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Rick Outzen is the publisher and owner of Pensacola Inweekly and creator of Rick’s Blog, one of the most influential blogs in Florida. His investigative reporting on crime, corruption and the BP oil spill for his newspaper and The Daily Beast earned him international attention and awards. His 2018 debut novel, City of Grudges, was honored by the Florida Writers Association and Killer Nashville. He has been profiled in the New York Times and featured on Dateline NBC. Check out rickoutzen.com.
Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
The truth must prevail whatever the cost, even if that means being ostracized by the very community you live in. This is Walker Holmes’s mantra in City of Grudges written by Rick Outzen. When he discovers Bo Hines’s fraudulent activity at the Art Council, Holmes makes this the focus of his weekly paper, the Pensacola Insider. Not many are impressed, in fact, many are infuriated by the allegations. Bo Hines is one of the most respected and esteemed people in the small town. The attacks start coming and so do the angry comments that leave the newspaper struggling to survive. When Bo Hines’s wife is found dead at their house, Holmes’s condemnation by people takes an even stronger turn. When some residents threaten total boycott of the weekly paper, this becomes the least of Holmes’ problems as he tries to dodge death threats and complete financial ruin. In the end, what he unravels has everyone reconsidering what they think they know.
Thought-provoking and compelling, City of Grudges by Rick Outzen offers an engrossing story presented against a fitting background. Pensacola, a town that contains a varying range of old grudges and whose occupants have a strong sense of community, has little time for an outsider who constantly stirs up trouble and targets the elite. Walker Holmes surprises readers by his strong-mindedness and passion for truth as he fights for the disadvantaged. Outzen also investigates some contemporary issues existing in the town such as the plight of destitute African American communities living in Pensacola, as well as the rampant trend of child sexual exploitation. Informative and captivating, City of Grudges is definitely a worthwhile read.
