Real Bad, Real Soon: A Carter McCoy Novel

by Eric Beetner

Carter McCoy is still alive, but not for long.

A man with nothing to lose, he can help the helpless. A reluctant killer, his skills are used by the police now to balance the scales of justice. But killing doesn’t sit well on Carter and he wants to live out his last days in peace.

Detective Brian DeFore is using Carter for his own gain, and almost destroys both of them. When the old man refuses to help any longer, DeFore wonders how hard it can be to kill someone who needs killing.

Then a woman asks Carter for his help to hunt a monster—her husband.

The search for justice will take him deep into the snowy woods with his faithful dog, Chester, at his side. His end is coming soon, but maybe even sooner than he thought.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook

280 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

BIO:
Eric Beetner has been hailed as “the new maestro of noir,” by Ken Bruen and “The 21st Century’s answer to Jim Thompson” by LitReactor.
He has written more than 2 dozen novels and his short stories has been featured in over 30 anthologies and along the way he’s been nominated for an ITW award, a Shamus, Derringer and three Anthony awards. He’s won none of them.
Novels include There and Back, All The Way Down, Two In The Head, Rumrunners, The Devil Doesn't Want Me and many more.
For more visit ericbeetner.com

Reviews

[Brigitte]

Great book! Couldn't put it down. Very engaging plot. It was the story of Carter McCoy who has a very painful disease that he can't pronounce and is just waiting out his days. However, for something to do, he has been enlisted by a cop who wants to right wrongs of criminals who were guilty but not convicted. There is also the story of the cop who has relationship issues and kills a man who he finds has been with the girl he loves. Compelling drama to be sure! Now I want to go back and read the first book in this series, as this was the second, but it didn't deter from the enjoyment.

[Russell Phillips]

Always love a new Beetner book

As usual, A lot of fun to read. Twists and turns you would never see coming keep me turning the pages. Sounds like this might turn into a series?

[Cyndy]

I gave Beetner's first Carter McCoy novel 5 stars. This one started out strong, but I found the last third of the book to be way too irritating. There's just no way that McCoy would have ended up in that fix. It's been drummed into us that McCoy won't take on a job without being absolutely sure that the target is guilty. I can certainly forgive McCoy for the interupted hit on the guy who turned out to be innocent, but McCoy absolutely would not go off to include 2 unknown men sharing a hunting cabin with the target. He would have postponed the hit. The side story about DaFoe was irrelevant, and I presume added to make the book longer.

Maybe if Beetner's first McCoy novel hadn't been so good, I would have given this one at least a 3. Oh, and since it ends basically on a call for another mission, maybe McCoy needs to speak to another doctor, since the one he has is completely wrong about McCoy being about to die soon.

Note: I thought I might change my mind about my rating, but if anything, I've doubled down on it. I've got the book club discussion coming up this weekend, and I just want to eviscerate this one. McCoy caused the death of TWO innocent people and almost killed another innocent one at the beginning. Yes, you could say that Vernon was the one who killed Dave, but McCoy killed Keith and caused the actions that caused Vernon to kill Dave. If McCoy had simply waited until Vernon was not with innocent bystanders, everything would have been fine. Also, I'm not sure what the purpose was of having DaFore turn into an unhinged jealousy ridden example of why women prefer the bear. The justice men here are horrid.

[Kevin Michaels]

“Real Bad, Real Soon” is the second book featuring Carter McCoy, who continues handing out vigilante justice that started in “The Last Few Miles of Road”. It’s a terrific book by Eric Beetner and a completely engaging read- another page turner that will keep you reading late into the night. Eric uses sharp dialogue and excellent pacing that moves the story forward chapter after chapter, throwing in a few twists that continually escalate the tension. Detective DeFiore (from the first book) plays a more prominent role in this one – in the hands of another writer his character could have been a distraction, but Eric weaves his story into Carter’s with skill and a deft touch that propels the action forward.

“Real Bad, Real Soon” is a thrilling, edge-of-the-seat book that is totally enjoyable. If you haven’t yet discovered Eric Beetner, this is a great place to start.

[Deborah Ledford]

The promise to right a devastating wrong takes a perilous turn for Carter McCoy in Beetner’s noir thriller. Don’t let this old guy fool you—Carter is NOT one to mess with, especially when his dog is put in harm’s way. Both books in the series take the reader on a perilous journey and we’re never certain who will survive until the very end. You can’t help but cheer Carter on as he pushes through intense physical and emotional pain while doing his best to locate his elusive target. REAL BAD, REAL SOON is a first-rate thriller and a powerful hit of noir darkness, ideal for every crime fiction addict.

[Carol]

This is the 2nd book in the Carter McCoy series & once again, I loved it! Really hoping Carter's terminal illness doesn't do him in until Eric Beetner writes a few novels in the series. Carter is using his new killing skills to help others, including assisting a cop. Chester, his dog, helps balance out the story with love & companionship. Favorite line..."What you can't pronounce can't kill you".

[Barbara]

Eric Beetner has created an empathetic bad guy called Carter McCoy. Dexter in Wisconsin, is how I think of him. He's committing crimes yet what's worse--the person he's after remaining alive and committing more nefarious acts, or Carter, doing away with them and in the process, committing a crime? Carter McCoy has my attention.

[Fee]

Like the plot, main character and writing. Most action is at the end. Not all story lines are wrapped up. One side story felt redundant.
3,5 stars

[Tj]

Enjoyed this, but not as much as the first. The b-plot with the detective didnt do a whole lot for me

[Teresa Brock]

Carter McCoy is back. When it comes to vigilante justice, no one is more skilled at delivering it!

Carter McCoy may be ‘dragging death with him’, but he is the raw, unfiltered pursuit of justice outside the boundaries of the law. His decisions are never easy, and often, Carter finds himself caught between his own personal morals, his past and the complex realities of the world where the justice system failed.

Honestly, I didn’t think anything would be better than Book 1 of this series, boy was I wrong. Carter carries the heavy burden of what he has done with him all day, every day. Detective DeFore is playing a heavy hand at this game and knows that Carter’s days are numbered so he uses him as an enforcer. There are twists in this book that I did NOT see coming, not for one second. Beetner is a master of pacing. Each chapter moves swiftly, building tension with every page. His writing is sharp. The dialogue is perfect and add in a little dark humor amidst the grim situations his characters face (Time in a Bottle) and you realize that you are not just reading the story; you feel like you're right there with Carter and Chester.

This novel shines with its unflinching exploration of the choices that define us. Real Bad, Real Soon is a thrilling, hard-hitting crime novel that doesn’t pull punches. Do not miss this.

[Lew Clifton]

Real Bad, Real Soon is book two of Eric Beetner’s Carter McCoy series. Along with its predecessor, The Last Few Miles of Road, this book has been one of my favorite reads of 2025. In recent years, one of my favorite noir/crime series has been the Mick Hardin novels by Chris Offutt. The Carter McCoy series ranks just as highly with me and I can’t wait to read the third installment. Carter McCoy is a fictional hero I didn’t realize I needed in my life and I’m thankful Mr. Beetner has shared him with the world. I’m also grateful to the author for a PDF of this title.