Wow. The Bitter Past is brilliant. This has taken me on an unexpected journey through a messy history. I loved the characters and the story line. Well done.

In addition to an excellent cast of characters, the author adds another—The Cold War. Progressing through the story, the reader learns so much about the tenuous relationship between the world’s super powers as we work through a well-developed story

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I found the subject matter very interesting - nuclear weapons, espionage - and I love when a fiction novel makes me want to read plenty of nonfiction about the time period and/or the subject to learn more; and this book certainly does that. This was definitely a page turner for me.

I did not like the Sana/Beck storyline. It felt forced and I didn’t have many feel-good emotions about it. Some of the thoughts Beck had about her made me eye roll at a character I otherwise liked. It’s not going to stop me from reading more in the series, though and I am looking forward to reading the second book.

Big thanks to both Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Bitter Past!

This entertaining book is set in Nevada's high desert. The first timeline is set in the present and features Sheriff Porter Beck, with the second one taking place in the 1950s during the testing of nuclear bombs. (I appreciated that the 1950s chapters had headings that said "The Past." It's beyond my comprehension why some authors don't do that.) The intriguing characters grabbed me from the beginning and I found the sheriff's humor nicely offset the serious parts of the book.

The Bitter Past deals with the dicey cost of doing the right thing. I hope this will be a series because I want to know what happened after the last paragraph of the book!! This was definitely an impressive first book.

I enjoyed reading the author's notes, especially where he thanked his wife and wrote "When I told you in the second grade this was going to happen, you didn't believe me, did you?"

I truly enjoyed this journey. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the past with the present and created a cast of characters that were relatable. Truth be told, I thought the first 2/3 of the book was masterful. I was on the edge of my seat. The finale went a little too shoot-em-up adventure story for me, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the tale.

Well done, and highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos An intense and engrossing page turner with intriguing characters, spies, the Cold War, nuclear weapons, torture and murders. Although at times inappropriate, Sheriff Porter Beck's humor does take the edge off themore serious parts of the book. The interactions between Sana and Beck were at times annoying and seemed forced. Author's notes were an added bonus.

Thank you to the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book

Big thanks to both Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Bitter Past!

This entertaining book is set in Nevada's high desert. The first timeline is set in the present and features Sheriff Porter Beck, with the second one taking place in the 1950s during the testing of nuclear bombs. (I appreciated that the 1950s chapters had headings that said "The Past." It's beyond my comprehension why some authors don't do that.) The intriguing characters grabbed me from the beginning and I found the sheriff's humor nicely offset the serious parts of the book.

The Bitter Past deals with the dicey cost of doing the right thing. I hope this will be a series because I want to know what happened after the last paragraph of the book!! This was definitely an impressive first book.

I enjoyed reading the author's notes, especially where he thanked his wife and wrote "When I told you in the second grade this was going to happen, you didn't believe me, did you?"

This wildly engrossing novel transported me back to the mountains, and brown-ness of Nevada, where we spent the last nine years, in and right outside of Las Vegas, before moving to the countryside. As much as I missed winter with snow, I have to admit that I do miss desert winters.

Excellent and consuming, I kept at this one and read it quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed what I hope is the opening novel to a new series that I’m looking forward to reading more of (please tell me that is going to be a series!)

I enjoyed this book and believe the author will grow in future books. There were certain elements that needed context and explaining that made me scratch my head. Overall though it was a compelling read that kept me awake to find out what would happen next.

Some Heroes Have Half-Lives. Honestly, I didn't even realize while reading this book that it was Book 1 of a new series - though with the way things end, I could certainly allow for that possibility. Here, Borgos manages to capture a lingering effect of the Cold War not often seen by those of us living on the East Coast - well away from all Cold War era nuclear test sites, including the Nevada deserts pictured here and the New Mexico deserts featured in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which will be releasing around the same time as this book. We also get a dual timeline yet linked spy thriller (in the past)/ murder mystery (in the present), and in neither case is all as it seems. Borgos manages the pacing of each quite well, and the ultimate integration of the two quite seamlessly. Ultimately this is absolutely a world and storytelling style I'd love to come back to, so I'm glad there will be at least one more book forthcoming here. Very much recommended.

"The Bitter Past" is one of the best novels I have read in recent memory. Fast paced, gripping and really interesting, the plot has one asking "what if" through out. I heartily recommend this book, and look forward to reading more from Mr. Borgos. Outstanding! I didn't want it to end...

