A Dark Path

And Other Kate Burkholder Short Stories

By: Linda Castillo

Narrator: Kathleen McInerney

ISBN: 9781250433213

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Minotaur Books

Publication Date: 06/076/2026

Format: Audio

My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)

JUL 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

For the first time in print comes a collection of five short stories in the Edgar award-winning Kate Burkholder series, PLUS one new, never-before-published story, from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo.

When two young boys don’t return home from an innocent afternoon of fishing, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must track them down before the first winter storm of the season bears down on Painters Mill in THE PACT.

In DISAPPEARED, Kate races against the clock to find a two-year-old who has vanished during a violent thunderstorm. Was the little boy swept away in the rising creek waters? Or is his disappearance even more sinister?

In BLOOD MOON, a man is brutally attacked by a large beast in the woods. Throughout the night, reports of similar incidents escalate and Kate must confront the creature terrorizing the town before violence tips over into tragedy.

When a family dog brings home a human bone, Kate finds herself on a desperate search for answers to end the macabre rumors and ghost stories inundating Painters Mill in the Edgar award-winning short story HALLOWED GROUND.

In DARK STORM RISING, Kate must brave a dangerous blizzard to save an elderly Amish woman from a sinister foe. Will Kate reach her in time to save her life?

In A DARK PATH, a brand-new story, an Amish couple disappears while enroute to town. They’d recently been threatened by their granddaughter’s troubled boyfriend—and there’s heavy weather moving in. Kate rushes toward their remote farm, but a dog on the road causes her to crash into a ravine, where she discovers a shattered buggy. Together, she and her new canine friend must find the couple before it's too late.

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Praise

"Diverse and absorbing... All six stories feature Castillo’s trademark blend of twists, suspense, warmth, gentle humor, and sometimes violence, but with Kate Burkholder on the scene, readers can be assured of a satisfying and enjoyable read." ―Booklist

#ADarkPath

My Review

In A Dark Path, New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo delivers a deeply atmospheric, relentlessly chilling, and emotionally raw Ohio-Amish country psychological crime mystery collection. The story collection hinges on a focus-driven Chief of Police navigating immense environmental and systemic hurdles to protect her vulnerable community from escalating threats, a looming blizzard, and deep-seated local secrets.

"If your absolute favorite thriller subgenre is 'gritty female detectives solving dark secrets inside insular small towns,' you have to pre-order A Dark Path by Linda Castillo on audio for July 14th

Deeply localized ancestral secrets vs. a brutal oncoming storm.

A series of sudden, isolated community crises transforms rural Painters Mill into a high-stakes, paranoid battleground when missing children, savage animal attacks, and a vanished elderly couple force an investigator to race against a freezing seasonal clock.

The Hook

For the first time in print, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder faces a relentless barrage of small-town emergencies, missing children, and local legends across six high-octane cases.

Elevator Pitch

A high-voltage, fast-paced collection of six short mysteries—including one brand-new, never-before-published headline story—following Chief of Police Kate Burkholder as she braves brutal weather, hidden family secrets, and a shattered buggy in a ravine to protect her insular Amish town.

Intro:

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is no stranger to the dark underbelly of Painters Mill, Ohio. In this gripping six-story treasury, her tactical investigative skills are tested across multiple intense timelines.

From tracking two young boys who go missing on an innocent fishing trip before a winter storm strikes, to a frantic hunt for a missing two-year-old swept away in a flash flood, the danger is relentless. The crown jewel is the titular new story, A Dark Path, where an elderly Amish couple vanishes after threats from their granddaughter's boyfriend—forcing Kate to crash her vehicle into a ravine during a heavy storm, where she uncovers a shattered buggy and a ticking clock to save them.

Series

A brilliant short story anthology collection spanning the internal chronologies of the award-winning, long-running Kate Burkholder mystery series.

