Title: Down Range by Taylor Moore
Garrett Kohl Series Book One
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Action, Thriller
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
In this action-packed debut thriller for fans of C. J. Box and Jack Carr, DEA agent Garrett Kohl fights to protect his home on the Texas High Plains when a vicious criminal enterprise comes after his family.
As a decorated undercover DEA special agent, Garrett Kohl has traveled the world—and fought in most of it—but it’s the High Plains of northwest Texas he calls home and dreams of returning to one day. Kohl is in the middle of an assignment in Afghanistan when his commander orders him back to Texas on a short mission expected to take a week at most. But Kohl is unsettled to discover that he’s moving from one kind of war to another.
The once-peaceful ranching community he loves is under attack by a band of criminals who have infiltrated law enforcement and corrupted local businesses, and are now terrorizing Kohl’s own family. Hoping to prevent bloodshed, Kohl tries to resolve matters peacefully. But when the group strikes first, he has no choice but to go on the attack.
Unfortunately for the crew of criminals, Garrett Kohl, besides being an elite undercover officer for the DEA, is a battle-hardened Green Beret who spent the better part of his career hunting terrorists. Although outnumbered and outgunned, Kohl knows the wild and forsaken Llano Estacado region of Texas better than anyone. And like so many trespassers before them, these murder
Review:
Down Range, the first release in Taylor Moore‘s Garret Kohl series, is an adrenaline-laced thriller.
DEA Agent Garrett Kohl is currently working in Afghanistan when a split decision to save a young Afghan boy puts him at odds with his CIA boss Kim Manning. Fearing the political fallout from his actions, Manning tells him to keep Asadi safe while she tries to minimize any unpleasant repercussions. He and Asadi are quickly whisked stateside where Garrett decides to take Asadi home to his family’s ranch in the Texas panhandle. Surprisingly enough, his gruff father, Butch, immediately takes Asadi under his wing and they bond over the young boy’s love of horses.
Meanwhile, Garrett has fences to mend with his lawyer brother, Bridger. He also tries to get the truth about why Bridger is on edge. Garrett knows his brother well enough to realize Bridger is only telling half the story. As he reunites with old friends and makes new ones, Garrett is struck by the differences in town. A criminal element has moved in with along with the Renegade Oil & Gas Services which is owned by the wealthiest family in the area.
Garrett is a decorated Green Beret who joined up with the DEA without letting anyone except Butch know. He rarely returns home to visit due to his bittersweet memories. He has a strong affinity with the land and his heritage but he is haunted by his guilt over a tragic loss. The circumstances of his introduction to Asadi give him an instant bond with the young boy who implicitly trusts him to keep him safe.
Garrett and his family are soon on the wrong side of the criminals who have taken over their town. No one is safe after Butch foolishly interferes with their business. Garrett soon discovers what Bridger has gotten himself into when the crooks put his brother’s family in peril. With danger all around them, can Garrett figure out a way to bring his loved ones safely home?
Down Range is an absolutely compelling thriller that moves at a fast pace. The main characters are eclectic and well-developed. The Texas panhandle’s vibrantly springs to life though the vivid descriptions of the Kohl ranch and surrounding area. The storyline is extremely interesting with plenty of twists and turns. Taylor Moore brings this action-packed thriller to a nail-biting, edge of the seat conclusion. The Garret Kohl series is off to an explosive beginning that will leave fans impatiently awaiting the next installment.
