By Ande Jacobson

The twelfth Kate Burkholder novel, Outsider, delves into Kate’s more recent past. The Prologue starts with a deadly and graphic raid where the target, Gina Colorosa, barely escapes. Gina is the person who helped Kate the most when she first left the plain life. At present though, Gina has troubles, and she quickly brings them to Painters Mill. She’s a detective with the Cleveland PD, but there’s far more than readers are aware going on with the raid. She’s badly injured and barely gets away, but as she gets to Painters Mill, she encounters a horrific blizzard, and crashes her truck into a tree. As Gina comes close to freezing, Adam Lengacher happens by in his sleigh with his three young children. Adam is an Amish man who lost his wife only a couple of years before and is doing the best he can. Their initial meeting is less than ideal, but despite Gina’s off putting manner, he rescues her and brings her to his home to get her out of the freezing cold. She tells Adam to contact Kate Burkholder which he does. So begins a convoluted and dangerous adventure. The trouble that Gina left behind eventually follows her putting Adam and his children at risk, but Adam is model of Amish good will. When somebody needs help, he doesn’t judge them. He helps them. Continue reading →