Pinkerton Detective Abigail MacKay is a master of disguises—and of new crime-solving technology! But she’ll have to move fast to stay a step ahead of Nat Quinn and Jake Conroy. Nat and Jake are the ringleaders of The Innocents, a western gang that specializes in holding up trains carrying payrolls—and Nat is pretty savvy when it comes to using the new sciences of 1868 in committing his crimes.… crimes.
Charismatic Nat and handsome Jake are on the run, and they’ve always gotten away before—before Abi. But when Abi is caught by another band of outlaws during the chase, there’s no other choice for Nat and Jake but to save her life. Abi owes them, and she agrees to help them bring in the murderer of a family friend.
The web of criminal activity grows more entangled with each passing day, but Nat, Jake, and Abi are united in their efforts to find the murderer. Once that happens, all bets are off, and Abi will be turning Nat and Jake over to the law. But can she do it? She finds herself falling for Nat, but is that growing attraction real? Or is he just using her to learn more about the Pinkertons’ methods? Abi always gets her man—but she may have met her match in her “best enemies”—THE INNOCENTS.
more
Wyoming 1868! Abigail McKay, a very engaging, strongly written woman, Pinkerton detective, (the first), with a penchant for flushing out the ‘innocents’ ( in this case, two outlaws accused of robbing trains and killings). CAAsbrey captures your imagination and holds it. Engaging read with heart, humor, light romance and intrigue. Pay careful attention, though! There are a variety of characters, some true innocents and others have a more nefarious ideology. Hunting down the ‘culprits’ is Abby’s mission,one in which she handles with apparent diligence. If one reads very carefully, largely because of the introduction of so many characters,( who may have been more precisely developed), you can unravel the mystery-it’s there (foreshadowing what will be) along with Abigail! Ms. Asbrey’s skill at creating this page turning tale, is quite masterful-words are precise, vivid images, and nearly flawless editing. I wish the romantic interests had more ‘bite.’ Overall, I look forward to my next read by this talented author!
Historical fiction is a very difficult genre to tackle but, oh my goodness, does this author get it right! As we follow Abigail Mackay on her Pinkerton’s mission to discover the identity of a gang of outlaws, the plot thickens as she is captured by a rival group of cowboy imposters. The camaraderie between characters is brilliant, each conversation will bring a smile to your lips, and the scenes are set so well that it’s almost possible to smell smoking guns as you inevitably gallop through the pages. Great plot, superb writing.
What a brilliant idea for a series. And expertly executed.
The story is set in 1868 in America. Abigail is an undercover detective working for Pinkerton Detective Agency. No one expects a female detective, especially one who is an expert at disguise. Although frustrating at times, she uses this prejudice to its full advantage. She is sent out to find a group of train robbers known as The Innocents. She learns the gang is led by an uncle and nephew although they are close in age and are more like brothers. They are also skilled in the art of disguise. Although sworn enemies and on different sides of the law, the heart doesn’t always obey the head.
Abigail is side-tracked by a dangerous group of copy cat train robbers and the murder of two women. A temporary truce is agreed between Jake and Nat the leaders of The Innocents and Abigail as they join forces. And what a formidable team they make.
A very enjoyable read. Well-written with interesting characters and an intriguing mystery to solve.
Recommend to readers of historical mysteries and Westerns.
The Innocents isn’t just a western. It’s a murder mystery, and also a feminist dialogue.
Abigail MacKay is such a wonderful, fearless character. She’s Scottish, smart as a whip and on her own in the American West during the mid 1800s when “nice ladies” didn’t travel alone… unless they were nannies, extremely bad looking or crusty, old widows.
She’s also on a mission to find a group of criminals and bring them in because she’s a Pinkerton detective and a darn good one at that, even if she has to fight for respect every step of the way. “It was only for a bright, blinding instant, and it was disturbing. She had accepted her lot; bidding farewell to motherhood, a position in society, and marriage. It had been exchanged for hard work, a degree of derision, and marginalization, but at least she made a difference to the world.”
When we meet our first set of criminals, what struck me immediately is that the they have manners and seem to have almost a chivalrous nature in their chosen life. A bit of a Robin Hood mentality that I imagine was an important part of the charisma and charm of being part of a gang of train robbers back in the day.
“My name is Nat Quinn,” the stranger said and then indicated the fair man by his side, “and this is Jake Conroy. You’re being held up by The Innocents.”
“We’re outlaws, you numbskull. It’s what we do.” Nat rolled his eyes. “Now keep your eyes on the cabin. I’ll cover Jake.”
Nat and Jake Quinn both were both memorable, rakish characters that made the story what it was. They are a bit loud-mouthed, too good looking for their own sakes and like to show off the fact that they don’t ever steal from locals or kill people, they only target the banks and such. They also have a sidekick named Melvin who only uses the best dynamite to blow things up. (I want to hang out with Melvin for a weekend!)
