Texas Outlaw

Texas Ranger Thrillers #2

by James Patterson, Andrew Bourelle (Contributor)

A Texas Ranger is justice. Until he sidesteps the law.
Texas Ranger Rory Yates is not keen for hero status. But it's unavoidable once his girlfriend, country singer Willow Dawes, writes a song about his bravery. Rory escapes his newfound fame when he's sent to the remote West Texas town of Rio Lobo, a municipality with two stoplights. And now, according to the Chief of Police, it has one too many Texas Rangers.
Rio Lobo Detective Ariana Delgado is the one who requested Rory, and the only person who believes a local councilwoman's seemingly accidental death is a murder. Then Rory begins to uncover a tangle of small-town secrets, favors, and lies as crooked as Texas law is straight.
To get to the truth before more people die, Rory is forced to take liberties with the investigation. The next ballad of Rory Yates may not be about a hero, but rather an outlaw song.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Westerns, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2020

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 1/2 stars. The end is a bit long and muddled, doing a disservice to the overall content of the story and sounding more like a country song. If you read this story you'll understand. 6 of 10 stars

[Teju A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love Rory! and i'm so glad i've caught up with all his books now! Hoping that Patterson and Bourelle can continue with the series. Discovered Rory at book 3 and all books have so far delivered!

Rory gets assigned to a suspicious death in a small town, where things just aren't adding up. His gf is making waves in the music industry and he's contemplating moving to another state to be with her, but he's also falling for his partner 😒😒😒😒.
Good luck with that sir!

Solid 4.5 Stars !!!!

[Tracy P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this second book, Texas Ranger Rory Yates may be letting his love life distract him from reeling in the bad guys.

He has way too many internal dialogues similar to these:
"I deeply love and miss my girlfriend."
"But this woman over here has more in common with me."
" What should I do?" "Blah, blah, blah..."

Texas Outlaw does have a few impressive action scenes to go along with some seriously evil bad guys. Not mention, Rory has to fend them off all while working to solve a homicide case off of his home turf. Needless to say, he certainly has his work cut out for him.

Unfortunately, there was no rhyme or rhythm that I could latch onto. One minute, it's edge-of your-seat suspense and mayhem. The next, it's Rory's introspective turmoil over his unresolved love life. The pacing just didn't work well for me.

Narrator Christopher Ryan Grant's performance was a definite highlight. Thank you.

Still looking forward to book three.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Texas Outlaw is the 2nd in the Rory Yates series by James Patterson and once again it was a fast paced thriller which I sped through in a matter of hours. After an encounter with bank robbers in his home town, where Rory had to open fire, his lieutenant sent him to the small West Texas town of Rio Lobo where a council woman had died and the detective, Ariana Delgado was sure it was murder. It didn’t take Rory long to feel there was something bad in Rio Lobo and with Ariana by his side, they were determined to discover the truth. But when Rory was taken off the case and ejected from the town, he and Ariana knew they had to go outside the law to uncover the rot which had overtaken the small town.

Texas Outlaw is a great sequel to Texas Ranger and I’m hoping it won’t be too long before I can read about Rory Yates’ antics in #3. An entertaining and electrifying thriller which I recommend.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As James Patterson and Aaron Bourelle collaborate on another novel, the rural streets of Texas become their central focus. Texas Ranger Rory Yates has another adventure to face head-on, though he might have wished he just stayed at home. While in a bank over the lunch hour, Rory Yates comes upon a robbery. Quick to act, Yates fires to quell the storm, only to find himself in a great deal of trouble from his superiors. While the entire event was captured on film and is now making its way through social media, the Texas Rangers want to cool things off and send Yates to a small Texas town to help with a mysterious death. A local woman has died of an apparent anaphylactic attack, but the fact that she told a friend she had to speak with the police has begun to raise some flags. Tasked with working alongside one of the local detectives, Yates begins poking around, though he soon discovers that he is not welcome. Butting heads with one of the local oil barons, Yates must try to solve this case before things get out of hand. Once one of the local oil workers is shot, Yates realises that this is no longer just fun and games. Evidence of the shooting takes a turn that Yates could not have expected, leaving him to bend the rules in order to help someone escape the clutches of the law. This is frowned upon and Yates becomes an outlaw himself, as his superior makes his way to this small town to tie off the loose ends. Refusing the stand down and remaining one step ahead of those looking for him, Yates stumbles upon something that might blow the case wide open. Patterson and Bourelle work well together in this piece, taking twang out of the story and providing a palatable piece worth reading. Recommended to those who like their thrillers with a southern twist, as well as the reader who enjoys most of what James Patterson pens these days.

