If you’re a fan of spy thrillers or police procedurals, you should check out The Bitter Past, a debut novel which I had trouble putting down once I’d started it. The story is set in the high desert of Nevada, in an area that was used for above-ground nuclear testing in the 1950s. Porter Beck is the sheriff in Lincoln County, which is a sparsely populated area in eastern Nevada, north of Las Vegas and near the Utah border. The action is mostly set in contemporary times, with flashbacks to the mid-1950s, which revolved around Russian operatives embedded in the US’s nuclear testing facilities back then. The fallout (literal and figurative) from those times has had a big impact on the present day. A retired FBI agent is found gruesomely murdered and a current FBI agent, Sana Locke comes to town to work with the locals on this case. Then a young Mormon woman goes missing. Suddenly, Beck and his small department have multiple investigations going on at the same time, which strain their capacity.

I enjoyed the main character, who has a background in Army intelligence and who was stationed in Russia for several years. He has started to develop night blindness from a condition that is hereditary, and that brought an end to his military career. He has been hiding this problem for quite a while, but it’s getting worse and is starting to impact his police work. His father was the previous sheriff and is suffering from the beginnings of dementia. Since this is the start of a series, it will be interesting to see how Beck’s night blindness proceeds. Beck has a penchant for puns and corny jokes, and that helped to lighten the atmosphere at times. I wasn’t crazy about the idea of him getting personally involved with Agent Locke so quickly, but that’s a minor quibble. There were a couple of really big twists near the end of the book, which I didn’t see coming.

The Nevada desert landscape was so beautifully described. You also get a good feel for how far apart everything is in that region, and how easy it can be to be isolated or go “off the grid.”

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook narrator, James Babson, did a wonderful job.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Recorded Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

4.5 I am so surprised at how much I enjoyed this story! This is not my typical pick, but I am so happy I picked this up. Our lovable main character Sheriff Beck is thrown into a world of Russian spies and a high-stakes case in his rural Nevada county.

The pace is fast moving and the tone manages to stay light throughout, making this a fun and quick read. But although it is quick, I don’t feel like it’s forgettable. The inclusion of the historical timeline was a pleasant surprise and I thought these sections were done well.

I honestly can’t wait for the next installment of this series to follow these characters again!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Bitter Past is the first book in the Porter Beck series. This is a story about espionage and a mystery that is told in two timelines, the 1950's and the present.

In the present Porter Beck is the sheriff in a community north of Las Vegas, Nevada near area 51. Beck is called to the home of a retired FBI agent where he was brutally tortured and murdered. An FBI agent arrives and begins to help Porter with his investigation. Beck wonders why a retired FBI agent would be tortured and murdered, what could they be after.

In the 1950's the nuclear race is a focus between various countries. A young Russian spy has infiltrated a nuclear testing site in Nevada. The spy disappears and all his secrets go with him. Beck and Sana find the files of the dead FBI agent and are in a race against time to find the spy.

This was an interesting story with many twists and turns throughout. I liked this story, and it held my attention until the final reveal. The story is well written, and the characters were likeable. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

***ARC received from Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

The Bitter Past is a mix of murder mystery in present day and espionage set during the cold war with a missing Russian spy that holds the truth of what nearly went horribly wrong. I found that this book started with a bang, immediately drawing my interest in both the present and past. It got a little muddled during the middle but ended strong setting up a new series.

Porter Beck is a sheriff out in the desert dealing with a gruesome murder not often seen out in the desert that draws the attention of the feds. I liked Beck, he was a solid lead for a new series, smart, gruff but not bitter and with limitations that will make things interesting in the future. Unfortunately the secondary characters tend to fall more into stereotypes that fully fleshed out characters but its still just the first book, there is time to let them build into more than just stereotypes. I did really like Brinley, she seems like someone always wanting to escape small town but fiercely loyal to her family and the way she and Beck treat their father is very sweet. I wouldn’t say her mental health issues were handled in the best manner in this book but again, only the first book.

