An exciting thriller!
I love the desert setting and all the fast action. There is really no slowing down as the chief investigator tries to track down the culprit.
It also has a lot of savvy technology and resonates with important themes in modern society.
There are sad elements to the story but it does have an upbeat ending.

I love the fast paced action in the Porter Beck series. It keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thrill, twist or shock. This installment was no exception. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one because I needed to know how it was resolved. The descriptions of the desert and fire had me right in the middle of the action, smelling the smoke and seeing tumbleweeds rolling across the road. I love that Mr. Borgos' writing can make me feel like that!

I had recently read (listened to) the audiobook of the first Porter Beck novel, Bitter Past. I enjoyed the heck out of it. The book was easy to read, fast past, always was interesting. When I saw there was a sequel, I requested an advanced readers copy of Shades of Mercy, which I read in about 4 days. The book did not disappoint. It was also fast paced, had an interesting plot, and enabled the author to continue to develop his characters. This is not high level literature, but an action-packed read which is just enjoyable, and when it ends, you are ready for another book in the series. I hope that happens.

I really enjoyed this book! Sheriff Beck and his family, friends and staff are some of the most talented, amazing, and passionate individuals that you could ever imagine and you couldn’t ever ask for a better group of people to help you if you are in trouble. One of the most dangerous cartels from Mexico is running drugs through the area and have caused problems for one of the sheriff’s old friends and causes the death of another of his friends due to the drugs so they have no idea of the justice that they are about to receive. Add to that the appearance of the federal government because of the “alleged” problem of a computer hacker that the Chinese government is after and the annual influx of believers to Area 51 and an out-of-control wildfire and the area is pure chaos. There is no better solution to all these problems than Sheriff Beck and all his friends and colleagues. Highly recommend this book!!!

Sheriff Potter Beck knows something is amiss in his town. When a teenage hacker (Mercy), who has recently been accused of a crime that she could not have committed, he realizes the problem is worse than he realized. Then Mercy disappears. His fears are realized. You can rest assured that Potter Beck will not stand for any nonsense in his town. He will get to the bottom of it, one way or the other.

This is a complex mystery with many moving parts. The characters are well-developed, engaging and easy to get to know from the pages of the book. The story is intense and twisty. However, the author knows how to sprinkle a little humor into an otherwise serious plotline. I look forward to more great stories about Potter Beck.

Thank you to St. Martins' Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the 2nd in this series and we are back in Nevada with Sheriff Beck. Sheriff Beck is investigating the death of his longtime childhood friend from a drug overdose. He is wanting to find out about the Fentanyl problem and get it quelched. In the meantime he runs into a young computer protege and he is not sure he can trust her. In this book you have it all the drug problems, overdoses and the use of drones. I can’t wait to read the next book!

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This second book in the Porter Beck series and we get to see how Beck's time in the Army comes into play as he deals not only with Maddox but other characters. In the beginning, the question is are a bull being blown up and drug overdose related? And there are no quick or easy answers. Especially as more characters come into play.

As the story progresses, things are not always as they seem to be on the surface and there are plenty of twists to keep you guessing as to what will happen next. You will definitely be rooting for Beck to come out on top as he struggles at times with his night blindness.

While I realize this story is fiction, there was one item that doesn't appear to be correct. A person isn't allowed to bring firearms and ammunition into Mexico, and especially not having them hidden. I assume this was stated in the story in order to advance the storyline.

Shades of Mercy by Bruce Burgos is a police thriller featuring Sheriff Porter Beck, head of a tiny contingent in a small town in Nevada. The thing about Beck is that he’s going blind. He can see fine during the day, but once he is in the dark, he can see almost nothing. That makes everything more challenging. He lives with his father, ex-sheriff Joe Beck and Joe’s caretaker. His childhood friend, Cash has just succumbed to opioids laced with fentanyl. He had been called to the scene and tried CPR and other means, but the man was dead. Porter was sad, but angry. At the same time, another of their childhood friends, Jesse Roy, is throwing a birthday party for his 17-year-old daughter, Shiloah, complete with fireworks. They live on a ranch far into the country, one that had been Jesse’s father’s. In the middle of the fireworks there was a massive ball of light. Everyone thought it was part of the show. Jesse knew better, but didn’t know what it was. The next day Porter and a government agent appeared at the ranch to see where the falling piece of a plane had hit. Thus began what would be several days of an intense standoff between the cartel, Chinese and American agents, and Porter Beck’s friends and family.

This was a terrific thriller, masterfully plotted, with no discernible holes. It was very violent and took the crew out into the near-wilderness in the middle of a forest fire. Much of it revolved around a young orphan who, as it turned out, was a computer genius. The characters were crisp and interesting, all with their own skill sets. Those who knew Porter were beyond loyal. The crew was clever and engaged a variety of skills that belied the fact they lived out in the middle of nowhere. It was an engaging book, hard to put down. The ending was satisfying, with nearly all the bad guys dead, by various means. Well worth the read. Thanks, Bruce Burgos!

