I wasn't sure what i would be getting when i first opened "Welcome to Cottonmouth" but by the time i had finished reading, i feel like i got just an ok story. Sadly, the characters felt somewhat one dimensional ot me, with no real traits to latch onto, to root for and to cheer for when things went well. Aside from sporadic, witty repartee, Devlin Mahoney isn't a very likable man. He is admirable in his quest to bring honor and vengeance down on those who wronged Britt Thorpe and those residents of Cottonmouth, but he lacks serious character development.

There are times where the books takes a turn that makes it feel like it's a compilation of ideas thrown together. and seriously, the characters' name is London Bridges?! That's the best Bell could come up with?

overall, it was a decent story, mediocre characters and a predictable ending that brought no suspense at all.

But i thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this ARC

Welcome to Cottonmouth has a unique premise and a setting that promises intrigue, but the pacing made it a challenging read for me. The story unfolds very slowly, and I found myself struggling with the lengthy passages that seemed to delay key plot developments. While some readers may enjoy the detailed, atmospheric writing, I personally had a hard time staying engaged.

That said, fans of slow-burn narratives with a reflective tone might appreciate what this book has to offer more than I did.

Editor’s note: Will publish in newspapers in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, NC July 24 and weekend editions

July book roundup: Strange towns, dangerous allies, unlikely magic and … a new Reacher short story

By Tom Mayer, Tmayer@RN-T.com

This month’s fiction lineup offers something for every kind of summer reader — from high-octane thrillers and mystical fantasy to genre-defying romance and cozy speculative tales. Whether you’re chasing outlaws, getting lost in magical archives, checking into a supernatural inn or catching up with Reacher in between novels, these titles deliver imagination, suspense and emotional punch in equal measure.

But first, a bit of a cheat. Robert Dugoni’s recent Tracy Crosswhite dropped in late spring, but a final copy of the book took some time to make it to my desk. With the incredible output and range Dugoni has offered his readers in the past year (“A Killing on the Hill,” “Beyond Reasonable Doubt,” “Hold Strong” and “A Dead Draw”), and at least two more in the works for 2026 — Tracy Crosswhite and Keera Duggan series continuations — I’m going to dig a bit deeper into the author’s most recent novel before we get to the monthly list.

Dugoni’s latest and most sensitive offering, “A Dead Draw” (Thomas & Mercer), not only captures echoes of the 10 Tracy Crosswhite novels that have come before, but brings to a boil a storyline that has been percolating since the debut of “My Sister’s Grave” in 2014.

It’s also his most personal storyline to date, making the launch of this 11th full-length story featuring the high school chemistry teacher turned Seattle, Washington-homicide detective both a perfect launching pad for those new to the series, and a satisfying continuation of the narrative for long-time readers.

But it’s not Tracy that brings it home in this novel. That honor goes to a new character, Lydia “Lightning Strike” Johnson, an autistic sharpshooter who becomes the detective’s touchstone. Lydia is on the spectrum, but she’s got the potential to be self-sufficient. She’s also a double for Tracy’s younger sister, Sarah, whose disappearance and murder in that first release not only highjacked the trajectory of Tracy’s life, but continues to be a specter in her current role capturing killers.

And like Sarah, Lydia is a character over which Dugoni labored.

“I hope I captured her accurately,” the author writes in the novel’s acknowledgements. “I did a ton of research to get it right, then had two epiphanies when I met two individuals, one from my childhood and one I met fortuitously, who were clearly on the spectrum and told me so. It was fascinating to hear them tell me what they understood without any embarrassment or self-consciousness. I’ve tried to conduct by own life similarly, talking openly about my stroke (in 2016) and the anxiety that resulted from it. … I have a brother with Down syndrome and have a heightened awareness of characters in books who are different. My intent was to portray Lydia as an accomplished, high-functioning human being but one who must deal with something over which she has no control.”

Capturing that awareness in Lydia sharpens the storyline about a warrant gone bad that frees a man who is a suspect in at least two murders — a man who became a prison-disciple of Sarah’s killer, the murderer who Tracy actually helped free in the series’ debut.

