In this “deeply satisfying” thriller, Detective Betty Rhyzyk is up against a string of mysterious assassinations, an increasingly reckless partner, and her worst fear–desk duty–when she decides to go rogue . . . heading straight into the dark underworld of Dallas’s most dangerous drug cartel (The Washington Post). 2021 Edgar Award Nominee – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award
… Award Nominee – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award
Betty’s at the point of breaking when she decides to go rogue, on a chase that will lead her to the dark heart of a drug cartel terrorizing Dallas, and straight to the crooked cops who plan to profit from it all.
“A labyrinth of a police procedural punctuated by non-stop action . . . Gripping.” —Associated Press
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I first met Kathleen Kent in early 2017 at an event at The Writer’s Garrett in Dallas, TX. Kathleen appeared on a panel where she talked about how she switched genres from writing successful historical fiction to a crime thriller series starring a kickass redhead named Detective Betty Rhyzyk. Detective Betty first appeared in Kathleen’s foray into crime fiction in her fourth novel, The Dime, an Edgar Nominated book followed by the sequel, The Burn.
Before I delve into my thoughts about The Burn, it’s important to note that Kathleen’s debut novel, The Heretic’s Daughter, released in 2008 to international acclaim and made her a household name. Recently the book went into it’s fourteenth printing. Kathleen could have stayed in her comfort zone and continued to write historical fiction for her international fanbase.
But along came an opportunity to write crime fiction set in Dallas. Kathleen took the challenge and she never looked back. In my world, that makes her a fearless writer. She wasn’t afraid to try something new. To take risks.
Detective Betty Rhyzyk is also a fearless woman. Betty takes risks every day in her job as an undercover cop working narcotics in the Dallas Police Department. A transplanted New Yorker who started her career with the NYPD, Betty understands more than most cops that corruption can creep into any police department. Good cops and bad cops serve alongside each other. In Betty’s own family, police work is passed down through generations, along with the family’s Polish ancestry.
Betty’s father, along with her big brother Andrew (who she once looked up to), chose to follow a path of corruption. Her late Uncle Benny, on the other hand, was one of the good cops who’d worked homicide. Throughout the narrative, Uncle Benny serves as a voice of reason. I pictured Uncle Benny as Betty’s spiritual guide. But when Betty sees him one day…well, this was a moment so unexpected. I caught my breath and read the passage several times, admiring how Kathleen sets up this scene. That’s when I decided we all need an Uncle Benny to help us get through the tough times in life.
Betty is a six-foot-tall redheaded lesbian who defies all stereotypes found in most fiction. Her wife Jackie is a medical doctor and a grounding force in Betty’s life, along with Jackie’s great uncle, James Earle, a former military policeman, Vietnam Vet, and loveable curmudgeon.
Told in first person present tense, we move through the story and experience everything as Betty experiences each moment, from the most frightening and creepy to domestic life with Jackie. Some of my favorite scenes took place in Dr. Theo’s office, the therapist Betty is ordered to see. She is hellbent on avoiding anything where she has to talk about her feelings and past traumas. I appreciated how the author dealt with issues of PTSD. Regardless of circumstances, many of us will face trauma in life, but it’s how we learn to cope that can make all the difference.
In writing that is spare and tight, versatile and vibrant, Kathleen doesn’t waste words. One of my favorite lines appears on page 242 in the hardcover edition, where the author describes two unsavory drug dealers: “The boys were dead-eyed and whippet thin…”
On a personal note, I’m not generally drawn to crime fiction. My teenage step-sister (who I barely knew) was brutally murdered decades ago. She died of multiple stab wounds and the crime goes unsolved. That experience changed me and is perhaps why crime fiction is not a genre I normally read. That being said, I will read any crime fiction Kathleen Kent writes and here’s why: She makes you care about her characters, even the secondary ones who society would rather ignore: the homeless, drug addicts, hookers, the outcast. Detective Betty has what I call an empathy bone. She’s a rescuer to the down and out.
I highly recommend The Burn. Kathleen’s working on the third book in the series, and I look forward to following Detective Betty’s adventures as she faces her own demons and chases the bad guys and gals of the world.
In closing, I’d like to add that Kathleen is known for her generous heart in helping other writers. I’m thrilled that Kathleen agreed to read an advance copy of my latest novel and offer her endorsement. She’s a good role model for writers of all levels. She has a solid work ethic, and she’s proof that a writer can switch genres and take risks.