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Outside the Law

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There’s a new badge in the land of crime fiction… and it’s pinned on a man who can stand tall alongside lawmen like Raylan Givens, Walt Longmire, and Jesse Stone. Sheriff Colt Harper lives by his own moral code. His relentless crusade against drug crimes in his rural Mississippi county infuriates a Memphis mobster who sends Hack, his cold-blooded assassin, to stop him. ATF Special Agent Molly McDonough, looking to save her troubled career, follows Hack’s trail of corpses to Harper’s turf. The fates of Harper, McDonough and Hack collide in a bloody, brutal showdown for justice, redemption and survival that can only be fought outside the law. "Outside The Law is a winner in the tradition of Justified and Walking Tall. There’s right and there’s wrong and the no man’s land in between. Thompson explores them all, but it’s the reader who gets the big payoff in the end." Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Robert B. Parker’s Debt To Pay "If you’re a fan of Justified you're going to love Outside the Law. Sheriff Colt Harper is an old-West gunfighter in the modern world. The action doesn’t stop." David Morrell, New York Times Bestselling author of First Blood and creator of the legendary character Rambo. "Pure entertainment with an edge. The guy can write!" Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author Be sure to read Old Anger, the next book in the Colt Harper series.

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2017

519 people are currently reading
153 people want to read

About the author

Phillip Thompson

14 books31 followers
Phillip Thompson grew up near the East Mississippi town of Columbus, birthplace of Tennessee Williams. He received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ole Miss before serving in the Marine Corps for 12 years. As a Marine, he served in California and Hawaii, aboard the USS Missouri, and in combat during the Persian Gulf War with the 1st Marine Division. He also spent the better part of two years traversing the island nations of the South Pacific as the lead planner for the 50th Anniversary of World War II in the Pacific.

Since leaving the service, he has worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Mississippi and Virginia, and his journalistic work has been featured in newspapers across the Deep South and the East Coast. He wrote as a freelancer for Civil War magazine and The Washington Times and worked as a staff cartoonist for 10 years at Marine Corps Times. He has also worked as a defense analyst; media spokesman; consultant; speechwriter and Senate aide.
Phillip Thompson is the author of novels, "Enemy Within," "A Simple Murder" and "Deep Blood." His short fiction has appeared in "O-Dark-Thirty" the literary journal of the Veterans Writing Project; "Thrills, Kills 'N' Chaos," "Out of the Gutter Online," "The Shamus Sampler II" and "The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature." He attended the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference as a fiction writer in 2003.

He also authored the non-fiction account of his Gulf War experience "Into the Storm: A U.S. Marine in the Persian Gulf War."

He lives in Virginia. Find him online at http://kudzucorner.wordpress.com.

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5 stars
450 (38%)
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470 (39%)
3 stars
188 (15%)
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55 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for David Nemeth.
78 reviews14 followers
July 2, 2017
I don't like the word trope, not only does it sound ugly, it is most often used with negative connotations which seems to be a recent literary direction. Words do change. But when critics and readers whittle a novel down to a trope they are consciously demeaning a work even though there are a limited number of stories to tell. What matters is the writing. The writer, if talented and careful, guides the reader through a story that their readers have witnessed hundreds of times before, but this time, this time the words he or she needs breathe life into it.

For all it's goodness, Outside the Law (Brash Books) could obviously be boiled down to some basic building blocks, but it is Phillip Thompson's writing that makes this novel work. From the Outside the Law's opening paragraph, I knew Thompson could write.
He climbed out of the car and into the rain falling like silver three-penny nails on a moonless night. Fluorescent lighting bathed the gas pumps in the convenience store parking lot and cast weird splotches of light on the cracked, rain-slick concrete. He pulled on a brown sheriff’s department ball cap and squinted at the deputy cars that sat on either side of the pumps, their lights still revolving, slinging blades of vertigo-inducing blue light across the front of the store, which glowed from its windows decorated with neon beer lights.

After reading the first chapter where the sheriff deals a robbery gone wrong, an abusive deputy, and an overzealous journalist, I was vested into finding out what was going on in Sherriff Colt Harper's Mississippi county.

A word of warning about Outside the Law, this is the second in the Colt Harper series. The first being, Deep Blood, and there are spoilers throughout the second book. But these spoilers are necessary to drive the plot along at a fast pace. Hell, even Thompson's A Simple Murder is part of Outside the Law's universe.

