Wow, what a bada$$ of a book. Hard Town follows retired Detroit cop Kurt Argento as he unwittingly gets involved in a situation that unravels a conspiracy that is going to push him to his limits.

This novel is wild rollercoaster, it's a hard-hitting action flick, a thriller, a mystery, crime drama, and even a teensy bit of a character study of our MMC.

Although the plot is totally over the top, I felt completely engaged the whole time and it felt like some big budget action film but unfolding before me right on the pages. I found the main character, Kurt Argento to be so compelling. He is complex, interesting, morally gray, but also completely full of integrity to do the right thing. Although this was definitely an action book, there was just enough heart on the pages to keep me fully invested and wanting to know what happens next.

I've read quite a few thrillers, but not as many with a male author voice and Hard Town had some serious masculine energy and I am definitely here for it - love the action sequences, and the whole vibe.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for this eARC.

Kurt Argento is definitely a complicated character. His intentions seem to be based in good but how he accomplishes his "mission" is steeped in moral/ethical grey areas. He's not afraid to blur the lines to restore the order he believes there should be in a given situation. I like how the author is able to make you WANT Kurt to succeed, even if you don't always agree with his methods. Mr. Plantinga is also not afraid to be graphic in his description of things either - this might not be for everyone, but it works for the story.

Hard Town is different from The Ascent but if you liked the Ascent, you HAVE to read Hard Town. And if you haven't read the Ascent, well you should, but you definitely don't NEED to to read Hard Town - enough of the gaps are filled to get any references from the story in The Ascent.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC. #HardTown #NetGalley

The first book in a series was a bit of a surprise for me as the storyline was a lot more interesting that the premise. The action was relentless with very fast pacing. This one continues in the same vein and is a very enjoyable read as well. A thriller author to watch out

When I first received this book for review, I didn't realize that it was technically a sequel. It was fine to read this as a stand alone however. It follows Kurt Argento into his retired life where he is trying to move on from the events of the last book, but someone goes missing and he finds himself jumping back in to the action to help solve the mystery.

I found the main character, Kurt Argento to be so much fun to read. He was complex and interesting and I found myself rooting for him. I am so glad that Plantinga pulled him out of retirement to help solve this mystery.

The setting was great. The town was just the right amount of creepy to keep you guessing the whole time. I love each new piece of the puzzle as we all worked to figure out what was going on in the town.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a murder mysteries or fast paced thrillers.

This is a fabulous sequel to The Ascent (Jan 2024) and if you enjoy complicated, multi-faceted good guy, bad guy,
retribution you will drop everything and end up thrilled and exhausted in the best way possible. Sometimes things
just don’t come all planned out, and one thing leads to another and the good ceases to be what it seems. In the
genre I call ‘Law and Disorder’ the Author knows exactly how to set the scene for an explosive book from start to
finish, with heartfelt honesty through out the book. I expect this series to continue to grip readers for many future
books to come. Plantinga is a pro and this is the proof.
My thanks to Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of this book for review purposes.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Hard Town. Wow. This is really action packed with a intricate plot. This is graphic and hard hitting and some times heartbreaking.
A man who has lost mostly everything. Argento was a cop in Detroit but now he lives the live of a lonely man. His wife has passed but he has his faithful dog Hudson. One day every thing changes. A woman and her son approach him. They need help and Argento is the one she has chosen. Her husband is missing and she knows that she has to find out what happened to him.
She asks him to meet him in a small town in Arizona but she doesn’t show up. So Argento knows something is wrong and he has nothing but time on his hands.
This small town has a very strange culture. And he soon finds out that he is not wanted here.
What ensues is a true battle between the forces of evil and Argento is right in the middle. But can he survive without losing his soul.
Excellent this will be a series and I hope so!!!5 stars

Loved THE ASCENT. Enjoyed this just as much, if not more. Kurt Argento is a great character, and Plantinga's background in law enforcement shows, as the details of policing are top-notch. Highly recommended!

Hard Town packs hard hitting thrills and punches with intriguing moral dilemmas interspersed between suspenseful bits of crime solving and ass-kicking. You’ll be reading this without wanting to take even the smallest of breaks.

Adam Plantinga Is now my go to for action thrillers. I devoured this book. The author’s experiences and knowledge add a level of realism that can be missing in the genre. The Ascent was one of my favorite reads of the year and the sequel did not disappoint. The author did not gloss over how the events of the first book changed the main character. and that feels more genuine. I’m so happy this is a series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. Will definitely recommend.

When a plea for help sends retired Detroit cop Kurt Argento to the small desert town of Fenton, Arizona things immediately don’t appear to be as they seem, and he finds himself unraveling secrets... Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a great who done it and a few twists and turns. The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!