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Betty Rhyzyk #2
The Burn
Edgar-nominated, ALA award-winning debut THE DIME author Kathleen Kent's THE KILN, returning readers to a narcotics detective, a towering and hardnosed Brooklyn detective navigating the Dallas, Texas drug world, where dealers and drug cartel members are being assassinated and suspicion falls on the police, making the reader wonder if Betty's impulsive and intuitive maneuvers will flush out the killer, or put her squarely in the crosshairs.
Hardcover
First published February 11, 2020
About the author
Kathleen Kent
11 books773 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 125 reviews
August 10, 2021
The Burn by Kathleen Kent
2nd book in the Detective Betty Rhyzyk series. Police procedural thriller.
Gritty, dark and suspenseful. She’s not going to sit still while crime and drugs are surrounding her. The nightmares of the past won’t go away so she is willing to get help to both keep her job and her wife from giving up on her.
From one dangerous situation to another the story is absolutely a thriller.
2nd book in the Detective Betty Rhyzyk series. Police procedural thriller.
Gritty, dark and suspenseful. She’s not going to sit still while crime and drugs are surrounding her. The nightmares of the past won’t go away so she is willing to get help to both keep her job and her wife from giving up on her.
From one dangerous situation to another the story is absolutely a thriller.
July 26, 2020
Coming off convalescence from injuries sustained in her last case, Betty's life is in upheaval. The things she holds most dear are in an uproar. The pure joy and abandonment of running have been taken from her. Her 9-year relationship with life partner Jackie has turned rocky, and she has grave concerns about her work partner, as well. Betty's temper is short and her tongue is sharp. Rage is simmering just beneath the surface. She has lost her happy, and then some. Her supervisor assigns her to desk duty and sessions with the PD shrink until some of the anger is tamped down and a modicum of equilibrium is reached. As for Betty, she is ready to start kicking ass and taking names. Now.
March 6, 2022
Kent’s second offering in the Betty Rhyzyk detective series has the narcotics detective suffering from PTSD from the trauma she sustained in ‘The Dime’. Her instinct is to bury the emotional damage by immersing herself in work and ignoring directives to seek therapy. The Dallas narcotics division is focused on the Sinaloa cartel which seems to be murdering its competition one-by-one. Betty works her network of confidential informants and finds herself in personal danger more than once as she relentlessly pursues leads.
October 6, 2023
4.5 Stars for The Burn: Betty Rhyzyk, Book 2 (ebook) by Kathleen Kent.
The Dallas Detective Betty Rhyzyk has just started back to work as she is still physically and mentally recovering from her injuries she had suffered previously. She is pushing herself to get back to normal but her work and personal lives are suffering for it. Her judgment is off and her supervisor has her seeing the department shrink. She’s got to get better so she can track down killer and rout out the corruption in the department.
The Dallas Detective Betty Rhyzyk has just started back to work as she is still physically and mentally recovering from her injuries she had suffered previously. She is pushing herself to get back to normal but her work and personal lives are suffering for it. Her judgment is off and her supervisor has her seeing the department shrink. She’s got to get better so she can track down killer and rout out the corruption in the department.
June 24, 2023
This is the second book in Kent's trilogy featuring Betty Rhyzyk, a lesbian narcotics detective with the Dallas Police Department. I read and really enjoyed the first book, THE DIME, a couple of years ago and was really glad to finally get to read this one. In THE BURN, Rhyzyk is recovering from the very harrowing events she suffered in the previous novel. She had managed to escape from the meth-selling cult, the Family, but she is still physically and emotionally distraught by the ordeal. This also affects her significant other, Jackie, as well as her fellow police officers in the narcotics division.
Betty is forced into therapy by her Sergeant and is relegated to desk duty. But someone has been killing drug dealers and it may be another cop. Betty knows her partner, Seth, has been taking pills but could he also be behind the killings? Betty goes rogue to try to get to the bottom of what's happening and along the way she thinks she sees the woman who took her hostage in the last book, Evangeline Roy. And she also meets up with El Cuchillo, "The Knife", a terrifying enforcer for the Sinaloa drug cartel who is missing a million dollars worth of heroin. Betty suffers more hurt along the way and narrowly escapes from a burning building.
I thought this was a very good followup to THE DIME and I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the trilogy, THE PLEDGE. The Burn can be read as a stand alone novel but I would recommend reading the entire trilogy in order. On to the next book!
Betty is forced into therapy by her Sergeant and is relegated to desk duty. But someone has been killing drug dealers and it may be another cop. Betty knows her partner, Seth, has been taking pills but could he also be behind the killings? Betty goes rogue to try to get to the bottom of what's happening and along the way she thinks she sees the woman who took her hostage in the last book, Evangeline Roy. And she also meets up with El Cuchillo, "The Knife", a terrifying enforcer for the Sinaloa drug cartel who is missing a million dollars worth of heroin. Betty suffers more hurt along the way and narrowly escapes from a burning building.
I thought this was a very good followup to THE DIME and I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the trilogy, THE PLEDGE. The Burn can be read as a stand alone novel but I would recommend reading the entire trilogy in order. On to the next book!
