Outsider: A Novel of Suspense

When I think back to the first book in the series, which felt like a true mystery, this one is a bit different.Not really a whodunit, and it's missing that creepy, gruesome factor the first several books had that made me afraid to sleep alone. To me, this one was more like an episode of Law and Order, with the Amish element not front and center.There were a few unanswered questions or loose ends.

Outsider by Linda Castillo is the 12th A Kate Burkholder Novel. It can be read on its own for those new to the series, but I recommend reading this suspenseful series in order. I thought Outsider was well-written with developed characters and it moves along at a fast pace. Outsider starts off with a bang in the prologue with Gina Colorosa, a vice unit cop from Columbus, on the run after a no-knock warrant is executed at 3 a.m. on her home. Gina was prepared for this action and was able to escape, but she was shot in the shoulder. Gina knows only one person whom she can trust and that is Kate Burkholder. Adam Lengacher, an Amish widower with three children, rescues Gina and takes her into his home. Kate is shocked when she sees Gina because it has been ten years since they parted. Kate would not have become a police officer if not for Gina. Gina tells Kate about corruption within the police force in Columbus. There is suspense, action, mystery, and intrigue in Outsider. You wonder if Gina is disclosing all the information to Kate, who is involved in the corruption, and what will happen next. There is graphic violence in Outsider and along with an extensive amount of foul language (fair warning). I thought Outsider was more violent than the earlier books in A Kate Burkholder series. I like that we get to learn more about what happened to Kate after she left home, her time at the academy, and her early years on the force in Columbus. We also discover why Kate has not spoken to Gina in ten years. There are some cute moments in Outsider as well. Adam’s three kids are sweet. Sammy was my favorite. He is a curious boy. There was a calf who had been spurned by his mama that needed nurturing. I like the relationship between Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti. They manage to balance their work and their private life. I liked the author’s descriptive writing which brought the scenes to life. I enjoyed the vivid word imagery of the sleigh ride especially. I like the glimpses of Amish life which felt authentic. Outsider is a suspenseful novel with a cute calf, a well-proportioned widower, a friend on frightful footing, substantial snowfall, corrupt cops, an auto accident, and a barrage of bullets.

Years before, Kate and Gina were best friends at the police academy and patrol officers in Columbus, but time and distance have taken them down two very different paths. Now, Gina reveals a shocking story of betrayal and revenge that has forced her to run for her life. She’s desperate for protection, and the only person she can trust is Kate—but can Kate trust her? Or will Gina’s dark past put them all in danger? As a blizzard bears down on Painters Mill, Kate helps Gina go into hiding on Adam’s farm. While the tough-skinned Gina struggles to adjust to the Amish lifestyle, Kate and state agent John Tomasetti delve into the incident that caused Gina to flee. But as Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, she must confront a devastating truth that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she's devoted her life.