Setting

The muddy, claustrophobic, and storm-lashed terrain of rural Painers Mill, Ohio, blanketed by freezing blizzards and unyielding rural isolation.

Vibe

Visceral, intense, and thick with cultural dread. Gritty, freezing, and incredibly fast-paced. A high-stakes winter thriller that moves like a bullet.

Genre: Crime Fiction / Short Mystery Anthology / Amish Noir.

Theme

The unwavering duty of protection, the clash between cultural tradition and modern isolation, and how nature’s elements can become a killer's greatest asset.

Standout Characters

~Kate Burkholder: The fierce, former-Amish Chief of Police whose deep personal understanding of her community makes her the ultimate guardian against local evil.

~John Tomasetti: Kate’s fiercely supportive husband and BCI agent whose protective, grounded presence helps anchor Kate when the community turns hostile and pushes her to the brink.

~The Vanished Elders: The missing grandparents in the titular story whose hidden family secrets hold a dark, calculated connection to a local predator.

Author Writing Standout

Linda Castillo displays an absolute masterclass level of control in the shorter mystery form, maximizing information density and delivering sharp cliffhangers without a single trace of filler. Her deep-seated knowledge of Amish history and colloquialisms injects a striking, tactile realism into every single scene, keeping the suspense completely unyielding.

Takeaway

The paths we take through life can lead us away from our roots, but true devotion means stepping back into the dark to shield the people who stayed behind.

Title Significance

A Dark Path serves as a chilling, double-edged title—representing the literal, unmonitored ravine road where a vehicle crashes during a blizzard, and the dangerous, deceptive moral choices of the town's hidden predators.

Metaphor

The shattered buggy discovered at the bottom of the ravine functions as a flawless metaphor—a broken piece of traditional history smashed apart by modern, outside malice.

Why You Should Read

A gift to long-time series completionists and the perfect entry point for new readers looking for quick, high-intensity procedural thrillers. Having read the books in this legendary series, I can safely state that this anthology is a mandatory, five-star treasure trove that honors long-time fans while delivering pure suspense.

My Thoughts

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder must track down missing children and a vanished elderly couple before a massive winter storm hits Painters Mill. With a shattered buggy in a ravine, the clock is ticking.

The narrative pacing turns the screw with absolute perfection. Because I am a lifelong devotee of Castillo's backlist, I knew the atmosphere would be thick, but the rapid-fire intensity of these concise, high-stakes plots completely blew me away. Watching Kate navigate both internal community politics and brutal blizzards is top-tier entertainment.

"A comforting, fiercely intense, and exceptionally clever short story anthology that delivers pure investigative perfection for crime fans."

Audio Standout 🎧 Kathleen McInerney

"The definitive voice of Painters Mill returns with her signature cadence, capturing every ounce of Kate Burkholder's raw grit and authority. Kathleen McInerney (a favorite) doesn't just narrate Kate Burkholder; she owns her. An absolute tour de force performance that proves why she is the heart of this iconic audio series."

Listening to the audiobook version narrated by the legendary McInerney is a mandatory, elite experience. Having listened to her voice in this universe for years, her signature performance style perfectly captures Kate's specific internal grit, her soft Pennsylvania Dutch pronunciations, and her dry, authoritative command as Chief of Police.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).

"A knockout, five-star investigative masterpiece that proves nobody handles cultural malice and rural suspense quite like Linda Castillo. Her most propulsive, a striking, white-knuckle collection where small-town secrets collide violently with the brutal forces of nature."

Recs

Read this if you devoured the entire Kate Burkholder catalog (like The Burning or Rage.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars

Pub Date: July 14, 2026

July 2026 Must-Read Books

About the Author

Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Critically acclaimed as “the master of the genre” (People magazine), Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including an Edgar Award, the Sue Grafton Memorial Award, a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for an Audie Award for best mystery audiobook, and an appearance on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel. Her books have sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide.

In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband and a menagerie of animals, and is currently at work on her next book. WEBSITE