In the Mexican borderlands, a busload of student protesters is gunned down in broad daylight, a violent act blamed on the Nemesio cartel. But its aging leader, Fox Uno, sees the attack for what it is: another salvo in the long-running battle for control of Nemesio itself; perhaps by a rival cartel, or maybe someone closer to home.
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.