December 17, 2021
*Source* Library
*Genre* Mystery / Thriller
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
The Burn is the second installment in author Kathleen Kent's Betty Rhyzyk series. If you read The Dime, or my review, you already know that Dallas Narcotic's Detective Betty Rhyzyk experienced a nightmare situation when she was kidnapped by a mentally unstable woman who tried to brain wash Betty into joining her family and taunted her with bible verses. As the result, Betty isn't exactly in a good place. She can't run which she's relied on to relieve stress because her leg is still healing. Her relationship with her life partner Jackie is on edge, and ready to walk away.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Thriller
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
The Burn is the second installment in author Kathleen Kent's Betty Rhyzyk series. If you read The Dime, or my review, you already know that Dallas Narcotic's Detective Betty Rhyzyk experienced a nightmare situation when she was kidnapped by a mentally unstable woman who tried to brain wash Betty into joining her family and taunted her with bible verses. As the result, Betty isn't exactly in a good place. She can't run which she's relied on to relieve stress because her leg is still healing. Her relationship with her life partner Jackie is on edge, and ready to walk away.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
March 20, 2020
Damn, but Betty Rhyzyk is a bad-ass! This second outing is nearly as awesome as the first, which is to say still extremely awesome. The "trouble at home" tropes were wearing a little thin on me towards the end, but nothing I can't gladly overlook for how great the story is. Give me more!
May 23, 2020
Dallas Police Department Detective Betty Rhyzyk ruptured her Achilles tendon due to the last case and frankly, she's scared that the kidnapper who got away will return. Three months on sick leave has strained her relationship with her life partner Jackie. Betty is drinking too much. Her new boss puts her on desk duty and forces her to see the department shrink. To top it off, her work partner is acting strangely.
Drug dealers are being killed and bible verses left at the scene. This is unsettling for Betty because it's like the verse she was sent before her kidnapping. Of course, Betty's nature will not allow her to sit on the sideline even though she's been suspended.
Even though she's got problems right now, I like Betty. She has grit and integrity. I had an inkling who the bad guy was. Maybe I was just hoping he was the one. I didn't like this story as much as the first book, The Dime, but I am looking forward to the next one.
Drug dealers are being killed and bible verses left at the scene. This is unsettling for Betty because it's like the verse she was sent before her kidnapping. Of course, Betty's nature will not allow her to sit on the sideline even though she's been suspended.
Even though she's got problems right now, I like Betty. She has grit and integrity. I had an inkling who the bad guy was. Maybe I was just hoping he was the one. I didn't like this story as much as the first book, The Dime, but I am looking forward to the next one.
May 20, 2020
This took me forever to get into, maybe because it started kind of slow, but also maybe because every since the pandemic started I have mostly wanted comfort reads, so it took a while to get into something gritty. And this book is super gritty--drug cartels, addiction, PTSD, homelessness, and more. But once it finally took off, I was totally hooked. After the events of the last book, Betty Rhyzyk is back to work, but on desk duty, although she mostly doesn't manage to follow any of the rules for the entire book. She's recovering physically, but is still suffering mentally from the trauma of what happened to her and resisting pretty much everyone's advice for her to see a shrink. Betty has demons, and she's mostly fighting them with alcohol, anger, and continually putting herself in situations where she's nearly killed. We get a lot of suspense, as Betty starts to suspect that one of the cops around her may be responsible for a string of murders of drug dealers and she thinks she sees her former captor everywhere she goes. There's also a fantastic cast of side characters--I especially loved the addition of Mary Grace and Dusty Rose, the latter of which adds some levity to an otherwise very dark book. Would highly recommend to anyone who likes gritty mysteries or police procedurals, but you should definitely start with the first book.
March 28, 2020
Perhaps I'm being overly harsh with my rating, but I am struggling to understand all of the 4 and 5 star ratings. I was very much looking forward to this book based on strong reviews, including a starred Kirkus review. In the end, it couldn't have been more average. Pretty much every mystery cliche is contained within. Rebel cop. Troubled background that clouds her decision making. A partner who is suddenly suspect. Too much drinking. Bad decision making. Suddenly, and unexplainably, not being the rebel at the end of the book so as to further the story. And a group of supporting characters straight out of Hollywood casting. There is absolutely nothing special about the writing. You can do much better elsewhere.
March 2, 2021
Great follow up to The Dime. This is going to be a great series.
March 27, 2020
This time, we learn more about the main character. Highly recommend.
April 23, 2020
The end leaves me wondering what’s up next with The Knife & Evangeline Roy...could get ugly!
I’m also curious about Betty’s Polish background & language. Why did the author select that for her heritage?
I’m also curious about Betty’s Polish background & language. Why did the author select that for her heritage?
February 16, 2020
This is a really good procedural series that follows Betty Rhyzyk, a former NY cop who talks to her dead uncle in her head for advice, and who has just relocated to a new job in Dallas, Texas. She’s tough and stubborn on the outside–ready to take on the world–but she’s cracked on the inside and trying hard not to completely unravel. Some of her issues are from events that recently happened (first book, so I’ll be vague), and some she brought along with her from New York. While she tries to hide her PTSD from those around her, especially her girlfriend Jackie, she’s also trying to figure out who is murdering drug dealers. But ordered mandatory therapy and desk duty, she’s going to have to get creative to solve the crime, and be suspicious of everyone, including her partner… An awesome procedural that’ll keep you on your toes and keep you rooting for the detective.
(TW mentions past suicide with detail/ PTSD/ mentions of past child abuse/ alcoholism)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
(TW mentions past suicide with detail/ PTSD/ mentions of past child abuse/ alcoholism)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
December 8, 2022
Part 2 in the trilogy …
I enjoyed this quite a bit. There is always something so satisfying with getting to spend time with characters you're familiar with and who strike you as real, relatable people. Mind you, from time to time I did think Betty deserved to be smacked upside the head, but the author continues to let us inside her head and her history which explains a lot about her actions. And, to her credit Betty continues to grow as a person, even, eventually, embracing therapy (which with all she's been through, she definitely needs!)
