Book Review: The Innocents

Today I’m reviewing a book I wasn’t sure how much I’d like and I ended up loving. The Innocents by C.A. Asbrey contains so many elements that I secretly and not so secretly love. The Innocents is the first in a mystery series and it has 3 main characters. Abigail or Abi is a woman in her mid 20s who is a Pinkerton detective, Nat & Jake who are cousins and outlaws in the west. Abigail is undercover trying to track down and apprehend the infamous gang, The Innocents, before they rob any more railroads. They’re called “The Innocents” because they never hurt any innocent people, they rob from the rich i.e. the railroads.

Determined to solve the case and bring in the ringleaders of the gang, Abi does come across the men but they all get pulled in to another mystery – a murder mystery. They learn to work together to solve the murders.

As soon as I started reading this book, I loved it. I couldn’t put it down, but it was one of those books that I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen, but at the same time I didn’t want to keep reading it because I didn’t want it to end. I had become so invested in the characters! Who’s behind the killings? Will Abi and Nat get together?!

I started reading it last week and could easily have finished it before my trip but I decided to wait to bring it with me. I finished it on the plane ride to Tokyo and wished I had the 2nd one to read!

This book combines so many things I love. Mystery, crime solving, romance. There’s something so alluring about Abi being this independent, strong, ahead of her times female detective (it’s the 1800s!) and getting enamored by these handsome, intelligent, outlaws.

There were two parts I took note of because I particularly loved them.

At one part early on, Abi has to prove to a local Pinkerton office that she was also an agent and they didn’t believe her because she’s a woman. One of the guys said his wife wouldn’t be caught dead working so closely to criminals and “She’s the type who makes a man want to open doors for her, or offer her a seat. She’s a lady.” To which Abi replies, “I mastered both standing and door handles some time ago, so there’ll be no need for any special treatment.”

I love that Abigail is written as a strong woman, making waves. She’s not perfect, but she’s willing to learn. Nat and Jake don’t treat her like she’s beneath them either. There are times where they are concerned for her well-being, but they make it a point to say they would be worried for anybody and not just because she’s a woman. At one point, when they’re bickering and Abi thinks they are treating her a certain way because she’s a woman, Nat says, “I’ll bet you’re not paid as well as the men. In my gang everyone gets an equal share. Do you get paid the same as the men?”

I really enjoyed this book and I found it so entertaining. It held my attention the whole time and I didn’t want to let the characters go! I definitely plan to continue reading the series.

*This book was sent to me complimentary, but all opinions are my own.”