Sheriff Beck, born and raised in Nevada has had a long career far away from home. Now he is back, being sheriff in his old town where not too much is happening. And of course, things change. A retired FBI agent is found dead, tortured. Help comes from another FBI agent and soon tracks are leading to a past somewhere in the 50s that is hidden and forgotten.
It took me a while to get into this story, also the voice of the sheriff was something I didn't immediately get used to.
But the more you get to know, the more information starts to link and a bigger, complicated image appears. One that links the present, where people forgot or didn't talk about the past are forced to accept that the past is back and revelations are made. Towards the last part I was completely into the story and got used to the voices, characters ...

It was alright. I feel it lacked intrigue, nail bitting, edge of my seat story. Liked the idea of the story but fell short for me.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A retired FBI agent has been brutally tortured in Porter Beck’s county. Clues at the scene open up a mystery dating back to the 50’s and the nuclear age. Now, Beck is tied up in an old Russian espionage case that hits a little close to home.

This story has a lot of moving parts. But, keep up because you do not want to miss a trick!

Now, when this story began, it had a terrible torture scene. I thought…hmm…not sure I can do this. But, there was just something about this tale which kept me wanting to know more. I was transported to Russia, the dessert of Nevada and back again. Then there is a big, ole twist at the end. I did not see THAT coming!

The narrator, James Babson, did a very good job. I will be looking for him!

Need a good, intricate thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This book was great and I am super happy that it is going to be a series! When it ended I was thinking I really want more of Beck and his team! I can't wait to read the next book in the series and I am definitely adding all of Bruce Borgos's books to my TBR!

#TheBitterPast
#NetGalley

Porter Beck is the sheriff in a desert town, but there's a deep dark past buried in his quiet town. In the late 1950s, nuclear bombs were being developed and ready to test in this area when Soviet spies were dispatched to derail those plans. Now, the past has filtered into the present, with the Russians returning to reclaim what was theirs.

Beck, a former Army intelligence operative, has to bring his skills back into play when the FBI comes calling.

"The Bitter Past" is an intriguing story that provides the perspective of the Russian spy back in the 1950s, struggling with the inhumanity of what he has been assigned to do. As we learn about the story unfolding back then, we come to the present where Beck is investigating his own local Soviet invasion. Which is coming far too close to home and family.

The dual time period was interesting, providing a contrast between two periods—one when a naive country was just beginning to understand the power of nuclear weapons, and another that has put the Cold War in its history books.

The story is artfully written, with minor exclusions. Beck's interest in the female FBI agent came right out of the blue and was far too quick, in my opinion. It felt awkward in the way it was suddenly dumped on the reader. We had no foundation for Beck's character and he suddenly seemed like a hormonal teenager.

The narration by James Babson was very good. For the most part, he did a great job creating recognizable voices for his characters. However, I would suggest that someone who is narrating a book on nuclear weapons would be able to pronounce "nuclear". I cringed every time he said "nuke-u-lar". In addition, his Russian accent for one of the spies seemed to drop away the longer the character spoke.

Overall, "The Bitter Past" is a book for anyone who enjoys contemporary western crime fiction, similar to CJ Box's "Joe Pickett" series. I would definitely read more of Bruce Borgos's work!

"Sometimes dead people can tell you things."

They can even tell you long ago secrets with world ending consequences. Reading and listening to the remarkable The Bitter Past by brilliant author Bruce Borgos was a perfect reminder why I started this review page. I want everyone to be aware of this first, in a hopefully never ending series, about Lincoln County Sheriff Porter Beck.

Beck, grew up in the small desert town north of Las Vegas, known for cancer victims, miscarriages, and birth defects, close to the nuclear testing sites of the 1950s. After years working deep undercover for Army intelligence he returns home to quietly care for his town and elderly father in the beginning stages of dementia.

But nothing is quiet after an older retired FBI agent is found brutally tortured to death in his home. Now the FBI is all over his town, though he can't complain about Agent Sana Locke, "Sure ask me tough questions while I'm staring at her beautiful face."

As this murder investigation takes twisty turns we are transported back to 1957 where few cared about the effects of nuclear testing, Russian spies try to infiltrate the site, and one man changes the course of history to save the world.

The performances by actor James Babson are nothing short of transformative as each character is brought to life. I never expected to be brought to tears at the end of this emotional thriller, to care about characters that are supposed to be the enemy, and to love Beck's family. The shocking reveal just about destroyed me. I had an inkling, hoped I was wrong but this writer made it real and honest.

The Bitter Past is thrilling, sensitive, historical, witty, sexy, and the reason I love to read.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Personally this book wasn't for me but I can see a lot of people liking it. The dialogue and inner narrative (especially about the female agent) was hokey and ridiculous. It seemed so forced that I couldn't get passed it to enjoy the story.

