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The Outcasts
A taut, thrilling adventure story about buried treasure, a manhunt, and a woman determined to make a new life for herself in the old west.
It's the 19th century on the Gulf Coast, a time of opportunity and lawlessness. After escaping the Texas brothel where she'd been a virtual prisoner, Lucinda Carter heads for Middle Bayou to meet her lover, who has a plan to make them both rich, chasing rumors of a pirate's buried treasure.
Meanwhile Nate Cannon, a young Texas policeman with a pure heart and a strong sense of justice, is on the hunt for a ruthless killer named McGill who has claimed the lives of men, women, and even children across the frontier. Who--if anyone--will survive when their paths finally cross?
As Lucinda and Nate's stories converge, guns are drawn, debts are paid, and Kathleen Kent delivers an unforgettable portrait of a woman who will stop at nothing to make a new life for herself.
It's the 19th century on the Gulf Coast, a time of opportunity and lawlessness. After escaping the Texas brothel where she'd been a virtual prisoner, Lucinda Carter heads for Middle Bayou to meet her lover, who has a plan to make them both rich, chasing rumors of a pirate's buried treasure.
Meanwhile Nate Cannon, a young Texas policeman with a pure heart and a strong sense of justice, is on the hunt for a ruthless killer named McGill who has claimed the lives of men, women, and even children across the frontier. Who--if anyone--will survive when their paths finally cross?
As Lucinda and Nate's stories converge, guns are drawn, debts are paid, and Kathleen Kent delivers an unforgettable portrait of a woman who will stop at nothing to make a new life for herself.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
85 people are currently reading
4152 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Kent
11 books816 followersKathleen Kent is a New York Times bestselling author and an Edgar Award Nominee for her contemporary crime trilogy, The Dime, The Burn and The Pledge. Ms. Kent is also the author of three award-winning historical novels, The Heretic’s Daughter, The Traitor’s Wife, and The Outcasts. Her newest novel, BLACK WOLF, an international spy thriller, was published February 2023 and has received glowing reviews in both the US and the UK. She has written short stories and essays for D Magazine, Texas Monthly and LitHub, and has been published in the crime anthology Dallas Noir. In March 2020 she was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters for her contribution to Texas literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
December 13, 2013
Extremely glad to see the reemergence of the Western novel and this novel embodies many of the features of the old westerns; a prostitute, a killer, a town where treasure is supposedly hidden and of course, lawmen. A chase, and a unpredictable ending make this a face paced and entertaining read.
Lucinda, never could quite figure out if I liked this character or not. Was she at all sympathetic, yes, I sympathized with her early life and her illness at a time when it was not at all understood. But never really figured out why she did some of the things she did. At times she seemed very intelligent and yet she made some very stupid choices. Well I guess that can happen to the best of us.
Did love the character of the lawman Nate though and all the characters were complex, much going on under the surface face they presented. Even the supporting characters were interesting and varied.
Kent sure does come up with some fascinating women for characters, whether they be witches or prostitutes, characterization is definitely this author's strength. From witchcraft to Westerns, wonder what this author will tackle next.
Lucinda, never could quite figure out if I liked this character or not. Was she at all sympathetic, yes, I sympathized with her early life and her illness at a time when it was not at all understood. But never really figured out why she did some of the things she did. At times she seemed very intelligent and yet she made some very stupid choices. Well I guess that can happen to the best of us.
Did love the character of the lawman Nate though and all the characters were complex, much going on under the surface face they presented. Even the supporting characters were interesting and varied.
Kent sure does come up with some fascinating women for characters, whether they be witches or prostitutes, characterization is definitely this author's strength. From witchcraft to Westerns, wonder what this author will tackle next.
September 6, 2013
I am so sad that I finished this book.
I want it to keep going and going.
I won it in a Goodreads FirstReads giveaway and the moment I pulled it out of the envelope, I knew I'd like the book. So kudos first to whoever designed one of the best book covers I've seen in a very long time.
More kudos to Kathleen Kent for the interesting, intriguing, and excellent plot she created in this book.
The main characters, Lucinda and Nate, don't even meet until the last fifty pages or so and while that may seem odd, it's absolutely perfect. It's like I got to read two different books at once, and both books were incredibly good.
Nate's the do-gooder, the by-the-book character who is forced to step outside his comfort zone when he realizes that you can't always do good by the book. As a Texas State Police officer, it's a hard to thing to comprehend for him.
Lucinda is the bad girl who throws the book in the Louisiana bayous whenever she can, even when she seems to want nothing more than to be able to do good, by the book. As a prostitute who falls in with a killer of prostitutes, because he's the only man who doesn't see her seizure disorder as something to run screaming from or commit her to an asylum for.
The minor characters are fascinating too. Captain Deerling and Dr. Tom are the "do-gooder" Texas Rangers who have their own motivations for doing what they do, motivations that sometimes seem to let their morals slip. The Grants and the Wallers play very minor roles but they are written in such a way that you can't help but feel passionately for them, one way or the other.
I'm going to read this book over and over again, because I read it so fast (because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next) that I'm sure I missed little things. And I'm going to tell whoever will listen to read it.
I want it to keep going and going.
