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The Other Oregon
A Portland activist ventures into rural militia country to face a threat from his past in this crime thriller by the author of the Kaspar Brothers series.
Greg Simmons is an idealist. From his home in Portland, he's a major proponent of the Cascadia independence movement. All of which makes him an unlikely informant for the FBI. But when the Bureau calls on Greg to investigate a dangerous militia group in rural Oregon, he knows exactly why: his old friend Donny Wilkie is likely involved.
Greg and Donny have been estranged for years. But if Donny's involved in something dangerous, Greg intends to pursue the threat on his own--because he needs to make sure Donny never unearths the dark secrets they buried years ago.
In the remote town of Pineburg, Greg is a fish out of water. As he grapples with dangers both old and new, he and Donny must come to a new understanding . . . or face the deadly truth of their shared past.
Greg Simmons is an idealist. From his home in Portland, he's a major proponent of the Cascadia independence movement. All of which makes him an unlikely informant for the FBI. But when the Bureau calls on Greg to investigate a dangerous militia group in rural Oregon, he knows exactly why: his old friend Donny Wilkie is likely involved.
Greg and Donny have been estranged for years. But if Donny's involved in something dangerous, Greg intends to pursue the threat on his own--because he needs to make sure Donny never unearths the dark secrets they buried years ago.
In the remote town of Pineburg, Greg is a fish out of water. As he grapples with dangers both old and new, he and Donny must come to a new understanding . . . or face the deadly truth of their shared past.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2015
16 people are currently reading
1824 people want to read
About the author
Steve Anderson
15 books266 followersSteve Anderson writes the Kaspar Brothers historical thrillers and other novels. His latest novels are Show Game and Lines of Deception. Anderson was a Fulbright Fellow and has translated bestselling German fiction. He lives in Portland, Oregon and Vienna, Austria.
More about Steve Anderson:
Years ago, Steve Anderson planned to become a history professor. He even landed a Fulbright Fellowship in Munich. Then he discovered fiction writing — he could make stuff up, he realized, using actual events and characters to serve the story. Now he writes novels that often introduce a little-known aspect of history, mixing in overlooked crimes, true accounts, and gutsy underdogs.
Steve has also written narrative nonfiction, short stories, and screenplays. His day jobs have included busy waiter, Associated Press rookie, language instructor, and copywriter. As a freelancer, he translates bestselling German fiction and edits novels.
He lives in his hometown of Portland, Oregon with his wife René. He’s loved and played soccer since he was a kid and still follows Portland Timbers FC.
More about Steve Anderson:
Years ago, Steve Anderson planned to become a history professor. He even landed a Fulbright Fellowship in Munich. Then he discovered fiction writing — he could make stuff up, he realized, using actual events and characters to serve the story. Now he writes novels that often introduce a little-known aspect of history, mixing in overlooked crimes, true accounts, and gutsy underdogs.
Steve has also written narrative nonfiction, short stories, and screenplays. His day jobs have included busy waiter, Associated Press rookie, language instructor, and copywriter. As a freelancer, he translates bestselling German fiction and edits novels.
He lives in his hometown of Portland, Oregon with his wife René. He’s loved and played soccer since he was a kid and still follows Portland Timbers FC.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2016
The Other Oregon is a psychological thriller about two former friends who once committed a crime while in high school. Over 20 years have passed, and with the threat of their crime being exposed, they play a game of cat and mouse with one another to protect themselves at all costs.
I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of Greg and Donny's relationship; however, I did not find either one to be likable. In spite of Greg and Donny's characters, The Other Oregon is an interesting and fast-paced read.
I won this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of Greg and Donny's relationship; however, I did not find either one to be likable. In spite of Greg and Donny's characters, The Other Oregon is an interesting and fast-paced read.
I won this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2021
Well over half way into this, I found myself just not giving a damn about any of the characters and sick of the disjointed writing that often had me asking what just transpired--even between paragraphs!
