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Caitlin Strong #8
Strong Cold Dead: A Caitlin Strong Novel
Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong returns in Jon Land's Strong Cold Dead , a thriller with heart-stopping action and a high-stakes terrorist plot
The terrorist organization ISIS is after a deadly toxin that could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is a frantic race to see who can get to it first, even as Caitlin Strong begins to assemble the disparate pieces of a deadly puzzle.
At the center of that puzzle is an Indian reservation where a vengeful tycoon is mining the toxin, disguising his effort as an oil-drilling operation. This is the same reservation where Caitlin’s great-great-grandfather, also a Texas Ranger, once waged a similar battle against the forces of John D. Rockefeller.
In her highest-stakes adventure yet, Caitlin Strong faces off against a host of adversaries that just might include the beautiful Comanche girl with whom the son of her ex-outlaw boyfriend Cort Wesley Masters has fallen in love, along with a mythic monster culled from Native American folklore that the tribe believes has risen to protect its land. The lives of those Caitlin loves most are threatened by the villains she’s pursuing; her own moral code is challenged. The fate of both the country and the state she loves is dangling on the precipice of a strong cold death.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The terrorist organization ISIS is after a deadly toxin that could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is a frantic race to see who can get to it first, even as Caitlin Strong begins to assemble the disparate pieces of a deadly puzzle.
At the center of that puzzle is an Indian reservation where a vengeful tycoon is mining the toxin, disguising his effort as an oil-drilling operation. This is the same reservation where Caitlin’s great-great-grandfather, also a Texas Ranger, once waged a similar battle against the forces of John D. Rockefeller.
In her highest-stakes adventure yet, Caitlin Strong faces off against a host of adversaries that just might include the beautiful Comanche girl with whom the son of her ex-outlaw boyfriend Cort Wesley Masters has fallen in love, along with a mythic monster culled from Native American folklore that the tribe believes has risen to protect its land. The lives of those Caitlin loves most are threatened by the villains she’s pursuing; her own moral code is challenged. The fate of both the country and the state she loves is dangling on the precipice of a strong cold death.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2016
23 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Jon Land
129 books408 followersJon Land is an American author of thriller novels and a screenwriter. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude. He often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts. He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and is an emeritus board member the International Thriller Writers. John currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 6, 2017
Strong Cold Dead is the first book Caitlin Strong book I have read, but I'm pretty sure it will not be my last. I'm actually quite sure about that since the first thing I did after finishing this book was ordering the first book. Lucky me that have seven unread Caitlin Strong books to read.
So, what was it that got me so enthralled that I just had to buy myself the first book? When it comes to books so are some so good that I feel right from the start that this is a 5-star book. And, this one felt like that. And, not for a moment did I waver from that thought. Strong Cold Dead has several fascinated characters, and of course, Caitlin is one of them, but also just loved to read Caitlin's great-great-grandfather Steeldust Jack Strong's POV in the book, who like Caitlin was a Texas Ranger. I was fascinated with the mystery of what it was on the Indian reservation that was so special and what secret the people living there are hiding from the outside world. And, to top it all, suddenly we have ISIS also involved in the story. There is a lot of jumping between characters, but that never really bothered me and this is one book were both parallel storylines (the one in the present and the one 150 years before) were equally interesting to read. The addition of a mystery from the 1930s added some extra intrigue to the story.
Strong Cold Dead was a fantastic book, well-written, and I've taken to my heart both Caitlin and Steeldust Jack Strong. They are so well-developed and fascinating that I just can't wait to read more about them. There is a lot of action, but also some very poignant moments. In short, this book has all the ingredients I love, humor, action, mystery, and tragedy. And, I wish to God that I had the first book right now! I'm even tempted to order book two in the series, I'm hooked!
I want to thank Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
So, what was it that got me so enthralled that I just had to buy myself the first book? When it comes to books so are some so good that I feel right from the start that this is a 5-star book. And, this one felt like that. And, not for a moment did I waver from that thought. Strong Cold Dead has several fascinated characters, and of course, Caitlin is one of them, but also just loved to read Caitlin's great-great-grandfather Steeldust Jack Strong's POV in the book, who like Caitlin was a Texas Ranger. I was fascinated with the mystery of what it was on the Indian reservation that was so special and what secret the people living there are hiding from the outside world. And, to top it all, suddenly we have ISIS also involved in the story. There is a lot of jumping between characters, but that never really bothered me and this is one book were both parallel storylines (the one in the present and the one 150 years before) were equally interesting to read. The addition of a mystery from the 1930s added some extra intrigue to the story.
Strong Cold Dead was a fantastic book, well-written, and I've taken to my heart both Caitlin and Steeldust Jack Strong. They are so well-developed and fascinating that I just can't wait to read more about them. There is a lot of action, but also some very poignant moments. In short, this book has all the ingredients I love, humor, action, mystery, and tragedy. And, I wish to God that I had the first book right now! I'm even tempted to order book two in the series, I'm hooked!
I want to thank Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
July 4, 2020
This time it's oil and ISIS as the main focus and once again the young Master is involved and to everyones surprise it's connected to a girl... This is another great modern western set in Texas and as usual we get to know a lot about "Hurricane" Strongs ancestors. I love it.
February 27, 2020
Well researched and insightful with a strong female lead. If you like your stories smart, Jon Land is for you.
August 4, 2025
Caitlin Strong goes up against a couple of adversaries this time, an oil magnate and ISIS. The flashback sequences are after the Civil War featuring her great great grandfather and a Comanche reservation.
Another exciting entry of the Caitlin Strong series.
Another exciting entry of the Caitlin Strong series.
