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Welcome to Cottonmouth
“Jay S. Bell has arrived and he’s firing on all cylinders. This book is so original and well written that it had to be penned by a legend in the making.”—Joshua Hood, bestselling author of Robert Ludlum’s Treadstone series
What does the US government do with spies and special operators when they pass their expiration date? They retire them to a small town deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas, where they’re certain to cause no trouble.
A collection of broken spies, former double agents, and retired operators lives in secrecy, under the watchful eye of the government in the small, deep-woods town of Cottonmouth, Texas.
Devlin Mahoney is the de facto mayor of these special citizens, charged with keeping them in seclusion, hidden from the world, which he does from the office of the town’s only motel.
But the peace of this sleepy village is shattered when a pair of women, on the run from a vicious criminal, drops into Mahoney’s lap and he’s forced to choose between doing what’s right and doing what he’s told.
What does the US government do with spies and special operators when they pass their expiration date? They retire them to a small town deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas, where they’re certain to cause no trouble.
A collection of broken spies, former double agents, and retired operators lives in secrecy, under the watchful eye of the government in the small, deep-woods town of Cottonmouth, Texas.
Devlin Mahoney is the de facto mayor of these special citizens, charged with keeping them in seclusion, hidden from the world, which he does from the office of the town’s only motel.
But the peace of this sleepy village is shattered when a pair of women, on the run from a vicious criminal, drops into Mahoney’s lap and he’s forced to choose between doing what’s right and doing what he’s told.
350 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2025
107 people are currently reading
5394 people want to read
About the author
Jay S. Bell
23 books12 followersJAY S. BELL wears the secret identity of a Typical Boring Suburban Man by day, then transforms to a keyboard punching wordsmith by night. Born and raised in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas against a Forrest Gump backdrop of the Vietnam War, the moon landings, Watergate, hippies, and the JFK assassination. Bell describes himself as an abysmal student who abhorred reading until his father, in desperation, turned to the classics—Conan the Barbarian.
“I tore through pulp fiction with an addiction bordering on insanity. Mickey Spillane, Louis L’Amour, Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs…the list is exhaustive,” says Bell. “I would walk a mile, uphill through the Texas heat, to the library and bookstore in downtown Garland, and carry back, uphill through the Texas heat, a stack of books from my armpit to my fingertips.”
To say that fiction became a central focus in Bell’s life would be an understatement, though his taste ran hard toward creators like John D. MacDonald, Robert Heinlein, and Donald Hamilton, opting for Have Spacesuit, Will Travel over “The Classics” which left him bored to tears during his formative years.
Fast forward to an early career in retail loss prevention, marriage, and firstborn son, Bell wrote his first, as he describes “horrible, no good, very bad” novel with his infant son sitting on his lap. He bravely showed it to a few folks, which encouraged him to stick to his day job. Which was fine by him because kid #2 came along and food needed to be put on the table.
Twenty years passed. The kids grew up. Career changes happened. Bell moved from crime fighting to sales. Somewhere in there, his urge to write returned. In 2011, he got serious about it, joining writer groups and receiving feedback via online forums. “I wrote and wrote and wrote. And I loved it.”
WELCOME TO COTTONMOUTH was born out of Bell’s search for an ensemble of flawed and quirky characters who could team up, Mission Impossible-style, to defeat enemies, foreign and domestic and anywhere in between. He definitely did not want another James Bond, Jack Reacher, the Gray Man, or the archetype of the action hero as a leading man. Further, he wanted a strong female lead who comes with baggage and needs a redemption arc of her own. COTTONMOUTH gives him a great way to tell many stories, breathe life into a variety of characters, and explore many different plotlines.
Bell currently resides less than thirty miles from where he was born. He is a cancer survivor who worked his way up through two long and fulfilling careers, raised two kids to adulthood, has owned and been owned by many cats, and has been married to his lovely wife for over thirty years. “I’ll keep writing until saner people take my keyboard away and wheel me out to sit on the porch…where I will have a book cracked open on my lap.”
“I tore through pulp fiction with an addiction bordering on insanity. Mickey Spillane, Louis L’Amour, Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs…the list is exhaustive,” says Bell. “I would walk a mile, uphill through the Texas heat, to the library and bookstore in downtown Garland, and carry back, uphill through the Texas heat, a stack of books from my armpit to my fingertips.”
To say that fiction became a central focus in Bell’s life would be an understatement, though his taste ran hard toward creators like John D. MacDonald, Robert Heinlein, and Donald Hamilton, opting for Have Spacesuit, Will Travel over “The Classics” which left him bored to tears during his formative years.
Fast forward to an early career in retail loss prevention, marriage, and firstborn son, Bell wrote his first, as he describes “horrible, no good, very bad” novel with his infant son sitting on his lap. He bravely showed it to a few folks, which encouraged him to stick to his day job. Which was fine by him because kid #2 came along and food needed to be put on the table.
Twenty years passed. The kids grew up. Career changes happened. Bell moved from crime fighting to sales. Somewhere in there, his urge to write returned. In 2011, he got serious about it, joining writer groups and receiving feedback via online forums. “I wrote and wrote and wrote. And I loved it.”