The sense of place and politics in Portland and Eastern Oregon was actually pretty good. I liked how the author amalgamated several issues and geographies common in Eastern Oregon into one ficitonal location, Pineburg.
Other than that, not a lot to enjoy here.
The sense of place and politics in Portland and Eastern Oregon was actually pretty good. I liked how the author amalgamated several issues and geographies common in Eastern Oregon into one ficitonal location, Pineburg.
Other than that, not a lot to enjoy here.
December 27, 2021
A lot of local intrigue gets this 5 stars. Probably 4 overall.
October 16, 2015
The author mailed me the book in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the story, the characters and the writing. In fact the writing was so good that at times I felt like it was not a work of fiction, but like I was reading an excerpt from one of the character's real-life biography.
The storyline:
the story follows two high-school friends who share a secret and who haven't seen each other for quite some time. And we can't exactly call their high school relationship a friendship, more like one trying to make an experiment of the other. So, now they meet after all those years, to make sure that not either of them told anyone about their secret. And somehow FBI gets involved. And it just gets really interesting from there.
MCs:
Greg and Donny. I can't say that I liked either of them at first, but as the story developed, I grew to like them and at times admire them both for what they did for either each other or other people around them. Of course sometimes their deeds were not selfless, but still at least they made an effort and tried to do something.
Overall, it was an easy read, I liked the fact that the story was told from the perspective of different characters, so I really got to see the whole story from different sides. It surely was thrilling, at times my heart nearly stopped at the thought of what might happen the nest moment with any of the characters, except Wayne that is. Him I really did not like and throughout the whole story was waiting for something bad to happen to him (not proud of myself for this, but he annoyed me a lot).
I would definitely recommend this book to those who are looking for a really good and interesting thriller to read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the story, the characters and the writing. In fact the writing was so good that at times I felt like it was not a work of fiction, but like I was reading an excerpt from one of the character's real-life biography.
The storyline:
the story follows two high-school friends who share a secret and who haven't seen each other for quite some time. And we can't exactly call their high school relationship a friendship, more like one trying to make an experiment of the other. So, now they meet after all those years, to make sure that not either of them told anyone about their secret. And somehow FBI gets involved. And it just gets really interesting from there.
MCs:
Greg and Donny. I can't say that I liked either of them at first, but as the story developed, I grew to like them and at times admire them both for what they did for either each other or other people around them. Of course sometimes their deeds were not selfless, but still at least they made an effort and tried to do something.
Overall, it was an easy read, I liked the fact that the story was told from the perspective of different characters, so I really got to see the whole story from different sides. It surely was thrilling, at times my heart nearly stopped at the thought of what might happen the nest moment with any of the characters, except Wayne that is. Him I really did not like and throughout the whole story was waiting for something bad to happen to him (not proud of myself for this, but he annoyed me a lot).
I would definitely recommend this book to those who are looking for a really good and interesting thriller to read.
February 27, 2016
I found the book well written and entertaining. It was written before the standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge, and gives an interesting take on the rural vs. urban views of the federal government in the western states, as well as predominantly rural states throughout the country. I found myself caring enough about the characters to keep turning pages!
December 17, 2025
This was truly the worst book I’ve read all year. First of all, fire your editor. There were an unacceptable amount of spelling and grammar errors. Twice you used “women” instead of “woman”. It was sanctimonious about people living in rural Oregon, constantly implying they’re stupid for being republicans (which I agree with but I hate the way you made it sound).
I don’t think this author has ever spent time in southern or central Oregon because that’s not how people talk there. The plot was awful, it absolutely dragged to get to anything mildly interesting, and there was no thrill. The climax could have been interesting but you gave no fucking detail. Just bam Wayne gets shot in the head and Donny dies. Book over yayyy. So stupid. I’m so mad I paid money for this.
