Breaking Silence

disappointing

I was interested by the book's description and looking forward to the setting in an Amish community. However the lengthy descriptions of Chief Burkholder's brooding about her conflicted feelings about the Amish community got in the way of the story line.Hard to imagine her in directing the work of a police department --- even a small one. I think some judicious editing would have helped this book because, basically the story is a good one with some good plot twists.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good Story

Would you try another book from Linda Castillo and/or Kathleen McInerney?

Good story bad narrating. Her voice when she was doing the male characters gave me the creeps.

What did you like best about this story?

I love Amish stories. Since this was a thriller made it all the better.

Do you think Breaking Silence needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes!!!! But get a different narrator.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

At first, I was enjoying the story. However, the narrator really did a terrible job with the voice for the male main character; she was fine with the female voice. Nonetheless, I was enjoying the mystery until the last three or four chapters, when the storyline took a turn toward the absurd! No spoilers - just in case you want to read something as far-fetched as Chamberlain's story. It had potential, but then truly disappointed. (And I normally do not give bad reviews! I'm an easy audience.)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good Amish mystery story. Unlikeable heroine.

What made the experience of listening to Breaking Silence the most enjoyable?

I have listened to 3 of the Kate Burkholder Amish mysteries by Linda Castillo. I love the premise, love the idea of an amish murder mystery. The mystery/murder elements of the story were intrigingly horrible with some nasty bad guys.. And the whodunit held my interest. I really liked some of the side characters, Glock, Skid and Pickles were nice supporting characters, and I really really liked Tomasetti. But, as much as I tried over 3 books, I just really disliked Kate. And its very hard for me to remain engaged in a series when I am unable to "root" for the main character.

What could Linda Castillo have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I didn't like Kate. I grew very tired of being reminded over and over and over about her growing up Amish, and how every little bitty thing, every aspect of her job, every Amish child she encounters throw her into a whiney, brooding mess who is mired in memories and flashbacks. I felt she had no backbone. I got tired of being repeatedly told that her tragic Amish past gets in the way of her being able to function. We are told over and over how every nearly every amish encounter throws her into loooong angsty internal monologs. I am disappointed. I'm not sure if I will listen to others in the series, but the interesting mystery aspects of the story,, for me, are over-shadowed by too much whining.

What about Kathleen McInerney’s performance did you like?

I liked her performance for the most part. Some of her male voice were a bit weird, but not too distracting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not moved actually, but some of the "bad" guys had me cringing, and grimacing when the utter nastiness of their actions are revealed. And there is a "bad" guy "twist and reveal" close to the end of Breaking Silence that took me completely by surprised. I did not see it coming.

Any additional comments?

I thought the stories twists and turns were terrific. I wish I knew that Kate Burkholder had some character development. I am completely on the fence on whether I will continue to listen to further books in the series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not Great

The author engaged in a lot of unnecessary exposition, "I shouldn't have felt that way, but I did, and I wondered if it was because I was raised Amish and understood so much about her life." The reader gave Tomasetti's voice a strange, raspy quality intended, I think, to convey masculine depth. Instead, it made him sound like a bad Clint Eastwood imitator. The real problem, however, is the writing which is awkward, and often devolves into cliches.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

breaking silence

it was an awesome book! the story was great. kept me guessing till the end

Too bad it has profane language

I started this book and was upset there was unnecessary profane language, stopped and considered asking for my money back. Then after a month tried again, and found the story was pretty interesting. But then again, the language started up again. If it was pertinent to the story I get it, but none of it was...too bad.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Keeps me engaged both story a day narrator.

Loved it, engaging, good storyline. I'm hooked. Hope the series does not end! Love it!

Read Linda Castillo's Amish series now!

Would you listen to Breaking Silence again? Why?

Breaking Silence is one of six or so series about Kate Burkholder who is a cop in an Amish communiity. These books are serious but not gory mysteries involving Amish and set in middle Ohio, Linda Castillo is a careful, descriptiive writer--I really could visualize beautiful Holmes County in middle Ohio.

What does Kathleen McInerney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved Kathleen McInerney as a narrator. Her voice is slow and melodious.

I L💖ve Linda's books!!! She's a masterful

story teller!! Her stories are my favorite and I can't wait for the next one!! This one was a VERY big corkscrew twist!!! Read it before a number of her other's, as Kate & John's relationship is still fairly new. I also L💖ve the narrator!!! She does an AMAZING job unfurling the story and the character voices!!! GET IT & listen!!!

0 of 1 people found this review helpful