This book is a page-turner, just like all the other books in the series! I liked the way Castillo elaborated on parallels between Kate’s personal history and the case, along with how her own emotions impacted/complicated the process of her investigation. The theme of “justice” is also a great addition! How things are not always black and white, there are grey areas, and even though Daniel Gingerich was a complete scum, justice in the form of arson and murder was wrong.

However, there were a few things I thought could’ve been tied together better. For example, who was the woman who put the note on the door of the station? Was it Edna? Who threw the hog head through The Mercantile glass window? What was the point of Mark Petershaim threatening Neva and fearing that she’d speak to the cops? I understand that he blamed her for what happened to Ruth, but why blame her? Why not Milo Hershberger? What was the point of the Petershaim murder-suicide in the story? And why did Mark want Kate killed?

Lastly, I feel that the books are getting pretty predictable, starting off with no one letting on any information, a mystery shoot-out with Kate, and then Kate in a life-threatening situation where a sudden person reveals themselves and prods her toward the answers to the case, without which Kate would never have solved the case. I’d love to see something different and equally exciting!