Only the Lucky

Kate Burkholder #8.5

by Linda Castillo

Bucolic Painters Mill is plunged into darkness in this new short mystery, from the New York Times bestselling author of Among the Wicked, featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder.

It’s Friday the 13th in Painters Mill and rumors of an Amish “rager”—a huge outdoor party rife with underage drinking—puts Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her small department on edge. To make matters worse, Painters Mill is in the midst of a county-wide power outage. At the height of the rager, a teenage Amish girl is attacked with a hammer and left for dead. Kate is called to the scene—an abandoned farm teeming with loud music and rowdy behavior—to find the girl unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. With the girl in a coma and an unknown attacker on the loose, Kate must discover who would want to hurt her, and why, before it’s too late.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Amish, Thriller, Short Stories, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

51 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2017

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

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only the Lucky (Kate Burkholder #8.5) by Linda Castillo

Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police of tiny Painters Mill, is having a relatively safe time at the moment. This short story has Kate investigating the brutal assault of a teenage Amish girl at Amish "rager" party. (Are Amish "rager" parties a thing?) At the same time that the rager is going on, Painters Mill loses it's electricity, causing a variety of other problems for Kate and her officers. It's nice that Kate doesn't have time to get involved in body and/or vehicle battering action. Just plain old police procedural type work where Kate stays healthy and she and her beau don't have anything to argue about. I did figure out the person who assaulted the girl pretty quickly but it was up to Kate to find the evidence.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I've read all Linda Castillo's short stories in the Kate Burkholder's series, but somehow I missed this one. A decent and quick mystery involving a young Amish couple in love. Not her best, but keeps me entertained and is under 2 hours long.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Kate Burkholder short. Probably the only book in this series, well technically a story, that I have not rated a four. Most of our families characters are there and the storyline does feature an attack on a young Amish girl but not enough time really to create that special atmosphere and intrigue. I did like it though, it was definitely a quick read but guessed the who done it way before the end.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alma was excited as she was meeting her boyfriend that night at a party and she was sure he would ask her to marry him. Alma was Amish and her parents approved of Aden apart from his noisy car. But they weren’t aware that the huge party would be much more than Alma told them.

Irene, Alma’s best friend kept her company until she was to meet Aden in the barn after he’d finished work. But when Aden arrived he found Alma unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.

Chief of Police of Painters Mill Kate Burkholder was finding this Friday 13th had more than the usual “events” to keep the local police busy, including a complete power outage for the town, but when she was called to the old Davenport place because of a wild party, she had no idea she’d find a young Amish woman unresponsive. But would Kate be able to discover the perpetrator?

Only the Lucky is a short story (#8.5 in the Kate Burkholder series) by Linda Castillo, and just enough to whet her reader’s appetites until the next full length novel is published :) And I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love this series and can’t wait for the next. Highly recommended.


Merged review:

As a truck hit the powerlines, plunging Painters Mill into darkness, a ‘rager’ – a party - was getting underway between Amish and English youngsters at the Davenport farm. At least two hundred people were there and Chief of Police Kate Burkholder knew they were more than she alone could control. A call to 911 led Kate to the nearby barn where a young woman was lying unconscious, bleeding from the head. As she was rushed to the hospital, Kate began interviews. Friday the 13th had a lot to answer for…

Only the Lucky is #8.5 in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo and it was a quick read, entertaining and mysterious. I’m enjoying my re-reading of this series, one per month, and am looking forward to the next in the series, #9, in January. Highly recommended.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her team have their hands full on Friday the 13th in Painter’s Mill. There’s a massive power outage caused by a traffic accident and a full blown Amish teen party brewing that threatens to be rife with underage drinking on remote private property. When Kate arrives, she finds a young Amish girl in the barn who’s been brutally assaulted with a 2 by 4.