July 27, 2016
See this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Set in the heart of the Lone Star State, Caitlin Strong is a lone-wolf Texas Ranger who fears nothing and trusts her gut above everything else. Unfortunately for Caitlin, though, her way of doing business has worn thin on her superior officer, Captain Tepper, and others.
More than ever before, Caitlin is receiving pushback for actions and tactics. At one point she’s even assigned to a desk in an effort to keep her out of trouble until things cool down. To say that doesn’t go over well would be a massive understatement, as Caitlin essentially disobeys the order with little regard and no regrets.
Caitlin comes from a long family line of Texas Rangers, and she’s great at her job. Her instincts are her strong suit, as they rarely ever steer her wrong. That proves true once again when she notices that something seems off at a local Native American reservation.
Further digging uncovers a sinister plot that goes all the way back to the days when one of Caitlin’s great-great-grandpas was a Ranger, bringing a new dynamic to the overall mystique of the story.
Jon Land shines the brightest when the story switches back and forth between 1874 and the present day. By really setting the scene and altering his writing style to reflect a time period more than a hundred years in the past, Land transports the readers back and forth as he masterfully reveals more of the plot, pulling the curtain back a little further each time.
Caitlin Strong is a fantastic character. Instantly one of the most attractive women in any room that she walks into, she’s comfortable letting her hair down and glamming it up whenever necessary. She’s also just as comfortable pulling her hair back and getting down into the mud with the men where she’s more than capable of handling herself, even against much bigger opponents.
As it turns out, something powerful lies buried beneath the surface of the reservation. Something that, if used by the right people with good intentions, could be a game-changer in the medical world. However, should people with less-than-good intentions get their hands on the material, it could be weaponized to do incomprehensible damage on the grandest of scales.
With the clock ticking down, Caitlin finds herself in the middle of two sides racing to secure the material. But when she finds out that the Islamic State is involved, things get taken to another level. They must be stopped at all costs, obviously, but doing so is no easy task.
While the terror group, known for their brutality, has a plan, they never accounted for a down-home country girl standing in their way, guns-a-blazing.
Big mistake!
Caitlin Strong is at her very best here, as is Jon Land. Strong Cold Dead is a gripping thriller with a unique, original plot that sizzles from beginning to end.
MY THOUGHTS
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and, staying true to form, the stakes have never been higher for Caitlin.
I really enjoyed the scenes set in the 1800s. If Jon Land ever wrote a book set completely in that time period, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. That historical aspect added another layer to the story and provided a welcome switch in narratives at just the right times.
Land is one of the most underrated thriller authors writing today, as he routinely puts out solid page-turners year after year. This series, without question, is his strongest work (pun intended) so far. His Blaine McCracken series is good too, but there’s just something unique about Caitlin.
In a genre dominated by tough-guy protagonists, Caitlin Strong breaks the mold in a bold and captivating way. I love how Land has balanced her character. She’s feminine, yet strong, independent, and a little in-your-face. Kind of like if star UFC fighter Ronda Rousey joined the Texas Rangers–part of you wants to ask her out, yet part of you is kind of scared she might punch you in the face.
Other than the book starting out a little slow, which is necessary to build the story, Strong Cold Dead is nonstop fun, action, and sass.
Set in the heart of the Lone Star State, Caitlin Strong is a lone-wolf Texas Ranger who fears nothing and trusts her gut above everything else. Unfortunately for Caitlin, though, her way of doing business has worn thin on her superior officer, Captain Tepper, and others.
More than ever before, Caitlin is receiving pushback for actions and tactics. At one point she’s even assigned to a desk in an effort to keep her out of trouble until things cool down. To say that doesn’t go over well would be a massive understatement, as Caitlin essentially disobeys the order with little regard and no regrets.
Caitlin comes from a long family line of Texas Rangers, and she’s great at her job. Her instincts are her strong suit, as they rarely ever steer her wrong. That proves true once again when she notices that something seems off at a local Native American reservation.
Further digging uncovers a sinister plot that goes all the way back to the days when one of Caitlin’s great-great-grandpas was a Ranger, bringing a new dynamic to the overall mystique of the story.
Jon Land shines the brightest when the story switches back and forth between 1874 and the present day. By really setting the scene and altering his writing style to reflect a time period more than a hundred years in the past, Land transports the readers back and forth as he masterfully reveals more of the plot, pulling the curtain back a little further each time.
Caitlin Strong is a fantastic character. Instantly one of the most attractive women in any room that she walks into, she’s comfortable letting her hair down and glamming it up whenever necessary. She’s also just as comfortable pulling her hair back and getting down into the mud with the men where she’s more than capable of handling herself, even against much bigger opponents.
As it turns out, something powerful lies buried beneath the surface of the reservation. Something that, if used by the right people with good intentions, could be a game-changer in the medical world. However, should people with less-than-good intentions get their hands on the material, it could be weaponized to do incomprehensible damage on the grandest of scales.
With the clock ticking down, Caitlin finds herself in the middle of two sides racing to secure the material. But when she finds out that the Islamic State is involved, things get taken to another level. They must be stopped at all costs, obviously, but doing so is no easy task.
While the terror group, known for their brutality, has a plan, they never accounted for a down-home country girl standing in their way, guns-a-blazing.
Big mistake!
Caitlin Strong is at her very best here, as is Jon Land. Strong Cold Dead is a gripping thriller with a unique, original plot that sizzles from beginning to end.
MY THOUGHTS
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and, staying true to form, the stakes have never been higher for Caitlin.
I really enjoyed the scenes set in the 1800s. If Jon Land ever wrote a book set completely in that time period, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. That historical aspect added another layer to the story and provided a welcome switch in narratives at just the right times.
Land is one of the most underrated thriller authors writing today, as he routinely puts out solid page-turners year after year. This series, without question, is his strongest work (pun intended) so far. His Blaine McCracken series is good too, but there’s just something unique about Caitlin.