Looking forward to part 3 … there are two still hanging threads that need to be taken care of to complete the series.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. There is always something so satisfying with getting to spend time with characters you're familiar with and who strike you as real, relatable people. Mind you, from time to time I did think Betty deserved to be smacked upside the head, but the author continues to let us inside her head and her history which explains a lot about her actions. And, to her credit Betty continues to grow as a person, even, eventually, embracing therapy (which with all she's been through, she definitely needs!)
Looking forward to part 3 … there are two still hanging threads that need to be taken care of to complete the series.
February 29, 2020
Excellent follow-up to “The Dime,” about the tall, Polish, red headed lesbian Dallas narcotics detective.
Not a 5 star, because plot takes too long to kick in, and there’s over-much on “Red Betty’s” PTSD. Still, a strong sophomore entry in this excellent police procedural. Wish Ms. Kent wrote faster!
Not a 5 star, because plot takes too long to kick in, and there’s over-much on “Red Betty’s” PTSD. Still, a strong sophomore entry in this excellent police procedural. Wish Ms. Kent wrote faster!
February 18, 2020
Just as she did in THE DIME, her first novel starring narcotics cop Betty Rhyzyk, Kathleen Kent opens THE BURN with a scene from Betty’s earlier years, this time when she was still a student at the police academy in Brooklyn. A disastrously failed ride-along with her older brother, also a cop, gave Betty the academy cadet an early glimpse at the temptations and repercussions of corruption for police officers, especially those working in narcotics.
Flash-forward 15 years to Dallas in 2014, where Betty is more than ready to resume active duty after the crippling injury that sidelined her at the end of THE DIME. She still has some healing to do, but has been religiously following her physical therapist’s advice and knows she’s ready to head back on the streets with her beloved partner, Seth.
But things will not go according to Betty’s plan. Her new sergeant doesn’t believe that she is physically or mentally ready to tackle the demands of police work. Instead, he assigns her to desk duty and mandatory sessions with the force’s psychiatrist, both prospects that Betty is dreading. Her anger starts to get the better of her, and since she can no longer participate in her preferred mode of anger management --- running every day --- she winds up taking her feelings out by drinking too much and being dismissive of her longtime girlfriend, Jackie, who has selflessly cared for Betty during her recovery.
However, being confined to a desk doesn’t mean that Betty can’t follow the current investigations in her department. When local drug dealers start turning up dead, in a way that perhaps seems connected to Betty’s earlier ordeal, she feels powerless to resist the urge to get involved. Soon she is conducting a shadow investigation of her own, one that not only could put her in danger but also could uncover secrets that Seth might not want anyone to learn.
THE BURN is a great follow-up to THE DIME, as readers will gain further insight into Betty’s character and her circle of friends and colleagues. At times, the network of drug dealers and informants can be difficult to follow, due in large part to their sheer number --- and few of them stick around long enough to become familiar because they keep getting killed. Nevertheless, it is a suspenseful mystery right up until the end --- and an effective exploration of trauma and its ongoing repercussions, not only for survivors but also for those who care about, and for, them.
As hinted at the novel’s opening, THE BURN also demonstrates the lure of corruption on cops --- even good, responsible ones --- especially when their work puts them in daily contact with drugs and drug dealers. Kent leaves one significant mystery open at the end, which will make readers eager to spend more time with Betty on her hard-fought journey.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Flash-forward 15 years to Dallas in 2014, where Betty is more than ready to resume active duty after the crippling injury that sidelined her at the end of THE DIME. She still has some healing to do, but has been religiously following her physical therapist’s advice and knows she’s ready to head back on the streets with her beloved partner, Seth.
But things will not go according to Betty’s plan. Her new sergeant doesn’t believe that she is physically or mentally ready to tackle the demands of police work. Instead, he assigns her to desk duty and mandatory sessions with the force’s psychiatrist, both prospects that Betty is dreading. Her anger starts to get the better of her, and since she can no longer participate in her preferred mode of anger management --- running every day --- she winds up taking her feelings out by drinking too much and being dismissive of her longtime girlfriend, Jackie, who has selflessly cared for Betty during her recovery.
However, being confined to a desk doesn’t mean that Betty can’t follow the current investigations in her department. When local drug dealers start turning up dead, in a way that perhaps seems connected to Betty’s earlier ordeal, she feels powerless to resist the urge to get involved. Soon she is conducting a shadow investigation of her own, one that not only could put her in danger but also could uncover secrets that Seth might not want anyone to learn.
THE BURN is a great follow-up to THE DIME, as readers will gain further insight into Betty’s character and her circle of friends and colleagues. At times, the network of drug dealers and informants can be difficult to follow, due in large part to their sheer number --- and few of them stick around long enough to become familiar because they keep getting killed. Nevertheless, it is a suspenseful mystery right up until the end --- and an effective exploration of trauma and its ongoing repercussions, not only for survivors but also for those who care about, and for, them.