I don’t think this author has ever spent time in southern or central Oregon because that’s not how people talk there. The plot was awful, it absolutely dragged to get to anything mildly interesting, and there was no thrill. The climax could have been interesting but you gave no fucking detail. Just bam Wayne gets shot in the head and Donny dies. Book over yayyy. So stupid. I’m so mad I paid money for this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2017
Could not finish. Got half way through and still didn't know what the point of the story was. Didn't care about any of the characters.
December 11, 2018
The premise was good. However, this book was very confusing. There were lots of unrelated events and some things were not explained. I didn't realy like the main character.
September 28, 2020
This story was okay, but in many ways it felt as if it is a advance readers' copy, that was still needing a bit of editing to "punch up" the story and also clean up some of the few grammar issues.
September 12, 2016
The premise was interesting: a guy with a secret from his past, wants to write about the militia movement and secessionists from the city hipster/country militiaman divide. The execution was underwhelming.
The story begins kind of chaotically. One of the main characters is in the process of selling books at something called the Cascadia conference. Suddenly, the FBI wants to talk about one of his old friends. Just as suddenly, he is packing up is hipster life to head to Eastern Oregon to check on old secrets. His girlfriend is confused and so was I- what the hell just happened?
Flash forward and he is digging up a body that he and aforementioned friend buried in the woods. Why? To make sure no one had found the body. This practically ensures said body will be found. He then heads to a town where no one knows him and the militia has an underground movement. His hipster demeanor hides his secret past as a “rebel” and “outsider”. He stands out and is harassed and hindered until his mysterious friend emerges (literally) from the bushes.
From then on, a confusing series of events occur that seem to bear no relation to one another. There are characters thrown in that have backgrounds with the two main characters but it is really up to the reader to pull those loose ends and threads together and try to come up with a coherent reason that all of this is happening.
As for the mystery body and why he/she was killed? Who knows. Again, a very vague wrap up at the end with more speculation on why Cascadia may or may not ever come to pass with the emergence of a quiet anarchist(?) who made a cameo in the first page of the book.
Sound confusing? It was. Maybe this is a book you need to read cover to cover in one sitting. Maybe I stopped and started too many times while I was reading this or I was too tired to make sense of it. I don’t know. It just didn’t work for me. On the plus side – it was a book about Oregon that went beyond the trendy hipster life in Portland and went to the eastern side of the state. As a Pacific Northwestern Native (although not an Oregonian), I can appreciate shining a light on areas that few non-natives bother to get to know.
The story begins kind of chaotically. One of the main characters is in the process of selling books at something called the Cascadia conference. Suddenly, the FBI wants to talk about one of his old friends. Just as suddenly, he is packing up is hipster life to head to Eastern Oregon to check on old secrets. His girlfriend is confused and so was I- what the hell just happened?
Flash forward and he is digging up a body that he and aforementioned friend buried in the woods. Why? To make sure no one had found the body. This practically ensures said body will be found. He then heads to a town where no one knows him and the militia has an underground movement. His hipster demeanor hides his secret past as a “rebel” and “outsider”. He stands out and is harassed and hindered until his mysterious friend emerges (literally) from the bushes.
From then on, a confusing series of events occur that seem to bear no relation to one another. There are characters thrown in that have backgrounds with the two main characters but it is really up to the reader to pull those loose ends and threads together and try to come up with a coherent reason that all of this is happening.
As for the mystery body and why he/she was killed? Who knows. Again, a very vague wrap up at the end with more speculation on why Cascadia may or may not ever come to pass with the emergence of a quiet anarchist(?) who made a cameo in the first page of the book.
Sound confusing? It was. Maybe this is a book you need to read cover to cover in one sitting. Maybe I stopped and started too many times while I was reading this or I was too tired to make sense of it. I don’t know. It just didn’t work for me. On the plus side – it was a book about Oregon that went beyond the trendy hipster life in Portland and went to the eastern side of the state. As a Pacific Northwestern Native (although not an Oregonian), I can appreciate shining a light on areas that few non-natives bother to get to know.
November 7, 2016
very disappointed in this book. Do not waste your time on it as there are much better choices.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews