The pledge - Kathleen Kent

In this instantly cinematic and completely compelling thriller (Hank Phillippi Ryan), Detective Betty has only two weeks to take down her deadliest rival--this time for good.

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.

--Julia Heaberlin 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.

A police procedural like none you've ever read.

--Hank Phillippi Ryan A thrilling last dance with the formidable Betty Rhyzyk.

--Steph Cha​ Detective Betty is one of my favorite queer characters in crime fiction.

The Pledge is fiery and propulsive.

--Kristen Lepionka.