As hinted at the novel’s opening, THE BURN also demonstrates the lure of corruption on cops --- even good, responsible ones --- especially when their work puts them in daily contact with drugs and drug dealers. Kent leaves one significant mystery open at the end, which will make readers eager to spend more time with Betty on her hard-fought journey.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
February 10, 2022
2.5-Detective Betty Rhyzyk gets pretty battered while using questionable judgment getting herself in and out of a lot of hairy, over-the-top situations. It’s hard to believe she’s still walking around (much less jogging) by the end of the story. I mostly liked the other characters but found some of their personal attributes to be a little cop novel stereotypical. This is a pretty good read for fans of high intensity crime fiction but some of it won’t make a lot of sense unless you’ve read the preceding book (The Dime).
February 25, 2020
I am a sucker for any fiction with a Betty for the main or pivotal character, but I read this on the advice of the WaPo. Gritty, even grisly at times, the pace is fast and the supporting characters well drawn.The drug world is frightening; it takes a strong and brave character to navigate it.
September 15, 2021
The action is more gritty, more bloody than I am comfortable with, but the location makes up for it much of it. The setting is Dallas. I know all the locations. The hero lives somewhere close to my old house. There is a comfort in reading about places I know rather than one more about New York or Los Angeles. Not enough for another star though.
April 1, 2023
Das Cover gefällt mir sehr gut, vor allem fühlt sich das Buch in der Hand super gut an.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin gefällt mir sehr gut. Das Buch lässt sich äußerst flüssig und spannend lesen. Man kann der Handlung problemlos folgen.
Unsere Hauptprotagonistin, Betty Rhyzyk, musste ich zu Beginn erst einmal richtig kennenlernen, aber danach war sie mir sehr sympathisch. Sie wirkt mit ihren Ecken und Kanten richtig authentisch. Man bekommt auch die richtige Portion ihres Privatlebens und ihrer Sorgen und Gedanken zu lesen. Betty hat ihr Herz auf jeden Fall am rechten Fleck und ist eine sehr taffe Frau.
Das Buch ist durchwegs sehr spannend und ich konnte es, vor allem zum Ende hin, fast nicht aus der Hand legen. Man fiebert mit Betty richtig mit und möchte herausfinden, wer hinter den Morden steckt.
Am Schluss bleiben noch ein paar Fragen offen und ich möchte sehr gerne wissen, wie es mit Betty, ihren Arbeitskollegen und Freunden weitergeht. Ich vergebe für den tollen Thriller gerne 5 von 5 Sterne.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin gefällt mir sehr gut. Das Buch lässt sich äußerst flüssig und spannend lesen. Man kann der Handlung problemlos folgen.
Unsere Hauptprotagonistin, Betty Rhyzyk, musste ich zu Beginn erst einmal richtig kennenlernen, aber danach war sie mir sehr sympathisch. Sie wirkt mit ihren Ecken und Kanten richtig authentisch. Man bekommt auch die richtige Portion ihres Privatlebens und ihrer Sorgen und Gedanken zu lesen. Betty hat ihr Herz auf jeden Fall am rechten Fleck und ist eine sehr taffe Frau.
Das Buch ist durchwegs sehr spannend und ich konnte es, vor allem zum Ende hin, fast nicht aus der Hand legen. Man fiebert mit Betty richtig mit und möchte herausfinden, wer hinter den Morden steckt.
Am Schluss bleiben noch ein paar Fragen offen und ich möchte sehr gerne wissen, wie es mit Betty, ihren Arbeitskollegen und Freunden weitergeht. Ich vergebe für den tollen Thriller gerne 5 von 5 Sterne.
February 19, 2020
Looking forward to #3! Gritty police procedural.
February 17, 2020
Ms. Kent’s first novel in this series- The Dime was wonderful. This second outing for police officer Betty Rhyzyk is every bit as good. Her characters are real and likable, the suspense is unnerving at times and there are many thrills. I hope she is busy at work on Book 3. Betty and her friends and colleagues have gotten under my skin.
December 16, 2019
Wow, this is a series to watch. Following the events of The Dime, Betty is struggling with ptsd and trust issues. Here, she’s just coming back from leave and trying to reintegrate back into with her squad, with mixed success. Drug cartels, murder, and confidential informants test her sanity as well as her relationships, especially with her girlfriend, Jackie. Jackie is strong in her own right and I love how these two interact. I can’t wait until the next installment.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
January 2, 2022
3.75
Great character study, story could have used a little more oopmph! Still, I enjoyed this and read it pretty quickly. Story just not as dramatic as the first book in this series.
Great character study, story could have used a little more oopmph! Still, I enjoyed this and read it pretty quickly. Story just not as dramatic as the first book in this series.
July 26, 2020
I first met Kathleen Kent in early 2017 at an event at The Writer’s Garrett in Dallas, TX. Kathleen appeared on a panel where she talked about how she switched genres from writing successful historical fiction to a crime thriller series starring a kickass redhead named Detective Betty Rhyzyk. Detective Betty first appeared in Kathleen’s foray into crime fiction in her fourth novel, The Dime, an Edgar Nominated book followed by the sequel, The Burn.
Before I delve into my thoughts about The Burn, it’s important to note that Kathleen’s debut novel, The Heretic’s Daughter, released in 2008 to international acclaim and made her a household name. Recently the book went into it’s fourteenth printing. Kathleen could have stayed in her comfort zone and continued to write historical fiction for her international fanbase.
But along came an opportunity to write crime fiction set in Dallas. Kathleen took the challenge and she never looked back. In my world, that makes her a fearless writer. She wasn’t afraid to try something new. To take risks.