Thompson tells the story of  Outside the Law by breaking the chapters into the voices of different characters, so while Harper investigates the robberies of drug dealers we meet Hack, a thug sent to Lowndes County to tighten up the Memphis mob's drug selling operation. Hack has a fondness for dressing up, executions, and self-importance, but as a reader, who doesn't like a disturbed and flashy killer?  As Harper and Hack begin circling each other, murder and mayhem ensue.  If you like your Southern justice with a side of revenge and lots of good writing, then Outside the Law is just the book for you. To paraphrase James Carville, "it's the writing, stupid" that makes Thompson's novel more than any trope you can sling at it.

In case you were wondering, I'm not a fan of the cover either . . . but I get it.
Profile Image for Paul.
585 reviews24 followers
August 11, 2022
Will appeal to fans of Elmore Leonard's Ray Givens character.
Profile Image for Holly.
440 reviews6 followers
June 19, 2017
Reminded me of Justified

If you liked the show Justified, I think you'll like this book. Sheriff Colt Harper reminded me a lot of Raglan Givens, so much so that I started picturing Timothy Oliphant! Even the story reminded me of Justified, since it involves drugs and drug kingpins and is set in a rural area, in this case Mississippi. It's a little confusing at first, since each chapter is about a different character, so point of view changes with the chapters. The action starts right off and doesn't stop, and eventually you keep the characters straight and figure out who the bad guys are. There's no sex, and just a little cursing, but there's killing, although not gruesomely detailed for the most part. So you have a Raylan style sheriff, his deputy John, his friend Rhonda, and ATF agent Molly, and several others to learn about as you go. Fast read, never boring!
Profile Image for Carolyn Injoy.
1,240 reviews147 followers
December 23, 2019
Outside the Law by Phillip Thompson is a fast book to read and caught and kept my attention. I gave it four stars.

Sheriff Colt Harper and ATF Special Agent Molly McDonough are on a collision course.

"Sheriff Colt Harper lives by his own moral code. His relentless crusade against drug crimes in his rural Mississippi county infuriates a Memphis mobster who sends Hack, his cold-blooded assassin, to stop him. ATF Special Agent Molly McDonough, looking to save her troubled career, follows Hack’s trail of corpses to Harper’s turf."

I received a complimentary copy from Brash Books. That did not change my opinion for this review.

Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Outside-Law-Ph...
Profile Image for Ed Mittelstedt.
27 reviews
October 25, 2017
There is a show produced by Netflix called Longmire. In it, a Sheriff, struggling with inner demons, tries to keep himself and his town under control. Although in my opinion a very good program to watch, Netflix has decided to cancel it after three seasons.

Outside the Law reminds me very much like Longmire. The sheriff in the book, Colt, is strikingly similar to Walt Longmire. So much that the book could easily be adapted to an episode of the show.

The book doesn’t break any new tropes. Bad guy enters town, causes mischief. It’s up to Sheriff Colt to figure out how to stop him. The journey though from cover to cover is what is entertaining. If you like episodic types of books, this is for you. I will be heartily surprised if another book doesn’t appear with these characters.

J. Rodney Turner should be a default phone call for any publisher wanting a narrator for a western. His bass voice is perfect for this genre: low, slow, and soothing. I have no doubt Mr. Turner used that voice to his advantage many times with the ladies in his life. He is without question the Barry White of audiobook narrators. I detected no technical mistakes at all. The performance was flawless. Kudos, Mr. Turner. You deserve more than you've received and I hope your narrator career goes far.