The Bitter Past (Porter Beck, #1) by Bruce Borgos was a very suspenseful and compelling book that was written in alternating timelines. In present day Nevada, out in the secluded desert landscape, a brutal murder occurred. A retired FBI agent was murdered and was recently discovered. The circumstances by which the murder was committed was so unorthodox and horrific that it left the local authorities wondering who could have committed such a crime and why. The Bitter Past also focused on an act of espionage that occurred during the Cold War era. In this period of time, spies from the Soviet Union were instructed to infiltrate certain areas of the United States to gather intelligence and information to send back to the Soviet Union. One area of interest to the Soviet Union was the atomic testing sight located in the Nevada desert. A young Russian man, determined to gain access to this facility, made the necessary contacts and gained the trust of the people he needed to help him so that he he could steal the nuclear weapon the Americans were testing and get it into the hands of the Soviet Union. Shortly after the spy from the Soviet Union accomplished his mission, he vanished. The FBI never gave up looking for this spy.

Porter Beck grew up in the high desert of Nevada. After completing his schooling, Beck joined the Army, worked in intelligence and got to travel a lot. When Porter Beck returned to Nevada, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became sheriff. He now acted as caregiver for his aging father who was beginning to suffer from dementia. One minute his father was lucid and the next minute he would be asking the same question he had just asked only minutes before but had no recollection of it. For the most part, Beck’s job as sheriff was pretty straightforward. The cases his team got were usually easily handled and pretty mundane. That was until a retired FBI agent who lived in a very secluded area was murdered in a way that would traumatize even the most seasoned police officers. Sheriff Beck was determined, more than ever, to find out who committed this brutal murder and why. He had a good team and his instincts and training in intelligence served him well. The FBI saw it fit, though, to send one of their own agents in to investigate this case. Sheriff Beck soon learned that the murdered FBI agent had been obsessed in trying to find the Russian spy who disappeared back in the 1950’s. Could the retired FBI agent’s murder have been linked to Russian spy? Did the murderer suspect that the retired FBI agent was getting too close to discovering who the spy had been and where he was now? What was the murderer looking for? Was the murderer still at large and if so was he dangerous? Would Beck be able to gather enough clues and evidence to get to the bottom of this case?

The Bitter Past was a very good first book to begin this series. It captured my attention right from the beginning. I enjoyed the alternating timelines. Growing up in the 1950’s, although I was quite young, I do remember hearing about the atomic testing facilities. I remember even more so hearing about the poor and unsuspecting people who suffered from the fallout of the explosions from the atomic testing and became quite sick as a result. The American government and its people strongly believed that atomic testing was absolutely essential in lieu of the constant threat of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, no one saw the consequences that those testing sites posed or the long term effects.

The two storylines came together flawlessly by the end. There were several twists and turns that I did not see coming. I felt that the ending was quite satisfying. I look forward to seeing where Bruce Borgos takes the series from here. The audiobook that I listened to was narrated very well by James Babson. I recommend this debut novel if you enjoy murder mysteries coupled with a bit of espionage.

Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

Porter Beck, former Army Intelligence Officer, is now back home in Nevada and has assumed the role of sheriff from his dad. All is quiet until a retired FBI agent is murdered. Secrets from the 1950s start to surface regarding nuclear testing in the area. Also surfacing are CIA and Russian Intelligence officers. All is not as it seems! For fear of giving anything away, I will stop there. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and continually evaluating who I thought was a "good guy". Highly recommend!

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced audio of this book. And thank you to Cindy Burnett at Thoughts from a Page for putting this one on my radar!

I really enjoyed this audiobook and look forward to reading more from Bruce Borgos. The storylines from the past and present were woven together seamlessly. The comparison to Craig Johnson and C.J. Box is spot on which is high praise indeed.

The Bitter Past
By: Bruce Borgos

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Be prepared for the gruesome opening scene of how a retired FBI agent died and the details describing all the damage inflicted on him.

Sheriff Porter Beck is a retired from the army moving back home to Nevada. His father previously had this job. Porters Intelligence background is essential in this character.

Another FBI Agent shows up to help. Could their past be connected? An old case might be the key. Glad to see this is a first in a series.

Great characters, suspense, twists, intrigue and so much more! Ready for the next in the series.

Thank you MacMillian publishing for this advanced copy. Available July 18. I also had a copy from Netgalley.

