An extraordinarily beautiful Amish woman, a dangerous femme fatale, is the central figure in a story that reveals a dark side of Painters Mill and its seemingly perfect Amish world A rainy night, an Amish father returning home with his three children, a speeding car hurtling toward them out of nowhere. What at first seems like a tragic, but routine car accident suddenly takes on a more sinister cast as evidence emerges that nothing about the crash is accidental. But who would want to kill an Amish deacon and two of his children? He leaves behind a grieving widow and a young boy who clings to life in the intensive care wing of a hospital, unable to communicate. He may be the only one who knows what happened that night. Desperate to find out who killed her best friend's husband and why, Kate begins to suspect she is not looking for a reckless drunk, but instead is on the trail of a cold blooded killer amid the residents of Painter's Mill. It is a search that takes her on a chilling journey into the darkest reaches of the human heart and makes her question everything she has ever believed about the Amish culture into which she was born. *Starred Review* A tragic case hits close to home when an Amish farmer and two of his three special-needs children are killed in a dreadful traffic accident, widowing Mattie Borntrager, the closest childhood friend of Kate Burkholder, police chief of Painters Mill, Ohio. When evidence indicates that the hit-and-run may have been premeditated, Kate’s probing for motive causes her to question whether beautiful, grieving Mattie, who was like a sister to Kate before she left the Amish faith, is being fully forthcoming. Diverting Kate from solving this all-consuming case is the discovery of the remains of the rapist she shot in self-defense 17 years earlier—an incident that was covered up by her family and now threatens her career, if not her life, plus her burgeoning relationship with FBI agent John Tomasetti, who wants a commitment from the skittish Kate. The Amish setting, an intrinsic aspect of these mysteries, continues to add depth and texture in the fifth entry (after Gone Missing, 2012). But it’s Kate Burkholder who’s the heart of Castillo’s masterful series, a rare protagonist who bares her soul in her first-person narration. This compelling mystery combines increasing nuance and complexity with heart-stopping action. --Michele Leber “This compelling mystery combines increasing nuance and complexity with heart-stopping action.” ― Booklist (starred review) “A fast-paced mystery that will leave readers stunned.” ― Kirkus (Starred Review) on Her Last Breath “Exciting . . . Castillo ratchets up the tension nicely before the disconcerting ending.” ― Publishers Weekly on Gone Missing “Castillo melds deeply flawed characters with a glimpse into a unique community in which isolation can hide a plethora of secrets.” ― Publishers Weekly on Breaking Silence “Shades of In Cold Blood . . . Another chilling thriller.” ― People on Pray for Silence “Compelling characters, excellent plotting and a hair-raising finale.” ― USA Today on Sworn to Silence “Absolutely stunning. . . . A perfectly crafted thriller.” ― Lisa Scottoline on Sworn to Silence “Exciting . . . Castillo ratchets up the tension nicely before the disconcerting ending.” ― Publishers Weekly on Gone Missing “Castillo melds deeply flawed characters with a glimpse into a unique community in which isolation can hide a plethora of secrets.” ― Publishers Weekly on Breaking Silence “Shades of In Cold Blood . . . Another chilling thriller.” ― People magazine on Pray for Silence “Compelling characters, excellent plotting and a hair-raising finale.” ― USA Today on Sworn to Silence “Absolutely stunning. . . . A perfectly crafted thriller.” ― Lisa Scottoline on Sworn to Silence Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder 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, the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and an appearance on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel. In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next book. Her Last Breath By Linda Castillo St. Martin's Press Copyright © 2013 Linda Castillo All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-312-65857-1 CHAPTER 1 When it rains, it pours. Those words were one of my mamm 's favorite maxims when I was growing up. As a child, I didn't understand its true meaning, and I didn't spend much time trying to figure it out. In the eyes of the Amish girl I'd been, more was almost always a good thing. The world around me was a sw