The Dime by Kathleen Kent

 The Dime by Kathleen Kent. Mulholland Books (Little, Brown and Company), 2017. Adult fiction.


    When Dallas police detective Betty Rhyzyk and her life partner Jackie movie from New York City, the Mexican drug cartels and East Texas cults make life both dangerous and scary. Red-haired Betty is tall, fierce, and filled with Polish sayings from her uncle Benny who mentored her career. Her own policeman father and her deceased policeman brother's memory provide different kinds of motivations for Betty.


      Kathleen Kent hits all of the right stereotypic names (like the waitress Tammy Sue) and events (like a mechanical bull ride) in this Texas tale. She name drops Caddo Lake, Angelina County, and the restaurant atop Reunion Plaza, among others. But, the character of Betty is memorable herself. Betty, is sassy, feisty, and proud. Her opponents are strong, too, and the action is fast-paced. Part mystery, part crime fiction, all entertaining, the novel unfurls as the violence and deaths mount. Hollywood is bound to have tall, fit women vying for the role of Betty in any bound-to-come movie version.