I enjoy the police procedural aspects of this series and though this story is short, the investigation was thorough and interesting. I had my suspicions early and even though I guessed correctly, I liked having it supported by the clues and Kate’s dogged pursuit. I also listened to the story because the narrator has become the voice of this series and continues to get everything right.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐
Genre ~ crime fiction
Series ~ Kate Burkholder #8.5
Others in the series ~ #1-16 + 0.5's
Setting ~ Ohio
Publication date ~ May 23, 2017
Est page Count ~ 51
Audio length ~ 1 hour and 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Kathleen McInerney
POV ~ single 1st

A short review for a short story.

Kate investigates the attack of a young Amish girl that happened during a huge party in a field. A bit predictable, but enjoyable overall.

Narration notes:
Kathleen did a fine job.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often do not read the novellas authors pop into long series in between the 'real' books. However this time round I am reading a book a month with a Goodreads group and Only the Lucky is this month's book.

It is very short but well told and includes some excellent, thorough police work. Tomasetti makes himself useful, Kate manages to remain totally uninjured and the whole thing is really enjoyable. I did guess the perpetrator almost immediately but the story was more about the process of the police work and less about the mystery so that was fine.

All good. Next month we get back to a full length novel although I do wonder if the novellas are actually safer places for Kate.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for an engaging novella by Linda Castillo. In this book a power outage coincides with an Amish "rager" where a hundred or Amish teens(many underage) gather for drinking and partying. Kate Burkholder, Painters Mill Police Chief arrives at the scene and finds that a teenage girl has been assaulted and is unconscious. Kate does solve the case, with help from her small department and he significant other, John Tomasetti, investigator for the Ohio BCI(Bureau of Criminal Investigation).
One quote: "It's dark in Painters Mill, Ohio. The freshly plowed fields are as rich and black as dark chocolate. "
I read this library book in 1 day.

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

ONLY THE LUCKY (Kate Burkholder, #8.5) by Linda Castillo is a novella that lets you return to Painters Mill for a short period of time between full length novels and reconnect with the characters you love in this series.

It is Friday the 13th in Painters Mill and even though Chief of Police Kate Burkholder does not believe in superstitions the problems just keep on coming. Kate learns of a huge outdoor ‘rager’ on an abandoned farm, the town is having a complete power outage until morning and the department receives a 911 call about an unresponsive Amish teen found by her boyfriend in the barn at the party.

This novella is only 56 pages long. It is an entertaining story that assumes you are already familiar with the main series characters. The crime was easily solved, but still a good read. I will always pick up a novella or book by this author in this series to check out how my favorite characters are doing.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an Amish Suspense, and this is the 8.5 book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read and review books 1-8 in this series before reading this book. This book is a short story/Novella, and this is just over 50 pages long. I have to say I normally like the short stories in this series, but I really did not like this one. I found it to be moving way to fast, and I really do not like the popular girl vibes this book does. I do think this book was well written, but I just think it was just not a book for me.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

We just had a Friday the 13th this month, December 2019, so it’s fitting that I would read Linda Castillo’s short story, Only the Lucky . The events of this little mystery occur on a Friday the 13th in the fictional Painters Mill, Ohio, which is in the heart of Amish country. Kate Burkholder, the police chief, receives word that there is a “rager” planned on an abandoned farm property with dozens upon dozens of Amish youth, many of them underaged, planning to attend.

The Painter’s Mill police force is small, which puts Kate’s crew at a disadvantage. In addition, there is a wide-spread power outage that night. Then, in the midst of all that misfortune, disaster strikes.

In most cases, it is helpful to read an ongoing series in order, but this could probably be read as a standalone, since it is so short that there is little space for character development as it is. It is listed as number 8.5 in the series of 11 so far. I found it to be an engaging story that held my interest throughout.

4 stars

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short story from Linda Castillo. This one has the mysterious attack of an Amish girl at a party and Kate needs to figure out the identity of the attacker.

I love these additions to the Kate Burkholder works!

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another short story from Linda Castillo, Kate Butkholder 8.5.

