'Cold Trail': A Disappointing Weak Link in Taylor Moore's Neo-Western Series

COLD TRAIL 

Garrett Kohl, #4 

by Taylor Moore 

William Morrow, 2024 

★★★✰✰ 

On leave from the DEA, Garrett Kohl is ready to settle down and build a stable foundation for his family. But that’s easier said than done. In order to give his girlfriend, Lacey, and adopted son, Asadi, the life they deserve, and get out from under crippling debt, some risks have to be taken. And shocking alliances have to be formed.

First, Garrett partners with an old nemesis to form his new energy venture: Savage Exploration. Then his estranged, aloof sister, Grace, reemerges, keen on brokering a contract to connect Kohl Ranch to a pipeline on the Texas coast. But the company’s earlier success is endangered when an explosion at a nearby natural gas plant injures several workers. Garrett begins to suspect foul play and embarks on a winding investigation, teaming up with his old war buddy, Kai Stoddard, and reaching out to his CIA contacts, uncovering a sinister conspiracy overseas.

From an ex-CIA intelligence officer and consultant for the Department of Defense, this exhilarating thriller follows a man’s turbulent journey to fight for his family and hold on to the land that he calls home, culminating in an explosive final showdown that he never could have expected.

Nobody seems to talk about Taylor Moore's 'Garrett Kohl' book series, which I would classify as a Neo-Western—a blend of Jack Reacher and Yellowstone. The fourth and latest installment, Cold Trail, was released last year, and I finally got around to reading it, having held onto my copy since its release. I wanted to share my thoughts on it.

The plot of Cold Trail follows a somewhat clichéd storyline involving a pipeline, environmental groups, and a cast of villains. Our hero, Garrett Kohl, finds himself embroiled in the chaos once again, taking a break from his duties with the DEA. Alongside this, there's a snowstorm subplot, where Garrett’s adopted son Asadi and his friend Savannah struggle to get horses to safety. But things take a turn for the worse, jeopardizing both the horses and their lives.

As for the writing, Taylor Moore does a commendable job weaving together family dynamics with thrilling action sequences. However, I mostly felt bored while reading Cold Trail. It has all the ingredients for a gripping story, yet the narration felt off in some way that’s hard to pinpoint. By the time I finished, I had completely forgotten the details and had to reread it to gather my thoughts for this review—hardly ideal, I know. I wish I could articulate my feelings for the book more effectively.

I do like Garrett Kohl as a protagonist, but he comes across as a formulaic, tiresome character, typical of the genre. The environmental plotline feels overplayed at this point, offering no fresh take. I’ve encountered other books that handle the theme with more originality. There were quite a few scenes that made me roll my eyes as I read along.

In my view, Cold Trail is the weakest entry in the series so far. While it’s well-written, it suffers from too many recycled plotlines and predictable moments that prevented me from truly loving it. I enjoyed parts of book, but I was disappointed by its execution. I expected more from a fourth installment than what I received.

⁓B.J. Burgess

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