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Betty Rhyzyk #3
The Pledge
In this electric conclusion to the Edgar-nominated trilogy, Detective Betty has only two weeks to take down her deadliest rival—this time for good.
Things are looking up for Detective Betty Rhyzyk. She’s settled into a happy marriage and been promoted to Sergeant in the Dallas Police Department. But when a hostage stand-off puts her on the phone with legendary cartel leader The Knife, things take a turn. The Knife has heard a rival is making a play for the streets of Dallas—none other than Evangeline Roy. The matriarch of a ruthless cult, Evangeline also happens to hold a personal vendetta against Betty. So who better to draw Evangeline out of hiding? Betty’s got two weeks to catch her. Or else.
With Betty’s young charge Mary Grace already missing—having left her seven-month-old baby behind in Betty’s care—and the drug dealers of Dallas donning strange red wigs and delivering cryptic messages, Betty’s in a race for answers. With the clock ticking down, it will take everything she’s got to finally put an end to Evangeline’s reign of terror, and to keep her beloved Dallas—and her own family—safe at last.
Things are looking up for Detective Betty Rhyzyk. She’s settled into a happy marriage and been promoted to Sergeant in the Dallas Police Department. But when a hostage stand-off puts her on the phone with legendary cartel leader The Knife, things take a turn. The Knife has heard a rival is making a play for the streets of Dallas—none other than Evangeline Roy. The matriarch of a ruthless cult, Evangeline also happens to hold a personal vendetta against Betty. So who better to draw Evangeline out of hiding? Betty’s got two weeks to catch her. Or else.
With Betty’s young charge Mary Grace already missing—having left her seven-month-old baby behind in Betty’s care—and the drug dealers of Dallas donning strange red wigs and delivering cryptic messages, Betty’s in a race for answers. With the clock ticking down, it will take everything she’s got to finally put an end to Evangeline’s reign of terror, and to keep her beloved Dallas—and her own family—safe at last.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2021
30 people are currently reading
536 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 69 reviews
November 20, 2021
If this is indeed the conclusion of the Betty Rhyzyk (pronounced just like it's spelled!) series, what a way to go. "The Pledge" is a barn-burner of a read, one I had a real problem putting down and nearly knocked out in a day.
Betty Rhyzyk, as you should know, is a rare bird of a Texas cop. She's a New York City transplant, 6' tall, red-headed, an out-lesbian, Polish-American, with a take-no-prisoners approach and more testosterone than most of her male peers. She's just been promoted to detective sergeant and, along with her longtime girlfriend, is helping to raise a baby belonging to a young woman, Mary Grace, she rescued from the streets.
There's a lot going on in The Pledge. Betty's boarder and her baby disappear at about the same time she discovers that her nemeses have not forgotten about her. Evangeline Roy, the drug dealing, faith healing psycho is back in metro Dallas and cartel leader El Cuchillo (The Knife) wants Betty to either find Roy within 2 weeks because she's spoiling his business model or he'll wipe out Betty's entire family. Betty has both physical and mental scars from dealing with these two fine folks in the two prior novels in the series.
So The Pledge follows two story lines: the efforts to find the missing Mary Grace and her baby and Betty's time-bound search for the elusive but always seemingly nearby Evangeline Roy. Betty's ascension to the sergeant position both helps her and hurts her, since she has more resources available to her and a more decision-making role. She also, though, is responsible for others on her team and has to work through the challenges, such as her heavily experienced new team member from Chicago who she discovers is a real whacko. In the end, scores are settled and mysteries solved.
The writing and story in The Pledge are as propulsive as can be. The pace just never lets up, which makes sense since Rhyzyk literally has 2 weeks to protect her family by locating Roy. There is an abundance of violence balanced on occasion with Betty's remembrances of her NYC family and her interactions with her girlfriend and her detective partner. I still marvel at the amount of brutality and physical damage Betty faces through the series as well as her ability to function on what seems like 2 hours of sleep over a 2 week period.
The Pledge is a dynamite conclusion to a fine series. 4.5 stars rounded up!
Betty Rhyzyk, as you should know, is a rare bird of a Texas cop. She's a New York City transplant, 6' tall, red-headed, an out-lesbian, Polish-American, with a take-no-prisoners approach and more testosterone than most of her male peers. She's just been promoted to detective sergeant and, along with her longtime girlfriend, is helping to raise a baby belonging to a young woman, Mary Grace, she rescued from the streets.
There's a lot going on in The Pledge. Betty's boarder and her baby disappear at about the same time she discovers that her nemeses have not forgotten about her. Evangeline Roy, the drug dealing, faith healing psycho is back in metro Dallas and cartel leader El Cuchillo (The Knife) wants Betty to either find Roy within 2 weeks because she's spoiling his business model or he'll wipe out Betty's entire family. Betty has both physical and mental scars from dealing with these two fine folks in the two prior novels in the series.