A very well written book with events from past and present in one that says the story. Reading this book made me anxious to know what the next adventure of beck will be like in Nevada.other than the sheriff we are introduced to many interesting characters. there are a lot of twist and tons that will keep you engaged.Everything about the book makes you pulled towards the story line, the characters, references about the war,nuclear weapon and the murders. thank you Netgalley and the author for the arc. I can't wait for more Nevada tales.

Bruce Borgos' The Bitter Past has a sanguinary opening few pages that were a bit difficult to move beyond, and yet, after I read into the well-developed plot of the book, I was quickly taken in. Porter Beck, a retired military man who is now a sheriff in rather remote Nevada, is perplexed by what happened here in the early 1950s and what initiated the contemporary and connected grisly murder he is faced with. Borgos does a great job of examining espionage, results of the Cold War, Russian spies, and nuclear testing sites, thus the eponymous title The Bitter Past.

Borgos is able to skillfully incorporate various characters into the novel, and his familial relationships and his relationships with his "team" at the sheriff's office are important to the progress of the plot. How vitally important we only know at the very end of the book. Borgos also moves seamlessly between the two timelines, that of the contemporary and that of preparations for recondite nuclear testing from the past.

The romance between Sana, the FBI agent, and Porter Beck is not always as strong and clear as it could be, and it creates some questions about the strength of the relationship and its direction. Nonetheless, Porter Beck's connection to his "sister" and to his father are important and seminal, and the final plot surprise at the end of the book definitely leads the reader into curiosity about what will happen in the next book. And, yes, we hope there will be one.

I really enjoyed this book. I got to where I didn't want to stop reading. I loved the mystery and the suspense of it. I had no inclining of who the real Freddie was. It was a twist.

This was a new author for me with the first of what I hope will be many in a new series. At once a spy story from the fifties area 51, romantic yearnings that cannot survive and a present day Russian spy thriller (thriller is an often overused description I rarely use, in this case it’s truly appropriate). The setting in Nevada is ruggedly and beautifully described, including the notorious Secret Area 51 and secret Project 57. The characters kept me engaged and entertained. The premise of the plot is original and hard to put in a cliché category.
Sheriff Porter Beck has a motley staff, some trustworthy, some with questionable allegiance. A case develops that will have him distrusting everything and everyone in his hometown. FBI Special Agent Sana Locke arrives further complicating his personal and professional life. Trust no one in this story. It’s everything you want in a mystery, there’s misdirection, depth of characters, historical relevance, hints of romance, kidnapping, murder, radioactive plutonium, and a Russian intelligence operative.
A powerful story with grains of truth that frighten and horrify me. Not a book I will forget, a fantastic read! My rating would exceed 5 stars and I don’t often do that.
It was a privilege to receive a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley of “The Bitter Past” by Bruce Borgos and St. Martin’s Publishing, Minotaur Books. Scheduled for release July 18, 2023 – don’t miss it! These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

I received a digital copy of “The Bitter Past” from Net Galley to read and review. My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and especial the author, Bruce Borgos for a very entertaining and exciting book.
The book fits the cliche “ a real page turner” and another, “ you will not want to put it down”, but there is nothing tired about this taut thriller. The author gives the book a different plot that begins with the Sherif of a rural Nevada county at the crime scene of a horrible murder. A man, a retired FBI agent , sits blind to a chair. He had been tortured horribly by someone who wanted information. But about what? For all anyone knew the man lived quietly and was long out of the game. Meanwhile the Sheriff’s office is called to investigate the vandalism of three 50 year old graves, the caskets emptied , bones gone. Sheriff Porter Beck begins investigating, but is soon joined by FBI agent Sana, good looking and imperiously all the ultimate Fed.
This story intertwines with the atomic tests which took place at a military facility in just to the east of the county where the murder took place . There are chapters interspersed which depict events at the test grounds. Obviously, everything will come together, and the author moves things right along. Sheriff Beck is exArmy and no stranger to secrets. In fact , many characters in the book have secrets.
It is a real pleasure to read. and see the story unfold with some romance, lot of detection, and an exciting
climax that answers all questions. I really hope that someone gets this book turned into a series or film because it has all the basis for a super movie.
For those who have sensitivities: romance, but no graphic sex. Spies, murder and people get their just deserts in the high dessert.
Highly recommended.

Where’s some place you’ve gone for vacation that was memorable, why?

