Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos is a book that will draw the interest of many readers as a tech mystery. Of course, Beck has other cases that need to be solved at the same time.

Another solid military thriller in the Porter Beck series! Porter is intelligent, tough, compassionate and a real book Daddy! The plot was slightly more outlandish this time around, but still just as well thought out and expertly paced. I think you’ll love the fast pace, the complex shadow play, and the amount of heart in this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

This is a fast-paced suspense novel that kept me engaged and entertained. I stayed up way too late finishing it!

Sheriff Porter Beck is losing his eyesight, but that doesn't stop him from protecting his county and its residents. He has a dry sense of humor and is able to put pieces together that others cannot. He has a smart and talented sister that plays an integral part in the story. I think Brinley might be my favorite character. Either her or Beck's dog, Colombo. Colombo is a washout in the various careers he tries as a canine, but while he may not succeed at any one of them, he does retain enough knowledge to help save the day in several instances.

This book is not short of strong characters. From the cartel to a young hacker to a Chinese spy and even some Area 51 enthusiasts, this novel has no shortage of action.

Set in the Nevada desert, there is plenty of space to commit crimes. Many take advantage of this, but Beck does his best to shut it all down. It isn't easy work, but he has a crack team that helps him make Nevada a better place. We don't see all of the characters from the first book, but they are mentioned. If you are into conspiracy theories, there are several in this book with representatives from the various alphabet organizations. But of course, they can't tell you that.

There were times that I had a bad feeling about some of the characters and what they might do, and while I didn't know exactly, I wasn't too far off the mark suspecting nefarious plans from a few of them.

I enjoy a good suspense thriller book, and this one filled the bill. There is even a little heart in it with Beck's father dealing with dementia and Beck's failing eyesight.

We give this book 5 paws up.

Shades of Mercy is the second book in the Porter Beck series. Beck is the Sheriff in a normally quiet Nevada county. Lately, things have been anything but quiet and readers find him leading an investigation that brings about surprising results. Sheriff Beck is an interesting protagonist. In spite of vision issues, he is a deliberate and capable man. He is a critical thinker and savvy. Plus, he has a new partner who is an English Lab named Frank Colombo, aka as " Bo".
Shades of Mercy is a well plotted, fast-moving story that is packed with action. There is continuing mounting tension and vivid depictions of both the settings and the scenes. Engrossing and skillfully told, this book is well worth reading. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Incredible book filled with events to shake you up. High level computer hacking of missile laden drones, smuggled drugs, deaths, and everyone searching for a girl with different motives. An edge of your seat thriller.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for accepting my request to read and review Shades of Mercy -- A Porter Beck Mystery on NetGalley.

Published: 07/16/24

Stars: 4

Beck is back. This is the second book in the series. I liked the story, the characters and the storytelling.

There is profanity sprinkled throughout.

At 70% I was ready for the conclusion. It was time to put all the pieces together. There was quite a bit being rounded up with different agencies and sites; I do understand that. By 80-85% I was frustrated and put the book down. After a couple of hours and a fresh cup of coffee I was relaxed and liked the ending.

There is a pattern with me believing the endings are sketchy. Borgos (not spoiling) did this in book one. I'm not an attorney or politician, so perhaps the ending is realistic.

I think this is smart and I would have picked this up on publication day for my father, etc.

loved this romance and her mom wants her to date this guy she has these amazing friends who are all dealing with different relationship issues . loved that she found her way in the job and found love

Bruce Borgos has become one of my all-time favorite authors. Bitter Past, the first book featuring Nevada Sheriff Porter Beck, was absolutely outstanding and unforgettable. Shades of Mercy continues this trend of excellence.

When I finished Bitter Past last year I was eager for the next installment in the series and wanted Borgos to hurry up and write already, but as soon as I started reading this book, Shades of Mercy, I realized his pace is perfect and well worth the wait. Every word, every scene, every interaction must have been meticulously planned and crafted, worked over, corrected and changed until I ended up with this exquisite book in my hands, but all that talent and skill and hard work are invisible to the reader; the writing is not dry or dull or labored or forced or overly precise, but instead just rolls along smoothly. Every word selection is perfect. As before, the writing is strong, the plot well-crafted, perfectly paced and logical.

Author Borgos knows how to get a story going and keep it moving. There are no long flowery introductions to people and descriptions to set the scene. Instead, the action begins immediately and all you need to know about the people, the place and the level of danger is woven into the explosive beginning. You are hooked before you’ve finished the first paragraph.

Shades of Mercy is a mix of levity and frightening suspense. The newest member of the sheriff’s department is a dog named Frank Columbo, Bo for short. Initially we think Bo is a man and we learn Beck likes him partly because he has a cool name for a cop, is quiet, pays attention most of the time, and loves a good cup of coffee. Then we learn that Beck mostly likes him because he is a dog. And probably also because Bo helps him navigate in the dark and shadows as Beck tries to hide the progression of his retinitis pigmentosa that more and more affects his ability to do his job and will eventually take his sight. Beck is such an interesting man. He’s somehow sophisticated and folksy at the same time, almost a little too funny but also so intense. Living the small-town sheriff life his father lived for years, but also ex-military with friends or contacts in every government agency you can think of. He respects authority, as sheriff he is the authority, but he’s never afraid to push back. A loner, not a flirty ladies’ man but definitely a man of action when he’s interested.

But Borgos is a master at mixing that small-town comfort and routine with a sudden dose of danger, like a sudden epidemic of crime and drug overdoses, kidnapping, torture and murder, mixing in such a variety of people and government agencies that contain good, bad and worse members. Contrasting the usually quiet desert life with evil influence and consequence from within the town and outside the country. Borgos seamlessly switches from one scenario to the other, leaving you breathless trying to keep up.

The combination of such an interesting, complex main character and an action-packed, suspense filled, perfectly paced and satisfying plot is irresistible. Tell me you can’t hear Beck say, “And Al Pacino is not the brother of cappuccino. . . . Some things are obvious,” and not like this man. Or that you can’t help but wonder where that military drone came from, who is operating it and to what end, where the drugs are coming from? What even are they? What exactly is being smuggled? I could spend years learning more and more about Beck and enjoying being enveloped in such exciting stories. What will come next with his vision? Right now he’s a daylight man, and still sheriff. So smart, so intuitive, losing his sight is a really big deal. Is there another job waiting around the corner? What will that mean for his relationship with his family, especially his father who suffers from dementia?

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for providing an advance copy of Shades of Mercy via NetGalley. I was thrilled to receive it, thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend it without hesitation. I am hoping for another book featuring Porter Beck, but author Bruce Borgos’s writing is so exquisite I will be happy with anything he writes. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

"Shades of Mercy" has a little bit of everything -- teenage hacker extraordinaire, drug smuggling and gun running, a cartel, the opioid epidemic, a county sheriff losing his eyesight (i.e., with a disability), old friends who have grown apart, Chinese spies, forest fires, military drones, the NSA, complicated relationships, etc. The story has plenty of action and intrigue. The plot is complex and well developed, but even as the reader pieces together the various aspects of the story, the reader will likely be surprised by the intricacies and machinations involved.

Having finished "Shades of Mercy", I want to read the first book in the Porter Beck series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books & author Bruce Borgos for this arc!

Sheriff Porter Beck is back in full force with book 2 of this crime thriller series! Right away I knew I was going to love this guy! He’s witty, snarky & so smart! Nothing gets by him! The story itself is fast paced & action packed & will keep your heart racing to the finish! It’s like reading an action flick! Computer hackers, Mexican cartel, smuggling, military intel & more!

I really like the characters in Beck’s circle of people, too! They all bring their own uniqueness to the table & yet are easily relatable & kinda fun!

Note: Book 1 from the series: THE BITTER PAST is where we first meet Sheriff Beck & his crew as they work a case from the 1950s Cold War era brought to the surface by a brutal murder from the present. This one’s filled with Russian spies, nuclear test sites & espionage! Guys, it’s really good!

You don’t have to read these books in order, but do yourself a favor & just go ahead & grab ‘em both! You’ll thank me later!

I so enjoyed this read. The first novel in Borgos’ Porter Beck series was great, but I think his second installment was even better. Shades of Mercy has everything from exploding cows to computer hackers, from drug cartels to governmental cover ups, all sewn together seamlessly with non-stop action. I couldn’t read it fast enough, but then I was disappointed when it was over. I want more Porter Beck!

If you enjoy Craig Johnson’s Longmire series or C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels, you need to check out Bruce Borgos. Porter Beck will be one of those characters you want to hang out with. And I can’t wait to find out what his next adventure will be. I highly recommend Shades of Mercy. 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own.

I enjoy modern-day Western detective novels like Craig Johnson’s “Longmire” series and C.J. Box’s “Joe Pickett” books. I warmly remember the sadly short-lived T.V. series, “Cade’s County,” with Glenn Ford. So, I began reading Bruce Borgos’s “Shades of Mercy” with great anticipation, thinking I would get another dose of those aforementioned works, with the action moved to Nevada instead of Wyoming, Colorado, or Arizona. For most of the book, I got my wish. However, the author kept throwing in elaborate complications and espionage elements that seemed more at home in a Jack Ryan novel than in a Nevada desert. The result proved the adage; sometimes, less is more.

“Shades of Mercy” is the second novel in the author’s series featuring Porter Beck, the sheriff of Lincoln County, NV. The county lies due north of Las Vegas’s Clarke County and is home to 5,000 people. With plenty of mountains and desert and very few people, the county presents many opportunities for potential evildoers and equally many challenges for law enforcement officers like Beck. Here, he stumbles across a smuggling ring fronted by a former high school classmate who became a wealthy cattle rancher. Prime beef isn’t the rancher’s main source of income. Instead, it’s the guns smuggled to Mexico in cattle trucks destined for the rancher’s cartel partners and the drugs that come back.

Sheriff Beck’s efforts to stop the smuggling ring might have made for an entertaining novel. However, the author has far grander ideas, starting with a cast of supporting characters who seem like the creations of Tom Clancy. First, there’s the teenage super hacker named Mercy (hence, the novel’s name), whose abilities expand as “Shades of Mercy” continues. She commandeers a drone in the book’s first chapter and uses it to blast the rancher’s prized breeding bull to bits (cattle fare even worse in this book than humans). That incident first brings the sheriff to the scene. Then, U.S. government black hats from shadowy agencies pop in and out of the story every few chapters and always know considerably more than they reveal to Beck. Finally, there’s the Chinese “tourist” and his later-arriving associates. He’s straight out of Central Casting from the days of “The Manchurian Candidate,” spouting often-cliched dialogue about the glories of the homeland.

Compared to some of the supporting cast, Porter Beck is a likable, well-developed character. His skill set seems much greater than you’d expect for a sheriff of a Podunk county in the middle of nowhere. But the author takes care to give him some weaknesses and limitations that play into the storyline later. He also has an adopted sister named Brinley, who is an expert on all sorts of firearms and the in-demand weapons master on film sets. (Brinley appeared in the author’s first Beck novel, so the character predates the recent tragedy on the “Rust” movie set. However, I couldn’t help thinking of that real-life shooting when she was first introduced in “Shades of Mercy.”) Beck also has an aging father with dementia and a four-legged deputy named Columbo. Beck’s carefully established character traits make him a likable personality instead of a cartoon action hero.

The author keeps the plot moving for most of the novel, successfully juggling these characters and their subplots. “Shades of Mercy” has plenty of action with various shootouts and characters hiding in a mining ghost town and an abandoned ranch. Mercy is a likable but sometimes confused 16-year-old, even though I had difficulty accepting her skill level. But then, about two-thirds of the way through the book, the storyline gets too convoluted. Readers’ understanding of the characters changes every five pages as someone reveals new information. The villains’ masterplan, in which Mercy plays a significant role, never wholly makes sense. Mercy also enters into some high-stakes negotiations with a cartel boss over a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, a scene that seems more appropriate for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Fortunately, the author finishes the book on a solid note, with a major showdown featuring Beck, Brinley, and friends taking on assorted cartel members and Chinese agents as a forest fire rages around them.

I enjoyed “Shades of Mercy.” The novel has several solid action sequences and a core group of likable, charismatic characters who could anchor this series for a long time. Although the Nevada desert is a vast landscape, the book is, at heart, the story of a small-town sheriff. Hopefully, the author will show some mercy to his readers and rein in some of the more outlandish plot elements.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

Shades Of Mercy is the second book in the Porter Beck mystery series by Bruce Borgus. In the second book Porter gets a dog he names Colombo and he also gets called to his best friend cash’s house, who he finds dead of a fentanyl overdose. He and Cash grew up in the desert with their other best friend Jesse Roy who coincidentally is throwing his daughter a 17th birthday party when a hacker takes over a government drone and releases the bomb that was attached to it onto Jessies property. Porter is training Colombo or at least trying to to be a seeing eye dog due to his retina detachment getting worse when Special Agent Ed Maverick picks him up in his backyard in a helicopter. He wants porters help to find some thing he claims fell off a helicopter the night before. This is how he reunites with Jesse Roy after decades of not seeing him. It is also how Porter gets a glance at all the expensive toys Jesse has accumulated which is odd for a cattlemen in Nevada to have such a lavish and lucrative lifestyle. Once again sheriff Porter Beck gets wrapped up in a case that could have international repercussions it was started by a high school student. I really enjoyed the first book but I totally loved the second I found “mercy“ to be such a well put together character and one who definitely has the hell nerve the steel to go through with what she went through. I love Porter beck, his dad , his sister Brentley and his team. I think the author does a great job making like a ball and not so likable characters I love that his friends have the international flyer there’s just not anything not to like about this book. The mystery was a great one the tension was high and the fact that he had more than one bad guy really added to WTF is going to happen next. #SaintMartinPress, #NetGalley, #BruceBorgus, #ShadesOfMercy, #PorterBeckMysteries,

A confluence of unlikely and eventually deadly events unfold in rural Nevada.

In the area around the town of Pioche in the high desert of Nevada, worrisome things are going on which weigh on Sheriff Porter Beck. There are multiple wildfires across the state for which his team is providing assistance in the efforts to control them, there is a planned festival whose participants want to penetrate nearby Area 51 (of UFO fame), and on top of that people are dying in increasing numbers of fentanyl-laced opioid overdoses/poisonings. As the book begins, Beck is called to a local hotel where the owners’ son Cash Conrad lies unresponsive, but even an injection of Narcan can not revive him and he becomes the latest casualty. Cash, Beck and a third classmate, Jesse Roy, had been inseparable in their childhood and teens. Cash was a standout football star in high school and had a brilliant future ahead of him until he was severely injured during a game, leaving him with chronic pain which ultimately led to an addiction to painkillers. Jesse ended up marrying Beck’s high school girlfriend and first love, and expanded his family’s cattle ranch to become quite wealthy. When Beck is called to Jesse’s ranch to investigate the killing of a valuable steer by a stray military missile it seems an odd coincidence to have his two old acquaintances involved in events requiring his professional assistance, but they don’t seem to have anything in common. Beck’s background, however, has made him suspicious of coincidences, and he finds that autonomous military devices are being hacked and controlled by an unknown party while gifted teenaged hacker Mercy Vaughn is currently ensconced in a nearby juvenile facility (where she has become friendly with Jesse’s teenaged daughter Shiloah). A military investigator, the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations SA Ed Maddox, turns up wanting answers that Beck doesn’t yet have. Beck is also struggling with deteriorating eyesight that leaves him with essentially no night time vision and is sharing caregiver duties for his father Joe who has Alzheimer’s. He will need to rely on help from his adopted sister Brinley (a weapons maven with a nightmarish past), Charlie Blue Horse (a detective from the Dept of Public Safety), and to a degree from Maddox as he tries to find out how Mexican drug cartels, unknown hackers, and the Chinese government tie in to the criminal acts in Pioche….and hopes to live to tell the tale.
This is the second appearance of Porter Beck, who was introduced in last year’s stellar thriller The Bitter Past, and this outing is every bit as good as the first. Beck is an intriguing character, a man who left his small town years earlier only to return when his father (the previous sheriff) is failing. He brought with him years of experience of a type not generally found in a small town sheriff, which leads many (especially those with connections to the military and federal intelligence groups) to underestimate him as an opponent. His sister Brinley adds interesting dimensions, as do the people whom Beck has assembled as his law enforcement team. Plenty of strong female characters populate each of the Beck books….this is no lone alpha man scenario….and things are seldom as they appear on the surface in the crimes that make their way to Beck’s door. Expect a vivid sense of place, plenty of twists, a well-plotted story told with nuance and rich with detail. The Bitter Past made a huge impression on me when it was released, and I was thrilled to be allowed early access to this equally brilliant sequel….now I just have to wait (not so) patiently for the next in the series. Shades of Mercy is not to be missed for anyone who enjoys well-written thrillers and procedurals, particularly for fans of authors like John Sandford, Craig Johnson and C. J. Box (to name just a few). Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books….and kudos to author Bruce Burgos for another addictive read!

Sheriff Porter Beck is called to the drug death of a dear friend and is determine to track down where the drugs are coming from. Another of his friends has an attack on his farm by an experimental plane that is remote controlled by a hacker who targets the farm. Strange happenings in his town have Beck going in different directions.
I was hooked, this book grabbed me from the first page to the last. I really enjoyed it. This is a book for people who like page turners with plenty of action. Thanks Netgalley , Storm Publishing and the author for an ARC of this book. I will definitely be on the look out for this author.

Shades of Mercy is the 2nd book in the Porter Beck series, I enjoyed the first book in the series and I certainly enjoyed this book also. I found it to be action packed crime thriller that also contains police procedurals. Beck is the sheriff of Lincoln County, Nevada which is in the high desert and very sparsely populated. I found this to be very well written, and one that kept me constantly turning the pages. I would recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for free, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

An exciting thriller!
I love the desert setting and all the fast action. There is really no slowing down as the chief investigator tries to track down the culprit.
It also has a lot of savvy technology and resonates with important themes in modern society.
There are sad elements to the story but it does have an upbeat ending.

I love the fast paced action in the Porter Beck series. It keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thrill, twist or shock. This installment was no exception. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one because I needed to know how it was resolved. The descriptions of the desert and fire had me right in the middle of the action, smelling the smoke and seeing tumbleweeds rolling across the road. I love that Mr. Borgos' writing can make me feel like that!

I had recently read (listened to) the audiobook of the first Porter Beck novel, Bitter Past. I enjoyed the heck out of it. The book was easy to read, fast past, always was interesting. When I saw there was a sequel, I requested an advanced readers copy of Shades of Mercy, which I read in about 4 days. The book did not disappoint. It was also fast paced, had an interesting plot, and enabled the author to continue to develop his characters. This is not high level literature, but an action-packed read which is just enjoyable, and when it ends, you are ready for another book in the series. I hope that happens.

I really enjoyed this book! Sheriff Beck and his family, friends and staff are some of the most talented, amazing, and passionate individuals that you could ever imagine and you couldn’t ever ask for a better group of people to help you if you are in trouble. One of the most dangerous cartels from Mexico is running drugs through the area and have caused problems for one of the sheriff’s old friends and causes the death of another of his friends due to the drugs so they have no idea of the justice that they are about to receive. Add to that the appearance of the federal government because of the “alleged” problem of a computer hacker that the Chinese government is after and the annual influx of believers to Area 51 and an out-of-control wildfire and the area is pure chaos. There is no better solution to all these problems than Sheriff Beck and all his friends and colleagues. Highly recommend this book!!!