I won it in a Goodreads FirstReads giveaway and the moment I pulled it out of the envelope, I knew I'd like the book. So kudos first to whoever designed one of the best book covers I've seen in a very long time.
More kudos to Kathleen Kent for the interesting, intriguing, and excellent plot she created in this book.
The main characters, Lucinda and Nate, don't even meet until the last fifty pages or so and while that may seem odd, it's absolutely perfect. It's like I got to read two different books at once, and both books were incredibly good.
Nate's the do-gooder, the by-the-book character who is forced to step outside his comfort zone when he realizes that you can't always do good by the book. As a Texas State Police officer, it's a hard to thing to comprehend for him.
Lucinda is the bad girl who throws the book in the Louisiana bayous whenever she can, even when she seems to want nothing more than to be able to do good, by the book. As a prostitute who falls in with a killer of prostitutes, because he's the only man who doesn't see her seizure disorder as something to run screaming from or commit her to an asylum for.
The minor characters are fascinating too. Captain Deerling and Dr. Tom are the "do-gooder" Texas Rangers who have their own motivations for doing what they do, motivations that sometimes seem to let their morals slip. The Grants and the Wallers play very minor roles but they are written in such a way that you can't help but feel passionately for them, one way or the other.
I'm going to read this book over and over again, because I read it so fast (because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next) that I'm sure I missed little things. And I'm going to tell whoever will listen to read it.
September 15, 2013
I love strong women in books, and when I saw this cover and read the blurb, I thought, "Heck yea."
While I didn't hate this story, I'm a tad disappointed. I thought I was getting some kinda gun-slinging woman outlaw, but truth is, she only actually wields a gun once at the end and she's really just a cold, heartless whore--made that way by men. There's something a bit crazy about her, to be honest, and I'm not referring to her seizures.
The story alternates between her and Nate, a new Texas Ranger. Nate is a good ole boy from Oklahoma and...well, dull as a doorknob. Through him, however, we follow two other Texas Rangers--I thought they were total A-holes. Because I really truly disliked his comrades and the things they did and found Nate just a dullard, I started to skip his parts around twenty percent. I'm all about women. I don't like male narrators.
It's the woman's story I was fascinated with. She's been institutionalized and you could say made nuts by the experience. She's been betrayed by the very men who should have loved her. She's in love with a serial killer and willingly allowing herself to be used. She's manipulative, conniving, and vengeful...and has a fascination with geometry as well as the occasional seizure.
There's a treasure hunt and she has to use people to get information. She is fascinating whether you like her or not. Why she's attracted to the killer I never quite understood though.
Long review short: I really enjoyed the historical side of this. Everything from the horses, to the hurdy gurdy girls, to the whorehouses, to the former Southern plantation owners adjusting to their new lives...was very well done and totally transported me into the past. I could picture it all so well. The descriptions were superb. I also appreciated how things tied together in the end. I couldn't predict everything. I didn't like the Texas Rangers and I was bored with about half of the book. Too must testosterone in their scenes. But that's just me. But that being said, loved how a tone of darkness was intertwined with a western.
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
While I didn't hate this story, I'm a tad disappointed. I thought I was getting some kinda gun-slinging woman outlaw, but truth is, she only actually wields a gun once at the end and she's really just a cold, heartless whore--made that way by men. There's something a bit crazy about her, to be honest, and I'm not referring to her seizures.
The story alternates between her and Nate, a new Texas Ranger. Nate is a good ole boy from Oklahoma and...well, dull as a doorknob. Through him, however, we follow two other Texas Rangers--I thought they were total A-holes. Because I really truly disliked his comrades and the things they did and found Nate just a dullard, I started to skip his parts around twenty percent. I'm all about women. I don't like male narrators.
It's the woman's story I was fascinated with. She's been institutionalized and you could say made nuts by the experience. She's been betrayed by the very men who should have loved her. She's in love with a serial killer and willingly allowing herself to be used. She's manipulative, conniving, and vengeful...and has a fascination with geometry as well as the occasional seizure.
There's a treasure hunt and she has to use people to get information. She is fascinating whether you like her or not. Why she's attracted to the killer I never quite understood though.
Long review short: I really enjoyed the historical side of this. Everything from the horses, to the hurdy gurdy girls, to the whorehouses, to the former Southern plantation owners adjusting to their new lives...was very well done and totally transported me into the past. I could picture it all so well. The descriptions were superb. I also appreciated how things tied together in the end. I couldn't predict everything. I didn't like the Texas Rangers and I was bored with about half of the book. Too must testosterone in their scenes. But that's just me. But that being said, loved how a tone of darkness was intertwined with a western.
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
August 23, 2013
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2013/08/...
When we first meet Lucinda “Lucy” Carter, it’s the late1800’s and she’s making her escape from a Texas brothel with more than a few dollars of the madam’s stash in tow and an invitation to teach in Middle Bayou, Louisiana. She’s got more to do in Middle Bayou than just teach, though. In fact, a man is supposed to meet her there and he’s got buried treasure on his mind, and plans to use Lucinda to get it. Meanwhile, young Nate Cannon, a Texas cop, is hunting for a killer of women, men, and children by the name of McGill, and on the way, he meets up with two other lawmen, Dr. Tom and Deerling. Deerling is a rather ruthless sort and is unapologetic about methods that Nate may not agree with. Dr. Tom has a personal stake in capturing McGill, but I’ll let you discover what that is on your own. Needless to say, chasing the cunning McGill isn’t easy and is fraught with danger, some of which has nothing to do with their fugitive. Nate finds himself growing attached to these two cops that have been partners for the better part of 20 years, and although he longs to be back home with his wife and young daughter, his experiences with these men, and what he learns from them, is transformational.
