Going deep into the culture of one of the minority group in the world, the Amish, Linda Castillo wrote down an excellent series. In the book Castillo delve into the traditions and the way of life of the Amish. She also explored different moral issues and complexities that can arise in a community.

In "Shamed," Castillo proved how she has mastered depth in her writing and has a lot to show readers about the Amish community.

“Shamed” begins when Mary Yoder, an Amish widow, is murdered in an abandoned farmhouse and her seven-year-old granddaughter, Elsie Helmuth, kidnapped while five-year-old sister, Annie, is able to escape. Traumatized, Annie is only able to tell Kate that the devil took her sister.

A missing child galvanizes Kate and her department as well as the local sheriff’s office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The search is complicated when Kate learns that Elsie is a special needs child, a situation the family-oriented Amish consider to be “a gift.” Add to that is keeping communications open with the Helmuths, who, like their Amish neighbors, do not have a phone or a motorized vehicle.

The investigation takes a different route when Kate learns that Elsie is not the biological daughter of the Helmuths, who have seven other children, and that her adoption is still shrouded in secrecy

Castillo took her readers on the journey of what the Amish culture entails through the plot in "Shamed."

The intelligent, insightful Kate whom is an Amish that left the community at a young age,  continues to be an appealing character with Castillo delivering new sides to her persona with each outing. “Shamed” is an outstanding addition to this solid series.

Tribune News Service