Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review The Bitter Past -- A Mystery on NetGalley.

Published: 07/18/23

Stars: 3

Deteriorated.

I was impressed right away. I liked the characters and the story as it was evolving. I was happy to see this was book one in a series-- great, I like smart books and a series is a dream come true. Things were moving along smoothly, this wasn't over-the-top and it wasn't childish. I had a good ol' grown up mystery.

And then the descent started with the profanity somewhere after 50%. My initial thought was there is the obligatory F word. Before disgust can settle in Borgos takes the character on a swearing tirade leaving me disgusted. (I had already mentioned my high hopes for the new to me author and the series in a couple BookTube sprints.)

I followed through with my NetGalley commitment and finished the book. (As I was approached to read the second book first, I found The Bitter Past on my own. I will keep my obligation to Shades of Mercy.)

The final third of the story left me unhinged. I guess the plot could happen, it felt unrealistic to me. If he took out the profanity, he has a smart book -- the kind I would watch as a movie. But, I wouldn't want to watch a spy with dementia accessing a nuclear weapon and I didn't like reading it.

Wowsers, what a book for a first in a new series. I don't know how Borgos did it, but he was able to combine 3 different genres and it make it work. He wrote a police procedural, spy thriller and a historical fiction book all in one. His take on going back to the past, was one I have never seen before and to be worked wonderful!

Porter Beck is a vet with a special skill set. He is now Sheriff of Lincoln County in Nevada. Right next door is Area 51. When his deputies come across a dead body after doing a wellness check, the government is soon knocking on his door. As the bodies start piling up, he knows he's not being told everything.

Borgos started developing Beck:s character and I can't wait to see where he goes with Beck from here. I enjoyed learning about the nuclear side of the book and what went on in 1956-1957. Amazing first book in what I think will be a great series.

First published July 18, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley, Saint Martin Press, Minotaur Books and Bruce Borgos for the E-Arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley #stmartinpress #minotaurbooks #bruceborgos #thebitterpast #arc #readmytbr #readaway2024 #readmykindle

Bruce Borgos delivers with the second installment of his Porter Beck mystery series. I always look for original mysteries set in unique locales, and Beck's rural Nevada crime series checks both boxes. Who knew so much could happen in this remote corner of the desert? The proximity of Sherrif Beck's county to Las Vegas and Reno allows for some city moments to add variety. The cast of characters represents the diversity many people don't realize makes up Nevada. Plus, with top-secret military happenings ongoing in Lincoln County and its remote highways comprising common smuggling routes, there are a lot of opportunities for future plots. Keep writing, Bruce Borgos! I want more, more, more.

Mystery lovers who follow CJ Box and Tony Hillerman will probably enjoy this series. It's an excellent pick for road trippers through the West or anyone who enjoys rugged outdoor settings.

When I read the first volume in the series, I wasn't very happy with Beck's overly lecherous behavior toward a female FBI agent (some readers DNFed the book because of this). I think Borgos got the message because the female characters in this book are brilliantly wrought. I'm looking forward to Beck's next adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

3.25 Stars
A former FBI agent is tortured and murdered in a small town in Nevada, where Porter Beck is the sheriff. As the investigation begins into this, the FBI sends in an agent to help with the case. Porter was in Army intelligence for many years and knows that there is something not quite right with this murder and with this agent. This story is told alternating with a story of a Russian spy that infiltrated Area 51 during the 1950's.

The story started a little slow for me, mostly because of the 1950's portion of the book. I normally love a dual timeline book but for some reason this one felt like an interruption in the story. The two stories did finally connect in a very surprising and satisfying way, though, but it was a slow burn. I found Porter Beck to be a really interesting character and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

If you are a fan of murder mysteries with small town feel, you will like this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the advanced copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

The Bitter Past
A Porter Beck Mystery, Book One.
By Bruce Borgos

One Sentence Summary

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.

My Thoughts

I almost put this book down immediately after starting it. The description of the murder scene was graphic and something I wasn’t prepared for. But I didn’t, and I’m glad I stuck with it, for the most part. Here’s what I liked about the novel.
The sheriff is a flawed character, devoted to his family and his job. His supporting cast are well-written characters. The mystery is complex, involving past nuclear tests, foreign agents, and FBI. The chapters alternate between past and present, weaving together a complicated plot.
What I didn’t like was the way the female federal agent was written. She came across as a stereotype—a female agent more interested in sleeping with the sheriff than doing her job. It came off, to me, as a woman not able to act professionally, and I almost stopped reading. But I didn’t. I needed the mystery solved and so I finished the book. All in all, this is a solid debut novel.

This is the start of the Porter Beck series. The book is well written with an interesting cast of characters. The story is told in dual timelines - the past from the perspective of a Russian spy in the Cold War era of the late 1950s and the present from the perspective of a small town sheriff investigating a murder and a potential kidnapping. The storyline is interesting and keeps you entertained until the end.

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 started in the 1950s and goes to the present, it seems that a Russian spy infiltrated the nuclear testing site and now someone is looking for that long-ago person, who holds the key to what happened then and what is going on in the present.

This is a well-written book with well developed characters describing a critical time in history. I was offered an ARC by the publisher through NetGalley on the second book in this series but was also offered this first book in the series. I am glad that I read them in order as it explains much of the action and characters in the second book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book whose author kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read The Bitter past by Bruce Borgos, and is the 1st book in the Porter Beck series. I started to read this earlier but found it a bit too graphic for me. Told in two timelines, 1950's and present day, while I enjoyed parts of the story, I am just not a fan of the espionage plotline. 21/2 stars

I really enjoyed listening to this crime thriller and I thought the narrator, James Babson, did a fantastic job. I loved the snarky humor throughout the book that helped lighten the tension of the plot line. I learned more about the potential secrecy of our government and I found it interesting how little we do know. The novel is well-written, paced well, and full of action and adventure. Everything I enjoy in this type of book.

I was offered the second book in this series to read and review through NetGalley. But I started with this one first, to make sure I understood the main character.Although more of a cozy mystery reader, this story quickly drew me in and kept me reading. The chapters change between past and present events but neatly ties it all up at the end (loved the twist!). I liked the character of Porter Beck, and the huge handicap (night blindness) the author gave him, forcing him to compensate on multiple occasions. I also liked the relationship he had with his adopted sister and his police team. For those of us who were around in the 50s, this story definitely hits home, because we lived through some of the events discussed. I can't wait to get into the 2nd book in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.

In this past/present told story, you will learn about the 1950's in Nevada and how that affected present day. Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Between his father's early dementia, his sister's life style and hunting for the killer of a retired FBI agent., he has his hands full. He is ex-Army intelligence officer and is in the early stages of night blindness. An FBI agent shows up to assist Porter with the killing and is taken by her beauty. How do all of these things tie together? The story was one I could not put down and really had to pay attention to the list of who's who. About 2/3 of the way through, I thought I began to figure it out but the real ending was a twist I never saw coming. This is a first book in a series. I hope there will be more than the two presently published.

Bruce Borgos has joined my list 9f favorite mystery authors. The Bitter Past is an intriguing blend of things that happened in the 1950's with the present day. It's a very well written book that makes you stop and think about what could have happened.

Great read! I really enjoyed this first book in the series by Bruce Borgos. This book encompassed a wide range of elements. It included suspense, mystery, action, murder, and many unexpected plot developments. The plot was captivating and kept me engrossed to the very end.. I'll certainly suggest giving this book a read as it was truly worthwhile. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book!

THE BITTER PAST, Bruce Borgos

A suspenseful and compelling book that takes place in Nevada and in alternating timelines: present day where a brutal murder occurred, and Cold War era where a spy from the Soviet Union accomplished his mission of stealing a nuclear warhead, and then vanished. Recounted by Nevada Sheriff Porter Beck, who is determined to find out who committed this gruesome murder and why, the plot is fast paced, and action packed. With several twists and turns, the two storylines came together flawlessly by the end. The Bitter Past is a great series debut.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest

Interesting mystery. Not my normal read but I enjoyed the characters and plot. Russian spies and nuclear testing in the dessert. Bitter Past is book one in a series. Lots of action and great detective work.

Another smashing hit by Bruce Borgos! The Bitter Past is a high adrenaline, non-stop, full-throttle, adventure that will keep the readers guessing beginning to end. I thought Shades of Mercy was great, but The Bitter Past is just as good if not better! The characters are full of life, the details are vivid, and the readers are drawn into the story as if they are part of the characters lives. There's not one aspect the reader can claim they do not feel a part of in this book, which is a rare treat indeed.

This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, police procedural, mystery novel. It has alternating timelines, with elements of historical fiction, in its depiction of the nuclear testing of the 1950's. There is a likable and intelligent male protagonist, wit, a touch of humor, vividly described settings, murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. My favorite character is the male protagonist's sister, who has a unique talent and plays an important role in the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Mr. Bruce Borgos, who provided me with a complimentary copy of this fantastic novel as a precursor of "Shades of Mercy", of which I have been given an advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is an electrifying start to a new series that fans of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box will love! 📚💥 Set in the high desert of Nevada, Sheriff Porter Beck, a former Army Intelligence officer, returns to his hometown to take over his father’s old job. When a retired FBI agent is found brutally murdered, Beck’s quiet life is shattered, plunging him into a complex mystery that ties back to the 1950s nuclear age.

What I really enjoyed about this book is the seamless blend of past and present timelines. The investigation uncovers a Russian spy from the nuclear testing era, intertwining with the present-day murder case. The pacing is perfect, and the plot is full of unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the end.

Borgos creates a vivid setting and compelling characters, making it impossible to put down. If you love gripping crime thrillers with rich historical backdrops, The Bitter Past is a must-read! 🌟 #BookReview #TheBitterPast #BruceBorgos #Thriller #MustRead #Book1

Loved this book. Actually read it after reading the second book because I enjoyed it so much! Great characters, attention to detail, and and setting descriptions. A story that will keep you reading, a true page turner! The cover gives a nice blurb on the happenings, I just need to say it's a fast paced really good read that I would highly recommend reading. This is definitely an author I will follow and hope he writes many more books. I was provided a copy of this book at my request and was under no obligation to review it. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. Read and enjoy!

An entertaining police procedural with a bit of a twist… solve the murder of older, retired FBI agent, where so many clues lead back to a cold-war era nuclear weapons site.

Borgos has written an intelligent, well-paced mystery that kept me entertained. Sheriff Beck knows banter, and his character is written well. The flirtatious element with the young female FBI agent was awkward and could have used some rewriting, but it wasn’t offensive. Pleased enough with that reading experience that I will dive into book 2, Shades of Mercy, due out in July 2024.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for gifting me a free eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. A solid 3.75 stars.