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Kate Burkholder #7.5
Seeds of Deception
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE DEAD WILL TELL comes a new short story offering a glimpse into Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's past and her Amish roots.
It's autumn in Painter's Mill, and fourteen year old Katie Burkholder has been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard with her brother. It’s just another day filled with chores—until her best friend Mattie arrives to help. Somehow, boredom transforms into fun and games whenever the girls are together. The innocent fun comes to an end when Billy Marquardt and his gang of friends interrupts. Katie is no prude, but she knows better than to associate with the older English boys, especially since they’re known troublemakers. Mattie has no such compunction. Thumbing her nose at the Ordnung and all of the Amish rules, she disappears into the old barn with Billy.
Moments later, the Zimmerman’s barn is consumed by fire. Katie suspects Billy had something to do with the blaze, but he denies it. When the facts don’t add up, Katie begins her own investigation—and she doesn’t like what she finds. Will her friendship with Mattie survive the truth?
It's autumn in Painter's Mill, and fourteen year old Katie Burkholder has been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard with her brother. It’s just another day filled with chores—until her best friend Mattie arrives to help. Somehow, boredom transforms into fun and games whenever the girls are together. The innocent fun comes to an end when Billy Marquardt and his gang of friends interrupts. Katie is no prude, but she knows better than to associate with the older English boys, especially since they’re known troublemakers. Mattie has no such compunction. Thumbing her nose at the Ordnung and all of the Amish rules, she disappears into the old barn with Billy.
Moments later, the Zimmerman’s barn is consumed by fire. Katie suspects Billy had something to do with the blaze, but he denies it. When the facts don’t add up, Katie begins her own investigation—and she doesn’t like what she finds. Will her friendship with Mattie survive the truth?
74 pages, ebook
First published May 31, 2016
428 people are currently reading
3,294 people want to read
About the author
Linda Castillo
92Ìýbooks6,213ÌýfollowersLinda 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. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Awardâ€� for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at [email protected].
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at [email protected].
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
October 1, 2021
Seeds of Deception (Kate Burkholder #7.5)
by Linda Castillo (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author), Kathleen McInerney (Narrator )
This short story takes place when Kate is fourteen years old and gives us insight into her friendship with Mattie, her Amish "bad girl" friend. It's not a funny story, it's a serious one that shows Kate making allowances in her choices between right and wrong. But it is funny that even at fourteen, this story has Kate running (biking) into danger and bumps and bruises.
by Linda Castillo (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author), Kathleen McInerney (Narrator )
This short story takes place when Kate is fourteen years old and gives us insight into her friendship with Mattie, her Amish "bad girl" friend. It's not a funny story, it's a serious one that shows Kate making allowances in her choices between right and wrong. But it is funny that even at fourteen, this story has Kate running (biking) into danger and bumps and bruises.
October 10, 2021
Fourteen-year-old Katie Burkholder and her brother Jacob were picking apples in the orchard for their Mamm to make pies. They were at the Zimmerman’s orchard and had split up to fill their baskets when Katie’s best friend Mattie arrived. Mattie was also Amish but was a bit of a rebel and when one of the young Englisher boys arrived, Mattie went with him into the barn, ostensibly for a cigarette. It was after Billy went running out of the barn, filled with anger, and Mattie slowly followed to join Katie, that problems started. Katie first noticed the barn was on fire � had Billy lit the blaze? Surely it wasn’t Mattie?
Seeds of Deception is #7.5 in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo, and it gives us an insight into Kate’s life as a teenager before she left the Amish life. She was close to her brother Jacob, and sister Sarah and loved her Mamm and Datt. A nice addition to the series, but not one to read without having read from #1. Recommended.
Seeds of Deception is #7.5 in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo, and it gives us an insight into Kate’s life as a teenager before she left the Amish life. She was close to her brother Jacob, and sister Sarah and loved her Mamm and Datt. A nice addition to the series, but not one to read without having read from #1. Recommended.
October 17, 2021
I did not honestly feel this added anything to the series or showed us much we did not already know about Kate's character or the Amish way of life in which she was raised. I rarely read these short stories which so many authors insert into their series and now I know why.
August 18, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. This is a short story that takes place in Kate Burkholder's past--when she was 14 years old. She is with a Amish friend, Mattie Erb, picking apples, when an Englischer boy, Billy Marquart, comes to them and flirts with Mattie. They go to the barn together. Both come out of the barn, Billy with a scratch on his face, and Mattie's Amish kapp is askew. Something happened in the barn. The ending is somewhat ambiguous and sad.
This is the 3rd story in a book of short stories by Linda Castillo. I read all 3 stories in 1 day.
This is the 3rd story in a book of short stories by Linda Castillo. I read all 3 stories in 1 day.
October 7, 2021
We go back in time when Kate Burkholder was 14-years old, living Amish in Painter’s Mill. She and brother Jacob are picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard when her best friend Mattie Erb shows up to help. Soon after, while Jacob is elsewhere in the Orchard, they’re joined by Billy Marquardt and his buddies, all Englishers. Kate keeps her distance but the daring Mattie goes off into the barn with Billy.
We first meet Mattie in and this short story provides some much needed background to help understand how Kate missed so much about her best friend. The events following Mattie’s entry into that barn offers a prescient view of the woman she would later become and a little bit why Kate may have been blind to her behavior. And, we get some insight into the seeds that were sown that caused Kate to eventually pursue a career in law enforcement. As always, Kathleen McInerney delivered another solid narration performance. I very much enjoyed this small peek into Kate’s past.
We first meet Mattie in and this short story provides some much needed background to help understand how Kate missed so much about her best friend. The events following Mattie’s entry into that barn offers a prescient view of the woman she would later become and a little bit why Kate may have been blind to her behavior. And, we get some insight into the seeds that were sown that caused Kate to eventually pursue a career in law enforcement. As always, Kathleen McInerney delivered another solid narration performance. I very much enjoyed this small peek into Kate’s past.
June 2, 2016
This was a quick read that was a little look at 14 year old Kate Burkholder. I don't feel it added anything to the series.
October 15, 2021
This short story takes the reader back to Kate's past when she was fourteen, gives a glimpse of her friendship with best friend, Mattie and a crime that leaves her with a troubled conscious.
The title is very appropriate as we see Kate's blindness and trust in regards to Mattie, even as she also demonstrates her ability to critically analyze facts in regards to a crime, her love of mysteries and her restlessness in the strict Amish community.
Even though this short story is #7.5, you may want to read it before "Her Last Breath" book #5 in the series. (Just a hint at some background you may want to understand.)
The title is very appropriate as we see Kate's blindness and trust in regards to Mattie, even as she also demonstrates her ability to critically analyze facts in regards to a crime, her love of mysteries and her restlessness in the strict Amish community.
Even though this short story is #7.5, you may want to read it before "Her Last Breath" book #5 in the series. (Just a hint at some background you may want to understand.)
March 11, 2024
2.5â�
Genre ~ crime fiction
Series ~ Kate Burkholder #7.5
Others in the series ~ #1-16 + 0.5's
Setting ~ Ohio
Publication date ~ May 31, 2016
Est page Count ~ 65
Audio length ~ 1 hour and 30 minutes
Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
POV ~ single 1st
A short review for a short story that follows 14 year old, Kate, and her best friend, Mattie. They're picking apples when a nearby barn goes up in a blaze.
Meh, I didn't much care for this one. There was a little bit of action to keep the story moving, but I'm more interested in current aged Kate, unless we're in a full length novel with flashbacks to her younger years. I will say it was nice to see how her brother Jacob was very protective of her, but that's really about it.
Narration notes:
Kathleen did a fine job.
Connect with me � ~ ~
Genre ~ crime fiction
Series ~ Kate Burkholder #7.5
Others in the series ~ #1-16 + 0.5's
Setting ~ Ohio
Publication date ~ May 31, 2016
Est page Count ~ 65
Audio length ~ 1 hour and 30 minutes
Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
POV ~ single 1st
A short review for a short story that follows 14 year old, Kate, and her best friend, Mattie. They're picking apples when a nearby barn goes up in a blaze.
Meh, I didn't much care for this one. There was a little bit of action to keep the story moving, but I'm more interested in current aged Kate, unless we're in a full length novel with flashbacks to her younger years. I will say it was nice to see how her brother Jacob was very protective of her, but that's really about it.
Narration notes:
Kathleen did a fine job.
Connect with me � ~ ~
June 9, 2016
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder grew up Amish � Painter’s Mill was her home town, and she lived with her Datt, Mamm, brother Joseph and sister Sarah where they worked the farm from early morning until late at night. When Katie was fourteen she and Joseph went to the nearby Zimmerman farm to pick apples for Mamm’s cooking. With the arrival of Katie’s best friend Mattie, her day immediately looked brighter. But her Mamm and Datt didn’t approve of her friendship with Mattie � she was a bad influence, a “wild child� according to them.
The arrival in the orchard of the English boy Billy Marquardt made Katie uneasy, but Mattie was up for some fun. When they headed to the barn, Katie refused to follow � but she was worried for her friend. The ensuing fire which engulfed the barn had the police investigating Mattie, Billy and Katie � what would they find? Katie was sure her friend was innocent and she was determined to find the truth. But was there trouble ahead?
Seeds of Deception is a short story by Linda Castillo which is part of the Kate Burkholder series. It’s an enjoyable little glimpse at part of the tough police chief’s childhood, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love this author’s work, and had no hesitation in purchasing it. Highly recommended.
The arrival in the orchard of the English boy Billy Marquardt made Katie uneasy, but Mattie was up for some fun. When they headed to the barn, Katie refused to follow � but she was worried for her friend. The ensuing fire which engulfed the barn had the police investigating Mattie, Billy and Katie � what would they find? Katie was sure her friend was innocent and she was determined to find the truth. But was there trouble ahead?
Seeds of Deception is a short story by Linda Castillo which is part of the Kate Burkholder series. It’s an enjoyable little glimpse at part of the tough police chief’s childhood, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love this author’s work, and had no hesitation in purchasing it. Highly recommended.
September 8, 2020
Seeds of Deception is a short story in Kate Burkholder series. This story takes you back to when Kate was 14 years old with her brother Jacob and her best friend Mattie. Since the entire story is a flashback to Kate's Amish life as a teen, it doesn't need to be read in order.
August 21, 2019
Seeds of Deception is a novella in the Kate Burkholder series. This story is a prequel to events depicted in book 5, Her Last Breath. The story is set back when Kate was 14 years old and still living as Amish. Her best friend Mattie is a little bit wild and not a bit afraid to break rules. She tends to drag Kate right along with her. But....a line is crossed, and Kate will have to decide between telling a lie to protect a friend or telling the truth. What she learns about herself will be the foundation for her becoming a police officer later.
I enjoy this series and plan to read every book and novella. I liked this story despite the fact I didn't feel it really added anything to the series. The events were explained in book 5. This short prequel tale did flesh things out a bit more, but it isn't something that has to be read to enjoy the series or understand the characters. Seeds of Deception is listed at book 7.5 in the series reading order. I enjoyed the quick read before jumping into book 8, Among the Wicked.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story. The waiting list for the ebook or audio at my local library was incredibly long....so I clicked on over to Audible and bought it. No sense waiting months when I can spend less than $2 and just buy it. I did smile at the thought that so many people are enjoying Castillo's books.....but a 9-month waiting list? At what point should a library buy a second copy? I'm relatively patient...but not that patient. lol. But I digress.... The audio is 1.5 hours long and narrated by Kathleen McInerney. McInerney reads at a nice, even pace and gives a great performance. An overall enjoyable listening experience.
I enjoy this series and plan to read every book and novella. I liked this story despite the fact I didn't feel it really added anything to the series. The events were explained in book 5. This short prequel tale did flesh things out a bit more, but it isn't something that has to be read to enjoy the series or understand the characters. Seeds of Deception is listed at book 7.5 in the series reading order. I enjoyed the quick read before jumping into book 8, Among the Wicked.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story. The waiting list for the ebook or audio at my local library was incredibly long....so I clicked on over to Audible and bought it. No sense waiting months when I can spend less than $2 and just buy it. I did smile at the thought that so many people are enjoying Castillo's books.....but a 9-month waiting list? At what point should a library buy a second copy? I'm relatively patient...but not that patient. lol. But I digress.... The audio is 1.5 hours long and narrated by Kathleen McInerney. McInerney reads at a nice, even pace and gives a great performance. An overall enjoyable listening experience.
January 1, 2021
A return to Kate's past and the time of her Amish upbringing. I love the relationship she has with her brother.
This one challenges her lifelong friendship with Mattie.
This one challenges her lifelong friendship with Mattie.
April 13, 2021
This is an Amish Suspense, and this is the 7.5 book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read and review books 1-7 before reading this book. This book is a short novella less then 100 pages. This book is all about an event that happen when Kate was a teenager. This whole novella is told by teenager Kate Burkholder (Katie), and she was Amish during this whole book. I love getting to seeing the young Amish Kate. I loved this book because I got to see Kate Amish, and I also saw even as a teenager she still acted liked a cop. There is some events that is talk about quickly in this book that was in earlier books which I also loved. I do not think you need to read this book, but if you want to see Kate as a young Amish girl pick this book up. (*)
February 17, 2021
I haven't read many of the short stories but the ones I've read are really worth reading/listening to. A hidden secret had more of a story to it.
June 2, 2016
62% on my kindle and - the end. And then an excerpt of the next book, which I declined to read. The excerpt, most probably not the book:)
It was nice enough but then wrapped up too fast. And it was another one of those endings where the solution was presented with an 'Oh, did you hear, ...' Would have been nice to being more involved as a reader!
It was nice enough but then wrapped up too fast. And it was another one of those endings where the solution was presented with an 'Oh, did you hear, ...' Would have been nice to being more involved as a reader!
July 5, 2019
Fourteen-year-old Katie Burkholder has been sent with her brother to pick apples in the local orchard. This is a boring job for a young Amish girl, but it turns into fun when her best friend Mattie arrives to help. But the fun quickly comes to an end when Englisher Billy Marquardt shows up. When he suggests they go inside the barn, Katie refuses but Mattie thinks it will be fun. Minutes later, Billy storms away from the orchard and smoke is seen coming from the barn. The ensuing investigation has the police questioning Billy, Mattie, and Katie about how the barn happened to burn to the ground.
This short story is a look into Kate's past. I really wasn't satisfied with this story. The end kind of left me hanging. I wouldn't waste money for this story. My rating: 2 Stars.
This short story is a look into Kate's past. I really wasn't satisfied with this story. The end kind of left me hanging. I wouldn't waste money for this story. My rating: 2 Stars.
March 31, 2018
This really didn't add any value to the series. I really don't need filler short stories. I need progression in this series so it annoyed me. I am glad that it was only an hour and half.
June 8, 2016
I am a huge Linda Castillo fan but this did nothing for me. I was so looking forward to this little book but it fell short for me. It did not add anything about her past for me and the ending was cut short and just did not end well. :(
September 12, 2017
I love the little books in between. This little story was great. I like how it went back to when Katie was young and to a story about what happened one summer. Awesome
July 14, 2020
This is a short story that takes place when Kate Burkholder is around 14 years old. It is nice to see Kate interacting with her siblings and friends as a young adult. We’ve met her siblings Jacob and Sarah as adults in previous books, and her best friend Mattie has shown up briefly as well. I don’t think that this story adds anything new to the series, but it is fun to see a glimpse of Kate’s Amish childhood and I’m glad I read it.
My reviews from the Kate Burkholder series
Sworn To Silence (Kate Burkholder #1)
Pray For Silence (Kate Burkholder #2)
Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder #3)
Gone Missing (Kate Burkholder #4)
Long Lost (Kate Burkholder #4.5
Her Last Breath (Kate Burkholder #5)
The Dead Will Tell (Kate Burkholder #6)
A Hidden Secret (Kate Burkholder #6.5)
After The Storm (Kate Burkholder #7)
Seeds Of Deception (Kate Burkholder #7.5)
My reviews from the Kate Burkholder series
Sworn To Silence (Kate Burkholder #1)
Pray For Silence (Kate Burkholder #2)
Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder #3)
Gone Missing (Kate Burkholder #4)
Long Lost (Kate Burkholder #4.5
Her Last Breath (Kate Burkholder #5)
The Dead Will Tell (Kate Burkholder #6)
A Hidden Secret (Kate Burkholder #6.5)
After The Storm (Kate Burkholder #7)
Seeds Of Deception (Kate Burkholder #7.5)
October 6, 2021
This is a short story that lays the foundation and offers a glimpse into Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder’s, past and her Amish roots.
A fire starts in a barn, the last 2 being in the barn were Billy, and Katie’s best friend, Mattie. Fingers are pointed, each claiming the other was responsible. There is one major clue, but when the facts don’t start adding up, Katie wants to know the truth. Truth vs. Friendship - the ending surprised me! Great read!
A fire starts in a barn, the last 2 being in the barn were Billy, and Katie’s best friend, Mattie. Fingers are pointed, each claiming the other was responsible. There is one major clue, but when the facts don’t start adding up, Katie wants to know the truth. Truth vs. Friendship - the ending surprised me! Great read!
February 10, 2019
This is a novella that takes place when Kate is 14 years old. It's a story that also features her then best friend Mattie who we met in book 5 of the series. It was interesting to read this story knowing what I know about Mattie after reading that book. It isn't the best novella in the series, but I thought it was nice to get a glimpse of Kate as a young teen.
August 3, 2020
Listened to this one tonight. Short story from Kate Burkholder's youth. It kind of shows her first "case".
March 25, 2018
Here we catch a glimpse of Katie Burkholder when she was 14, an innocent, and a bit intrigue with the mystery bug/crime novels. She also developed a love for the books and music, not sure how she will give that up. Katie is already a rule breaker by skipping out of the house, but this incident is about her friend and an English boy and smoking in the barn. How the turn of events tangle Katie up in who is telling the truth and who is lying. The English boy is a troublemaker and he causes more harm than he does good.... so maybe Karma has actually caught up to him with Katie and her friend becoming more wiser on their choices in the future. Soon though... Katie's world will be chaos with a different traumatic situation that will really decide which path she should travel.
October 10, 2021
This novella takes us back in time to when Kate Burkholder was 14-years old, living Amish in Painter’s Mill. She, her brother Jacob and her best friend, Mattie Erb are picking apples in Zimmerman’s Orchard. When her brother heads off to another area, a group of Englischers, led by Billy Marquardt show up. Mattie heads to the barn with Billy, and shortly after she returns to Kate and Billy leaves, the barn is ablaze.
It was nice to see young Kate and learn about her curiosity and need to solve a mystery. Mattie is not a role model for the Amish way of life, and she puts Kate in a tough spot. Kate has to decide what to do and what she believes. This was a short story that gave some insight into Kate's past. It was an okay story, but there was not much to it. As always, Kathleen McInerney delivered another solid narration performance. If you enjoy this series, then I would suggest you read this one to get some insight into Kate's character.
It was nice to see young Kate and learn about her curiosity and need to solve a mystery. Mattie is not a role model for the Amish way of life, and she puts Kate in a tough spot. Kate has to decide what to do and what she believes. This was a short story that gave some insight into Kate's past. It was an okay story, but there was not much to it. As always, Kathleen McInerney delivered another solid narration performance. If you enjoy this series, then I would suggest you read this one to get some insight into Kate's character.
April 18, 2023
Another great short story.
November 16, 2020
Works best if you read the previous book first. It wasn't gripping but it was interesting.
September 27, 2020
Great short story and a good back story for Kate.
November 25, 2019
“Seeds� is little more than a rather short novella published we suspect almost exclusively to promote author Castillo’s next (at the time) full-length novel in her Kate Burkholder series “Among the Wicked�, 8th in what is currently a 10-book set. The story is about 14-year-old Kate, still 100% Amish (but not totally happy about that), and her friend Mattie � and revolves around a time when both were picking in an apple orchard (along with Kate’s brother Joseph) when accosted by English teen Billy. Mattie decides to visit with the interloper in a nearby barn, which soon thereafter burns down. The tale centers around who was at fault; and the truth being told � or not!
Frankly, this extended short story does little or nothing to advance the series and leaves loose ends to boot! {2.5}
Frankly, this extended short story does little or nothing to advance the series and leaves loose ends to boot! {2.5}
September 12, 2016
Another great addition to the series, although it was too short. In this short story, the reader sees Kate as a 14 year old. Even at that age, she has a sense for getting down to the bottom of things and finding out exactly what is what.
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