Early Praise for The Pledge

"I read this book in a compulsive binge because it felt physically painful to be away from the story until it was over. Betty Rhyzyk won’t soon be forgotten by crime readers, but after a trilogy’s worth of trauma and violence, she deserves to rest and heal from the hardships her creator put her through."

— New York Times (Book Review - Sarah Weinman)

"As a schoolgirl in Brooklyn, Betty Rhyzyk once grabbed the yardstick from Sister Mary Ignatius, the teacher who was about to spank her, and whacked the nun instead. Grown-up Betty is just as righteous and no less volatile as a Dallas police detective in this riveting tale, which pits the lesbian crime fighter against a psychopathic religious cult leader and drug dealer named Evangeline Roy."

— Washington Post (‘Best Thrillers and Mysteries to read in November’)

"Kent isn’t afraid to make a turn toward the macabre, and she’s been doing this long enough that the words spill from the page with ease. Detective Betty remains one of the most distinctive and vivid crime fighters out there."

— Texas Monthly

Rated: ‘BUY THIS BOOK!’ “In Edgar finalist Kent’s thrilling third and final novel featuring Sgt. Betty Rhyzyk of the North Central Dallas PD (after 2020’s The Burn), two of her past enemies return to Dallas, each seeking revenge….Kent does a fine job weaving the various plot strands into a satisfying and action-packed whole.” read more

— Publishers Weekly

“The Pledge is a thrilling last dance with the formidable Betty Rhyzyk. Ensnared in a violent drug war between a deranged cult leader and a knife-happy cartel boss, she plays cat and mouse and cat again, all while searching for a missing teen mother and reluctantly caring for a baby.”

— Steph Cha, author of Your House Will Pay

“Detective Betty is one of my favorite queer characters in crime fiction. The Pledge is just as fiery and propulsive as the first two novels in the trilogy as it brings her story to a satisfying conclusion full of twists, tension, and emotional resonance. This book will not disappoint.”

— Kristen Lepionka, Shamus Award-winning author of the Roxane Weary mystery series

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

— Hank Phillippi Ryan USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life

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

— Halley Sutton, author of The Lady Upstairs

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

—Julia Heaberlin, bestselling author of We Are All The Same In The Dark