A young girl is found murdered with a strange symbol carved into her stomach. Investigator Reed Raleigh of Major Crimes is charged with finding the killer.

But this is a small town .. a town with decades old secrets. Some will protect these secrets no matter what it takes.

As Reed continues his investigation, he finds more questions than answers. Reed knows the pain and agony of losing a close family member and he wants justice and closure for the girl's mother.

What Reed finds is that the girl had a bizarre life..... and the case becomes more tangled in lies . Why is the mother lying to the police? Why is the boyfriend acting the way he is .. does he know more than he's telling?

it's a mystery wrapped in a cleverly written plot. The character are solidly drawn. Reed's' backstory involves a personal loss of his own, and PTSD as a result of his military secret. As residents of a small town, they are, in turn, secretive, quirky, with varied opinions of 'outsiders'. As in all books I've read by this author, this one is well-written with a touch of credibility. The fast-paced suspense holds steady and leads to an unexpected conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / Inkubator Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

A good story that kept me gripped enough to keep reading, never knowing who to trust and which way the story was going. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it

This wasn't one of my favorite reads. It was busy & hard to keep track of the characters. But I did finish it. I won't give up on T.J Brearton, I will definitely read another book & see how it hits me.

A young girl murdered. A town with a dark secret.

A young girl, Kasey, is murdered in the woods of northern New York, a strange symbol carved into her stomach.

Investigator Reed Raleigh, Major Crimes, is tasked with finding the killer.

Reed has his own troubles. He’s in therapy, divorced, estranged from his son. But he desperately needs to solve this case - his own stepdaughter vanished when she was a teenager and Reed knows all about the agony of having no closure. No way is he letting Kasey’s mother go through that.

But as Reed begins to dig, the case grows ever more complex. Why is Kasey’s boyfriend acting so strangely? And why is her mother lying to the police?

As evidence of Kasey’s bizarre secret life starts to emerge, Reed realises this case isn’t just about a dead girl. There’s something much bigger at play in this small rural town, a decades old secret that needs to be protected. At any cost.

Set in New York State Rough Country is a standalone police procedural. I was keen to read it as I have read and enjoyed other works by T.J. Brearton including Buried Secrets and The Husbands.

The Major Crimes Unit's Detective Reed Raleigh is called in to investigate when a teacher from Eastern Adirondack College, on her usual early morning dog walk, finds murdered fifteen-year-old Kasey Stevens in a forest near the hamlet of Carmen, New York. The victim has bruises around her neck, and her stomach is bloody from incisions that appear to be strange symbols. Kasey’s mother, Ida arrives and seems distraught to learn that her daughter is dead but why are the Stevens family obstructing the team?

With secrets and lies in abundance, this was such a compelling read! The investigating team worked well together and there were plenty of suspects to ponder on. T.J. Brearton's writing style continued to impress me, making this novel a difficult one to put down. With a lot to offer, including a tight plot, great characters and endless reveals, choosing to read Rough Country was a good decision. The protagonist Reed Raleigh was an intelligent and affable investigator who had his own troubles of a personal nature to contend with and who liked to do things his own way. From the opening chapters, this was an entertaining read full of mystery and intrigue as the Stevens family secrets and indiscretions were gradually disclosed. The way in which T.J. Brearton brought everything to a conclusion was immensely satisfying and I highly recommend Rough Country.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Inkubator Books via NetGalley, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Police thriller ,full of secrets and lies Interesting characters,especially the troubled detective whose dogged determination pushes to a conclusion.

Rough Country by T.J. Brearton
North Country Series

What a story! Caught up in the story from page one I was unable to go to sleep till the wee hours of the morning because I *had* to know what would happen. As a person who often reads the ending first, I have to say that I was still surprised at the twists this tale took! Not always easy to read but definitely un-put-down-able!

