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Caitlin Strong #2
Strong Justice
Fifth-generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong is back, pursuing justice the Ranger way. She takes on the case of a Mexican girl on the run from white slavers. For Caitlin, the case evokes memories of her legendary grandfather’s run with the Rangers, even as it brings her face-to-face with a serial killer who’s left a trail of bodies along the Mexico border. Pursuing the killer brings Caitlin to a sleepy Texas town suddenly riddled by violence and to the site of a major water find. The connection between these two disparate places lies buried beneath the plains of West a deadly weapon with the potential to give a new enemy the means to terrorize the United States. Her grandfather’s past collides violently with Caitlin’s present as she fights to save her world in the same border town where he fought to save his. Caitlin will learn, just as he did, that only strong justice can save the day. But this time, outmanned and outgunned, even that may not be enough to keep Caitlin Strong—and the country itself—alive.
349 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2010
About the author
Jon Land
116 books419 followersJon Land is an American author of thriller novels and a screenwriter. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude. He often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts. He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and is an emeritus board member the International Thriller Writers. John currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 7, 2019
I actually am stuck with this series. It could be that I always liked westerns or that I'm a fan of the Texas Rangers. Perhaps I only like well written books this is all of the above and then some. Now I only have eight more books to read in the series. Book ten is out there and adventure 11 is on it's way.
June 7, 2024
OK, I am not sure that I don't like this... but equally, I am not sure that I do.
I have sort of an issue with the dialogue, but I like the historical references because I am born and raised in Texas.
The book is full of action and police issues. I do have a bit of an issue with the Ranger being involved with a guy who has been to jail... I wonder why the Ranger Captain didn't.
I am going to read another one and see if it settles in with me.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
I have sort of an issue with the dialogue, but I like the historical references because I am born and raised in Texas.
The book is full of action and police issues. I do have a bit of an issue with the Ranger being involved with a guy who has been to jail... I wonder why the Ranger Captain didn't.
I am going to read another one and see if it settles in with me.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
June 20, 2025
A fine modern western. Caitlin Strong is a 3rd generation Texas Ranger who has a full plate with human traffickers, a serial killer and a former Mexican colonel who is planning a terrorist attack on the US.
Fun times
Fun times
December 6, 2020
A novel of the Texas Rangers. The book started well - lots of action, historical references to the early days of the Texas Rangers. Ranger Strong has taken it upon herself to fight the drug gangs involved in kidnapping underage girls and forcing them into prostitution across the Mexican-Texas border. That effort quickly becomes only part of a much larger crime wave involving evildoers on both sides of the border.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Authors should refrain from using as key elements in their plot phenomena with which they are clearly unfamiliar with, or sacrifice the facts for the sake of the story. The actions that lead directly to the great shootout at the end are based on a total willful misuse of groundwater conditions and limitations, and an even worse lack of understanding of the basics of radioactive decay and isotopic fractionation. These absurd usages makes the whole denouement of the book just laughable.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Authors should refrain from using as key elements in their plot phenomena with which they are clearly unfamiliar with, or sacrifice the facts for the sake of the story. The actions that lead directly to the great shootout at the end are based on a total willful misuse of groundwater conditions and limitations, and an even worse lack of understanding of the basics of radioactive decay and isotopic fractionation. These absurd usages makes the whole denouement of the book just laughable.
January 3, 2022
I liked 'Strong Justice', the second book in the Caitlin Strong series better than the first book and it's written like a full length novel. Several of the characters are from the first book, it's one where the author keeps you turning pages, got twists and turns, both fast paced, action packed and even being predictable doesn't hurt the story.
Being a Western reader, for me the Caitlin Strong series is a modern day Western, one of my favorite niches in Western genre where about lawmen and especially Texas Rangers.
I like Ranger Caitlin Strong, she's tough, damaged, got balls or perhaps it's due to feeling at times she's written as a man and missed in editing. With the continued mention of her grandfather Earl Strong and her dad Jim Strong, a few times right after they appear in the storyline and the writing doesn't change back to her being female.
Liked the parts about Ranger Earl Strong, back in the oil boom era of Texas, D.W. her boss is quite the character, mix in Cort Wesley, his sons Dylan and Lucas, along with Maria all add to the story and along with Paz.
Definitely worth it to checkout the Caitlin Strong series, haven't read any of the author Jon Land's other series and and one of a few authors where I don't read everything they write.
Being a Western reader, for me the Caitlin Strong series is a modern day Western, one of my favorite niches in Western genre where about lawmen and especially Texas Rangers.