When I was a kid, my mom and step-father eloped in Vegas. It was a memorable trip because we drove (being stuck in a car with 6 people is a lot) and when we went out to eat there were roaches on the bench at the restaurant. It did make for quite a memorable time!

Porter is a small town sheriff outside of Las Vegas, Nevada doing the job his father retired from. Everything is quiet until an old retired FBI agent is found brutally tortured and killed. When the FBI comes knocking, Porter can’t help but wonder if bigger things are going on. Will he be able to figure it all out before things from the past get out of hand and lives are ruined?

This was a fun and exciting cold war thriller. The past and present time line added depth to the story and made the big reveal even that much better. The plot of this story was unique and not one I had read before – that’s always a plus. I enjoyed the undertones of romance, along with the thriller and mystery aspect of this one. I enjoyed the family dynamic between Porter, his dad, and his adopted sister. She added so much to the story. It’s easy to see that this book will make an interesting series.

I recommend you check this one out July 18th.

Thank you to the publisher St Martin’s Press, @StMartinsPress, @netgalley, and the author, for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The historical storyline, the current day story, the characters, the twists and surprises, they all came together to make a true page-turner. I'm looking forward to reading more Bruce Borgos books.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, and so many crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Absolutely absorbing with an opening that was chilling to the bone.
It features Sheriff Porter Beck and the case of a horribly tortured and murdered ex-FBI agent. We go between today and the 50's Cold War, which was fascinating.
When the FBI becomes involved, Porter wonders what on earth is going on. I really liked Porter and his relationship with his father and adorable adopted sister. Hopefully this is the start of a series! Highly recommended!

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Hands down the best thriller I've ever read! Perfectly balanced between the past and present, the story flowed nicely and kept surprising me. Finding out who Georgiy turned out to be was huge and so well done! I sincerely hope we see more of this author, please!

I received this from NetGalley from St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books in exchange for an unbiased review.

I absolutely loved this book. The protagonist was smart, witty and genuinely likable. He was someone I could see myself hanging out with and enjoying a chat. His sense of humor is closely aligned with my own and it was as if he was an old friend.

The tale takes place in the Nevada Big Rocks area near Caliente as well as the surrounding areas. The atmosphere and desert play a large role in the tale. As well, the nuclear testing in the nearby areas that took place in the 1950s is also integral to the story. Russian spies and national security secrets create tension.

The opening scene is pretty gory but it sets the tone for the danger that hangs over the entire book. There are so many moving parts to this story, it’s a rich delight to the reader.

All the characters were well drawn and intriguing. I especially enjoyed the relationship the protagonist had with his father and sister. They seemed like a real-life family. Close but not afraid to be truthful with each other and even make each other angry but still have each other’s backs.

The hero had an interesting past and also had a bit of a handicap with night blindness that added a second layer of drama to the tale. He was definitely someone to root for and that’s always something this reader needs to have in a book. I’m definitely not a reader who likes anti-heroes.

The story was complex and satisfying. It moved seamlessly from the current time to the 1950s and the pace was well done. The mysteries unfolded at a good rate and kept me turning the pages.

I really enjoyed this book and thank the author for creating such a great character in the hero, a complex back story and a well done, intriguing plot. I hope there are more adventures in store with the sheriff of Lincoln County.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>The Bitter Past </i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Borgos sets his thriller in two time frames in the Nevada desert - a Cold War late fifties and a more contemporary time. Due to the time difference there are few common characters but the tension and suspucion carries through the years.

In 1957, nuclear proliferation is rampant and the Russians are determined to discover all the secrets hidden in the desert. A young Russian is sent to America to ingratiate himself within the scientific community and do his best to wreck havoc with nuclear materials. Borgos makes this time period a terrifying thrill ride.

In contemporary Nevada, Sheriff Porter Beck investigates the horrific murder of a former FBI agent. It isn't long before the sheriff and his team discover that the agent was investigating the possible identity of a former Russian spy who remained in America. Joined by Agent Saran Locke, Porter utilizes his expertise as a former American agent in Moscow to investigate the grisly death.

This novel was really enjoyable to read but there were lots of coincidences that in retrospect strain credulity. Yet I would definitely read more by this author with the character Porter Beck.

THE BITTER PAST by author Bruce Borgos is a novel that takes place in the desert of Nevada that tells the story of Sheriff Porter Beck, a second generation lawman who holds the position formerly held by his father, who is now suffering from dementia which adds to Porter’s concerns, along with his investigation into the recent murder of a reclusive retired FBI agent that had recently set himself up in a well planned and secure bunker, which make his murder seem to be related to his past, and evidently involving someone with a special skill set to be able to gain access to him.