While I find that some Patterson writing is hit and miss, this one ended up being a decent read for me. Paired with Aaron Bourelle, Patterson returns to offer another instalment of the Texas Ranger series in which young Rory Yates is at the helm. Juggling some stardom while on the job with a girlfriend whose Nashville ambitions are more than her interest in sharing a life with someone, Yates must work through his latest assignment in rural Texas. He uses his crime fighting gumption to dig below the surface, while also having to handle the magnetism he has for those around him. This mix could prove deadly, if not handled properly. Other characters create a wonderful mix of personalities in this piece, allowing the story to push forward in many ways. The authors use a wonderful mix to create a multi-pronged story that is worth the reader’s time and effort. The story remains on point throughout and seems to be the perfect read for those who need a filler between deeper and more challenging reads. I enjoyed the piece, even if it was not one of Patterson’s strongest collaborative efforts. The short chapters helped propel things along and kept me wanting more, which I am sure is in the works.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Bourelle, for a decent piece. I am pleased to see how well you work together.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in Patterson western theme mystery thriller. I like pace of it, didn't get bored or felt it was too long. Character development was also good and I'm happy with how the romance part pans out. Will definitely read book three.

[John (JC) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a good Western, especially about the modern day Texas Rangers. Mr. Patterson does them justice in his writing.
Kyle, the superior officer of Yates, sends him on a “nothing” mission to Rio Lobo as punitive action. It starts with a questionable routine medical death and develops into a large conspiracy. He finds himself in the middle of a hornets nest with little support. He leaves his home town a hero, he refuses to return as an incompetent Ranger. He trudges through all the mind boggling events that continue to occur, using his keen intellect to separate the truth from the lies.
The action is endless, love is lost, friendship is gained, the conspiracy is frustrating, trust is scarce and survival in questionable. As the ending approaches completion(way to soon) Patterson manages to throw another twist in this convoluted mess.
It is a good read. I feel Patterson fans, Western fans and anyone looking for a well written book will enjoy this ride into the sunset.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure! Always know that James Patterson will deliver the goods. He never lets me down. Love the Texas Ranger character!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Rory Yates thriller! Who doesn't love a Texas Ranger!

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for Texas Outlaw: Rory Yates, Book 2 (audiobook) by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle read by Christopher Ryan Grant.

Rory Yates is set off to help with an investigation in the little town of Rio Lobo. This seemingly accidental death case leads him on a path to the rotten core of this town.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with Patterson and his numerous co-collaborators. This one is a ‘thoroughly enjoy’ the interlude!

A distinct Southern note runs through the entire fast-faded, action-packed crime. Requisite twists and unexpected turns (along with a few predictable ones), make it an easy quick read.

I will be continuing on the Bourelle/Patterson Texas Ranger series with enthusiasm.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s


Book two in the Texas Ranger- Rory Yates series.


Oh, this was good... So good!

Rory Yates rocks as much as Jack Reacher does. Both are so damn fine.

The twists were brilliant and let’s just say the last twist had me gobsmacked.

Hubby and I look forward to reading book three.



Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Little Brown
Read by Christopher Ryan Grant
Duration: 9 hrs, 21 min. 1.25x Speed

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively Texas Ranger thriller. An easy read and simple plot. I did enjoy learning how the Texas Rangers work both in Texas: and in relation to other law agencies.
Unputdownable

[Amy Bruestle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars!!!!! This book was wonderfully written and exactly the type of book for me! The perfect amount of action, romance, suspense, and mystery all combined into a perfect plot! Very happy to have read this, and will definitely be going back to read the other book in this series as well!

[Germaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this hope if the series continue it stays in the same vein and doesn't go the way of all the other Patterson series. This Rory Yates is a great lead character and the storyline is fast paced and full of adventure and intriguing twists and turns

[Curlyhair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining read, the second in this series. Plenty of action, likeable characters and the ‘goodies’ always win!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankly, at the 60% mark, it was time for bed and I decided I wasn’t going to finish reading this book. Fortunately, the next day I decided to continue and I’m glad I did. Plenty of action and shoot-outs in the second half. I liked the call-outs of different country songs and singers, especially one of my all-time favorites - Marty Robbins’ Big Iron, pretty much a whole cowboy movie in one song. If nothing else, the songs make up a heck of playlist.

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, comfortable ride. Rory can be as good as Boxer and Bennett. Patterson is so good at these characters, guiding the co-authors perfectly. I’m a sucker for his books, they almost always provide a great read, full of action and suspense.