So The Pledge follows two story lines: the efforts to find the missing Mary Grace and her baby and Betty's time-bound search for the elusive but always seemingly nearby Evangeline Roy. Betty's ascension to the sergeant position both helps her and hurts her, since she has more resources available to her and a more decision-making role. She also, though, is responsible for others on her team and has to work through the challenges, such as her heavily experienced new team member from Chicago who she discovers is a real whacko. In the end, scores are settled and mysteries solved.
The writing and story in The Pledge are as propulsive as can be. The pace just never lets up, which makes sense since Rhyzyk literally has 2 weeks to protect her family by locating Roy. There is an abundance of violence balanced on occasion with Betty's remembrances of her NYC family and her interactions with her girlfriend and her detective partner. I still marvel at the amount of brutality and physical damage Betty faces through the series as well as her ability to function on what seems like 2 hours of sleep over a 2 week period.
The Pledge is a dynamite conclusion to a fine series. 4.5 stars rounded up!
November 16, 2021
4.5 The Pledge is newly released third entry in Kathleen Kent's "Detective Betty" trilogy.
Just when Dallas Detective Betty Rhyzyk thinks life has settled down, the past comes back to bite her - again. A cartel leader who goes by the name of The Knife gives her an ultimatum. Betty has two weeks to find their shared enemy, cult leader Evangeline Roy, or Betty and her family will pay the price. Betty and her wife Jackie have taken in Mary Grace, a young mother of a seven month old girl. But Mary Grace has gone on the run again, leaving the baby behind. So, suffice it to say, Betty's plate is pretty full.
The Pledge takes place over the course of those two weeks. The first chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book. The action is non-top and makes for page turning, late night reading.
I really like Betty as a lead character - she's tough, smart, fearless and her family is her first priority. I gotta say she really takes a licking and keeps on ticking. The amount of injuries and lack of sleep she amasses over the two weeks is pretty impressive. And yes, a wee bit unbelievable. But hey, just go with it - the plotting is pretty darn good with some truly nasty antagonists and a number of subplots that are slowly but surely woven together.The supporting cast is good as well. Betty's wife Jackie is the voice of reason. Betty's squad is back as well, with her partner Seth and a new transfer with an attitude. I really liked the two women private investigators Rocky and Peg.
I was quite saddened to hear that The Pledge is the end of the Betty books. Kent ties up all the loose ends in this last entry. If you've read Michael Connelly's Renée Ballard character, you'll enjoy Detective Betty.
And I wonder what Kent will write next? Her first two books were historical fiction and are well worth a read as well. Maybe some more crime with the two PI's? Whatever it is, I'll be picking it up!
Just when Dallas Detective Betty Rhyzyk thinks life has settled down, the past comes back to bite her - again. A cartel leader who goes by the name of The Knife gives her an ultimatum. Betty has two weeks to find their shared enemy, cult leader Evangeline Roy, or Betty and her family will pay the price. Betty and her wife Jackie have taken in Mary Grace, a young mother of a seven month old girl. But Mary Grace has gone on the run again, leaving the baby behind. So, suffice it to say, Betty's plate is pretty full.
The Pledge takes place over the course of those two weeks. The first chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book. The action is non-top and makes for page turning, late night reading.
I really like Betty as a lead character - she's tough, smart, fearless and her family is her first priority. I gotta say she really takes a licking and keeps on ticking. The amount of injuries and lack of sleep she amasses over the two weeks is pretty impressive. And yes, a wee bit unbelievable. But hey, just go with it - the plotting is pretty darn good with some truly nasty antagonists and a number of subplots that are slowly but surely woven together.The supporting cast is good as well. Betty's wife Jackie is the voice of reason. Betty's squad is back as well, with her partner Seth and a new transfer with an attitude. I really liked the two women private investigators Rocky and Peg.
I was quite saddened to hear that The Pledge is the end of the Betty books. Kent ties up all the loose ends in this last entry. If you've read Michael Connelly's Renée Ballard character, you'll enjoy Detective Betty.
And I wonder what Kent will write next? Her first two books were historical fiction and are well worth a read as well. Maybe some more crime with the two PI's? Whatever it is, I'll be picking it up!
December 16, 2021
Just as amazing as the first in the series. A likeable, well-written and tough protagonist trying like heck to protect the ones she loves in a gritty police procedural set in Texas with strong LGBTQ+ themes.
June 29, 2023
This is the third of Kent's novels featuring Betty Rhyzyk, a lesbian narcotics detective with the Dallas Police Department. I have read and enjoyed the first two novels in this trilogy, THE DIME and THE BURN. THE PLEDGE has Betty up against two antagonists from the previous novels, Evangeline Roy, the matriarch of the drug-selling cult who had captured and tortured Betty in The Dime; and El Cuchillo (The Knife), the enforcer from the Sinaloa drug cartel. Evangeline has returned from Honduras to Dallas to start selling heroin there and to take vengeance on Betty who killed her son. But El Cuchillo wants her out of the picture and gives Betty a deadline to eliminate her or face the consequences which could mean death to her significant other, Jackie, or some of her co-workers. Betty and Jackie are also caring for the baby daughter of the young woman Betty had rescued from the streets in the previous novel. When the baby is kidnapped, the worst is feared...did Evangeline take her? And can Betty take Evangeline out before El Cuchillo takes action against her and her loved ones? Betty races against the clock to try to meet El Cuchillo's deadline and to rescue the kidnapped baby.