Now, as that killer’s protégé, Erik Schmidt is fixated on revenging his mentor by recreating an elaborate showdown that will lure Tracy to her hometown of Cedar Grove, Washington — the place of Sarah’s murder and now the full-circle space where Tracy’s daughter, husband and friends are in fatal danger.

That’s an oversimplification, of course — as is the portrait here of Lydia — because the hazard of any Crosswhite review is overstepping the author’s intricate plotting and plundering into a spoiler or two. But also of course, the only way to absorb the full complexity of a Dugoni thriller is to begin with page 1, and “A Dead Draw” is a fine place to start.

Now, here’s a look at some of the most notable new releases on the shelves in July:

"Infinite Archive (The Midsolar Murders Book 3)" (Ace Trade Original) by Mur Lafferty: Amateur sleuth Mallory Viridian has earned her space sea legs aboard Station Eternity — but now a living, working version of Earth’s entire Internet is on its way, and there’s going to be a party, with Mallory as the guest speaker. As the massive data ship Metis docks for a murder mystery convention, Mallory’s agent is killed and now it’s up to her to untangle the whodunit amid alien etiquette and sentient tech. Ideal for fans of speculative fiction with a bit of a literary twist, this novel will captivate readers who enjoy flowing series relationship arcs (be sure to read the first two in the series).

"Tricks of Fortune (A Play the Fool Mysteries Book 2)" (Bantam Trade Paperback Original) by Lina Chern: Tarot card reader extraordinaire Katie True gets embroiled in another local murder when her best friend becomes the prime suspect. When a beloved veteran police officer is found dead, Katie discovers tangled relationships and hidden truths that her cards and instincts must decipher. Perfect for readers of contemporary mysteries featuring fun, smart female leads — especially those who like their crime with a touch of cultural nuance and spry wit.

"Welcome to Cottonmouth" (Blackstone) by Jay S. Bell: What does the US government do with expired spies and special operators? It ships them to a small East Texas town where everything runs, sort of, peacefully — until a pair of women on the run from a ruthless criminal shatters the uneasy serenity. But doing the right thing for the pair might shatter the secrecy vital to Cottonmouth, Texas, and de facto mayor Devlin Mahoney has to make the choice. For fans of Slow Horses with an American twist.

"Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology Book 1)" (Ace Trade) by Maggie Rapier: Aboard a mythical isle quest, “Soulgazer” is rendered in prose readers will want to highlight line by line. Born with a penchant for volatile magic, Saoirse wants nothing more than to be without the curse that has plagued her since childhood. Facing an unwanted and forced marriage proposal, Saoirse seeks out a pirate who can help her get rid of the magic … but first she’ll have to use it for his own purposes. A quest, and an unlikely proposal of its own, ensues. Rapier is a debut author from Alabama and her first literary foray is tailored for those who crave both magic and romance, and high concept fantasy grounded in a human connection.

"The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy (The Dearly Beloathed Duology Book 1)" (Ace) by Brigitte Knightley: In this slow burn enemies to lovers fantasy romantasy, an assassin’s sickness forces him to rely on a healer from an enemy faction — and loyalties, plus affections, are tested. Their forced cooperation soon leads to mutual dependence, unexpected attraction and an uneasy truce with far-reaching consequences. Ideal for romance readers who love brainy protagonists, simmering tension, and meta literary hijinks. Not suitable for readers concerned with graphic violence and medical content including fictional, life-threatening diseases affecting adults and children.

"American Mythology" (Doubleday) by Giano Cromley: A bizarre group consisting of a pseudo-scientist, a filmmaker and the two, total, membership of the Basic Bigfoot Society embarks on a quest to find the creature, confronting nature’s mysteries and the human heart in equal measure. Along the journey, myth and reality weave together as secrets and the lure of the unknown collide in the wilderness. For those who want a character driven drama with friendship and a love for nature at its core.

"Bat Out of Hell" (Blackstone) edited by Don Bruns: A book of thriller stories inspired by Meat Loaf’s debut album, this anthology features a brand new Jack Reacher story and thrilling mysteries from top authors, including Andrew Child, Rick Bleiweiss, Heather Graham, Don Bruns, John Gilstrap, Dave Bruns, C.J. Kudlacz and Charles Todd — in a nonstop, engrossing mystery seesaw. At the top of that list is Child’s offering: When Reacher stops in a dying desert town, he’s drawn into a fight against entrenched criminal elements with no safe escape. This anthology is the fourth in Bruns’ Music and Murder Mystery Series. A must read for thriller devotees and long time fans of the Reacher series — especially those craving tight plots and righteous action.