Rory tends to have a temper that gets him in trouble and he has horrible luck with women but in the end he gets the bad guy. This case was tougher than the one in the first book, I hope the next one is even more so.

[John (Just bought an Oculus 2 VR, so less time to read these days!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Rory Yates thriller. A bit long, but well worth it. Highly recommended.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome!!! Better than the first one in the series.

Patterson never writes a bad book.

Recommend this book for everyone. Hope there is more in the series.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rory Yates is one of my favorite characters from the James Patterson House of Ideas. We first met him in 2018’s TEXAS RANGER, which Patterson wrote with Andrew Bourelle. The newly published TEXAS OUTLAW is a contemporary western that fulfills and exceeds every promise that its predecessor made. It has everything you want and need in a thriller.

Rory is an extremely believable figure, one who never seeks the spotlight and is content to simply do his job as a Texas Ranger. He did not come to this position by happenstance. It is one that he dreamed of from childhood and acquired in the old-fashioned manner of earning it. One of Rory’s notable abilities is what in a better and more honest age would be described as a quick draw, which he demonstrates early on in the book when he unwittingly walks into a hostage situation.

His skill set notwithstanding, Rory has problems in his professional and personal lives. He has a very prickly relationship with Kyle Hendricks, his new lieutenant at the Texas Ranger station in Waco. And his girlfriend happens to be Willow Dawes, an aspiring singer-songwriter who is on the fast track to becoming a country music superstar. Her career has necessitated a move to Nashville, and it looks like their relationship may be moving into geographically undesirable territory.

It is against this backdrop that Hendricks sends Rory on what appears to be a busywork assignment to Rio Lobo, a two-streetlight town in a remote part of west Texas. A police detective needs help investigating the death of a local Congresswoman who to all outward appearances died as the result of an allergic reaction to peanuts. Rory is made to feel unwelcome by almost everyone in the Rio Lobo police department from the top down, except for Ariana Delgado, the detective who requested assistance. That said, it seems at first that the simplest explanation --- that the councilwoman accidentally ate the wrong cookie --- is the correct one.

But Rory does the job that he has been sent to do, and while he interviews the deceased woman’s acquaintances, he finds that people are lying to him when they seemingly have no reason to do so. He also learns that there are some especially powerful citizens in Rio Lobo who not only resent his presence there but want him out of town…and the sooner the better. This simply makes Rory all the more determined to stay, even as he finds himself attracted to Ariana. However, the closer that he comes to discovering what is really going on, the more dangerous it becomes for him.

When Ariana emerges as the number one suspect in a local murder, Rory resolves to arrive at the truth, no matter what it might be, even as he finds himself working on the wrong side of the law that he has taken a vow as a Texas Ranger to uphold. Something will have to give, and ultimately does.

There is plenty of action here, particularly in the latter half of the book, and it is balanced with a wagonload of suspense and an interesting (though predictable) mystery. The characters, both major and minor, are also well-developed. Rory is a relatively uncomplicated protagonist who is nonetheless memorable and likable, especially as he attempts to navigate through the minefield of love versus temptation. The backdrop of rural Texas doesn’t hurt anything either, nor do the occasional references to the country and rock music world. With respect to the latter, I suspect that Bourelle might be a fan of the James Gang.

TEXAS OUTLAW should be satisfying to fans of westerns, contemporary and otherwise, as well as those looking for a thriller that is new and different from what they usually read.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheap and cheerful lame cop drama. I can't help but compare to Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, which just have so much more depth, humour and intelligence.

Not the worst book of all time, but if I needed a reminder that James Patterson isn't my kind of author, this is it!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me be honest up front. I read most of James Patterson’s books and have for several years. Some might ask why and that’s another whole discussion best saved for another day. I have really enjoyed some, liked some, and didn’t really care for others. For the most part, I treat them like mind candy and don’t consider them to be too memorable. However, once in a while I am pleasantly surprised with a gem that shines. 2018’s “Texas Ranger” was one of those nice blessings that caught me off-guard and delivered a winning read, introducing Patterson’s rugged new westernized hero, Rory Yates.

Now I just finished 2020’s follow-up mystery adventure, “Texas Outlaw”, and am pleased to report out on another solid outing for Texas Ranger, Rory Yates, an overly dedicated lawman who has been punished because of his lightning fast ability to draw and outshoot the criminals he comes in contact with.

This time, things start off with two big surprises for Rory, and neither of them necessarily good. First, Rory accidently walks in on a bank robbery in progress and finds himself an unexpected hero when video gets out of his heroic actions and goes viral. Second, his girlfriend, Willow’s rise as a country singer and songwriter takes a new turn when her first hit single hits the airwaves and it’s an instant hit. The problem is, she wrote the song about Rory’s life as a Texas Ranger and his passionate commitment to his job. Now Rory is receiving unwanted attention everywhere he turns.

