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Sam Cable #3
June Bug
A plague is coming, and it’s not COVID-19. Terrorists have engineered a bioweapon called Siren’s Tears that strikes hard and kills quickly, and the clock is ticking for the country. FBI Agent Rita Goldman uncovers the first clues, which lead her to investigate a Chechen terrorist group operating in East Texas. The Piney Woods are filled with snakes, ticks, mosquitos, and rednecks, and that’s the last place she wants to be… except that the area also happens to be the territory of a certain Texas Ranger, Sam Cable.
Teamed up again, the odd couple races the clock to prevent the devastating release of this weapon of mass destruction. Pitted against crazed, virus-mad citizens, Chechen terrorists, and meth-dealing motorcycle gangs, Rita and Sam have a rough path to navigate, complicated by an unexpected, and surprising, mutual attraction.
The feisty FBI agent and the lantern-jawed Ranger take on the terrorists and each other. Who will come out on top?
Teamed up again, the odd couple races the clock to prevent the devastating release of this weapon of mass destruction. Pitted against crazed, virus-mad citizens, Chechen terrorists, and meth-dealing motorcycle gangs, Rita and Sam have a rough path to navigate, complicated by an unexpected, and surprising, mutual attraction.
The feisty FBI agent and the lantern-jawed Ranger take on the terrorists and each other. Who will come out on top?
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2020
13 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Scott Bell
21 books116 followersScott Bell writes because that way he can daydream and claim it on his taxes. A Certified Fraud Examiner and professional Suburban Man, Scott has a wife, two grown kids, and at least one cat sleeping on his keyboard. (The cat, not the wife and kids. They have their own keyboards to sleep on.)
When he's not writing, Scott fights a relentless battle against weeds, slow drivers, and ever-shrinking pants.
When he's not writing, Scott fights a relentless battle against weeds, slow drivers, and ever-shrinking pants.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 2, 2021
Thank you to Library Thing and Red Adept Publishing for giving me a review copy of June Bug. I requested this book because I like mysteries and because it was set in East Texas, where I grew up. But what a seedy side the author showed me of my old stomping grounds!
What I loved most about this novel was the writing. Bell has a humorous style, full of fresh, creative images and timely metaphors. I also loved the clever banter and sexual tension between the protagonist, Texas Ranger Sam Cable, and his unlikely sidekick--tiny, sassy, New York FBI agent, Rita Goldman.
Initially, the plot seemed a bit far-fetched. Chechen terrorists working with an anarchist professor to produce a bioweapon containing the rabies virus? But in light of the 2020 pandemic, it wasn't that hard to suspend disbelief.
The action is nonstop, maybe a bit too intense, and some of the violence was almost cartoon-like, a la the coyote and the roadrunner. But the ending is satisfying if bittersweet.
What I loved most about this novel was the writing. Bell has a humorous style, full of fresh, creative images and timely metaphors. I also loved the clever banter and sexual tension between the protagonist, Texas Ranger Sam Cable, and his unlikely sidekick--tiny, sassy, New York FBI agent, Rita Goldman.
Initially, the plot seemed a bit far-fetched. Chechen terrorists working with an anarchist professor to produce a bioweapon containing the rabies virus? But in light of the 2020 pandemic, it wasn't that hard to suspend disbelief.
The action is nonstop, maybe a bit too intense, and some of the violence was almost cartoon-like, a la the coyote and the roadrunner. But the ending is satisfying if bittersweet.
January 17, 2021
A Texas ranger, Sam Cable, is stuck chasing down a suspected wife murderer when he gets a visit from a previous crime-fighting partner, Rita Goldman, a petite female FBI agent from New York who has the hots for him. She recruits him as a local information source to help her track down a Chechnyan terrorist group operating out of Texas. At first, Sam has no interest in pursuing a personal relationship; Rita’s not his type. But as the criminal investigation moves on, he finds himself thinking about Rita more often than he expected to.
As the plot unfolds, they find out that a Chechnyan mafia crime boss is financing and rendering aid to the terrorist whose ambition is releasing an aerosol virus in the US to kill thousands of Americans. With the help of a college virology professor that they dupe into thinking that they are only targeting military and large corporate victims, a weaponized rabies-based virus is created. The terrorists then manage to disperse it in an airport, initially killing several thousand people. Fortunately, they are stopped as they move on to disperse it over a larger area.