WELCOME TO COTTONMOUTH was born out of Bell’s search for an ensemble of flawed and quirky characters who could team up, Mission Impossible-style, to defeat enemies, foreign and domestic and anywhere in between. He definitely did not want another James Bond, Jack Reacher, the Gray Man, or the archetype of the action hero as a leading man. Further, he wanted a strong female lead who comes with baggage and needs a redemption arc of her own. COTTONMOUTH gives him a great way to tell many stories, breathe life into a variety of characters, and explore many different plotlines.
Bell currently resides less than thirty miles from where he was born. He is a cancer survivor who worked his way up through two long and fulfilling careers, raised two kids to adulthood, has owned and been owned by many cats, and has been married to his lovely wife for over thirty years. “I’ll keep writing until saner people take my keyboard away and wheel me out to sit on the porch…where I will have a book cracked open on my lap.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 6, 2025
Cottonmouth sure isn't the derelict innocent small town it seems. Jay S. Bell has written an unusual and witty thrilling story. I don't know if Welcome to Cottonmouth is a single stand alone or if it will be a series? I kind of hope it will be a series. It is well written and has some great characters, I have come across a few variations on the theme with people trying to retire or being retired from their previous occupation and they all have the same quality. Cottonmouth is a town where government employees from all over the world is placed to retire in silence. They can be military, intelligence or espionage types of people, but they all share one thing and that is. You don't want to mess with them! They brake the pattern of same old story only with a new name on the protagonist. I love it. I was asked if I where interested in reading this one by Lis Malone representing the author and Blackstone. I will recommend this one to all that likes a good read.
August 4, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
'Welcome To Cottonmouth' was a fun read that kept me smiling and kept me turning the pages. It's a romp filled with larger-than-life characters. It has an improbable but just about plausible plot and a huge amount of energy. I loved the humour, enjoyed the action and admired trope-twisting. I'll be reading more by Jay S. Bell.
In an interview with Nerd Daily, Jay S. Bell was asked to describe 'Welcome To Cottonwood' in five words. He said: "Fast, fun, pulpy, rollercoaster ride." I can't do better than that, except to say that I really enjoyed riding this rollercoaster.
'Welcome To Cottonmouth' isn't the book to go to if you're looking for serious spy fiction, but if you ever wondered what Reacher might be like if he had a sense of humour and some friends, then this book might give you some answers.
The book is in three parts. The action and its consequences escalate in each part, leading to a bloody and explosive ending.
I was engaged with the action and cheering for the good guys to win, but I was also smiling a lot because this is a story lubricated by humorous dialogue and the gleeful repurposing of action movie clichés.
The knowingly bizarre tone of the book was set in the first part of the book, where I was introduced to the town of Cottonmouth and its unusual citizenry. It's a town that's trying so hard to be normal that it comes across as a theme park version of a much earlier America.
Central to the action is the Cottonmouth Inn, a motel so old it's like something from a movie set, which is run by a man who looks more like a beach bum turned janitor than a manager. He's an ex-spy with lots of unpleasant memories that he's trying to keep buried, and he's trying hard not to kill anyone any more, unless they really deserve it. Next to the motel is a cowboy-themed Diner run by an Iranian and an Israeli husband and wife team. He's a nuclear physicist and she's a retired spy who used to be his handler.
The action starts when a woman and a girl, on the run from some nasty people, have car trouble, are towed to Cottonmouth's garage (run by an ex-sniper of course) and check in to the motel. When trouble follows them to town, things quickly get out of hand.
There's lots of violence, much of it decorated with detailed information about weaponry and combat techniques, some very scary people (many of them in Team Good Guys), a damaged damsel in distress and an unredeemable evil mastermind who deserves to be put down.
The story is held together by humour, romantic notions of doing the right thing, the joy of forcibly 'retired' people going back to what they were once good at, and an absolute refusal to be beaten.
'Welcome To Cottonmouth' works well as a stand-alone novel, but I'd be very happy to visit Cottonmouth again, the next time trouble comes to town.
'Welcome To Cottonmouth' was a fun read that kept me smiling and kept me turning the pages. It's a romp filled with larger-than-life characters. It has an improbable but just about plausible plot and a huge amount of energy. I loved the humour, enjoyed the action and admired trope-twisting. I'll be reading more by Jay S. Bell.
In an interview with Nerd Daily, Jay S. Bell was asked to describe 'Welcome To Cottonwood' in five words. He said: "Fast, fun, pulpy, rollercoaster ride." I can't do better than that, except to say that I really enjoyed riding this rollercoaster.
'Welcome To Cottonmouth' isn't the book to go to if you're looking for serious spy fiction, but if you ever wondered what Reacher might be like if he had a sense of humour and some friends, then this book might give you some answers.
The book is in three parts. The action and its consequences escalate in each part, leading to a bloody and explosive ending.
I was engaged with the action and cheering for the good guys to win, but I was also smiling a lot because this is a story lubricated by humorous dialogue and the gleeful repurposing of action movie clichés.
The knowingly bizarre tone of the book was set in the first part of the book, where I was introduced to the town of Cottonmouth and its unusual citizenry. It's a town that's trying so hard to be normal that it comes across as a theme park version of a much earlier America.