#thebitterpast, #macmillaianpublishing, #bruceborgos, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50

An outstanding start to this new series! The Bitter Past manages to combine and espionage thriller, a police procedural and historical fiction all in one. The author’s wonderfully developed characters that you will love or otherwise love to hate make this a riveting read. This is a well-written, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will leave you breathless at times in anticipation of the next twist in the plot. Don’t start reading this book if you are not prepared to stay up all night. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media, Recorded Books who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The Bitter Past was just ok for me. I really liked the Russian spy aspect and the historical/present back & forth. Area 51 and US nuclear research after WWII isn’t a topic I’ve read much on, so this was unique and interesting.
BUT, I wasn’t a huge fan of Porter Beck and his plethora of sexist observations or the way he found himself so clever and funny. And I had zero respect for Sana Locke, a female FBI agent brought into the case, who allows Beck to belittle, mansplain, and get her in bed immediately. Not sl*t shaming at all- you do you, girl, hop into any bed you want- but to be the outsider and highly qualified female in a boys’ boy investigation, I wanted her to be above the sexual object identity.
The mystery was great, though, with some interesting twists that I was really trying to connect along the way. This is my second audiobook in a row with KGB themes and I’m digging the trend. The narrator was a tad monotone, so I listened very sped up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ALC. Unfortunately it was a miss for me. I DNF at 25%. I couldn't get into all the espionage mumbo jumbo. The dual timelines were a little confusing on audio. The characters weren't liakable. Overall a no from me.

This book jumps between 2 timelines covering part historical fiction, part espionage, and thriller. Present day tells the story of Porter Beck as Sheriff of a small town trying to solve the murder of a retired FBI agent. The story can be linked back to where the time jump tells their story.
The other portion takes place in the Nevada when a Russian spy infiltrates a Nuclear Testing Site.
The jump between the timelines was well written and the suspense was carried throughout. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen and I was not able to guess how it would go.

The only thing I did not love was the male perspective towards one of the female characters. It didn't really fit the story and was not really needed.

Overall this was a good read and if mystery thrillers are your genre, I would highly recommend it.

I loved this book! Thank you Bruce Borgos for such a fast moving, engaging book. The characters were easy to connect to and I loved how you twisted the story from the past into the present. Great story line about a Russian spy in the 50's stealing a U.S. bomb then taking you into current day with the story of a cop, his dad with beginning stages of dementia and his step sister who is a little bit of just the right amount of crazy. Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia, the audio book was Great! Kudos.

This is a compelling thriller set in two timelines. In the present day, Sheriff Porter Beck is investigating the grisly murder of a retired FBI Agent. He is almost immediately joined in his investigation by another FBI Agent, because there is more to this murder than it seems. In 1956, a Russian agent infiltrates a nuclear testing site, trying to help his country win the cold war. At the same time, the deadly consequences of radiation poisoning are starting to come to light.

This book started out with a bang in the aftermath of a brutal murder, and the action didn't stop. The plot is not only intriguing, but it also takes us back to the nuclear testing in the Nevada Desert in the 1950s as we follow a Russian agent who is posing as a likable young American man. In the present timeline, the murder investigation is action-packed and will keep the reader riveted. Astounding secrets are also revealed.

The narration of the audiobook by James Babson is on point and captures the characters and the action perfectly.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

grisly, first-in-series, new-series, Nevada, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, procedural, crime-thriller, fiction, friction, rural, local-law-enforcement, FBI, ex-FBI, snarky, torture, action-adventure, espionage, dual-timeframes, propaganda, lies, 1950s, present-day, ex-military, invisible-disability, punny, CIA, Russian intelligence, unputdownable*****

"Oh good. We're having puns for breakfast." That and references to wearing a Duluth jacket to keep out the cold are my favorite lines.
Cruelty and torture meet dry wit and horrible puns with Sheriff Porter Beck in the high desert of Nevada even as the story of a Russian agent at the nuclear test site in 1957 plays out. More than one cat toys with intelligent mice until the tables are turned. The massive twist near the end of the book absolutely blew me away! Can't wait till it comes out in audio so I can get a copy to keep!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
That was April 2, 2023.
On July 14, 2023 I was lucky to won a temporary audio copy from RB Media/Recorded Books via NetGalley narrated by James Babson who has an breezy/snarky voice quality and really knows how to use it to the listener's advantage while defining each character's personality traits.
The I got my preorder audio on publication day July 18,2023.

The story opens with a gruesome torture and murder, with descriptive scenes which are brutal and not for the faint hearted. The opening chapters set us up for a story of mystery and intrigue, and had me hooked from the very start. We have a story of murder, spies, warfare and past secrets.

As a main character, Beck comes across as likeable early on, and you have respect for him and the job he does, and the rest of the characters are all easy to like and have interesting dynamics.

The writing style is easy to follow and fast paced, and I found the narration of this audio book engaging. The book is written in a multi timeline narrative but is not overly complicated to keep up to date with it. A well written story with lots of revelations, twists and keeps you on your toes. I thoroughly enjoying listening to this and found it a unique take on a mystery novel.

Thank you to netgalley and RB Media for an e-arc of this audio book for review consideration. All views are my own.