Badlands (Sawbones Book 3)

WESTERN/HISTORICAL THRILLERMelissa LenhardtBadlandsRedhookPaperback, 978-0-3165-0537-6, (also available as an e-book, an audiobook, and on Audible), 416 pgs., $15.99June 27, 2017SPOILER ALERT: Badlands is the third book in a trilogy. Proceed at your own risk.Laura Kindle (previously Laura Elliston, originally Dr. Catherine Bennett) is on the run again from the law, Pinkertons, and bounty hunters, after the arrest of her husband, William Kindle. She and St. Louis madam Rosemond Barclay, who claims to be helping Laura at William’s behest, wash up practically penniless in the quintessential Western boomtown of Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. Rosemond is determined to go legit, joining proper society and leaving her past behind; Laura waits to hear news of William’s court martial, creating yet another identity in another new place. But the past catches up to both women, and Laura knows she must finally confront the New York murder charge against her or forever be a dependent pawn in other people’s games.Badlands is the final installment in Melissa Lenhardt’s historical thriller trilogy, the first of which, Sawbones (2016), I hailed as “a thoroughly original, smart and satisfying hybrid, perhaps a new subgenre: the feminist Western.” Badlands, worthy of the established characters and ethos, does not disappoint.Laura’s first-person narrative begins with Lenhardt’s characteristic bang. Apart from the middle third when the pace flags along with Laura’s resolve, reflecting her exhaustion and despair, the action is fast, the plot twists frequent. Though Lenhardt does a good job of integrating necessary facts from the two previous books, Badlands does not stand alone; to get the full effect you should begin at the beginning. A novels-within-the-novels device is a welcome, humorous touch of tongue-in-cheek. As always, a shout-out is due for the cover art and design of this trilogy. All three novels are gorgeous.Lenhardt’s characters are diverse and complex. Her women and their friendships get the attention they have always deserved but so rarely receive. Prodigious research is evident in the language, settings, and situations. An unsettling many of the era’s convictions regarding social justice and gender roles remain (bizarrely) controversial today. Lenhardt also breaks out vivid similes: “Between hands I would catch sight of Salter sitting across the room at a poker table, the prostitute draped over his shoulder like a poncho.” Like a poncho.Badlands is every bit as tough and raw as the American Wild West (which smells of “body odor, blood, horse sweat, manure, and new lumber”) and proves more authentic as it denies the genre its myths and tropes, unsparingly exposing the options of women of the era with an unflinching eye. Badlands is not for the faint of heart; Lenhardt seems to be trying to shock us, but it doesn’t feel egregious—it feels like bold truth-telling.Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.

This was a tough book to read. It is complex and gritty. There is bloodshed, drug addiction, prostitution, murder, cheating, abuse, loss, lies, and love in many forms. This is not a sweet old western romance. I understand why the author labored over this series. The hero, William, is not the typical hero, he is rescued and does a little rescuing. The heroine, Charlotte/ Laura, is not your typical heroine. She is determined, faithful, caring, has a conscience, and does not one for backing down. She does not apologize for being a doctor and it is so much a part of her that it creates major problems. They both suffer in unimaginable ways. Some of the sufferings are physical, mental and emotional. There are no easy cures or simple fixes. Love is not the perfect answer. Both have to survive in order to live and love each other. I would not recommend this book to anyone under 18 or anyone that is particularly old-fashioned. This series will stay with you long after you have read the last page. You will reread it again and see more the second time you read it than you did the first time. I do not know how Ms. Lenhardt will continue after having written this but, I would like to find out. Please, keep writing Ms. Lenhardt.

Do not wonder any longer what your next escape read will be. Make it the entire Sawbones series/ you won't be disappointed! This final offering for the series definitely brings things round to a satisfying conclusion. Remember how much you loved little badass Maddie in True Grit? Well Laura Kindle is the new #feministwestern who is as foul mouthed and smart and tough as Claire Frazier (and stubborn as Maddie), and William Kindle is just as dreamy and man enough to handle it as James Frazier. And the West is as violent as you know is true, while the East must be navigated with as much care as a rattlesnake in your bed blanket. And this narrator is superb (except for the Native and Spanish mispronunciations but there are none in this book). Go for it right now.

Part 2 of a 3 part book series. I love this author's take on Texas and woman docs.

It was an enjoyable story. Quite different and nice to have a female lead.

Loved this whole series, and no sooner finished one book than I ordered the next, and kept right on reading! Not your typical romance novel westerns, this series is rugged, authentic and gripping, with real life characters you will soon learn to care about .

This is the third and final book in the Sawbones series and it didn't disappoint!! It was masterfully written with strong characters and wonderful descriptions that basically dropped the reader right in the Badlands of the west. This story is about survival at its worst and best, where you are rooting for Laura all the way to the end!

This is an excellent book on several layers. At its core it's a wonderful entertaining book about the old west. However, it also speaks to the struggle women face in a male dominated world. The book is also at times downright funny.

As expected