The narrative is divided between Nate’s journey and Lucinda’s, and I fell in love with them both, but for different reasons. On the outside, Lucinda exudes confidence and is even somewhat of a prodigy in math, but on the inside, she is so damaged and so broken that your heart will go out to her. Yes, she’s in league with some not so nice people. Yes, she uses others in order to survive, sometimes with terrible consequences. But, she is so complex, and at times so vulnerable, and I desperately wanted to see a light at the end of the tunnel for her. As The Outcast moves toward its conclusion, I began to feel a sense of inevitability, and also a very palpable sense of dread. I knew that things were going to be explosive, and in the end, they were, but the author threw some curveballs in there that I didn’t expect. The journey is the key here, and what a journey! Nate is so goodhearted, with a very strong sense of justice, and he finds himself challenged at nearly every turn, especially by the irascible Deerling, but it’s his relationship with Dr. Tom that’s the big draw here. From the dusty hills of Texas to the very wild and steamy Gulf Coast, The Outcasts is unforgettable, and if you have a love for Westerns, you’re especially in for a treat, although this will appeal to thriller fans and for readers that are just looking for a damn good story. I couldn’t put this one down, and it’s left me scrambling to get my hands on everything Kathleen Kent has written.
When we first meet Lucinda “Lucy” Carter, it’s the late1800’s and she’s making her escape from a Texas brothel with more than a few dollars of the madam’s stash in tow and an invitation to teach in Middle Bayou, Louisiana. She’s got more to do in Middle Bayou than just teach, though. In fact, a man is supposed to meet her there and he’s got buried treasure on his mind, and plans to use Lucinda to get it. Meanwhile, young Nate Cannon, a Texas cop, is hunting for a killer of women, men, and children by the name of McGill, and on the way, he meets up with two other lawmen, Dr. Tom and Deerling. Deerling is a rather ruthless sort and is unapologetic about methods that Nate may not agree with. Dr. Tom has a personal stake in capturing McGill, but I’ll let you discover what that is on your own. Needless to say, chasing the cunning McGill isn’t easy and is fraught with danger, some of which has nothing to do with their fugitive. Nate finds himself growing attached to these two cops that have been partners for the better part of 20 years, and although he longs to be back home with his wife and young daughter, his experiences with these men, and what he learns from them, is transformational.
The narrative is divided between Nate’s journey and Lucinda’s, and I fell in love with them both, but for different reasons. On the outside, Lucinda exudes confidence and is even somewhat of a prodigy in math, but on the inside, she is so damaged and so broken that your heart will go out to her. Yes, she’s in league with some not so nice people. Yes, she uses others in order to survive, sometimes with terrible consequences. But, she is so complex, and at times so vulnerable, and I desperately wanted to see a light at the end of the tunnel for her. As The Outcast moves toward its conclusion, I began to feel a sense of inevitability, and also a very palpable sense of dread. I knew that things were going to be explosive, and in the end, they were, but the author threw some curveballs in there that I didn’t expect. The journey is the key here, and what a journey! Nate is so goodhearted, with a very strong sense of justice, and he finds himself challenged at nearly every turn, especially by the irascible Deerling, but it’s his relationship with Dr. Tom that’s the big draw here. From the dusty hills of Texas to the very wild and steamy Gulf Coast, The Outcasts is unforgettable, and if you have a love for Westerns, you’re especially in for a treat, although this will appeal to thriller fans and for readers that are just looking for a damn good story. I couldn’t put this one down, and it’s left me scrambling to get my hands on everything Kathleen Kent has written.
September 30, 2013
I loved this novel! The Outcasts is an engrossing novel set in the American west where no one is perfect and everyone is in search of something! The story unfolds through the points of view of Nate Cannon and Lucinda Carter.
Nate is an immediately likeable character. He leaves a young wife at home to join a cattle drive and later the Texas State Police. On his first assignment, he encounters two crusty old Texas Rangers, George Deerling and Tom Goddard. They have spent a lifetime hunting a ruthless killer named McGill who has killed women and children. Good with horses, Nate impresses the rough and tumble duo and the three ride off in search of McGill. The scenes in the book pertaining to these characters are excellently written, in fact, I would classify it as amazing, capturing the crudeness and wisdom of old age cowboys and rangers. Incredibly fabulous!
Then there is Lucinda Carter. Lucinda is running from a horrible past. She is an unloved epileptic whose father banished her to a lunatic asylum when she was a mere child. Now, she makes her living as a whore in a bothel. When she earns enough, she hopes to meet her lover and start a new life. So to hasten her destiny, she steals from her notoriously ruthless madame, who sends a killer after her. But Lucinda’s lover insists she take a job as a school teacher first. Yes, that’s correct, a whore working as a school teacher, one of the many fascinating tweeks and lilts this story takes. While there, she learns of a long-lost treasure hidden by the infamous pirate, Lafitte, many years before.
