4.5★s
The Hills Be Shaken is the second novel by American engineer and author, Michael Stewart. When the Tuttle Creek dam near Manhattan, Kansas, fails on the fourth of July holiday, and ten thousand people die, officials claim it’s due to an earthquake, but experts aren’t convinced. The idea that it may have been a terrorist act gains momentum when there’s a threat against a bridge somewhere in Kansas.

Officer Sam McGuire recalls stopping an armed woman in a Manhattan park on the day. Detective Mickey Shepherd feels they need more officers to question witnesses for clues about whathappened. Retired FBI agent Don Baptiste has been recalled to duty to investigate what really happened during the thing they’re calling The Little Apple Nine-Eleven.

Topeka engineer Moses Haley lost a family member to the disaster, and while his expertise isn’t with dams or bridges, a paper he’s written brings him to the attention of the FBI and the Secret Service. He’s stunned to be pulled out of his Sunday mass for an audience with the highest power in the land. But even more amazing is being recruited into a new division of the FBI, which includes learning to shoot a Glock 23.

In concert with Manhattan PD, Mose methodically investigates, picking up on small elements, uncovering clues, following leads and making deductions. But as he and Sam get closer to learning the truth, there are threats to his family; Mose is shot at, almost drowns, and attempts are made on the lives of his colleagues.

As well as a few engineers, Stewart populates his tale with corrupt county officials and engineering company managers, a persistent journalist, a sole survivor with amnesia, a woman with hidden explosives expertise, and observant detail-oriented investigators. Before the final revelation, there is a bomb threat, a stabbing, a dramatic climax inside a wind turbine, and a spectacular helicopter rescue.

Mose makes an interesting character as his engineering background often gives him a different perspective on what he learns, and a different approach to investigation. The versatile perpetrator employs drowning, a motor vehicle accident, poisoning and shooting, leading to a not-insignificant body count. The plot includes a few Lazarus moments might require the reader to don their disbelief suspenders, but this is an excellent police procedural and more of this cast will be most welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Books Go Social.

I picked this up off of NetGalley and then the author doubled down and offered me the audio too! I went with the narration by Eric Baker for the sake of time, and he did a good job.

Right off the bat, I love a concise and simple cover, but I do wish this one had a little more along the lines of something plot/setting specific.

This is a multi-POV crime novel with mystery, betrayal, and a lot of twists and turns. New FBI agents work with their new division to investigate possible terrorist works involving American infrastructure. Slow works in hopes of making a coordinated attack in the future. Starting with a dam’s destruction that could be natural or sinister. Something just doesn’t feel right.

This was fast paced and enjoyable. I did feel like there were some issues with setting, where I didn’t know where the character was, or if I did, it wasn’t described enough. But with it being FBI and countrywide, they were in a lot of places.

Also, the dam incident went on to be called ‘Little 9/11,’ and personally that just didn’t sit well with me as the name overall. Personally a 3/5*.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins on a normal 4th of July when the unexpected happens. A dam gives way and there are many lives lost as well as massive damage. Moses, an engineer, is taking a break on the top of the roof of the building he works in, when he is suddenly arrested. After spending time in jail, he is finally released by his boss paying his bond. Sometime later while Moses is with his family, he is requested by members of the Secret Service to go to Washington for a meeting. At the meeting, Moses provides information regarding safety issues which impresses Don, a retires FBI agent, who asks him to join a new team of the FBI being formed with engineers like him. Moses thinks it over and decides to except. Moses then goes to Quantico for training. When he completes the training, he is assigned to a Kansas office where he is to investigate the dam incident.

During his investigation, Moses is assigned to work with Sam and Mikey. Mickey time seems to be taken up with speaking engagements so Moses deals primarily with Sam. As the investigation proceeds many events and an accident happens.

To discover what Moses was able to determine, what events led to the final discovery to the responsible party as well as what the result of Don and Sam changing meetings then you need to red this book, it will definitely keep your interest.

Outstanding novel, brilliantly written and one hell of an explosive story. Little 9/11 has shaken the Police, the FBI and the people of Manhattan, Kansas to the core. As the story develops there are many twists and turns that lead to a very surprising finale. Highly recommended read and worthy of five stars.