To escape his current claim to fame, Rory is sent on a new assignment to a remote West Texas town called Rio Lobo, which has only two stoplights. The reason for his presence comes from Rio Lobo’s own Detective Ariana Delgado, who requested help from the Texas Rangers because she believes that a local councilwoman's recent death, ruled accidently, is actually murder. However, Yates is not welcomed by the Chief of Police, the rest of the small-town police force, nor the town’s council members. They don’t want his assistance in any way and make it quite clear.

It doesn’t take Rory, working closely with Ariana, to realize that things are not really making sense in a bad way. The more they investigate, the more they begin to uncover a tangle of small-town political favors and secret deals that are illegal and before they can get traction, another murder victim is found. With the investigation facing closure, Rory may be forced to take questionable liberties and risks to capture the killers…

Although the storyline of small-town secrets and corruption is not a new twist, it is still well-conceived and well-delivered with a multi-layered plot and interesting characters. Rory is well intentioned, but emotional and makes some dumb mistakes. Other characters like Ariana, Kyle, Chief Harris, Dale and vicious villain, Gareth McCormack, all play intricate roles with more depth than most Patterson novels. Rory’s family, including a father, who’s wisdom and influence on Rory plays a key part in keeping him focused on what’s right.

I know that Patterson has teamed up with many different writers over the years, but this partnership with Andrew Bourelle is a winner. The overall plotting is still standard Patterson, but that’s where is seems to end in many ways. First, the setting is a key ingredient. You really feel like you are in small town, Texas. The geography, the buildings, the vehicles, the local western bar, and especially the songs that are played and sung all contribute to an ambience that highlights the story being told. Second, as mentioned before, the characters are multi-dimensional and flawed. They are real and interesting. Third, the story has a certain smooth rhythm that ebbs and flows like a classic country or rock song. Although Patterson novels are fast-paced, the tempo, flow of words, and transition from scene to scene just seem to work together in unison better in this particular book and series.

Overall, Patterson and Bourelle’s character of Rory Yates, his job as a Ranger, his family, and Texas settings pays off in a big way, at least for this reader. I don’t know why it and I don’t care. I just thoroughly enjoyed it. It had mystery, great storytelling, and most of all, an elusive subjective quality - heart. At the risk of upsetting hardcore Patterson fans, it truly felt like I was reading a David Baldacci thriller, and a really good one at that with those tension filled moments that reach out and grab your full attention... The plotting and writing style were so creative, crisp, and enjoyable that I thought I was reading one of Baldacci’s bestselling character driven series.

Overall, it was one of the most enjoyable Patterson (and Bourelle) books that I have ever read, worthy of one of the very rare five -star ratings that I have given to a Patterson novel. But very much worth it. If you only read one or two books by James Patterson this year, please make sure this is one of them. I promise you will be worth read. Like some of Patterson’s other esteemed characters, like Alex Cross, I cannot wait to experience another Rory Yates adventure.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Texas ranger series. I didn't love the first book, but I think it was more a case of not warming to the narrator rather then the story itself. I am pleased to say that I enjoyed this book and I have also warmed to the narrator.
Rory finds himself on the wrong side of his new boss, and he is sent to the backside of nowhere to investigate what everyone believes is a non case. Of course Rory is not that lucky, and the case is far more in-depth than even he realizes. T
I read another reviewer that said this books reads like a country song, and after finishing the book I have to agree, so for the country and western fans (of which I am one) you will know what else happens in this book.
Overall this is not a great book but it was not a bad way to spend a few hours on a rainy day.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the Rory Yates, Texas Ranger series...After becoming a media sensation, by stopping a bank robbery, Yates is exiled to the West Texas town of Rio Lobo, to investigate the mysterious death of the town's only female city-council member...Aided by the local detective, the two, turn a routine investigation, into a rip-roaring, modern Wild West whodunnit!...I Especially enjoyed the Texas cultural references from Shiner Bock to Chip and Joanna Gaines...Good, quick read!!!

[Kim Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great twists

[Daniel Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story although a bit cliche at times and the twist about the initial killer towards the end bordered on nonsense.

[Dallas Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving these Texas ranger books.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. Nothing deep to the story. Simple and mindless between other books. Nevertheless, it was not a bad read.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the characters and the reading is fast simple and fun.
I love mindless entertainment (in a good way) when reading.
Look forward to more.