Detective Betty Rhyzyk is also a fearless woman. Betty takes risks every day in her job as an undercover cop working narcotics in the Dallas Police Department. A transplanted New Yorker who started her career with the NYPD, Betty understands more than most cops that corruption can creep into any police department. Good cops and bad cops serve alongside each other. In Betty’s own family, police work is passed down through generations, along with the family’s Polish ancestry.
Betty’s father, along with her big brother Andrew (who she once looked up to), chose to follow a path of corruption. Her late Uncle Benny, on the other hand, was one of the good cops who’d worked homicide. Throughout the narrative, Uncle Benny serves as a voice of reason. I pictured Uncle Benny as Betty’s spiritual guide in The Burn. But when Betty sees him one day…well, this was a moment so unexpected. I caught my breath and read the passage several times, admiring how Kathleen sets up this scene. That’s when I decided we all need an Uncle Benny to help us get through the tough times in life.
Betty is a six-foot-tall redheaded lesbian who defies all stereotypes found in most fiction. Her wife Jackie is a medical doctor and a grounding force in Betty’s life, along with Jackie’s great uncle, James Earle, a former military policeman, Vietnam Vet, and loveable curmudgeon.
Told in first person present tense, we move through the story and experience everything as Betty experiences each moment, from the most frightening and creepy to domestic life with Jackie. Some of my favorite scenes took place in Dr. Theo’s office, the therapist Betty is ordered to see. She is hellbent on avoiding anything where she has to talk about her feelings and past traumas. I appreciated how the author dealt with issues of PTSD. Regardless of circumstances, many of us will face trauma in life, but it’s how we learn to cope that can make all the difference.
In writing that is spare and tight, versatile and vibrant, Kathleen doesn’t waste words. One of my favorite lines appears on page 242 in the hardcover edition, where the author describes two unsavory drug dealers: “The boys were dead-eyed and whippet thin…”
I’m not generally drawn to crime fiction, but I will read any crime fiction Kathleen Kent writes and here’s why: She makes you care about her characters, even the secondary ones who society would rather ignore: the homeless, drug addicts, hookers, the outcast. Detective Betty has what I call an empathy bone. She’s a rescuer to the down and out.
Highly recommend!
Before I delve into my thoughts about The Burn, it’s important to note that Kathleen’s debut novel, The Heretic’s Daughter, released in 2008 to international acclaim and made her a household name. Recently the book went into it’s fourteenth printing. Kathleen could have stayed in her comfort zone and continued to write historical fiction for her international fanbase.
But along came an opportunity to write crime fiction set in Dallas. Kathleen took the challenge and she never looked back. In my world, that makes her a fearless writer. She wasn’t afraid to try something new. To take risks.
Detective Betty Rhyzyk is also a fearless woman. Betty takes risks every day in her job as an undercover cop working narcotics in the Dallas Police Department. A transplanted New Yorker who started her career with the NYPD, Betty understands more than most cops that corruption can creep into any police department. Good cops and bad cops serve alongside each other. In Betty’s own family, police work is passed down through generations, along with the family’s Polish ancestry.
Betty’s father, along with her big brother Andrew (who she once looked up to), chose to follow a path of corruption. Her late Uncle Benny, on the other hand, was one of the good cops who’d worked homicide. Throughout the narrative, Uncle Benny serves as a voice of reason. I pictured Uncle Benny as Betty’s spiritual guide in The Burn. But when Betty sees him one day…well, this was a moment so unexpected. I caught my breath and read the passage several times, admiring how Kathleen sets up this scene. That’s when I decided we all need an Uncle Benny to help us get through the tough times in life.
Betty is a six-foot-tall redheaded lesbian who defies all stereotypes found in most fiction. Her wife Jackie is a medical doctor and a grounding force in Betty’s life, along with Jackie’s great uncle, James Earle, a former military policeman, Vietnam Vet, and loveable curmudgeon.
Told in first person present tense, we move through the story and experience everything as Betty experiences each moment, from the most frightening and creepy to domestic life with Jackie. Some of my favorite scenes took place in Dr. Theo’s office, the therapist Betty is ordered to see. She is hellbent on avoiding anything where she has to talk about her feelings and past traumas. I appreciated how the author dealt with issues of PTSD. Regardless of circumstances, many of us will face trauma in life, but it’s how we learn to cope that can make all the difference.
In writing that is spare and tight, versatile and vibrant, Kathleen doesn’t waste words. One of my favorite lines appears on page 242 in the hardcover edition, where the author describes two unsavory drug dealers: “The boys were dead-eyed and whippet thin…”
I’m not generally drawn to crime fiction, but I will read any crime fiction Kathleen Kent writes and here’s why: She makes you care about her characters, even the secondary ones who society would rather ignore: the homeless, drug addicts, hookers, the outcast. Detective Betty has what I call an empathy bone. She’s a rescuer to the down and out.
Highly recommend!
March 18, 2023
Ein knallharter, sehr dunkler Thriller mit einer charismatischen Hauptfigur
Buchmeinung zu Kathleen Kent – Der Weg ins Feuer
Der Weg ins Feuer ist ein Kriminalroman von Kathleen Kent, der 2023 bei Suhrkamp in der Übersetzung von Andrea O’Brien erschienen ist. Der Titel der englischen Originalausgabe lautet The Burn und ist 2020 erschienen.
Zum Autor:
Kathleen Kent, geboren 1953 in Meadville, Pennsylvania, und aufgewachsen in Texas, ist bekannt für ihre historischen Bestseller-Romane The Heretic’s Daughter, The Traitor’s Wife und The Outcasts. Für ihren ersten Thriller, Die Tote mit der roten Strähne, wurde sie für den Edgar Award und den Nero Award nominiert. Für das Sequel Der Weg ins Feuer wurde sie ebenfalls für den Edgar Award nominiert. Sie lebt in Dallas.
