Such a cool title. In, Nothing Short of Dying, author Erik Storey introduced me to Clyde Barr; a man with a dark and rugged background. His solitary lifestyle has consisted of being a hunter and adventurer in some pretty challenging locations on the globe. Barr returns to his hometown in Colorado following an unjust incarceration. He intends to return to the wilderness for some peace as two of his older sisters are unwilling to welcome him back into their lives. Surprisingly, Barr gets a desperate phone call from his youngest of three older sisters.

Nothing Short of Dying is a suspenseful story, involving drug kingpins, outlaws, and a sociopath. When Barr promises his sister he will rescue her, he means he will do so in a manner of nothing short of dying. He is up against a major kingpin and his security. He enlists the help of outlaws he befriended years ago by calling in significant favors that put his friends’ lives at risk. Barr reaches out to a former inmate he served time with in hopes he will uphold their previous code.

While there is a lot of edge to this story, there is also tenderness buried deep underneath the surface. A lot of old wounds have not healed, but show promise for the future. Barr also has a knack for helping people. He pretty much can’t say no when someone asks him for assistance. He’s genuinely a nice guy even though he has a hard time expressing himself appropriately. On his journey to find his sister, Jen, Barr meets a woman named Allie.

Allie is a strong woman who appreciates Barr’s help, and is more than willing to hold her own and stand up to trouble. It’s perplexing why Allie stays on Barr’s dangerous journey, but on their journey is where the reader learns so much about their pasts. And Allie teaches Barr about the man he can become by living in the moment.

I purchased this audiobook from Audible. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the second Clyde Barr book. Narration by Jeremy Bobb was really good. I was surprised with how calm his voice remained during the intense, violent scenes.

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