Central to the action is the Cottonmouth Inn, a motel so old it's like something from a movie set, which is run by a man who looks more like a beach bum turned janitor than a manager. He's an ex-spy with lots of unpleasant memories that he's trying to keep buried, and he's trying hard not to kill anyone any more, unless they really deserve it. Next to the motel is a cowboy-themed Diner run by an Iranian and an Israeli husband and wife team. He's a nuclear physicist and she's a retired spy who used to be his handler.
The action starts when a woman and a girl, on the run from some nasty people, have car trouble, are towed to Cottonmouth's garage (run by an ex-sniper of course) and check in to the motel. When trouble follows them to town, things quickly get out of hand.
There's lots of violence, much of it decorated with detailed information about weaponry and combat techniques, some very scary people (many of them in Team Good Guys), a damaged damsel in distress and an unredeemable evil mastermind who deserves to be put down.
The story is held together by humour, romantic notions of doing the right thing, the joy of forcibly 'retired' people going back to what they were once good at, and an absolute refusal to be beaten.
'Welcome To Cottonmouth' works well as a stand-alone novel, but I'd be very happy to visit Cottonmouth again, the next time trouble comes to town.
August 8, 2025
Welcome to Cottonmouth is one of the most original and gripping thrillers I’ve read in a long time.
The premise hooked me right away: a secret town in East Texas where the U.S. government “retires” its spies, operators, and double agents. It’s wild, but Jay S. Bell makes it work so well—grounded, believable, and full of life. The town of Cottonmouth feels like a character in itself: strange, secretive, and dangerous beneath the surface.
Devlin Mahoney, the de facto mayor and motel manager, is the heart of this story. He’s gruff, complicated, and burdened by his past—but he’s also the guy you want in your corner when things go sideways. And things definitely go sideways when two women on the run show up and force Mahoney to choose between orders and doing what’s right.
Bell's writing is sharp, fast-paced, and often surprisingly emotional. The dialogue snaps, the action is tight, and the characters feel real—scarred, funny, and deeply human. There’s also a great sense of dark humor threaded through the story, which kept it from ever feeling too heavy.
This book has the soul of a great character drama wrapped in the skin of a high-stakes thriller. If you're into authors like Greg Hurwitz or Joshua Hood, or you just want something fresh in the thriller genre, you need to read this.
Jay S. Bell is the real deal. I’ll be first in line for whatever he writes next.
The premise hooked me right away: a secret town in East Texas where the U.S. government “retires” its spies, operators, and double agents. It’s wild, but Jay S. Bell makes it work so well—grounded, believable, and full of life. The town of Cottonmouth feels like a character in itself: strange, secretive, and dangerous beneath the surface.
Devlin Mahoney, the de facto mayor and motel manager, is the heart of this story. He’s gruff, complicated, and burdened by his past—but he’s also the guy you want in your corner when things go sideways. And things definitely go sideways when two women on the run show up and force Mahoney to choose between orders and doing what’s right.
Bell's writing is sharp, fast-paced, and often surprisingly emotional. The dialogue snaps, the action is tight, and the characters feel real—scarred, funny, and deeply human. There’s also a great sense of dark humor threaded through the story, which kept it from ever feeling too heavy.
This book has the soul of a great character drama wrapped in the skin of a high-stakes thriller. If you're into authors like Greg Hurwitz or Joshua Hood, or you just want something fresh in the thriller genre, you need to read this.
Jay S. Bell is the real deal. I’ll be first in line for whatever he writes next.
February 14, 2025
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It has a great set of characters, all very distinctive and their personalities were brought to life very well. A lot of small details are used to really give a great picture of who they are.
This is a high-action book, very fast pace, and it never lags in pacing or action.
Combined with the characters, the plot, no matter how implausible is fun and I thought it has a great balance of action and humor, especially with Mahoney. It was an engaging story, and a book I did enjoy.
Solid 4.5 stars
This is a high-action book, very fast pace, and it never lags in pacing or action.
Combined with the characters, the plot, no matter how implausible is fun and I thought it has a great balance of action and humor, especially with Mahoney. It was an engaging story, and a book I did enjoy.
Solid 4.5 stars
July 11, 2025
Broken down heroes win through!
The town is Cottonmouth where a very, very secret, part of the US government has put its old and troublesome agents from a variety of organizations. The only rule, do nothing and stay below the radar.
That goes out the window when a crime boss’s plaything makes a bid for freedom and then breaks down in Cottonmouth.
Shades of the movie Red engage, although in a different way. The idea of what does a government do with it’s misfit agents?
Gutsy and engaging. I enjoyed this as the evil men met their match, not without casualties from our band of heroes.
A Blackstone ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
The town is Cottonmouth where a very, very secret, part of the US government has put its old and troublesome agents from a variety of organizations. The only rule, do nothing and stay below the radar.
That goes out the window when a crime boss’s plaything makes a bid for freedom and then breaks down in Cottonmouth.
Shades of the movie Red engage, although in a different way. The idea of what does a government do with it’s misfit agents?
Gutsy and engaging. I enjoyed this as the evil men met their match, not without casualties from our band of heroes.
