"The Outcasts" from author Kathleen Kent--a triumph--a masterfully told tale of suspense, murder and mayhem, and ultimate justice in the Old West

The Outcasts by Kathleen Kent

A taut, thrilling adventure story about buried treasure, a manhunt, and a woman determined to make a new life for herself in the old west.

It's the 19th century on the Gulf Coast, a time of opportunity and lawlessness. After escaping the Texas brothel where she'd been a virtual prisoner, Lucinda Carter heads for Middle Bayou to meet her lover, who has a plan to make them both rich, chasing rumors of a pirate's buried treasure.

Meanwhile Nate Cannon, a young Texas policeman with a pure heart and a strong sense of justice, is on the hunt for a ruthless killer named McGill who has claimed the lives of men, women, and even children across the frontier. Who--if anyone--will survive when their paths finally cross?

As Lucinda and Nate's stories converge, guns are drawn, debts are paid, and Kathleen Kent delivers an unforgettable portrait of a woman who will stop at nothing to make a new life for herself.


MY REVIEW:   A masterfully told tale of suspense, murder and mayhem, and ultimate justice in the Old West, "The Outcasts" is a triumph for author Kathleen Kent. I am a lifelong lover of the Western genre, raised in a household of fellow Western lovers, and I was enthralled by the characters and story line of "The Outcasts". Anyone who truly loves Westerns knows that they are timeless, and Ms. Kent has beautifully captured all of the elements which make these stories resonate with readers. The tale begins with gold--pirate booty--rumored to be buried on a small island along the Texas Gulf Coast. The lure of this gold will pull together an increasing number of men and women, at first seemingly unconnected, but their pasts and their futures will become hopelessly entwined. Lucinda, an epilepsy-laden prostitute, places her faith and her hope for a free life in the hands of her mysterious lover, Bill, who has a plan for obtaining the golden treasure. Nate Cannon, from Oklahoma, is a newly-sworn-in Texas state policeman. Given the duty of delivering a message to Texas ranger George Deerling, Nate soon joins Deerling and his partner, Tom Goddard, on a mission to end the crime spree of a cold-blooded serial killer. The two veteran rangers have much wisdom to impart to Nate, but they themselves also learn from the young lawman. He has a way with horses that few other men can match. As Lucinda and Bill put their treasure-hunting tricks into play, Nate and the rangers are following the trail of a deadly, remorseless killer. All of them are on a course of fate which will converge their lives, and the lives of those in their path, toward a destination from which none can escape. Be prepared to read this book all in one setting. The flowing pace and the cleverness with which the author adds riveting detail to the story line will hold you in place and keep the pages turning. Superb storytelling from author Kathleen Kent.

Book Copy Gratis Author

Kathleen Kent



Kathleen Kent's latest book is titled THE DIME (Feb. 2017), a contemporary crime novel set in Dallas. She is the author of three best-selling novels, The Heretic’s Daughter---recipient of the David J. Langum Sr. award for American historical fiction---The Traitor’s Wife, and The Outcasts (set in 1870 Texas) which was the recipient of the American Library Association’s 2014 top choice for Historical Fiction, as well as the recipient of a Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western fiction.

Author Note: I grew up in Texas, but lived and worked in New York City for twenty years. After returning to Dallas, I was enchanted, but also baffled, by the rich, and sometimes absurd, cultural soup that is Texas, with its cowboys and Confederate Army re-enactors standing toe-to-toe with wealthy bankers and society doyens. I knew that someday I’d want to write a novel about this city of contradictions. My heroine, Detective Betty Rhyzyk of THE DIME, was developed in part from my personal experiences with members of my family who are in law enforcement, and my growing admiration for the female police officers who are forced to confront “the way things are done in the South”. It was immensely fun developing a fearless female character who stands up for herself, and for all women, bringing to life the sprawling, fractious city known to Dallas locals as Big D.  

http://www.kathleenkent.com/