I was invited to read Shades of Mercy by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #BruceBurgos #ShadesOfMercy

3.5 stars. First read by this author and I enjoyed it, but nothing truly knocked my socks off. This story starts off with a bang, quite literally and as the story progressed I did find the middle of the book to be a bit of a slow burn. The book was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but not enough for me to devour it in a short amount of time. I did enjoy the characters, especially Beck and Mercy. Their dynamic between each other was interesting to say the least. Overall, it was a good book with action and a mystery component to it.

Porter Beck, Sheriff, ex military intelligence, all about family, friends, tenacious facing challenges with an aging father and his own physical limitations. I want this man to be real. I read this in one setting, it took me on a twisty ride with surprises, loss, family and oh so much more. I was intrigued with this town, this family, with Brin (Porters adopted sister). The mystery slowly unravels. You figure you know all the players and what will happen Bruce Borgos pops a little twist. Shades of Mercy sucked me in page 1 and kept me till the end. I am counting the days and months, or year till Porter Beck 3. Thank you for the opportunity to read and share my own thoughts and opinions. #ShadesofMercy #PorterBeck #BruceBorgos #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

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Sheriff Porter has just discovered one of his childhood friends dead from an overdose. Another childhood friend was targeted by a high jacked military drone. Porter is wondering what the devil is going on in his county!

As Porter is investigating, he comes across a young, computer hacker named Mercy. She is only 16 years old but, she is old beyond her years. Porter knows she is lying, but he cannot figure out why. Porter soon discovers there is more to this case than he ever expected.

Because Mercy is so young, I found myself, mad, furious and wanting to cry all at the same time. She definitely had herself in a mess. But you talk about confident and smart. Mercy is all of the above. She is also a character I will not soon forget. Add in Porter Beck and his sister…and y’all! I want a Netflix show!

I, at first, had this as a 4 star read. But as I was writing this review, I changed it. The emotions this author created and the fast movement of this story…I am changing my rating to 5 stars.

This novel is constantly on the move. And I had no idea where it was going to end up! Fabulous characters and intensity…do not miss this one!

I read the first Porter Beck novel, The Bitter Past. I enjoyed that book as well. It is not necessary that you read it prior to this novel.

Need a thriller that will have your emotions all over the place…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Shades of Mercy is the second Sheriff Porter Beck western mystery by Bruce Borgos. Due out 16th July 2024 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a very well written action driven procedural set in a desert town in Nevada. Sheriff Beck is juggling a spate of fentanyl overdoses, hacking, and drone attacks on a local rancher, in what *should* have been a quiet small town existence. He and his team follow the disparate threads which entwine closer and closer to a satisfying climax and denouement.

The author excels at his setting descriptions and the Nevada high desert gets a starring role.

It's not derivative, but fans of C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, Nevada Barr, and even Tony Hillerman will likely find a lot to enjoy in this series. It's the second book in the series but works well as a standalone.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, binge/buddy read. More graphic language and violence than a cozy mystery, but nothing egregious. Standard language and descriptions for a procedural.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In Book 2 of the Porter Beck series, Sheriff Beck is having a busier time than he normally does, out in the Nevada desert. There have been a string of opioid deaths that have claimed the lives of several in their county, one being his best friend. Now, a successful rancher is being targeted, first by a hacked military drone, and then by other means also involving hacking. Beck's investigation leads him to the teen detention center, to a teenage hacking genius by the name of Mercy Vaughn. When Mercy disappears, he knows he is close to getting answers, and races to find her before it is too late.

This was the first book I had read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last. I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire book. The characters were enjoyable, the stakes were high, the tension was palpable, and there was non-stop action. This is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, and Linwood Barclay. I highly recommend it!

This is the second book in the Porter Beck series, but it functions very well as a standalone. Porter Beck is a former Army intelligence officer who is now a small town sheriff. The skills he honed while serving in the Army have served him well in his investigations as sheriff. This book is filled with an interesting cast of characters and the storyline, though somewhat complex and multifaceted, holds your interest. There’s plenty of action, Chinese spies, a Mexican cartel, drug smuggling, gun running, computer hacking and so much more. An interesting read!

A solid second installment, but can be read as a stand-alone. We get an update on Porter Beck, the new changes to his staff, and another mystery or two to solve during wildfires. We meet a high school friend of Porter’s, who seems to have more money than he should. We meet an incarcerated teen who has multiple layers. A new law enforcement official and possible romantic interest arrives. Brinley makes an appearance and does get a little revenge.

A lot was going on in this book between hacked drones, gun running, and fentanyl overdoses. Some parts of the story were a bit of a reach, but not completely unbelievable. I look forward to seeing more of Porter Beck in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books, and Bruce Borgos for the eARC.

A great second book in the series…

I really (really) liked the first book in Bruce Borgos’ Porter Beck series, The Bitter Past, and that set an insanely high standard for the second book, Shades of Mercy. And Shades of Mercy came very close, and the thing that bumped it down just a teeny bit was not its fault at all, but my own idiosyncrasy. So I almost didn’t mention it, but in the end, I felt like it would give a more complete look at the book if I did.

