This was a book that was suggested to me and I'm so glad it was. It matched what I enjoy in a book perfectly. This story moved so quick with all the action and with the espionage suspense I had a hard time putting this down. Warning, the beginning is a bit intense.

Be still my heart! This book covers all my favorite genres: historical fiction, mystery, police procedural, espionage and thriller. It never disappointed and I never wanted to put the book down.

This first in series book shares two entwining story lines. There's the opening scene which is set in the present day Nevada desert, where Sheriff Porter Beck is on scene of a grisly death of an old man living out his final years quietly in a remote section of Beck's patch. Drawing on Beck's own international military expertise, there are signs at the death scene which place him on high alert. The alternating story is set in the same area, sixty-five years earlier, during the cold war as two super powers chase after atomic superiority. What all is going on at that top secret facility out in the Nevada desert and has it been compromised?

Author Bruce Borgos has done a spectacular job of setting the scene, steadily building tension throughout the story, bringing it to a full climax and then gently easing it to a satisfying conclusion. The writing is excellent and the characters are well developed. There's a certain charm to protagonist Sheriff Beck. He's not perfect and all the more admired for it. This was definitely a most satisfying thriller.

Triggers: minor sexual scenes, some rough language and graphic grisly detail

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher:‎ Minotaur Books
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
Hardcover:‎ 320 pages
ISBN-13:‎ 978-1250848079

"The Bitter Past" by Bruce Borgos is a compelling historical fiction that masterfully transports readers back in time, blending meticulous research with vivid storytelling. Borgos weaves a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and redemption, set against a backdrop rich in historical detail. The characters are deeply drawn, their struggles and triumphs resonating with authenticity and emotional depth. This book not only entertains but also illuminates the complexities of human nature against the tapestry of history. A captivating read for anyone fascinated by the power of the past to shape our lives.

Bitter Past, moves back and forth in time, in Nevada.

In the present, an elderly, retired FBI agent is horribly tortured, poisoned with thallium, and killed. Lincoln County Sheriff Porter Beck, who previously worked overseas in Army Intelligence, investigates.

Borgos takes readers back to 1955 Las Vegas, when Freddie Meyer and Katherine Ellison become a couple. Kitty's dad was a lead scientist at the nearby atomic testing site. Freddie was a KGB spy.

There are betrayals and surprises at every turn till Beck finds the answers he seeks.

"The Bitter Past" had me hovering between a 2 and a 3 star rating throughout, ultimately landing on the middle ground due to its intriguing premise and flashes of brilliance, sadly counterbalanced by some significant drawbacks.

The story jumps between present-day Nevada and the 1950s, weaving together two mysteries that ultimately collide. This kept things fresh and engaging, and I enjoyed the contrasting settings and historical details.

The core case involving a murdered scientist and hidden secrets piqued my interest from the start. The twists and turns, while not mind-blowing, were enough to keep me interested

Porter Beck, the ex-military-turned-sheriff, is a flawed but relatable character. His gruff exterior hides a sharp mind and a moral compass, making him someone I wanted to root for.

Aside from Porter, the supporting characters felt one-dimensional and at times, cliche. Their motivations and backstories were largely unexplored, leaving them feeling like plot devices rather than fleshed-out individuals.

The flirtatious interactions between Sana Locke and Porter Beck were cringy. Sana’s kittenish teasing and Porter’s inner dialogue about Sana did not fit the characters. Ultimately, it felt clunky and misplaced, hindering the overall reading experience.

"The Bitter Past" is a decent read with an interesting premise and a likable protagonist. However, the underdeveloped characters hold it back from greatness. If you're looking for a quick and entertaining mystery with a historical twist, it's worth a shot.

This first book in a series has a twisty plot that connects a present day murder with a Cold War past. Interesting mix of espionage thriller with police procedural.

"Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places. Now he's back home, doing the same lawman's job his father once did. In a case that unfolds in the past (the 1950s) and the present, it seems that a Russian spy infiltrated the nuclear testing site and now someone is looking for that long-ago, all-but forgotten person, who holds the key to what happened then and to the deadly goings on now."

This wasn't my favorite thriller I've ever read but the plot was really solid. Police procedural, spy novel, and some historical aspects as well. What really threw me was the MMC's attitude towards his partner. He kept making unnecessary comments about her body and her looks. He even alluded to them eventually having a relationship even though they just met. It felt very icky to me, and if it had been left out or dialed back then the story would have been great.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

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.