Perhaps it was inevitable that one of the brothers might set their eye on the incredible Abigail and she reciprocates to a certain extent, but again due to her character being a proper woman in society and both brothers being outlaws puts a bit of a wrench in things from a romantic level. An unlikely friendship occurs between them to solve another more pressing issue, murder. It’s grisly and shocking that the local sheriff seems a bit more worried about who the latest pretty lady is at the saloon, than the “working” women who are coming up dead.
How the answer is found and who is doing what to who becomes a wild goose chase to the finish line.
To comment that the historical research was impeccable would be an understatement. Not only were the clothing, dialogue, class structure and even the setting perfectly rendered, but also the medical and forensic data Abigail collected was true to the times and the technology available.
The local den of iniquity owned by the tough, no-nonsense Pearl was ground zero for all the local gossip and other humanly delights. “The tainted air swirled with the odor of tobacco and cheap perfume with low salty undertones of human sweat. An excellent pianist turned his opaque blind eyes to the ceiling as his talented fingers flashed over the keys. The blue notes mingled with the heady atmosphere in a room where the drink flowed, flesh rippled, and couples snuck off to curtained-off side rooms for less-than-discreet coupling, and in some cases, tripling. A skeletal man gathered impressive gout of phlegm and fired it at the brass spittoon.”
I enjoyed this novel, not only because it was written so well that I literally forgot about life and joined in the chase for the murderer, but also because for a moment I was there in the Wild West and I was brave, smart and fearless like the unstoppable Abigail MacKay.
The Innocents by C. A. Asbrey was the first in a series following Abigail McKay, a feisty, intelligent woman Pinkerton detective working in the American West in 1868. In this first book, Abi is investigating train robbers called the Innocents. The characters of Abigail and the Innocents are superbly crafted. The intricate plot has many, many twists and turns, showcasing Abigail’s ability to investigate clues and discover the truth. I highly recommend this wonderful western mystery.
Author C. A. Asbrey delivers a tale of mystery in the old west with Pinkerton agent Abigail MacKay. Being a female agent in a man’s wild west isn’t easy as she sets out to gather information to catch Nat Quinn and Jake Conroy, leaders of the train robbing gang known as The Innocents. Abi’s world collides with those she hopes to bring to justice, taking the reader on an unexpected, suspense filled journey filled with twists and turns (and a little romance). I loved the characters of this story and am so excited to be able to continue the journey with them in the next books of the series. This is a great read, highly recommended!
If you’re looking for a mystery to twist your mind, awesome dialogue that makes you legit laugh out loud, and characters to fall in love with… Look no further!!
The Innocents, the debut novel by C. A. Asbrey, fully delivers!
From the first page I was immediately captured and drawn deep into the story. My curiosity on who and what and how and when ensured that I remained tightly intrigued and invested. As it were, having to close the pages and be present in real life was difficult to accomplish. So… it didn’t happen often. Ha! And even after the last page was complete I was diving back in to re-experience some of my favorite scenes.
Abi is quite the leading lady, with her wits, her strength, her passion, and her vulnerability. I’m not afraid to admit that I want to adopt some of the same tricks and traits that make her her. Especially that hair pin…
Nat. (happy sigh) Nat’s sense of honor, compassion, and humor endeared him to me. And whoever said being smart isn’t sexy? They haven’t encountered Nat. The way that man adored and pursued the challenge of being around Abi and taking on what he did had me melting… even through the few rough moments. He sure knows how to use his mind and turn up the charm and… never mind. If I say too much more I’ll ruin it. Just trust me.
Jake. The muscle. Haha. Oh, Jake! His claim to loyalty, family, and his soft under the gruff scary exterior won my heart over. He had his own unique charm about him that made him the perfect partner to Nat, and one of the most adored characters in the story.
I loved how the words flowed off the page, weaving the world around me and bringing all the characters to life. I was laughing as much as I was sifting through all the clues to determine what was happening and who was going to do what next.
The Innocents is a delightfully unique story that will appeal to all readers. Whether you love a western or a mystery, with just a dash of heat thrown in, this will most definitely satisfy.
I was delighted to discover that it’s the first book in a series and that Abi, Nat, and Jake’s story is not over yet. I am most anxious to get the next book in my hands to see what journey C. A. Asbrey takes me (and you!) on next!
Thoroughly enjoyable read!
I had no idea what to expect, this being the first book I’ve read by Ms. Asbrey, but I will certainly be reading more! It was very entertaining, witty, and well researched! The main characters were well developed and charming. It’s well written and filled with intrigue, suspense, even humor! I look forward to reading more by the very talented author! Well done!
