Montana is the fourth of the Matt Deal Thrillers Trilogy. It had me staying up all night until I finished reading it. I usually take a break when reading but not this time. I had to see what happened next to Sherriff Matt Deal and his partner, rookie Bianca, his partner Mickey’s niece, who’s fresh out of police training, as they worked to bring down the corrupt O’Hara family. But Bianca’s sense of danger lurking just around the corner and her determination to clean up Cut Bank, makes up for her brief time on the job.
The small town Cut Bank, Montana is the perfect setting for this crime novel. The mountains, sleepy Main Street and small-town life with hard-working residents who only want to live in peace and security, make up an interesting cast of characters. Bentley describes the deputies of the Sherrif’s Department in way that makes them fit in their roles in the department. Matt must learn who to trust and who might want to see him fail. Missing people from town, plus a deputy’s death, starts Matt on his investigation to discover why the cases have been swept under the rug. He brings his experiences as a detective back in Florida and the U.K. with him in his new job as the Sheriff. Memories of his partner Mickey, who was murdered, provide solace in Matt’s life as he heals from Mickey’s death.
Another reason Matt moves to Cut Bank is to allow his wife and children a place to experience a slower life and a better chance to grow and be happy. All that is threatened when Matt uncovers evidence about the O’Hara’s decades-long control on Cut Bank. Violence in the story is not excessive. Matt and his team do what needs to be done to destroy the evil that’s infested the town.
If you like to read police mysteries with a wonderful story, then Montana is the book for you. You don’t have to read the previous Matt Deal novels to appreciate Montana, although I recommend reading them also. Steve Bentley, a former U.K. detective and barrister, uses his experience and knowledge of police procedures and catching bad guys, plus bad women, when writing Montana. I hope he continues with the series. I really want to read more about Matt Deal.
Bentley’s other books, the Steve Regan Undercover Cop Thrillers, plus his other crime novels, are not to be missed. He also writes paranormal cozy mysteries under the name K. J. Cornwall.
Undercover: Operation Julie-The Inside Story, Bentley’s autobiography of his time in England when he was an undercover detective gives the reader an inside look of a man who must become another person to survive.
Do not miss reading Montana!
Discover more from BOOKPLACES
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Stephen Bentley
November 7, 2023 at 2:48 amThank you so much for a terrific review and so glad you liked the story. A fifth Matt Deal book is likely to be out by the middle of 2024.
Kay
November 7, 2023 at 3:21 amYou’re welcome Steve. I can’t wait to read number five! 🙂
Robbie Cheadle
November 30, 2023 at 12:55 pmHi Kay, an excellent review of this book.
Marsha
December 6, 2023 at 12:54 pmThis should be an interesting book. It’s always great to have books written by those with experience. 🙂 Thanks for visiting Robbie at Story Chat. I linked this post to the SC post under attendance. 🙂
Kay
December 6, 2023 at 7:20 pmThanks for your comment Marcia and linking my post to Story Chat. 😊
Kay
December 6, 2023 at 7:25 pmThanks Robbie, it’s hard to keep up with reviews. Steve is really on a writing streak! Glad you enjoyed it. I just now saw this. 🙂
Marsha
December 6, 2023 at 10:03 pmYou’re welcome, Kay. That’s another feature of Story Chat. We all value your thoughts about the story. Feel free to come back again to read additional comments that readers make. It’s like being part of a book club except that the story is super short.:)