Investigation reveals that the retired agent suffered torture, evidently to get information on the possibility of the presence of a Russian spy from a breach at a nuclear facility years ago that was a serious threat to national security.

Porter determines that the murder apparently connects the attempt to locate and kill the spy from the ‘50s, who is believed to have taken up residence in the area after going off the radar, and may be currently living in the area under an alias but otherwise known to the community.

Can Porter locate the murderer before he kills again, and will this require him to reveal the identity of the Russian spy who accessed classified secrets long ago before disappearing?

Great novel that hopefully turns into a series involving the Nevada lawman, and author Bruce Borgos does a great job at keeping the pace of this one going with twists and turns that lead up to the shocking identity of the elusive former spy in the area.

Recommended for those who like authors such as Craig Johnson and C. J. Box as stated in the book details, I can confirm that as a fan of both authors I enjoyed it and look forward to future novels by the author, hopefully with more based on this novel.

5 stars.

Set in Southern Nevada dessert where the nuclear tests of the 1950's took place a Sherriff is called to a grisly murder scene. What begins as a police procedural who dunnit quickly evolves into a nifty little spy cold war revenge suspense novel all rolled into one.

Although the plot is a bit over imagined it more then makes up in quick dialogue and well paced writing.

Great read.

I received this book from NetGalley for my unbiased review.

This was the first book by Bruce Borgos I have read. Hopefully it won't be the last!

The Bitter Past grabs you from the beginning and keeps you turning pages until the end. The characters are well developed and the story has some twists and turns throughout.

Very good read and looking forward to more.

Have never read anything by this author and wasn’t sure I would like this book when it was brought to my attention. Took me a little while to get into it. Don’t like stories bouncing back into time to combine the story. Once I got into the story I didn’t want to put it down. Intriguing story involving a murder of a retired FBI agent that took place in Nevada. The story involves a Russian operative who was working as a spy back 20 years ago. The US government knew there was a spy in Nevada but was sure who it was. The spy helped stop the dangerous mission that the Russian government was involved in but he left bodies doing this before he disappeared but was never caught. At the death of the FBI agent they were afraid that the Russian operative was active again. Interesting book. I would recommend the book to others.

I am an avid reader but the mystery genre is my favorite. That said, I have to admit I was thrilled to be offered a chance to read the first book in a new series by Bruce Borgos, an author new to me. The book is a combination of police procedural, spy/espionage, mystery and thriller with a dash of historical fiction. The combination is very well done. Lincoln County, Nevada Sheriff (just call me) Beck is a likable character from the beginning. If it wasn't for that the gruesome murder scene near the beginning of the book might have stopped me in my tracks. However, I kept turning the pages rapidly to find out how incidents in the late 1950s at the Nevada Testing Site were connected to Beck's present-day murder. The characters are well developed, the story line complex and the pace is fast. Nothing is as it first appears but the author plays fair and ties up everything at the end in a believable manner. This is a series that I will definitely follow based on this first book.


Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing/ Minotaur for the invitation to read and review this new series.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos is an engrossing read.. A superb job with plot and characters. Well worth the read.

Fast paced, interesting characters, well-plotted, easy to read. What more could you want for a rainy afternoon?

This is a very interesting and winning page turner combining some spy mystery intrigue with a bit of romance thrown in for fun. I'm hoping there will be a sequel and soon.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Love. Murder. Russian spies. Nuclear testing. Porter Beck is my new favourite hero! Can’t wait to read the next instalment of his character. Great fiction book based on history. Loved the info on nuclear testing. Just visited the atomic testing museum in Vegas one month ago. Really great timing on this brilliant debut novel. Must read for crime/ spy thrillers.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to the publishers and author for the arc of this book.

Wonderful book! All the hype of the 50's and family , too. Back then you did what you had to do for country and family and no one knew , Salaries, work conditions, neighbors. where talked about! Family secrets stay in family!

This was a good book in many ways: Fast plot, suspense, and well researched information on a piece of history that is not often told. Characters were written as real people and I look forward to more from this author.

