Strong Rain Falling: A Caitlin Strong Novel

In Land’s unrelentingly plot-driven fifth novel featuring Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong (after 2012’s Strong Vengeance), Strong accompanies her lover’s son, Dylan Torres, on a visit to Brown University in Providence, R.I.—a trip that turns to near tragedy when gunmen open fire on Dylan. Meanwhile, back in San Antonio, Tex., there’s a similar attempt on the life of Dylan’s brother, Luke. Strong uncovers not simply a plot to target these two boys but something much more sinister—an elaborate criminal enterprise that dates back to the Mexican drug cartels of 1919 and involved Strong’s Texas Ranger great-grandfather, William Ray Strong. Lending assistance to Strong is Guillermo Paz, a student of German philosophy, who has a knack for always showing up in just the nick of time with a loaded gun. While Land brings a great deal of wonderful history into his story, some readers may find tiresome his habit of ending nearly every chapter with a cliffhanger. Agent: Natalia Aponte, Natalia Aponte Literary Agency. (Aug.)