The Bitter Past

Sheriff Porter Beck, Book 1

By: Bruce Borgos

Narrated by: James Babson

In the tradition of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box, a compelling new series set in the high desert of Nevada featuring Sheriff Porter Beck.

Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places. Now he's back home, doing the same lawman's job his father once did, before his father started to develop dementia. All is relatively quiet in this corner of the world, until on old, retired FBI agent is found killed. He was brutally tortured before he was killed and clues at the scene point to a mystery dating back to the early days of the nuclear age. If that wasn't strange enough, a current FBI agent shows up to help Beck's investigation.

In a case that unfolds in the past (the 1950s) and the present, it seems that a Russian spy infiltrated the nuclear testing site and now someone is looking for that long-ago, all-but forgotten person, who holds the key to what happened then and to the deadly goings on now.

©2023 Bruce Borgos (P)2023 Recorded Books

Engrossing! Couldn't stop listening.

Great story, excellent narrator (although the grammar critic in me cringed at a few mispronounciations!) and engrossing storyline. I usually get annoyed with timelines shifts in movies and in books, but this one was very well done, with each timeline equally engaging. I will definitely read/listen to more from this author.

What a well written story

Well written, interesting characters, well done jump’s between timelines. Really enjoyed this story and engaged with the characters.

Loved it

Mystery, thriller, legal fiction is my go to, along with historical fiction /non-fiction, as well as (and especially but hard to come by on Liberal audible, too bad -hopefully Mill Valley, CA will wake up) uplifting Christian literature. I’m pretty picky, returning some or just not able to finish the others I bought from the daily deals (this was a daily deal. Smart, it’s a series so will definitely use my next credit for another novel by Bruce Borgos, that is after I google him & have my FBI friend look him up to make sure he isn’t a Russian spy. Kidding aside, really appreciated your book Bruce! & James B. did a Fantastic job narrating. Thanks guys! Happy Holidays 🕊). Audible 🙏🏼🙏🏼more Christian content, you know, the stuff our country, the United States of America 🇺🇸 was founded on -our God who calls Israel his apple of his eye (Dec. 2023, war against Hamas terrorists).
Thanks Audible, makes my commute & tedious house chores less of a hassle.
🎄 📖 😊

Excellent

Great story, interesting characters, smart, very human. The narrator is very well suited, here. This one was nearly over before I knew it, having enjoyed it very much to the end.

Engrossing!

grisly, first-in-series, new-series, Nevada, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, procedural, crime-thriller, fiction, friction, rural, local-law-enforcement, FBI, ex-FBI, snarky, torture, action-adventure, espionage, dual-timeframes, propaganda, lies, 1950s, present-day, ex-military, invisible-disability, punny, CIA, Russian intelligence*****

"Oh good. We're having puns for breakfast." That and references to wearing a Duluth jacket to keep out the cold are my favorite lines.
Cruelty and torture meet with dry wit and horrible puns with Sheriff Porter Beck in the high desert of Nevada even as the story of a Russian agent at the nuclear test site in 1957 plays out. More than one cat toys with intelligent mice until the tables are turned. The massive twist near the end of the book absolutely blew me away! Can't wait til it comes out in audio so I can get a copy to keep!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!