Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 ℙ𝕒𝕤𝕥: 𝔸 𝕄𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕪
𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐬
Police Procedural
320 pages

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs

Sheriff Porter Beck is put in a pickle when he finds himself on two cases: one a missing woman and the other a murder. As he investigates, he finds the murder relates to Russia and something in the past.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

The Bitter Past rotates between the present and the past. Both are full of intrigue and action and kept me guessing about what would happen and how the two connected.

I enjoyed Sheriff Beck with his smart talk and near photographic memory. He came across as a fine-looking country boy with smarts to boot. The plot is fascinating, especially the chapters dealing with a nuclear bomb. Then comes the ending, filled with revelations that bring everything together.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and made me read late into the night until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Well-written and full of mystery, The Bitter Past was a book I could dig my teeth into.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Genre/tropes: fiction, mystery, conspiracy theory, dual timelines, Cold War
CW/TW: gruesome crime scenes,

Porter Beck formerly worked in intelligence and is now a sheriff in a town outside of Las Vegas. He arrives at a crime scene where a retired FBI agent has been brutally murdered. Beck already catches that this is an unusual crime scene, and that’s confirmed when Sana, a young FBI agent shows up to investigate. She reveals that someone is hunting down former agents from the ‘50s. The reason lies in the past having to do with Russian spies infiltrating top secret research and development at the military base back then. Whoever it is is looking for the Soviet spy who betrayed his country.

I hadn’t read anything like this where part of it is set during the Cold War. It was kind of refreshing for me. I got caught up in the mystery and the urgency to locate the ex Soviet spy who’s living out the rest of his life in the area. The dual timeline helps to set up the tension perfectly. Beck’s an interesting character - slightly macho (especially when flirting with Sana), and also reckoning with his own flaws that could be hindering him at his job. There’s a family element, too, that’s quite touching, though I struggled to understand his sister’s part in this story. More so why her character was necessary when anyone in his department could’ve fulfilled that role and skills.

I was a little let down that I guessed who they were looking for, but … plot twist! Something else happened that surprised me! So I felt that the story redeemed itself there.

I enjoyed reading this debut. It was different for me, and action-oriented. If you’re interested in a quick mystery/thriller, check this one out.

*This review originally posted on August 12, 2023.

This was a lot of fun! I thoroughly enjoyed Porter Beck as a protagonist and would definitely check out the next Porter Beck novel. There were a few minor things that bothered me -- for instance, Sana Locke didn't have much to do throughout the book other than be Porter's love interest and source of intel. I appreciated the effort at diversity in including her character, but I just wished she had more agency. She was pretty passive and really was only there to provide Beck with information. Also, the way Porter hankers after her right from the start made me roll my eyes a little, but it was more with a grin and not the sense that he was being creepy at all. He's just a man noticing a woman and appreciating her physical traits, which are all the more attractive to him because she's intelligent and can go toe-to-toe with him in a game of wits.

The ending, when I got there, felt predictable, but I appreciated all the twists and turns that led to it. Also, setting this novel in the Nevada desert somehow gave it an old world, cowboy sort of charm to it. That was definitely something I liked as well.

Great all the way around!

Police procedural meets historical fiction. This was a little different than what I normally go for but i did end up enjoying it. Some of it was action packed and then there were chapters that were very slow. I thought the pacing was a little clunky. I also wasnt a fan/didnt buy the romantic element and thought we could have done without.

Oh, this was a good one! Dual timeline, 1950s during the beginning of the nuclear testing program in Nevada. Modern day, Porter Beck is working as the sheriff after recently returning after serving as Army Intelligence. A retired FBI agent is found murdered (points for a unique death). The mystery was a good one, but getting to know Porter Beck and the other supporting characters were the best part. Great character development, suggested for Bosch or other Michael Connelly books. I would read more by this author and look forward to more books in this series.

Title: "The Bitter Past" by Bruce Borgos - A Riveting Historical Thriller

Rating: ★★★★☆

I had the privilege of reading an advanced reader copy of "The Bitter Past" by Bruce Borgos, and it proved to be a captivating historical thriller that masterfully weaves together intrigue, suspense, and richly detailed settings.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the novel follows the life of John Marley, an American spy who embarks on a perilous mission in Nazi-occupied France. Borgos skillfully transports readers to the tumultuous era, immersing them in the harsh realities of war-torn Europe. The story is brimming with tension and intrigue as John navigates a web of secrets, betrayals, and espionage. Borgos' meticulous research is evident in the authenticity of the historical details, creating a vivid and immersive experience for the reader.

