Shades of Mercy
by Bruce Borgos
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
Thanks to the auth0r, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
In the usually quiet high desert of Nevada, Sheriff Porter Beck faces one of his greatest challenges—a series of unlikely, disturbing and increasingly deadly events of unknown origins.
I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover and the recommendation of one of my favorite authors, Craig Johnson, 0n the cover.
Bruce Borgos is the author of three - soon to be four - novels. His latest, THE BITTER PAST, is the first in a mystery series starring Sheriff Porter Beck of Lincoln County, NV. Book #2, SHADES OF MERCY, is scheduled for publication in July, 2024.

Shades of Mercy is the second book in the series, but you do not have to read the first in order to enjoy this one. I have to say, I was addicted to this story from the beginning. If you enjoy lots of action and raw details, this is a great read! The twists at the end totally make the story and Sheriff Beck is a fabulous character! So glad I found this author for more awesome cop fiction to come.
5 stars

Sheriff Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada. His small department (12 people) cover a large territory and are currently helping assist with evacuating people in the path of some large wildfires. One of Beck’s oldest friends is found dead of an overdose from some opioids laced with fentanyl. Another old childhood friend is now a wealthy rancher whose prize bull is killed by a military drone that was hacked. Beck wonders if this was random or was the bull targeted specifically to send a message to the rancher. Beck is also suspicious of the rancher’s great wealth - it seems to far exceed what a cattle rancher would earn. As Becktries to figure out who hacked into the controls of the military drone, federal agents also appear on the scene and soon a local teenager being held at a juvenile facility becomes the center of everyone’s attention. The hacker is also sending emails to Beck so it involves him directly and makes it his case. The teenager, Mercy! Goes missing and Beck must find her before anyone can as he feels more is going on than anyone is aware of. This is the second Porter Beck book but it also stands alone. The characters are great - Beck, a small town sheriff with an army intelligence background, who most people underestimate but also has issues with night blindness.; Brin - Beck’s adopted sister, a gun expert and sharp-shooter; Columbo- Beck’s dog; Mercy - the teenage computer genius; and so many more. The story moves along at a fast pace and is very interesting - I read it in one day. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book is set to be published July 16, 2024.

Thoroughly enjoyable action adventure with a hint of military intelligence from a new to me author. This is the second book in the series but not having read the first book I felt like I had no issues following the story.

Beck is a likeable main character reminiscent of ex military turned cop types that have hidden skills that make the story work.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the second installment of the Porter Beck Mystery series, and I was thrilled to get my hands on this ARC. Bruce Borgos did not disappoint with this page turner. The story revolves around incidents in Beck's jurisdiction that can only be caused by a hacker.

Shades of Mercy kept me enthralled as Porter and his cohorts raced to save the young hacker after she disappeared with both a drug cartel and a foreign government as possible suspects in her abduction.

Bruce Borgos is an auto buy for me after reading this one. I can’t wait for the next book in the Porter Beck Series. 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shades of Mercy
a Porter Beck thriller is set in rural Nevada. Beck is a sheriff of a small town but large area. His deptartment is understaffed and overwhelmed with fires and fentanyl overdoses. Beck is a very good sheriff with a military investigative background so he tends to be underestimated.
A high school buddy is one of the fentanyl casualties so he is very motivated to find who is supplying it. Add to that a mysterious drone hack with feds arriving and Porter Beck has his hands full.
This is the second Porter Beck mystery and definitely worth reading. The author has created a fast paced thriller with engaging characters and a few mysteries to solve.
Definitely recommend!

With his team stretched thin monitoring wildfires, Sheriff Beck has limited support to help him when one childhood friend dies from illegal opioids and another has his ranch targeted by a hacked military drone. Beck’s investigation leads him to teenage hacker Mercy Vaughn, but when she disappears, Beck knows there is danger to them all if he doesn’t find her quickly…

The investigation moved at a steady and engaging pace, making it easy to keep turning pages. With multiple agencies converging over these crimes, additional conflicts and dangers emerged for Beck to navigate.

I enjoyed Beck’s relationship with his sister, Brinley, as she helped him with the investigation. And Beck’s chemistry with Charlie was believable, their growing connection slow and sincere.

