Former Texas Ranger Arlo Baines knows all about pain: how to bear it, how to avenge it, and how to inflict it.Still mourning the murders of his wife and children, former Texas Ranger Arlo Baines now works security at a bazaar in Dallas. Grief-stricken, he’s invested his heart and hope in the welfare of Miguel—a street kid who’s become his surrogate son. But the wounds of a brutal past are hard to … past are hard to heal, especially when a new case threatens to rip them open all over again.
Approached by a colleague now working for the DEA to investigate the seemingly random murders of prominent Latino businessmen, Arlo works to expose the common link: an ultraviolent drug cartel pushing into northern Texas. As the vicious power struggle between the gangs turns the streets of Dallas into a war zone, Arlo’s investigation threatens everything he loves.
When grief, anger, and secrets stretch the bonds of loyalty to their breaking point, Arlo can trust no one—but must risk everything to protect what remains.
more
Texas Sicario by Harry Hunsicker
Intense and intriguing this story of drug dealers and assassins with people caught in the middle left me rooting for Arlo Baines to figure out who was killing people, why they were being killed and then for him to put an end to the murder and mayhem. Who is Arlo? He is a man who has suffered grave personal loss and is digging himself out of grief and anger into his new life as he provides security for his friend Javier’s businesses. He and Javier have undertaken the supervision of and care for Miguel, an eleven year old boy found on the streets with nobody to care for him. This book is exceptionally well plotted and filled with interesting characters. I was pretty sure I knew what was happening a time or two only to have the rug pulled out from under me. I have to say that I wonder what will happen next and do hope that this is going to be a series as I would really like to find out where Arlo will find himself next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Ex-Texas Ranger Arlo Baines, now working security at a bazaar in Dallas, Texas, has lost too much to let people take advantage of the marginalized people of his community. When a cartel murder threatens to destroy what little chosen family he has left, Arlo finds himself back in the war on drugs. While filled with compelling action, author Harry Hunsicker brings a realistic look at the costs of trauma, at both a personal and community level, and the lack of paths to success so many in America’s immigrant communities face while they try to survive. This book pops like a movie and Hollywood should take note, if they haven’t already.
Who’s Your Friend?
The novel opens with the execution style murder of a tire store owner. Arlo Barnes, the lead character, had found a home next door providing protection for the bar, El Corazón Roto, The Broken Heart, whose owner, Javier, manages the Aztec Bazaar in which the bar is located. Arlo also manages the security of the Aztec Bazaar. Throw into this mix, an 11 year-old undocumented orphan that Arlo found three months earlier for whom he and Javier are taking care. Then, more similar murders occur, and the local police start to sour on Arlo. Lastly his old friend/nemesis, Aloysius Throckmorton, enters the story. He is a Texas Ranger who investigated Arlo’s killing of other Texas Rangers who killed his wife. The storyline takes off from here with many twists and turns that quickly set its hooks into my interest so that I want to continue to read and couldn’t wait to start reading again.
The B-storyline continues from the first novel. The reader will learn more about Arlo and how relates with his friends and enemies, how he is very protective of a young orphan, a few potential love interests, and how he works with his former nemesis Throckmorton. What I liked was how the author wove the B-storyline seamlessly into the main storyline. This really enriched my enjoyment in reading this novel. Throckmorton is the only holdover from the first novel, and a more detailed picture is portrayed of this old no nonsense Texas Ranger.
This story does not start out of the gate as action packed as the first novel in this series. It is more traditional learning the facts and proceeding, but as the novel continues the action picks up to the level of the last novel. What I like are all of the characters and how they fit into an engaging storyline and Arlo finding out who his friends really are or aren’t.
If vulgar language and graphic sex scenes discourage you from reading novel, there is not a problem here. There were only four f-bomb and no graphic sex scenes. There is some use of Spanish but were translated immediately or easily understandable in it context. Lastly, knowledge of the previous novel is needed to understand this novel. You will not have any problem reading this novel first.
My major requirement for a high star rating is that the novel captures my interest and makes me want to continue reading. Texas Sicario did that quite well. As a result, I rate this novel with five stars. I really enjoyed reading this novel, and you may too.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this novel early.