Book Review: Draw A Hard Line (E.J. Kane Mystery, #2) by Micheal E. Jimerson

Draw a Hard Line by Micheal E. Jimerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Legendary former Texas Ranger E.J. Kane returns in this exciting tale of revenge and betrayal.

Draw a Hard Line is the second exciting book in author Micheal E. Jimerson’s immersive, action-filled E.J. Kane Mystery series, which launched in 2022 with its stellar debut, White Gold. All its memorable characters return as E.J. and his ex-wife, attorney Rebecca Johnson, confront an old adversary when new evidence threatens to overturn the conviction of the murderous head of a dangerous white supremacist paramilitary group.

A little time has passed since the events of book one, and E.J. and Rebecca have both struggled with their efforts to help their daughter overcome her drug habit. Sharla has played her parents one against the other for years, and she now leans into her past successes with all the cunning of the addict she is. Readers learn so much more about the family: the death of the oldest child, son Konnor, in Afghanistan and its life-altering impact on E.J., Rebecca, and Sharla. While Rebecca blames E.J. for their son’s death, E.J. goes one further, blaming himself and God. He struggles with the erosion of his relationship with the Lord, obviously hurting and wanting to re-establish his former faith, just as he tries to understand and repair the uneasy and awkward relationship with Rebecca, whom he still loves.

The author introduces a truly evil villain in the character of G.H. Burton, the incarcerated-for-life (they thought) former leader of the Aryan Triangle. Through the storyline’s court proceedings, I was surprised to learn that DNA is not the be-all or end-all that television, films, and crime fiction portray. Complicating the case is the shadow of E.J.’s tarnished reputation and the vitriol of his former Texas Rangers supervisor, Lt. Col Craig Fenton, and the machinations of treacherous Sheriff Benjamin Berryhill. B.B.’s storyline caused mixed emotions for E.J. and me. The man is a heinous individual, but his son and wife are wonderful people, and he holds the keys E.J. needs to reset his life.

The plot moves quickly, and the author deftly manages many moving parts. Not only are there E.J.’s personal family struggles and the Burton debacle and sideshow, but E.J.’s old friend, Rex Ashe, is slowly succumbing to the ravages of Alzheimer’s. In addition, E.J. is experiencing his own health worries. I could almost feel every misstep and jolt to his knee as he physically tried to do what needed doing. E.J.’s and Cooper’s terrifying flight through the Big Thicket and the eleventh-hour confrontation with Conrad Beams were as edge-of-your-seat as they come.

I enjoyed the East Texas setting established in book one, especially the Big Thicket action sequences where you could almost feel the humidity, marshy mud, and mosquitoes. However, the story isn’t as location-specific as before, and readers new to the series may only get a general sense that the action is occurring somewhere in rural Texas. Admittedly, this is just a 'me' issue; the setting descriptions are absolutely vivid.

I recommend DRAW A HARD LINE to mystery readers who enjoy character-driven stories, courtroom drama, and heart-pounding thrills.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

View all my reviews