"A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping" (Berkley Trade) by Sangu Mandanna: A whimsical, heartwarming tale follows a witch with no powers who is helping to run a peculiar inn for quirky beings. Enter a magical historian giving her a second chance at power, community and purpose. As Sera juggles enchanted guests and hidden pasts, she discovers that true magic lies in the bonds, and family, she rebuilds. Perfect for readers who want low stakes fantasy with heart, humor and a magical touch.

"Love You to Death" (Random House) by Christina Dotson: Kayla and Zorie have made a habit of slipping into weddings they weren’t invited to — usually to make off with the cash and gifts. But when the only two Black women show up at an antebellum-themed ceremony in the Deep South, the odds are stacked against them from the start. What was supposed to be their final, low-risk score quickly spirals into chaos, and they’re soon caught in a media frenzy as the infamous “Wedding Crasher Killers.” For Kayla — stuck in a dead-end housekeeping job and still picking up the pieces after a reckless teenage mistake — this runaway road trip becomes a reckoning with her past, her future and her friendship with Zorie, whose secrets run deeper than Kayla ever imagined. A fierce, fast-paced thriller for readers drawn to dark friendship tales and twisted crime capers.

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This is very different than any other book I've read and that already makes it special! I love discovering new genres and this is almost in a genre of it's own and definitely not what I was expecting! It took me a few chapters to get interested but once I did, I was excited about finding out what happened to the characters in the end! I would recommend this book to people who love noir especially because it had that feel to it!

The first of what I hope is a series rests on an interesting premise: a small town in the Piney Woods of Texas is a sort of retirement village for ex-spies, multi-national and quirky. The collective skillset is what you would expect to see, with hackers, explosives geeks, financial wizards, snipers, ex-Army Ranger types, and the Planner who pulls it all together. Anyway, Trouble comes to their sleepy town, and the Gang gets back Together to fight Evil.

The writing is witty, the plot zips along, the good guys are likable, the bad guys are irredeemably bad, and the action sequences are cleverly choreographed. It's a fun way to spend a few hours.

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

First things first – Jay S Bell’s Welcome to Cottonmouth is a ridiculous book based on a far fetched premise. Cottonmouth is a small Texas town where former secret agents are retired and kept in a form of witness protection. They are a United Nations of professional killers living ordinary lives as mechanics, hotel managers and short order cooks. They may be retired but it turns out that thay can spring into action when needed.
The centre of this little gang is Devlin Mahoney, survivor or a Serbian torture prison and now in charge of the Cottonmouth Motel. Mahoney not only does not do well with authority but he feels like he still owes the world for all of the bad that he has done. So when a woman and child turn up at his Hotel and are threatened by a couple of thugs Devlin springs into wise-cracking action to protect them. Only it turns out the thugs are in the employ of a nasty, well connected criminal who sends increasingly more dangerous people to retrieve his “property”.
Welcome to Cottonmouth opens with an action scene and then proceeds to top each scene with one with more enemies and more guns. On Devlin’s side is a ragtag bunch of ex-agents – including Russian sniper, Korean soldier, Israeli undercover agent, British explosives expert and German assassin. They take a fair amount of punishment but it is hard to keep them down.
This is one of those books that is full of “toys” – cars, guns, explosives – all lovingly described in passages like this:
He strapped a NOD- night optical device – over his head, but he left the goggles up and off. He then connected up a PRC-126 two way radio with an earwig and throat mic… From his duffel, he removed an FN SCAR 17 automatic rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
But it is fairly easy to just blip over these parts. The rest is fast moving, high octane, explosive (literally) multi-pov well written action scenes. So long as you come to Welcome to Cottonmouth ready to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the action you are going to have a good time.

Broken down heroes win through!

The town is Cottonmouth where a very, very secret, part of the US government has put its old and troublesome agents from a variety of organizations. The only rule, do nothing and stay below the radar.
That goes out the window when a crime boss’s plaything makes a bid for freedom and then breaks down in Cottonmouth.
Shades of the movie Red engage, although in a different way. The idea of what does a government do with it’s misfit agents?
Gutsy and engaging. I enjoyed this as the evil men met their match, not without casualties from our band of heroes.

