Big thanks to both Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Bitter Past!

This entertaining book is set in Nevada's high desert. The first timeline is set in the present and features Sheriff Porter Beck, with the second one taking place in the 1950s during the testing of nuclear bombs. (I appreciated that the 1950s chapters had headings that said "The Past." It's beyond my comprehension why some authors don't do that.) The intriguing characters grabbed me from the beginning and I found the sheriff's humor nicely offset the serious parts of the book.

The Bitter Past deals with the dicey cost of doing the right thing. I hope this will be a series because I want to know what happened after the last paragraph of the book!! This was definitely an impressive first book.

I enjoyed reading the author's notes, especially where he thanked his wife and wrote "When I told you in the second grade this was going to happen, you didn't believe me, did you?"

Bruce Borgos steps into the thrillerverse with a blazing debut that combines elements of cold-war espionage with modern day crime-investigation to give one heck of a memorable story that all but confirms there is so much more to come from this extraordinary new author.
The Bitter Past sets up two stories running in parallel, one in the 50’s and one in the present. The present-day narrative is told from the first person POV of sheriff Porter Beck in Nevada where our budding hero resides after a stint in Army intelligence. When a gruesome murder of a retired FBI agent is uncovered in their small town, he finds himself paired up with another FBI agent on this dangerous manhunt for the killer. Before the story is over, there will be more killings and it is all linked to a Russian sleeper agent in the 50’s who gained access to a facility testing weapons of mass destruction, right there in Nevada.
Borgos sets up a high bar for his protagonist with a resonating depth to his foundation that feels real and profound. The first person POV is utilized to the max as we get in Porter Beck’s head with his witty comebacks and charming demeanor. His predicaments with his previous shadowy life and his family lend a gravitas to his actions such that you are compelled to root for him to pull through the dangerous situations even if you know he has to make it through. His most appealing asset is his mundane lightheartedness with the raw capacity to switch to a gritty action-mindset when the situation calls for it.
Speaking of which, Borgos writes clean and mean action sequences that require minimal suspension of disbelief. Whether it’s Beck shooting it out in close quarters with a Russian agent, or his weapons-savvy sister who trains Hollywood moguls in safe and effective tactical measures providing overwatch support with a long gun, the shootouts are imbued with a sense of urgency and energy that will give you an extra boost in your reading speed.
The heart of The Bitter Past is an emotional catharsis of people doing good for the sake of good unencumbered by nations and any politics. In a world of back door deals and shadowy alliances, sometimes it’s the little things that must be handled in good faith and that’s what The Bitter Past speaks to with its intriguing and plot.
The Bitter Past is an incredible debut and it’s bound to be one of the most talked-about thrillers for 2023. I can’t wait to read more of Porter Beck.

In addition to an excellent cast of characters, the author adds another—The Cold War. Progressing through the story, the reader learns so much about the tenuous relationship between the world’s super powers as we work through a well-developed story

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I found the subject matter very interesting - nuclear weapons, espionage - and I love when a fiction novel makes me want to read plenty of nonfiction about the time period and/or the subject to learn more; and this book certainly does that. This was definitely a page turner for me.

I did not like the Sana/Beck storyline. It felt forced and I didn’t have many feel-good emotions about it. Some of the thoughts Beck had about her made me eye roll at a character I otherwise liked. It’s not going to stop me from reading more in the series, though and I am looking forward to reading the second book.

Wow. The Bitter Past is brilliant. This has taken me on an unexpected journey through a messy history. I loved the characters and the story line. Well done.

This was a really well written book that melds the current and past into one good story, Beck is the sheriff of a very small town in Nevada and all of a sudden there are several deaths in his jurisdiction. Suddenly a FBI agent shows up asking questions. A hunt for a hidden Russian mole is underway. I don't want to give away any more of the plot but this is a good read where there seems to be layer after layer to get through as the story becomes clearer. A really good mystery and I hope to read more about Beck in the future.

Bruce Borgos brilliantly enters the thriller genre with The Bitter Past. It's a dazzling debut which will leave the reader anxious for the next Beck adventure in the high desert of Nevada. Borgos deftly takes us on a journey which alternates between the past and the present. It's a tale which reminds us some seeds of the cold war never stop growing. The book is populated by several interesting characters in addition to our star sheriff. They are made more fascinating by their foibles. There are plenty of twists and turns which keep you engaged and entertained. The mystery is well crafted and the action scenes are pitch perfect. It really is a riveting read which I recommend highly. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in
exchange for my honest opinion. #TheBitterPast

A great take on the cold war, nuclear bomb testing's impact on the people and environment of ruralNevada and a brutal, torturous present-day murder that has its roots in 1957. Porter Beck is the sheriff in a rural, sparsely populated area of Nevada, not too far from Las Vegas. The office is understaffed and Porter is struggling to integrate a local police department that was merged with his office. Within a day of the torture/murder of an elderly man, the beautiful Sana Locke, a DC FBI agent appears, making clear that Washington is seriously interested.

Borgos does a nice job establishing the various characters in this first entry of a series, unrolling back stories and information naturally and definitely hooking us in. We learn a lot about the impact of nuclear testing in the area on the health of the residents, their children, farm animals, etc. The book shifts between a Soviet Union spy infiltrating the testing program in 1957, burrowing deeply into a family connected to the work and the work of the site itself and the present day murder. Porter Beck has some surprising skills that up the intrigue. (Avoiding spoilers here). This was well written, well plotted and I expect to keep up with this series. Recommend!

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is a phenomenal debut!

I couldn't have enjoyed this book more if I tried.
An extremely well written story. With characters that grabbed me from the beginning.
Sheriff Porter Beck was an amazing protagonist. I felt the author did a great job developing Beck's character and his interactions with the other characters was enjoyable.
Borgos paints a very vivid setting in the Nevada desert.
The storyline was very interesting and somewhat an emotional one and the pace was very fast!
There's something for everyone in this book.
Bruce Borgos kept me wanting more of Porter Beck. I can't wait to see more of his work. And more of Beck.
A well executed Porter Beck novel from a skilful writer.

Minotaur Books,
Thank you for this amazing approved eARC!