This audiobook was gifted to me by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Ames Holbrook.
Author 2 books4 followers
September 5, 2020
Phillip Thompson has upped the game with his second Colt Harper novel. Always a master of his universe of hardscrabble rural Mississippi hornets’ nests and the hard-luck souls colliding therein, Thompson has elevated his writing game since Sheriff Colt Harper’s last outing, Deep Blood (itself a very clean read). This time, Thompson gives us an old-school hard-boiled crime novel, adjusted for inflation, with some really compelling structural conceits that make it fresh and modern. Thompson’s trademark twists and turns are here, sliced up in concise chapters – each bearing a character’s name and in some way expressing that character’s perspective, or even personality, as the story moves forward. And move it does. The novel puts its hooks in you with rich characters (for the most part shaded more bad than good) and an evil antagonist whose demise you’ll be pulling for from first contact. Thompson brings you there, writing rural Mississippi with an authority few could match. I’ll probably always be excited to pick up a Phillip Thompson novel, because this guy just always delivers.
Profile Image for RJ.
2,044 reviews13 followers
September 25, 2017
This is the first book I’ve listened to by Phillip Thompson and it is a good one! The main characters are well-developed with background info and some idea of what makes them tick. This is the story of a rural Tennessee sheriff and deputy coping with drug dealers systematically being killed in their county. An ATF agent is included in the plot, but she seems to be more of an extra than a necessity. The narrator, J. Rodney Turner was wonderful and added a deep resounding tone to the tale. I liked this introduction to Mr. Thompson and will look for more from him. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
Profile Image for Joyce.
1,801 reviews20 followers
August 11, 2017
Colt Harper is Sheriff of a backwoods Mississippi town that has just experienced the murders of local drug dealers following their robberies. He and his deputies investigate procedurally however nothing about this novel is the expected procedural. The characters and locale are all believable and surprisingly realistic. The author, who has lived in the area, covers it amazingly well. The clean up man, who is from Memphis, is as cold and calculating as one could want. This was great escapist reading. Thanks to Brash Books for an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for April.
2,201 reviews58 followers
September 22, 2017
Outside the Law
: Phillip Thompson

Colt Harper has been compared to my favorite fictional lawman, Walt Longmire. The difference in setting is not a bad thing. The two lawmen have their own ways of dispencing justice. I think I need to go back and read other works by this author to see if there are more comparisons.


The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. J. Rodney Turner slow deep southern voice is pleasant to listen to.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
30 reviews
May 30, 2017
Could not put the book down!

Great action, great story. My first time reading any work by this author Phillip Thompson. The main character in the book Colt Harper was great. I put with Raglan in Justified and Walt Longmire. My two favorite characters. Now I have three.
A must read.
716 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2018
This book is a riveting continuation of the story started in Deep Blood. Phillip Thompson takes us on a noir trip through the murky byways of the small town south. His characters jump off the pages and are vividly portrayed in this story of secrets and murder. Don't miss this one!
1 review
August 22, 2017
Entertaining if you dont take it too seriously

Action sequences are enjoyable but the character actions are too unpredictable. Characters do things that are not consistent with their past actions. Makes the plot move along but you keep asking yourself "why would they do that?"
Profile Image for Teresa.
852 reviews8 followers
January 6, 2018
Beyond the Law was gritty western style (set in Mississippi) detective with loads of blood-not really my usual but well written.
Profile Image for John.
460 reviews5 followers
November 1, 2018
Colt Harper is a sheriff from another era. He's a former Marine who likes to shoot first and ask questions... never. This is book 2 in the series, but it was the first one I've read. At this point, Sheriff Harper has already shot a few people since becoming sheriff, and he's investigating some drug robberies and murders.

The story rotates among a few different perspectives, and each chapter is titled with the first name of a character. Colt. Hack. Dee. John. Molly.

Hack is the bad guy, an enforcer for a drug kingpin in Memphis. Molly is the rogue ATF agent who sticks her nose into the middle of everything. Dee is Hack's hired help. John is Colt's loyal sidekick, his deputy who's known him since their days together in the Marines. Molly was a pretty good character - I'd have liked more of her. She might have even been more interesting than Colt.

Hack comes to town to, well, enforce. Colt makes it his mission to stop him. The Wild West way, not the modern sheriff way. The story is pretty one-note. And short. The climactic scene in particular felt very short.

I will say, though, this might have been a 2-star book except for the writing. Thompson's writing is really excellent.
110 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2017
Great read

Enjoyed this book from start to finish. Each chapter represent s a different characters POV so as you read you know what each character is thinking and planning reflecting their anticipation.

I liked Colt who was a sheriff who was end game oriented and he was driven, no matter what.

John was his deputy, who had fought beside Colt in the Marines. He knew Colt and what he was capable of but often, not what he was thinking

Rhonda was a woman John deeply cared for who had a childhood with Colt and something more, but he didn't know exactly what.

Molly showed up in town and Colt caught her presence fast. She worked for the ATF but he wasn't sure what her agenda was but he knew she had one.