What sets "The Bitter Past" apart is its well-drawn characters. John Marley is a compelling protagonist whose complexities and moral dilemmas add depth to the narrative. His relationships with other characters, particularly the enigmatic Marguerite, are richly developed and enhance the story's emotional resonance. While the pacing can be a bit uneven at times, the overall narrative is gripping, keeping the reader eagerly turning the pages. I would like to express my gratitude to both NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to explore this advanced reader copy. "The Bitter Past" is a four-star historical thriller that seamlessly combines history and suspense, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Bruce Borgos has crafted a story that pays homage to the heroes of World War II while delivering an enthralling tale of espionage and courage.

Pitched for readers of Craig Johnson and C.J. Box, Bruce Borgos's debut introduces us to what I believe will be an enduring new character in crime fiction, Sheriff Porter Beck. Set in Nevada, this series starter unfolds over two timelines--1950's and present day. Though dark, I loved how the author introduced dashes of humor, particularly among the law enforcement characters. The writing is smooth and assured. And the plot moves. We're hurtled into the story at the gruesome crime scene of a old, retired FBI agent. In the journey to discover his killer, we're front row participants of a fast-moving bullet of a story that dates back five decades to a particularly vivid Russian spy. Recommended!

Overall, I liked it. It would have been a 4-star read for me but the main character is SO misogynistic that it was unbearable sometimes. The way he easily hit on the FBI Agent (and she was his superior!) without a second thought? Gross. There were some good twists toward the end, and I liked the 50’s timeline a lot.

I loved reading this one!! It was my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I loved his writing style and the characters in this. I could not put this down once I started it.

3.5⭐
Genre ~ police procedural
Series ~ Porter Beck, #1
Setting ~ Nevada
Publication date ~ July 18, 2023
Page Count ~ 310 (22 chapter)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 1 minutes
Narrator ~ James Babson
POV ~ single 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now and the past (1957), espionage, spy, torture, murder

Beck is former military intelligence, and now the sheriff in a small town in Nevada. He's working on a case that brings FBI agent, Sona, in.

I thought all characters were well developed. I liked both Beck and Brinley, his sister. I could have done without the insta-love between Beck and Sona.

I was at 3 stars for most of the book, but decided to round up because I liked that I didn't see the twist coming. I'm not big on espionage thrillers, or historical fiction for that matter, but I do like dual timelines and I felt they were nicely tied together. I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book in the series or not right now. It comes out in July 2024, so I have some time to decide.

I was fortune enough to have a kindle copy and an audio copy.
Narration notes:
He was pleasant to listen to.

First let me say I received this book to review from Netgalley and St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books. This isn't my normal genre to read but I do enjoy changing things up every so often.

If you enjoy historical fiction with espionage this book is for you.

This is a solid 3.5 -4 stars and for fans of this genre, it is probably a 5 star read!

This one wasn't for me. The sexism was a bit much and the way the main character explains police procedures to the female fbi agent like she's a child was just bad.

The only reason this is getting two stars is because I did enjoy the interesting backstory.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a great set of characters and the plot will keep you turning the pages. It's a great read that you don't want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a trip. The book is told in two timelines and was very informative while also keeping the story (fiction) alive and interesting. I enjoyed the book! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

This book is really good! A little slow in the beginning, but the alternating chapters between present day and the past blend well together and help tie up the loose ends nicely. There are a couple major twists written well and weren't as easy to figure out.

This book has everything

Nuclear weapons
Russian Spies
A dead body with the skin removed
Small town Sheriff with a past
Polygamy cult
Cold War Espionage
Unfortunate love

Nope. I cannot
"0 body fat. A BMI for a BMW. Results are in, she's the match for me"
This book is the meme of men writing women. Dear God

The Bitter Past is the first book in the Porter Beck series, I found this to be an interesting read one that kept me turning the pages until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Interesting read. A story about a former army officer returning home to Lincoln county Nevada to be a sheriff. Nothing really happens in that town he cannot handle. Until one day they find a former FBI agent murdered which leads to secrets from the past coming out in connecting the mystery of today.

*****UNPOPULAR OPINION*****

I felt like that this was a "been there and done that" kind of book when it comes to a spy/espionage thriller with murder. The characters were also really dull and seemed very immature despite their nature of work as spies. If this was supposed to be spy novel, why the heck was there a romantic side plot? PICK A GENRE, AND STICK WITH IT!!

I DID LIKE the past and present timelines that made this a little more interesting to read. I also like that you did not know who the actual spy was closer to the end of the book. I did see the big plot twist coming BUT i did not know who it was going to be about. The issue with the who was because there were so many damn names in the book to keep track of and some do not even have a point.

I enjoyed some parts of this book but glad when it was over. It was a frustrating read for me. This book was clearly not for me but I know other readers will like it. Not interested in the sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bruce Borgos and St Martins Press Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already avaiable

This book is really good! There is humor, a little bit of sexual chemistry, and a lot of mystery to keep you entertained. The alternating chapters between present day and the past blend well together and help tie up the loose ends nicely. There are a couple major twists written well and weren't as easy to figure out. I would read more books in this series and other books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.