This was another intense thriller from Kent. Lots of action here and some very well portrayed characters. I have really enjoyed these novels from Kent and hope that she will continue with this series. There is one loose end at the end of the story so maybe we will get a fourth novel at some point.
This was another intense thriller from Kent. Lots of action here and some very well portrayed characters. I have really enjoyed these novels from Kent and hope that she will continue with this series. There is one loose end at the end of the story so maybe we will get a fourth novel at some point.
March 21, 2022
What a thrilling finale to Evangeline Roy's vendetta against our Betty Rhyzyk!
As the tension grew, Betty's angst and desperation to protect her wife and the infant left in their care from Evangeline's creepy and fanatical reach was palpable. Although the trilogy is tied up satisfactorily, there is so much potential for Betty's story to continue. I'm hoping for more!
As the tension grew, Betty's angst and desperation to protect her wife and the infant left in their care from Evangeline's creepy and fanatical reach was palpable. Although the trilogy is tied up satisfactorily, there is so much potential for Betty's story to continue. I'm hoping for more!
January 13, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
Not quite as good as the first two in the series, but it was a satisfying end to the arc about Evangeline Roy while leaving a thread for another book in the series to attach to.
There were a few things I really didn't like in this one, but calling them out would involve spoilers. But I do want to say I really LOVE the intermix of past events at appropriate times that help flesh out the characters and expanded my understanding of the relationships. I rarely see this type of thing in mystery/thrillers (except for Louise Penny books, of course!)
Not quite as good as the first two in the series, but it was a satisfying end to the arc about Evangeline Roy while leaving a thread for another book in the series to attach to.
There were a few things I really didn't like in this one, but calling them out would involve spoilers. But I do want to say I really LOVE the intermix of past events at appropriate times that help flesh out the characters and expanded my understanding of the relationships. I rarely see this type of thing in mystery/thrillers (except for Louise Penny books, of course!)
November 21, 2021
Book 3 of the Betty R. Series- so sad to see it end. All 3 books are great! Excellent thrillers with great characters
May 10, 2022
Kathleen Kent writes crisp, satisfying thrillers!
May 22, 2024
This is the third and last Dective Betty mystery by Kathleen Kent. I will miss Detective Betty.
November 20, 2021
I’ve really enjoyed traveling vicariously to Dallas with Kathleen Kent’s superb trilogy starring Detective Betty Rhyzyk of the Dallas Police Department. With THE PLEDGE, Kent concludes the series she began with THE DIME while giving Betty her most complex and personal case yet.
At the end of THE BURN, Betty and her partner Jackie unexpectedly welcomed a homeless and pregnant teen, Mary Grace, into their home. As this new volume opens, Mary Grace has given birth to a daughter, Elizabeth. Although she initially seemed to be embracing her role as the baby’s mother and caregiver, she has now abruptly disappeared.
Jackie is more than ready to apply for permanent guardianship of the child. Betty desperately wants to support her partner but isn’t quite sure she’s up to the job, especially since the baby hasn’t exactly warmed to her yet. When Mary Grace’s wealthy and powerful stepfather starts making noises about wanting custody of the girl and threatens legal action, Betty is legitimately torn about whether or not she really wants to throw their life’s savings into a custody dispute that they’re unlikely to win.
It doesn’t help that Betty’s professional life is in upheaval, too. Her partner Seth is back on the job, but it’s going to take some work to rebuild the trust between them that’s been damaged in the past. Speaking of trust, Betty has been promoted but feels increasingly alienated from her team, especially a new detective from Chicago who appears to lack all respect for his new boss. The narcotics division is investigating a Honduran gang making inroads into the Dallas narcotics scene --- with one very surprising connection to Evangeline Roy, Betty’s nemesis who seems bent on revenge for the death of her two sons.
Soon Betty --- increasingly both haunted and helped by the voice of her mentor and late uncle Benny --- is on the cusp of emotional and physical exhaustion as she contends with all of the mounting pressures, especially as it becomes clear that her family members are in grave danger.
It will probably surprise no one (at least not longtime mystery readers) that the various strands of Betty’s personal and professional crises are, in fact, related. What is surprising is the ways in which those connections play out --- and this reader, at least, was fooled more than once by the red herrings littered throughout this propulsive novel.
Betty’s story, particularly her vendetta against Evangeline Roy, is satisfyingly concluded by the end of THE PLEDGE. But Kent continues to develop her characters, including supporting players like Seth, right up until the end of the book. Readers might hold out hope that this won’t be the last time they tour the mean streets of Dallas with Detective Betty.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
At the end of THE BURN, Betty and her partner Jackie unexpectedly welcomed a homeless and pregnant teen, Mary Grace, into their home. As this new volume opens, Mary Grace has given birth to a daughter, Elizabeth. Although she initially seemed to be embracing her role as the baby’s mother and caregiver, she has now abruptly disappeared.