First the good, and there’s lots of it! Just like A Bitter Past, Shades of Mercy is a compelling and somewhat unusual combination of spy story and mystery, even though (or perhaps because) one of the first dead bodies is not a human at all, but instead is an $80,000 prize bull. Even odder, that expensive cow was killed by a hacked military drone, which creates nasty worries about what – or who – might be next. And thus the wild ride begins. There are Chinese agents hanging around, worries about drugs moving through the sparsely populated Nevada desert, and a teen-age hacker, who may or may not have been connected to the drone. Sheriff Porter Beck’s background with military intelligence helps him navigate the government’s involvement, and some solid investigative work from his team helps too.

What I missed, though, were the historical ties to the Cold War and the Nevada Test Site, which had resonated with me so much in A Bitter Past, due to my own personal interests and experience. But, as I said at the start of this review, that’s not Shades of Mercy’s fault at all. In fact, many folks may prefer this second book, where the storytelling, without the dual-timeline thing of the first book, felt even tighter. In any case, if you like thrillers with a nice dash of mystery too, you’ll like both of these books.

I want to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read review copies of both books in this series, and I very much hope there will be a third to read someday soon.

2.75 Stars
I was offered this book but didn't realize it was book 2 in the series. Luckily when I accepted the book, I was also given access to book 1. Porter Beck is the sheriff in a small town in Nevada. In the first book, he solved the murder of a former FBI agent and figured out how it was connected to a Russian spy from the 1950's. While it was a slow start, I was really looking forward to reading Shades of Mercy.

The story opens with Porter Beck dealing with the overdose deaths of two locals, one his childhood best friend. At nearly the same time there is an explosion of a prize bull on the ranch of another childhood friend who has recently returned to the community. The explosion was caused by the a drone hijacker targeting him. In investigating this he finds that there a 16 year old girl at a youth detention facility in his county, serving a sentence for hacking into the system of the Federal Reserve. It appears that she has the talent to have hijacked the drone, but has no access to a computer or any digital device, and no motive that they can find.

This book was faster paced than the first in the series, which I liked. But it had more and more things happen as the story went on that it started to feel a bit overplayed. There were drug dealers, cartel, Chinese spies, wildfires, kidnapping, drones shooting at cars, etc. More complicated than was necessary in my opinion. Regardless, I really like some of the characters and will read book 3 when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest reviww.

Hooked again! 5 amazing stars! 🤩
This series continues to hold me captive and provides a gripping action story that doesn't let up for a minute!

Last year at this time, readers were introduced in <b>The Bitter Past</b> to Porter Beck, a courageous and fearless sheriff in a small town in Nevada who never gives up in his quest for justice and righting wrongs. In this second book in the series, <b>Shades of Mercy</b>, Bruce Burgos brilliantly crafts a multilayered ingenious plot and story that ripples through multiple lives. It includes drug smuggling, gun running, computer hacking, and kidnapping. Even friends and neighbors may be on the opposite side of the law.

Bold, thrilling, suspenseful and action packed. The excitement will keep you glued to the page and the characters will keep you coming back for more. I can't wait for the next book in this series! You definitely don't want to miss this one!

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's press for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second installment in the Porter Beck series. I did have the opportunity to read the first book, The Bitter Past, and I highly recommend both! You do not need to read the first book to follow along in this one but I do recommend that you read it at some point.

Porter Beck, ex Military Intelligence, is now a sheriff in the Nevada desert where he has taken over for his father who is suffering from dementia. Sheriff Beck is taking care of his dad, deals with his wayward adopted sister who has returned to his life, and his new partner, Columbo, a failed police dog.

In this book, an old friend of the Sheriff dies of a drug overdose, and another has his cattle ranch attacked by a drone that has apparently been hacked. As he investigates, the Sheriff finds a young hacker, Mercy Vaughn who is incarcerated in a juvenile detention center. When Mercy suddenly goes missing, the Sheriff goes after her.

This is another faced paced, suspenseful thriller! I loved the mix of mystery, thriller and police procedure! Looking to more in this series!!!

Second in series, I’m loving the adventures of Sheriff Porter Beck and crew in the high desert of Nevada.

Beck is pulled into two investigations here…one is the infusion of an even deadlier form of fentanyl into his community, and the second involves national security drone hackers. The drug issue is personal (he’s lost a friend to it), the drone issue can prove deadly for innocents as well as presenting an open door for hostile nations.

Beck is spread thinly as some of his 12-person team has been pulled for forest fire fighting assistance, but with the aid of those left, his firearm afficiando sister, a DPS detective, a brilliant 16-year-old girl and his new canine partner Columbo, he tracks down the villains and gets the job done.

I do hope Borgos continues on with this series. It features good, solid writing, well thought out/planned storylines, and interesting and engaging characters (main AND co-stars)…the humor is also a big bonus. Beck is a complex, compelling and a little mysterious man that I’m looking forward to learning more about (fingers crossed).

Highly recommended, but do yourself a favor and start with the first book The Bitter Past.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing the free early arc of Shades of Mercy for review. The opinions are strictly my own.