There is so much to gush about in this novel, I don’t know where to begin. The characterization is stupendous, the plot magnificent, the characters inter-connected, the creativity superb! This is the old west at its best and worst – ruthless, dangerous, wild. This story has it all, brothels, saloons, gunfights, killings, sex, and much, much more, all if it a glorious indulgence! And from start to finish, the story is peppered with clever dialogue and scenes that ring with brilliance. Each character has secrets, and slowly their secrets are revealed reaching a crescendo near the end.
Ah, yes, the the ending – a fabulous, fascinating ending that neatly ties up all the threads of the story, connects all the characters, reveals all the secrets, and leaves you wanting more. Why? Because the author has the ability to make the characters bigger than life, real, sympathetic, credible. One of the best books I have ever read! Definitely one that I will read again and again.
Nate is an immediately likeable character. He leaves a young wife at home to join a cattle drive and later the Texas State Police. On his first assignment, he encounters two crusty old Texas Rangers, George Deerling and Tom Goddard. They have spent a lifetime hunting a ruthless killer named McGill who has killed women and children. Good with horses, Nate impresses the rough and tumble duo and the three ride off in search of McGill. The scenes in the book pertaining to these characters are excellently written, in fact, I would classify it as amazing, capturing the crudeness and wisdom of old age cowboys and rangers. Incredibly fabulous!
Then there is Lucinda Carter. Lucinda is running from a horrible past. She is an unloved epileptic whose father banished her to a lunatic asylum when she was a mere child. Now, she makes her living as a whore in a bothel. When she earns enough, she hopes to meet her lover and start a new life. So to hasten her destiny, she steals from her notoriously ruthless madame, who sends a killer after her. But Lucinda’s lover insists she take a job as a school teacher first. Yes, that’s correct, a whore working as a school teacher, one of the many fascinating tweeks and lilts this story takes. While there, she learns of a long-lost treasure hidden by the infamous pirate, Lafitte, many years before.
There is so much to gush about in this novel, I don’t know where to begin. The characterization is stupendous, the plot magnificent, the characters inter-connected, the creativity superb! This is the old west at its best and worst – ruthless, dangerous, wild. This story has it all, brothels, saloons, gunfights, killings, sex, and much, much more, all if it a glorious indulgence! And from start to finish, the story is peppered with clever dialogue and scenes that ring with brilliance. Each character has secrets, and slowly their secrets are revealed reaching a crescendo near the end.
Ah, yes, the the ending – a fabulous, fascinating ending that neatly ties up all the threads of the story, connects all the characters, reveals all the secrets, and leaves you wanting more. Why? Because the author has the ability to make the characters bigger than life, real, sympathetic, credible. One of the best books I have ever read! Definitely one that I will read again and again.
November 1, 2014
I really loved the atmosphere and the setting of this book, but found it difficult to care about its protagonists. Kathleen Kent can write a pretty sentence, but it felt like the third-person narrative was far too distanced from its characters. I didn't end up really liking either Nate or Lucinda, which meant that the second half of the book dragged much more than the first. There is only so much riding across the desert that one can do before action is required.
Ultimately, I just didn't find the overall story very compelling (at least, once they left Middle Bayou), and I ended the book feeling unsatisfied.
OH WAIT AND:
tl;dr: the ending was LAME.
Ultimately, I just didn't find the overall story very compelling (at least, once they left Middle Bayou), and I ended the book feeling unsatisfied.
OH WAIT AND:
tl;dr: the ending was LAME.
March 1, 2014
I was really excited to read this book. I love westerns and the book cover for this book is eye catching. However, once I actually cracked open this book, I found it was nothing like I was hoping for. I kind of found Lucinda to be crude. Nate is unmemorable. In fact, I could not really tell you what this book was about as I only got about ten chapters in and put the book down with no regrets. Plus, it moved extremely slow with little action from what I saw. I like my westerns to have lots of action, a good storyline, and characters I can truly get behind and cheer on the whole way through until the end. I know it is not just this book is either as I tried to read the author's other book, The Heretic's Daughter and the same thing happened to me than too.
July 7, 2019
It starts out slow but I was determined to stick to it. I wish I hadn’t. You don’t like the main character Lucinda and that doesn’t change even though I think the author wanted you to. I was hoping for an exciting western story. It was a weird story, and I was glad when it ended.
September 28, 2018
To tell you the truth, I can count on one hand the number of Western gun-slinging historical fiction I have read in the past two years. I like historical western reads, but I am quite particular with the books I want to devour.
When I saw The Outcasts, I felt like it was calling on to me, luring me to see the pages and Kathleen Kent mesmerized me with her words. True enough, I was able to read this whole book in just one sitting and it was one mind-blowing, heart-pumping, action-packed, gut-wrenching read.
Lucinda Carter is a hard woman to love. She's tricky, full of guts, fierce and wanton and frankly, a little too bold for my taste. She's great in mathematics, I give her that, but her choice of man and techniques were something quite frown upon by the society. While I repeatedly admonish her in my head for all the bad choices she's done, I couldn't help but feel bad for her in the end. She's such an anti-hero and damnright, she's incorrigible.