Jackie is more than ready to apply for permanent guardianship of the child. Betty desperately wants to support her partner but isn’t quite sure she’s up to the job, especially since the baby hasn’t exactly warmed to her yet. When Mary Grace’s wealthy and powerful stepfather starts making noises about wanting custody of the girl and threatens legal action, Betty is legitimately torn about whether or not she really wants to throw their life’s savings into a custody dispute that they’re unlikely to win.
It doesn’t help that Betty’s professional life is in upheaval, too. Her partner Seth is back on the job, but it’s going to take some work to rebuild the trust between them that’s been damaged in the past. Speaking of trust, Betty has been promoted but feels increasingly alienated from her team, especially a new detective from Chicago who appears to lack all respect for his new boss. The narcotics division is investigating a Honduran gang making inroads into the Dallas narcotics scene --- with one very surprising connection to Evangeline Roy, Betty’s nemesis who seems bent on revenge for the death of her two sons.
Soon Betty --- increasingly both haunted and helped by the voice of her mentor and late uncle Benny --- is on the cusp of emotional and physical exhaustion as she contends with all of the mounting pressures, especially as it becomes clear that her family members are in grave danger.
It will probably surprise no one (at least not longtime mystery readers) that the various strands of Betty’s personal and professional crises are, in fact, related. What is surprising is the ways in which those connections play out --- and this reader, at least, was fooled more than once by the red herrings littered throughout this propulsive novel.
Betty’s story, particularly her vendetta against Evangeline Roy, is satisfyingly concluded by the end of THE PLEDGE. But Kent continues to develop her characters, including supporting players like Seth, right up until the end of the book. Readers might hold out hope that this won’t be the last time they tour the mean streets of Dallas with Detective Betty.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
December 1, 2021
This one followed the same pattern as the Hunger Games trilogy: interesting first book followed by an excellent second and a concluding one that basically made me say “Eh, ok, I guess that’s an ending.”
Part of why I loved (indeed loved) The Burn, the second book in the Betty Rhyzyk trilogy, is because I thought Kathleen Kent did an excellent job covering Betty’s PTSD from the end of the events of the first book. Too often, series writers put their characters through hell only to have them shrug off their circumstances in time for the next book. Kent went the opposite direction: making Betty’s recovery (or lack thereof) the focus and it made the story all the more better. I felt more settled in Betty’s narrative and was excited to see how Kent was going to bring this trilogy to a close, especially after the wild turn it took in the final third of the first book to set the stage for everything.
And she provided an ending. It’s fine. It just took a lot of tire spinning to get there, particularly when the bulk of the scenes in the first half of the book are Betty and the gang just chasing random dealers who may or may not be connected to Evangeline Roy. The second half takes some twists and turns, some more interesting than others. There’s a B-plot connected to the second book that I found too contrived and unnecessary.
But Kent is a good writer. Even if I didn’t agree with all of her decisions, I liked her style with thriller writing and how she brought it all home.
It’s not the ending I really wanted, but it is an ending and it’s fine. And this was a good trilogy. I’m not sure I need more betty but I’d love to see Kent spin off her private eye characters into a new series.
Part of why I loved (indeed loved) The Burn, the second book in the Betty Rhyzyk trilogy, is because I thought Kathleen Kent did an excellent job covering Betty’s PTSD from the end of the events of the first book. Too often, series writers put their characters through hell only to have them shrug off their circumstances in time for the next book. Kent went the opposite direction: making Betty’s recovery (or lack thereof) the focus and it made the story all the more better. I felt more settled in Betty’s narrative and was excited to see how Kent was going to bring this trilogy to a close, especially after the wild turn it took in the final third of the first book to set the stage for everything.
And she provided an ending. It’s fine. It just took a lot of tire spinning to get there, particularly when the bulk of the scenes in the first half of the book are Betty and the gang just chasing random dealers who may or may not be connected to Evangeline Roy. The second half takes some twists and turns, some more interesting than others. There’s a B-plot connected to the second book that I found too contrived and unnecessary.
But Kent is a good writer. Even if I didn’t agree with all of her decisions, I liked her style with thriller writing and how she brought it all home.
It’s not the ending I really wanted, but it is an ending and it’s fine. And this was a good trilogy. I’m not sure I need more betty but I’d love to see Kent spin off her private eye characters into a new series.
February 14, 2022
In what appears to be the third and final book of the trilogy, Kathleen Kent has certainly served up a meaty and appetizing finale. Those who have followed the series, have definitely been witness to a most riveting sequences of books and action that definitely takes your breath away.
Betty Rhyzyk has been promoted from mere detective to sergeant. And with the added title and responsibilities, it has not allowed her to rest nor take those criminals she has faced, for granted. Betty’s life has changed over the time she has been part of law enforcement, dealing with PTSD and other consequences of the job.