The writing is descent, sometimes the dialogue can get a little clunky and confusing to follow as characters repeat exactly what the other just said. I know its normal in certain situations to just repeat and add when talking but in reading it gets a little confusing. The writer clearly knows a lot about Nevada and takes great care in crafting and bringing alive the area that he clearly loves.

After a strong start the middle in present time gets a little lost as it introduces a few too many plot elements that get muddled. Yes they impact the main story but it just doesn’t feel necessary. I wish they had spent more time in the past. The scenes from the 50s are the best of the book and keep the middle sections going while the present timeline gets a little lost. As he spends more and more time with the people of Nevada suffering from the fallout of nuclear testing he slowly sees the truth of what the Cold War is doing and could do to both Americans and Russians. Its a good tight narrative that keeps the book moving toward its conclusion.

At the end I was able to figure out who the Russian spy was, how the characters were that were not all the were portrayed as and I’m not mad about it. As much as I like not being able to figure out the twist there is a satisfaction in having your suspicions play out and I got that from the book. Granted who the Russian spy has a lot of misdirection that make you think it could be other characters that never feel forced.

This was a good start for a new mystery and I’m interested to see where it goes and how the revelations in this book impact Beck in the future.

5 stars

This book is a little out of my typical reading selections, which makes me even more surprised that I enjoyed it this much. Rather than speeding through it (a common m.o. I admit to somewhat begrudgingly), I tried to really slow down with this one. Then, when I was almost finished with an e-version, I received the gift of audio. What do you know? I just had to read it twice in a row!

Porter Beck, the m.c. on which an apparent series will now be based, is the kind of guy you might want to punch in the face (I did) at first because of the creepy way he talks about women, but he gets into a consenting relationship with a woman who seems to dig it (and it's not the worst - just cringy - the bar is low these days), so it's passable. Fortunately, everything else about this character is pretty great, including his voice and perspective, which kept me engaged in two separate versions. For me, the even more intriguing character is in the (now fairly distant) past, a (then) young Russian spy (one day those of us with similar origins will find some other representation, but okay...paging Elizabeth Jennings). The jumps between the present day and this character's experiences are so well devised. There's never a feeling of abruptness or disconnection. Instead, the timelines build suspense, provide critical insights for readers, and keep the plot speeding toward an ending that I found absolutely worthy of the characters and of my time!

I could do without Beck's brand of "romancing," but even with some related eyerolls over here, he's a great character whom I'm thrilled is getting his own series, mostly because I want to see many more appearances from his family members - chosen and otherwise. This book concludes nicely (no frustrating cliffhangers or major unanswered questions), but there are definite and obvious opportunities for continued expansion. I'm already ready for the next one and will be aggressively trying to lay eyes (or ears) on it as soon as possible.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is a very highly recommended mystery and the debut novel in the Porter Beck series. This is an excellent start to a new series and I will eagerly be awaiting the next investigation from Nevada's Sheriff Beck.

Sheriff Porter Beck's domain is in the high desert north of Las Vegas, Nevada. He left and worked in Army intelligence for years, but now Beck's back, doing the same job his father did before he developed dementia. Normally this is a quiet part of the state until an old, retired FBI agent is murdered after being brutally tortured. When FBI Special Agent Sana Locke show up to assist in the investigation, it confirms many of Beck's suspicions. The clues point to something that happened in the past, in the 1950's during the early days of the atomic testing program happening in the desert and the KGB's plans to infiltrate the program.

The chapters alternate between two timelines and narratives. The present investigation unfolds through Beck's first person account while events starting in 1955 are recounted in the third person. In 1955 the story of Freddie Meyer and Kitty Ellison is told. After they begin dating, Kitty's father helps Freddie get a job in security at the atomic testing site in the desert. The current murder investigation must look to the past for the information needed to solve it.

Beck is a great character, intelligent, clever, perceptive, and well-developed as a character. He, along with the astute writing, is a reason to absolutely look forward to the next book released in the series. The high desert of Nevada is also realistically portrayed.