Nate Cannon from Oklahoma and his comrades, Dr. Tom and George Deerling were like tour-de-force. I don't know why I got attracted to their methods in law enforcement; actually, these three were quite contradicting and conflicting characters. Each has a story to tell, and until the end, they all have kept me on my toes. It was unfortunate to learn about their respective fates, though, and in my heart, Dr. Tom was the most decorated man I've met. Nate and his kindness, bless his heart, made the story all worthwhile.
The other characters, The German, McGill, May, Jane, Mrs. Landry - all beautifully written and rightfully hated (in my opinion) but they all helped make this whole book quite exciting. Kathleen Kent is incredible. A writer par excellence, she wove a wonderful action packed western tale of intrigue, deception, controversy and scandal, that left readers' mouths hanging and minds whirling. Definitely one of the best authors to watch out for! Kent would make Charles Dickens proud!
When I saw The Outcasts, I felt like it was calling on to me, luring me to see the pages and Kathleen Kent mesmerized me with her words. True enough, I was able to read this whole book in just one sitting and it was one mind-blowing, heart-pumping, action-packed, gut-wrenching read.
Lucinda Carter is a hard woman to love. She's tricky, full of guts, fierce and wanton and frankly, a little too bold for my taste. She's great in mathematics, I give her that, but her choice of man and techniques were something quite frown upon by the society. While I repeatedly admonish her in my head for all the bad choices she's done, I couldn't help but feel bad for her in the end. She's such an anti-hero and damnright, she's incorrigible.
Nate Cannon from Oklahoma and his comrades, Dr. Tom and George Deerling were like tour-de-force. I don't know why I got attracted to their methods in law enforcement; actually, these three were quite contradicting and conflicting characters. Each has a story to tell, and until the end, they all have kept me on my toes. It was unfortunate to learn about their respective fates, though, and in my heart, Dr. Tom was the most decorated man I've met. Nate and his kindness, bless his heart, made the story all worthwhile.
The other characters, The German, McGill, May, Jane, Mrs. Landry - all beautifully written and rightfully hated (in my opinion) but they all helped make this whole book quite exciting. Kathleen Kent is incredible. A writer par excellence, she wove a wonderful action packed western tale of intrigue, deception, controversy and scandal, that left readers' mouths hanging and minds whirling. Definitely one of the best authors to watch out for! Kent would make Charles Dickens proud!
August 27, 2013
Not a western lover or partial to Texas as a locale, this book captured me immediately. It opens with a prostitute running way from her brothel with the Madam's live savings. The interesting twist with this character is she is epileptic! This is 1870, not much known about things like this yet. It made her story very interesting.
There are three lawmen on the trail of a very dangerous killer. Two are seasoned Texas Rangers and one is a young Texas policeman. I really enjoyed watching the bonding of these three men and the seasoned lawmen teaching the young lawman. We get to see Nate's personal life thru letters to and from his wife. Nate is a horsemen and he only took this job to get enough money to buy horses and set up in the training business. So we learn about horses thru his story too.
Throw in the mystery of a buried treasure and it is a grand adventure of a tale! Supposedly a farmer found Jean LaFitte's buried pirate treasure on a small island. Alternating chapters beween Lucinda and Nate's storyline it all culminates into one with the farmer and his buried treasure.
Lots of surprising connections, deaths you don't expect, and a good twist at the end. You have to read this book!
There are three lawmen on the trail of a very dangerous killer. Two are seasoned Texas Rangers and one is a young Texas policeman. I really enjoyed watching the bonding of these three men and the seasoned lawmen teaching the young lawman. We get to see Nate's personal life thru letters to and from his wife. Nate is a horsemen and he only took this job to get enough money to buy horses and set up in the training business. So we learn about horses thru his story too.
Throw in the mystery of a buried treasure and it is a grand adventure of a tale! Supposedly a farmer found Jean LaFitte's buried pirate treasure on a small island. Alternating chapters beween Lucinda and Nate's storyline it all culminates into one with the farmer and his buried treasure.
Lots of surprising connections, deaths you don't expect, and a good twist at the end. You have to read this book!
March 23, 2016
Additional Info based on 2nd reading finished last night:
This book was more interesting on the second reading. I got more insight into the characters and the plot was as fun as ever. I am now a staunch a Kathleen Kent fan. Don't miss this if you're looking for a fun read with some literary qualities!
Original Review (only 4 stars, but true observations):
This was my first experience reading Kathleen Kent, and I very much enjoyed it. Fans of historical fiction from this time and place should be well satisfied by this offering.
The Outcasts was beautifully written. One distinctive quality of the narration is the distance between the 3rd person narrator and the subject or object being contemplated (either by a character or the narrator). This type of narration, in my view, helps to paint a picture of an unforgiving world where people must steel themselves to hard truths to the effects of causes they did not necessarily create. It's not as depressing as I make it sound! It's just...tough. The novel is a great, interesting read.
Please be advised I received a copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway program.
This book was more interesting on the second reading. I got more insight into the characters and the plot was as fun as ever. I am now a staunch a Kathleen Kent fan. Don't miss this if you're looking for a fun read with some literary qualities!
Original Review (only 4 stars, but true observations):
This was my first experience reading Kathleen Kent, and I very much enjoyed it. Fans of historical fiction from this time and place should be well satisfied by this offering.
The Outcasts was beautifully written. One distinctive quality of the narration is the distance between the 3rd person narrator and the subject or object being contemplated (either by a character or the narrator). This type of narration, in my view, helps to paint a picture of an unforgiving world where people must steel themselves to hard truths to the effects of causes they did not necessarily create. It's not as depressing as I make it sound! It's just...tough. The novel is a great, interesting read.
Please be advised I received a copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway program.
April 23, 2018
Beautifully done Western, told in two alternate narrative perspectives. The lines begin as apparent parallels in a Western plain, then tilt together, before joining irrevocably at a single, heartbreakingly stunning, point.
November 9, 2019
Didn’t know how much I was wanting to read a good western until I got into this book. This is now the second book I have read by Kent and I’m a fan. Really enjoy how she writes.
January 18, 2014
After Code Name: Verity, this one needs to not hurt me.
---
Oh, thank god, there was no weeping.
Despite knowing that Kathleen Kent is a great author (love Heretic's Daughter, actually got into a long discussion with a big burly truck driver once about how much it rocked), I was hesitant about this book. The cover made me want to read it immediately (I do judge books by their covers), but it's a western, and I just don't....do westerns.
I was captivated from the start, though. Lucinda creeping out of the brothel, her plans so very carefully made, so many contingency plans. Making sure a trail led "The German" awry so she could make her fast escape. I loved her.
But then. Sigh.
Nate's chapters were what slowed me down. I realized that the two would join up at some point, so I didn't want to skip over them entirely. But as great a character as he really was, and Deerling and Dr. Tom (LOVED Dr. Tom), reading about riding horses and capturing bad guys is exactly why I am not a fan of westerns. Novel or film.
Except for Tombstone. Breaks all the rules.
But Nate was a fantastic character. A genuinely good guy, who really did do the right thing all the time. I like to think that at some point, he caught up with a certain character, and finished the job.
And I really do love that cover.
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Oh, thank god, there was no weeping.
Despite knowing that Kathleen Kent is a great author (love Heretic's Daughter, actually got into a long discussion with a big burly truck driver once about how much it rocked), I was hesitant about this book. The cover made me want to read it immediately (I do judge books by their covers), but it's a western, and I just don't....do westerns.
I was captivated from the start, though. Lucinda creeping out of the brothel, her plans so very carefully made, so many contingency plans. Making sure a trail led "The German" awry so she could make her fast escape. I loved her.
But then. Sigh.
Nate's chapters were what slowed me down. I realized that the two would join up at some point, so I didn't want to skip over them entirely. But as great a character as he really was, and Deerling and Dr. Tom (LOVED Dr. Tom), reading about riding horses and capturing bad guys is exactly why I am not a fan of westerns. Novel or film.
Except for Tombstone. Breaks all the rules.
But Nate was a fantastic character. A genuinely good guy, who really did do the right thing all the time. I like to think that at some point, he caught up with a certain character, and finished the job.
And I really do love that cover.
November 7, 2013
Wow...What a great couple of reading weeks this has been -- the last four books have all be extra special -- every one a book I didn't want to end -- and The Outcasts has been the pick of the litter. What are the signs of extra special books? for me it is a great "Hook" and Kathleen Kent (I've loved her other books: The Heretic's Daughter is another favorite) can cast that hook better than most. I read nearly 40% of the book on the first night...Saturday. I read til about 1:30 and then had to force myself to put it down. And today, Tuesday, by 7 p.m. I was reluctantly finished.
MS Kent has a wonderful way of putting me right in the middle of the action. In her last book she plunked me down in Salem. This time she had me racing back and forth across Texas on horseback, on early trains and on ferries, with a pair of early Texas Rangers and a newly appointed Texas State Policeman as they head out after a particularly nasty murderer and his companion.
Sigh...the worst part of really good books is when they are over and I have to find something to read that can compete...It is getting hard and it's so unusual to have a run of four -- all of which i loved! the other three since October 12? Josefina's Sin by Claudia Long, Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield and The Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford. Wish I hadn't read any of them...yet. Then I could start them all anew.
MS Kent has a wonderful way of putting me right in the middle of the action. In her last book she plunked me down in Salem. This time she had me racing back and forth across Texas on horseback, on early trains and on ferries, with a pair of early Texas Rangers and a newly appointed Texas State Policeman as they head out after a particularly nasty murderer and his companion.
Sigh...the worst part of really good books is when they are over and I have to find something to read that can compete...It is getting hard and it's so unusual to have a run of four -- all of which i loved! the other three since October 12? Josefina's Sin by Claudia Long, Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield and The Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford. Wish I hadn't read any of them...yet. Then I could start them all anew.
March 8, 2019
3.5, but I rounded up because it was a book that I won't forget. I'm not usually a fan of westerns for several reasons - the body count, for one - and this book has its fair share. But since this tale sounded unusual, I picked it up and was not disappointed. Two rangers and a policeman track a murderer across several states in order to kill him and to apprehend the prostitute that is with him. The free-for-all that was post-Civil War Texas and New Orleans are hard to fathom, as well as the monumental efforts by the law to reign it all in.
