Dark Country by Adam Plantinga Review

If you love a good thriller with a cross-country crime spree and a questionable, loner ex-cop in protection mode who makes for a fast-paced, energizing story, then this is one for you!

I have never read this author before, but I think that is about to change! Check out my thoughts in my review below.

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Dark Country by Adam Plantinga
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1538778866
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1538778869

SYNOPSIS:
After the bloodshed in Fenton, Arizona, former Detroit cop Kurt Argento had to disappear. He reemerges in the small town of Barton, South Dakota, working under an assumed name as a church handyman. It’s a serene existence of tending to the church grounds and avoiding questions. Until he meets seventeen-year-old Majed, a Syrian refugee trying to build a life in Barton with his single mother, as he’s running for his life.

Two men with hard eyes are close behind. Argento steps in, and Majed’s pursuers retreat with a thin excuse about a stolen wallet. It’s a story Argento doesn’t buy for a second. Digging deeper, he uncovers something far more lethal than a street-level shakedown. Majed isn’t just in trouble―he’s a target. And the hunters are closing in.

To safeguard Majed, Argento hits the road with the boy, pushing west. And along the way it becomes clear that whatever Majed knows―or carries―someone powerful wants it and will kill to get it. But Argento can’t let that happen. Because he’s made a promise. Protect the boy. Or die trying.

Dark Country by Adam Plantinga Review

Questionable ex-cop in protection mode makes for a fast-paced, energizing story.

I’ve never read the author before, and this book is part of a series, but I was easily able to read this as a standalone story.

There were a few questions that I had, such as why he is an ex-cop and how he ended up in jail. The good news is I can go back and pick up others from his prior books.

Dark Country has everything you’re looking for in a suspense thriller you won’t forget, and then some. Trying to protect a teen from something you don’t even know about lays the groundwork for this cross-country jaunt.

When the bad guys start chasing you, you pick up and run because these are no ordinary bad guys. The author takes it to deep levels with gory, descriptive methods of destruction that catch you off guard.

I’ve read hundreds of books with questionable content, and this one has characters and actions that kind of creeped me out. As the reasoning behind the hunt for this teen comes to light, your protective mood kicks in as well.

But thankfully, the main character is a bad boy with a really good heart deep down, and once he makes a commitment, he sticks to it.

Dark Country is a highly detailed crime spree that spans multiple states and cities until it comes full circle for the true reason behind it all. This one is a wild, trippy story with definite triggers for explicit, gruesome violence.

Thankfully, good versus evil does still stand true, but the battle is a wild chase, loaded with fast pacing, raw crime-filled clashes, and the greedy need to read more about this ex-cop’s escapades.

4 STARS!!

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links have been included – Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.