I like Ranger Caitlin Strong, she's tough, damaged, got balls or perhaps it's due to feeling at times she's written as a man and missed in editing. With the continued mention of her grandfather Earl Strong and her dad Jim Strong, a few times right after they appear in the storyline and the writing doesn't change back to her being female.
Liked the parts about Ranger Earl Strong, back in the oil boom era of Texas, D.W. her boss is quite the character, mix in Cort Wesley, his sons Dylan and Lucas, along with Maria all add to the story and along with Paz.
Definitely worth it to checkout the Caitlin Strong series, haven't read any of the author Jon Land's other series and and one of a few authors where I don't read everything they write.
December 17, 2010
OK, I'm totally hooked. This is one high powered page turner that works as both a stand alone novel and a brilliant sequel to Strong Enough to Die. Not only is Jon Land creating a number of interesting characters, he is doing it in the context of timely, well-researched and well-thought out stories.
Caitlin Strong is a hard as nails, fiercely independent woman, a Texas Ranger who is as fearless as she is confident in her skills and the family heritage that forged her. We know from the first story that Caitlin does not do emotions well. She is primarily all business until circumstances place Cort Wesley Masters back in her life. Cort Wesley is a former Green Beret who was wrongly sent to prison in a large part due to Caitlin Strong. Although a career criminal, there is more to Masters than meets the eye. In fact, both he and Caitlin seem to be cut from the same cloth and the chemistry between them is classic.
Also returning from book one is Col. Paz, a seven foot Venezuelan sociopath whose fundamental purpose in life changed the moment he came face to face with Ranger Strong. Throughout Strong Justice, Col. Paz plays an integral role in the story only this time as a good guy rather than an arch villain. Taking his place as the arch nemesis is an even more despicable character who seems almost unstoppable.
Integrated into the story are Cort Wesley's two sons and the budding relationship between Caitlin and Cort Wesley. Thanks to the efforts of Col. Paz, we are taken back in time to a riveting sequence of scenes involving Caitlin's grandfather, the legendary Ranger, Earl Strong. As the story unfolds we are also drawn deeper into Caitlin's past and the source of her lifelong nightmares.
As the various elements of the story converge the pace accelerates to the point where it is almost impossible to put the book down. It is one wild ride that overlaps the old west with modern day Texas and Mexico. It is filled with first rate action scenes, smart dialog and a perfect blend of sexual tension and emotional vulnerability.
Whatever problems I had with the first story were more than fixed in this episode. Jon Land's story telling and writing is so totally in character I believe Caitlin Strong will do as much for the Texas Rangers today as the television show, The Lone Ranger, did when I was just a lad.
Caitlin Strong is a hard as nails, fiercely independent woman, a Texas Ranger who is as fearless as she is confident in her skills and the family heritage that forged her. We know from the first story that Caitlin does not do emotions well. She is primarily all business until circumstances place Cort Wesley Masters back in her life. Cort Wesley is a former Green Beret who was wrongly sent to prison in a large part due to Caitlin Strong. Although a career criminal, there is more to Masters than meets the eye. In fact, both he and Caitlin seem to be cut from the same cloth and the chemistry between them is classic.
Also returning from book one is Col. Paz, a seven foot Venezuelan sociopath whose fundamental purpose in life changed the moment he came face to face with Ranger Strong. Throughout Strong Justice, Col. Paz plays an integral role in the story only this time as a good guy rather than an arch villain. Taking his place as the arch nemesis is an even more despicable character who seems almost unstoppable.
Integrated into the story are Cort Wesley's two sons and the budding relationship between Caitlin and Cort Wesley. Thanks to the efforts of Col. Paz, we are taken back in time to a riveting sequence of scenes involving Caitlin's grandfather, the legendary Ranger, Earl Strong. As the story unfolds we are also drawn deeper into Caitlin's past and the source of her lifelong nightmares.
As the various elements of the story converge the pace accelerates to the point where it is almost impossible to put the book down. It is one wild ride that overlaps the old west with modern day Texas and Mexico. It is filled with first rate action scenes, smart dialog and a perfect blend of sexual tension and emotional vulnerability.
Whatever problems I had with the first story were more than fixed in this episode. Jon Land's story telling and writing is so totally in character I believe Caitlin Strong will do as much for the Texas Rangers today as the television show, The Lone Ranger, did when I was just a lad.
July 27, 2018
I thought this one was better than the first one in this series. Probably b/c the first in a series is usually slower, setting up the characters, providing story arcs that will continue throughout the series.
It still had that annoying back & forth w/various character point of views in every other chapter.
But b/c the pace was quicker, I didn’t mind it as much this time.
I liked the tidbits about the texas rangers.
I was glad to see the return of Cort Wesley & Caitlin Strong’s relationship. Those characters have great chemistry.
