This is an independently published series from Michael E. Jimerson which I listened to on audio, my first experience of former Texas Ranger EJ Kane. It is 8 hours and 30 minutes long and is narrated by the lawyer author, which like the story I found to be a mixed bag, as sometimes it was good, and other times not so able with an indifferent tone when it comes to the text. It opens with a harrowing scenario involving an actor engaged in a climate protest in which Kane bravely acquits himself well. GH Burton, a white supremacist killer, with the aid of his Aryan group fraudulently claims innocence, although Kane and his ex-prosecutor wife, Rebecca Johnson, are not hoodwinked, having every intention of fighting this.

Kane has a fractured and complex personal life, his son, Connor, ends up dead in his efforts to emulate his father, and his daughter, Charlotte, is a meth addict, sex trafficked and then rescued, and is pregnant, with all the challenging issues and consequences this raises. Kane has the parents of Melinda Blake asking for his help. He fails to comprehend the all too real threat that the corrupt Sheriff B. B. presents, endangering the life of a Texas Ranger, as well as his own, refusing to listen to warnings he is given. The unforgiving heat and hostile environment of the Big Thicket National Preserve is to test him to the limits as he fights for more than just his own life.

This is not a series I will be pursuing any further, and I wrestled internally with my star rating as I contemplated whether it should be 2 or 3 stars, I eventually settled on the latter, given that there were parts of the story and audio that I did enjoy. I would urge readers and listeners to read other reviews prior to making tthe decision to listen or read this. Many thanks to the author for an ALC.

I just couldn't follow this story. I think part of the problem was it was the audio version seemed like the person was just reading the story. There was no attempt at making the voices different for the different characters.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as Author Michael Jimerson for an audio arc of this title.

I stumbled across this book when needing something to listen to whilst waiting approval of other titles as it was a “listen to now” title.

Overall I found the book enjoyable and the titular character likable.

My biggest challenge was with the narration. Not knowing anything about the author before starting this book I made mention to my husband that I felt like I was listening to a lawyer read my book to me as it didn’t sound like typical audio readers. His heavy drawl also made many words difficult to understand.

So I looked up the reader and realized it was the author as this was independently published and that he was indeed an attorney! Now for part of the book that back ground was well suited. The prose was very believable from a systematic standpoint. You could feel that the author had experience with criminals. So that was very much appreciated as it wasn’t cliched or even reporting to over used tropes.

But on the other hand the narration at times was flat and preachy where it made you disconnect from the book. I don’t want to dampen things too much as it’s a decent book from an independent author. It’s better than some others that had full backing of big publishing houses.

I just put my finger on it. The novel comes across like a true story that was fictionalized or a decent Lifetime Movie. The chapters don’t flow into one another. There is a disconnect.

Lastly, some parts didn’t sit well with me as they came off offensively. Such as the use of Indian over Native American or the portrayal of Reacher.


All in all it’s a decent story that has a targeted audience, especially those who thrive on Texas Crime stories.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again