Heresy

Written by Melissa Lenhardt

Narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Bailey Carr, Ella Turenne and 4 more

"An all-out women-driven, queer, transgender, multiracial takeover of the Old West . . . and that's exactly what Melissa Lenhardt delivers in her unapologetically badass western, Heresy." - New York Times

"Lenhardt has created a bold new story where women have taken their rightful place in the narrative of the Outlaw Western genre; where wit, wisdom and wiles could mean the difference between life and death, and where the fellowship of women bested every challenge." -- Kathleen Kent

Margaret Parker and Hattie LaCour never intended to turn outlaw.

After being run off their ranch by a greedy cattleman, their family is left destitute. As women alone they have few choices: marriage, lying on their backs for money, or holding a gun. For Margaret and Hattie the choice is simple. With their small makeshift family, the gang pulls off a series of heists across the West.

Though the newspapers refuse to give the female gang credit, their exploits don't go unnoticed. Pinkertons are on their trail, a rival male gang is determined to destroy them, and secrets among the group threaten to tear them apart. Now, Margaret and Hattie must find a way to protect their family, finish one last job, and avoid the hangman's noose.

"Readers who relish an unusual narrative structure will enjoy this unique take on the traditional western." -- Booklist

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781549112508

Melissa Lenhardt

Melissa Lenhardt writes Women’s fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction. When she’s not writing she’s thinking, “I really should be writing.” She lives in Texas with her family and two Golden Retrievers. The Secret of You and Me is her seventh novel.

Reviews for Heresy

[tamidale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don’t believe I have ever read a western featuring a gang of outlaws that just happened to be women. Heresy is exactly that and the story captured my interest from the very beginning.

Written in journal style and giving the personal accounts of three different women involved, the story follows the years during which a gang of women robbed banks and stagecoaches and never got the credit, due to the fact that no one believed women were capable of such a thing.

Even though the book is about criminals, it’s a fairly clean read, with no gory violence or explicit sex. In fact, at times I detected a bit of slapstick humor in the writing.

Heresy is a very entertaining read, although it seemed to drag a bit near the end. This is the fourth novel that I have read by Melissa Lenhardt and this is my favorite thus far. Readers who like westerns and strong women will enjoy this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.