A Mighty Fortress

by S.D. Thames

In Tampa, the only thing more crooked than the mob is the police…

Milo Porter leads a happy life in Tampa, Florida. The Iraq war veteran runs routine private investigations by day and coaches powerlifting at night. When Chad Scalzo, the grandson of a rumored mob boss, goes missing, Milo takes the seemingly easy case. After Chad turns up dead, Milo goes from investigator to suspect.

As he seeks to clear his own name, Milo finds himself at the crossroads of two crooked investigations -- one by the mob and the other by the police. With the body count climbing, Milo discovers the key to the case in the last known person to see Chad alive.

But can Milo get to her before someone else does?

A Mighty Fortress is the first book in the Milo Porter mystery series, a set of gritty crime thrillers that will remind you of the characters from Robert B. Parker and Robert Crais. If you like gripping suspense, hardboiled crime-solvers, and heart-stopping action, then you’ll love the powerful series starter from S.D. Thames.

Buy A Mighty Fortress to get caught up in the mystery today!

Genres: Mystery

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2016

Reviews

[Clabe Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Milo Porter Private Investigation and Process” his business card said. Milo is an ex-military power-lifter who normally functions as a process server in the Tampa Bay area. Milo is not prepared for the results when attorney Mattie Wilcox convinces him to serve a civil complaint on Chad Scalzo, the son of a well-known Tampa mobster. What follows is an entertaining brouhaha involving networks of mobsters, pornographers, prostitutes, dirty cops, gutless lawyers and guardian angels stretching from Tampa to Miami and back.

A Mighty Fortress contains well developed characters, some of whom are very likable and some of whom every reader will love to hate. Milo Porter is a physically large ex-Navy power-lifter who has seen combat and who suffers from PTSD. Milo has a spiritual side with which he tries to come to terms, but his friends and his work keep getting in the way. Milo’s girl-friend, Valencia (Val for short) is an emotional Cuban-American whose heart is in the right place, but whose emotions are often volatile. His friend, Rico is Val’s brother and the owner of a power-lifting gym where Milo is a volunteer coach. Rico is a good guy who makes bad decisions. An acquaintance, Judge Francis Pinkerton, former Hillsborough County Chief Judge, is a bored retiree with no family who knows everyone in Tampa. And, last, but not least, is Bob Hunter, former Baptist Preacher, Vietnam veteran and one-hell of a sniper.

The bad guys are legion; too numerous to name. The plot is not apparent from the beginning, although we know that it involves prostitution and pornography in some manner. Death and mayhem follow Milo’s investigation as he tries to untangle a plot with more twists and turns than a slinky.

Besides being a fan of these types of books, I plead guilty to growing up in Tampa and living there over forty-three years. My family is from Hardee and Polk counties and most still live there, so reading A Mighty Fortress was like a weekend visit.

A Mighty Fortress will satisfy any mystery lover who likes mysteries entertaining with a twist of serendipity, those who love adventure stories of any ilk, and those who relate to unlikely heroes who must sort out their values.

[Charles Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iraq War veteran Milo Porter is a PI in Tampa, Florida. He does routine process serving work by day and coaches a powerlifting team for his girlfriend’s brother at night. One Sunday, a local lawyer asks him to deliver a summons to the grandson of a powerful mobster. He doesn’t normally work on Sunday, but for $6,000 he’s willing to make an exception.
The summons isn’t easy to deliver, but Milo manages. And then, the mobster’s kin is found dead, and his grandfather wants someone’s head—Milo’s will do. As he tries to find out who did the killing and why, he learns that the only crooks worse than the mob are the police.
A Mighty Fortress by S. D. Thames is the first book in the Milo Porter mystery series, and a promising start it is. The lead character has flaws, like any good PI, but is principled and never gives an inch where those principles are concerned. The author has provided an interesting supporting cast of characters; a girlfriend who can lift more weight than the hero, and a sidekick who is a cable guy. The setting, Florida’s vacationland, is painted in stark colors—this is not ‘Miami Vice’—and the action moves at a varied pace, sometimes slow and languid like the flight of a heron over a placid pool, and sometimes as fast as the strike of a Timber rattler.
This series is going places.

[Koolaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not know why I have not read any of this author's books before. I have been deprived of an excellent writing personality. I never would have dreamed how you could work a little bit of faith into a mystery about sex and murder. He did a fantastic job and I didn't even know it til the very last.

I could just see this ex-military giant dead lifter walking around the city of Tampa and trying to find out why on earth this murder happened and who did it. The plot went every way it could go and it still left you reading to find out what happened and why. It was a treat to have 2 investigations going on at the same time within the book.

I will read more of S.D. Thames in the near future.

I was given this book by the publisher or author for an unbiased review from NetGallery.

[Sdan12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two crooked investigations mean double trouble for Milo
This is an undemanding read – ideal for taking on holiday. Milo Porter is a private investigator by day and powerlifting coach by night. The action in this story – the first in the series - concerns two crooked investigations into murder; one by the police and one by the mob. Milo is caught in the crossfire and has to work quickly to find out who has murdered Chad Scalzo, the grandson of a rumoured mafia boss. Milo has to try to find out who was the last person to see Chad alive and he must do this quickly as he himself is in the frame for his murder. As time runs out, the body count rises. This is a gritty thriller, with a satisfying ending.

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good ending.

I have been reading this series, when this last part 7 came had to buy it. Milo Porter got himself between two crooked investigations. Cop and underground porn, and election of Florida State Attorney General. Learned about true love, faith and justice with the help of friends.

[MartyAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It cleverly goes from a simple task to uncovering layers of what is really going on. It goes from normal business to whatever-it-takes. Dreams become something more. I really hope this is the start of a series with Milo with Gus! Oooh, the cover says it is part one of the Milo Porter mystery series! I cannot wait!

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short story.

This is the second part of the Milo Porter story. He is investigator, likeable character I will be following. If you didn't read Foreclosure form this author, please take time to read it.

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book.

Love these short stories, can't wait for the fourth part of Milo's adventures. After 9/11, he signed up for service. Still suffering and has nightmares. He is a good investors.

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next part.

Reading about Milo Porter for awhile, can't wait for the book he is going to write one day. Again this part is full of action and emotional feelings of Milo. I'm big fan of S. D. Thames, read everything he wrote and can't wait for the next part.

[Leslie Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book... but then it went in a direction I wasn't expecting, and I'm not sure that's a good thing...

The overall storyline was good, I liked the characters... I just wish they hadn't added that other world aspect to it.

[Trina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this arc from Netgalley.

This got off to an interesting start. Unfortunately it goes downhill from there. Way too much detail and then it becomes completely unbelievable. I found myself not caring about what happened to any of the characters. Not for me.

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short story.

Read part two of seven, wanted to know the beginning. Glad I did. Milo and characters around him so likeable, will be following their adventures.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milo Porter a former specials ops veteran is living in Tampa Bay because of a psychiatrist named DR J. He works serving summons and he gets hired to deliver a subpoena and the fun begins. Enjoy!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read that weaves a bit of religion in with mystery and romance. That is a fine line to accomplish, but S.D. Thames has done it and done it very well.

Milo is an Iraq war veteran turned private investigator that is living in Tampa, Florida now. When Milo is not busy at night he is a coach for his girlfriends brothers power lifting team. His girlfriend is into power lifting and can life more than Milo can!

Milo usually does big jobs, but when he is asked to deliver a summons to the grandson of a known mobster, he knows that he can use the $6,000.00 offered for this small job. What Milo thought would be an easy job turns out to be more complicated than just delivering the summons. When the subject turns up murdered, his grandfather want's the person found and guess who the first suspect is. You got it, Milo.

With Milo as a suspect, he sets out to prove his innocence and to find who really did the killing. This will prove to be a tough task for Milo because as he is uncovering things, he finds out that the police can be just a crooked as the mob. Will Milo be able to clear his name and find the real killer?

You need to read this one to find out what happens to Milo. This is a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed this one a lot. Just the right amount of everything to make a great read!