The writing is exceptional and absolutely exceeded all my expectations. The novel is told in an intelligent manner and both of the two narrative threads are gripping, compelling, and complex. They held my complete attention equally and even though I wanted to continue the story in whatever timeline I was in, I correspondingly wanted to continue following the action in the alternate chapter. The Bitter Past is un-put-down-able.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Minotaur Books via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos
Porter Beck #1

Right off the bat you are thrown into a gruesome crime scene. Sheriff Porter Beck is at the home of an eighty-something year old man who has endured and died of a protracted torture session. The house has been ransacked so whatever the murderer wanted from the man, he probably didn't find. Back at the office a femme fatale of an FBI agent arrives to horn in on Porter's murder investigation. Porter and FBI Special Agent Sana Locke barely put in any effort to pretend they aren't attracted to each other. Sana even laughs at Porter's corny jokes although she does seem a little sloppy when it comes to her knowledge of all things FBI.

Three missing remains in the local cemetery and some other clues point to the murder having to do with nuclear experiments at Area 51 back in the 1950s. There is another timeline than the present where we follow a young man with a conscience as he tries to be loyal to his country while he begins to doubt the things he is told to do as part of his job at the testing site. I don't always enjoy duel timelines but I liked this one a lot because it helped me to understand a much of the background of this story and because I liked this young man who is put into a no win for anyone position.

For all the violence this is a funny story when it comes to Porter. He is dealing with a lot on the home and personal health front and he also has guilt from his days in the military. Still, he has a humorous outlook on life and he's going to make things work as well as he can until he can't do so anymore. I look forward to seeing what he gets up to in the next book. This is man whose family, friends, and coworkers mean a lot to him and he will do the right thing even if it's not by the book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I love a mystery that has a spy element and The Bitter Past: A Mystery by Bruce Borgos did not disappoint. Set in a small Nevada community, north of Las Vegas, this mystery features sheriff Porter Beck. It’s relatively quiet in Beck’s jurisdiction until an older, retired FBI agent is found brutally tortured and murdered. All signs point to this being part of a bigger story that started in the 1950s when the area was used for classified nuclear testing and the Cold War was on everyone’s mind. And now an FBI agent is knocking on Beck’s station door wanting to be involved in the investigation.

This is a page turner of a story that I flew through. I do think it’s important to note that the first two pages include a graphic description of the deceased FBI’s body and crime scene. It’s rough, but I was able to skim and still follow along. The rest of the story is not as graphic and I was hundred percent in, trying to figure out what was happening.

The past storyline from the 1950s weaves wonderfully with the present day and I was sorry to leave each timeline because I wanted to know everything. It’s fast paced and I hope this is the first in the series featuring Beck. There is also a small side love story which will be interesting to follow, although it was the action and mystery that kept me in the story, telling myself that I’d read just one more chapter before turning out of my light for the night.

This comes out July 18th. Other reviews compare this to books by Craig Johnson and I have to agree. @minotaur_books @stmartinspress

I have a new favorite author! You never can be sure what to expect when you pick up a new book from a new author. And as a lover of some of the mystery thriller series greats, those can be tough shoes to fill. The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos hit all the marks!
Porter Beck is Sheriff in the deserts of Nevada and his background is a story within itself! When a retired FBI agent is found tortured and murdered, Beck's investigation leads him back in history. A dual timeline brings to life the nuclear testing done in Nevada in the 1950s. And a ruthless someone is now looking for a Russian spy that may have been in the area at that time.
Porter Beck is a complex, highly skilled and intelligent main character quick with wit and I can only hope to see more of him in the future! The secondary characters in this book are also so likeable and interesting, especially Brinley - fierce and flawed. Let me say it again, with a mix of mystery, thriller, historical fiction with a touch of romance and humor this book hit all the marks!
I highly recommend!

The title of this book was obviously very well chosen. Once I started reading this book, I realized that the past was indeed bitter for a man who started out doing for his country what he was instructed to do, but he lost his way.

