The Devil's Country

Arlo Baines, Book 1

By: Harry Hunsicker

Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

Former Texas Ranger Arlo Baines didn't come to the tiny West Texas town of Piedra Springs to cause trouble. After his wife and children were murdered, Arlo just wants to be left alone. Moving from place to place seems to be the only thing that eases the pain of his family's violent end.

But a chance encounter outside a bar forces him to rescue a terrified woman and her children from mysterious attackers. When the woman turns up murdered the next day - her children missing - Arlo becomes the primary suspect in exactly the same type of crime he is trying desperately to forget.

Haunted by the fate of his family, and with the police questioning the existence of the dead woman's children, Arlo decides it's his duty to find them. The question is, just how deep will he have to sink into the dusty secrets of Piedra Springs to save them and clear his name?

©2017 Harry Hunsicker (P)2016 Brilliance Audio

interesting enough to keep me listening

the part of the story has been told in other books and movies with this one adding a more sordid twist. it took awhile for me to get into it because the protagonist did some stupid things that one would suppose a Texas Ranger would not do. for instance not immediately making a connection to the woman's clothing and some sort of religious connection. also when the other Texas Ranger made an insult referring to his grandchildren, I found it hard to believe that he wouldn't have retorted that he wasn't going to have any considering his have been killed

Start of the Arlo Baines series?

Arlo Baines is an ex-Texas Ranger whose wife and two young children were murdered 9 years ago in Dallas. The murderers, crooked Dallas cops, are dead by his own hand and his father-in-law, a banker whose illegal activities resulted in the deaths of his daughter and grandchildren, is serving a life sentence in prison. Arlo has for 9 years thumbed and ridden buses around Texas. He finds himself in the small west Texas town of Piedra Springs when he meets a woman and her two children who are attempting to escape a religious cult which has branches throughout the US but is headquartered outside Piedra Springs. That night the woman is murdered and her children disappear. Arlo then runs into a female NY Times reporter whose sister and niece are trapped in the cult.

Along the way Arlo and the reporter find that the religion is a front for the cults huge illegal money making operations.

Arlo Baines is a very empathetic and likable protagonist! I hope this is the start of a series. Eric G Dove narrates beautifully.

Thanks to Audible listener Shelley whose review led me to this novel and this author.

Jack Reacher in Texas.

Basic theme borrowed from Lee Child but still a good listen. I recommend it. Enjoy.

Old story, new twist.

Same story again, with a new twist and different place. Good read and can't put it down until the end.

Great thriller

A twist around every corner that kept you waiting more. It was easy to lose track of time.