A Blackstone ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
September 20, 2025
The thing I kept thinking while reading this book was...Wow, what a great movie this would make! The story is filled with a bunch of quirky, interesting characters and builds to some good action and fighting towards the end of the book. Solid 3.5 stars for me.
February 3, 2026
I really liked the premise of this book - retired "spies" all live in this small East Texas town and are left alone, until a woman breaks down in their town and needs help.
I think this would make a great movie, lots of action!
I think this would make a great movie, lots of action!
July 10, 2025
I really wanted to enjoy this book, especially given the intriguing premise. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get through it.
One of the main issues for me was the overwhelming focus on weapons—there were so many mentioned that it felt excessive. However, I do want to mention that this book is very much action packed and while I understand it was necessary to excessively mention all the types of different weapons it was too much for me to follow. Since I’m not familiar with them, I couldn’t remember the abbreviations to some mentioned or even understand the weapons mentioned, those sections dragged and left me skimming instead of staying engaged.
The formatting in the Kindle edition was also challenging. Without clear breaks or indentation to signal scene changes or shifts between characters, it was difficult to follow the narrative. On top of that, frequent grammar and spelling mistakes disrupted the flow and made it harder to stay immersed.
I usually make a point of finishing books, even if they’re not to my taste, because I believe in giving the full story a fair chance. But this time, I just couldn’t do it. I rarely abandon a read mid-way, and sadly, this one ended up on that short list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advance copy. I appreciate the opportunity to read this pre-release title. While the concept drew me in initially, the execution didn’t work for me—but I hope others might find it a better fit for their tastes.
One of the main issues for me was the overwhelming focus on weapons—there were so many mentioned that it felt excessive. However, I do want to mention that this book is very much action packed and while I understand it was necessary to excessively mention all the types of different weapons it was too much for me to follow. Since I’m not familiar with them, I couldn’t remember the abbreviations to some mentioned or even understand the weapons mentioned, those sections dragged and left me skimming instead of staying engaged.
The formatting in the Kindle edition was also challenging. Without clear breaks or indentation to signal scene changes or shifts between characters, it was difficult to follow the narrative. On top of that, frequent grammar and spelling mistakes disrupted the flow and made it harder to stay immersed.
I usually make a point of finishing books, even if they’re not to my taste, because I believe in giving the full story a fair chance. But this time, I just couldn’t do it. I rarely abandon a read mid-way, and sadly, this one ended up on that short list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advance copy. I appreciate the opportunity to read this pre-release title. While the concept drew me in initially, the execution didn’t work for me—but I hope others might find it a better fit for their tastes.
August 8, 2025
Another quick page turner. Lots of action, actually I learned that you can overdo the action! The setup and first half was great but then the author went way over the top and I was almost bored by the end. Too much superficial description without the development needed to make it believable, and the ending was rushed. He wrapped it up in a few pages with a deus ex machina save and a short epilogue saying everyone recovered and lived happily ever after. Quite disappointing!
March 10, 2025
If you like Reacher or the Mission Impossible series, you will thoroughly enjoy Welcome to Cottonmouth by Jay S. Bell. The action is non-stop, making it one heck of a page turner. I couldn’t put it down!
July 6, 2025
Welcome To Cottonmouth by JS Bell, cottonmouth Texas is a place where government operatives retire but it’s also a little town that people only stumble on by mistake. This is how Britt and the teenage girl named Asybien broke down and how she met a guy named Mahoney. Britt was running from her ruthless and powerful X a man who thought he could simply send someone in to kidnap Britt and the young girl and no one would try and stop him but was he wrong. When the kidnapping goes sideways he’s not only made an enemy but a whole team of them. It doesn’t hurt that Mahoney is totally captivated by the independent Brit who when they first meet has nothing but disstaine for the X government operative. Her ex Milloes Stanković decides to cut his losses when a second attempt goes astray but what he doesn’t know is he has woken a sleeping giant that will change everything from his work to his home life in life as he knows it will never be the same again. The town of Cottonmouth only count six people as full-time residence but when you’re their enemy it will feel like 1 million armies are coming for you. I absolutely positively 100% loved this book I am amazed that this is the author’s first attempt at a novel because OMG what a banger to come out the gate with. I am definitely a fan and will absolutely read another book by this author hopefully it will be another one with the residence of cottonmouth but even if it’s not I am down to read it. This is definitely an awesome good against evil story and I would love to see more from these characters I loved Mahoney’s relationship with their caretaker and his argumentative nature with almost everyone else but found his overall attitude to be so cheery and definitely someone to root for. Except for the villains in this book I cannot think of one character I did it like including Britt. Such a great read I feel like the characters were all in a different place from where the book started and the author did a great job developing and growing the character while at the same time furthering the narrative so good so talented I love this freaking book!#NetGalley,#BlackstonePublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #HonestReview, #JSBell, #WelcomeToCottonmouth,
October 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Jay S. Bell, and Blackstone Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2025
I’m officially DNFing this book. I tried, I really did. But this book has too much going on at once. I’m now going to go read reviews/summary to find out the ending.
August 2, 2025
Action packed✔️
Great charcters✔️
Witty banter✔️
So much fun✔️
If this is a new series, sign me up!
