A Dark Path: And Other Kate Burkholder Short Stories

Kate Burkholder #11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 15.5, 17

by Linda Castillo

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.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Amish, Audiobook, Thriller, Crime, Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2026

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. 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 Award” 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 books@lindacastillo.com.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 5 short stories reviewed individually below. My average rating is 3.5, so I'll round up because I am a big fan of the series.

Genre ~ police procedural, crime fiction
Setting ~ Ohio

Quick link to the whole series
Series notes:
The novellas are fine to be read as standalones, but the whole series is great so why not read them all.

Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
Narration notes:
She does fine. When she does the male parts she sounds a little stiff at times, like she has to think about it.

Disappeared
4⭐
Series ~ Kate Burkholder #12.5
Publication date ~ April 27, 2021
Est Page Count ~ 49
Audio length ~ 1 hours 34 minutes
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ missing toddler

Kate and Glock get called out during a raging storm to help locate a 2 year old Amish boy who went missing from his bed in the night. Kate's gut says the mother and grandmother are not telling her everything, and Kate's gut is never wrong.

A quick and tense read that had my mama heart pounding and breaking by the conclusion.


Blood Moon
3⭐
Series ~ Kate Burkholder #13.5
Publication date ~ book ~ April 26, 2022, audio ~ June 7, 2022
Est page Count ~ 64 (4 chapters)
Audio length ~ 1 hour 29 minutes
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ a beast

Meh this was alright. Kate investigated as well as she usually does. Is it terrible that I'd rather a person attack people than an animal attack people?


Hallowed Ground
4⭐
Series ~ Kate Burkholder #14.5
Publication date ~ book ~ April 25, 2023, audio ~ June 13, 2023
Page Count ~ 75
Audio length ~ 1 hours 48 minutes
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ old bones

Honeybear was just trying to be helpful when he dug up some old bones, which puts Kate on the hunt to find out who they belong to and how they got in the field.

Even though this wasn't a fresh murder, or anything to really do with murder, I still enjoyed the mystery of it.


Dark Storm Rising
3⭐
Series ~ Kate Burkholder, #15.5
Publication date ~ April 2, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 65
Audio length ~ 1 hours 34 minutes
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ crazy storm, missing woman

Kate and Tomasetti are on their honeymoon when a storm brews and the lady that owns the cabin goes missing.

So this wasn't really exciting to me. It's just a straightforward search for the lady without any real suspense since it's such a short book. It probably would be best to read it before The Burning if you can.


Dark Path
3.5⭐
Series ~ 16.5, I think, or 17.5
Publication date ~ July 14, 2026
Est Page Count ~ 83
Audio length ~ 1 hours 24 minutes
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ a storm, missing people

My heart was pounding with the opening. A buggy crashed into a ravine and the sweet old man was trying his hardest to hang onto his wife and granddaughter before they fell.

I'm always a fan when there's a dog in our stories and this sweet Labrador comes in at just the right time. No harms comes to him thankfully. I hope he sticks around.

Side note:
I'd really like to know if Kate gets a new Explorer every book or does the crashed one keep getting fixed? Pretty sure every book something happens to it 😂

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've already read all the collection shorts, but couldn't resist revisiting them again. I love Kate and Thomasetti. This series is so great and have loved every single book!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her previous novel, “Her Last Breath,” I found myself frustrated by Police Chief Kate Burkholder's increasingly dramatic, hero-style antics that seemed to place her in danger at every turn. Fortunately, those moments didn't always overshadow the many strengths that have made this series so captivating over the years.

When this collection of short stories was released, I was eager to revisit Kate's world. It's worth noting that these stories were written across different years (5 had been previously published digitally), so some details—particularly Kate's relationship with Ohio Bureau of Investigation Agent John Tomasetti—reflect earlier points in the series and may feel slightly out of sync with where readers know the characters today.

That aside, each story delivers the suspense, fast pacing, and page-turning tension that Linda Castillo's readers have come to expect.

For longtime fans of the Kate Burkholder series, this is an enjoyable and satisfying collection of six short stories – one, the title story being brand-new. And for readers who have been curious about the series but haven't yet committed to a full novel, these stories offer an excellent introduction to one of mystery fiction's most memorable protagonists.

“Her Last Breath” Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bianca | bookd_by_bee 🐝 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I came across a recommendation for Linda Castillo’s first book in this series (Sworn to Silence) during COVID lockdown and 17 books (plus 8+ short stories) later, this remains one of my auto-read series. This ALC is a collection of her short stories including a brand new story (A Dark Path). It was a good listen having some of her short stories in one collection. The newest story did not disappoint, and kept me intrigued in typical Linda Castillo style. The narrator (Kathleen McInerney) does a good job with her stories. She pronounces all the Pennsylvania Dutch well and helps make the story come alive.

I want to use this review to REALLY encourage all the folks who like a GOOD crime thriller to read Linda’s Kate Burkholder series. I haven’t rated any of them below 4 stars (a couple were 5 star ⭐️ reads!). The pacing, the plot, the unique storylines are just some of my favorite aspects of her books. Detective Kate Burkholder has some of the best character development I’ve read in a thriller series. Every year I look forward to Linda’s short story in April, and her full novel in July. I haven’t missed a book yet, and I never miss a chance to recommend this series.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark Path is a great addition to the Kate Burkholder series and felt different from the usual full-length novels in a good way. The mini stories all connect well and still deliver the suspense, mystery, and Amish community atmosphere that makes this series so enjoyable. Since I’ve read all the books in the series, it was nice to spend more time with Kate and see another side of her life outside the larger investigations.

What I enjoyed most was the emotional tone of the book and the satisfying, happier ending for Kate. After everything the character has gone through in previous novels, it was rewarding to see some hope and peace woven into the story. Linda Castillo continues to write compelling mysteries while keeping the characters relatable and engaging.

The only reason this is a 4-star instead of 5-star read for me is that the shorter story format sometimes made the pacing feel a bit uneven compared to the regular novels. Still, it was an enjoyable read overall, and I hope Linda Castillo writes many more Kate Burkholder stories solving crimes in the Amish community.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 5 shorts, but I only had one story to read book #17.5, A Dark Path. Pretty good and a deeper story than I had in mind.

[MaryMargaret Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend got me a signed, advanced reader copy from a book event! I love these stories. Many of the stories are repeats. Ones that were put out as .5s. The ones I had not read were good. A nice, fun and easy escape.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 short stories featuring Police Chief Kate Burkholder, formerly Amish. I have read the whole series but not the short stories, and there’s a new one. They are all interesting police work, and not murder but more feel-good endings. I read on audio and the narration was great. You would not need to have read any of the series to enjoy these. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Wendy Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite author. I have loved all her books. The exception, this one. I wanted to DNF so bad but pushed through. It felt like a YA or younger book. I understand it was short stories but they were too cookie cutter perfect endings.

[Jessica Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have read several of Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder stories and loved them. This one was no different and did not let me down! I love that these are not gruesome, but keep you guessing. The short stories were different as I’ve never read any short stories by her, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. A little faster paced, so if you’re someone that struggles to keep up with a long storyline, try these because it was a compilation of multiple one hour stories.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest review of Advance Copy received from NetGalley

I have read many of the Kate Burkholder novels in the past, but this was the first time I had read-or listened to- any of the short stories. I enjoyed the audiobook edition of this collection, particularly Kathleen McInerney’s narration. She skillfully portrays a wide range of characters and convincingly captures the Ohio Amish dialect.
The stories cover a variety of intriguing topics from missing children, mysterious creatures, grave robbers, to stalkers. Each mystery is naturally solved by Chief Kate Burkholder and her trusty partner- her fiancé and later husband- John Tomasetti.
Some readers may feel that each story wraps up a little too neatly, with every loose end tied into an almost perfect bundle. But isn’t that the charm of cozy mysteries? Overall, the stories are imaginative, engaging, and well-written, making this an enjoyable collection for both longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike.

[Aimee Beloved Nerdy Auntie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this gifted audiobook copy. A Dark Path is a collection of short stories set in the Kate Burkholder world, and while each story stands on its own, I do think longtime fans of the series will get the most out of it. The first two thirds of the collection felt more like a cozy mystery than the suspense filled read I was expecting from the title, but the final two stories delivered much more tension and suspense. Even though I have never read the Kate Burkholder series, I found the characters engaging and genuinely cared about what happened to them. One of my favorite aspects was the Amish setting. My hometown had a farmers market with many Amish vendors, so those details felt familiar and added charm to the stories. Overall, I enjoyed this collection and if I can ever get my TBR under control, I would definitely consider starting the full series.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah to be back to Kate and her Explorer! #iykyk

I have read every single Kate Burkholder books, they’re easy fast paced reads, and I always enjoy catching up to the *quite* murderous small town that is Painters Mill. How ARE there so many crimes in SUCH a small town?!

These short shorts are excellent in between book reads, and Kathleen McInerney always does such a wonderful job narrating. I have read some of these stories before as standalone but I love that this packages them as a full length “book.”

Can’t wait to see what Kate gets up to next!

[Timothy Henson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding book by Linda Castillo. In this collection of six short stories, the reader will be on the edge of their seat while Kate Burkholder twists in her way through various mysteries that happen in her fictional Amish community. None of the stories are overly long and most can be read in one sitting. After reading these Kate Burkholder stories, I only have one question for the author; when will we, the reader, have the next novel starring Kate Burkholder, Tomasetti and the rest of the gang?

[Janet Epperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a fantastic Kate Burkholder book.

[Kacey/Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and author. I listen to it. The reader is getting better but still a little choppy. I keep listening to the books because I love the books. The short stories in this book are wonderfully engaging and intriguing.

[Dianna (SavingsInSeconds blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a favorite book series. Loved reading / listening to these short stories. I much prefer the full-length books, but these are great for a Kate Burkholder fix in between novels.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read the first 4 short stories in this book, but I only remembered 2 of them. I enjoyed reading them again. The fifth story is a new short story and I enjoyed it very much. Looking forward to Linda Castillo’s next book.

[Ymbear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories! I especially liked the one with the missing boy. I loved the narrator too. Her voice suited the Amish stories perfectly! I liked how these were mysterious but not gory or anything like that! Great characters and plots!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dark Path by Linda Castillo is an engaging collection of short stories set within the Kate Burkholder series, offering readers the opportunity to revisit familiar characters and the atmospheric world of Amish Country through a series of quick, compelling mysteries.

Each story is concise yet effective at drawing the reader in, maintaining the suspense and character-driven storytelling that define the larger series. While the collection still explores darker themes, the stories generally feel less graphic and intense than some of the full-length novels, making them accessible while still retaining the tension and intrigue fans expect.

Because the stories are presented individually, some background information and character introductions are repeated throughout the collection. While occasionally noticeable when read consecutively, this structure also allows each story to function well on its own.

The audiobook narration is excellent, as expected for the series. The narrator brings warmth, tension, and personality to the characters, helping the stories move quickly while remaining immersive and engaging.

Overall, The Dark Path is a satisfying addition to the Kate Burkholder universe and an enjoyable collection for longtime fans looking to spend more time with these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. This is my honest review.

[Jerry B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to borrow from the library for faithful readers of Linda Castillo's fun books about Police Chief Kate Burkhalter. As is clear from all the descriptions, this is a short story collection of six tales, with the "11.5", "12.5", "13.5", "14.5" and "15.5" stories having all been previously published (with our corresponding comments here in Goodreads). So only the book's title story ("17.5") is new to us fans.

Indeed, its 44 pages of medium size print are good for about half an hour of heart-warming reading. During some really bad weather, a vengeful ex-boyfriend deliberately runs an Amish buggy off an already dangerous road, with the healthy outcome of the three inhabitants in serious doubt. Meanwhile, Kate is called to do a welfare check as the threesome was expected quite a while ago by relatives. On that same road, Kate loses control of her vehicle -- but on foot, and egged on by a dog in the road, proceeds to try to find everybody. Things get serious when the boyfriend shows up again, this time with a pistol at the ready. Of course all is resolved to a satisfying conclusion that leaves us as always well ready for the next installment in the series. Well done!

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Castillo’s short stories are as good as her novels, as evidenced by this collection. Kathleen McInerney is an excellent and reliable narrator for the series. You always know which character is speaking while listening and it is just a pleasure.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the short story but was terribly disappointed that this collection of 6 short stories, 5 previously published and only had 1 new story. Very misleading and disappointing.

[Suzy Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved each and every short story with character Kate Burkholder and her new husband. As always, Linda Castillo is incredibly creative and talented in each story. I hate to finish the book as I will have to wait a year for her next book. Thanks for another 5 star ⭐️ book! If you need a recommendation, I say read this book with each short story an Amish related eye opener. Thanks to the author,Linda.👍

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the newest story since I have read the other ones in a previous story collection.

[Dawn Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this entire series and enjoy the short stories as well. Great job and a great book, characters etc

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: All but one story was in previous collections. Most were published as a single book.

I didn't mind ... I even enjoyed re-reading the ones in the previous collection. What I minded was PAYING for them AGAIN!

The last story, A Dark Path, has a wonderful "extra", a dog! I fell in love pretty much at first bark.

All the stories are great.
All are 5-star reads.
But 3 stars because I already had 5 of the 6 novellas.
Making a Kate Burkholder super fan who buys every book pay for something twice is unfair.

The stories in this set:
1) The Pact - published on 2 Apr 2024 as a single book
2) Disappeared - published on 27 Apr 2021 as a single book
3) Blood Moon - published on 26 Apr 2022 as a single book
4) Hallowed Ground - published on 25 Apr 2023 as a single book
5) Dark Storm Rising - published on 2 Apr 2024 as a single book
6) A Dark Path - new

NOTE: I already have the other "single book" novellas. Ergo, I paid $11.99 +tax for the novella, "A Dark Path". From now on, I won't "automatically" buy any Kate Burkholder book until I have checked the contents. I advise you to do the same.

[Katie | katieturnsthepage · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 46% — I listened to three of the short stories and they were GOOD, don’t get me wrong….but just not really what I was expecting. I had never read a Kate Burkholder mystery before this and had no idea that they revolved around an Amish area. Not that there’s anything WRONG with that, but these mysteries were a little bit….INNOCENT, for my taste. 😆 I’m giving this three stars even though I DNFed just because I listened to half the stories in the collection, and I DO think that anyone who likes these books will like this short story collection as well!

[Brandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ignore my rating. I never like short story collections. They're just fluffy filler.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark Path by Linda Castillo is a series of short stories with Kate Burkholder leading the investigation. While they are offered in a way to help you fit them into the order of books, I found that information was not necessary. There are five previously published short stories and one brand new story.

The Pact was about two boys who didn’t come home after fishing with a winter storm coming in.

The story, Disappeared was about a two year old who went missing from his bedroom.

Blood Moon has something on the loose. It will attack and chase anyone. My favorite part in this novel was when one of the young boys said that I am not saying it was a monster, but it was a monster.

Hallowed Ground was a nice short “who dun it” without any murders.

Dark Storm Rising has Kate trying to save an older woman in a blizzard.

A Dark Path was about a missing family after they did not show up when and where they were supposed to.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in this book. Linda Castillo continues to wow me with her Kate Burkholder novels. A Dark Path is a great read.