31 Reads of Terror: 'Fallen' by Linda Castillo

I’ve been digging through the recesses of my memory, trying to recall if I’ve ever dipped my toes into the literary waters of Linda Castillo before cracking open today’s selection, Fallen. As the title suggests, it’s not a tale of terror from the dark corners of horror fiction, but rather a gripping mystery thriller. This genre will make sporadic appearances as I continue my journey through the 31 Reads of Terror event. While I’m familiar with Castillo's name and her oeuvre, I can’t say with confidence that I’ve read any of her works. Given my affinity for stories drenched in Amish culture, though usually laced with romantic undertones, perhaps Fallen marks my inaugural foray into her fictional world.

The story kicks off when a young woman is discovered brutally murdered at a motel in the quaint yet eerie town of Painters Mill. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder, our protagonist, is shaken to her core—not only by the violence of the crime but by the shocking realization that she once knew the victim. Rachael Schwartz was a captivating yet troubled soul, an Amish girl who had fled her community for reasons cloaked in shadow. Why had she returned? And who could wield such heinous violence against her?

Kate's memories of Rachael haunt her; they share a bond forged in rebellion, both women struggling against the rigid constraints of their Amish upbringing. Yet, as the layers of Rachael’s life unfurl, Kate grapples with the unsettling truth: Rachael’s reputation as a troublemaker was well-deserved. From a raucous childhood to a tumultuous adulthood, Rachael was a whirlwind of charm and chaos, effortlessly drawing people to her, while simultaneously accruing a roster of enemies—both Amish and English.

As the investigation escalates, long-buried secrets bubble to the surface like ominous phantoms. Painters Mill becomes a cauldron of tension, with an unseen killer lurking in the shadows. Someone is determined to keep Rachael’s past buried, and as Kate delves deeper into the murky waters of the case, she finds herself ensnared in a web of violence that threatens everyone she holds dear. Will she be able to unearth the truth and serve justice to a murderer intent on silencing the past? Or will this malevolent presence ensure that the fallen remain forever forgotten?

Murder within an Amish community is a narrative I haven’t encountered too often; typically, the stories I’ve read in this setting are imbued with sweetness and romantic charm. Fallen, however, unfolds as a classic police procedural, albeit with a distinctly Amish backdrop. My thoughts on Castillo’s writing? It lands somewhere in the realm of the mainstream, akin to the works of James Patterson—commercial thrillers designed more for profit than to push the boundaries of literary art. Castillo’s prose is passable, the kind of narrative you read and understand but feel little emotional connection to. As a seasoned reader craving depth and elegance, I found myself yearning for something more substantial in Fallen.

Overall, Fallen feels like another stone tossed into the vast ocean of crime thrillers, teeming with authors who dish out mere mediocrity. Unfortunately, I’m inclined to place Linda Castillo squarely in that crowded category. The characters, while present, lack any real intrigue; the descriptions are sparse to the point of frustration. The dialogue, mid-tier at best, didn’t bore me, but neither did it captivate my imagination. The pacing? Adequate—it trotted along just fine. Yet, what I was left with was an average, unremarkable read—one that might easily slip into the shadows, lost among more memorable tales. ╌★★½✰✰

〜B.J. Burgess