Great charcters✔️
Witty banter✔️
So much fun✔️
If this is a new series, sign me up!
October 27, 2025
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for this clever eARC.
🌲 Jay S. Bell’s Welcome to Cottonmouth is a genre-bending, adrenaline-laced thriller that trades the sleek corridors of spycraft for the dusty backroads of East Texas. It’s a story where secrets don’t just hide—they fester. With a cast of retired operatives, a town that’s more trap than refuge, and a protagonist who’s equal parts broken and brilliant, Bell delivers a debut as gritty as it is gripping.
🕶️ Cottonmouth, Texas, is no ordinary town. It’s a government-engineered sanctuary for spies, defectors, and special operators who’ve outlived their usefulness. Think The Expendables meets Twin Peaks, with a dash of No Country for Old Men.
Devlin Mahoney, a former CIA asset with a penchant for poker and a past soaked in blood, is offered a choice: face the death penalty in Arizona or disappear into Cottonmouth. He chooses exile—but exile comes with strings. When two women on the run crash into his new life, Mahoney is forced to choose between self-preservation and redemption.
🔥 What Makes It Stand Out
- Atmosphere: Bell’s Cottonmouth is a character in itself—claustrophobic, eerie, and laced with menace. The town’s motel, diner, and garage feel like relics from a forgotten war.
- Characterization: Mahoney isn’t your typical action hero. He’s wiry, weary, and wickedly smart. His moral compass is cracked, not broken, and watching him navigate the town’s twisted dynamics is half the thrill.
- Narrative Style: Bell writes with pulp sensibility and literary edge. The prose is sharp, the pacing relentless, and the dialogue crackles with tension and dark humor.
🧨 Welcome to Cottonmouth is about the cost of survival.
It explores:
- The psychological toll of espionage
- The ethics of government-sanctioned exile
- The blurred lines between justice and vengeance
Bell doesn’t shy away from violence, but he doesn’t glorify it either. The tone is noirish, with flashes of absurdity and moments of unexpected tenderness.
⭐ Welcome to Cottonmouth is a blistering debut that reinvents the spy thriller with Southern gothic flair. It’s a story of ghosts—personal, political, and literal—and the strange town where they come to rest. For fans of Don Winslow, Greg Hurwitz, or Barry Eisler, this is a must-read.
🌲 Jay S. Bell’s Welcome to Cottonmouth is a genre-bending, adrenaline-laced thriller that trades the sleek corridors of spycraft for the dusty backroads of East Texas. It’s a story where secrets don’t just hide—they fester. With a cast of retired operatives, a town that’s more trap than refuge, and a protagonist who’s equal parts broken and brilliant, Bell delivers a debut as gritty as it is gripping.
🕶️ Cottonmouth, Texas, is no ordinary town. It’s a government-engineered sanctuary for spies, defectors, and special operators who’ve outlived their usefulness. Think The Expendables meets Twin Peaks, with a dash of No Country for Old Men.
Devlin Mahoney, a former CIA asset with a penchant for poker and a past soaked in blood, is offered a choice: face the death penalty in Arizona or disappear into Cottonmouth. He chooses exile—but exile comes with strings. When two women on the run crash into his new life, Mahoney is forced to choose between self-preservation and redemption.
🔥 What Makes It Stand Out
- Atmosphere: Bell’s Cottonmouth is a character in itself—claustrophobic, eerie, and laced with menace. The town’s motel, diner, and garage feel like relics from a forgotten war.
- Characterization: Mahoney isn’t your typical action hero. He’s wiry, weary, and wickedly smart. His moral compass is cracked, not broken, and watching him navigate the town’s twisted dynamics is half the thrill.
- Narrative Style: Bell writes with pulp sensibility and literary edge. The prose is sharp, the pacing relentless, and the dialogue crackles with tension and dark humor.
🧨 Welcome to Cottonmouth is about the cost of survival.
It explores:
- The psychological toll of espionage
- The ethics of government-sanctioned exile
- The blurred lines between justice and vengeance
Bell doesn’t shy away from violence, but he doesn’t glorify it either. The tone is noirish, with flashes of absurdity and moments of unexpected tenderness.
⭐ Welcome to Cottonmouth is a blistering debut that reinvents the spy thriller with Southern gothic flair. It’s a story of ghosts—personal, political, and literal—and the strange town where they come to rest. For fans of Don Winslow, Greg Hurwitz, or Barry Eisler, this is a must-read.
July 10, 2025
First things first – Jay S Bell’s Welcome to Cottonmouth is a ridiculous book based on a far fetched premise. Cottonmouth is a small Texas town where former secret agents are retired and kept in a form of witness protection. They are a United Nations of professional killers living ordinary lives as mechanics, hotel managers and short order cooks. They may be retired but it turns out that thay can spring into action when needed.
The centre of this little gang is Devlin Mahoney, survivor or a Serbian torture prison and now in charge of the Cottonmouth Motel. Mahoney not only does not do well with authority but he feels like he still owes the world for all of the bad that he has done. So when a woman and child turn up at his Hotel and are threatened by a couple of thugs Devlin springs into wise-cracking action to protect them. Only it turns out the thugs are in the employ of a nasty, well connected criminal who sends increasingly more dangerous people to retrieve his “property”.
Welcome to Cottonmouth opens with an action scene and then proceeds to top each scene with one with more enemies and more guns. On Devlin’s side is a ragtag bunch of ex-agents – including Russian sniper, Korean soldier, Israeli undercover agent, British explosives expert and German assassin. They take a fair amount of punishment but it is hard to keep them down.
This is one of those books that is full of “toys” – cars, guns, explosives – all lovingly described in passages like this:
He strapped a NOD- night optical device – over his head, but he left the goggles up and off. He then connected up a PRC-126 two way radio with an earwig and throat mic… From his duffel, he removed an FN SCAR 17 automatic rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
But it is fairly easy to just blip over these parts. The rest is fast moving, high octane, explosive (literally) multi-pov well written action scenes. So long as you come to Welcome to Cottonmouth ready to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the action you are going to have a good time.
The centre of this little gang is Devlin Mahoney, survivor or a Serbian torture prison and now in charge of the Cottonmouth Motel. Mahoney not only does not do well with authority but he feels like he still owes the world for all of the bad that he has done. So when a woman and child turn up at his Hotel and are threatened by a couple of thugs Devlin springs into wise-cracking action to protect them. Only it turns out the thugs are in the employ of a nasty, well connected criminal who sends increasingly more dangerous people to retrieve his “property”.
Welcome to Cottonmouth opens with an action scene and then proceeds to top each scene with one with more enemies and more guns. On Devlin’s side is a ragtag bunch of ex-agents – including Russian sniper, Korean soldier, Israeli undercover agent, British explosives expert and German assassin. They take a fair amount of punishment but it is hard to keep them down.
This is one of those books that is full of “toys” – cars, guns, explosives – all lovingly described in passages like this:
He strapped a NOD- night optical device – over his head, but he left the goggles up and off. He then connected up a PRC-126 two way radio with an earwig and throat mic… From his duffel, he removed an FN SCAR 17 automatic rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
But it is fairly easy to just blip over these parts. The rest is fast moving, high octane, explosive (literally) multi-pov well written action scenes. So long as you come to Welcome to Cottonmouth ready to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the action you are going to have a good time.
June 28, 2025
If you enjoy books with a tough, seemingly unbeatable guy as a protagonist, this will be for you. This had non-stop action. The violence was interlaced with humour. Cottonmouth (named after a venomous snake) should be a warning for this small, nondescript town in the West Texas woods. When the government decides it is time for members of the military and intelligence services, etc., to retire or be forced into retirement, many are secretly placed in Cottonmouth. There are hints that they may have had some transgressions in their past and are now forced to lead an obedient and quiet life in retirement. They no longer have their past employment designation, but retain their special lethal skills. The government monitors their life in retirement.
Devlin Mahoney is to act as mayor to the other retirees. He looks weak, but has deadly fighting ability. His office is located in the local motel, where he is responsible for keeping these special residents hidden and in seclusion. Among those Mahoney oversees are a local bakery owner and a man who repairs vehicles. When two young women, fleeing deadly gangsters, end up at the motel after their car breaks down, Mahoney and his group must choose between doing as ordered or doing what is right by protecting the women. A violent fight breaks out in the motel office between the criminals pursuing the women and Mahoney and his group of deadly retired individuals.
The characters are well-defined, and the writing is witty and fast-paced. Recommended for readers who enjoy explosive action thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishers for the ARC. The book is due to be published on July 08/2025.
Devlin Mahoney is to act as mayor to the other retirees. He looks weak, but has deadly fighting ability. His office is located in the local motel, where he is responsible for keeping these special residents hidden and in seclusion. Among those Mahoney oversees are a local bakery owner and a man who repairs vehicles. When two young women, fleeing deadly gangsters, end up at the motel after their car breaks down, Mahoney and his group must choose between doing as ordered or doing what is right by protecting the women. A violent fight breaks out in the motel office between the criminals pursuing the women and Mahoney and his group of deadly retired individuals.
The characters are well-defined, and the writing is witty and fast-paced. Recommended for readers who enjoy explosive action thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishers for the ARC. The book is due to be published on July 08/2025.
August 17, 2025
Cottonmouth is a small town in Texas that is, in reality, a US Government secret. The town's motel manager, auto repair shop owner, restaurant owner, and others are all intelligence or special ops agents - all brilliant and formidable. However, the US Government has deemed them PTSD washouts, over-the-hill, old, or just useless and out of touch. However, they are considered essential or patriotic enough to provide them this lifetime shelter, such as it is - a town we've all seen or driven through - small, dusty, virtually deserted, and forgotten.
A woman and a young girl are stranded in Cottonwood and seek shelter in the motel, as she waits for her car repair. You'll soon learn the woman is on the run.
Thus begins a roller-coaster ride as the team protects the woman, and bad guys fall. The story is rife with pulse-pounding thrills, occasionally hilarious dialogue, and tough-guy Type A characters with gentle hearts.
Highly recommended. Enjoy!
A woman and a young girl are stranded in Cottonwood and seek shelter in the motel, as she waits for her car repair. You'll soon learn the woman is on the run.
