Book source ~ Purchased

Al Quinn is a retired detective with the sheriff’s department and yet, he isn’t. Sort of. Al’s quiet retirement has been riddled with anything but quiet. There’s his brother and all that has to do with him, there’s his long time friend Fergie (a retired city detective), and then there’s the sheriff who just can’t seem to let Al go completely. Good thing, too. Because if his life was quiet we wouldn’t have these great stories to read. This time someone tries to dognap Al’s dog Tanner and that’s all it takes for Al to get pulled into something bigger that stinks of rotten highly illegal goings on.

Ah, how I love Al Quinn. He’s a favorite hero of mine and I’m giddy when another story comes out. The action keeps the tricksy and convoluted plot moving at a good clip and what’s not to love about the characters? The dialogue flows easily and I can usually finish one of these books in one sitting, if real life cooperates. I like how it’s hard to figure out what’s going on. I can make guesses, but it’s not until the end that the whole thing comes together. Perfection. ( )

I started reading this book and the first three chapters were all about his dog. I felt that the author was having trouble finding a story and was dragging this part out. Reading farther along, I got the impression that everyone carries a gun. In pockets, purses and tucked into their belts. I've been to Dallas and never saw a pistol tucked into anyone's belt. It is not a style of writing that I like so I never finished the book. ( )

This is book #7 in the series but if it’s the first book of the series I have read. Its fairly easy to pick up on the storyline and get to know the characters. Al Quinn just wants to be left alone, thank you very much. Dom is out of prison after 8-years and feels perfectly comfortable making himself comfortable on Quinn’s dock, even if he wasn’t invited...and you can be sure that he wasn’t. Neither was his companion...his nephew, Cabe. In another time and another place, somebody might be lecturing people about taking care of family. In this book, it is all about family and taking care of the people and pets you love. Sometimes you simply can’t wait for others to clean up the mess...especial the mess of your own making. The Darkest Corners of Texas is a fast paced, action filled read. The crimes to be dealt with range from dog-napping to human trafficking. Of course, that means several villains, including a criminal mastermind and a white supremacist. There are a lot of characters to keep up with but it’s an exciting ride. The only thing that I found a tad annoying, was that the author was a little long - winded when describing the scenery...but that was a small thing and didn’t affect the rhythm of the story. This is the first I have read by this author but it won’t be my last. Maybe I’ll even start with book #1.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Red Adapt Publishing in exchange for an honest opinion. The views expressed by this reviewer are entirely my own. ( )

Darkest Corners of Texas: An Al Quinn Novel opens with Al Quinn working on his boat at Lake Travis. He would rather be on the water fishing, but the bilge pump had other ideas. Fergie is at the boat with him and is the first to spot the boat coming at high-speed right to their dock on what used to be a quiet and far less populated lake. But, urban sprawl out of Austin means a lot more houses, a lot more people, and many more visitors than the old days.

Al Quinn just wants tb be left alone and does not much care for it when friend or foe shows up unannounced at his place. So, he is not thrilled to see to see the cigarette boat rocketing their way. He is even less thrilled when he sees that one of the two men aboard is Dom Strobinsky. His presence means he is home from the state petitionary at Huntsville. Al used to be a deputy and Dom used to work for Fat Solly. So, the two have an arrest history going back decades and Dom is trouble.

Dom is out and feels perfectly comfortable getting on his dock like he was invited. He wasn’t and neither was his companion. Introduced as Dom’s nephew, Cabe, the family resemblance is clear. Dom just completed eight years inside, full team, which means he has no parole officer to answer to or anyone checking up on him.

Dom was a serious threat in the day. His still has some of that swagger and attitude, but like all aging gun fighters, he isn't quite what he used to be. Still, he is a threat though now he brings it as an investigation to meet with his new boss. Supposedly, everything the boss is doing is legit and he wants to hire Al to figure out who is interfering in his business. Al wants no part of any of it though neither Dom or his hit headed nephew, Cabe, seem capable of taking no for an answer.

Things escalate in expected and unexpected ways and before long Al, Fergie, and the whole crew find themselves in a mess involving white supremacists, human trafficking, and a lot more. Sheriff Clayton may not have brought Al into the case, but now he has him stuck right in the middle of it like it or not.

In another time and place, somebody might be lecturing folks about taking care of family. In this book, it is all about family and taking care of the people and pets you love. Sometimes you can’t wait for others to clean up the mess.

Darkest Corners of Texas: An Al Quinn Novel is a fast and action filled read. Many of the characters involved have been around since the start so there is little here to add to them in terms of development. This is more action filled tale as those involved deal with crisis after crisis. The latest in this series that started with To Hell and Gone in Texas is also a very good read well worth your time.

Darkest Corners of Texas: An Al Quinn Novel
Russ Hall
http://russhall.com/
Red Adept Publishing
http://RedAdeptPublishing.com
June 2021
ASIN: B0964H86M1
eBook (also available in print)
174 Pages

Material was purchased in early June to read and review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2021 ( )