After three gripping and expertly-plotted books, J. Todd Scott deserves to be recognized alongside other greats such as Craig Johnson, Ace Atkins, and Don Winslow—who might just be the most accurate comparison out of authors currently working in the genre. Whereas Winslow has received praise (and rightfully so) for his epic Cartel trilogy, Scott’s has mostly flown under the radar, though they’re every bit as rich with detail, character development, stimulating visuals, and been-there-done-that authenticity. A veteran federal agent who knows this world inside and out, Scott has lived the life he’s now writing about, and that realism bleeds through each and every page, creating a powerful reading experience that is both informative and highly entertaining ... J. Todd Scott remains one of the most criminally underrated authors on the planet . . . This Side of Night is an absolute must-read for fans of Don Winslow and should find its way onto plenty of 'Best of 2019' lists later this year.
Mr. Scott, as it happens, has been a federal agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration for more than 20 years, which surely contributes to the authenticity of this convincing saga ... Mr. Scott demonstrates the Texas-size writing talents to which his protagonist aspires.
J. Todd. Scott is a federal agent with the DEA,with more than 20 years’ service under his belt. With these credentials, he gives the story an authentic immediacy and original voice that captures us from the very first page. Despite the violence throughout the novel, it is not gratuitous, and carries with it the dark and violent poetry of Cormac McCarthy. The first must-read of the summer has arrived.
Readers who think this presages a high-burn crime story should know that Scott is after something else: a re-creation of the societies in which these bad things happen. So be prepared for a narrative line constantly interrupted by backstories, abrupt scene shifts, meditations on family linkages—a lot of these—and even a political campaign as the officer investigating the murders runs for reelection. Scott writes beautifully, dreaming up intriguing action scenes, which those who are focused only on thrills will wish kept going and going. But patient readers will recognize and appreciate Scott’s end game: showing us a world where thieves, murderers, and sadists are everyday folk.
Scott spends a good portion of the first quarter of this latest installment reminding those who have read The Far Empty and of what has gone before, while setting up some complex and violent dominoes that will be exploded in due course. You can see the fireworks coming, but you don’t know the schedule. The only sure thing is that it is all going to end badly for someone, or several someones ... By the book’s conclusion, the reader is left in shock, not only by what has occurred but also by the Easter egg or three that Scott leaves unresolved ... presented as fiction, but given Scott’s background and the immediacy of his narration, one cannot help but think that many of the vignettes that are woven into the story took place in the here and now. Scott, as demonstrated by the epilogue, obviously has more stories to tell. I, for one, will be happy to read them going forward.
... stellar ... Scott, a veteran federal agent, writes with authority and gravitas about complex border issues. Fans of Don Winslow and Cormac McCarthy won’t want to miss this one.
... filled with colorful characters and memorable lines ... The author exploits his decades of experience as a federal agent to create a powerful, realistic picture of crime along the southern border ... Thriller fans will enjoy this absorbing and disturbing book.