Zum Inhalt:
Betty Rhyzyk, rothaarige Drogenfahnderin in Dallas, leidet noch an den Folgen ihres letzten Falles.
Beruflich und privat steht sie am Abgrund, aber sie nimmt den Kampf im Drogenumfeld auf, während das Private warten muss.
Meine Meinung:
Betty Rhyzyk ist auf den ersten Blick eine unleidliche Person, die wenig sympathisch wirkt. Sie hat Schlimmes erlebt und dies noch nicht vollständig verarbeitet. Aber zu Hause fällt ihr das Dach auf den Kopf und sie stößt ihre Frau immer wieder vor denselben. Ihr Chef verordnet ihr Innendienst, aber nicht mit ihr.
Die Geschichte wird meist aus der Perspektive der Hauptfigur erzählt und schnell ist man im Innern des Chaos, das sie umgibt. Betty Rhyzyk ist eine vielschichtige Figur, die gern alles unter Kontrolle hätte, aber merkt, dass sie die Kontrolle verloren hat. Bei ihrer Suche nach dem Weg zurück fällt sie einsame und manchmal auch falsche Entscheidungen. Ihre gedanklichen Gespräche mit dem verstorbenen Onkel gaben ihr eine Richtschnur für den richtigen Weg, aber es kommt kein Kontakt zustande. So mäandert Betty wie eine vor der Explosion stehende Bombe durch den Fall. Man spürt ihre wachsende Verzweiflung und das sinkende Vertrauen in ihr Umfeld. Sie begegnet einem Killer eines Drogenkartells und schöpft daraus dringend benötigte Kraft, aber auch erhaltene Informationen. Aber nicht nur Betty Rhyzyk ist eine zerrissene Figur, sondern auch ihre Kollegen bei der Drogenfahndung sind gezeichnet. Es ist ein dunkler Sumpf, den Betty trockenlegen will.
Betty wurde mir im Laufe des Romans zunehmend sympathischer, ist aber niemand, den ich mir als Freund vorstellen kann. Trotzdem habe ich gemeinsam mit ihr gelitten. Die Spannung ist permanent hoch und die Auflösung ist nicht erkennbar. So wurde ich gefesselt und sehr gut unterhalten.
Fazit:
Ein harter Kriminalroman, der im Drogenmilieu spielt und keine Gewinner kennt. Es geht ums Überleben in einem gnadenlosen Sumpf. Mich hat der Titel zunehmend gefesselt und begeistert. Deshalb bewerte ich den Titel mit fünf von fünf Sternen (90 von 100 Punkten) und spreche eine klare Leseempfehlung aus, sofern man mit der massiven Gewaltdarstellung umgehen kann.
Buchmeinung zu Kathleen Kent – Der Weg ins Feuer
Der Weg ins Feuer ist ein Kriminalroman von Kathleen Kent, der 2023 bei Suhrkamp in der Übersetzung von Andrea O’Brien erschienen ist. Der Titel der englischen Originalausgabe lautet The Burn und ist 2020 erschienen.
Zum Autor:
Kathleen Kent, geboren 1953 in Meadville, Pennsylvania, und aufgewachsen in Texas, ist bekannt für ihre historischen Bestseller-Romane The Heretic’s Daughter, The Traitor’s Wife und The Outcasts. Für ihren ersten Thriller, Die Tote mit der roten Strähne, wurde sie für den Edgar Award und den Nero Award nominiert. Für das Sequel Der Weg ins Feuer wurde sie ebenfalls für den Edgar Award nominiert. Sie lebt in Dallas.
Zum Inhalt:
Betty Rhyzyk, rothaarige Drogenfahnderin in Dallas, leidet noch an den Folgen ihres letzten Falles.
Beruflich und privat steht sie am Abgrund, aber sie nimmt den Kampf im Drogenumfeld auf, während das Private warten muss.
Meine Meinung:
Betty Rhyzyk ist auf den ersten Blick eine unleidliche Person, die wenig sympathisch wirkt. Sie hat Schlimmes erlebt und dies noch nicht vollständig verarbeitet. Aber zu Hause fällt ihr das Dach auf den Kopf und sie stößt ihre Frau immer wieder vor denselben. Ihr Chef verordnet ihr Innendienst, aber nicht mit ihr.
Die Geschichte wird meist aus der Perspektive der Hauptfigur erzählt und schnell ist man im Innern des Chaos, das sie umgibt. Betty Rhyzyk ist eine vielschichtige Figur, die gern alles unter Kontrolle hätte, aber merkt, dass sie die Kontrolle verloren hat. Bei ihrer Suche nach dem Weg zurück fällt sie einsame und manchmal auch falsche Entscheidungen. Ihre gedanklichen Gespräche mit dem verstorbenen Onkel gaben ihr eine Richtschnur für den richtigen Weg, aber es kommt kein Kontakt zustande. So mäandert Betty wie eine vor der Explosion stehende Bombe durch den Fall. Man spürt ihre wachsende Verzweiflung und das sinkende Vertrauen in ihr Umfeld. Sie begegnet einem Killer eines Drogenkartells und schöpft daraus dringend benötigte Kraft, aber auch erhaltene Informationen. Aber nicht nur Betty Rhyzyk ist eine zerrissene Figur, sondern auch ihre Kollegen bei der Drogenfahndung sind gezeichnet. Es ist ein dunkler Sumpf, den Betty trockenlegen will.
