots: Iconic Images of the Greatest Era of Rock and Roll,” 1 p.m. Sunday. At 7 p.m. Thursday, former Ohio Poet Laureate Amit Majmudar reads from his work; at 7 p.m. Friday, Justine Pucella Winans (murder mystery “One Killer Problem”) and Michael Barakiva, artistic director of the Cleveland Play House (“Keepers of the Stones & Stars”) read from their work. At 7 p.m. Saturday, James Beard Award-winning author Michael Ruhman signs his novel “If You Can’t Take the Heat,” set in Cleveland in the 1980s.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Brecksville branch, 9089 Brecksville Road): Vince Guerrieri signs “Ten-Cent Beer Night: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy,” 7 p.m. Monday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Akron-Summit County Public Library (Firestone Park branch, 1486 Aster Ave., Akron): Lindsay Bonilla (“I Love You with All My Hearts”) reads from her storybooks, 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Free, but tickets are required; register at akronlibrary.org.
Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library : Kate DiCamillio (“Because of Winn-Dixie”) discusses her Mercy Watson storybook series about a friendly pig, in a Zoom event from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a separate Zoom event about her “Tales from Deckawoo Drive” spinoff series, 2 to 3 p.m. Register at westlakelibrary.org.
Wadsworth Public Library (132 Broad St.): Mark Dawidziak talks about “Stephen King and the Shawshank Redemption Revealed: How One Story Keeps Hope Alive,” about the 1994 movie he covered from its early production, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Parma Heights branch, 6206 Pearl Road): Marianne Novy discusses “Adoption Memoirs: Inside Stories,” 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Barnes & Noble (28801 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere): Peter Kirsanow signs “W.E.B. Griffin: Zero Option,” 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. From 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jowan Smith signs “Grandma Hattie’s Ice Cream” and “Mya Mya Mya.”
Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Ave.): Helen Marketti talks about “The Long and Winding Phone,” a collection of interviews with people associated with the Beatles, 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch, 1876 S. Green Road): Mateo Askaripour talks about his dystopian novel “This Great Hemisphere,” 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Mark Dawidziak talks about “Stephen King and the Shawshank Redemption Revealed”; at 2 p.m. Saturday, poets Jeremy Jusek (“The Details Will Be Gone Soon”), Dianne Borsenik (“Flight of Honey”) and Alissa Sammarco (“Moon Landing Day”) read from their work. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Massillon Public Library (208 Lincoln Way E.): Alexxa Burton reads from her storybook “Meet the Cobb Bugs” and leads a craft activity, 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday.
Geauga Public Library (Middlefield branch, 16167 E. High St.): Dan Rager, author of “The Maple Leaf Route: Geauga County,” talks about “Ohio’s Interurban Railroad History,” 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Register at geaugalibrary.net.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch, 1876 S. Green Road, South Euclid): Mark Dawidziak talks about “Stephen King and the Shawshank Redemption Revealed,” 7 p.m. Thursday. At 2 p.m. Saturday, poets Jeremy Jusek (“The Details Will Be Gone Soon”), Dianne Borsenik (“Flight of Honey”) and Alissa Sammarco (“Moon Landing Day”) read from their work. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Parma-Snow branch, 2121 Snow Road): Daniel Silva talks to CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel about Silva’s thriller “A Death in Cornwall,” 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The $30 admission includes a copy of the book. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ledges Shelter, 701 Truxell Road, Peninsula): U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón unveils the park’s installation in the “You Are Here: Poetry in Parks” project, 6 to 7 p.m. Friday. Free, but tickets are required; go to nps.gov/cuya/index.htm.
Learned Owl Book Shop (204 N. Main St., Hudson): Kyrsta Morehouse reads from her poetry collection “As Long As This Heart Beats,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Email information about books of local interest, and event notices at least two weeks in advance to gmail.com and bjnews@thebeaconjournal.com. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kate Burkholder investigates grisly crime in ‘The Burning’ | Book Talk
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