First let me say I received this book to review from Netgalley and St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books. This isn't my normal genre to read but I do enjoy changing things up every so often.

If you enjoy historical fiction with espionage this book is for you.

This is a solid 3.5 -4 stars and for fans of this genre, it is probably a 5 star read!

This one wasn't for me. The sexism was a bit much and the way the main character explains police procedures to the female fbi agent like she's a child was just bad.

The only reason this is getting two stars is because I did enjoy the interesting backstory.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a great set of characters and the plot will keep you turning the pages. It's a great read that you don't want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a trip. The book is told in two timelines and was very informative while also keeping the story (fiction) alive and interesting. I enjoyed the book! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

This book is really good! A little slow in the beginning, but the alternating chapters between present day and the past blend well together and help tie up the loose ends nicely. There are a couple major twists written well and weren't as easy to figure out.

This book has everything

Nuclear weapons
Russian Spies
A dead body with the skin removed
Small town Sheriff with a past
Polygamy cult
Cold War Espionage
Unfortunate love

Nope. I cannot
"0 body fat. A BMI for a BMW. Results are in, she's the match for me"
This book is the meme of men writing women. Dear God

The Bitter Past is the first book in the Porter Beck series, I found this to be an interesting read one that kept me turning the pages until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Interesting read. A story about a former army officer returning home to Lincoln county Nevada to be a sheriff. Nothing really happens in that town he cannot handle. Until one day they find a former FBI agent murdered which leads to secrets from the past coming out in connecting the mystery of today.

*****UNPOPULAR OPINION*****

I felt like that this was a "been there and done that" kind of book when it comes to a spy/espionage thriller with murder. The characters were also really dull and seemed very immature despite their nature of work as spies. If this was supposed to be spy novel, why the heck was there a romantic side plot? PICK A GENRE, AND STICK WITH IT!!

I DID LIKE the past and present timelines that made this a little more interesting to read. I also like that you did not know who the actual spy was closer to the end of the book. I did see the big plot twist coming BUT i did not know who it was going to be about. The issue with the who was because there were so many damn names in the book to keep track of and some do not even have a point.

I enjoyed some parts of this book but glad when it was over. It was a frustrating read for me. This book was clearly not for me but I know other readers will like it. Not interested in the sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bruce Borgos and St Martins Press Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already avaiable

This book is really good! There is humor, a little bit of sexual chemistry, and a lot of mystery to keep you entertained. The alternating chapters between present day and the past blend well together and help tie up the loose ends nicely. There are a couple major twists written well and weren't as easy to figure out. I would read more books in this series and other books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Dual-timeline (current time and the 1950's) mystery/thriller/spy novel set in Nevada and featuring Sheriff Porter Beck as he tries to solve a murder with possible ties to the past.

I don't usually read this type of book but when it was offered, I decided to take a chance. The book had some interesting parts, and I was intrigued with the dual-timeline. Plus it was good to read something outside my comfort zone. Ultimately though, I decided I'll probably stick to cozy mysteries... But I'm sure this book will appeal to many readers.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

This book was good but could have been more. The “romance” between Beck & Sana was so forced, ridiculous, and had really no point. The past parts were really good.

And it’s always nice when you’re proved correct when they reveal who the “illegal” was!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

An espionage thriller mixed with Area 51 leads to quite the interesting story! Set in the Southwest, Porter is the local sheriff and former military guy that is in charge of a local sheriffs department. The sheriff has more crime in a matter of days than the area has in 6 months and he is stretched thin. The unique setting plays key roles in this vibrant story that is rich in detail and plot. Bravo and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read.

This book is not for me, it started so gruesome and good but then everything started going downhill since then and lots just didn't make any sense and not a fan of Porter Beck, the way he treated Sana is sooo horrible and I hate his attitudes (everything that comes out of his mouth and what he's thinking is pretty irritating) and then comes the romance that I didn't get at all, so unimportant, bothering me through and through. Love the past part, it's fascinating with all those russian spies and nuclear testing, but unfortunately that's the only part that I love.