Another quick read, a quick thriller and Linda Castill0 never lets you down. Three stars a such a quick thriller.

It’s Friday the 13th in Painters Mill and rumours of an Amish “rave”—a huge outdoor party rife with underage drinking—puts Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her small department on edge. To make matters worse, Painters Mill is in the midst of a county-wide power outage. At the height of the rager, a teenage Amish girl is attacked with a hammer and left for dead. Kate is called to the scene—an abandoned farm teeming with loud music and rowdy behaviour—to find the girl unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. With the girl in a coma and an unknown attacker on the loose, Kate must discover who would want to hurt her, and why, before it’s too late.


Always good characters and a strong series and recommended.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Possibly a little too short and too sweet for my liking.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Friday the 13th and everything is going wrong. Police Chief Kate Burkholder has heard a rumor that a group of Amish teenagers are planning a large party. These parties always end in several arrests for underage drinking. As Kate is trying to find the owner of the property where the party is being held, a serious accident takes out the lights all over the county. As her team is summoned to various calls throughout the night, there is a report of an Amish girl with a serious head injury at the party. Kate finds the teenager unconscious; her boyfriend standing over her. It's apparent someone hit her over the head several times. Now Kate and her team investigate an assault that seemingly had no witnesses.

This short story was a good addition to the Kate Burkholder series. It's always nice to come back to this series. My rating: 4 Stars.

[Jackie Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Friday the 13th and let's see what can go wrong in Painter's Mill.

A black cat is seen.

An 18 wheeler takes out the power to the town

A girl ends up in a coma.

Alma Fisher and her friend Irene Miller were going to a party. Alma was excited because she thought her boyfriend, Aden, who was meeting her there later, would ask her to marry him.

Yes, something goes terribly wrong and Alma ends up in a coma.

Kate Burkholder, along with her team and Tomasetti work to find out what happened to Alma.

This one was a nice story, although I instantly knew who the person responsible was and guessed at the reasoning, I found I was intrigued throughout the entire book.

5 stars

[Anne OK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always excited to get something new from Linda Castillo that sends me off to the little Amish town of Painters Mill. No matter novella or a 400-page novel, I'm thrilled with the story this author has to tell each and every time, along with the the mysteries and crimes to be solved. The writing never disappoints. A blackout, a raging party and a teenage Amish girl horribly attacked makes for questionable circumstances. And Kate and her team are on the case -- count on it being solved before the last page.

So excited that this novella will soon be followed by a new release of a full-length novel in July.

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another novella set in the Kate Burkholder series. I like these a lot because they tend to be lighter. Tomasetti in particular seems more playful in these and the banter between him and Kate is fun. I was sad but not surprised about who had attacked the girl in this story.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Novella was a short and easy one to read. It involved some teenagers who were going to a big party thrown by some Amish boys. One person gets hurt and has to go to the hospital. It was very obvious who the guilty person was. The chief of police Kate was there to solve the mystery.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the short stories from Linda Castillo. I enjoy reading the Kate Burkholder series and reading the short stories gets a little more information about Kate and Tommasetti.

Even though the Amish seem like they are God fearing, they are still human and the young women or men can get jealous. In this book, one girl gets jealous of her best friend and hits her on the head to keep her from saying yes to her boyfriend when he asks for her hand in marriage. The one girl wanted to be the center of his world instead of her best friend.

Off to the next one.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice quick short from Castillo with the characters that I have become so fond of. I liked the tale she told. It was in the setting that is familiar with a different angle. I feel every time I read her stories, I see more into the window of Painter's Mills Amish life. I like this series a lot.

[Maggie61 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a part of the Kate Burkholder series. I love these little stories of the series, there’s an actual story told unlike some novellas that make you feel like you only got half the story, or the middle. I found this one a little predictable, however still enjoyable.