Betty and her wife Dr. Jackie Nesbitt, have been responsible for taking under their wing a young girl Mary Grace, a troubled teenager and her baby Elizabeth, who is barely half a year old. For some reason Mary Grace had disappeared, and the only question is, did she go willingly or does it have something to do with some of the many forces out there who want to take Betty down, and make her pay for her vigilance in keeping crime and the criminal element off the streets?
Now, Mary Grace’s stepfather has entered the picture, and makes it known that he wants to take care of the little girl. He has the money and resources to make a powerful push to take the child into his custody. But to add to that chaos is the fact two of her enemies are now on a collision course with Betty.
El Cuchillo (The Knife), head of a powerful cartel, is in town and he is ready to make a sort of deal with Betty. He lets her know that Evangeline Roy the head of a rival cartel is also making waves in town, and The Knife is ready to serve Roy up to Betty on a platter so to speak. When he reveals her location, he will give Betty just two weeks to find her, or her punishment would be wiping out Betty’s family.
It is certainly “pick your poison” time for Betty, as the clock begins ticking. The violence is ready to escalate as Betty races against that clock and the dangers from the mean streets. The various plots crisscross often, making everything more tense and terrific. Thankfully there is resolution by book’s end, and reaching that point is half the excitement from this superior book. Make a pledge to read THE PLEDGE. Mystery/suspense does not get much better than this.
Betty Rhyzyk has been promoted from mere detective to sergeant. And with the added title and responsibilities, it has not allowed her to rest nor take those criminals she has faced, for granted. Betty’s life has changed over the time she has been part of law enforcement, dealing with PTSD and other consequences of the job.
Betty and her wife Dr. Jackie Nesbitt, have been responsible for taking under their wing a young girl Mary Grace, a troubled teenager and her baby Elizabeth, who is barely half a year old. For some reason Mary Grace had disappeared, and the only question is, did she go willingly or does it have something to do with some of the many forces out there who want to take Betty down, and make her pay for her vigilance in keeping crime and the criminal element off the streets?
Now, Mary Grace’s stepfather has entered the picture, and makes it known that he wants to take care of the little girl. He has the money and resources to make a powerful push to take the child into his custody. But to add to that chaos is the fact two of her enemies are now on a collision course with Betty.
El Cuchillo (The Knife), head of a powerful cartel, is in town and he is ready to make a sort of deal with Betty. He lets her know that Evangeline Roy the head of a rival cartel is also making waves in town, and The Knife is ready to serve Roy up to Betty on a platter so to speak. When he reveals her location, he will give Betty just two weeks to find her, or her punishment would be wiping out Betty’s family.
It is certainly “pick your poison” time for Betty, as the clock begins ticking. The violence is ready to escalate as Betty races against that clock and the dangers from the mean streets. The various plots crisscross often, making everything more tense and terrific. Thankfully there is resolution by book’s end, and reaching that point is half the excitement from this superior book. Make a pledge to read THE PLEDGE. Mystery/suspense does not get much better than this.
December 27, 2021
4.5 stars.
The Pledge by Kathleen Kent is an action-packed mystery. This third installment in the Detective Betty series can easily be read as a standalone.
Detective Sergeant Betty Rhyzyk is a little unsettled that she and her wife, Dr. Jackie Nesbitt, are taking care of missing teenager Mary Grace’s seven-month-old daughter Elizabeth. She hires private detective team Peg Bartles and Rocky Bentner to try to locate Mary Grace. Betty’s attention is then focused on finding her nemesis, cult leader and drug dealer Evangeline Roy, within the two-week time-frame designated by Sineloa drug enforcer El Cuchillo. Evangeline is back in Texas and her drug business is encroaching on the Sineloan cartel's territory. Betty has experienced near deadly encounters with both and she takes El Cuchillo’s threats seriously. Aided by her team and her partner Detective Seth “Riot” Dutton, Betty is in a race against time to locate Evangeline before she harms any of her loved ones.
Betty is a tough woman who works tirelessly to locate Evangeline Roy. She is also very worried about Mary Grace who inexplicably disappeared with no warning. Betty is uneasy about the thought of parenthood but she will do anything to protect Elizabeth. While she and the rest of the detectives working with her are in the midst of tracking down Evangeline, Mary Grace’s stepfather demands to know where Mary Grace and her baby are. Betty is not intimidated by the wealthy and well-connected property developer and she has no intention of giving in to his demands.
The Pledge is a riveting mystery with plenty of edge of the seat scenes. Betty is fearless in her pursuit of Evangeline but her adversary proves to be elusive. Jackie is patient with Betty but she definitely feels the strain of worry over Mary Grace’s whereabouts and her wife’s latest investigation. Although Seth always has Betty’s back, he is not always on board with some of her decisions. With Betty’s two-week deadline coming to a close, Kathleen Kent brings this suspense-laden mystery to a spine-tingling conclusion. Old and new fans do not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to the Detective Betty series.
The Pledge by Kathleen Kent is an action-packed mystery. This third installment in the Detective Betty series can easily be read as a standalone.
