Description: Inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde: Beatrice Carraway longs to escape the poverty of Great-Depression-era West Dallas, but she has aged out of the childhood pagent circuit and feels defeated after a string of failed auditions. When criminal Jack Turner walks into her life, Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime. But as the duo's infamy grows, the distance between Beatrice and Jack widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul.
Review Quotes: Born into West Dallas poverty in the 1920s, Beatrice banks on her pretty face to pull her out of the muck. Beauty fades, though, and her mother's choice in men relegates Bea to a mere possession. Every potential break is soon met with suspicion and ridicule of Bea's socioeconomic status and street address. When Bea meets debonair (and slightly criminal) Jack Turner, she sees her ticket out of the swamp and factory smoke--after all, playing by the rules hasn't gotten her ahead. When all her dreams of fame come true, however, they don't bring the happiness and peace she craves. With a cast of characters alternately encouraging her to run toward sin or toward salvation, Bea must both face the consequences of her life of crime and decide what true religion is. VERDICT In this Bonnie-and-Clyde tale with a redemptive twist, Wright (Come Down Somewhere) proves her literary chops and puts herself on the level of historical-fiction favorites like Susan Meissner and Fiona Davis.--Library Journal