STRONG FROM THE HEART
(Caitlin Strong #11)
by
Jon Land
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense
Publisher: Forge Books
Date of Publication: July 28, 2020
Number of Pages: 368 pages
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Caitlin Strong wages her own personal war on drugs against the true power behind the illicit opioid trade in Strong from the Heart, the blistering and relentless 11th installment in Jon Land’s award-winning series.
The drug crisis hits home for fifth generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong when the son of her outlaw lover Cort Wesley Masters nearly dies from an opioid overdose. On top of that, she’s dealing with the inexplicable tragedy of a small Texas town where all the residents died in a single night.
When Caitlin realizes that these two pursuits are intrinsically connected, she finds herself following a trail that will take her to the truth behind the crisis that claimed 75,000 lives last year. Just in time, since the same force that has taken over the opiate trade has even more deadly intentions in mind, specifically the murder of tens of millions in pursuit of their even more nefarious goals.
The power base she’s up against―comprised of politicians and Big Pharma, along with corrupt doctors and drug distributors―has successfully beaten back all threats in the past. But they’ve never had to deal with the likes of Caitlin Strong before and have no idea what’s in store when the guns of Texas come calling.
At the root of the conspiracy lies a cabal nestled within the highest corridors of power that’s determined to destroy all threats posed to them. Caitlin and Cort Wesley may have finally met their match, finding themselves isolated and ostracized with nowhere to turn, even as they strive to remain strong from the heart.
PRAISE FOR STRONG FROM THE HEART!
“A time-jumping, savory Tex-Mex tale, seasoned with all the ingredients of a great thriller.”―Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author
“A mind-blowing tale that takes a flamethrower to our psyches to warm the chill it leaves up our spines. Seething with energy and replete with wondrously staged set pieces, this is thriller writing that defies genre even as it reminds us why we love to read.”―NYK Daily
“Exceptional…. Snappy one-liners, plausible dialogue, and lots of nonstop action, Land delivers another riveting, believable thriller.”―Press-Republican
“Caitlin Strong is one of the strongest female characters ever to hit the page, and Jon Land is the king of the intelligent thriller, continually pushing his own writing to new levels.”―New York Journal of Books
There’s nothing quite like jumping into a series with ten books behind it! However, with a strong female protagonist and a story rooted in Texas, there was no way that I could pass up the chance to read this one.
Opening with an unforgettable ear-worm and closing with poignant self-discovery, this is an edgy and intense thriller packed with high stakes subplots that masterfully converge. Exploring the past explains the present and readers are thrust into the competent hands of Ranger Caitlin Strong as she takes on the opioid crisis. Short, fast-paced chapters keep the tension and suspense mounting until the very end. Driven by quick, focused, and earnest dialogue, the plot grabs your attention and the author’s deft storytelling keeps the pages flying!
Although this was the 11th book in the series, I honestly never felt that I was missing anything; however, considering the numerous and dynamic relationships Caitlin shares with so many of the secondary characters, my interest is definitely piqued to find out more about these connections by reading more about her backstory within the previous books. I was immediately drawn into the story and characters from the very beginning, and can’t wait to spend more time with them as I make my way through the series and wait for future installments.
“‘When things go from bad to worse, blood often gets spilled. What do you say we do our best to keep the street dry today?'”
Caitlin is such an incredibly well developed character. She is likeable, strong-willed, and just vulnerable enough to make her even more relatable to readers. The story is filled with so much danger, intrigue, and a passionate cast of secondary characters all willing to do their part to stop corruption and injustice. Following various perspectives across the story provides great insight and a spectacular insider’s view of not just the investigation, but the unsettling underbelly of the criminal world. With immense compassion and the right amount of curiosity, Ranger Strong solidifies her footprint among other great female investigators. This story is smart, perceptive, riveting, fast paced, and incredibly hard to put down.
“Strongs have been Rangers almost as long as there’s been a Texas. I never really had to wonder, since I grew up with all the stories about their exploits.”
Each part opens with a small biography about a distinguished Texas Ranger in history. Elements of many genres make this an excellent selection for fans of historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and action. And with his attention to detail and the ultimate unveiling of all the seemingly unrelated plot threads, the story makes for an enthusiastic reread for literary analysis…or is that only me?
I’m so glad that I found this series! Ranger Strong is certainly a force to be reckoned with and should not be missed!
Many thanks to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book. This is my honest and thoughtful opinion.
Jon Land is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty books, eleven of which feature Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong. The critically acclaimed series has won more than a dozen awards, including the 2019 International Book Award for Best Thriller for Strong as Steel and the 2020 American Fiction Award for Best Thriller. He has also authored six books in the MURDER, SHE WROTE series and has recently taken over writing Margaret Truman’s CAPITAL CRIMES series. A 1979 graduate of Brown University, Land lives in Providence, Rhode Island and received the 2019 Rhode Island Authors Legacy Award for his lifetime of literary achievements.
FIVE WINNERS!
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Many thanks again to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours! It was an absolute pleasure reading, reviewing, and hosting! And be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more opinions and extras!
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly:
| 10/29/2020 | Character Spotlight | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 10/29/2020 | Review | Bibliotica |
| 10/30/2020 | Top 5 List | Hall Ways Blog |
| 10/30/2020 | Review | Tangled in Text |
| 10/31/2020 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
| 11/1/2020 | Top 9 List | Missus Gonzo |
| 11/2/2020 | Excerpt | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 11/3/2020 | Excerpt | All the Ups and Downs |
| 11/4/2020 | Top 10 List | Texas Book Lover |
| 11/5/2020 | Guest Post | Forgotten Winds |
| 11/5/2020 | Review | The Clueless Gent |
| 11/6/2020 | Top 10 List | KayBee’s Book Shelf |
| 11/7/2020 | Review | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 11/7/2020 | Review | Book Bustle |
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GREAT review & bookstagram, too! I am excited to start this series (I just gotta start with #1) and will probably just binge my way through to this one. Thanks for the post.
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