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Strong from the Heart: A Caitlin Strong Novel

Review

Strong from the Heart: A Caitlin Strong Novel

A Ranger is an officer who is able to handle any given situation without definite instructions from his commanding officer or higher authority.

Jon Land actually opens up the epilogue of STRONG FROM THE HEART with this statement regarding the Texas Rangers, but I felt it was appropriate to get it out there before diving into my review. The 11th entry in this stellar series featuring Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong follows a formula that has made each of these novels special: they are grounded in the history and discipline that make the Texas Rangers such a proud and special unit. In fact, they relate what is happening in the present day with Caitlin to events in the late 1800s involving her great-grandfather, Texas Ranger William Ray Strong.

"STRONG FROM THE HEART is full of timely and pertinent action seemingly ripped from the headlines. There are a number of series that can say the same thing, but I am sure there are not many that can do so with the deft plotting and first-rate characterization that has become the hallmark of this series."

Can a reader jump right in and enjoy STRONG FROM THE HEART without having read any of the prior installments? Most certainly --- but you would be denying yourself the opportunity to spend time with some of the more complex characters and morally driven storylines that you will find in most modern-day thrillers. The simple solution is to enjoy this tale, and then do yourself a favor and catch up with the prior 10 titles.

I already referenced the epilogue, so I will now leap to the front of the book, which opens with a quote from Philip Sidney: “It is the nature of the strong heart, that like the palm tree it strives ever upwards when it is most burdened.” This speaks directly to our primary protagonist, but several other characters also display their strong heart. There is a town in Southwest Texas, Camino Pass, that plays a role in both the present timeline and the trip to the past with Caitlin’s great-grandfather. The current state of Camino Pass is one that has the authorities shaking their heads. You see, in the span of one night, every single resident of this small town seems to have died.

Caitlin is handling an ICE case with the assistance of her old friend and one-man cavalry, Colonel Guillermo Paz of Homeland Security. Her boss, Captain Tepper, calls with orders sending her to Camino Pass to find out why all 288 of its citizens have turned up dead. We also learn that William Ray Strong had his own experience with Camino Pass back in the day when all of their children had seemingly vanished. My immediate thoughts took me to cases like the colony of Roanoke, which completely disappeared, and horror novels such as Dean Koontz's PHANTOMS. Land indicates in his acknowledgments that he was inspired by THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN. Ironically, like Michael Crichton’s classic, it turns out that two survivors are found in Camino Pass, which brings about the same questions: How and why did they survive when everyone else died?

The other storyline, which ends up intersecting nicely with Caitlin's case, features her boyfriend Cort Wesley Masters, who is shocked when his youngest son, Luke, ends up in the hospital as the victim of an apparent overdose. This comes just hours after Cort watched him excel in his high school soccer game --- just another step toward his bright collegiate future. The good news is that Luke survives. The quizzical part for Cort is when he learns that his son overdosed on opioids. He is committed to getting to the bottom of who was responsible for placing dangerous painkillers in the hands of high school kids like Luke.

Caitlin shares in this battle while remaining focused on the conundrum that is Camino Pass. Among my favorite parts of the book are the trips to the past with William Ray Strong, especially since we get to see him partner up with famous Mexican hero Pancho Villa. Back in their times, Camino Pass was all about gold prospecting. The investigation that Caitlin is working on features a more contemporary key to the tragedy there.

Caitlin has her team to count on when things get tough. Cort finds his support in two unique personalities: the ghost of Leroy Epps --- who has accompanied him throughout the series --- and a nearly 90-year-old ex-Ranger, Doyle Lodge, who is a wealth of information in Cort's one-man battle against the opioid crisis. We all realize that there would be no crisis if some powerful people did not benefit from it. That involves not only Big Pharma but also dirty politicians like Texas Senator Lee Eckles, who eventually gets in Caitlin’s crosshairs. Once again she proves that she can take care of business not only in the heat of battle but also in the corridors of Washington, D.C.

STRONG FROM THE HEART is full of timely and pertinent action seemingly ripped from the headlines. There are a number of series that can say the same thing, but I am sure there are not many that can do so with the deft plotting and first-rate characterization that has become the hallmark of this series. It is always time well spent when one of these books comes my way, and it helps me sleep a little better knowing that there may be actual heroes like Caitlin Strong out there.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on July 31, 2020

Strong from the Heart: A Caitlin Strong Novel
by Jon Land

  • Publication Date: July 28, 2020
  • Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Forge Books
  • ISBN-10: 0765384701
  • ISBN-13: 9780765384706