[Tracy Drane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good Christian mystery that doesn't read like a Christian mystery. Milo Porter is a war veteran serving warrants for a job. He gets in the middle of a murder and he's suddenly a private detective. That transition was a bit unclear. The rest of the story read like a gritty cop drama, but with sprinkles of messages of faith thrown in. Milo's no Christian, but God is working on him. Only a handful of curse words, and no sex scenes (although it is insinuated). Minor plot holes but nothing that really detracts from the story. Overall a very good read.

[Lowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Certainly not what I expected.

I spent the first 3/4 of the book trying to decide whether I would give it a four or a five as a rating. I kept reading to the end deciding between a 2 and a 1. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, but I certainly won't recommend it.

[Shoshana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was going to be a review full of fulsome praise for an excellent book and to some extent it will be. Against my usual practice I am going to give spoilers, so please stop reading now if you don't want the book spoiled for you.

I was really enjoying this book. It was described as "gritty" and "noir," and it is, and I enjoy the genre very much. Then, at 93 percent, the author pulls a cheap trick which ruined the book for me. In fact, if I had not had this book as an ARC I would have stopped reading at that point, but I felt constrained to finish the book for this review. SPOILER ALERT: the author brought in supernatural elements which have no place whatsoever in a book of this sort; there was no reason for it, and it makes a mockery of everything which came before it. I cannot express strongly enough how disappointed I am; I was looking forward to a nice long series about Milo Porter and his friends, and now I am unwilling to invest my time and energy into any more of these books.

I seem to be the minority here, which is alright, as no one will agree on everything. If you like supernatural elements, even in the most uncongenial of places, then you will not be disturbed by the discordance and will enjoy the book. And there is much to like about it. I am giving the book four stars because the writing is excellent, the characters are interesting, the pace is fast and with a lot going on, and the first nine-tenths of the book were great. If what bothered me would bother you, read something else.

I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.

[Phil Bolos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mighty Fortress by S. D. Thames follows Milo Porter as he serves subpoenas around the Tampa Bay area. As a tall, powerful, former service member, Milo is the perfect man for taking on the challenging job of finding the people who need to be in court and making sure they show up when they are supposed to. At the start of the story, we find Milo waking up from a rough week only to find out that now he has to work on a Sunday. This particular job is going to be a bit of a challenge since not only does he have to track down this man today or risk losing him, but the man Chad Scalzo, a member of the Scalzo crime family, the most notorious crime family known in the area. Milo tries to serve the papers only to run into a seductive woman and a psychotic man named Kiki. Not long after, the body of Chad Scalzo is discovered and the primary culprit is Milo. Now, he needs to avoid the crime family while also evading the police and trying to solve the crime he was set up for.

A Mighty Fortress is fast paced and enjoyable. I really enjoyed the read and liked the way it twisted and turned and kept me guessing. The narrative was well put together and flowed nicely from one chapter to the next. I also enjoyed the subtle pieces of the characters the author included, such as Milo’s batch of pale ale that was set to be bottled. This is the second book I have read by this author and I look forward to more. Keep it up!

[W.H. Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Remix!

So, I really liked this story. The characters are interesting and strong. Well, except the Judge. He's clearly the eccentric mentor figure that both challenges and guides the protagonist through a significant life change. Imagine a less pervert Master Roshi from Dragon Ball Z. bleh. I just can't accept wildly inappropriate characters also being establishment professionals. It doesn't work for me.

The narrative writing is strong and interesting. The flow of the story and the slow drip of the history of protagonist works. It's always nice to not have that backstory info dump.

Why the remix? I originally rated this 4 out of 5 stars because the copy I'd been provided for a fair and honest review was only a few chapters. Turns out, I'd been provided an old copy! Once that got sorted, and the full version delivered, I got to reading.

And the thing I didn't like- too short- had been fixed! A strong read. However, I felt the supernatural ending wasn't foreshadowed well enough. It feels bolted on. Still an interesting read, and don't let that supernatural bit at the end scare you off.

