The Incident At Terlingua

Written By Courtney Ryan

A suspense thriller about recovery, friendship, and hidden forces at work

Release Date
MAY 16, 2025

Jake Plum is a drifter haunted by his past. Charles Chavez fears a future where his career as Terlingua’s sheriff ends. The two meet and become an improbable police team. They investigate a rollover accident with a fatality. When the accident’s corpse turns to dust in minutes, the investigation turns bizarre.

The investigation becomes a fight to survive when the Defense Department, Mexican cartels, and government agents try to kill the two. Someone does not want the connection between the dusty corpse and a coup in the world’s economy to become known. The team’s survival depends on three thin reeds: Chavez’s knowledge of the wiles and dangers of the land about Terlingua, Jake’s skill as an archer, and a German Shepherd named Idyll— long odds at best.

The duo grabs at one possible answer after another. Each answer proves more deadly than the previous. With a national election approaching and time running out, there is a meeting in Terlingua. Connections are found, lies are discovered, secrets are revealed, and important people must choose between escape, confession, or death. It seems things may be settled, but has the right question been asked and answered?

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From the Author

Terlingua is a real place in West Texas, known in part for its annual chili cookoff and its stark desert landscape. It is also a place shaped by proximity to the border and by the particular character of those who choose to live there.

I have long been interested in how boundaries, national, cultural, and personal, influence behavior. From years of travel and professional work across countries, I have seen how complex things can become from what appears on a map as a simple line.

In writing this novel, I wanted to place two flawed men in a situation where neither the terrain nor the political environment would make recovery easy. The suspense provides the forward motion. The real interest, for me, lies in how people respond when they are pushed to the edge of what they understand.

 
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Reviews
A fascinating blend of action and personal drama set in the boiling Texas landscape.

Ryan skillfully lays the groundwork for the tense confrontation that builds steadily through the book; this is a well-handled crime thriller, with Chavez, Plumb, and a heroic dog quickly finding themselves facing powerful, sophisticated enemies. The action, particularly at the novel’s climax, is sharply done and will satisfy pretty much any thriller fan. But the narrative’s strongest element is perhaps its most surprising: Both men at the center of the story are struggling to find better versions of themselves, and they largely succeed with each other’s help.

-KIRKUS REVIEW

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Outstanding First Novel

This is a first effort for the author and I think it exceeds expectations. The story is well written and takes the reader through a new type of mystery. Not your traditional Grisham, Ludlum, Child, Clancy, etc. A lot of twists and turns from meeting all of the main characters to and through saving the country and maybe the world. For those who like mystery and thrills with unexpired twists and turns I highly recommend The Incident at Terlingua. I can not wait for the next adventures for Jake, Indie, Sheriff Chavez.

This book has a bit of everything

This book has a bit of everything--a person who needs to rebuild his life, an interesting town with a myriad of fun characters, a great dog and a thriller of a plot. In other words, almost anyone can enjoy the read. I give it five stars and hope more books will follow.

I could not put it down after the first few chapters.

Great mystery/thriller. A most unusual combination of characters. After I got about 3 chapters in, I was hooked, and could not put the book down until I finished it. I could not guess what was coming next. Full of excitement and action. The characters were very relatable, and brought to life in this book. A great read!

Entertaining, suspenseful and fun

An easy, entertaining and suspenseful read that made me want to keep reading even when I really should be doing something else. The main characters had interesting quirks that made them likable in their own way, and a wry sense of humor woven into the story and dialogue had me laughing out loud at times.

This would make a good adventure movie.

The characters are well developed and realistic. Whether you love dogs or airplanes best, there is something for everyone. Sci-fi, western culture, and civil engineering all play a part. My wife and I both enjoyed reading it. In the end the engineer wins.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

Part western, part mystery, and part detective story—seasoned with just a hint of science fiction—it draws you in with its rich blend of styles. The novel features complex, relatable characters who evolve and reinvent themselves as the plot unfolds, all brought to life through sharp, witty dialogue and a wry sense of humor. Action-packed and cinematic, it’s the kind of story that begs to be adapted for the big screen. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining and memorable read.

 

Reader Conversation

If you’ve read The Incident at Terlingua, I invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or disagreements below. I read the comments and respond when I can.

Courtney Ryan