this was such a wonderfully done historical novel, the characters were great and I loved that they worked in the time period. It was really fun to read this book.

An escapist readers delight. A run through San Francisco early beginnings. Veteran LD Cade comes to explore San Francisco to find his fortune and gets much more in return. Funny, suspenseful and written to turn the pages.

THE KILLING LOOK
J.D. Rhoades
Polis Books
ISBN-13: 978-1951709495
Hardcover
Historical Mystery/Thriller

I will confess that I almost gave THE KILLING LOOK a pass. It seemed from the locale --- San Francisco --- and the time period --- post-Civil-War --- that it was somewhat outside of author J.D. Rhoades’ comfort zone of the contemporary American South, bounty hunters, and the like. What swayed me back to the side of the angels was the knowledge that Rhoades has never written a bad book (or, if memory serves, a bad page in a good book) and the additional factor that...I like historical westerns. Why, then, would I turn down a book set at the beginning of that time period in one of the westernmost cities of the United States? I thus persuaded myself to read THE KILLING LOOK, and I’m glad that I did. It is one of Rhoades’s best.

Rhoades introduces L.D. Cade, the protagonist of THE KILLING LOOK, in fairly short order. Cade, a Civil War veteran on the winning side, has landed in San Francisco after several years of working in several occupations and traveling several states. San Francisco is the place where Cade feels that he has run out of road on his journey to achieve financial and vocational responsibility, and on the street, he is in the company of many in similar straits. An antagonistic encounter that occurs between Cade and a stranger gives Cade an opportunity to display his skill set and restraint, neither of which is lost on John C. Hambrick, a self-styled real estate investor. Hambrick takes Cade in and hires him as a bodyguard after telling an interesting tale. It seems that Hambrick is concerned that his business dealings have made him a number of enemies in the city, including but not limited to powerful business interests in Chinatown. Indeed, Cade has barely had the opportunity to become familiar with Hambrick’s large and fashionable home before an attempt is made to kidnap Hambrick’s wife and daughter. That attack is successfully repelled, but Cade quickly learns that the chill permeating the rooms and halls of the Hambrick mansion has little to do with the seasons of San Francisco. That is a situation that results in serious repercussions for Cade later in the tale. In the meanwhile, a shadowy figure plots with one of Hambrick’s former business associates to bring Hambrick down for good. All is not how it seems, however, on several fronts. Cade in short order learns quite a bit about his employer, and the man’s family and household, as well as who he can and cannot trust. The sources are numerous and surprising. Allies are something in short supply for Cade, but the ones he acquires are effective and schooled at showing up at just the right time, to say the least.

The plot of THE KILLING LOOK twists and turns throughout the narrative, leading to a violent conclusion that could go in any number of directions and does, before coming to a surprising and satisfying ending. Rhoades expertly weaves the tumultuous cultural and societal elements present at the story’s time and place into the mix, making them an important part of the plot rather than randomly dropping them as a demonstration that he has established his research bonafides. While there is also some violence involved in THE KILLING LOOK, it is balanced to some extent by the grim humor that Rhoades is known for dropping into his books at strategic points, as well as the plethora of interesting main and supporting characters that are sprinkled throughout. THE KILLING LOOK may be a stand-alone work, but it also feels like the jumping-off point for a series. That would not be a good thing; it would be a terrific one, and I for one hope that Rhoades sees fit to make that happen. Recommended.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
© Copyright 2021, The Book Report, Inc. All rights reserved.

This is not normally my type of book and I couldn't put it down. A historical adventure novel.

LD Cade has slowly worked his way west after fighting for the Union in the Civil War. After a confrontation on the street, he is hired by a gentleman to protect him and his family. San Francisco, home of the Barbary Coast and Nob Hill...different as night and day...both brought to life.
One of my favorite things about this book is the characters and how well-written they are. From Mei, the young chinese girl to the others who work at the rich man's house, I feel like I got to know each character and their motivation.

Welcome to San Francisco in the early 1870s, where criminal shenanigans and murders are comingling freely with violent ethnic strife, a malevolent urban sprawl teeming with lots of backstabbing dangers......
"The killing look" is a rollicking and truculent fictional adventure that will definitely be enjoyed by all historical fiction buffs and mystery fans alike.
Fiendishly plotted and blessed with a cast of very colorful and unforgettable characters, this delightful novel introduces its readers to LD Cade, a smart and winsome war veteran as he steadfastly tries to untangle a string of mischievous and violent crimes and wrongdoings taking place around the Barbary Coast district and the exotic but dangerous Chinatown. An action packed whodunit full of verbal pyrotechnics and menacing twists, this compelling literary "loaded
gun" should definitely be
heralding the arrival of a terrific new series!!
Higly recommended and to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever 👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Polis Books for this marvellous ARC

Despite my, perhaps unjustified, bias against "westerns" as a genre, I recently took a chance and accepted an ARC of J.D. Rhoades' "The Killing Look", published under the Polis imprint. I am absolutely delighted that I did. I quite literally had a hard time putting it down and finished it in two days. It defied the traditional conventions of what I think of as a "western" and seemed more to me like a modern detective novel with the protagonist as a sort of hired gun/bodyguard/private detective. There were anachronistic elements that occasionally jarred as in the occasional overt leaning towards modern sensitivities on race, but these were handled well and did not at all distract from the story. The setting, eighteenth century San Francisco, is simply fascinating and adds inestimably to the narrative's charm. Add in a Chinese crimelord and assorted corrupt lawyers and police officers to spice things up and you have a formula for success, whatever its setting. I look forward to seeing more of this protagonist and his adventures in San Francisco, and I recommend the book without hesitation. There is a bit of something for everyone here, and the author skillfully blends the disparate elements to create an action packed and fast moving narrative that should appeal to many audiences.

Yarn. Not the stuff you use to knit. Try the 2nd definition: a narrative tale of adventures. If you’re looking for a whopping good yarn give #TheKillingLook by J. D. Rhoades a spin. Set in SanFrancisco in the 1870’s, this Have Gun Will Travelish tale finds Civil War Union veteran L.D. Cade, our scruffy but virtuous protagonist unexpectedly in the employ of John Hamrick, the dastardly villain of the piece. Of course, when Cade hires on as Hamrick’s bodyguard he is unaware of his new boss’s true nature, which soon enough become apparent. Add to this a colorful cast of supporting players and you have the recipe for a thrilling read. Sure, this story has been told gobs of time before, but in Rhoades’ deft hands #The Killing Look takes on a life of its own, one that proves the old adage: Everything Old Is New Again. Well done !