Debut mystery author Bruce Borgos took to Goodreads not too long ago to tell reviewers that his new book, The Bitter Past, is the first installment in what he hopes will be a long, protracted series. One wonders if it will go on as long as the Harry Hole books (13 novels now and counting), but one certainly hopes this will be the case because the first novel in the Sheriff Porter Beck series is dazzling and momentous. This is the type of book that works as a police procedural, a straight-up mystery novel, and a Cold War espionage thriller. There’s so much going on with The Bitter Past that one must wonder how Borgos managed to tie this all together, especially in a debut novel. This is also a book that deftly alternates between roll-your-eyes humour (some of it a little risqué) and dead-eyed seriousness. Essentially, The Bitter Past is two books in one, but somehow it manages to all work. This is the type of read that is so unique and creative that I would ask readers to ignore the rest of this review until they have read the book, because — as the cliché goes — this is the type of novel that works best the less you know walking into it. This is a top-notch thrill ride that will keep you guessing until the end.

I feel that to adequately talk about this book, I will have to drop the occasional spoiler or two (which is another reason why you should read this review only when you’ve finished this masterful book). It presents two stories that run in parallel: the first is set in the near present day in the rocky desert foothills of the area just north of Las Vegas. The second is set during the mid-1950s in the same region. The two stories overlap in that the second story is about a Russian spy sent to nuclear testing grounds in Nevada to steal a nuclear warhead to be used as a dirty bomb against the residents of Sin City. The first story sees protagonist Sheriff Beck investigate a homicide in which a retired FBI agent living in the area has been brutally murdered. It turns out the agent had been still following up on leads about the Soviet agent from the 1950s, who turned against his comrades and became something of a reverse agent (he was no longer helping the Russians). Beck is joined by a stunning-looking female FBI agent to find the killer before he strikes again, and that means finding out who the ex-Soviet spy is — even though the person would now be well into their late 80s. As the saying goes, sparks fly between the local cop and the Fibbie, but this is underpinned by the severity of the fact in the plot that the Russians did manage to somehow smuggle out a real warhead from its testing site many years ago.

I don’t know if this book’s plot is based on a true story or completely the product of conspiracy theories. I’m assuming this is a work of fiction and all the details are a product of the author’s clever mind. But that’s the thing: the theft of the nuclear device is presented as being possibly true and it certainly unfolds in a way that seems plausible. One could quibble that the sharp 180 turns between comedy in the Beck narrated sections of the book and the drama that unfolds during the 1950s sections make the read uneven; however, I felt it does somehow all hang together well. Put another way, the differences in tone just make this a book that you must read on your tiptoes, and it helps to keep and heighten the reader’s interest. Of course, after all, this is the sort of book that can’t be a laugh riot 100 percent of the time: in all seriousness, as the novel points out, thousands of innocent people’s lives were at stake. And what the novel certainly does is shine a light on the human consequences of nuclear testing aboveground in the southwestern U.S. and how people and animals (such as livestock) were affected during this period by developing weird forms of cancers. It may seem evident that anything having to do with atomic bombs is dangerous in retrospect, but The Bitter Past points out that the dangers — even if only theoretical at the time — were ignored by the U.S. government in trying to win an arms race between the two global superpowers. The reminder is necessary, especially within the context of the war in the Ukraine — though this novel is partially set in 2017, a few years before that war and the pandemic.

Even though there aren’t too many things that are amiss with The Bitter Past, it has a bit of a perverse worldview on all things sexual. Borgos doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem with police officers mixing “business with pleasure” if you know what I’m referring to, though I could point out that it does cost one of the characters in the end. The other thing is there’s a subplot involving a polygamy sect that is presented in a way that is anything but harmful: we’re told that marrying more than one woman is okay if nobody is being abused in any way — even if some of these wives are little more than teenagers. Um. Ah. Er. Well, whatever. And if I were wanting to be churlish, I could point out that the real identity of the Soviet agent is a bit of a humdinger (how could anyone not be able to tell?). It’s the result of the author withholding key information from the reader and is probably not the sort of thing that would work well on the big screen. These small (?) complaints aside, this is a fun and enjoyable book. It truly is an amazing and accomplished work for bringing together so many disparate strands together into one sleek package. One thing is for sure: you can sign me up for any sequels to this book. It’s quite good, criticisms be damned, and I want more, more, more!

The premise sounded intriguing but the graphic beginning combined with the depraved lewdness completely turned me off. This book wasn't for me and therefore I did not finish it.

I totally loved this book! Great plot and really good character development. As stated by all previous reviews there are past (1950’s) and present stories throughout the book until they come together with a heart stopping climax and conclusion. I read the book in its entirety in 1 day. Highly recommend.

Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. He left the small town that he grew up in and went away to the Army where he worked in intelligence. Now, he's back to live a quiet life doing what his father did until he retired. Now there is a mysterious death and a strange FBI Agent in town. There are ties to the nuclear age at the crime scene, but what do they mean?

3.75 stars

Exciting debut featuring a rural Nevada sheriff who has an interesting history in military intelligence in Russia. The Nevada atomic test site is part of his territory, and his father was sheriff before him. Sheriff Porter Beck is a complex but appealing character.

There is over the top action, a lot of Cold War and Atomic Age history, and plenty of violence. Beck is smart and savvy and seems like he would be a good guy to work for. When an FBI agent shows up investigating something going back decades, Beck is good at distinguishing the cold reality from the agent's not-that-believable story.

There are a couple of big plot surprises which I didn't figure out and pretty fast pacing. I would read another Porter Beck. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an entertaining book that is set in the high desert of Nevada. Definitely not something I normally read.
Dual timelines, one takes place in the present the other in the 1950's during testing of nuclear bombs.
Characters that you can like, mystery, twists and thrills.
Suspense and a crime thriller, historical fiction all mixed together.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

It’s almost hard to believe that this is a debut novel, because it was such a great read. The story opens in dramatic (and kind of gruesome) fashion and never slows down. The Bitter Past is a fascinating look at both the Cold War era and small-town law enforcement. It’s dual-timeline plot follows Sherrif Porter Beck, a crusty, but absolutely loveable guy who likes to do things his own way, and Freddie Meyer, a Russian spy that I found myself cheering for. The author did a brilliant job of weaving the two storylines together: bringing the plight of the Cold War downwinders to light, exposing the war machine of America and the machinations of Russia, all while keeping the pace of the modern investigation on high speed.

This is a book that would appeal to a variety of readers: lovers of modern-day westerns, spy novels, thrillers, mysteries, police procedurals, and even history buffs can all find something to love about The Bitter Past. I’ve read all of C.J. Box’s novels and Craig Johnson’s Longmire series, and I can definitely see why they are comparing Bruce Borgos to them.

This book releases July 18, 2023, so be sure to pre-order it, put it on your Goodreads shelf or BookBub wishlist, and request it at your local library. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment of the Porter Beck series and certainly recommend you read The Bitter Past! 4.5 out of 5 stars for me.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

It began with a grisly torture and murder of a former FBI agent. Sheriff Porter Beck had seen more than his share of gruesome crime scenes. But nothing could compare to what was in front of him. And the motive befuddled him until FBI agent Sana Locke showed up at his office doorstep looking to investigate the crime.

When crime scene evidence began to point toward covert operations dating back to the nuclear testing era, Sheriff Beck and Agent Locke team up to solve not only the murder, but also that secrets that lay behind it.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bitter Past. The novel combined two genres that I love — historical fiction, and mysteries/thrillers.

The story unfolds through dual timelines and dual points of view. This method of storytelling works excellently for this particular novel. Not only did I get transported back in time to learn of the historical significance on the present day crime, the dual points of view really united and blended everything perfectly.

There are numerous characters with a number of aliases. I stumbled in the beginning. But as the story progressed, it got easier to navigate and identify each of them. I did like the main character of Porter Beck and going forward, Porter will probably evolve into someone who I would admire due to his snarky humor and deductive skills.

The Bitter Past is the first novel in the Porter Beck series. It certainly won’t be my last. Four solid stars.

I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

The story begins when Sheriff Porter Beck is called to the isolated home of retired FBI Agent Ralph Atterbury where he finds Atterbury has been tortured to death. Atterbury had been researching a crime that had happened in 1957 which concerned nuclear testing and a Russian spy.

When the FBI in the person a Sana Locke shows up, Beck finds himself in the middle of the sort of investigation he thought he had left behind him when he retired from the Army. Someone is looking for a Russian agent left over from 1957 and wants to find him very badly, badly enough to leave a trail of dead elderly men behind him.

Beck is the perfect man for this job. He has an eidetic memory and experience in intelligence having worked in Russia while he was in the service. His only problem is that he was forced to retire from the Army because he suffers from night blindness which he is keeping from his fellow police officers and everyone else.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to 1957 told from the viewpoint of the Russian spy sent to discover the U.S.'s nuclear secrets. I liked that he found that he couldn't do what he had been sent to do after coming to know some people and falling in love with the top scientist's daughter.

The story was filled with twists and turns including a father who was the sheriff on the county before Beck and whose dementia is increasing. I liked his adopted sister and his relationship with her. I liked Beck's twisty brain.

I will be eager to read more books in this series when they become available.

THE BITTER PAST is told by Porter Beck, a sheriff in the high desert north of Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s got an interesting past - notably, working in the Army in Intelligence. Porter took over the job of his father as the county sheriff and it’s been a quiet job until a retired FBI agent is found murdered.