Also touching on how Cort & his sons are getting along. Luke & Dylan saw their mother killed in front of them, were introduced to a man they had no relationship w/prior who also happens to be their father. That causes a lot of issues of adjustment. I was glad to see that the story is addressing these issues while not dragging down the overall story.
And the return of Paz who is basically a psychotic killer who is now a good guy. He is an intriguing character.
I’m going to read the rest of the series b/c I’m curious to see how these characters & relationships develop.
It still had that annoying back & forth w/various character point of views in every other chapter.
But b/c the pace was quicker, I didn’t mind it as much this time.
I liked the tidbits about the texas rangers.
I was glad to see the return of Cort Wesley & Caitlin Strong’s relationship. Those characters have great chemistry.
Also touching on how Cort & his sons are getting along. Luke & Dylan saw their mother killed in front of them, were introduced to a man they had no relationship w/prior who also happens to be their father. That causes a lot of issues of adjustment. I was glad to see that the story is addressing these issues while not dragging down the overall story.
And the return of Paz who is basically a psychotic killer who is now a good guy. He is an intriguing character.
I’m going to read the rest of the series b/c I’m curious to see how these characters & relationships develop.
March 8, 2020
I expect I’ll give this series one more try before I kick it to the curb, but one more is all it will get.
Our heroine, Caitlin Strong, is likable enough, but she comes across almost as a caricature or cartoon example of perfection. She’s a Texas Ranger, (no, sports fans, not a baseball player), I mean a Texas Ranger with all the traditions and legends that accompany the position. She’s a little too put together, especially with a gun in her hand—a kind of John Wayne kill seven people with two bullets thing—at least that’s how it felt to me as I read this. My other problem with the book was its frenetic fragmented structure. You have no fewer than four plot lines going here, and repeated flashbacks to the 1930s on top of all that. Now granted, Land makes that all work, and he braids all that thread into a solid product at the end, but I almost felt like I was reading a screen play replete with constant fast cuts from scene to scene.
Caitlin, her boyfriend, and to some degree her boyfriend’s son, are involved in rescuing a girl from a human trafficking ring. That alone would have been a good plot, but, as Ron Popeil used to say in those cheesy ‘70s commercials, “but wait! There’s more!”
Caitlin is also looking into why residents of a town in her jurisdiction are behaving so erratically. (One guy wants to kill a little girl whom he is convinced is breeding spiders inside her.) She must also take on a serial killer who has bulked up on steroids such that he comes across as a nonhuman demonic presence. “But wait!” As the purveyor of the Ronco products used to say, “there’s more!” She also has to take on a rogue former commander of Mexican special forces units who is positive that, as a direct descent of Mayan leaders, he will bring about the destruction of humanity in 2012 when the calendar ends and return the Mayan civilization to its former preeminence.
I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a multitasker. But this book pushed even my fragmented thought processes to the limit. If memory serves, I enjoyed the first book in the series; I’ll give it one more shot with the hope that book three is a bit less all over the place.
Our heroine, Caitlin Strong, is likable enough, but she comes across almost as a caricature or cartoon example of perfection. She’s a Texas Ranger, (no, sports fans, not a baseball player), I mean a Texas Ranger with all the traditions and legends that accompany the position. She’s a little too put together, especially with a gun in her hand—a kind of John Wayne kill seven people with two bullets thing—at least that’s how it felt to me as I read this. My other problem with the book was its frenetic fragmented structure. You have no fewer than four plot lines going here, and repeated flashbacks to the 1930s on top of all that. Now granted, Land makes that all work, and he braids all that thread into a solid product at the end, but I almost felt like I was reading a screen play replete with constant fast cuts from scene to scene.
Caitlin, her boyfriend, and to some degree her boyfriend’s son, are involved in rescuing a girl from a human trafficking ring. That alone would have been a good plot, but, as Ron Popeil used to say in those cheesy ‘70s commercials, “but wait! There’s more!”
Caitlin is also looking into why residents of a town in her jurisdiction are behaving so erratically. (One guy wants to kill a little girl whom he is convinced is breeding spiders inside her.) She must also take on a serial killer who has bulked up on steroids such that he comes across as a nonhuman demonic presence. “But wait!” As the purveyor of the Ronco products used to say, “there’s more!” She also has to take on a rogue former commander of Mexican special forces units who is positive that, as a direct descent of Mayan leaders, he will bring about the destruction of humanity in 2012 when the calendar ends and return the Mayan civilization to its former preeminence.
I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a multitasker. But this book pushed even my fragmented thought processes to the limit. If memory serves, I enjoyed the first book in the series; I’ll give it one more shot with the hope that book three is a bit less all over the place.
