The Pledge

June 1, 2021

Det. Betty Rhyzyk has just been promoted to sergeant, but has she got problems. A hostage stand-off lands her on the phone with notorious cartel leader The Knife, who's angry at being challenged for dominance of Dallas's streets by ruthless cult leader Evangeline Roy. Evangeline happens to have it in for Betty, so who better as bait to draw out the newbie competitor and solve the current crisis. Kent wraps up her Edgar-nominated trilogy.

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September 1, 2021
Dallas police detective Betty Rhyzyk is back, more determined than ever to end her nemesis Evangeline Roy's drug empire. Betty and her wife, Jackie, are getting used to a new routine, as Mary Grace, the girl they rescued from the streets, and her baby, Elizabeth, have been living with them for seven months. Betty's daily runs now include a jogging stroller--which is more change than she would like, if she's honest with herself. Then Mary Grace disappears and her stepfather contacts Betty, looking to take custody of Elizabeth. Work offers little relief from domestic stress; recently promoted to detective sergeant, Betty is informed by Sinaloa cartel enforcer El Cuchillo that her old enemy Evangeline Roy has brought her drug empire back to Texas. Roy--cult leader, drug kingpin, and psychopath--had previously imprisoned Betty, and the resulting rescue mission led to the deaths of Roy's sons. Now she's gunning for Betty and intends to have some fun while destroying her, setting her people loose in Dallas dressed in red wigs. El Cuchillo needs help getting rid of the competition and gives Betty an ultimatum: "Capture or kill" Roy in two weeks or he will make her life a living hell. Caught in the maelstrom between these two homicidal villains, Betty must rely on her partner, Seth Dutton, as well as Peg Bartles and Rocky Bentner, an eccentric pair of private investigators, to find Mary Grace and protect Elizabeth, to discover the whereabouts of Evangeline Roy, and to prevent El Cuchillo from following through on his threats. She also gets some unexpected help from her Uncle Benny; his voice in Betty's head offers her solace and guidance as several flashbacks reveal more about Betty's past relationships with her parents, her brother, and her uncle. Strong women, sharp dialogue, and a vulnerable, kick-ass heroine combine for another satisfying adventure. Follows the formula, but the formula's still fun!

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August 23, 2021
In Edgar finalist Kent’s thrilling third and final novel featuring Sgt. Betty Rhyzyk of the North Central Dallas PD (after 2020’s The Burn), two of her past enemies return to Dallas, each seeking revenge. Evangeline Roy, the ruthless head of a cultlike drug cartel, sends Betty a message through one of Evangeline’s disciples: “Evangeline is going to take your life apart, piece by piece. And then she’s going to take you apart, piece by piece.” El Cuchillo, Evangeline’s rival, has his own message for Betty: “Once I give you the location of Evangeline Roy, you’ll have two weeks to capture or kill her.” Meanwhile, teenage mother Mary Grace and her baby, Elizabeth, whom Betty and Betty’s wife, Jackie, rescued from the streets, vanish. Mary Grace’s stepfather, a wealthy property developer, is intent on finding Elizabeth and blames Betty for the disappearance. Fortunately, Betty, who has one of the strongest marriages in detective fiction and has earned the respect of most of her fellow police officers, is up to every challenge. Kent does a fine job weaving the various plot strands into a satisfying and action-packed whole. Agent: Danny Baror, Baror International.