After the terrorists are stopped, Rita calls off the relationship with Sam before it’s consummated and heads back to New York leaving Sam heartbroken. More than the plot, it was the sexual attraction that made this book slightly humorous and fully enjoyable. A sequel will no doubt be written as this is the third book in a series and the book’s ending contained no barrier that would make the series’ continuance awkward. Having not read the previous two books, I did not feel disadvantaged. The book is complete and stands alone with very few references to Sam’s and Rita’s prior exploits and familiarity, none of which created holes in the story.
As the plot unfolds, they find out that a Chechnyan mafia crime boss is financing and rendering aid to the terrorist whose ambition is releasing an aerosol virus in the US to kill thousands of Americans. With the help of a college virology professor that they dupe into thinking that they are only targeting military and large corporate victims, a weaponized rabies-based virus is created. The terrorists then manage to disperse it in an airport, initially killing several thousand people. Fortunately, they are stopped as they move on to disperse it over a larger area.
After the terrorists are stopped, Rita calls off the relationship with Sam before it’s consummated and heads back to New York leaving Sam heartbroken. More than the plot, it was the sexual attraction that made this book slightly humorous and fully enjoyable. A sequel will no doubt be written as this is the third book in a series and the book’s ending contained no barrier that would make the series’ continuance awkward. Having not read the previous two books, I did not feel disadvantaged. The book is complete and stands alone with very few references to Sam’s and Rita’s prior exploits and familiarity, none of which created holes in the story.
November 27, 2020
Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Siren’s Tears is not some over-the-top sappy mythological story about heartbreak. It’s about a bioweapon created by terrorists in Texas and Sam Cable, Texas Ranger, is thrown into the race to find it and the people wielding it before it kills millions. Helping him is his FBI friend Rita Goldman, who first discovered the Chechen connection in Texas and while it may be a year since they last worked together, they are back at it once again as if they've never been apart. The odds are stacked against them and the stakes are sky high, but Cable and Goldman are on the case and they always get their dirt bags. Or do they?
Man, oh, man. This is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s chock full of terrorists, a bioweapon, action, detective work, and some interesting heat going on between Cable and Goldman. It’s all so very nommy and I devoured the book as fast as real life allowed me. Great plot, awesome characters, excellent action scenes, and a slow build of heat between two very different characters makes this the nommiest of treats. Toss in humor and it’s just a little slice of heaven. Although the ending had me mad-squinting my eyes at the author (just a little), I have faith that the next book will be just as tasty and I can’t wait!
Siren’s Tears is not some over-the-top sappy mythological story about heartbreak. It’s about a bioweapon created by terrorists in Texas and Sam Cable, Texas Ranger, is thrown into the race to find it and the people wielding it before it kills millions. Helping him is his FBI friend Rita Goldman, who first discovered the Chechen connection in Texas and while it may be a year since they last worked together, they are back at it once again as if they've never been apart. The odds are stacked against them and the stakes are sky high, but Cable and Goldman are on the case and they always get their dirt bags. Or do they?
Man, oh, man. This is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s chock full of terrorists, a bioweapon, action, detective work, and some interesting heat going on between Cable and Goldman. It’s all so very nommy and I devoured the book as fast as real life allowed me. Great plot, awesome characters, excellent action scenes, and a slow build of heat between two very different characters makes this the nommiest of treats. Toss in humor and it’s just a little slice of heaven. Although the ending had me mad-squinting my eyes at the author (just a little), I have faith that the next book will be just as tasty and I can’t wait!
November 30, 2020
"June Bug" is my 4th Scott Bell book and he is truly a talented author. "June Bug" has action (plenty), it's very topical, it's scary and tense, and the chemistry between the tall Texas Ranger man and the petite NY FBI woman agent is delicious. Bell has a great sense of timing/pacing and a wicked sense of dry humor. He's also great with the metaphors and accents. Solid police procedural aspects in a modern day thriller make this all so believable.
The story has a "ripped from the headlines" feel with terrorists who have the ability to start a pandemic with a lab-created virus that is 100 percent fatal and based upon a rabies virus. The world in the story is just barely over the covid-19 pandemic, and law enforcement understands all too well the dangers facing the whole of humanity. As various law enforcement agencies race to find clues and stop the terrorists, personal conflicts and attractions complicate the situation. Strong women characters add a lot to the story--strong emotionally and physically. No damsels in distress here, this women know how to fight back!
Warning: the story is violent, but not so graphic as to be offensive (at least not offensive to me). This is the third book in the Sam Cable mystery/thriller series. Bell also has another thriller/action series.
