The Hills Be Shaken

I picked this up off of NetGalley and then the author doubled down and offered me the audio too! I went with the narration by Eric Baker for the sake of time, and he did a good job. 
Right off the bat, I love a concise and simple cover, but I do wish this one had a little more along the lines of something plot/setting specific. 
This is a multi-POV crime novel with mystery, betrayal, and a lot of twists and turns. New FBI agents work with their new division to investigate possible terrorist works involving American infrastructure. Slow works in hopes of making a coordinated attack in the future. Starting with a dam's destruction that could be natural or sinister. Something just doesn't feel right. 
This was fast paced and enjoyable. I did feel like there were some issues with setting, where I didn't know where the character was, or if I did, it wasn't described enough. But with it being FBI and countrywide, they were in a lot of places. 
Also, the dam incident went on to be called ‘Little 9/11,' and personally that just didn't sit well with me as the name overall. Personally a 3/5*. 

Mose is an engineer recruited by the FBI after the collapse of a dam that killed thousands. Was it a natural disaster? Or was it an attack?

Aside from being an engineer turned agent, Mose is a family man who first and foremost wants to keep his family safe. Michael Stewart creates a realistic protagonist who isn't ‘too good to be for real' like many stories in this genre. He's a regular person who excels in his field. He has a relatable home and social life, making it easy to connect with him. 

The plot was well-executed and gripping. There were a few slower spots, however, it all came together in the end. It's a thought-provoking story as well with the ‘Little 9/11' disaster involved. Many of us learned through terrible experiences how a seemingly innocent object can be used for evil. As I read, I started thinking about what else might be a disaster waiting to happen.

Lastly, I want to applaud the book's religious undercurrent. Biblical themes worked their way into the story either through the characters' beliefs (or lack thereof) or the plot itself. Without giving too much away, an experience Mose has toward the end after hearing a sermon was particularly clever.

The author's note mentions a second book in the works. I'm excited to continue!

A huge thanks to the author for providing me with a free digital copy of the book to read and review!