Detective Sergeant Betty Rhyzyk is a little unsettled that she and her wife, Dr. Jackie Nesbitt, are taking care of missing teenager Mary Grace’s seven-month-old daughter Elizabeth. She hires private detective team Peg Bartles and Rocky Bentner to try to locate Mary Grace. Betty’s attention is then focused on finding her nemesis, cult leader and drug dealer Evangeline Roy, within the two-week time-frame designated by Sineloa drug enforcer El Cuchillo. Evangeline is back in Texas and her drug business is encroaching on the Sineloan cartel's territory. Betty has experienced near deadly encounters with both and she takes El Cuchillo’s threats seriously. Aided by her team and her partner Detective Seth “Riot” Dutton, Betty is in a race against time to locate Evangeline before she harms any of her loved ones.
Betty is a tough woman who works tirelessly to locate Evangeline Roy. She is also very worried about Mary Grace who inexplicably disappeared with no warning. Betty is uneasy about the thought of parenthood but she will do anything to protect Elizabeth. While she and the rest of the detectives working with her are in the midst of tracking down Evangeline, Mary Grace’s stepfather demands to know where Mary Grace and her baby are. Betty is not intimidated by the wealthy and well-connected property developer and she has no intention of giving in to his demands.
The Pledge is a riveting mystery with plenty of edge of the seat scenes. Betty is fearless in her pursuit of Evangeline but her adversary proves to be elusive. Jackie is patient with Betty but she definitely feels the strain of worry over Mary Grace’s whereabouts and her wife’s latest investigation. Although Seth always has Betty’s back, he is not always on board with some of her decisions. With Betty’s two-week deadline coming to a close, Kathleen Kent brings this suspense-laden mystery to a spine-tingling conclusion. Old and new fans do not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to the Detective Betty series.
June 15, 2022
The Pledge (third book in the series) by Kathleen Kent is an action-packed crime, mystery fiction concluding the Detective Betty series,
The story sets off from book 2 The Burn, Detective Betty Rhyzyk and her wife, Dr. Jackie Nesbitt welcome a homeless girl into their home, Mary Grace is a young pregnant teen who gives birth to a daughter, Elizabeth.
Betty life was going well, she was happy in her marriage and was promoted to Sergeant in the Dallas Police Department. Mary Grace and seven-month-old Elizabeth were doing well until Mary Grace suddenly disappears.
Whilst Betty and Jackie are happy to care for Elizabeth, the detective has a big case at work, trying to track down her nemesis Evangeline Roy, she is back in Texas with her drug business trespassing on cartel leader El Cuchillo (The Knife) territory. He gives Betty a two-week time frame or people will be executed.
Betty enlists the help of private detectives Peg Bartles and Rocky Bentner to locate Mary Grace whilst she deals with Evangeline and The Knife. Will Betty be able to find Mary Grace and put an end to drug cartels once and for all?
I always enjoy a good crime, and this terrific novel delivers a complex plot with lots of other interesting genres woven in. It has plenty of fast-paced twists to keep readers interested but also pauses in just the right moments to deliver deeper details of the case and allow readers to reach their own conclusions. The author has the gift for suspense, and she uses it brilliantly.
The character development is impeccable. Kent has a way of making you feel a whirlwind of emotions, there are characters you fall in love with and those you want to hate but are so intrigued, she managed to hold my attention with every one of them, making them come alive and capturing my imagination, each being so different from the other.
The Pledge is an enormously satisfying read. It can be a standalone book, but I recommend reading The Dime and The Burn first.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read and review.
The story sets off from book 2 The Burn, Detective Betty Rhyzyk and her wife, Dr. Jackie Nesbitt welcome a homeless girl into their home, Mary Grace is a young pregnant teen who gives birth to a daughter, Elizabeth.
Betty life was going well, she was happy in her marriage and was promoted to Sergeant in the Dallas Police Department. Mary Grace and seven-month-old Elizabeth were doing well until Mary Grace suddenly disappears.
Whilst Betty and Jackie are happy to care for Elizabeth, the detective has a big case at work, trying to track down her nemesis Evangeline Roy, she is back in Texas with her drug business trespassing on cartel leader El Cuchillo (The Knife) territory. He gives Betty a two-week time frame or people will be executed.
Betty enlists the help of private detectives Peg Bartles and Rocky Bentner to locate Mary Grace whilst she deals with Evangeline and The Knife. Will Betty be able to find Mary Grace and put an end to drug cartels once and for all?
I always enjoy a good crime, and this terrific novel delivers a complex plot with lots of other interesting genres woven in. It has plenty of fast-paced twists to keep readers interested but also pauses in just the right moments to deliver deeper details of the case and allow readers to reach their own conclusions. The author has the gift for suspense, and she uses it brilliantly.
The character development is impeccable. Kent has a way of making you feel a whirlwind of emotions, there are characters you fall in love with and those you want to hate but are so intrigued, she managed to hold my attention with every one of them, making them come alive and capturing my imagination, each being so different from the other.