I wasn’t quite sure what this book was about but I am very glad I took a chance on it!
The Innocents are a gang of train robbers–but they never harm any of the passengers. Of course the train owners were not too happy with them and called on the Pinkerton Agency to help. The head of the agency decided to send one of his female agents which as I am sure you will intuit–was not taken too well by any of the males anywhere!! Abigail was riding the trains hoping to find them and her train was held up by a gang that said they were the Innocents. They were not and when one of the conductors was shot–Abigail knew it wasn’t them.
She kept bumping into a really good looking guy–but it took her to be kidnapped by the bad guys for her to finally figure out who they were. Trust was in short supply on both sides. When two women went missing-Abigail decided she was going to find them–so did the guys–she was quite inventive!
Meanwhile the guys were trying to find the fake group who were calling themselves the Innocents–
Would they find the women–and who was behind the using of the name? You will cringe at some parts and laugh at others as Abigail proves that women can certainly be spies and get the job done!!
Faultlessly Delightful
Abigail MacKay’s status as a Pinkerton Detective in Wyoming, in 1868, was a rare achievement for a woman—so rare in fact that men failed to take her seriously—a grave mistake for them.
When Abigail rides a train that is robbed by the notorious “Innocents,” fate seems to have smiled on her. She learns the identity of the outlaws and can arrest them and bring them to justice, but she gets sidetracked when fake outlaws claiming to be “The Innocents” rob a train and kill a guard. Hunting down a killer takes precedence over robbers who have never harmed anyone.
Nothing in life is simple. The fake Innocents shoot Abigail and leave her for dead; the real Innocents rescue her and nurse her back to health—but totally distrust her—and two prostitutes are murdered, leaving an eight-year-old as an orphan. Since Abigail knows the identity of the Innocents, she could arrest them. Only problem—she needs their help to solve the murders of the prostitutes since the local sheriff doesn’t care enough to investigate, and she needs their help to rescue the orphan after an attempt is made to kidnap him—because the sheriff doesn’t care enough to act.
For the first time since her husband died, Abigail feels the stirring of love—but with a member of an outlaw gang? It simply can’t happen. Or…can it?
Right from the start of “The Innocents” you know you are in very capable hands. I love a fictional tale that takes it’s cues from true events, as does this story of a young female detective working undercover to track down the infamous folk heroes who politely relieve trains of their cash payrolls. They are handsome and courteous and have never killed or roughed up anyone in the commission of their crimes.
But as the adage goes, excess profits breeds ruinous competition, which in this case takes the form of vicious outlaws who masquerade as the Innocents, but don’t share their ideals when it comes to manners or human life.
The story gets off to a rollicking start as Abigail McKay sets off after the faux Innocents after an up close and person encounter during a train robbery. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I can tell you that this book is full of action and intrigue, and the dialog, customs and events are spirited and authentic. I loved all the sparing and subterfuge and getting a peek into life a hundred and fifty years ago. I’m thrilled that this is just the first book of the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a lot of spirit!
It was original. Set in the US west with a strong Scottish female protagonist.
Quite an enjoyable read. Loved the charismatic characters.
The Innocents is the first of a series of novels featuring female Pinkerton Detective, Abigail MacKay, and the self-proclaimed “Innocents,” Nat Quinn and Jake Conroy. It was a delightful read, which bodes well for the rest of the books in the series. Asbrey may be British, but her depiction of the American west in 1868 feels spot on. She’s clearly done her research and the look and feel of Wyoming after the Civil War rings true throughout. The novel is full of danger, evil doers, and delightful characters who must deal with both.
I was intrigued by the premise of the book and the character of Abi MacKay from the outset, in part because I thoroughly enjoyed the depiction of Kate Warne in The Pinkertons series on Netflix. Despite the assumptions and prejudices of the time regarding the “place” and the innate physical and intellectual shortcomings of women, Abi proves herself to be the smartest person in the room when it comes to investigating a surprisingly complex murder case. Abi solves the crime by calling upon the “latest” in forensics and a brain that works faster than anyone around her. It’s not a new device, buy I’m a fan of a mystery that concludes with the detective gathering all the pertinent characters together in one room to reveal the nuances of the case and point out the murderer—like it’s done in Agatha Christie’s Poirot or the television series, Death in Paradise.
Contrary to some critiques here, I didn’t notice any egregious typos or other errors. And I’m an editor. It’s possible I may have missed some of the language differences between British and American English, because I’ve read a great number of British novels, and I’m familiar with British spelling. Mostly, though, I was so caught up in the story, the characters, and the historical milieu that I raced through the narrative.
Asbey knows her genre and her history well, and she can call upon her personal experience with forensics and law enforcement to make sure details are accurate. Asbrey may be British, but her depiction of the American west in 1868 feels spot on.
of