What I liked:
* Reed Raleigh: a New York death investigator with a backstory that was intense and intriguing. I like him and would love to see him on another case in the future.
* The plot, pacing and writing – excellent!
* It was believable
* I felt I was there
* I cared about the case and the people working it as well as the victims
* Virginia: a BCI investigator, mother, and perhaps future love interest for Reed?
* Crane: psychologist for veterans…someone that seemed dedicated even though only seen a few times
*Kruse, Pyle, and other supporting characters – each well fleshed out and interesting people I wouldn’t mind knowing better
* Being able to thoroughly dislike the bad guy(s)
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing that what happened in this book has happened in the past, is probably happening now and will continue to happen in the future
* Not knowing if this is a one time event with this detective or if he might have a series of his own.

Did I like this story? YES!
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This book was decent, but not a favorite. There were too many characters to keep track of for me. While the style of writing is nice, I just couldn't get into this one the way I wanted.

Rough Country is a standalone police procedural, set in New York State. Detective Reed Raleigh of the Major Crimes Unit is called in to investigate when a teacher from Eastern Adirondack College, who had been taking her usual early morning dog walk, had found fifteen year old Kasey Stevens murdered in a forested area near the small hamlet of Carmen, NY. Arriving at the scene, Raleigh is greeted by Trooper Louise MacKinnon who guides him to the body. The victim has bruises around her neck, a sign of manual strangulation, and her stomach is bloody from cuts the killer had made. The etchings weren't just to inflict pain, though, as she was either dead or unconscious at the time and the incisions seemed to form a weird shape. She had no personal effects on her making it all the more difficult to quickly identify her. As Reed and his team scour the surrounding area, Kasey’s mother, Ida, turns up and seems distraught to learn that her daughter is dead. It is a complex case and one where Kasey’s family appear to obstruct the team at every turn. Can Reed and his team get to the bottom of what happened?

This is a captivating and compulsive read, which I enjoyed immensely, and mystery, intrigue and secrets and lies abound. I very much liked the fact that there were plenty of suspects once the police determined the direction to go in and the investigation team as a whole were proficient and worked exceptionally well together. From the opening pages, you are hypnotised by Brearton’s writing making it almost impossible to put down, and I raced through it in one sitting. It’s an easy, entertaining read and one that can be enjoyed by every type of crime reader as it has so much to offer in terms of plot, characterisation and endless reveals. We watch as slowly but surely the Stevens family secrets and indiscretions are unmasked. Our protagonist Reed Raleigh is a likeable, affable and intelligent investigator who knows his own mind and does things his way. Brearton is undoubtedly one of the best and most accomplished American crime writers working today, and I hope he soon gains the recognition he deserves. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Inkubator Books for an ARC.

It took me a while to get all the characters straight in my mind and I wonder if this is a style the author often follows but I did remember who was who and quite enjoyed the book without it being fantastic.

Rough Country grips your attention from the prologue and doesn’t let go! From its explosive opening right down to the satisfying ending, it’s the kind of thriller you can devour in one day. What starts out as a murder of a teenage girl soon evolves into something bigger, involving the community in the small town she lived in. The storyline of intergenerational beliefs is fascinating and relevant, especially if readers are up to date on real-life events involving cults and conspiracy theories.

I thought Reed Raleigh is a solid protagonist. While he carries the usual trope of a police officer with a traumatic past and broken relationships, he doesn’t go too far off the edge. He tries his best to get justice for the victim and has no problems asking for help. I also appreciated the scenes of him seeing a psychologist. While the book is fast-paced, I wish it slows down enough at the end so I could see the full effect of the fallout from Reed’s investigation. But I was still satisfied with how the book ends. I certainly hope this is not the last we see of Reed Raleigh!