In a genre dominated by tough-guy protagonists, Caitlin Strong breaks the mold in a bold and captivating way. I love how Land has balanced her character. She’s feminine, yet strong, independent, and a little in-your-face. Kind of like if star UFC fighter Ronda Rousey joined the Texas Rangers–part of you wants to ask her out, yet part of you is kind of scared she might punch you in the face.
Other than the book starting out a little slow, which is necessary to build the story, Strong Cold Dead is nonstop fun, action, and sass.
October 20, 2016
Jon Land writes a great story and Strong Cold Dead is the latest in his Caitlin Strong series. These novels will stand alone, but if you are just starting the series, I would always recommend beginning at the beginning. Don’t want to miss anything, do you?
Politics and resentment create a hostile situation for Caitlin when she arrives on the scene of a riot, but that doesn’t stop her from taking action. And…that is only the beginning.
Jon Land’s Caitlin Strong novels are always on my reading list. I know I can’t go wrong and look forward to hours of action and adventure with Caitlin, a Strong and confident female character that defies death.
Caitlin is surrounded by characters who will grip you with their bravery and determination to get the job done, no matter the cost.
From Texas, to Canada, to Iraq, and back again, the evil doesn’t smack you in the face, but subtlely infuses itself into the story. Ghosts, Native American mysticism, terrorists and monsters rise to a crescendo that leaves me racing to the end, wanting to know…who will live and who will die.
Seeing the terrorism is on United States soil, I felt even more fear…for all of us…because I do believe things ‘like’ this could happen at any time.
I received an ARC of Strong Cold Dead from Jon Land.
Politics and resentment create a hostile situation for Caitlin when she arrives on the scene of a riot, but that doesn’t stop her from taking action. And…that is only the beginning.
Jon Land’s Caitlin Strong novels are always on my reading list. I know I can’t go wrong and look forward to hours of action and adventure with Caitlin, a Strong and confident female character that defies death.
Caitlin is surrounded by characters who will grip you with their bravery and determination to get the job done, no matter the cost.
From Texas, to Canada, to Iraq, and back again, the evil doesn’t smack you in the face, but subtlely infuses itself into the story. Ghosts, Native American mysticism, terrorists and monsters rise to a crescendo that leaves me racing to the end, wanting to know…who will live and who will die.
Seeing the terrorism is on United States soil, I felt even more fear…for all of us…because I do believe things ‘like’ this could happen at any time.
I received an ARC of Strong Cold Dead from Jon Land.
June 26, 2018
Caitlin Strong is one bad-ass Ranger! Reminds me of the Blaine McCracken novels Mr. Land published a couple decades ago. Good pace, plenty of action (I like that), characters that are well-developed. Who could ask for more?
October 5, 2016
Strong Cold Dead by Jon Land
reviewed by Russell Ilg
“Nobody goes beyond this point, ma’am,” is the first thing Caitlin Strong is told in Jon Land’s superb and sensational Strong Cold Dead. And I probably don’t have to tell you what she does next in the eighth book featuring the stalwart fifth generation Texas Ranger.
A gunfighter and loner hero in the frontier sense bred of the classic Western, Caitlin is no stranger to breaking the rules or gunning down bad guys. Strong Cold Dead features a weighty mixture of both, as she finds herself battling none other than forces of ISIS on Texas soil. It’s a long-buried secret on a mysterious Indian reservation that’s drawn the terrorist group here, thanks to a social outcast reaching out to them on social media.
Caitlin has a past with that same social outcast, hardly surprising given Land’s penchant for making all the books in this splendid series twist-filled, complex puzzles where all the pieces fit magically together at the end. Strong Cold Dead does that and then some, as Land treats us to a multi-layered plot that stretches all the way back to the 1870s when Caitlin’s great-great-grandfather, Steeldust Jack Strong, did battle with none other than John D. Rockefeller on the very same Indian reservation.
Rockefeller was after oil, which figures in here as well, though only as subterfuge. The real Maguffin is a veritable weapon of mass destruction that’s been hidden on the land for centuries and has the potential to kill tens of millions, if ISIS succeeds in getting their hands on it. Making sure they don’t, of course, falls to Caitlin and her usual supporting cast that includes Cort Wesley Masters, her reformed outlaw boyfriend, and Guillermo Paz, her deadly protector who’s as much a true force of nature as she is.
The action spirals across time and Texas, as billionaire industrialist Clay Rawls enlists the help of sleazy minerals broker Sam Bob Jackson in staking his claim on the Comanche reservation in question where Caitlin’s surrogate son Dylan has left college to join a protest. Like everything else in Strong Cold Dead, that protest turns violent since this book, and entire series, seems themed on pushing people to their limits with the last man (or woman) standing emerging the winner. That’s especially fitting here in a pair of brilliantly staged climaxes in which Caitlin and Cort Wesley battle ISIS fighters on two Texas fronts to save the state and maybe the country.
High stakes are nothing new for Caitlin, but they seem higher here emotionally as well structurally, as she strives to blend parenting with gunfighting. An elusive bar for sure, but one she seems well adept at reaching in staking out her claim on grounds normally traveled by the likes of Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp. Caitlin has joined their ranks as the lone female member whose wit and words are as sharp as her aim.
Strong Cold Dead opens at the speed of a machine gun burst and never stops hitting the bulls-eye, a high-octane action thriller par excellence that places this series among the very best being penned today. Call it a one-of-a-kind, at least until next year when Caitlin returns for her next adventure.
reviewed by Russell Ilg
“Nobody goes beyond this point, ma’am,” is the first thing Caitlin Strong is told in Jon Land’s superb and sensational Strong Cold Dead. And I probably don’t have to tell you what she does next in the eighth book featuring the stalwart fifth generation Texas Ranger.
A gunfighter and loner hero in the frontier sense bred of the classic Western, Caitlin is no stranger to breaking the rules or gunning down bad guys. Strong Cold Dead features a weighty mixture of both, as she finds herself battling none other than forces of ISIS on Texas soil. It’s a long-buried secret on a mysterious Indian reservation that’s drawn the terrorist group here, thanks to a social outcast reaching out to them on social media.
Caitlin has a past with that same social outcast, hardly surprising given Land’s penchant for making all the books in this splendid series twist-filled, complex puzzles where all the pieces fit magically together at the end. Strong Cold Dead does that and then some, as Land treats us to a multi-layered plot that stretches all the way back to the 1870s when Caitlin’s great-great-grandfather, Steeldust Jack Strong, did battle with none other than John D. Rockefeller on the very same Indian reservation.
Rockefeller was after oil, which figures in here as well, though only as subterfuge. The real Maguffin is a veritable weapon of mass destruction that’s been hidden on the land for centuries and has the potential to kill tens of millions, if ISIS succeeds in getting their hands on it. Making sure they don’t, of course, falls to Caitlin and her usual supporting cast that includes Cort Wesley Masters, her reformed outlaw boyfriend, and Guillermo Paz, her deadly protector who’s as much a true force of nature as she is.
The action spirals across time and Texas, as billionaire industrialist Clay Rawls enlists the help of sleazy minerals broker Sam Bob Jackson in staking his claim on the Comanche reservation in question where Caitlin’s surrogate son Dylan has left college to join a protest. Like everything else in Strong Cold Dead, that protest turns violent since this book, and entire series, seems themed on pushing people to their limits with the last man (or woman) standing emerging the winner. That’s especially fitting here in a pair of brilliantly staged climaxes in which Caitlin and Cort Wesley battle ISIS fighters on two Texas fronts to save the state and maybe the country.
High stakes are nothing new for Caitlin, but they seem higher here emotionally as well structurally, as she strives to blend parenting with gunfighting. An elusive bar for sure, but one she seems well adept at reaching in staking out her claim on grounds normally traveled by the likes of Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp. Caitlin has joined their ranks as the lone female member whose wit and words are as sharp as her aim.
Strong Cold Dead opens at the speed of a machine gun burst and never stops hitting the bulls-eye, a high-octane action thriller par excellence that places this series among the very best being penned today. Call it a one-of-a-kind, at least until next year when Caitlin returns for her next adventure.
September 21, 2016
One woman the Texas law enforcement does not want to contend with is Caitlin Strong. A lone ranger who comes from a distinctive generation of Texas Rangers, Caitlin is a "genuine force of nature," marching to the beat of her own drum regardless of legalities. Caitlin receives an anonymous tip about her friend's son, who is protesting against oil drilling at a Comanche reservation. Caitlin is aware that the protest is a mere symptom of greater problems in connection with the reservation. Wary of unfurling trouble, her fears intensify with the enigmatic deaths of a mutilated foreman and twenty-two people from a local diner. But Caitlin has a hunch that something sinister is brewing beyond oil possession, especially when she learns that ISIS has an interest in the reservation.
The eighth novel in the Caitlin Strong series, Jon Land's latest is nothing less than a chilling thriller. Set in the heart of Texas, Land's plot initially zeroes in on oil drilling at a Comanche reservation. Obviously, there is more at play than just oil. But before his narrative takes off, Land starts with a bit of history: the 1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty. A continual theme in the Strong series, Land introduces an array of historical facts and figures that are all somehow connected with the Texas Rangers. Unique to Land's storyline is its timing to current protests taking place in North Dakota against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock (Sioux) reservation. Although his narrative heads in a slightly different direction, Land highlights pertinent issues such as corporate greed and Native American territorial rights, to name a few. While drawing attention to the history behind the Bakken pipeline in North Dakota, Land weaves in a flurry of historic figures. Examples include outlaw Curly Bill Brocius and the Earp family, Stephen Austin--the unofficial creator of the Texas Rangers, Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, and oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller.
Featuring Caitlin Strong--a spunky, no-nonsense Texas Ranger--Land shapes his main character by surrounding her with a host of foils. Caitlin's annoying questioning and often seemingly disconnected statements may remind seasoned readers of the beloved gumshoe played by Peter Falk from the long-running TV series called Columbo. Yet within Caitlin's hardened persona, there is a weak side to her guise as she bemoans actions from her past. One character that helps her get over her guilt-ridden feelings is her supposed boyfriend, whom she affectionately refers to as "Cort Wesley." A blend of highly developed and complex characters, Land's cast covers the good, bad, ugly, and everything in between. Alternating present and past scenes among his colorful characters, Land aptly places them within a quick-paced plot divided into ten sections that are replete with short cliffhanging chapters. Land's mix of fact and fiction reaches a wide audience—a perfect balance to whet the literary appetite of both historical fiction and mystery aficionados, as well as those who are not terribly interested in Old West history. Seriously!
Reviewed by Anita Lock
Originally posted on San Francisco Book Review
The eighth novel in the Caitlin Strong series, Jon Land's latest is nothing less than a chilling thriller. Set in the heart of Texas, Land's plot initially zeroes in on oil drilling at a Comanche reservation. Obviously, there is more at play than just oil. But before his narrative takes off, Land starts with a bit of history: the 1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty. A continual theme in the Strong series, Land introduces an array of historical facts and figures that are all somehow connected with the Texas Rangers. Unique to Land's storyline is its timing to current protests taking place in North Dakota against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock (Sioux) reservation. Although his narrative heads in a slightly different direction, Land highlights pertinent issues such as corporate greed and Native American territorial rights, to name a few. While drawing attention to the history behind the Bakken pipeline in North Dakota, Land weaves in a flurry of historic figures. Examples include outlaw Curly Bill Brocius and the Earp family, Stephen Austin--the unofficial creator of the Texas Rangers, Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, and oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller.
Featuring Caitlin Strong--a spunky, no-nonsense Texas Ranger--Land shapes his main character by surrounding her with a host of foils. Caitlin's annoying questioning and often seemingly disconnected statements may remind seasoned readers of the beloved gumshoe played by Peter Falk from the long-running TV series called Columbo. Yet within Caitlin's hardened persona, there is a weak side to her guise as she bemoans actions from her past. One character that helps her get over her guilt-ridden feelings is her supposed boyfriend, whom she affectionately refers to as "Cort Wesley." A blend of highly developed and complex characters, Land's cast covers the good, bad, ugly, and everything in between. Alternating present and past scenes among his colorful characters, Land aptly places them within a quick-paced plot divided into ten sections that are replete with short cliffhanging chapters. Land's mix of fact and fiction reaches a wide audience—a perfect balance to whet the literary appetite of both historical fiction and mystery aficionados, as well as those who are not terribly interested in Old West history. Seriously!
Reviewed by Anita Lock
Originally posted on San Francisco Book Review
October 5, 2016
While this is the eighth book in the Caitlin Strong series, I've not read the earlier ones yet thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
Caitlin is a Texas Ranger, the fifth in her family line. She is something else. She has unique insights into a situation and follows her intuition. She'll often run into trouble with her superiors but always manages to see her way through.
Caitlin receives word that the son of her friend is part of a protest at a Comanche reservation. She soon suspects there is much more to what is happening at the reservation than a company wanting to drill for oil. Her concern goes into high gear when the foreman of the oil crew is horribly murdered. Then all the people in a local restaurant die within seconds. Caitlin and her friends try to connect the dots before more people are killed.
This novel has a complex plot. It is almost like parallel stories happening at the same time. There is something going on at the reservation involving a businessman wanting access to what's underneath the land. His cover is that he is looking for oil but Caitlin suspects he is seeking something else entirely and something much more dangerous. Off the reservation is another serious issue concerning the possibility of ISIS terrorists. Caitlin's friend at Homeland Security gets her involved in that investigation. That aspect of the plot includes some angry young Comanche warriors too.
I enjoyed the novel but found it hard to follow at times. Land takes us to various places in Texas as he introduces new (to me) characters. It took me a while to figure out who they were and how they fit into the story line. We are even taken overseas to a terrorist compound. Land also takes us back periodically to the 1860s and Caitlin's great grandfather, also a Texas Ranger, as he deals with a situation similar to what Caitlin faces today.
Besides enjoying a good thriller, I learned some history of Texas too. The current protests by the Comanche are related to attempts by John D. Rockefeller to get oil from Texas lands back in the 1860s. The Native American territorial rights are an issue as big corporations try to gain access to treaty lands. This issue is something out of today's newspaper. (Land notes that he took freedom placing Rockefeller in the historical story.)
I enjoyed Land's writing style, mixing a bit of fantasy with mystery and suspense. Readers who enjoy a contemporary mystery involving potential terrorists will like this novel. Readers who enjoy learning some history will like it too. Readers who appreciate a gutsy female heroine who will not let a situation go until it is solved will like it too.
I was disappointed to find that this novel contains a graphic sex scene, a rape, and vulgar language. Other than that, a good novel with plenty of suspense.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
Caitlin is a Texas Ranger, the fifth in her family line. She is something else. She has unique insights into a situation and follows her intuition. She'll often run into trouble with her superiors but always manages to see her way through.
Caitlin receives word that the son of her friend is part of a protest at a Comanche reservation. She soon suspects there is much more to what is happening at the reservation than a company wanting to drill for oil. Her concern goes into high gear when the foreman of the oil crew is horribly murdered. Then all the people in a local restaurant die within seconds. Caitlin and her friends try to connect the dots before more people are killed.
This novel has a complex plot. It is almost like parallel stories happening at the same time. There is something going on at the reservation involving a businessman wanting access to what's underneath the land. His cover is that he is looking for oil but Caitlin suspects he is seeking something else entirely and something much more dangerous. Off the reservation is another serious issue concerning the possibility of ISIS terrorists. Caitlin's friend at Homeland Security gets her involved in that investigation. That aspect of the plot includes some angry young Comanche warriors too.
I enjoyed the novel but found it hard to follow at times. Land takes us to various places in Texas as he introduces new (to me) characters. It took me a while to figure out who they were and how they fit into the story line. We are even taken overseas to a terrorist compound. Land also takes us back periodically to the 1860s and Caitlin's great grandfather, also a Texas Ranger, as he deals with a situation similar to what Caitlin faces today.
Besides enjoying a good thriller, I learned some history of Texas too. The current protests by the Comanche are related to attempts by John D. Rockefeller to get oil from Texas lands back in the 1860s. The Native American territorial rights are an issue as big corporations try to gain access to treaty lands. This issue is something out of today's newspaper. (Land notes that he took freedom placing Rockefeller in the historical story.)
I enjoyed Land's writing style, mixing a bit of fantasy with mystery and suspense. Readers who enjoy a contemporary mystery involving potential terrorists will like this novel. Readers who enjoy learning some history will like it too. Readers who appreciate a gutsy female heroine who will not let a situation go until it is solved will like it too.
I was disappointed to find that this novel contains a graphic sex scene, a rape, and vulgar language. Other than that, a good novel with plenty of suspense.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
May 14, 2017
Jon Land is a new author for me. I decided to read this book after I read a review of it in our local newspaper. This book turned out to be a GREAT read. Since I finished this book I found out it is the eighth book in the Caitlin Strong series. The ninth book will be out sometime in (2017). I am looking forward to reading all of them.
I found this story riveting. It is fast paced, with several threads. There are murders, creepy, scary things happening on the reservation, all the people in a restaurant are found dead with no sign of a struggle, and so much more. The main characters are Texas Rangers. I had no idea how tough Texas Rangers were until I moved to Texas. They have the ability to physically and mentally dismantle their opponents quickly. I would equate them to Navy Seals, Army Rangers and Special Forces.
In this story I learned members of Caitlin Strong’s family have been Texas Rangers for generations. Her great-great-grandfather, Steeldust Jack Strong, has a reputation that has been passed down for generations. Like her great-great grandfather, Catlin Strong has quite a reputation, too.
The Texas Rangers are facing a new enemy now. An ISIS group is interested in a deadly toxin on an Indian reservation in Texas. This toxin could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. This same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is also an oil drilling company that is steeped in mystery and controversy determined to drill on the Indian reservation. The Indians are resisting and one of the men from the oil company is found mutilated just outside the reservation. A secret from the past may trigger an Armageddon. I found this story sobering. It made me realize how a small group of people could create mass destruction with the right weapons.
I highly recommend this book.
I found this story riveting. It is fast paced, with several threads. There are murders, creepy, scary things happening on the reservation, all the people in a restaurant are found dead with no sign of a struggle, and so much more. The main characters are Texas Rangers. I had no idea how tough Texas Rangers were until I moved to Texas. They have the ability to physically and mentally dismantle their opponents quickly. I would equate them to Navy Seals, Army Rangers and Special Forces.
In this story I learned members of Caitlin Strong’s family have been Texas Rangers for generations. Her great-great-grandfather, Steeldust Jack Strong, has a reputation that has been passed down for generations. Like her great-great grandfather, Catlin Strong has quite a reputation, too.
The Texas Rangers are facing a new enemy now. An ISIS group is interested in a deadly toxin on an Indian reservation in Texas. This toxin could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. This same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is also an oil drilling company that is steeped in mystery and controversy determined to drill on the Indian reservation. The Indians are resisting and one of the men from the oil company is found mutilated just outside the reservation. A secret from the past may trigger an Armageddon. I found this story sobering. It made me realize how a small group of people could create mass destruction with the right weapons.
I highly recommend this book.
October 28, 2016
Strong Cold Dead Caitlin Strong is one of those women that I love to read stories about, strong, smart and vulnerable. Caitlin is a Texas Ranger, as was her father, grandfather and great grandfather before her. In Strong Cold Dead, Caitlin must help in figuring out who the bad guys are and stopping them before the world as we know it is destroyed.
Land on the Comanche reservation is undergoing drilling, not oil as you would expect but something else. We learn about Caitlin's great, great, great grandfather who stopped the evil that has resurfaced in the present. Jack Strong helped defeat John Rockefeller in his quest to rape the land deeded to the Comanche's.
Not only is there the issue of stopping the desecration being done by billianaire Cray Rawls to make him even richer, we have the threat of ISIS that is determined to destroy America. What is the substance that is so precious that Cray covets and that the Native American's want to preserve? Even though it is fictitious, it could very well happen.
I have read Mr.Lands works before and I am never disappointed. In creating a story that is believable and scary, with characters that are flawed individuals but good people, you can not go wrong when you pick up a book by this author. Lots of characters to love and hate, a storyline within a storyline that gives a bit of history with the Texas Rangers. Even though this story is fictitious, it could very well happen. I really enjoyed reading yet another of Jon Land's works.
Land on the Comanche reservation is undergoing drilling, not oil as you would expect but something else. We learn about Caitlin's great, great, great grandfather who stopped the evil that has resurfaced in the present. Jack Strong helped defeat John Rockefeller in his quest to rape the land deeded to the Comanche's.
Not only is there the issue of stopping the desecration being done by billianaire Cray Rawls to make him even richer, we have the threat of ISIS that is determined to destroy America. What is the substance that is so precious that Cray covets and that the Native American's want to preserve? Even though it is fictitious, it could very well happen.
I have read Mr.Lands works before and I am never disappointed. In creating a story that is believable and scary, with characters that are flawed individuals but good people, you can not go wrong when you pick up a book by this author. Lots of characters to love and hate, a storyline within a storyline that gives a bit of history with the Texas Rangers. Even though this story is fictitious, it could very well happen. I really enjoyed reading yet another of Jon Land's works.
October 26, 2016
Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong returns in Jon Land's Strong Cold Dead, a thriller with heart-stopping action and a high-stakes terrorist plot
The terrorist organization ISIS is after a deadly toxin that could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is a frantic race to see who can get to it first, even as Caitlin Strong begins to assemble the disparate pieces of a deadly puzzle.
At the center of that puzzle is an Indian reservation where a vengeful tycoon is mining the toxin, disguising his effort as an oil-drilling operation. This is the same reservation where Caitlin’s great-grandfather, also a Texas Ranger, once waged a similar battle against the forces of John D. Rockefeller.
In her highest-stakes adventure yet, Caitlin Strong faces off against a host of adversaries that just might include the beautiful Comanche girl with whom the son of her ex-outlaw boyfriend Cort Wesley Masters has fallen in love, along with a mythic monster culled from Native American folklore that the tribe believes has risen to protect its land. The lives of those Caitlin loves most are threatened by the villains she’s pursuing; her own moral code is challenged. The fate of both the country and the state she loves are dangling on the precipice of a strong cold death.
Non-stop action will keep you turning the pages.
The terrorist organization ISIS is after a deadly toxin that could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is a frantic race to see who can get to it first, even as Caitlin Strong begins to assemble the disparate pieces of a deadly puzzle.
At the center of that puzzle is an Indian reservation where a vengeful tycoon is mining the toxin, disguising his effort as an oil-drilling operation. This is the same reservation where Caitlin’s great-grandfather, also a Texas Ranger, once waged a similar battle against the forces of John D. Rockefeller.
In her highest-stakes adventure yet, Caitlin Strong faces off against a host of adversaries that just might include the beautiful Comanche girl with whom the son of her ex-outlaw boyfriend Cort Wesley Masters has fallen in love, along with a mythic monster culled from Native American folklore that the tribe believes has risen to protect its land. The lives of those Caitlin loves most are threatened by the villains she’s pursuing; her own moral code is challenged. The fate of both the country and the state she loves are dangling on the precipice of a strong cold death.
Non-stop action will keep you turning the pages.
August 3, 2016
An excellent read - The author combines old world with modern world dilemmas. A strong story line with excellent imagery. A must read for those who love mystery and drama. Generations of story all pulled into one book. Wild west, Native tribes fight for their land, police action, and legends all in one neatly wrapped package here. The book kept me on the edge of my seat calling me to turn the pages. One of the best books I have read in awhile.
Well-done!
Well-done!
December 6, 2016
Wild ride
Not disappointed in continuing series Caitlin Strong. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to second guess what was going to happen next. I also love the bits of history in between chapters.
Not disappointed in continuing series Caitlin Strong. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to second guess what was going to happen next. I also love the bits of history in between chapters.
August 26, 2018
3.5 stars
This is one of the better in the series. I got so caught up in the story that I had trouble putting it down. (darn, having to sleep…)
Good story. Great visual character descriptions.
I really liked it.
It was inevitable but we finally have a strong book that’s cowboys & Indians.
Poor Cort, he’s trying so hard to do right for his boys and they always end up in the middle of trouble.
And Caitlin’s boss Cpt Tepper. That poor man! Its amazing he hasn’t died of lung cancer.
i liked the way the past & present tied in so well.
This is one of the better in the series. I got so caught up in the story that I had trouble putting it down. (darn, having to sleep…)
Good story. Great visual character descriptions.
I really liked it.
It was inevitable but we finally have a strong book that’s cowboys & Indians.
Poor Cort, he’s trying so hard to do right for his boys and they always end up in the middle of trouble.
And Caitlin’s boss Cpt Tepper. That poor man! Its amazing he hasn’t died of lung cancer.
i liked the way the past & present tied in so well.
January 8, 2019
Wow! 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is my first Caitlin Strong book, and I'm hooked. So glad I can go back and read the earlier ones now. Great characters, great action. I've marked it "airplane reading" not because it is mindless, but because the reader can totally lose track of time while reading it (just what's needed on a flight!). It lost the half-star because sometimes I couldn't keep the characters straight, especially the other law enforcement and Homeland Security folks. But that may be because this was my first introduction to them.
March 21, 2019
Recurring character, Caitlan Strong. First time reading Jon Land, not last, he writes a fine story. This particular yarn is set in Texas and involves,hold on to your stetson, terrorist! Who would of thought? It was goo, not great but filled the void of a dreary March evening. A bio weapon to be released in Houston that was taken down by Caitlan and her boy friend and his son. Once all the players were in one location the action went down quickly and was resolved to the favor of the good guys. Naturally. Will re-visit the character, Caitlan Strong, at a later date. Keep Reading.
September 20, 2024
It seems to me that the author, Land, is doing some serious reaching in his plots. We had one character speaking to spirits and another speaking with a friendly ghost (with whom he shares root beer). Now we have Native Americans living well over the century mark due to a special fungus which can prevent cancer. By a remarkable coincidence, this same fungus can be turned into a weapon of mass destruction. Well, Land's writing is good and the action scenes are believable. One just has to suspend belief in certain areas of the plot. I give this one two and a half stars.
June 9, 2018
It is hard to start with #8 book in a series, but this is the book that I purchased when I met the author at an event. But it did seem pretty easy to pick up the characters. There is a lot going on in this story! Multiple storylines over different time periods, but it all came together in an enjoyable read.
December 31, 2019
Caitlin Strong, what an amazing series this was. I binge read 9 books over the course of a month and loved every minute of it. A strong female protagonist with a Strong history and amusing side characters, I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun western set in today’s timeline.
July 28, 2017
STRONG COLD DEAD was my introduction to Jon Land's tough as nails Texas Ranger. The fact that she's a woman just makes me love her all the more. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
September 14, 2017
Another good addition to this series.
February 6, 2018
It wasn’t a favorite. Generally I enjoy Jon Lands Caitlin Strong books but this one left me unimpressed
December 27, 2018
glad I managed to slog thru 3 of Caitlan strong's books at one go.....bland, hallow, all over the place, boring..not much depth and substance to the plots.
wish-list-possibles
April 17, 2019There are now 10 books in this series (April 2019) This is the latest that I have not read
February 26, 2020
It was ok. I'm not a big fan of jumping between time periods - it took a while for me to catch on.
June 26, 2022
It’s probably a great book, but it was the first one in the series which no doubt made it a difficult book to wade through. My advice, read them in order.
January 29, 2017
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Jon Land
Strong Cold Dead: A Caitlin Strong Novel
Forge Books
Hardcover, 978-0-7653-3513-5 (also available as an e-book), 352 pgs., $26.99
October 4, 2016
“Nature takes care of its own, Ranger, and we are its own.” —White Eagle, Comanche shaman
Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong is on desk duty after a dustup involving Mexican cartel apprentices in San Antonio, when trouble between a drilling company and Native American protesters sends her into the Texas Hill Country to investigate a mutilated body discovered just off the reservation. History is preparing to repeat itself as Caitlin returns to where the Strong family legend was birthed. The case has strong echoes of similar circumstances investigated in 1874 by Caitlin’s ancestor, the first Ranger Strong.
Strong Cold Dead: A Caitlin Strong Novel is the eighth installment in Jon Land’s mystery-suspense series starring the fifth-generation Texas Ranger. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend beginning at the beginning. The backstories of the recurring characters, and history of their relationships to each other, will make understanding the underlying currents easier.
A hallmark of this series is Land’s use of Texas Ranger history, skillfully woven into the present-day tale. Land names the prolific Texas historian and author Mike Cox in the acknowledgments, and quotes T. R. Fehrenbach and the Bullock Texas State History Museum’s “The Story of Texas” in epigraphs introducing each part of the narrative.
The action in Strong Cold Dead centers around a fictional Comanche reservation, but ranges near and far, from Houston and Dallas to the Middle East and an Inuit village in Canada. The international cast is vivid and similarly varied. There’s a psychic bingo caller, formerly a member of the Venezuelan secret police; a decorated veteran turned enforcer for the New Orleans mob (now retired), who has philosophical conversations with a root beer–swilling ghost; Homeland Security honchos; Native American shamans; ISIS operatives; denizens of the Deep Web; a Royal Canadian Mountie; and a descendant of Peta Nocona. This is a partial list.
The conflicts are ripped from the headlines: police killings of bystanders, protests turned riots, fracking, leaking coal-ash storage ponds, Standing Rock, WMD, terrorism.
Despite a few odd word choices (“swirling” tunnels) and instances of purple prose (“those who sought their demise”), Land can turn a phrase. When a bad guy disparages the threat Caitlin poses, he’s admonished, “Pistols don’t come in genders.” Of a persistently annoying character, Caitlin muses that he “just like a bottle top, kept sticking to her boot and scratching everything it touched.” Land is also funny. “You find shit to step in, no matter how well the pile is hidden,” Caitlin’s supervisor tells her. A young man attempting to stash a pistol in his waistband ruefully remembers his father’s advice: “I warned you about those skinny jeans, son, didn’t I?”
The third-person narrative is fast paced and steady, the plot featuring multiple subplots, lots of moving parts, and plenty of twists. I detect strains of Lee Child’s antihero Jack Reacher, Taylor Stevens’s heroine Michael Munroe (with a little of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon), and the antics of James Lee Burke’s Clete Purcel.
However, Land’s concoction is original.
Strong Cold Dead is a creative hybrid, blending mystery and suspense with elements of horror and science fiction. You’ll have to suspend disbelief, but you’ll be rewarded and appreciate Land’s inventive, audacious spirit.
Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.
Jon Land
Strong Cold Dead: A Caitlin Strong Novel
Forge Books
Hardcover, 978-0-7653-3513-5 (also available as an e-book), 352 pgs., $26.99
October 4, 2016
“Nature takes care of its own, Ranger, and we are its own.” —White Eagle, Comanche shaman
Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong is on desk duty after a dustup involving Mexican cartel apprentices in San Antonio, when trouble between a drilling company and Native American protesters sends her into the Texas Hill Country to investigate a mutilated body discovered just off the reservation. History is preparing to repeat itself as Caitlin returns to where the Strong family legend was birthed. The case has strong echoes of similar circumstances investigated in 1874 by Caitlin’s ancestor, the first Ranger Strong.
Strong Cold Dead: A Caitlin Strong Novel is the eighth installment in Jon Land’s mystery-suspense series starring the fifth-generation Texas Ranger. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend beginning at the beginning. The backstories of the recurring characters, and history of their relationships to each other, will make understanding the underlying currents easier.
A hallmark of this series is Land’s use of Texas Ranger history, skillfully woven into the present-day tale. Land names the prolific Texas historian and author Mike Cox in the acknowledgments, and quotes T. R. Fehrenbach and the Bullock Texas State History Museum’s “The Story of Texas” in epigraphs introducing each part of the narrative.
The action in Strong Cold Dead centers around a fictional Comanche reservation, but ranges near and far, from Houston and Dallas to the Middle East and an Inuit village in Canada. The international cast is vivid and similarly varied. There’s a psychic bingo caller, formerly a member of the Venezuelan secret police; a decorated veteran turned enforcer for the New Orleans mob (now retired), who has philosophical conversations with a root beer–swilling ghost; Homeland Security honchos; Native American shamans; ISIS operatives; denizens of the Deep Web; a Royal Canadian Mountie; and a descendant of Peta Nocona. This is a partial list.
The conflicts are ripped from the headlines: police killings of bystanders, protests turned riots, fracking, leaking coal-ash storage ponds, Standing Rock, WMD, terrorism.
Despite a few odd word choices (“swirling” tunnels) and instances of purple prose (“those who sought their demise”), Land can turn a phrase. When a bad guy disparages the threat Caitlin poses, he’s admonished, “Pistols don’t come in genders.” Of a persistently annoying character, Caitlin muses that he “just like a bottle top, kept sticking to her boot and scratching everything it touched.” Land is also funny. “You find shit to step in, no matter how well the pile is hidden,” Caitlin’s supervisor tells her. A young man attempting to stash a pistol in his waistband ruefully remembers his father’s advice: “I warned you about those skinny jeans, son, didn’t I?”
The third-person narrative is fast paced and steady, the plot featuring multiple subplots, lots of moving parts, and plenty of twists. I detect strains of Lee Child’s antihero Jack Reacher, Taylor Stevens’s heroine Michael Munroe (with a little of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon), and the antics of James Lee Burke’s Clete Purcel.
However, Land’s concoction is original.
Strong Cold Dead is a creative hybrid, blending mystery and suspense with elements of horror and science fiction. You’ll have to suspend disbelief, but you’ll be rewarded and appreciate Land’s inventive, audacious spirit.
Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.
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