The Pledge is an enormously satisfying read. It can be a standalone book, but I recommend reading The Dime and The Burn first.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read and review.
January 8, 2022
In book 3, Betty and Jackie are taking care of the baby Elizabeth because her mother, Mary Grace, seems to have run away. Betty finds out Evangeline Roy is back in Dallas and still holds a vendetta against her for killing her beloved sons. El Cuchillo contacts Betty and says she needs to take Evangeline down because she is impeding on his drug business. She has two weeks to find the red-headed drug kingpin or he will take down everyone Betty loves. And on top of that Mary Grace's stepfather is suing her for custody of Elizabeth.
This is one of my favorite police procedural mystery series. Betty is a badass cop with so much passion and loyalty. She is like a freight train with the brake line cut stopping at nothing to get the bad guy and protect the ones she loves. Betty is not without faults, which is what I like about her. She can get one tracked minded and not pay her partner the attention that she deserves, which makes her so human and relatable. And the bad guys are So Evil. Evangeline Roy is back in this installment of the series, causing Betty so much trouble. Kent is so good at writing action scenes. You are dropped right into the police foot chase as they search for assailant, dodging bullets and jumping fences right along with them. You get to know the characters so well too and feel so much emotion when one of them is lost. Betty is a special character and I hope we get more books in this series.
This is one of my favorite police procedural mystery series. Betty is a badass cop with so much passion and loyalty. She is like a freight train with the brake line cut stopping at nothing to get the bad guy and protect the ones she loves. Betty is not without faults, which is what I like about her. She can get one tracked minded and not pay her partner the attention that she deserves, which makes her so human and relatable. And the bad guys are So Evil. Evangeline Roy is back in this installment of the series, causing Betty so much trouble. Kent is so good at writing action scenes. You are dropped right into the police foot chase as they search for assailant, dodging bullets and jumping fences right along with them. You get to know the characters so well too and feel so much emotion when one of them is lost. Betty is a special character and I hope we get more books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2022
I tried. I tried really hard not to just blow through this because it's the last book of the trilogy. I couldn't help myself. It was that GOOD! Betty is still a cop, still being haunted by the crazy evangelist that sell heroin and now she has The Knife, another drug lord wanting her 'help' or he'll cut her up. Betty has been promoted and now leads the squad. She and her partner opened their home to a pregnant homeless girl to have her baby and they've fallen in love. One day the mom disappears. Was it the call of the 'open'? Was it the religious freak? The Knife? Then the nanny disappears and someone breaks into their house...so so great. I do not want this to be the last one. The characters are wonderful, Dallas is compelling, the cases realistic.
July 25, 2022
Dallas TX, a decade after 9/11 and nearly 50 years after the Kennedy assassination. A female police detective works an investigation that hits a little too close to home. If the prior two sentences were intriguing to you, read the story. Otherwise, this book has an engaging story with some interesting characters. There were random calls back to historical events and having finished the story I still don't really know how those references mattered. I suppose the author was using some literary technique to anchor the story in time and place. In addition to well-known historical events, the author makes reference to activities that happened in some of her previous novels. The novel was entertaining.
October 2, 2021
Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
4.5ish stars, rounded up. I am both relieved and sad to see this trilogy come to an end. Relieved, because Betty Rhyzyk has been through too much to push her through more stories (Betty, it's time for some therapy, okay?). Sad, because this is a truly excellent procedural series, and Betty is one of those characters that has really gotten under my skin. Don't try to read this as a standalone, there is too much history to pick up on all of it without going back. If you are a fan of gritty police dramas, I haven't read many that are as good as this one is.
4.5ish stars, rounded up. I am both relieved and sad to see this trilogy come to an end. Relieved, because Betty Rhyzyk has been through too much to push her through more stories (Betty, it's time for some therapy, okay?). Sad, because this is a truly excellent procedural series, and Betty is one of those characters that has really gotten under my skin. Don't try to read this as a standalone, there is too much history to pick up on all of it without going back. If you are a fan of gritty police dramas, I haven't read many that are as good as this one is.
December 21, 2021
I liked this book more than the first and second in the series. Detective Betty Rhyzyk is working in the Dallas police department and Evangeline has come back into her life. Mary Grace, a girl Betty has taken in along with her baby has disappeared leaving her baby behind. The baby has not taken to Betty, but her partner loves the baby and wants to keep her. Betty is being threatened by a drug dealer and by Evangeline. People who work for her and her partner are in danger. The drug dealer says if she does not find Evangeline by the dead line, he will kill those chose to her. Good, fast paced book.
March 9, 2022
Is this really the last installment of Betty? I have grown to become quite fond of her and her grit & gumption. The Pledge was my favorite of the three in the series, preceded by The Dime and The Burn. Why? Each story has great plot build, but I have gotten to know her better with each novel. The “last”installment felt a little like losing a friend. Maybe KK will come back to her after a little bit, maybe as an older female detective who gets promoted to chief in a suburb of Dallas? McKinney? Sherman? Smaller town dynamics could lend some interesting conflict opportunities! It’s fun to relate to real places in Dallas and around Texas.