July 4, 2017
I LOVED this book. Beautifully written, incredible characters, no disappointing, cliche romance! Yay! It's set in the Wild West but isn't a history. So many good details of character and place...a true work of modern literature.
November 22, 2013
The Outcasts is a strong searing drama about murder and drama during the 1800s on the Gulf Coast. The pace is slow with action throughout but to call it a thriller would be incorrect. The driving force behind the Outcasts are the characters and the ties that bind them.
Lucinda Carter escapes from a brothel to meet with her lover and plan a new life. She knows that the man she loves is different than other men but she excuses his crimes with a lie of what he could be.
William McGill is a murderer and thief who kills without conscience. He is meeting Lucinda and making his way to the little town called Middle Bayou. There he expects to find a hidden treasure that will set him up for the rest of his days, with or without Lucinda.
Nate Cannon is a young Texas policeman who teams up with two Texas Rangers as they hunt for McGill. His views of right and wrong and what true justice is on the frontier will be tested on this journey.
The three are on a collision course to Middle Bayou and beyond. A course that not all of them can survive.
It is the character of Lucinda that drives The Outcasts. Her demeanor and her angst. What ties her to the two Texas Rangers and why does she love McGill so when she knows in his heart he doesn't truly care for her. How does Lucinda survive her time in the brothels and what it does to her. And with such disgust, how does she condemn a young fourteen year old girl to such a life.
Nate is a complicated character and as we learn more about him in the telling of the tale we begin to see how the ideals he holds himself to are not what he feels in his heart and when the time comes to deal out the justice needed to make McGill pay for his crimes; can he.
The Outcasts is a stirring tale of life, love and survival on the frontier that was the 19th century gulf coast.
Lucinda Carter escapes from a brothel to meet with her lover and plan a new life. She knows that the man she loves is different than other men but she excuses his crimes with a lie of what he could be.
William McGill is a murderer and thief who kills without conscience. He is meeting Lucinda and making his way to the little town called Middle Bayou. There he expects to find a hidden treasure that will set him up for the rest of his days, with or without Lucinda.
Nate Cannon is a young Texas policeman who teams up with two Texas Rangers as they hunt for McGill. His views of right and wrong and what true justice is on the frontier will be tested on this journey.
The three are on a collision course to Middle Bayou and beyond. A course that not all of them can survive.
It is the character of Lucinda that drives The Outcasts. Her demeanor and her angst. What ties her to the two Texas Rangers and why does she love McGill so when she knows in his heart he doesn't truly care for her. How does Lucinda survive her time in the brothels and what it does to her. And with such disgust, how does she condemn a young fourteen year old girl to such a life.
Nate is a complicated character and as we learn more about him in the telling of the tale we begin to see how the ideals he holds himself to are not what he feels in his heart and when the time comes to deal out the justice needed to make McGill pay for his crimes; can he.
The Outcasts is a stirring tale of life, love and survival on the frontier that was the 19th century gulf coast.
November 15, 2013
Kent’s latest is a departure from her earlier novels, but her talent for writing strong female protagonists in well-written stories that invoke the sense of place and time shines through once again.
This story takes place in 1870’s Texas, recovering from the Civil War and where often justice and lawlessness is often the same thing. It is in this fascinating setting that we meet the multi-layered complex characters as they explore the dark corners of love, hope, betrayal, and revenge. The storylines unfold through the two narrators, Lucinda Carter an epileptic prostitute/schoolteacher, and Nick Cannon, a newly appointed Texas policeman.
While parts of the taut plot were predictable, it was Kent’s deft characterizations that had be reading late into the night to find out how the characters and their secrets were going to fare. It was masterful how Kent solicited my sympathy for Lucinda and then in one act of unspeakable cruelty Lucinda shows her true colors.
Overall for me this atypical western tale delivers an old-fashion punch with keen observations on humanity.
This story takes place in 1870’s Texas, recovering from the Civil War and where often justice and lawlessness is often the same thing. It is in this fascinating setting that we meet the multi-layered complex characters as they explore the dark corners of love, hope, betrayal, and revenge. The storylines unfold through the two narrators, Lucinda Carter an epileptic prostitute/schoolteacher, and Nick Cannon, a newly appointed Texas policeman.
While parts of the taut plot were predictable, it was Kent’s deft characterizations that had be reading late into the night to find out how the characters and their secrets were going to fare. It was masterful how Kent solicited my sympathy for Lucinda and then in one act of unspeakable cruelty Lucinda shows her true colors.
Overall for me this atypical western tale delivers an old-fashion punch with keen observations on humanity.
July 30, 2014
It's not you, Outcasts. It's me. I just don't like depressing historical fiction. I guess I am not literary enough to appreciate the high body count and terrible things that happen to most of the characters. This book does seem well written to me. Characters were complex and detailed. the psychopaths of the story were especially well-done. The setting was rich and seemed historically accurate (although this area/ time period/ socio-economic subgroup is not exactly my area of expertise), and I learned a bit about the treatment (or not) of epileptics in this time period, and the lives of prostitutes. The story moved along fast enough to keep me interested most of the time. There were a few revelations/ twists I didn't expect. So, yes, well done. however, for me, it was very unsatisfying (like eating a meal that's really well prepared, but features tripe or okra or something else you just can't stomach) and lingeringly depressing. I will recommend this to all my literary novel loving friends, and then happily return my copy to the library and be done with it.
November 10, 2013
The Outcasts by Kathleen Kent. To start with, the heroine's history and through her own eyes comes to the fore. She had epilepsy before anybody knew what it was, and her father considered it a curse of the Lord and put her into an institution. She had a wonderful empathy and ability to relate to the sick, the downtrodden, no matter what the problem. And they all loved her. She was also intelligent...intelligent enough to make her own way and out of situations that could and did do real damage to other people in the same position. And the other perspective in the book was that of the three men who were after some real lawbreakers and a serial killer. If I were to go into any more detail, it would be a spoiler, so all I can do is to just recommend the book if the content looks good to you from the summary.
June 10, 2016
I don't typically gravitate to Westerns in my reading, but I couldn't resist the setting in this one: Galveston, Texas (not to mention Austin and Houston).
It is a tale of the law chasing a criminal across the state to right a wrong. The characters here are well drawn and the plot lines believable. The story focuses on a Texas law man, Nate Cannon, newly sworn in, that is to deliver news to two fellow lawmen that a wanted killer, McGill, has been spotted in the far reaches of Texas. Texas is big and crossing it by horse makes the travel time even longer. I liked the references to various landmarks and the details of the cities that I know and love.
Overall, I found this one to be engaging and a good read for the summer.
It is a tale of the law chasing a criminal across the state to right a wrong. The characters here are well drawn and the plot lines believable. The story focuses on a Texas law man, Nate Cannon, newly sworn in, that is to deliver news to two fellow lawmen that a wanted killer, McGill, has been spotted in the far reaches of Texas. Texas is big and crossing it by horse makes the travel time even longer. I liked the references to various landmarks and the details of the cities that I know and love.
Overall, I found this one to be engaging and a good read for the summer.
January 26, 2015
We have come a long way from the 1870s, even in Texas.
In the course of her life Lucinda samples all the available careers for women at that time: wife, mother, prostitute and schoolteacher. Desperate for acceptance as an epileptic she falls in with the plans of a client, who unfortunately is a homicidal killer hunting for rumors of Lafitte's lost gold in the bayous between Houston and Galveston.
Hunting the killer is a trio of lawmen, 2 old timers and a rookie who earns their respect and trust.
There were interesting things about the novel, but it's hard to empathize with some of Lucinda's choices.
In the course of her life Lucinda samples all the available careers for women at that time: wife, mother, prostitute and schoolteacher. Desperate for acceptance as an epileptic she falls in with the plans of a client, who unfortunately is a homicidal killer hunting for rumors of Lafitte's lost gold in the bayous between Houston and Galveston.
Hunting the killer is a trio of lawmen, 2 old timers and a rookie who earns their respect and trust.
There were interesting things about the novel, but it's hard to empathize with some of Lucinda's choices.
October 22, 2013
So this book started out good and I looked forward to the whole treasure hunt aspect. Sure it was a bit slow but I held in there hoping for more than what I got out of the book. I had hoped that I would have to write a good review since I won it on goodreads but, alas, I didn't care for it. ):
I mean it just went on and on and on! I was dying of boredom by the time I finished and almost shouted for joy when it was over. It was mainly about death, travel, sex, death, guns, and more sex.
For more please go to http://nookbookmerlin.blogspot.com/20...
I mean it just went on and on and on! I was dying of boredom by the time I finished and almost shouted for joy when it was over. It was mainly about death, travel, sex, death, guns, and more sex.
For more please go to http://nookbookmerlin.blogspot.com/20...
August 1, 2014
I won this book through a Good Reads giveaway and was very excited...I had already read The Heretic's Daughter....The Outcasts is set in the west...Texas and New Orleans...not my usual genre...but the location only enhances the plot...it starts of slow but races to a great finish...Kathleen Kent's development of characters is fantastic...Lucinda, Nate, Dr Tom, Deerling and Bill are intertwined in such a way...it is like peeling the layers of an onion till you get to the center and everything makes sense...the conclusion will leave you thinking about fate and destiny...
December 4, 2023
Not my typical genre but every once in awhile it’s good to get out of one’s comfort zone. This title has been on my TBR list since 2013 I think. It was definitely an entertaining read. I wasn’t expecting the twist at the end. 😏
March 2, 2020
A character driven western. The story is told in alternating storylines of Nate (Texas policeman) and Kathleen (prostitute) with a diverse supporting cast of characters. It took a while for me to be involved in the story, but it did get its hooks into me and I had to keep reading to see how their stories connected and how their stories finished up. Kathleen was not the person I imagined her to be from the story's blurb, which threw me throughout the story. There was a little surprise in the ending which I did not guess.
October 10, 2018
Kathleen Kent’s historical fiction is so well-written and well-researched, and also tends to be a bit bleak and tough- much like the eras she writes about. This one is no exception. While it made me feel a bit down, I also really wanted to keep reading. The end offers a bit of hope and shows how interconnected our lives can be, which I was surprised by and happy about.
January 28, 2019
I liked how the story comes full circle at the end.
June 21, 2020
Lucinda’s a real piece of shit
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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