Betty wurde mir im Laufe des Romans zunehmend sympathischer, ist aber niemand, den ich mir als Freund vorstellen kann. Trotzdem habe ich gemeinsam mit ihr gelitten. Die Spannung ist permanent hoch und die Auflösung ist nicht erkennbar. So wurde ich gefesselt und sehr gut unterhalten.
Fazit:
Ein harter Kriminalroman, der im Drogenmilieu spielt und keine Gewinner kennt. Es geht ums Überleben in einem gnadenlosen Sumpf. Mich hat der Titel zunehmend gefesselt und begeistert. Deshalb bewerte ich den Titel mit fünf von fünf Sternen (90 von 100 Punkten) und spreche eine klare Leseempfehlung aus, sofern man mit der massiven Gewaltdarstellung umgehen kann.
March 23, 2021
Kathleen Kent's 2nd entry in her series based on the exploits of Detective Betty Rhyzyk of the Dallas PD is solid, with a new boogey man introduced to bookend the one still hanging around from her last episode. Rhyzyk certainly has her hands full at all times.
Betty has an interesting background. She's originally from a cop family in Brooklyn but moved west after work-related issues intervened. She's beautiful, tall, Polish, red-headed, and lesbian- a remarkable combination for a law enforcer in the Southwest. As The Burn begins, she's returning to work after her recovery from injuries from a previous assignment and her new boss wants her to take it slow. That's not her style, though, and Betty is soon pulled into an investigation into the murders of informers and drug connected criminals. A rumor floats around that a Mexican cartel super-killer nicknamed 'The Knife' may be involved. Additionally, Betty's nemesis from her last assignment that resulted in much death, destruction, and her injuries, Evangeline Roy, is in the neighborhood looking for revenge. Add in the fact that she now suspects her old partner has gone over to the dark side and her wife is unhappy in general with her and the result is a suspension with a requirement she seek 'help' from a psychologist.
Rhyzyk is a very good character and the overall plot and writing are fine, but I question how in the world someone with the anger issues and psychological problems she has is allowed to function on the police force. I realize Narcotics is a specialty assignment with a lot of gray area involved, but Betty seems to be a little too wild, unpredictable, and often lacking in judgment to be out on the streets. All turns out well in the end in The Burn, but there are also many occurrences in the conclusion that don't pass the smell test to me.
Betty has an interesting background. She's originally from a cop family in Brooklyn but moved west after work-related issues intervened. She's beautiful, tall, Polish, red-headed, and lesbian- a remarkable combination for a law enforcer in the Southwest. As The Burn begins, she's returning to work after her recovery from injuries from a previous assignment and her new boss wants her to take it slow. That's not her style, though, and Betty is soon pulled into an investigation into the murders of informers and drug connected criminals. A rumor floats around that a Mexican cartel super-killer nicknamed 'The Knife' may be involved. Additionally, Betty's nemesis from her last assignment that resulted in much death, destruction, and her injuries, Evangeline Roy, is in the neighborhood looking for revenge. Add in the fact that she now suspects her old partner has gone over to the dark side and her wife is unhappy in general with her and the result is a suspension with a requirement she seek 'help' from a psychologist.
Rhyzyk is a very good character and the overall plot and writing are fine, but I question how in the world someone with the anger issues and psychological problems she has is allowed to function on the police force. I realize Narcotics is a specialty assignment with a lot of gray area involved, but Betty seems to be a little too wild, unpredictable, and often lacking in judgment to be out on the streets. All turns out well in the end in The Burn, but there are also many occurrences in the conclusion that don't pass the smell test to me.
October 31, 2021
The Dime, Kathleen Kent’s first Betty Rhyzyk novel, went from being an interesting if conventional police procedural mystery to something else. If you appreciate the out of nowhere, somewhat bananas turn (as I did), you’d probably be moving on to the second book to see how she dealt with it. If not, you’d likely skip it.
When I read the reviews for it, opinions were mixed and I get it. The twist was perhaps imperfectly handled and may have felt gimmicky. But I thought it made what was otherwise a fine effort infinitely more compelling.
It’s been a while since I read the first one and I still had to talk myself into book two. I’ve just read so many mysteries the last few years and while it’s still my favorite genre, I’ve begun to get bored. Everything is predictable; few books truly stand out. I finally grabbed this one, wondering how Kent would reckon with what she pulled off in the last book.
And it’s really good. I was surprised at how good it was. I liked it more than the first.
Kent focuses less on the twist itself and more on the consequences: how Detective Rhyzyk deals with what happened to her and how it impacts her relationships. It’s a really good exploration of PTSD. It also touches on the dangers of being a cop, especially when someone close to you is not who they claim to be.
Along the way, she uses the twist from the first one as an item of suspense: is the cult involved in this or that? You’ll have to read to find out and you may be disappointed but personally, I thought she handled everything very well.
The third book is supposed to wrap up everything. As the keystone work, I felt it set the table well and am glad Kent is ending this as a trilogy rather than continuing a never ending series.
When I read the reviews for it, opinions were mixed and I get it. The twist was perhaps imperfectly handled and may have felt gimmicky. But I thought it made what was otherwise a fine effort infinitely more compelling.
It’s been a while since I read the first one and I still had to talk myself into book two. I’ve just read so many mysteries the last few years and while it’s still my favorite genre, I’ve begun to get bored. Everything is predictable; few books truly stand out. I finally grabbed this one, wondering how Kent would reckon with what she pulled off in the last book.
