Bruce Borgos steps into the thrillerverse with a blazing debut that combines elements of cold-war espionage with modern day crime-investigation to give one heck of a memorable story that will have readers anticipating more to come from this extraordinary new author.
The Bitter Past sets up two stories running in parallel, one in the 50’s and one in the present. The present-day narrative is told from the first person POV of sheriff Porter Beck in Nevada where our budding hero resides after a stint in Army intelligence. When a gruesome murder of a retired FBI agent is uncovered in their small town, he finds himself paired up with another FBI agent on this dangerous manhunt for the killer. Before the story is over, there will be more killings and it is all linked to a Russian sleeper agent in the 50’s who gained access to a facility testing weapons of mass destruction, right there in Nevada.
Borgos sets up a high bar for his protagonist with a resonating depth to his foundation that feels real and profound. The first person POV is utilized to the max as we get in Porter Beck’s head with his witty comebacks and charming demeanor. His predicaments with his previous shadowy life and his family lend a gravitas to his actions such that you are compelled to root for him to pull through the dangerous situations even if you know he has to make it through. His most appealing asset is his mundane lightheartedness with the raw capacity to switch to a gritty action-mindset when the situation calls for it.
Speaking of which, Borgos writes clean and mean action sequences that require minimal suspension of disbelief. Whether it’s Beck shooting it out in close quarters with a Russian agent, or his weapons-savvy sister who trains Hollywood moguls in safe and effective tactical measures providing overwatch support with a long gun, the shootouts are imbued with a sense of urgency and energy that will give you an extra boost in your reading speed.
The heart of The Bitter Past is an emotional catharsis of people doing good for the sake of good unencumbered by nations and any politics. In a world of back door deals and shadowy alliances, sometimes it’s the little things that must be handled in good faith and that’s what The Bitter Past speaks to with its intriguing plot.
The Bitter Past is an incredible debut and it’s bound to be one of the most talked-about thrillers in 2023. I can’t wait to read more of Porter Beck.
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