November 24, 2023
I think the actual writing in these books is easy and engaging. The story dragged a little for me at times between Evangeline Roy, El Cuchillo, Alan Turner, etc. I liked that it had a balance of personal concerns (Betty’s wife, how they felt about possibly having kids, etc.) and action. I appreciate that there aren’t frequent rape attempts against Betty, which tends to be the norm any time there’s a woman lead character in a thriller, ESPECIALLY if she’s a lesbian. The book gets graphic at times but also balances this with a kind of detached narrative style. I have no idea if there are more books coming in this series, the end seemed kind of open.
December 24, 2021
A strong end to this trilogy. Detective Betty Rhyzyk, seems to have it all together, with her job, her wife and a ward with her baby. But, her doubts about the baby, are all too real, until the mom and baby disappear. These may or may not be linked to 2 different enemies that she's made, through her job. Betty is smart, and an excellent police detective, and the leader her team needs. Not only is the plot, a page turner, the character development is just top notch. For readers of Attica Locke and Michael Connelly.
January 7, 2023
What an amazing trilogy you wrote Kathleen!! I am sorry however that this one was the last in the series. Kathleen is an amazing author, her writing is such a delight to read! There were times however that I shouted at Betty to stop being such a dope (tamer than what I actually shouted) and wait for backup and other such things!! Thank you so much for such a wild and crazy ride, I thought Betty would never be rid of that crazy Evangeline creature. I was getting worried towards the end but you came through exactly as I was hoping you would!!!!
June 6, 2023
Definitely the worst book in the series; if you enjoyed the first two I would say skip this one and find something else.
Lots of contrived situations and unexplainable missed opportunities to find the people, good and bad, that the protagonist is hunting for.
Oh, and because I'm already throwing barbs, I have to nitpick the cover art. At no point in the book is the main character carrying a large frame revolver.
Lots of contrived situations and unexplainable missed opportunities to find the people, good and bad, that the protagonist is hunting for.
Oh, and because I'm already throwing barbs, I have to nitpick the cover art. At no point in the book is the main character carrying a large frame revolver.
November 6, 2021
Detective Sergeant Betty Rhyzyk of the Dallas Police Department is beset by problems – both from her job and personal. Evangeline Roy, a cult leaders wants her dead; she is being threatened by a notorious drug leader, and she and her wife are now responsible for a seven-month-old infant abandoned in their care. Non-stop action and great characters. A must read!
January 6, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Thriller
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Pledge is the third and final installment in author Kathleen Kent's Betty Rhyzyk trilogy. Things are looking up for Betty Rhyzyk. She’s been promoted to Detective Sergeant in the Dallas Police Narcotics Department. She now has her own team including a transplant with an attitude from Chicago. She's in a stable relationship with Dr. Jackie Nesbitt that has managed to last 10 years even with all the ups and downs and experiences of the past year and living in Texas. She's even helping to raise a baby, Elizabeth, belonging to a young woman, Mary Grace, who she rescued from the streets.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Thriller
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Pledge is the third and final installment in author Kathleen Kent's Betty Rhyzyk trilogy. Things are looking up for Betty Rhyzyk. She’s been promoted to Detective Sergeant in the Dallas Police Narcotics Department. She now has her own team including a transplant with an attitude from Chicago. She's in a stable relationship with Dr. Jackie Nesbitt that has managed to last 10 years even with all the ups and downs and experiences of the past year and living in Texas. She's even helping to raise a baby, Elizabeth, belonging to a young woman, Mary Grace, who she rescued from the streets.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
January 6, 2022
Detective Betty Rhyzyk is a detective in Dallas. She killed the two sons of a drug dealer who is now after her and anybody who is important to her. Betty finally tracks down Evangeline. Betty's teenage charge disappears and leaves her 7 month old baby. Betty is now looking for Mary Grace. Then the nanny and the baby disappear.
January 10, 2022
3.5 stars! The third book in the Detective Betty series is compelling. The action takes place over two weeks in Dallas, TX as Betty and team search for Evangeline Roy. Betty and Jackie have taken in Mary Grace and her baby. I never got around to reading the first book in the series, The Dime. Perhaps, I need to go back at some point and remedy that.
Recommended!
Recommended!
July 1, 2022
This is book 3 and the end of this very well written series. Detective Betty Rhyzyk is quite the fearless crime fighter and she's up against some real baddies throughout the 3-book series. I don't want to give anything away, book 1 was great, book 2 a bit slow but book 3 made up for it. I highly recommend!
June 12, 2023
Amazing. Intense. So many twist and turns. Take a ride with Det. Sergeant Betty Rhyzik. Through emotional and physical battles. Including: drugs, raids, religious propaganda, suicides, kidnapping and sexual assault. Just when you think there's gonna be a break in the storm that has descended on Dallas, TX and on Betty Rhyzik the wind picks up again. Kathleen Kent nailed it out of the park.
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