Great start to a promising series! Past information is provided to explain what's happening in the here and now. A fictional story with history lessons provided! Looking forward to more happenings in the Nevada desert! Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

Sheriff Porter Beck is investigating the torture and murder of a retired FBI agent—not the kind of case he usually has to handle in the Nevada desert. FBI Special Agent Sana Locke joins the investigation, connecting a Russian spy from the 1950s to the current murder case.

The pace of the storytelling was great, flipping between the present murder investigation and the past, when the Russian spy infiltrated a nuclear test site.

The action didn’t slow and with Beck’s impressive military background the plot details were believable and interesting—a combination detective novel and spy thriller.

The banter between Beck and Locke was great fun, and while their connection felt genuine, I would have preferred more lead up time for the romance to develop—instead of the immediate internal thoughts from Beck about his physical attraction to Locke.

Overall this was a fast-paced mystery that kept me eagerly turning pages until the end.

Note: While page one contains an explicit description of the crime scene, in general the book was not overly graphic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaurbooks for the ARC.

An edge of your seat thriller that will raise your heartbeat. Past Russia espionage collides with the present as a Russian assassin goes after men involved in an incident in 1957 looking for a traitor to Russia. The traitor had a job to do and failed. You will never see the ending coming.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, 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.

Atmospheric, original, suspenseful, and compelling, this novel deserves to reign at the top the bestseller lists, and this reader is hoping to see that happen. Highly recommended. #TheBitterPast #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

What a cast of characters. It's hard to pick a favorite! They made the book, and the story was decent too. Will definitely read the next in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mesmerizing story in "The Bitter Past" story by Bruce Borgos. The story is set in the Nevada desert in Lincoln County where Area 51 is located. The book has two separate story lines -- one is set in the midst of the Cold War and one in modern times.

Wondering exactly how the two lines converge is a delightful process. The Cold War line is fraught with spies, surveillance, nuclear bomb development, and general espionage. These interplay as a young Soviet falls in love and is troubled on ethical grounds.

The modern story is about a sheriff who has been much more before he comes to Nevada to follow in his father's footsteps in law enforcement. Add in a dose of FBI, CIA, and various Russian security alphabet letters and you have a great story.

Characters seem very real, and you feel their joy and pain as facts emerge that creates issues. Will the modern Nevadans be able to see past the foibles of the past and meet the challenges of the day, or will it all come crashing down?

To find out you will have to immerse yourself in this most delightful book....one of the best I've read in a while, and I read a lot! Definitely recommend this page turner to almost any reader; there is a bit of violence, but it fits the story and is not gratuitous..

As someone who does not read the synopsis of a book prior to starting, I had no idea what to expect with this book. Once I realized there was a Russian spy on American soil I was hooked. I loved the back and forth between present day and past - it was like reading two books at the same time that helped piece together the same story.Looking back I believe the author dropped quite a few hints about some of the twists and turns that were to come later on. I did find some parts of the book to be a bit slow and I was not a fan of the romance between two of the characters, but other than that it was a great read!

Be sure to grab this book - available 7/18/2023!

Call it 4.5 stars. This book has it all. A small town sheriff in Nevada. A tortured and murdered retired FBI agent. A mystery casting back to the days of the cold war, above ground atomic testing, and Russian spies who were willing to do anything to damage the United States nuclear program. And a cast of well drawn and (mostly) likable characters. The story goes back and forth between what happened back in 1957, and why those events are still vibrating in the present. Highly recommended.

Sheriff Porter Beck is content working in Nevada's Lincoln County and Big Rock Wilderness which encompasses Area 51 and the nuclear tests site of the 50's. When he is called to a brutal torture killing of an ex-CIA agent, Washington sends an FBI agent to oversee the investigation. As they work together, it becomes apparent that there are Russian agents trying to find their defector from the 50's' who is still believed to be alive. The government also wants to keep the past secrets, secret.
An intriguing debut thriller from Bruce Borgos, is told in the present day along with the past. Its twists and turns make for a fast paced, throughly enjoyable, story.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins, Minotaur Books for this e-galley of "The Bitter Past".

Thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery! In case you aren't aware this is definitely not a cozy, there are some pretty graphic scenes right in the beginning. I was really impressed how all the backstories were written seamlessly into the novel. I liked the characters and the story resolution was unexpected. Looking forward to the next installment.

This is a well-written story with distinct and fleshed out characters. The flashbacks made sense and I don’t usually like them. I could easily see this being turned into a series.

I was so fortunate to have requested this book and then to have been granted it! It is truly excellent with twists and turns that will have you surprised, to say the least. Well written, carefully crafted, with interesting characters. The story line is believable. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. I intend to recommend this read as soon as it is published. All opinions are my own. #NetGalley, #St.Martin’sPress, #TheBitterPast.

I must say I was not a fan of Sheriff Beck at the start of this book but sooner rather than later the character changed my mind and I may have fallen a little bit in love with him.

This author did a great job building his story. Alternating the story between the 1950s and the present day kept me reading. Lots of action & violence interspersed with a love story. I got tears in my eyes at the end of this book. I am looking forward to reading another story about Sheriff Beck and his police force.

In a part of Nevada where locals still feel the effects of above-ground nuclear bomb tests, a retired FBI agent is tortured and killed. Sheriff Beck, possessing an infallible memory (and failing night vision) sees something that leaves him unsurprised when an FBI agent shows up. The victim had been the handler for an unidentified 1950s-era Soviet spy turned U.S. asset. Beck and agent Sana Locke need to uncover the spy’s identity before he, too, is assassinated by the Russians. Told in two timelines and perspectives - that of the spy sent to uncover nuclear secrets in the mid 1950s, and the present day sheriff - this spy/mystery has a lot to recommend it. The sheriff is quirky and has a classified military background, and the setting and it’s history are well developed as are the secondary characters. I don’t agree with comparisons to C.J. Box; I feel LeCarre is more applicable. I took away a star from what would have been a solid 4 because Sana slides into a caricature, jarring me from the storyline. That said, it will be interesting to see where this series develop.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting look at this historical period of time, interesting well written characters, mystery and fast moving. Will give students a lot to discuss. I think they will enjoy this book a lot

This was a bit of a slow starter for me, I wasn't sure if I'd like sheriff Porter Beck. He was very unassuming, though we learn later that beneath his laid-back demeanor, he's very observant and has many strengths that he hides, to reveal at just the right time. And a sheriff that has a clear weakness, his night blindness, was something I'd never seen before, and I'm curious to see how it will be developed more in upcoming books.

Likewise, the Cold War and nuclear testing connections had me stepping back and wondering how they would fit. Which really is a good start for a mystery, even if it has me scratching my head a bit.

Sheriff Beck is in charge of a large portion of the Nevada high desert, even if the population is low. So finding a retired FBI agent tortured and murdered is not a normal occurrence and has the whole police force getting involved. The sudden appearance of FBI agent Sana Locke seems like a welcome help, though Beck soon finds himself wondering what she's really there for.

The plot moves well, and everything comes together seamlessly. Plenty of action and intrigue, and a satisfying ending with a welcome cast of characters. I look forward to reading the next installment of Porter Beck's, and learning more about his small town.

Thank you for the ARC through NetGalley.

The Bitter Past is a mystery set in the West full of spy craft and the sad truth of American history in the desert. A dead retired FBI agent is found in Sheriff Porter Beck’s remote county outside Las Vegas. His death leads Beck and his deputies on a wild chase of Russian spies and a deep dive into the nuclear tests of the 1950’s. Beck is a tough as nails Sheriff who is a lot wittier than his easy manner suggests. Twisting and blind siding you, the case uncovers some dark secrets as Beck rises to the challenge. Beck is a crafty, formidable protagonist that will win you over and have you coming back for more. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is a well written story, shifting between the past, 1957, during the testing of nuclear weapons that would affect so many "Downwinders", and the present, when someone is hunting for the Russian spy who tried to stop the testing.
Dealing with the first timeline is Sheriff Porter Beck. He's trying to find who and why someone tortured a retired FBI agent! What secrets were they looking for, and why go to the extent they did!
The second timeline is in the 50's when the Russian spy manages to get a job on the testing site.
The author does a great job of blending the 2 timelines together into a riveting story line! I look forward to what I hope will be a continuing series.

My thanks to author Bruce Borgos, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a great new book.

Oh Wow! This is one of the best books I've read all year! The story is like Joe Pickett/Jack Reacher/James Bond combined and written by le Carre. It's very good. I could. Not. Put. This. Down! I don't want to spoil this book in any way, and can't rave enough about it! Get this book now! You will not regret it. Highly recommend this book! Oh I hope it becomes a series as the characters are spectacular and need more books! 5 stars plus 5 more at least!

"The Bitter Past" has been one of my favorite reads this year. I really hope that a network picks it up for a movie or TV series, as it has the potential to be phenomenal. I loved the historical aspect that the book brought, as I did not know much about the Cold War or the atomic age. It was very fascinating! I fell in love with the characters, and although some parts of the plot were predictable, there were still many surprising twists and turns. I enjoyed the past/present perspectives, as they left me eager to continue reading.

Thank you to the author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an opportunity to preview the book.