Thus begins a roller-coaster ride as the team protects the woman, and bad guys fall. The story is rife with pulse-pounding thrills, occasionally hilarious dialogue, and tough-guy Type A characters with gentle hearts.
Highly recommended. Enjoy!
October 7, 2025
A fresh, easy read with a cool twist
Welcome to Cottonmouth is one of those books that hooks you with its concept right away. It’s an easy, fast-paced read — the kind you can knock out over a weekend — but the storyline still manages to feel creative and different. The author does a great job building a small-town atmosphere that’s just a little offbeat, a little mysterious, and full of intriguing characters.
The plot has a clever premise that unfolds in a way that keeps you guessing without ever getting too heavy or complicated. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something entertaining but still imaginative — a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously yet keeps you turning pages.
If you like quirky settings, a dash of mystery, and a storyline that feels fresh and original, Welcome to Cottonmouth is absolutely worth the read.
Welcome to Cottonmouth is one of those books that hooks you with its concept right away. It’s an easy, fast-paced read — the kind you can knock out over a weekend — but the storyline still manages to feel creative and different. The author does a great job building a small-town atmosphere that’s just a little offbeat, a little mysterious, and full of intriguing characters.
The plot has a clever premise that unfolds in a way that keeps you guessing without ever getting too heavy or complicated. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something entertaining but still imaginative — a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously yet keeps you turning pages.
If you like quirky settings, a dash of mystery, and a storyline that feels fresh and original, Welcome to Cottonmouth is absolutely worth the read.
May 4, 2025
A lot of action, some very violent, that kept this reader turning pages.
Devlin Mahoney is the motel owner/manager at Cottonmouth's only motel. When a woman and her daughter ask for a room Mahoney learns their car is in the auto repair shop down the road while Zee/.Zivon works to repair it. Two men break into the women's room and haul off the women as Mahoney returns with their suitcases. The town's 'don't get involved' attitude is something Mahoney ignores and he begins the chase to rescue the women. With emotions changing as the scenes progress this novel was a challenge to continue reading for long hours at a time which is normally how I read books.
I volunteered to read an ARC through Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley
Release date July 8 2025.
Devlin Mahoney is the motel owner/manager at Cottonmouth's only motel. When a woman and her daughter ask for a room Mahoney learns their car is in the auto repair shop down the road while Zee/.Zivon works to repair it. Two men break into the women's room and haul off the women as Mahoney returns with their suitcases. The town's 'don't get involved' attitude is something Mahoney ignores and he begins the chase to rescue the women. With emotions changing as the scenes progress this novel was a challenge to continue reading for long hours at a time which is normally how I read books.
I volunteered to read an ARC through Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley
Release date July 8 2025.
February 7, 2025
Cottonmouth, a small town deep in Texas, is inhabited by retired spies and military personnel. They live there incognito until a woman and a teenage girl on the run come barreling through at the risk of exposing it all.
“Welcome to Cottonmouth” is a fast paced and truly original story. Its writing is just as unique, and I really enjoyed the colorful yet sketchy characters. The relationship between Mahoney and Britte was my favorite, both of whom powering through despite their past trauma, still looking for meaning in their complicated lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“Welcome to Cottonmouth” is a fast paced and truly original story. Its writing is just as unique, and I really enjoyed the colorful yet sketchy characters. The relationship between Mahoney and Britte was my favorite, both of whom powering through despite their past trauma, still looking for meaning in their complicated lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2025
Amazing characters, thrilling action, laugh out loud banter, and an incredible setting. I really hope this is the beginning of a new series. A seemingly peaceful dustbowl of a town. When Britte's car breaks down in Cottonmouth, she is greeted by more than she could ever imagine. Britte has a secret that she is trying to outrun. Cottonmouth is populated by mostly retired or exposed operatives of a three letter agency. The characters are so vivid and come to life on the page. The town itself is just as much a characters. The action is nonstop. The pacing is point on, you need a breather between the action sequences.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.
July 11, 2025
I am never disappointed when reading one of this author's books. Every book is an experience and quite different from the last book. I love to listen to the audiobooks when they are available.
Devlin Mahoney and his friends in Cottonmouth are all ex spies or ex good guys/gals. They try to stay under the radar but one day these two woman drop into Devlin's motel and things take off from there.
Lots of gunfire, blown up buildings, worry and some regrets in this exciting and fast paced novel.
"A spark of annoyance fell on damp tinder at Mahoney's core and failed to ignite.... Why are my hands always covered in blood?"
"And I will not. Absolutely. Ever. Walk away when someone needs me."
Devlin Mahoney and his friends in Cottonmouth are all ex spies or ex good guys/gals. They try to stay under the radar but one day these two woman drop into Devlin's motel and things take off from there.
Lots of gunfire, blown up buildings, worry and some regrets in this exciting and fast paced novel.
"A spark of annoyance fell on damp tinder at Mahoney's core and failed to ignite.... Why are my hands always covered in blood?"
"And I will not. Absolutely. Ever. Walk away when someone needs me."
