Strong Cold Dead

Strong Cold Dead by Jon Land is the latest book in the Caitlin Strong series. In the new book, the protagonist, Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong, battles ISIS, which goes after a revolutionary chemical that can potentially cure cancer but also has the potential to be a terrible weapon of mass destruction when in the wrong hands. The chemical is being mined by a wealthy tycoon. He wants to keep the glory all to himself, so he disguises his mining activities as an oil drilling operation. Now Caitlin Strong must battle both the tycoon and ISIS as well as her personal demons to ensure that Texas and the United States as a whole are saved.

Strong Cold Dead is not your typical action thriller. Jon Land’s novel is set in 1874 as well as present day, and he masterfully switches between the two eras. The dialogue, the action, and the author’s writing style all reflect the spirit of both times. They say that one cannot understand the present without understanding the past, and this book is a perfect example of this maxim.

The plot of Strong Cold Dead is very tense and grabs you from the first page. It feels like you’re right there in the middle of it all, whether you’re chasing bad guys on horses in 1874 or in a Ford Explorer in 2016.

I also liked how the characters are developed. Caitlin, the protagonist, is particularly likable and relatable. Caitlin is shown to be very principled. She is feminine but at the same time strong and resolute. It is her stubborn willingness to do the right thing that gets her in trouble with her superiors.

Overall, I found Strong Cold Dead to be a quite entertaining and thrilling read. It has all the elements of a great thriller and historical mystery novel. If you like a story with a strong female protagonist, then you should definitely read this book.