Porter Beck is the county sheriff and he followed in his father's footsteps. When an old retired GBI agent is murdered, Beck begins investigating with the assistance of Sana Locke, a current FBI agent. They quickly discover that he was investigating an incident from the 1950s involving a nuclear warhead. At the same time, a young Mormon wife disappears. For the first time that Beck can recall, he's investigating two crimes at the same time.

Interspersed with the investigations, is the story of Freddie Meyer, who is working at a casino and meets Kitty Ellison. He befriends her and they start dating. He meets her father, who gets him a job.

The way the past intersects with the present is very nicely done. This was my first book by this author and thought it was very well written.

This book was so clever… I absolutely loved it! I hope they have more Porter Beck books coming out as this would make an exceptional series! The KGB and backstory was well done and tied into the now story beautifully. I was surprised by the twist and loved the quirky characters!

What a fantastic debut for a series! I loved the pacing, meeting Porter Beck and all the twists, especially the one at the end! Amazing character development, fast paced reading and a great start to a series.
Thankful for the ARC!

Be warned, this book has a very gruesome start! However it is brief (stick with it) and makes for a very quick introduction to Sheriff Porter Beck and his team as they quickly work the crime scene. I instantly liked Porter, even if I did find his constant thoughts on the female body to be annoying. He is highly intelligent and has an incredible memory, making his crime solving skills top notch. He also suffers from night blindness, which makes him vulnerable after dark. This story is told in both the past and the present, with two main characters which eventually intersect in the present to solve the mystery. The pace moves along quickly and the book is a fairly quick read. I would call this a mixture of police procedural and historical fiction. 4.5 stars rounded up.

I understand this is book one in a series and I'm excited to read more of Porter Beck in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is the first book in the Porter Beck series. The dual-timeline story weaves together a modern-day murder mystery with the Cold War and nuclear testing of the 1950s. I was reminded of a couple of recent television series, The Americans and Big Sky. I will definitely be watching for the author's next book in this series. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and the author for a copy to read and review.

I was hoping the police procedural aspect of this would be enough to hold my attention but unfortunately it wasn't. The espionage and whatnot storyline just ultimately was not for me. I can definitely see there being a certain audience for this book however which is why it's still getting a 3 star rating from me.

The Bitter Past is a mix of police procedural and espionage thriller, told via a past and present timeline.

This story takes place in the Nevada desert, near the area where nuclear testing was done back in the 1950s. The author does an excellent job of capturing that time in history, giving us some emotional and thought-provoking content.

The characters are well developed, complex people, shaped by their backgrounds and life choices. Sheriff Porter Beck makes a fascinating main character. My one issue was with his attitude toward and relationship with agent Sana Locke, which was unprofessional and unnecessary to the story.

The plot is solid, with steady pacing and surprising twists.

Bonus points because this first book in the Porter Beck series has a solid ending, no cliffhangers or loose ends!

*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the free copy!*

Fascinating story about the beginning of nuclear tests in the Nevada desert, with some espionage thrown in! An interesting mystery thriller, the desert felt like a separate character. Gripping and well written, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Most books set in Nevada focus on the cities, either Las Vegas or Reno. Not so with Borgos introduction to his Porter Beck series. Porter is a rural county Sheriff. A seasoned lawman, Porter
now has a debilitating eye disease, one that is threatening his career. Now his quiet county is rocked with brutal murders, and a mystery that crosses generations. The duel plots one dealing with an attempt to steal a nuclear weapon, the other to uncover an assassin lead the reader into page turning adventures. Borgos in interviews states he is a 'plotter' not a 'pantser'. This shows in the intricate
layers of suspense. Both his protagonist, and his secondary characters are very well drawn. It is always a pleasure when a debut author hits a home run. I look forward to his next book, Shades of Mercy, which should be released this coming July.
Highly recommended.

Quickly saying this...I know this is past publication date, but I am in school, and I am going to rapid fire these reviews as I have gotten through many reads from NetGalley.
I enjoyed how this book combined mystery, espionage, crime, conspiracy belief, and even some delightful comedy to mix in with this book. This was my first read by Bruce Borgos, and it won't be my last. I want more of Porter Beck. I love the character development. And I also really enjoyed the alternate timelines!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, even though I am slightly late at giving it.

This book had a very complex and detailed storyline that I thought I’d love but did not. The main character had just got done describing how woke his very rural small town us then the next chapter he is describing and treating a female FBI agent like it’s the 1950s. I did speed read to the end and I can see where some people would love this book but I just did not. I won’t be reading the next book in the series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review.