The story is told in dual timelines - the 1950s and the present, detailing how a Russian spy infiltrated the nuclear testing site and how someone is now still looking for this old spy to figure out what happened. I was initially put off by the alternate chapters that were set in the 1950s because I didn’t understand how it all tied together.

THE BITTER PAST is such a neat read with elements of espionnage and historical fiction mixed into a police procedural. As the novel progresses, everything began to click for me and I really enjoyed all aspects of the story. Admittedly, I was slow on the uptake and didn’t entirely understand how the present timeline and the past timeline tied together for quite sometime… and when it did, I was still entirely surprised by the twists. These are all good things!

Bruce Borgos’ writing is strong and captivating, hooking the reader in from early on as the ante is upped as the investigation progresses. I enjoyed many of the characters introduced in this novel and am eager to see how Porter and his deputies carry on in subsequent instalments of this series.

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.</i>

The Bitter Past is the first book in a new series by Bruce Borgos and I really enjoyed it. It has an intriguing mystery and is set in the wilds of Nevada, which is a different location from most books I read. The story is told in dual timelines, which is something I really enjoy. There’s a lot of action and it’s very fast paced. But, what drew me in were the characters, especially the main character’s family. His father has dementia while both he and his adopted sister are battling their own demons. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

The Bitter Past manages to combine an espionage thriller, a police procedural and historical fiction all in one. I enjoyed learning about the nuclear testing that went on in the Nevada Desert back in the 1950s. It was a time when the US was determined to solidify their advantage over the Russians, even if it meant harming their own civilians.
The story 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 tied into the second storyline.
Meanwhile, a young Mormon woman has gone missing from a polygamist camp.
The book contains a great set of characters. In addition to Porter and Sana, we have Porter’s “sister” Brinley, who has her own set of talents.
The story flips back and forth between the present day and 1957 when the nuclear testing was ongoing.
The writing is such it was easy to envision every scene. By the end, you do need to suspend belief a bit as it reaches the book’s climax. But this was great entertainment mixed with the historic aspect. I will definitely be looking out for book two in the series.

This was so intense! An immediate page turner! A thriller with a decent amount of historical fiction that really puts this book over the edge from good to great!

Porter Beck is a lawman in an area of Nevada. This story starts with some very hectic scenes but then becomes more explanatory about the issues Beck is facing and some of the mind-boggling history of nuclear testing.

I feel like I got all my thrills and chills satisfied with this one. It's definitely a perfect addictive thriller to read this summer!

Out July 18, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

4.5 stars but honestly Bitter Past was such a refreshing read and a fabulous start to the new series featuring Porter Beck

Porter Beck just might be my new hero

Perfect he is not, funny he is and regardless he is out to get the job of Sheriff done and done well.

The book starts off with a huge bang and never lets up.

Twists and turns with a few surprises will having you reading until your done.

Great new start to a new series and I will be first in line for Book 2 and my hero Porter.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for a suspenseful read.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Bruce Borgos, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

When I saw this book by Bruce Borgos, I was both curious and intrigued by the premise. Borgos mixes the intensity of a Cold War era thriller with a modern police procedural to deliver a piece sure to appeal to many. Strong writing and great characters help the story come together and keep the reader forging ahead well into the night, as they flip pages to learn the truth about a small community in Nevada and its connection to a nuclear test site. Borgos is one to watch and has me wanting to come back for more in this series.

Porter Beck enjoys his life as a sheriff in rural Nevada. Having spent his early years there with his father as the head lawman, Beck dabbled in the Army and Intelligence before returning to take up the sheriff role. The bucolic community is rocked when a former FBI agent is found murdered, having been severely tortured. While Beck is willing to use his resources, he is soon visited by someone from the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office, wanting to liaise. This raises many red flags and Sheriff Beck won’t stand down until he gets some answers.

It would seem the victim has ties to investigating a nuclear test site in the area during the late 1950s. What took place there was so secretive that Beck is surprised when he learns about it, but even more stunned to know that there could be a killer out there trying to silence anyone with intel from what happened.

While Beck and Special Agent Sana Locke work to track down the killer, a young girl in a surrounding community disappears, thought to be the target of a kidnapping. Working both cases, Beck and Special Agent Locke soon find key pieces about the cases and how events from the past might be playing out before them. A killer lurks out there, not willing to stand down, forcing Beck to take on a role no small-town sheriff could have imagined. However, it’s what he discovers that leaves Beck even more flummoxed. A great series debut by Bruce Borgos that has me ready for more Porter Beck!