The story has a "ripped from the headlines" feel with terrorists who have the ability to start a pandemic with a lab-created virus that is 100 percent fatal and based upon a rabies virus. The world in the story is just barely over the covid-19 pandemic, and law enforcement understands all too well the dangers facing the whole of humanity. As various law enforcement agencies race to find clues and stop the terrorists, personal conflicts and attractions complicate the situation. Strong women characters add a lot to the story--strong emotionally and physically. No damsels in distress here, this women know how to fight back!
Warning: the story is violent, but not so graphic as to be offensive (at least not offensive to me). This is the third book in the Sam Cable mystery/thriller series. Bell also has another thriller/action series.
July 8, 2021
( Format : Audiobook )
"Stupid ain't catching."
Texas Ranger, Sam Cable is joined by New York fireball and FBE agent, Rita Goldman, in this action packed detective tale of murder, conspiracy and corruption. Bullets flying, but so, too, is the humour with delicious conversational one liners like, "A weapon of mass distemper" when facing a possible rabies attack.
Narration is by J.Scott Bennett whose performance as the Texas Ranger with a "laconic drawl with a syrupy twang" is spot on, as are all of his various character voicings. The text, too, told in the first person by Cable, is perfectly paced, with good intonation and story involvement. Excellent.
I was really fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of June Bug at my request by the rights holder. Thank you. This is a great easy read, fun book with characters that just step straight off the page into real life. Although third in the Sam Cable Mystery series, was apparently the first to be written, so fine as a stand alone. Definitely recommended and I'll be looking out for others in the series.
"Stupid ain't catching."
Texas Ranger, Sam Cable is joined by New York fireball and FBE agent, Rita Goldman, in this action packed detective tale of murder, conspiracy and corruption. Bullets flying, but so, too, is the humour with delicious conversational one liners like, "A weapon of mass distemper" when facing a possible rabies attack.
Narration is by J.Scott Bennett whose performance as the Texas Ranger with a "laconic drawl with a syrupy twang" is spot on, as are all of his various character voicings. The text, too, told in the first person by Cable, is perfectly paced, with good intonation and story involvement. Excellent.
I was really fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of June Bug at my request by the rights holder. Thank you. This is a great easy read, fun book with characters that just step straight off the page into real life. Although third in the Sam Cable Mystery series, was apparently the first to be written, so fine as a stand alone. Definitely recommended and I'll be looking out for others in the series.
August 4, 2021
I have enjoyed all the books in this series so far and this is no exception. You quickly become invested in the characters and fully entrenched in the story. Texas Ranger, Sam Cable, and fiery FBI Agent, Rita Goldman, team up once again to try to catch terrorists that have engineered a deadly rabies type bioweapon. It is an exciting, thrilling story that keeps you captivated from start to finish. I love the sarcasm, humour, action and caring in this story. The narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life and his southern twang fit the main character perfectly. It is well written and narrated and will leave you wanting many more stories containing these characters.
December 22, 2021
Sam and Rita really had their work cut out for them in this 3rd book in the Same Cable Mystery Series. June Bug takes place in Texas with Rita bringing a case involving foreign nationals and a secret weapon that could kill a lot of Americans.
The narrator did a fabulous job and I appreciated the author's revisions to include the pandemic that is still simmering in 2021.
Bravo!
The narrator did a fabulous job and I appreciated the author's revisions to include the pandemic that is still simmering in 2021.
Bravo!
August 13, 2021
Have mercy! What a wild ride! As usual, life for our favorite Texas Ranger, Sam Cable, is far from dull. This time Sam teams up with an FBI agent and the task is to stop terrorists from deploying a bio-weapon. A totally unputdownable book! Yep, I highly recommend!
November 26, 2024
I enjoyed this book from start to finish--lots of action and the characters are wonderful. Rita reminds me of me because of her terrible NY accent. I was once insulted by a Texan who thought my accent sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It's funny because I enjoy listening to a Texas accent, so I agree with Sam about listening to Rita--but she's brilliant and capable, so that excuses a lot. I hope to see more books with Sam and Rita.
March 30, 2024
Another amazing book in the Sam Cable series. With an enthralling, timely, extremely well written storyline and a cast of characters who conveyed the author’s incredible sense of humor, this book kept me turning pages as my stomach twisted till the very last line.
August 15, 2024
Outstanding
JUNE BUG is a truely outstanding novel. Scott Bell really hit the mark with Sam Cable and Rita just adds to it. I was very pleased to hear that more of Sam and Rita was in the works.
JUNE BUG is a truely outstanding novel. Scott Bell really hit the mark with Sam Cable and Rita just adds to it. I was very pleased to hear that more of Sam and Rita was in the works.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews