Porter Beck is a sheriff in the Nevada desert near the US nuclear testing site and Area 51. When an elderly FBI agent is brutally murdered, Beck discovers that the murder has ties to the area's military and nuclear history. The story jumps between the 1950's Cold War era and nuclear arms race and the present murder investigation which are both tied together by a Russian spy. I really enjoyed both the history of the American atomic weapons program and the fast-paced modern hunt for a killer and a spy. The plot was exciting enough to keep me turning pages while still seeming plausible. I coincidentally was just in Las Vegas a week ago and the author's descriptions of the area were spot-on. The entire cast of characters were so interesting that I am hoping there will be sequel. #TheBitterPast

The Bitter Past: A Novel by Bruce Borgos takes readers to Nevada and Lincoln County. Retired FBI Agent Ralph Atterbury is most definitely dead. It also was certainly not a peaceful death. The 71-year-old man has been found strapped down to his recliner. He has had patches of skin stripped off, every finger is broken, and his teeth were pulled one by one. All this and quite a lot more was done as he was tortured for reasons unknown by a person or persons unknown.

It is a brutal case and one that Sheriff Beck knows is going to be bad. He is ex-military so he knows a thing or two about what people can and will do to others. He has seen the work of the Taliban and this far exceeds what they are known to do.

It is not long before Sana Locke of the FBI shows up. She is beautiful and intriguing on many levels, but there is something a little off about her. Not just because she claims to be from nearby Las Vegas when it is far more likely she is out of Washington. He does not have long to contemplate what is off about her as she makes it very clear that wants to see the crime scene and the body.

What follows is a complicated read that moves back and forth between current times and the late 50s and the Cold War. Nevada was the site of the nation’s nuclear testing program. That program is a significant part of the book as the current case has links to what happened then. I will leave it there as this is one of those books where it is better to do a less is more approach to the review so as not create spoilers and ruin the read for others.

The Bitter Past: A Novel by Bruce Borgas is a very complicated read and one that is incredibly good. I suspect it will collect award nominations and some hardware. One hopes that this is the first book in a series. Regardless of that fact, this is a book you really need to read.


My reading copy came by way of a NetGalley digital ARC. Big time thanks to Lesa Holstine for pointing it out to me on NetGalley and suggesting that it might be a read for me. It certainly was.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023

This was an excellent novel - the first in a series that I hope to continue to enjoy.

Set in the high desert of Nevada, it follows the actions of Sheriff Porter Beck as he discovers a brutally murdered ex-FBI agent and investigates the crime. When FBI agent Sana Locke arrives to represent the FBI in the investigation, Porter quickly finds a partner to work with. But is she really what she seems?

Porter is ex military intelligence, and he is dealing with his father's deteriorating mind, as he battles dementia as well the occasional apprearance of his adopted sister.

The novel is part spy thriller, part historical fiction and part police procedural and yet it works very well. This area of Nevada was the site of atomic testing back in the 1950's and it quickly becomes clear that the present-day murder is connected to the events that took place back in 1957, when Russian spies infiltrated the testing site.

The novel has a gory start with detailed descriptions of the brutal murder, but from then on it is a fast paced tale of lies, deceit, and cover-ups. The story is told from two points of view - a Russian spy in 1957 and Porter Beck in the current timeline.

I learned a lot about the testing in the 1950's and the effects it had on the Americans who lived in Nevada. I enjoyed that historical backdrop to the thriller, and liked Beck's character in particular, as well as that of Tuffy, one of his deputies.

All in all a great book.

Interesting story line that ties the past into the present. Just a warning, the opening was way too graphic for my taste. A good first entry in a probable series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Bitter Past is a fast-paced blend of police procedural, espionage thriller, and historical fiction that grabs the reader on the first page and never lets go.
The book opens at the scene of a monstrous murder of a former FBI agent that was so graphic I questioned whether I really wanted to read further. There is a lot more action and more killings, but fortunately none quite so gruesome.
Sheriff Porter Beck, who narrates, realizes that this crime has some kind of connection to events and espionage during the nuclear testing that took place in the area in the 1950s and finds himself working with a very attractive FBI agent to pursue the investigation. Their partnership soon progresses beyond the professional to the romantic.
Beck and his team of deputies find themselves stretched to the limit as more violence occurs and a young woman disappears from a polygamist sect that lives in the area. Fortunately, Beck’s adopted sister Brinley, a firearms expert who fears nothing, shows up and lends a hand.
There are flashback scenes to the 1950s that gave intriguing and disturbing insights into nuclear testing and especially its effects on the communities nearby. The story is full of clever surprises in both eras that I absolutely did not see coming.
Some of the surprises stretched credibility a bit too far, but if you can suspend your disbelief and keep up with the pace of Beck and his team there is a lot to enjoy in The Bitter Past.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

Interesting and unique characters, a story line that keeps you paying attention to all the hints and clues, and a mystery that intrigues. There's even a splash of humor and a hint of romance. All of this mixed together presents a wonderful read that held my attention from the first (brilliantly constructed) opener.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is, either, read fast book, not a fast read book.. The first is this book, a book you want to read....FIRST! I was slow reading TBP ( The Bitter Past), a series first murder mystery, takes place in the Nevada's high desert introducing Porter Beck. He has some history, part of the beauty of how this story builds, with time aback. Victim: retired FBI Ralph Atterbury, April 1957, skinned, 74-year-old bound by blue rachet tie downs to his recliner....a blowtorch to his face, fingers all broken, teeth all pulled! Not good for Beck! Not good for Lincoln City, NV. Violent crime such as this just don't happen up here in the high desert. Borgos weaves such a twisty, messy murder mystery, set against two different times/ages! There are thrills, violence, more violent history, possible feature work relationship, blood....and outstanding police work by Beck and team!
I highly recommend this outstanding police procedural--murder mystery!!!!!

Sheriff Porter Beck is investigating the brutal murder of a reclusive retired FBI agent. Is the torture and murder of the former agent tied to a Russian security breach at a nuclear facility back in the 1950's?
Story alternates between past and present as Beck seeks to uncover exactly what the murderer is after.
Surprise twist as to the identity of the former Russian spy.
Fast paced and an engrossing read.
 #TheBitterPast #NetGalley

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.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

An okay read. It'd be interesting to see this turned into a movie. Set in current day and during the Cold War in 1950's, packed with action about Russian infiltrators trying to steal nuclear information. Porter Beck is a classic Main Character.

3.5☆

"In the tradition of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box, Bruce Borgos's The Bitter Past begins a compelling series set in the high desert of Nevada featuring Sheriff Porter Beck...

Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places. Now he's back home, doing the same lawman's job his father once did, before his father started to develop dementia. All is relatively quiet in this corner of the world, until an old, retired FBI agent is found killed. He was brutally tortured before he was killed and clues at the scene point to a mystery dating back to the early days of the nuclear age. If that wasn't strange enough, a current FBI agent shows up to help Beck's investigation.

In a case that unfolds in the past (the 1950s) and the present, it seems that a Russian spy infiltrated the nuclear testing site and now someone is looking for that long-ago, all-but forgotten person, who holds the key to what happened then and to the deadly goings on now."

There's something about nuclear testing sites that just exudes mystery and danger.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos

Strap yourself in and buckle up for this exciting story of killing, Russian spies, betrayal, nuclear warheads, love, lies and deceit. Come to find out, some people are not who you think.

It’s the 1950s and Freddie Meyer wants to work his way up in security at the Nevada Test Site for nuclear warheads, and present day Sheriff Porter Beck has a murder to solve. FBI agent Sana Locke comes in to help Beck as things get complicated. The story switches between these events, which, strangely enough, are related.

The writing flows nicely and the story moves along effortlessly. Interesting characters keep you turning the pages. This suspenseful, engaging story with a heart pounding finale is a five star win for this reviewer. My sincere thanks to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the ARC for my review.

Borgos' debut novel introduces a new mystery series featuring Porter Beck, an Army vet and now a sheriff in a sparsely populated Nevada county. A retired FBI agent has been killed after being tortured horribly and it all might be connected to Russian spies. Supporting characters including Beck's father contribute significantly to the story development and hopes for more in the series soon. Sure to satisfy Craig Johnson fans.

The Bitter Past was a really interesting crime drama thriller that fluctuated between past and present timelines throughout the story. While some parts dragged on a bit, the overall concept of the story, the historical timeline and the unique characters kept me reading until the end.

Why haven't I heard of this author before?!!

The opening scene in this book is enough to make you lose your lunch and is not for anyone with a weak stomach. However, after that, this is one of the most enjoyable crime thriller and espionage suspense stories that I've read in a long time. I usually read historical or literary fiction most of the time, but I am so very glad that this book came to my attention. For me, this book was a true gem! There was the right balance of everything. It has a good storyline, likeable characters, easy flow, mystery, wit, thrills, twists and surprises. If this is truly the start of a new series, I will be first in line to read the next one.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sara Beth Haring at St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this exciting book to read in exchange for an honest review. I am happy to recommend this to my family and all my friends. #TheBitterPast.

Everything that happens feels like reality, and very believable! Almost like I was watching a movie unfold. A captivating page turner, that reads like I'm watching history!
Set in the Nevada dessert, and using a dual time line we learn what happens prior and after. How lives are changed, and how some never let go. This is espionage at the highest levels, and whom is complicit, and some you really won't see coming.
This is the first book in this series, and it was so good I can't wait for the next!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Minotaur Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Porter Beck spent years in the military in intelligence. Conveniently for this story, he speaks fluent Russian and knows quite about how Russian intelligence does things. He’s returned home to the desert of Nevada after his father developed dementia. Beck becomes the sheriff, taking the role his father once had. But his small department isn’t equipped to deal with a retired FBI agent’s body that was horrifically tortured before he mercifully died. Then swoops in beautiful Special Agent Sana Locke to help out.

I found this to be fun to read and fast paced. There are a fair number of coincidences. The novel takes place in the present and in the 1950s when the United States was doing nuclear testing in the dessert, and Russian spies were doing their best to infiltrate, gather information, and thwart American efforts. The attractions between Sana Locke and Porter Beck wasn’t seamlessly executed, but the police work aspect was well done and enjoyable.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JULY 18, 2023.

This was a really good dual timeline mystery. The story revolves around former FBI agent, now sheriff, Porter Beck. Porter is investigating a brutal torture and murder in his small desert town in Nevada. The murdered person was an elderly, retired man, coincidentally also a former FBI agent.

Soon beautiful and intelligent FBI agent, Sana Locke, shows up to take over the investigation. She seems unwilling to answer all his questions, but Beck accepts her help. What ensues turns out to be a totally riveting cat and mouse game with ties to 1950’s Cold War atomic testing, complete with Russian spies.

Beck is oftentimes inappropriately funny, and I loved his character. His wit and past clandestine experience overcome the downside of his department’s small-town staff. I sincerely hope we get to read more about Sheriff Beck or whatever mystery/thriller Bruce Borgos wants to write for us.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When a retired FBI agent is found murdered, Sherriff Porter Beck finds himself in the middle of a mystery that started at the beginning of the Cold War. In walks FBI Agent Sana Locke to assist with the investigation. They must reach into the past to solve the present, but as the past and present collide will Sherriff Beck be able to keep his county safe?
I would describe this story as Longmire Meets Jack Ryan, a small town cop spy thriller. I generally don't enjoy books that have a lot of flashbacks, but this was so well written the flashbacks didn't give me whiplash. This was first person writing done right. I was invested right from the grisly start, The characters were well rounded, full of endearing flaws. The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat, and I love when I'm surprised by a twist i didn't see coming and this book has a few of those. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes crime/spy thrillers. I definitely would be interested in reading more of this series. Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is a spy/crime thriller taking place in the desert of Nevada where Sheriff Porter Beck is in charge. The story opens up with the investigation of a brutal crime scene of a murdered FBI agent. In a barren land with few neighbors far and wide this isn't a simple home invasion. Something far more serious and complicated is going on. Soon they will learn the case has ties to events from the 1950's and Beck's career in army intelligence in Russia comes into play.

Reading the first scene you might think this is going to be a heavy, dark read. But even when those first details are described the writing makes it easy to get through. It's also the only scene like that.

Sheriff Beck is a likeable character who likes to use humor, probably a smart move considering his jobs. The story moves along quickly after the opening. Beck is very smart and it's fun watching him investigate. We also get chapters from a spy's perspective in the past. I really enjoyed those chapters as well as they bring a different kind of intensity to the story. We also learn about Beck's past. The whole spy angle is very interesting and there are a few reveals to be had.

You could just enjoy this as a fast, action filled read but there's more. The story brings attention to the effects of atomic testing. Not to be forgotten among the spies and government agents are the civilians and animals who lived unaware of what was going on around them until it was too late. The Bitter Past has heart and is a solid read. I look forward to the next one as it looks like this is the first in a series.