And it’s really good. I was surprised at how good it was. I liked it more than the first.
Kent focuses less on the twist itself and more on the consequences: how Detective Rhyzyk deals with what happened to her and how it impacts her relationships. It’s a really good exploration of PTSD. It also touches on the dangers of being a cop, especially when someone close to you is not who they claim to be.
Along the way, she uses the twist from the first one as an item of suspense: is the cult involved in this or that? You’ll have to read to find out and you may be disappointed but personally, I thought she handled everything very well.
The third book is supposed to wrap up everything. As the keystone work, I felt it set the table well and am glad Kent is ending this as a trilogy rather than continuing a never ending series.
March 1, 2023
Zuviel des Guten
Betty Rhyzyk ist Drogenfahnderin in Dallas. Sie erholt sich körperlich und seelisch von einer brutalen Entführung im vorherigen Teil nur sehr langsam. Darunter leidet vor allem die Beziehung zu Jackie.
Endlich darf Rhyzyk wieder arbeiten. Da findet sie beim joggen eine Leiche. Im Job wird sie mehr oder wenige kaltgestellt, sie soll im Büro bleiben. Das mag sie sich nicht gefallen lassen.
Dann ist da ein super brutaler Mörder unterwegs. Es gibt Hinweise, dass er ein Polizist ist.
Eigentlich finde ich Protagonistinnen wie Betty, die total unangepasst sind super. Aber hier ist mir alles ein wenig too much.
Gerade erst knapp dem Tode entronnen wegen einem Alleingang, ist sie hier schon wieder alleine unterwegs. Ihr Machogehabe ist mir ein wenig dick aufgetragen. Wäre sie ein männlicher Protagonist würde ich wahrscheinlich nicht weiterlesen. Betty entspricht der Stereotype „Kampflesbe“, das finde ich etwas zu einseitig.
Sie fordert einen Gefallen nach dem anderen ein, gibt aber nie etwas zurück. Das kann doch nicht lange gutgehen, oder?
Die Story selbst war mir etwas zu verworren. Ein paar Enden hätte sich die Autorin einfach sparen können. Dann wäre das Buch meiner Meinung nach spannender geblieben. Einiges fand ich auch unverständlich: wie kann sie einem langjährigen Freund plötzlich so misstrauen, aber wahllos Obdachlose aufsammeln und bei sich unterbringen? Das passt meiner Ansicht nach nicht. Allerdings hatten diese Szenen der Häuslichkeit mit Partnerin, Schwangeren und trans Frau auch großes Filmpotenzial.
Sehr gut hat mir der Prolog gefallen. Dadurch wurde ihr familiärer Hintergrund deutlicher und auch ihr Hass auf korrupte Polizisten. Auch die Gespräche mit dem Psychologen waren gut gemacht. Hier zeigt sich, dass Kent gute Dialoge schreiben kann. Und Betty macht endlich auch mal eine Entwicklung durch. Das tut dem Buch und der Reihe gut.
Insgesamt etwas zu reißerisch und zum Teil auch vorhersehbar.
Betty Rhyzyk ist Drogenfahnderin in Dallas. Sie erholt sich körperlich und seelisch von einer brutalen Entführung im vorherigen Teil nur sehr langsam. Darunter leidet vor allem die Beziehung zu Jackie.
Endlich darf Rhyzyk wieder arbeiten. Da findet sie beim joggen eine Leiche. Im Job wird sie mehr oder wenige kaltgestellt, sie soll im Büro bleiben. Das mag sie sich nicht gefallen lassen.
Dann ist da ein super brutaler Mörder unterwegs. Es gibt Hinweise, dass er ein Polizist ist.
Eigentlich finde ich Protagonistinnen wie Betty, die total unangepasst sind super. Aber hier ist mir alles ein wenig too much.
Gerade erst knapp dem Tode entronnen wegen einem Alleingang, ist sie hier schon wieder alleine unterwegs. Ihr Machogehabe ist mir ein wenig dick aufgetragen. Wäre sie ein männlicher Protagonist würde ich wahrscheinlich nicht weiterlesen. Betty entspricht der Stereotype „Kampflesbe“, das finde ich etwas zu einseitig.
Sie fordert einen Gefallen nach dem anderen ein, gibt aber nie etwas zurück. Das kann doch nicht lange gutgehen, oder?
Die Story selbst war mir etwas zu verworren. Ein paar Enden hätte sich die Autorin einfach sparen können. Dann wäre das Buch meiner Meinung nach spannender geblieben. Einiges fand ich auch unverständlich: wie kann sie einem langjährigen Freund plötzlich so misstrauen, aber wahllos Obdachlose aufsammeln und bei sich unterbringen? Das passt meiner Ansicht nach nicht. Allerdings hatten diese Szenen der Häuslichkeit mit Partnerin, Schwangeren und trans Frau auch großes Filmpotenzial.
Sehr gut hat mir der Prolog gefallen. Dadurch wurde ihr familiärer Hintergrund deutlicher und auch ihr Hass auf korrupte Polizisten. Auch die Gespräche mit dem Psychologen waren gut gemacht. Hier zeigt sich, dass Kent gute Dialoge schreiben kann. Und Betty macht endlich auch mal eine Entwicklung durch. Das tut dem Buch und der Reihe gut.
Insgesamt etwas zu reißerisch und zum Teil auch vorhersehbar.
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