[☠tsukino☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oggi è venerdì 13.
Casualmente stamattina ho iniziato (e finito) questo racconto breve che si svolge proprio di venerdì 13 ^^
Storia carina in salsa Burkholder.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short case for Kate to solve in her Amish town. The perp was easy to guess but I love any return to Painter's Mill!

[Antonella Imperiali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il risolvere un caso non è sempre semplice o soddisfacente come si potrebbe credere. Anche se è sempre un’ottima cosa scoprire la verità e togliere dalle strade gente pericolosa, troppo spesso il dolore che è stato causato resta e gli effetti sono irrevocabili.

Un tipico caso alla Burkholder, in un mondo amish sempre più controverso e contaminato.
Breve, ma gradevole.

✍️ L.C.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love Linda Castillo's books and when I saw this one on offer, I immediately requested it. Unfortunately, I did not realize it was a novella until I started to read it. I know novellas have a place for those who don't really have a lot of time to read. However, I just feel that I finally get into the book and then, wham, bam, thank you maam, it's over.

That being said, this was a typical Kate Burkholder book. A good story with a murder that has Kate investigating the crime. This crime was pretty much cut and dry (can't really sell the characters and tell a great story, for me, in 56 pages. I am still glad I requested it as I haven't been back to Painter's Mill in a while.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Kevintipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Alma Fisher, the party should be fun. She is going with a friend, Irene, and will meet up with her boyfriend, Aden Keim. Two years older than her as he is now 20, she knows Aden is a hard worker, and that she is in love. She is thrilled that he plans on being baptized into the church next year further proving his devotion. She has her sights on marrying him.

For the Chief of Police Kate Burkholder the evening in Painters Mill, Ohio has been a quiet one. It is a Friday evening in the spring and things are unusually quiet. She does not know about the party the local teens are having. It is not just the Amish teens that will attend; teens from the town and miles around will be there. It is only when local Amish farmer Aaron Yonder comes to the station and requests to see her that she learns what could be happening on this quiet evening. She has known Aaron since they were kids and she knows that he does not come to see her easily.

He knows what is planned in the coming hours out at old Davenport place. He has heard whispers and talk about the planned activities at midnight and has seen both cars and Amish buggies headed out there. He believes that the place is haunted and that “it is an ungodly gathering.” The fact that it is Friday the 13th does not help matters. Nor does a murder.

While not at the level of the books, Only The Lucky: A Kate Burkholder Story by Linda Castillo is a pretty good one. It is significantly better than the previous short stories she has done as tie-ins to the series. In this case, all the usual characters are in place and the mystery has a couple of twists to it. Unfortunately, a couple of time discrepancies are apparent and that tends to cause the reader to double check the sequence of events as one works through the read. Despite the fact as well as the obvious fact that the short story is a marketing gimmick designed to wet appetites and interest readers into buying the latest novel, it does work fairly well on its own.

Only The Lucky: A Kate Burkholder Story
Linda Castillo
http://www.lindacastillo.com
Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press)
http://www.minotaurbooks.com
May 2017
ASIN: B06XKKFQBM
eBook only
56 Pages
$1.99


I picked this up to read and review back last May using funds in my Amazon Associate account.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2017

[Magpie67 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even the Amish can feel the ugly green jealousy monster. The want for what others have, can be strong within... no matter the religious upbringing. A rave party for the Amish and the Englishers takes a bumpy turn when a young girl is attacked and left for dead. Is the boyfriend the suspect? Easy to solve, but sad to hear as so many cases across the nation are most likely similar. Jealousy, greed, and coveting can happen to anyone, if personal feelings can't be reined in to just wishing. It also affects all ages.

[Fiona R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd read anything Linda Castillo wrote and Kate Burkeholder is a fascinating character, but these short stories always have very rushed endings after a slower build up. I prefer the novels where there is room for the twists and turns and where the stakes are higher for Kate too.
Looking forward to Down a Dark Road.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this novella between book 8 and book 9 in the Kate Burkholder series!