When I first read the synopsis of this book on NetGalley, I was intrigued. When I finished the first chapter, I thought me eyes were going to roll out of my head as a result of all the similes. It was like reading a 1950’s dime store novel. But, I persevered. After all, I was permitted to read this advanced copy as a courtesy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Wow! So glad that I continued. Soon, I was hooked and drawn into the story of Beck, a Nevada sheriff dealing with a horrific murder of an elderly man. During his investigation, we are taken back to the 1950’s Russian spies, and the nuclear testing taking place in the Nevada desert. We meet his unconventional family, his interesting officers, and the lovely agent sent to solve the case. This is apparently, and hopefully, the first in a new series by a debut author. The witty writing often had me laughing out loud. I was gobsmacked when I realized where the story was heading, and totally satisfied when I read the last page. For fans of C.J. Box and that ilk, this is a must read.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos
Porter Beck is the Sherrif in Lincoln County, Nevada. The grizzly murder of an ex-FBI agent debuts this mystery. Finding the killer leads to a history of atomic bomb testing and Russian spies.
Borgos spins a believable tale with excellent characterizations. He provides his characters with both strengths and flaws. The characters are believable as is the tale.
The story has abundant twists, plenty of mayhem, and heroics.
I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

This novel takes place in Nevada during two separate time periods. In the first, the present, we meet Beck, the Lincoln County Sheriff who followed his father into office after a career in the Army. One of his many remarkable abilities is total recall. Lincoln County is north of Las Vegas in the Nevada mountains. The other part takes place following the end of World War II and the Cold War. It involves the secret testing of nuclear weaponry, a Russian spy who was there under cover and an event that could have destroyed Las Vegas. Parts of each chapter deal with each time frame. Normally when I read split times I often lose interest because it becomes convoluted. But not this time. I found myself caring what happened to these characters and what is going on in their lives. I also occasionally laughed out loud at some of the interactions between Beck and his crew. The ending could not have been better. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Ebook received for free through NetGalley.

A great book that pulled me in from the beginning and was hard to put down. That’s for letting me read it.

Well, I just found a new Author that will be added to my best Author list. I was engrossed from the beginning. It flowed and kept me interested all the way through. I liked the humor and intelligence of sheriff Porter Beck, he was an interesting character. In fact all the characters were well written. The plot was very engaging and kept you on your toes. I highly recommend you read this book. I look forward to reading his other books.

Kind of a slow read but it was interesting. Main characters were well written. I did like I never figured out the spy until revealed in the story.

This novel about the search for an old Russian spy from the Cold War now living under an alias was a great story. The action, the extremely likable characters and the great humor were enjoyable to read. The only issue I have is that it seems like the author has not researched Brinley’s condition. Other than that, four stars.

42 billion ⭐s

To say I loved The Bitter Past would be quite the understatement. Everyone else is chasing Bruce Borgos for my favorite book of the year. When I was thoroughly horrified at the beginning of the book then all of a sudden I'm crying from laughing is when I knew I had found my soulmate. Maybe two of my favorite jokes are held within The Bitter Past. Violent, unique and fresh, The Bitter Past is filled with unforgettable characters in a unique setting and has my highest recommendation (if that was actually a thing).

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of The Bitter Past.

Meet Sheriff Porter Beck, usually just Beck, of Lincoln County in eastern Nevada, adjacent to the Nevada Atomic Testing Site and Area 51, and, hopefully, the star of a continuing series. I really loved this character so much! He’s likable, smart, witty and gifted with total recall, but saddled with night blindness. An ex-military man, he came back to assist his lawman father who’s suffering from dementia, eventually being elected sheriff himself. Beck is investigating the grisly torture/death of a retired FBI agent and becomes paired with another FBI agent from DC, Sana Locke, who suspects the elderly murder victim was still looking for a Russian spy from 60 years ago.

The action jumps back and forth between the 1950s, as we get to know the Russian spy hidden at the Nevada testing site, and the present, as Beck and Locke try to determine how that obviously very old spy (if alive) figures into the current crime. The narrative comes down to spy vs spy, except the spies are 80 to 90 year old dudes.

Burgos definitely knows the area and landscape, adding weirdly named FLDS characters (those would be the desert polygamists). I moved to Utah from Chicago years ago and originally had no idea what “Downwinders” were and I was initially mystified by men named LaVelle and Enoch. The author expertly explains the unique social heritage and environmental history of the area as the mystery unfolds. It’s atmospheric and unique and even if you’re unfamiliar with the area, you’ll enjoy being plunged into a part of the New West that’s more than cactus and tumbleweeds.

The plot was twisty, the mystery was fairly complex and the finale was action packed! 5 stars! Sheriff Beck deserves a another book or two!

Thank you to St.Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for making the suggestion that I’d like this! I did!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Beck’s sister, Brin, has emerald green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Tall cottonwoods are growing where they should be.

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borges is a complex, fascinating, mysterious novel involving nuclear warfare development and testing done in the US in the 50's and 60's and possible spying by the Russians. It has many twists and turns from past to present keeping the reader fully engaged in trying to solve the earlier spying relating it to present day events. This book is well worth a read.

Strong series opener set in rural Nevada with a past-present mystery tied to the lingering effects of atomic bomb testing. The hero is the local sheriff who has a background in Army intelligence, which comes in handy when a Russian spy is at large in the county. The sheriff teams up with a female government agent, and romantic tension ensues.

The first-person narrative is engaging, with a balance of humor and self-reflection. Alternating chapters are set in the 1950s, giving Cold War intrigue that resonates in the present.

The isolation of the high desert was a factor - at one point they had 12 hours to accomplish something, and it seemed like half of it was spent driving somewhere! The opening scene is very gruesome, but it tones down after that, with some action and gunfights and a denouement in a scenic spot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Bruce Borgos has written a great suspense and mystery novel entitled “ The Bitter Past.” Like many of my favorite books there are two storylines running parallel, and perhaps intertwining, and leaving many of the mysteries unresolved till late in the book. The stories never felt forced and the pacing was…just right. The Goodreads summary begins with “ In the tradition of Craig Johnson and C.J. Box” sets the table beautifully since I have read most everything by both of these authors. So a big + before I read the first page.
Porter Beck is a Nevada small town sheriff who gets involved with murky good and bad guys having something to do with the American nuclear program from way back in the 1950’s. And that’s all I shall give y’all: I can only hope this is the 1st book in a series ( Mr. Borgos !) A big “ thanks” to NetGalley for the opportunity to read “The Bitter Past.”

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos. I did not want to put this book down!! A great story line with great characters. I love the snarky confident complex Porter Beck! Looking forward to reading more books with him! This story is a dual timeline. Present day Nevada near Area 51 with Russian spies and Cold War history in the 1956 timeline. A very believable story with the author keeping the story moving. I definitely recommend this book! Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this book.

This book was awesome. It was a great mystery with a couple of great twists. I highly recommend it and want to read more of this author. Bruce Borgos is an excellent storyteller.

While I agree with some comments that Bruce Borgos’ debut novel, The Bitter Past, is reminiscent of Craig Johnson’s Longmire books, it also brings back memories of Betty Webb’s 2012 Lena Jones mystery, Desert Wind. With two timelines, a mystery and espionage combined in one book, The Bitter Past is a fascinating, unusual debut.

Sheriff Porter Beck is a former Foreign Area Officer in the Army. Now, he’s sheriff of Lincoln County, Nevada, a county the size of Maryland. Despite the vast territory to cover, Beck knows most of the residents. His father was once the sheriff in the county before he developed dementia. Beck recognizes the dead man, a retired FBI agent. Ralph Atterbury was seventy-four. Beck never saw anyone who suffered that level of torture. It was worse than the Taliban. With Beck’s Army background, though, he has suspicions. When Sana Locke, an FBI agent from Washington shows up and wants to see Beck’s crime scene, he’s even more suspicious.

In the 1950s, and for decades afterwards, Nevada was the site for nuclear testing. In the ’50s, a KGB agent, found a way to infiltrate the site, under the name Freddie Meyer. Meyer’s assignment wasn’t just to infiltrate the site. He was part of a larger plan.

Now, over sixty years later, someone is in Nevada, looking for that former KGB agent. Atterbury might have had files that would help identify a man who would now be in his eighties. So, Atterbury was tortured for the information. It’s up to Sheriff Beck and his small team to protect that man, although they have no clue as to his current identity.

The Bitter Past is a gripping story that combines elements of mystery, espionage, and history. Beck wonders if he himself suffers from effects of the radiation from those nuclear tests. His mother, and so many other people who lived there in the 1950s, died of cancer. Animals suffered cruel deaths after the tests. But, during the 1950s, Americans believed the need to beat the Soviets in the nuclear arms race and the Cold War. While Borgos tells a riveting story, he doesn’t neglect the effects of the 1950s tests.

The Bitter Past is an unusual novel. Kudos to the author for a compelling debut.

After seeing this book compared to C.J. Box , I had to read it. Great start to what hopefully becomes a series! The author was able to weave the past and the present together so well and kept me on the edge of my seat.