I was provided this work in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Susan Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Tampa, Florida, Milo Porter, investigator and process server, accepts a heavy fee to serve a subpoena on Chad Scalzo regarding a suit which revolves around the sex industry. Although his father and his late grandfather had connections to the mob, Chad is reputed to have severed all ties with their businesses. S.D.Thames has constructed an intricate dance performed by his well-choreographed characters making it difficult to distinguish the good guys from the bad. Their motives and connections slowly become clear. The plot is fast-paced from the first page leading the reader along a circuitous path to an unforseen climax. Take a bit of Robert B. Parker's Spenser and John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee, add a sarcastic wit which tends to irritate the wrong people including the police, and you will have some idea of Milo Porter. The humor, often subtle, defines the man. The book is well written with a strong plot; the scenes create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. I found this book completely satisfying. Thames is a writer to follow. I look forward to his next Milo Porter book.

[Kallierose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seemed like it was going to be a typical noir thriller, filled with corrupt and unpleasant people and damaged characters who have good hearts. I did find it a bit difficult to keep the different bad guys straight (a little bit more character development all the way around might have helped) but overall I found the mystery and its conclusion satisfying.

What deeply disappointed me was the twist at the end of the book that others have mentioned. It felt like it belonged in a completely different book, it was so jarring. It was definitely not an element that would be found in a noir thriller.

I didn't feel like I could give this less than 4 stars because of the excellent writing and interesting characters, but the twist at the end definitely kept me from rating this any higher.

Given to me by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[LyndaVee]

The ‘mighty fortress’ of the title is not a building but a person; he is Milo Porter, the star of this book and others to follow in the Milo Porter Mystery Series. He is an interesting character on whom to hang a whole series. As an Iraqi war veteran and body building coach, he can certainly take care of himself and he needs all his physical and mental attributes for his current job is as a server of warrants and subpoenas. The story opens with Milo getting caught up with more than he bargained for when the man he serves is found dead. Milo is suspected of the crime and must solve the mystery to clear his own name.

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! I loved the title, and this book was a strong one. Milo has PTSD. Many of us can relate to that, I know I can. Now Milo spend his days serving legal papers for court summons and trying his skills as a PI out.

Pretty soon he is sucked into something big, very big. Milo will need God's help to make it though this. It winds up with twists and some turns. The ending is a big surprise, which will also lead to more books in this series.

My copy came from Net Galley. I have left this review because I wanted to do so. My thoughts and opinions are my very own.

[Nancy]

Milo Porter is an investigator and process server in Tampa, FL, He was in the Navy and decided to use some of those skills in his present job.He is to serve a summons to Chad Scalzio the grandson of a big time mob boss. He serves the summons but then Chad turns up dead. His next assignment is to find out who did it. Between not being able to trust the police and to have other bodies dropping as he thinks he is getting close, the story does take many twists and turns.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in exchange for book at no charge

The book is written around the Tampa setting. The author uses real locations and adds in some history. Since I work in Tampa this was of interest to me. Book was very easy to read and fast pace. At times less than real as the main character faces death several times and always comes through.

[Don Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

(1 1/2) I am rounding this up to two stars only because Milo Porter is such an interesting character. He carries the whole book. The story is strained and contrived, with too many confusing twists and turns trying for some artificial excitement. A little surge of energy near the end but I will not look for this author again anytime soon.

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series.

I have been reading these books for months. Milo Porter suffers PTSD, trying cope with his nightmares. Just wants to make a living, but finds himself involved in two investigations.

[Jay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great murder mystery, augmented by a little Christian mythology. The characters are interesting but verge on stereotypical. The mystery and the character development come to separate closure, leaving the door open to another story.

[Bonny Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Is Yet To Come

I like detective stories, and particularly this detective story-otr should I say Private Investigator. This book is one of the few I have read that is actually book length. I am impressed with all of the various scenarios, twists and turns!

[Sandra Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author and This Seriesp Have Strong Possibilities for Great Success

Strong characters, especially Milo Porter. Reminds me strongly of a Jack Reacher novel, but with a different slant. I'm interested in reading more of this author's work.