Overall, it's not for me, but if you're interesting with fast-paced mystery with all those russian spies and nuclear testing, try it, maybe you will like it more than I do.

I love these “dude” books. I love beach reads and historical fiction and southern women’s fiction and even the occasional snarky romance… but oh how I love a fast paced espionage thriller! This one didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed it. Having just watched Oppenheimer and recently started The Americans, this book fits right with that narrative.

This book has everything

Nuclear weapons
Russian Spies
A dead body with the skin removed
Small town Sheriff with a past
Polygamy cult
Cold War Espionage
Unfortunate love

This story begins with the discovery of a gruesomely tortured dead body who happens to be an ex-FBI agent. As local sheriff, Porter Beck, begins to investigate, there are more bodies, a missing girl, and lots of secrets to uncover. Special Agent Sana Locke shows up to help with the investigation. The story weaves between a storyline set in the 1950’s involving a Russian spy and the 38k acre piece of land north of Las Vegas that we know as Area 51 (which is where they tested atomic weapons in the 50’s). There are a lot of pieces to this propulsive story, with twists and turns and secrets revealed. The character development is done well and the ending is pulse-pounding and satisfying. This is the first of a series and I can’t wait for the next installment!

I couldn’t put this book down! There are so many secrets it’s hard to know who to believe. I was able to suss out the “Russian” before the halfway point but it didn’t detract from the story one bit.

Not completely predictable, it will throw a few twists and turns your way to keep you reading.

Well written and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

This was a very good introduction to the Porter Beck series. The beginning was a little slow for me but when I got to the 30% mark I could not put the book down. I loved reading about all the places I knew in and around Las Vegas, it put me into the story more and I was able to visualize it more. I had some feelings early on in the book which ended up being someone on point.
I am excited to see what comes next in this series and with Porter.

While I’m always game to try a new to me mystery series, certain elements will draw me in quickly. In this case, the rugged Nevada desert setting-small town sheriff with hidden talents paired with fascinating Cold War storyline and a familiar setting I’ve visited personally was well-nigh irresistible.

Beck and his deputies find themselves investigating a grisly murder that is only the tip of the Cold War iceberg. The victim was an FBI retiree who once was a handler for Russian informants. The victim was investigating a Cold War era mystery involving one of his informants and someone now really wants to get their bloody hands on that informant. With the help of an enigmatic FBI agent, Beck must draw heavily on his past as an Army Intelligence officer to go on the hunt for a ruthless killer and solve the past mystery to get a bead on the present killing.

I was enthralled with the blend of police procedural and spy thriller in The Bitter Past. The two timeline threads following two different main characters were an equal draw. I liked how they tie-in strongly together and the pace was taunt with suspense leading to two fabulous climaxes.

Beck was the primary narrator and his point of view was the contemporary thread. I took to him immediately and enjoyed the way the setting and the rest of the cast of characters were laid out so the series intro (because yes, I’m hoping this turns into a long series) didn’t bog down the forward action at all. The southeastern Nevada setting and the connection to what happened there during the nuclear testing era were as intriguing as the story plot. I’ve only been in the area for one memorable road trip-camping experience, but I recognized much of what was described which was satisfying since that was one of the reasons I took up the book.

All in all, The Bitter Past was abso-fab and a great intro to the author’s writing. Those who like an engaging main character, rough county police procedural, and a thrilling pair of mysteries, should give it a go.

First, thank you to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book combines the best of CJ Box and espionage thrillers, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book makes me want to dig a little deeper to find out what our government did back in the 40's and 50's when it came to nuclear weapon testing and those that were negatively affected. The idea of anything for national security is a little tough to swallow and hard to think that such a thing is still part of headlines today. This seemed like a standlalone novel, but I see that this is novel #1 in the adventures of Sheriff Porter Beck, and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for Mr. Beck. Someday I feel he may be going back to Russia . . . . this book was 5-stars for me as I couldn't put it down.