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 knowing that he has never written a bad book coupled with the fact 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? So I persuaded myself to read it, and I’m glad I did. It’s one of Rhoades’ best.

A Civil War veteran on the winning side, L.D. Cade has landed in San Francisco after working in several occupations and traveling through multiple states. He feels that he has run out of road on his journey to achieve financial and vocational responsibility, and he is in the company of many who are in similar straits. An antagonistic encounter involving a stranger gives Cade an opportunity to display his skill set and restraint, neither of which is lost on John C. Hamrick, a self-styled real estate investor.

"The plot 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 end."

Hamrick takes Cade in and hires him as a bodyguard. He 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. Cade barely has had the opportunity to become familiar with Hamrick’s large and fashionable home before an attempt is made to kidnap Hamrick’s wife and daughter. That attack is successfully repelled, but Cade quickly learns that the chill permeating the rooms and halls of the Hamrick mansion has little to do with the seasons of San Francisco, resulting in serious repercussions for Cade later on.

Meanwhile, a shadowy figure plots with one of Hamrick’s former business associates to bring him down for good. But all is not how it seems on several fronts. Soon enough, Cade learns quite a bit about his employer, the man’s family and household, as well as who he can and cannot trust. Allies are 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 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 end. Rhoades expertly weaves into the mix the tumultuous cultural and societal elements that were present at the time, making them an important part of the storyline rather than randomly inserting them to demonstrate that he has established his research bona fides. While violence is also involved here, it is balanced to some extent by the grim humor that Rhoades is known for injecting into his books at strategic points, as well as a plethora of interesting main and supporting characters.

THE KILLING LOOK may be a stand-alone work, but it also feels like the jumping-off point for a series. That would be a great thing, and I hope that Rhoades sees fit to make that happen.