Rhoades [...] stretches his wings here with his first historical thriller ... Rhoades displays a sensitive touch with the historical material here, building strong characters from the people of color in his cast without downplaying the very real racial hatred of the era. Plenty of action, too, in what appears to be a series launch starring Cade and Clayborne.
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 ... 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.