July 12, 2025
The first of what I hope is a series rests on an interesting premise: a small town in the Piney Woods of Texas is a sort of retirement village for ex-spies, multi-national and quirky. The collective skillset is what you would expect to see, with hackers, explosives geeks, financial wizards, snipers, ex-Army Ranger types, and the Planner who pulls it all together. Anyway, Trouble comes to their sleepy town, and the Gang gets back Together to fight Evil.
The writing is witty, the plot zips along, the good guys are likable, the bad guys are irredeemably bad, and the action sequences are cleverly choreographed. It's a fun way to spend a few hours.
The writing is witty, the plot zips along, the good guys are likable, the bad guys are irredeemably bad, and the action sequences are cleverly choreographed. It's a fun way to spend a few hours.
September 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jay S Bell is a new author to me. He has the same publisher as my girl Jeneva Rose! I was extremely lucky to receive an advanced reader copy of this book!
🕶️retired spies
🕶️ mystery
🕶️hero
🕶️ government
Do you ever wonder what happens to governmental spies after they reach their retirement? They retire to cottonmouth. A small remote town in Texas left to live out their golden years under the protection of the government. That is until two women show up and bring absolute chaos to the town. Devlin Mahoney, the hotel manager in cottonmouth involves himself in trying to save the women from a ruthless man named Milos.
If you enjoy a good mystery, intense action packed and sprinkle in some ex government agents, this one’s for you. Well done Jay S Bell, round of applause 👏🏻
Jay S Bell is a new author to me. He has the same publisher as my girl Jeneva Rose! I was extremely lucky to receive an advanced reader copy of this book!
🕶️retired spies
🕶️ mystery
🕶️hero
🕶️ government
Do you ever wonder what happens to governmental spies after they reach their retirement? They retire to cottonmouth. A small remote town in Texas left to live out their golden years under the protection of the government. That is until two women show up and bring absolute chaos to the town. Devlin Mahoney, the hotel manager in cottonmouth involves himself in trying to save the women from a ruthless man named Milos.
If you enjoy a good mystery, intense action packed and sprinkle in some ex government agents, this one’s for you. Well done Jay S Bell, round of applause 👏🏻
December 8, 2025
WELCOME TO COTTONMOUTH by Jay S. Bell may well be my spy novel of the year. It’s smart, fast, and wickedly funny. Packed with fabulous characters, both among the good guys and bad guys. Relentless, propulsive action.
This book seemed to come out of nowhere, which only makes it more surprising that WELCOME TO COTTONMOUTH hasn’t been widely hailed as one of the standout spy novels of 2025. If the genre sometimes takes itself too seriously, this novel gleefully breaks the mold without sacrificing suspense or stakes.
And Devlin Mahony—what a main character. Bring him back, Jay.
This book seemed to come out of nowhere, which only makes it more surprising that WELCOME TO COTTONMOUTH hasn’t been widely hailed as one of the standout spy novels of 2025. If the genre sometimes takes itself too seriously, this novel gleefully breaks the mold without sacrificing suspense or stakes.
And Devlin Mahony—what a main character. Bring him back, Jay.
December 19, 2025
Wow!! What a fun ride Welcome to Cottonmouth was. As someone who is a little on the sarcastic side, I could so relate to the main character of Devlin Mahoney. His quick wit, banter with the other misfits at Cottonmouth was, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. In addition, the story was a fresh one, and the action sequences were top-notch. This is a very well written book with great detail and characters that you can't help but route for. This, along with Blood and Treasure by Ryan Pote has been my two top books of the year. An absolute roller-coaster ride of a book. Most highly recommended!!!
February 18, 2026
This book is a thriller that starts on page one and doens't end until the end. The characters are priceless and you will not be able to put this book down.
Britt's car breaks down in Cottonmouth, Texas and thus does the adventure begin. She is running and being chased. She is blessed to have landed in this very odd community.
This is by far, one of the best books I have ever read and I was really disappointed that it was just one book by this author. I will wait for the second book. Please, let there be another book!
Britt's car breaks down in Cottonmouth, Texas and thus does the adventure begin. She is running and being chased. She is blessed to have landed in this very odd community.
This is by far, one of the best books I have ever read and I was really disappointed that it was just one book by this author. I will wait for the second book. Please, let there be another book!
March 7, 2025
Welcome to Cottonmouth is the story of a small town with a big secret. That secret being the fact that it is a retirement town for retired spies and the like.
What happens when someone inadvertently gets mixed up with the town? Definitely read this book and find out.
Cottonmouth is a fast paced, very few holds barred book.
Its cast of characters were interesting, humorous and quirky.
I don’t know if this is planned as a series, but I could definitely stand to read more.
What happens when someone inadvertently gets mixed up with the town? Definitely read this book and find out.
Cottonmouth is a fast paced, very few holds barred book.
Its cast of characters were interesting, humorous and quirky.
I don’t know if this is planned as a series, but I could definitely stand to read more.
May 17, 2025
Non-stop action that was head spinning. It felt like the screenplay for the next Equalizer movie meets Jack Reacher. I like books that feature “good guys” vs. bad guys but this book was heavy on the action and light on the interpersonal relationships. If you enjoy an action packed, balls to the wall type book this one may fulfill all your reading needs. I may not be the right audience for this book but it is well written.
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