The Pledge

"Terrific. Riveting. Heartbreaking. A police procedural like none you’ve ever read. The Pledge is a devastating story of the depth of vengeance, the passion of motherhood, and the shattering power of belief--gorgeously structured and brilliantly written. The incredibly talented Kathleen Kent has created a haunting, dark, and original character… and gives the iconic Detective Betty an unforgettably personal story. Calling Hollywood--this is instantly cinematic and completely compelling. Do not miss this!"

“The Pledge is the terrific adrenaline punch you’d expect for the grand finale of Kathleen Kent’s Edgar-nominated trilogy starring Betty Rhyzyk, who is as iconic a crime fighter as Kent is a crime writer. Kent delivers every time, raising Texas hell in a voice as crisp and meaty as chicken-fried steak. If you haven’t yet met this high-octane series, grab The Dime, The Burn, and The Pledge for your next binge—I promise you won’t come up for air until you’ve become a Betty fan for life.”

"In this complex and page-turning thriller, the gritty world of narcotics policing intersects with the fantastic, and intuition and insight come together in pursuit of truth. While fans will be sad to see the one-of-a-kind Betty Rhyzyk go, Kent creates a compelling and satisfying end to her trilogy, one that explores the effects of intergenerational trauma, the power of chosen families, and how faith—in the divine, the badge, or the wisdom of those came before us—can be a weapon wielded for justice or chaos."

“The Pledge is a thrilling last dance with the formidable Betty Rhyzyk.”
 

“Detective Betty is one of my favorite queer characters in crime fiction. The Pledge is fiery and propulsive . . .  bring[ing] her story to a satisfying conclusion full of twists, tension, and emotional resonance.”

Praise for Kathleen Kent and The Burn

"Gripping . . . Briskly paced, The Burn barely allows the reader to take a breath as believable twists careen throughout."

"Deeply satisfying . . . [Betty is] an obsessive, borderline unstable, fascinating, Brooklyn-born seeker of truth. . . . With Betty Rhyzyk, Kathleen Kent brings those mean streets to life as excitingly as anybody has in years."

"Harsh, violent reality is the daily fare for Dallas police detective Betty Rhyzyk, the narrator of Kathleen Kent's satisfying The Burn."

"Kent's Dallas setting is so meticulously drawn that one can practically smell the streets, the sour odor of the street people. All of her characters are memorable, and not a single one, even the minor characters, is less than three dimensional."

"A suspenseful mystery right up until the end --- and an effective exploration of trauma and its ongoing repercussions, not only for survivors but also for those who care about, and for, them."

"Kent continues to reinvent and subvert traditional noir expectations with the larger-than-life, damaged, courageous Betty. . . . Action-driven mystery anchored by dynamic, deep characters."