Porter Beck is the sheriff in a small Nevada town deep in the desert. He is filling the spot once filled by his father who now suffers the early stages of dementia. Crime is almost non-existent in this small town until the body of a retired FBI agent is found. The elderly retired FBI agent was brutally killed and quite obviously tortured before his death. Porter Beck knows there is something amiss because Porter Beck is not your average small town sheriff. He served in Army Intelligence for many years, and his observation skills are off the charts. When an FBI agent arrives in town to "assist" in the investigation, he learns more about the story. A young Russian spy infiltrated the ranks of a handful of men who were allowed to work at a nuclear testing site in the 1950's. They think this man may still be alive in his small town and the Russians are out for blood because this man betrayed the Russians. This story is told from the present and will revert back to the past following the Russian spy's journey. The transitions from past to present were smooth and well placed so that the story flowed perfectly. The cast of characters were first class. Porter Beck was a highly intelligent man and one which you better not underestimate. I have to confess one of my favorite characters was Porter's sister, Brinley. This girl was full of life and had no fear. This book was a history lesson, espionage thriller, mystery and police procedural all rolled into one. The mystery was top notch and even though the plot was complex, it was still an easy read. I look forward to seeing more books starring Porter Beck.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Protagonist Sheriff Porter Beck is part Jack Reacher, part Harry Bosch and author Bruce Borgos does a fantastic job of making him a well rounded, multi-layered character. This plot driven novel does not skimp on rich characters or back-stories but it is never dull or stagnant. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series which is sure to be one of my new favorites.

THE BITTER PAST is a gritty and somewhat gruesome mystery I thoroughly enjoyed. Sherriff Porter Beck is tasked with solving the murder of a retired FBI agent. The Nevada setting was vivid and stifling, adding to the heat of the story. Not only was this a compelling page-turner, but I also enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the historical aspects of the story. This was my first book by Bruce Borgos and I look forward to picking up the next book in the series when it publishes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling mix of spy thriller and mystery…

Long ago, on a pre-pandemic trip to Las Vegas, my husband and I visited the National Atomic Testing Museum, which showcases the history of the dawn of the nuclear age and the bomb tests that occurred at the nearby Nevada Test Site. Although going to a museum may not be what most folks do when in Las Vegas (!!!), we loved the exhibits and we learned a ton there. So I was intrigued by the background and setting of The Bitter Past, and was really pleased to be offered an advance copy to review for my blog.

And in spite of a couple of little “wrinkles”, The Bitter Past did not disappoint. It’s a compelling mix of a spy thriller, mostly set in the 1950s heyday of atomic testing in the desert, and an investigative mystery set in the present. Each has a different feel, but both were intriguing, and kept me turning the pages. Often when a book changes back and forth between two timelines, one is much stronger than the other, so that I end up feeling a bit impatient when switching away to the less compelling narrative. Bruce Borgos does a nice job of telling both stories, however, and weaving them together in a very readable way, so that wasn’t an issue here. He also does a great job of recreating the mood of the Cold War, which had Americans viewing the atomic tests as absolutely necessary to keep the US safe from the Soviet Union, and then contrasting that with today’s understanding of the Downwinders who were affected by the explosions’ fallout in horrific ways. And of course, at the end, everything comes together in some quite unexpected twists and turns.

As for the little wrinkles: I found the main protagonist, Sheriff Porter Beck, his small family, and his team, to be believable and likeable characters, and Beck himself has a very nicely honed sense of humor. But somehow his relationship (???) with modern-day FBI agent Sana Locke didn’t quite ring true for me, and was even a bit annoying. I have my fingers crossed that this may resolve if there are further books in the series, and I certainly hope there will be. And the other little wrinkle is that there are some rather violent scenes in The Bitter Past, especially right at the beginning, so if that sort of thing bothers you, be forewarned. It's well worth persisting beyond the initial chapter, but just a heads-up.