Rough Country by T.J. Brearton will keep the reader searching for clues to solve the question of "Who killed Kasey?" The opening scene of this book is heartbreaking and a prelude to the secrets, lies, and evil that lurks in this small community of the Adirondacks.
Detective Reed Raleigh is called to the brutal murder scene of a sixteen-year-old girl. She had been choked and then had an odd cult symbol carved into her stomach area. Reed is determined to find the meaning of the symbol hoping it will lead him to the person responsible for her murder. Soon there are other bodies to process, not murdered, but suicides. Something evil is happening among these people and he must find the answers.
I enjoyed this book and the character of Detective Reed Raleigh. He has his problems, but he does not give up until the case is solved.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have been a fan of T. J. Brearton’s work for a little while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that he has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Rough Country’ and it certainly sounded like I was going to be in for a treat. I was spot on, as I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Rough Country’ but more about that in a bit.
The main character is a man called Reed Raleigh. He used to be in the army but is no longer. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the various issues he is in his life. One big issue being the loss of his child. Raleigh is receiving therapy as a result of his issues but I am not sure how receptive he is to the whole ‘therapy’ idea. He doesn’t seem very enthusiastic shall we say. Raleigh is now employed as an investigator and he uses his experiences of his army career to help him in his current role. Raleigh is a bit of a mystery too.
I have to say that I was drawn into the story from start and from then on, I couldn’t get enough of the story. To say that reading ‘Rough Country’ became addictive is a bit of an understatement. If I wasn’t reading this book, then I would be thinking about the book. If I didn’t have the book in my hand then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen so of course I had to keep reading to see if my theories were true or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages of the book turned over at speed and at one point the page numbers became a blur. I soon reached the end of the book and I had to say goodbye to Reed Raleigh.
‘Rough Country’ is well written. The author certainly knows how to start the story in a memorable way, which will stick fresh in my mind for a long time to come. From then one, I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Rough Country’ felt much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you could possibly imagine. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s all thanks to T. J. Brearton’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Rough Country’ and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This book was nothing like I expected. It started out as the usual police procedural – a teenage girl turns up dead with a strange symbol carved into her stomach. She’s been strangled. Not much else to go on. A jaded cop with a troubled background, divorced, in therapy, hardly ever sees his teenage son. His step-daughter vanished when she was a child – her body never recovered.

But then everything changed. And boy did it change. Suddenly we have two dramatic suicides, a town full of secrets, similar cases going back 50 years and Reed in the middle trying work out the connections. Almost everyone is a suspect. Or is that because they are all guilty? Is it about underage sex? Or drugs? Or pseudo-religious control? This is small town America at its worst and worse than its worst. And if you feel you need to suspend disbelief, then take a look at old newspaper clippings. This kind of thing really did happen and still does. It even happens in the UK. Scientology has around ten locations here.

But we are not just talking about David Koresh or Jim Jones or L Ron Hubbard – the big players who still make the national and international news to this day. Children of God – which became Family International in 2004 – not only permitted sex with children but actually encouraged it, believing it was ‘a divine right’. It still exists today but without the underage sex. Others include the Sullivanians and Heaven’s Gate. Most of these cults originated in the 1950s though I have no idea why that is.

I can’t say too much more or I will give away the plot and that would spoil things. Suffice to say that once Reed and his colleagues start to dig, what they discover is beyond anything they could have imagined.

This book is so well written and exciting that I read the whole thing in three sittings. I love this kind of thing. I am fascinated by cults and how people get drawn in. Rough Country explores these themes as well as being a traditional who-dunnit. Brilliant stuff.

Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read this sort of mystery in a long time (the readily available American police procedural of the mass market paperback variety). Nothing against the genre at all! I just read a whole lot of them when I was young, but it was like gorging on an entire box of Ferraro Rocher, you know? I went overboard, and tired of the formula. But I saw the blurb for this, and thought, sounds good! Thank you to Netgalley for letting me give this one a try.

It's a straightforward story, tightly plotted and fast paced, with characters with just enough personality up the reader's investment in the mystery outcome. The protagonist didn't hugely appeal to me, personally, but I can see him, and his backstory, appealing to others.
I thought the true-believer stuff was particularly topical, and the cult aspect was interesting, though a bit underdeveloped, but it all felt rushed. And there was actually very little police work/investigating. The case just kind of solved itself? Just the same, it was a fun, fast read.
My only other comment is about the twice-told anecdote about the Bahrain pearl, a large sculpture in the centre of Bahrain purported, by the protagonist, to have been erected by the locals in order to blind Allah to the debauchery going on there, gambling and the like, which is frowned upon in Islam. I thought, huh, that's interesting. So I looked it up. I learned a whole lot of stuff about the monument, but none of it had anything to do with the aforementioned anecdote. Not to say that it not true, just that there is a lot more to it. But I'm glad the author brought it up because I'd never have googled Bahrain otherwise, and it's very interesting!

Not the best book by this author, but it's well written and entertaining. There are lots of characters to keep track of, and the plot is a little weak.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an advance copy of Rough Country, a stand-alone set in upstate New York.

Kasey Stevens is found dead with a strange symbol carved on her stomach in the woods near the town of Ellison. Detective Reed Raleigh of the State’s Major Crime Unit is sent to investigate. What he finds and the strange behaviour of those closest to Kasey, lies, obfuscation and out of the ordinary acts, leads him to believe that he is investigating more than the murder of one teenager.

I enjoyed Rough Country which is the absorbing tale of simple, or maybe not, country folk, with big secrets. There are plenty of twists and turns, none of which I foresaw, so I was glued to the pages. I should, however, warn readers that a working knowledge of non-political conspiracy theories would be helpful at points, but I loved the way the author entwined them and worked them into his plot. It appealed to my sense of the ridiculous. The plot is fairly wide ranging in terms of time, linking events up to 50 years ago to the present, and in scope with a wide cast of characters, although the basic motivation is as old as life itself. It may rely on a few leaps of faith but it’s coherent, presents a puzzle and is easy to follow.

I like Reed Raleigh and would love to read more of his investigations. As befits any modern protagonist he has a troubled past, a missing child, divorce , PTSD from time in the navy, lonely, etc.. Much more interesting to me is his mostly even tempered and logical approach to his investigation. I like a professional who appears to know what he’s doing and covers all the bases. It makes for a smooth and calming read despite the mayhem going on around him.

Rough Country is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

A strange story line involving etchings from the past and present cult involving a small community. Characters from the community appear to be working together to cover up a current murder and disappearance from the past. Well worth reading.

I went back and forth on whether I liked this book or now. It wasn't the storyline as that was done well with the mix of religion and describing suicide and the despair that is felt. I was not able to connect with the main character, Reed. It took a while for me to get involved in the story and the characters; the middle picked up, and the ending was satisfying.

Fans of the author will enjoy this book., and hopefully, new readers will pick it up as well. This book just didn't appeal to my tastes in how the story was written.

#RoughCountry #NetGalley

This is the second book I have read by this author. And whilst I did really enjoy the first one this book was even better. I loved the dark gritty intense atmosphere created by the location in a small rural town and the suffocating and desolate feel it creates. The small rural town gives you a real sense of the community the story is set in which makes it feel very believable. The lead investigator Reed Raleigh is a great lead character with an intensity of his own and a troubled history and I hope to meet him again sometime soon.

Kasey is found murdered in woods in the north of New York State, with a strange symbol carved into her stomach. Investigator Reed Raleigh, Major Crimes, is tasked with finding the killer. As Reed and his team start to get further into the investigation it becomes clear that this case is more complex than they originally thought and may well be linked to a decades old secret that people are still fighting to protect.

**This review will be cross-posted all across social media sites closed to the publication date**

The dead body of a young girl is found in the woods with a strange symbol carved into her skin. As the investigation proceeds, the case leads back to more bodies and missing kids in the past. The Investigator in charge is fighting his own battles, and this case hits close to home.

This was such a good and enjoyable read. Great plot that's well-executed. It took me some time to get into it though, maybe it's just me, but I found the writing style a bit different. But once I got the hang of it and the story picks up, it gets really interesting, and dark, all sorts of conspiracy theories, secret societies, cults, and small town's nasty secrets.

The thing I really appreciated was how wonderfully some ideas were discussed, for example, educating the readers to use the correct term for those who take their own lives was very thoughtful! And for a book that takes a hard peek at faith and such, it's admirable that nothing was trashed in the process. I still come across many books that are unashamedly prejudiced against a specific faith, or people living in a certain region. It was good to see the fingers pointed at the corrupted individuals rather than the faith as a whole - much respect!

This was my first book by this author, but I'll be sure to check out other books by him too. Recommended!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, author, and publishers. All opinions are my own.