A Blackstone ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I really wanted to enjoy this book, especially given the intriguing premise. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get through it.

One of the main issues for me was the overwhelming focus on weapons—there were so many mentioned that it felt excessive. However, I do want to mention that this book is very much action packed and while I understand it was necessary to excessively mention all the types of different weapons it was too much for me to follow. Since I’m not familiar with them, I couldn’t remember the abbreviations to some mentioned or even understand the weapons mentioned, those sections dragged and left me skimming instead of staying engaged.

The formatting in the Kindle edition was also challenging. Without clear breaks or indentation to signal scene changes or shifts between characters, it was difficult to follow the narrative. On top of that, frequent grammar and spelling mistakes disrupted the flow and made it harder to stay immersed.

I usually make a point of finishing books, even if they’re not to my taste, because I believe in giving the full story a fair chance. But this time, I just couldn’t do it. I rarely abandon a read mid-way, and sadly, this one ended up on that short list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advance copy. I appreciate the opportunity to read this pre-release title. While the concept drew me in initially, the execution didn’t work for me—but I hope others might find it a better fit for their tastes.

Amazing characters, thrilling action, laugh out loud banter, and an incredible setting. I really hope this is the beginning of a new series. A seemingly peaceful dustbowl of a town. When Britte's car breaks down in Cottonmouth, she is greeted by more than she could ever imagine. Britte has a secret that she is trying to outrun. Cottonmouth is populated by mostly retired or exposed operatives of a three letter agency. The characters are so vivid and come to life on the page. The town itself is just as much a characters. The action is nonstop. The pacing is point on, you need a breather between the action sequences.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.

Welcome To Cottonmouth by JS Bell, cottonmouth Texas is a place where government operatives retire but it’s also a little town that people only stumble on by mistake. This is how Britt and the teenage girl named Asybien broke down and how she met a guy named Mahoney. Britt was running from her ruthless and powerful X a man who thought he could simply send someone in to kidnap Britt and the young girl and no one would try and stop him but was he wrong. When the kidnapping goes sideways he’s not only made an enemy but a whole team of them. It doesn’t hurt that Mahoney is totally captivated by the independent Brit who when they first meet has nothing but disstaine for the X government operative. Her ex Milloes Stanković decides to cut his losses when a second attempt goes astray but what he doesn’t know is he has woken a sleeping giant that will change everything from his work to his home life in life as he knows it will never be the same again. The town of Cottonmouth only count six people as full-time residence but when you’re their enemy it will feel like 1 million armies are coming for you. I absolutely positively 100% loved this book I am amazed that this is the author’s first attempt at a novel because OMG what a banger to come out the gate with. I am definitely a fan and will absolutely read another book by this author hopefully it will be another one with the residence of cottonmouth but even if it’s not I am down to read it. This is definitely an awesome good against evil story and I would love to see more from these characters I loved Mahoney’s relationship with their caretaker and his argumentative nature with almost everyone else but found his overall attitude to be so cheery and definitely someone to root for. Except for the villains in this book I cannot think of one character I did it like including Britt. Such a great read I feel like the characters were all in a different place from where the book started and the author did a great job developing and growing the character while at the same time furthering the narrative so good so talented I love this freaking book!#NetGalley,#BlackstonePublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #HonestReview, #JSBell, #WelcomeToCottonmouth,

Just what I needed after heavy subject matter. A jolt of adrenaline like reading a Jerry Bruckheimer movie on the pages.

Fast read
Strong Action

A modern day Noir with a Japanese violence level of "Bullet Train" fans.

Really fun, quick read.
Great for the beach
Great when you just want to turn off from the world for escapist adventure.

If you enjoy books with a tough, seemingly unbeatable guy as a protagonist, this will be for you. This had non-stop action. The violence was interlaced with humour. Cottonmouth (named after a venomous snake) should be a warning for this small, nondescript town in the West Texas woods. When the government decides it is time for members of the military and intelligence services, etc., to retire or be forced into retirement, many are secretly placed in Cottonmouth. There are hints that they may have had some transgressions in their past and are now forced to lead an obedient and quiet life in retirement. They no longer have their past employment designation, but retain their special lethal skills. The government monitors their life in retirement.

Devlin Mahoney is to act as mayor to the other retirees. He looks weak, but has deadly fighting ability. His office is located in the local motel, where he is responsible for keeping these special residents hidden and in seclusion. Among those Mahoney oversees are a local bakery owner and a man who repairs vehicles. When two young women, fleeing deadly gangsters, end up at the motel after their car breaks down, Mahoney and his group must choose between doing as ordered or doing what is right by protecting the women. A violent fight breaks out in the motel office between the criminals pursuing the women and Mahoney and his group of deadly retired individuals.

The characters are well-defined, and the writing is witty and fast-paced. Recommended for readers who enjoy explosive action thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishers for the ARC. The book is due to be published on July 08/2025.

The cover of Welcome to Cottonmouth initially caught my attention. The description drew me to request the ARC. And I thoroughly enjoyed the story! I kept thinking that Welcome to Cottonmouth would make a great action movie (well, that's what my brain was doing as I read!). Interesting characters with quirks and backstories, lots of action...a very quick summer read. I hope to read more by this author in the future.

Loved it!!
Suspense and action packed!
Great story line, had me rolling at some of the banter!
Fast paced always something happening! I don’t know if this is a standalone or gonna be a series but I’d love to read more!
Highly recommend

Non-stop action that was head spinning. It felt like the screenplay for the next Equalizer movie meets Jack Reacher. I like books that feature “good guys” vs. bad guys but this book was heavy on the action and light on the interpersonal relationships. If you enjoy an action packed, balls to the wall type book this one may fulfill all your reading needs. I may not be the right audience for this book but it is well written.

Welcome to Cottonmouth
Jay S. Bell
Blackstone Publishing
07/08/2025
.

Cottonmouth is not just a small desolate town in East Texas; it is the island of misfit and retired spies and operatives. (Yep, you read that right!) Their secrets and loyalties run deeper than the scars they carry. Each individual who is sent to this ‘retirement community’ has a story and a special set of skills. Not only that, but they are high value targets to the right (wrong) people and are under the mindful watch of the US Government and their assigned handler, Lofland.

Devlin Mahoney is the group’s defacto leader and the owner/operator of the Cottonmouth Motor Lodge. When a woman and her charge break down and end up staying there, things start to get squirrely. Britte and Siobhan are running for the lives from a very powerful, controlling and money hungry man, Milos Stankovic. He has deep pockets, dirt on the right people and a seemingly endless group of underlings willing to die for him. So, when Britte and Siobhan are not returned to him immediately, Stankovic and his crew decide to kick the hornet’s next in Cottonmouth and a can of whoop ass has been opened.

Each member of this community of misfits has not only a special set of skills, but a back story and history and a heart. This book is full of dark humor and one liners that will make you literally laugh out loud, action scenes that jump off the pages and relationships that grow in a way that you will want more. I could not get enough of this book. It was so fast paced, and each page unraveled a little bit more background and descriptions of people like Hannah, Asim, Zivon, Roxy, Chan, Bobby and others. Their descriptions, nicknames and banter bring them to life. Let me leave you with this – I need more. I do not want this adventure that centers around Cottonmouth to end. This book delivers action-packed whiplash and hooks you with a story driven by heart, grit, and the unshakable pull to do the right thing

Loved loved loved!!!! If you're looking for a small town action packed story, then this is for you!! This book had such a great story line. It was an absolute page turner! Fast paced, action packed, and funny.

A lot of action, some very violent, that kept this reader turning pages.

Devlin Mahoney is the motel owner/manager at Cottonmouth's only motel. When a woman and her daughter ask for a room Mahoney learns their car is in the auto repair shop down the road while Zee/.Zivon works to repair it. Two men break into the women's room and haul off the women as Mahoney returns with their suitcases. The town's 'don't get involved' attitude is something Mahoney ignores and he begins the chase to rescue the women. With emotions changing as the scenes progress this novel was a challenge to continue reading for long hours at a time which is normally how I read books.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I really liked it, it was very enjoyable and it was suspenseful. It had me very captivated and I really liked it.