In closing, I want to thank the publishers, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advance review copy. It was much appreciated! And one final note: once I finished reading, and reached the acknowledgments at the end, I was amused to see a thank-you to the Executive Director of the National Atomic Testing Museum…which is what started my interest in The Bitter Past in the first place…

Wow. This is a page turner that moves back and forth in time between the 1950s and the present, when Sheriff Porter Beck is on the trail of a Russian who has come to rural Nevada for....something. And he's killing to get whatever it is. Beck's father was also the Sheriff but he's fading now but not so much that he doesn't have information to add as Beck and FBI Agent Sana Locke hunt the Russian, who may have also taken a young woman from a polygamist community. In the past, Freddie, a Russian illegal, is caught up in a Russian plan to use the US nuclear weapons program against itself. He's also in love. No spoilers on how the two plot lines come together but this is one that will make you think. It's complex and propulsive all at once. Beck makes a great character- he's struggling with his eyesight thanks to retinitis pigmentosa, he's got a back ground in espionage, and he's clever. His sister Brinley is someone you'd want on your side. And then there's the expert. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's an impressive debut and a great read.

I was interested in the plot of The Bitter Past, and the dual timeline, around the murders, Russian espionage, but the some of the dialogue of the MC and dips into a romantic storyline seemed out of place and pulled me out of the story. I had a hard time finding the characters (esp. Sana) believable with the dialogue and some of their choices…because they are supposed to be professionals and the stakes seemed pretty high!

Still, I think it’s an interesting read if this is your kind of novel and you connect with the characters. It’s the first in a series I’m sure will continue to grow and expand.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a digital arc to review. All opinions are my own.

Spy type books are not my usual go to read. However this book was quite good. It’s full of action and intrigue. It kept my attention from page one. I will definitely be looking for more with this character.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This novel follows Porter Beck, the county sheriff, following in his father’s footsteps. Porter was previously an army intelligence agent, so it’s a given the man is smart. When an old retired FBI agent is found murdered and tortured, a current FBI agent, Sana Locke, shows up to help with the investigation. They develop an uneasy partnership. The dead man was investigating something from the 1950s which ties into the storyline. Meanwhile, a young Mormon woman has gone missing from a polygamist camp.
The story flips back and forth between the present day and 1957 when the nuclear testing was ongoing.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos. Sheriff Porter Beck investigates the brutal murder of a former FBI agent. He was butchered in an attempt to get information related to a Russian spy from the 50s. Why would anyone care about events from aged spying attempts on America’s development of nuclear weapons? You’ll find out along the way. I love how Beck characterized those he worked and came in contact with. Fun read. Recommended. #NetGalley #TheBitterPastBook

The story was engaging with a cast of interesting characters and I liked it more than I thought I would. You get a mystery, learn about history, nuclear testing, and the Cold War. There was one part of the mystery that I figured out, but the other puzzle pieces surprised me. I am happy that this is the first book in a new series. I want to find out what additional trouble Beck, his deputies, and Brin find themselves in.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books, and Bruce Borgos for the eARC.

*4.5 stars rounded up. Set in the high desert of Nevada, this new thriller starts out with a shockingly horrendous crime scene. Lincoln County Sheriff, Porter Beck and his team have never seen anything more monstrous and gruesome than what was done to the murder victim, retired FBI agent Ralph Atterbury. Why was he so brutally tortured? What did he know?

This area of Nevada is probably best known for the above-ground atomic testing that went on there in the 50s, with little thought to the consequences for the people and animals living downwind. Sheriff Beck's own mother was one of those 'downwinders.' That history is told in flashbacks to the scene of Area 51 where a young foreigner, trained to infiltrate, is plotting mayhem.

This is one of the best thrillers I've read so far this year. It's a mashup of police procedural with spy thriller. There is an interesting cast of characters: Sheriff Beck debuts as a tough and smart lawman with a physical disability that may sabotage his career. His father, who now has dementia, had the job before him. And there is a rather wild adopted sister with a mental disorder of her own who happens to be a firearms expert. Beck's deputies are a varied and fractious bunch who are joined in this investigation by an FBI Special Agent. Beck doesn't seem to mind this government intrusion in his case, especially since said agent is one hot babe. But he's frustrated that she's keeping information from him on a 'need-to-know' basis.

Exciting action and intrigue really drive both the current story and the backstory. I did guess one plot twist but a couple others took me totally by surprise--and I love to be fooled. I'm looking forward to more to come in this new series. It's a winner.

I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.