For most of the book, the narrator voice shifted POVs smoothly and that kept me guessing as more clues and theories were exposed. In some scenes, there was head jumping, but it wasn’t disorienting.

Overall, this combo detective novel and spy thriller was interesting and action-packed.

This is the second book in series but can be read as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

<i>Shades of Mercy</i> is the second in the Porter Beck series by Bruce Borgos, but you don't have to have read the first book to thoroughly enjoy this one.

Set in the Nevada desert, Beck, the local sheriff, is called to investigate the apparent drug induced death of a lifelong friend. Then, a rocket is launched from a remotely controlled government drone and seems to target the prize bull belonging to another of Beck's boyhood friends. Are these events related? Getting to the why and how involves Mercy, an inmate at the juvenile detention center. Who is she? What has she got to do with these, and the continuing strange events?

This is an exciting adventure; a fast-paced and complex mystery. I highly recommend it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of <i>Shades of Mercy</i>!

Bruce Borgos is a new author to me, but I sure enjoyed Shades of Mercy (Porter Beck, #2) . The book had action, tension, suspense and a few gorey sceens. The characters were well developed, and both likeable and unlikeable as designed. I also liked the strong female characters that played critical roles in the story.

I wish to thank the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Shades of Mercy!

Expected publication is July 16, 2024, the book will be published in all formats.

For me this was a five out of five star read.

There have been many unusual detectives in fiction throughout the years: blind, wheelchair bound, old, young, clerical and many more. Borgos gives us a fascinating addition to the genre. Parker Beck has Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease that is leaving him basically blind at night. He is currently the sheriff of a small town in Nevada, near the testing ground for the US government’s nuclear testing. In Shades of Mercy, Beck, his adopted sister Brinley, and the rest of the sheriff’s team need to find out how and why someone cyber-hijacked a new government drone, who is behind the increase in fentanyl-laced drugs in the county, and what is Beck’s old friend hiding.
This book is fast-paced with several layers of bad guys, wonderful descriptions of the Nevada scenery, and a sympathetic hero who can put together the clues as well as save the day.
This is the 2nd in the series, and while I read the 1st one (The Bitter Past) after this, it is probably better to read them in order.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me with this pre-pub ebook. You can’t go wrong with a St. Martin’s Press book, especially their mysteries.

Bruce Borgos’ second book in the Porter Beck series is a great follow up to the debut and packs a punch the entire way. This series is quickly becoming a must read for me. In this novel, Beck is investigating an unusual incident at an old friend’s ranch. What he finds leads him to believe there is more to the story, and as he uncovers each piece of the mystery, more questions need answers. With his sister Brinley and his friends from various law enforcement departments, they all uncover the intricate web of lies and deceit and as always, the good people prevail.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

This book would make a good guy-movie. Lots of testosterone. Lots of action and lots of very long chase scenes. Lots of killing and maiming.

Decent plot, but the plot was secondary to all the action. I guess the hero is the sheriff, but the “hero” could easily be a “heroine,” the sixteen year old girl who was the cyber & tech genius.

This should have wide appeal. I didn’t read the original book, but obviously the sheriff has already been set up for a series. Now it looks like the author is setting up the girl for future collaboration.

Fun read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for this early reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bruce Borgos’ Shades of Mercy is an engaging novel that masterfully explores themes of justice, redemption, and human nature. Set in a small town, the story features richly developed characters grappling with moral dilemmas and personal struggles. Borgos’ vivid sense of place and well-paced narrative blend intense drama with introspective moments, making the town itself feel like a character.

The protagonist’s journey is compelling, showcasing growth and transformation in response to challenges. Borgos’ lyrical and precise writing captures emotional nuances authentically. While some familiar tropes appear, they are presented with a fresh perspective that keeps the reader invested.

Overall, Shades of Mercy is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that resonates long after the final page. It’s a worthy addition to any reader’s bookshelf.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Book 2, and nice addition to the series. Well written and good characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Bruce Borgos and ‘Shades of Mercy’ will always come to mind now when I hear the phrase, ‘...when pigs fly’. No pigs fly in this book, but steers get the unlucky short end of the stick.

𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝

1. 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜
Sheriff Porter Beck has a unique past, is from a line of former sheriffs, has an adopted sister for a sidekick and suffers from a progressive disability - retinitis pigmentosa (night blindness) - not optimal for someone in his position. He’s often underestimated and he uses it to his advantage. I’ve loved seeing his character arc develop and know I’m in for the long haul!

2. 𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨
Borgos shows that sparsely populated Lincoln County, Nevada is a haven for cartels, unsavory cattle haulers/dealers, drug smugglers, and cyber warfare.

3. 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨
The choice of a teenage delinquent mixed with society’s preconceived notions and expectations of their limitations is a perfect blend. I loved how Borgos dolled out just enough information about this mysterious teen to keep me reading to the final page.

4. 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧
The author’s hint of sarcasm mixed with his ability to show-not-tell and his inherent desire to teach his readers creates a book that readers will struggle to put down. I loved his insight into people’s body language when they’re concealing the truth, how hunters carry a weapon, and the Uyghurs and their unique genetic heritage.

I was swept up in a tale featuring a hacked military drone, hacked Federal Reserve, cartel and dark web activity, Area 51, remotely piloted aircraft, cyber warfare, zero-days, ravaging wildfires, the war against drugs, and Titan Rain.

Borgos definitely 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 to inhabit the setting. He writes a 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 and leaves readers with a 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦.

I loved how his golden retriever’s name ended up in the book.

Thanks to the wonderful team at St. Martin’s Press for putting this author and series in my crosshairs. I’m a staunch follower now.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This is the second book in the Porter Beck series, so many of the characters were already familiar and that was nice. This time around there wasn’t as much emphasis on Porter’s family and the past, which is understandable, but I did miss that a little. However, the story was very fast paced and exciting. And, best of all, Porter has an adorable dog named Columbo now. My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

This book Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos is not my normal genre however, I am glad I veered off and read it. I especially liked the main character Sheriff Porter Beck and others were also extremely likable. The story was action packed and kept you interested and not wanting to stop reading, you have to see what's coming next. Dealing with losing his sight and imminently losing his job Beck now has to deal with a deadly drug infiltration into his small town. Then there is the problem of unexplained unmanned mechanical attacks that are simply impossible to explain. This book is well written with very likable characters even if its not your normal genre I suggest you do take a chance and get it! Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC this is totally my honest opinion.

I requested this book as it is the second in the series and I enjoyed the first one. This one involves the government and China with technology crimes. It is easy to figure out who is responsible for the hack, as Porter does, but takes time to determine the reasons for them. A good, engaging, fast paced read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Shades of Mercy is the second book in the Porter Beck series and can be read as a standalone.

Porter is the sheriff in a mostly empty part of Nevada, adjacent to the Government's Nevada Test Site. When there is a rash of drug-related deaths and computer-hacker activities in his county, Porter has to solve the problem. In his search for answers, he meets Mercy, a teenager who is a computer whiz, but is incarcerated and supposedly isolated from computers. Is Mercy helping the situation or is she part of the mystery or both?

Porter is hampered in his investigation by an eye disease which is slowly stealing his night-vision. His dog Frank Columbo, named after the famous TV detective, helps in the investigation.

This is an action-packed story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to future installments in the Porter Beck series.

Fairly isolated desert location with great characters and action. Enjoyed this book, hadn't read the previous but plan to now. Lots of twists and turns with outer agencies coming in to make a mess for the sheriff's office who's just trying to do his job. Who to trust, who to believe adds to the sheriff's job and then he meets a young girl who he recognizes needs help but is so much more than she seems and he knows it immediately on meeting her. He earns her trust just by being honest with her. Suspenseful, action packed thriller was a quick read to find out what's going to happen next. Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Shades of Mercy!

Shades of Mercy by Bruce Burgos This was a fun adventure from beginning to the end. The author is said to be in love with words and stories. It certainly shows in this novel so much that I will now purchase his first novel in this series. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy a cast of characters you will long remember. Maybe we will even see them up on a movie screen in the future. I hope so! Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.