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The Devil's Backyard
Herman Ingram thought he had seen it all, but some secrets are truly meant to stay buried. When a van belonging to a wealthy and powerful family breaks down on a deserted road, it falls prey to a group of ruthless masked attackers. The only message they leave behind is a cryptic warning: "Tell them we know."
Herman's curiosity is piqued when a friend asks him to investigate the incident. What starts as a routine inquiry quickly spirals into a dangerous game of cat and mouse as Herman uncovers a sinister weapon trafficking operation. He follows the trail to a remote lakeside burn site, where he's barely able to escape with his life.
Convinced that the traffickers were destroying evidence, Herman calls in a favor and has the pit excavated. But what he finds there is far worse than he ever imagined: a twisted web of corruption involving some of the most powerful and elite people in the state.
With the help of a vigilante group and a new ally, Herman sets out to take down the vile enterprise and expose the people behind it. But as the stakes get higher and the danger more intense, he starts to wonder if the truth is worth the cost. Will he be able to bring the conspirators to justice, or will they bury the truth forever?
Herman's curiosity is piqued when a friend asks him to investigate the incident. What starts as a routine inquiry quickly spirals into a dangerous game of cat and mouse as Herman uncovers a sinister weapon trafficking operation. He follows the trail to a remote lakeside burn site, where he's barely able to escape with his life.
Convinced that the traffickers were destroying evidence, Herman calls in a favor and has the pit excavated. But what he finds there is far worse than he ever imagined: a twisted web of corruption involving some of the most powerful and elite people in the state.
With the help of a vigilante group and a new ally, Herman sets out to take down the vile enterprise and expose the people behind it. But as the stakes get higher and the danger more intense, he starts to wonder if the truth is worth the cost. Will he be able to bring the conspirators to justice, or will they bury the truth forever?
Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2024
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About the author
Jeb Bohn
16 books12 followersJeb Bohn is a writer, drummer, and author of the Herman Ingram series. A lover of storytelling, Jeb has spent close to a decade enthralling readers across multiple genres. Through emphasizing humanity, humor, and character, he crafted the sarcastic journalist-turned-unlikely hero Herman Ingram. The character has since appeared in three novels, with more in the future.
Jeb received the title of Best American Thriller Author at the 2023 Media Innovator Awards. He also captured Best Sport History Author for North Carolina hockey chronicle, A Storm In Carolina. The book was further named as “One of the Best New Professional Hockey Books” by BookAuthority.
When Jeb isn't watching the Carolina Hurricanes or his repeated viewings of RoboCop, he works from his home in Greenville, North Carolina. In his downtime, he enjoys family trips with his significant other and two children. He also makes a mean pot of chili.
Jeb received the title of Best American Thriller Author at the 2023 Media Innovator Awards. He also captured Best Sport History Author for North Carolina hockey chronicle, A Storm In Carolina. The book was further named as “One of the Best New Professional Hockey Books” by BookAuthority.
When Jeb isn't watching the Carolina Hurricanes or his repeated viewings of RoboCop, he works from his home in Greenville, North Carolina. In his downtime, he enjoys family trips with his significant other and two children. He also makes a mean pot of chili.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 16, 2024
It took me some time to get back to the Herman Ingram series and I wondered if it would be worth the wait. In truth, it was, but not without a catch. I really enjoyed the previous two books and I'm a fan of Mr. Bohn's writing style. I've frequented his website and even joined his mailing list, just trying to do what I can to support creators that I like.
That said, here's the catch.
Like the other before, I enjoyed The Devil's Backyard. There are plenty of scenes and dialogue that really jumped out at me, and I always appreciate that. Still, I can't shake the feeling that this book falls just short of the previous entries. No, I didn't lower my rating (because I still think this is a very good read) but it's a bit different, and I'd feel dishonest if I didn't mention that.
Herman is in a period of transition, and we get to see different sides of the character. He meets a possible love interest during a chance encounter that kicks things off. A gubernatorial candidate that Herman knew in college reaches out to him after a late-night courier is attacked, fueling his journey into a dark story. I won't summarize everything because I don't want to spoil anything.
I will say that the plot Herman comes across showcases some of the worst human behavior imaginable. He pushes through, with help from a new friend, as well as the return of The Tall Man (possibly my favorite character in the series).
This book is a bit shorter than its predecessors and, while I would like more, I can't argue against what I got. It's a well told story with strong characters, vivid when it needs to be and dark when the story calls for it. As I said in my previous reviews, I recommend this series to anyone who likes action and suspense. The trademark humor remains, but doesn't throw off the balance of the tone.
That said, here's the catch.
Like the other before, I enjoyed The Devil's Backyard. There are plenty of scenes and dialogue that really jumped out at me, and I always appreciate that. Still, I can't shake the feeling that this book falls just short of the previous entries. No, I didn't lower my rating (because I still think this is a very good read) but it's a bit different, and I'd feel dishonest if I didn't mention that.
Herman is in a period of transition, and we get to see different sides of the character. He meets a possible love interest during a chance encounter that kicks things off. A gubernatorial candidate that Herman knew in college reaches out to him after a late-night courier is attacked, fueling his journey into a dark story. I won't summarize everything because I don't want to spoil anything.
I will say that the plot Herman comes across showcases some of the worst human behavior imaginable. He pushes through, with help from a new friend, as well as the return of The Tall Man (possibly my favorite character in the series).
This book is a bit shorter than its predecessors and, while I would like more, I can't argue against what I got. It's a well told story with strong characters, vivid when it needs to be and dark when the story calls for it. As I said in my previous reviews, I recommend this series to anyone who likes action and suspense. The trademark humor remains, but doesn't throw off the balance of the tone.
Displaying 1 of 1 review