The suspense rises in the detective novel “Fallen” by Linda Castillo

In 2009’s “Sworn to Silence,” the first in Linda Castillo’s series about a police chief in a small town in Holmes County, Kate Burkholder was reluctant to call in outside help and Painters Mill City Council seemed determined. to undermine its authority. In “Fallen,” the 13th book in the series, Kate doesn’t hesitate to enlist the Sheriff’s Department and the Ohio State Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Kate will need help, because the matter is hellish. A woman was murdered in a Painter’s Mill motel room, and clues are scarce. One thing that is not in question is her name: her driver’s license identifies her as Rachael Schwartz, who left the Amish community as a teenager. Kate, who had also been formerly Amish, had been Rachael’s occasional babysitter and remembered her as an unruly girl who made a lot of bad decisions.

Rachael lived in an expensive townhouse in Cleveland and drove an expensive car. Even though she was a co-owner of a restaurant, she spent a lot more than she earned. Kate and her lover John Tomasetti, along with BCI, interview Rachael’s roommate; then he examines the financial and telephone records. Kate talks to Rachael’s parents and her childhood best friend, whose surprising story gradually comes out over the course of the book.

One thing that sets this book apart from others in the series is the absence of the general Amish community. In addition to the family bishop, who represents one of the strictest orders, Kate chats with the self-proclaimed bishop of a fake Amish settlement in Killbuck; he had sent letters hostile to Rachael because of the revealing book she had written a few years before. She had changed her name but had not accepted the scandalous allegations.

Castillo increases the suspense with false leads and a killer whose surprising motive she only realizes when it’s almost too late.

“Fallen” (320 pages, hardcover) costs $ 27.99 at Minotaur. In addition to the previous 12 novels starring Kate Burkholder, there are eight short stories. Book Eleven, “Shamed,” was nominated for the 2020 Putnam GP Putnam Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Linda Castillo grew up in Darke County and lives in Texas.

“Bruce Springsteen: Living in the Heart of the Country”

Bruce Springsteen formed a relationship with Cleveland early in his career, and photographer Janet Makoska has been there with him. Over 40 years of his work can be found in “Bruce Springsteen: Live in the Heartland”.

Springsteen first came to Cleveland in 1974 to open for English group Wishbone Ash at the Allen Theater in Playhouse Square. His second album, “The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle”, had been released three months earlier with excellent reviews but dismal sales. Makoska was a photographer for the Cuyahoga Community College student newspaper and bought a used camera just for the mission.

Journalist Peter Chakerian’s text recognizes Cleveland as Springsteen’s “home away from home,” citing the undeniable influence of WMMS and other local media. As Springsteen turns from a regional success to an international phenomenon and venues include the Richfield Coliseum and Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the set lists grow longer, establishing its reputation for marathon performances.

Yet even in the larger settings, the photos remain intimate, showing changes in the musician’s attitude and presence, of a “skinny, skinny child” with an energy impossible to “buff, muscular, athletic.” About a third of the 157 photos are in color.

“Bruce Springsteen: Live in the Heartland” (256 pages, hardcover) costs $ 45 from ACC Art Books. The foreword is from Lauren Onkey, former vice president of education at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Peter Chakerian is also the author of “Pop Goes Cleveland! The impact of Cleveland (and northeastern Ohio) on pop culture.

Events

Cuyahoga County Public Library: David Petrovic discusses “Expect a Miracle: Understanding and Living with Autism,” which he wrote with his mother, Sandy Petrovic, at a Zoom event from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. Also Monday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Laura McHugh, whose debut film “Blood Weight” won an International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, talks about “What is Done in Darkness,” in who a kidnapping survivor is asked to help in a similar case. From 7 pm to 8 pm Tuesday, novelists Pam Jenoff (“Woman with the Blue Star”) and Kristina McMorris (“Sold on a Monday”) discuss their work; from 7 pm to 8 pm Wednesday, Elizabeth Hinton, Professor at Yale Law School, speaks about “America on Fire: The Untold Story of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1860s.” Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Barberton Public Library: Painesville author Barbara Hacha talks about tramps and their culture, and her book “Line by Line,” in a Facebook Live presentation from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Tuesday. Register at barbertonlibrary.org.

Hudson Library and Historical Society: Kate White opens up about her psychological thriller “The Bride” at a Zoom event at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Register at hudsonlibrary.org.

Rocky River Public Library: Bath resident Kenneth Clarke talks about “Wolves and Flax: The Prior Family in the Cuyahoga Valley Wilderness,” about his ancestors who founded the Township of Northampton, at a Zoom event from 7pm to 8pm Wednesday. Register at rrpl.org.

Learned owl bookstore (204 N. Main St.): Alex Abood from Mogadore signs “The Wizard”, the first part of his fantasy series “The Chronicles of Novum” for young adults, Saturday from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Email local book information and event notices at least two weeks in advance to [email protected] and [email protected]. Barbara McIntyre tweets to @BarbaraMcI.