I didn't realize that this book was connected to another ([book:To Catch a Storm|60671783]). As in, I didn't even realize it until I finished and read a few reviews. This works as a stand alone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything regarding to this story, but I did have the thought that the author could have written a backstory about a few of the minor characters. Apparently she already did, lol.

A year ago, a large drug bust goes down, killing the kingpin and most of his crew and allowing police to seize millions of dollars worth of drugs. Now, a few of the remaining players have would up dead. A DEA agent thinks there is something to find and creates a task force. Local cop, Max, is paired up with criminal informant, Kara, so she can be bait. Kara insists there aren't any drugs left to find. And it is looking more and more like she is right and they are being sent on a mission they don't understand.

I enjoyed this quite a bit- the characters all had solid backstories, making them multi-dimensional. Kara was especially interesting because while she cannot feel physical pain, she sure carries around a lot of emotional pain. Not every book allows you to hope a criminal has a happily ever after, but I wanted that for Kara. She has lived through so much.

Justis Bolding and Brian Hutchison narrate the audiobook and both do a good job.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC. In audiobook format.

Mejia has a marvelous talent when it comes to creating nuanced, unusual (albeit likeable) charters, and this book is true to form.

Mindy Mejia’s “A World of Hurt” delves into the shadows of crime, redemption, and unlikely alliances. Set against the backdrop of an Iowa City drug empire, this novel weaves suspense with emotional resonance.

Kara Johnson, a reformed drug trafficker, and Max Summerlin, a determined cop, form an uneasy alliance. Their chemistry crackles as they hunt down the remnants of a hidden drug ring. Neither trusts the other, but survival forces them to cooperate.

Mejia maintains tension throughout, revealing secrets and miscalculations. The combative dynamic between Kara and Max keeps readers on edge, wondering who will break first.

Beyond the action, this book explores forgiveness, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. Kara’s grief (and inability to feel physical pain, coupled with Max’s chronic pain) add depth to their characters.

Narration: Justis Bolding and Brian Hutchison bring authenticity to the audiobook. Their voices enhance the gritty atmosphere and amplify the emotional stakes.

"A World of Hurt” delivers heart-pounding moments and thought-provoking themes.
For crime fiction fans seeking depth with their adrenaline, this is a must-read. 📖🔍

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and Recorded Books Media for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Mindy Mejia, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Justis Bolding and Brian Hutchison. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Kara Johnson is grieving the loss of her girlfriend, who sacrificed her life to save Kara's. Kara has a unique disability that allows her to feel so physical pain, and she's lived accordingly. The DEA offers Kara a choice to go to prison or to become an informant to find the last of the drug trafficking ring that killed her girlfriend. Max Summerlin is a cop who struggles with chronic pain after being shot twice. He becomes part of the DEA task force, which puts him in the job of working with Kara. The cop and the criminal have to find a way to work together.

While this is a follow-up to Mejia's, To Catch a Storm, which I thoroughly enjoyed, this is easily read as a stand alone, although I loved catching up with some great characters. It's an action-packed story and police procedural, even including once again the psychic visions of Jonah. Plus, it's set in the time of Covid and that plot element was very well done. It also included police protests and BLM as relevant themes for a book involving law enforcement. I hope this continues to be a series and we get more stories from this ensemble!