I have read all of Mr. Wortham's novels to-date, and have enjoyed most all of them. For me, the rural setting and culture are attractions and I find the books to be well written. However, while I liked previous books, I think the setting, culture, and characters have, for me, begun to wear thin. While the plot line is completely believable, it is not particularly interesting or unique. If you have never read Mr. Wortham, then I think you would probably enjoy this book. If you have read his novels, you too may decide it is time to move on.

This book could have been great, but it tried way too hard to be southern grit. A lot of mayhem in the beginning, but then the book had nowhere else to go. The writing is good, but the story itself was over the top.

If you’re looking for non-stop action, this is a must-read. The protagonist hits the ground running going after some bad bad guys. The characters are well developed and the hard-charging.Tucker Snow doesn’t worry about rules as he chases his prey.

Tucker Snow worked with his brother Harley as Texas law officer’s hunting down narcotics dealers. Tuck moves with his teenaged daughter to a remote area of the state near the Oklahoma border after the death of his wife and toddler. He had no idea that his ranch property borders on a ramshackle trailer, home to a meth dealer. After an encounter with his neighbor, all hell starts to slowly break loose.

Wortham superbly ratchets up the tension over the course of this fast read. There are crooked cops, despicable meth dealers and straight laced lawmen that populate the book. Tuck and his brother are just such well drawn characters. I just could not put the book down, and raced through the pages to see what would happen next. Well plotted and written.

My thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing an ARC of Hard Country, due out August 2, 2023.

Hard Country
A Thriller
by Reavis Z. Wortham
Better buckle up your seatbelt for this wild ride! Tucker Snow is as tough as they come, hardened by decades of working as an undercover narcotics agent for the Texas Department of Public Safety. After the loss of his wife and child. Tucker Snow is no man to be played with. There is a new meth raging in his place and a car with a warning. great characters that you will NEED to finish as face as your mind can take.