Good read. Hope the author reads the reviews. I' d like more.......and keep Rhonda in the mix.. hmm?
28 reviews
February 12, 2018
Get Ready

Get ready to read this book through in just one sitting, much like I just did! I loved this story not just because its well written and chocked full of action but because it just made sense...being from MS I can see his characters plain as day the way he described them from the clothes, the smells and the attitudes! I also can appreciate the location/setting of this story as I lived there for a very long time. But it was the writing itself that sealed the deal for me. Bravo, Phillip Thompson, Bravo!
Profile Image for Gary Sedivy.
528 reviews6 followers
January 27, 2020
Straight forward hard hitting crime drama - mob-style hitman versus small southern town sheriff. The hitman is in town to kill some drug dealers for stealing from the mob boss. The hitman is arrogant because he is efficient and brutal. The sheriff is ex-military and has no qualms killing bad guys.
You just know the two will meet and shoot it out.
Not a lot of foo-foo touchy-feely. Just good hard action.
Profile Image for Duane Gosser.
363 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2023
Story had a ton of potential but so many of the decisions/reactions by main characters were just ludicrous. Based on the background/training presented they acted/reacted like novice, irrational civilians rather than highly trained ex-military/law enforcement. I can suspend reality to enjoy a good story but this went well past acceptable to the point I actually laughed out loud in a critical fight scene. At best a quick beach/vacation read but I think you can find much better.
Profile Image for Jackie Martello.
314 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2026
Very good, atmospheric crime novel with an authentic feel to the characters. The protagonist is a likable character who seems to be a fairly intelligent person and good example of selfless leadership. These isn’t a wasted word much less chapter after chapter of unnecessary filling which is so common in today’s novels in the genre. J Rodney Turner is among the very best of narrators and adds to the story as usual.
93 reviews
January 21, 2020
As other critics have stated, this book reminds a reader of Longmire or Justified TV shows. The characters are well developed and on a good collision course for more books. Area involved in this book are states along the Mississippi River. Let's hope we read more about Agent McDonough and Harper.
273 reviews1 follower
October 13, 2020
Entertaining crime / assassin drama, but sort of predictable. One knew the showdown between the sherrif and hit man was inevitible; the entire story led to it. However, once it arrived, it was over in an instant. Disappointing how quickly and easily the author ended this showdown.

Still, I found the novel light, easy and entertaining.
131 reviews
January 11, 2021
True as the title.

This was the first of this author 's books I've read. I liked the characters he came up with and I will read the second book too. In the piece about the author they listed more of his books to check out , witch I will. If you like fast no nonsense action you will enjoy the book. Thanks for all the entertainment.
Profile Image for John Rumery.
396 reviews14 followers
April 30, 2021
This was a good read. I've zig-zagged in reading this author's series. So this book was not in a sequence. My nagging concern was the ridiculous decisions made by the Sheriff. Part of his charm is being flawed but in this book he came across as a bit dumb. Literally he let a murderer walk away. Kind of ruined his charm. However I like this series. Need more John and Molly
13 reviews
August 19, 2021
I want to read more books like this one!!!

I couldn't put this book down! Kept me wanting to read more but sadly I had to get some sleep. The first chapter grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go and the last chapter didn't disappoint me either. Now I'm ready to read the next book.
Profile Image for Scooby Doo.
881 reviews
June 11, 2017
DNF: 18%
Good writing and story telling. However, it was told from multiple viewpoints, and 2 out of 3 were bad guys. I didn't enjoy spending most of my reading time learning about the way evil people think.
41 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2021
Dirty Harry meets Clint Eastwood

Phillip Thompson, a former marine and from eastern Mississippi, has created the Southern Dirty Harry. The plot was convoluted (I don't understand Delmer's motive for stealing from drug dealers), but I look forward to reading Book 2 to find out how the author advances the relationships of Colt, Molly, John, and Rhonda oing forward. One constructive criticism to the author: I would appreciate less pronouns and use the person's name at the start of paragraphs e.g., Colt shot Hack in the head, not he shot him in the head. Good start 3 of 5 stars.
41 reviews2 followers
August 21, 2021
Great book about the South and a flawed hero.

I really enjoyed this book. Harper is a great character. Stubborn, loyal and determined. Good description of the landscape and conditions in the south. Looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Vickie.
168 reviews9 followers
July 23, 2022
Loose Ends

Well thank goodness he got the bad guy. Left to many loose ends in the story. I like a little more detail such as history about the characters. What was the purpose of the McDonough character? Oh well, may be in book 2......
Profile Image for Connie Hamby.
1,021 reviews9 followers
April 17, 2018
An ok book

I have read better books and I have read worse books but this book was different and didn't end right
Profile Image for Steven Howes.
546 reviews
May 5, 2018
I found this to be a good book but not on par with the likes of Michael Connelly, John Grisham, or Jonathan Kellerman.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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