Hard Town - a suspenseful, gritty thriller.

Kurt Argento, a former Detroit cop, is house-sitting in a small Arizona town. Recently widowed, his only real companion is his dog, Hudson. He is often recognized for his role in a prison break where he rescued the governor of Missouri's daughter. With that incident behind him, Kurt prefers a quiet life doing odd jobs and eating at diners. When Kristen Reed, a young mother, approaches him with her son, asking for help, he initially declines. However, he feels compelled to assist when she suggests something terrible may have happened to her husband in nearby Fenton. As Kurt begins investigating, he notices that Fenton's police force is too large and skilled for a town with almost no crime. A mysterious gray-haired man seems to exert an unusual influence over everyone. Kurt has uncovered a more complex situation and is determined to figure out what happened to the Reed family, as Kristen and her son have also vanished.

Adam Plantinga introduced Kurt Argento in his debut novel The Ascent. By the end, it was clear that this appealing, down-on-his-luck character would be back for more adventures, and happily, we didn't have to wait long for his return. Hard Town is a gritty book filled with lots of action and even some humor. Violent and tense, the story kept me glued as the lines between the good guys and the bad guys became blurred. You can read this page-turner as a standalone, but it is worth reading the first book as well. 

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Novel Suspects for the gifted advance copy. 

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thrilled.

Publication Date: April 8, 2025.

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