Kathleen Kent

Read this because it was nominated for the Edgar. It is a very standard quick moving mystery. The difference is that the cop at the center of the story is a lesbian who has moved from New York to Texas and has to deal with all that entails.

******Spoiler alert******

I really enjoyed when she teamed up with civil war re-enactors, and the bit with the dog in the beginning was interesting.
By the end of the book, 3 cops in her group have been shot and one has been brutalized, felt this was a bit much. Especially the scenes with the crazed cult. Too much sadism and blood for my taste.… (mais)

Nate Cannon is a young Texas police officer joining the manhunt for serial killer William McGill across the newly settled Texas frontier. Nate has a strong sense of justice and ethics as he leaves his family behind to catch McGill. Nate's partners on the hunt fill him in on McGill's misdeeds and the other purpose for the mission, to bring back his partner's daughter, Lucinda, who has taken up with McGill. After escaping the brothel she was commissioned to, Lucinda has plans to follow McGill to Middle Bayou, chasing a tale of buried gold. When their dreams of gold don't pan out, Lucinda finds herself in another brothel, but this time she has a healthy fear of McGill. With Nate not far behind, Lucinda and McGill's reign is almost over.

The Outcasts is a historical fiction story of the wild west. Told from alternating points of view between Lucinda and Nate, the pacing is moderate and brings the reader on a journey as the two stories eventually collide. I was more entranced by Lucinda's story and her character. I don't know how to quite feel about her, but she is definitely interesting as both a victim and offender. Nate's character is steadfast and it was interesting to see his reactions to the twists in this case. I would have loved a point of view from McGill, I think it would have tied everything together better and given some motivation for all the killing. The ending was appropriate for all of the characters and I liked that Lucinda's character received an appropriate consequence, but was also happy.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (mais)