I always enjoy discovering new authors, as it gives me a chance to contrast their work with some of those with whom I have an ongoing reading relationship. Bruce Borgos impressed me from the outset with his strong storytelling abilities and never let up throughout. The narrative is balanced by both past and present threads, which run parallel for most of the novel, but intersect at key moments. Characters from both these narratives fit perfectly into their respective stories and leave the reader feeling as though they are in the middle of the action. There is an especially great banter between Beck and Locke, both personal and professional. I can only wonder if Borgos is planting the seeds for a larger story arc with these characters. Plot twists and development throughout is strong and keeps the reader guessing, though some aspects are understandable predictable, especially with a Cold War angle. I can only wonder what is to come for Porter Beck in the series, as this book was labeled the first in what I hope is a strong collection over the coming years. I have Bruce Borgos on my radar and cannot wait to see what’s on the horizon.

Kudos, Mr. Borgos, for the great series debut. I hope you have lots to come!

PUBLICATION DAY: July 18, 2023

Porter Beck is the sheriff of a small rural region in Nevada, his hometown, but when he’s called to the scene of a gruesome murder, he’s suddenly unsure of the place he’s always felt safe in. When FBI agent Sana shows up, he realizes his instincts were correct and there’s more going on here than meets the eye. What will Porter and Sana discover as they investigate mysterious events that go back decades - Russian spies, murder and intrigue galore, that’s what.

PROS and CONS:
It’s a fast paced plot, alternating between present day, and 1950’s Nevada. I felt the romance was a bit forced, and the writing perhaps a bit too casual for my preference (that’s just me), but the suspense did build up nicely and the plot definitely kept me interested. Good character building, setting the stage for a series based on this likeable sheriff.

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…a crime/spy thriller with a charismatic sheriff leading the charge, then this one’s for you!

3.5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Porter Beck is sheriff in the high desert of Lincoln County, Nevada. Born and raised there, Beck joined the Army, specializing in Russian intelligence. He’s returned home, replacing his father as sheriff. While the sparsely populated Lincoln County has a low crime rate, once a retired FBI agent is found tortured to death it becomes a hotbed of chaos.

The heart of the investigation is how a dead FBI agent may be connected to a Russian sleeper spy from the 1950’s. Who is looking for the spy, and why now, after so many years? Sana Locke of the FBI turns up to investigate. While Beck and Sana are at professional odds from the beginning, Beck seems to have a juvenile crush on Sana. They uncover that the Russian spy infiltrated the U.S. nuclear testing site and stole a warhead. So many years later, why does it matter?

Chapters alternate between the present and the past, and it works quite well. The espionage and subterfuge storyline was easy to follow, the writing was clear, the characters have depth and there are a few surprises along the way. Interwoven in the storyline is the history of nuclear testing and the devastating consequences on the population living downwind of the fallout. Overall, the book held my interest, even if I didn’t buy the romantic angle between Beck and Sana. It was a bit immature of Beck, and a bit of a detraction for me. Also, trigger warning, a few scenes in the book are quite gruesome.

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Porter Beck is a retired special forces member now working as a sheriff in the small town in Nevada where his aging father lives. When there is a murder that involves the FBI he feels compelled to solve it and keep the FBI out of it, though one very pretty one hangs around to "aid" in the investigation. It seems the murdered man may have been a Russian spy active in Nevada back during the atomic testing era. This is a good mystery with interesting characters and a study in moral dilemmas. Those who like a good mystery will enjoy this book. It is also an awakening to the reality that nuclear testing done in the Nevada desert had consequences to everyone around. That would be an interesting insight for young adults. I received this as an arc from NetGalley, and am under no pressure for a positive review..

This was really good!! I loved the characters, Beck is now one of my faves! The writing was fantastic; loved the alternating timelines and how easy everything flowed together. The plot was exciting and unique. I read tons of mysteries and am always so excited to find a book like this that stands out and keeps me glued to the page. Highly recommend!

Wow, just wow. First time author and since it says Porter Beck #1 I am guessing we will have a 2. YES! Grabs you from the first with a dark and twisted murder and never lets go. Sheriff Porter Beck has my vote. I am still wondering on his sis Brin (Brinley) anything for family, but just not sure. I am not a fan of alternate time periods, but when you left the present the author would note The Past on the chapter. You were never lost and so much was played out with our history, the cold war and devastation left in our world. This book made me want to go check out non fiction. As we follow along with Beck and his small sheriffs department I am enamored and in awe. I like when Beck shares how he comes up with thoughts, conclusions etc and I think no one saw the twist at the end. I am not someone who reads a book twice, rarely. I think I might have to read this one again after I stew awhile. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #TheBitterPast #PorterBeck#1 #BruceBorgos #StMartinsPress#MinotaurBooks #NetGalley I also grabbed Life Strings by Bruce Borgos.