June 2, 2024
“Strong Justice”, second in the Caitlin Strong series, takes off at a gallop and rarely pauses afterwards.
She's back in the Texas Rangers, has an on-off relationship with hard man Cort Wesley Masters, and is currently working on sex trafficking of teenagers from Mexico which is connected to multiple murders (hundreds!) along the border.
As with the first book her story is linked to that of the first Strong to serve as a Texas Ranger, Earl Strong. That story brings Caitlin to the reason why she has had unexplained nightmares for years and why the truth has been kept from her.
Of course a monster is needed - enter Colonel Montoya who is convinced that he can restore Mayan culture by eliminating the U.S.A. And his deranged and very murderous brother, Macerio.
It is at its best during the action scenes (of which there are many), not so much when it comes to trying to pin down the feelings between Caitlin and Cort.
Also making re-appearances is the creepy British spy Jones (aka Smith) and the magnificently odd Guillermo Paz (aka Angel de la Guarda).
It great fun.
4 Stars.
She's back in the Texas Rangers, has an on-off relationship with hard man Cort Wesley Masters, and is currently working on sex trafficking of teenagers from Mexico which is connected to multiple murders (hundreds!) along the border.
As with the first book her story is linked to that of the first Strong to serve as a Texas Ranger, Earl Strong. That story brings Caitlin to the reason why she has had unexplained nightmares for years and why the truth has been kept from her.
Of course a monster is needed - enter Colonel Montoya who is convinced that he can restore Mayan culture by eliminating the U.S.A. And his deranged and very murderous brother, Macerio.
It is at its best during the action scenes (of which there are many), not so much when it comes to trying to pin down the feelings between Caitlin and Cort.
Also making re-appearances is the creepy British spy Jones (aka Smith) and the magnificently odd Guillermo Paz (aka Angel de la Guarda).
It great fun.
4 Stars.
October 1, 2019
The series is odd because it has this tremendous build-up of events and forces arrayed against each other, but the endings are always lightning quick. Whereas most books of this ilk would spend fifty pages at least on the climax and ending, these books so far speed their endings along in half the time. It’s like watching a firework climb its way into the sky for almost forty seconds then explode in a blaze in less than one second.
Yet I kind of like it. No long drawn-out gun battles with ebbs and flows. When they do get to the decisive shootout, there’s maybe one reversal of fortune but someone ends up dead pretty unambiguously. No overly dramatic death scenes to let you catch your breath; it literally ends with someone alive one second and dead the next. Not all books can make that type of finale work but the series has so far.
Yet I kind of like it. No long drawn-out gun battles with ebbs and flows. When they do get to the decisive shootout, there’s maybe one reversal of fortune but someone ends up dead pretty unambiguously. No overly dramatic death scenes to let you catch your breath; it literally ends with someone alive one second and dead the next. Not all books can make that type of finale work but the series has so far.
May 15, 2021
This is my favorite book I have read this year. Has a mixture of so many authors. Caitlin Strong reminded me of Elmore Leonard’s Raylan, the story reminded me of Don Winslow’s Cartel series, the different settings and anti heroes reminded me of Michael Koryta, and the humor and violence reminded me of something The Coen Brothers would do. I can’t give it any higher praise than that.
January 8, 2023
While I enjoy the Texas Ranger history and find the main characters interesting, as a whole it is just too much. The bigger than life Mission Impossible antics get on my nerves. There were several editing errors that I found troublesome too. I've read the first 2 in this series but I don't I'll invest any more time than that.
June 11, 2019
I really liked this, it's a quick read and a good storyline. I liked the characters a lot, Caitlin especially. This is part of a series but makes sense on it's on, and it would absolutely be a series I'd look at reading the rest of!
February 4, 2018
Love this series - strong woman, Texas Rangers and Mexican border history - what's not to love?
March 10, 2018
Finished 05/10/2011. A great story, some distractions with inaccuracies but the story overrides any of these concerns. Primarily about the Texas Rangers past and present.
July 25, 2018
Definite pattern to Land's C. Strong novels but they remain interesting and suspenseful. I'm reading them in sequence.
June 9, 2019
I am so glad I happened upon this book at the library! Definitely going to read the entire series!
March 3, 2020
I thought it was a very informative thriller.
Read
August 23, 2020good
October 17, 2020
Great book, can't change my rating . It's a 5 stars
April 6, 2021
She's for real. Ready to read more.
April 25, 2021
Different to my normal cup of tea but enjoyed it. Lots of different stories going on at once but bought together nicely at the end
April 11, 2023
A page turner and exciting story about the Texas Rangers from the past to the present. Enjoyed reading.
July 19, 2024
I LOVE THIS series ❤️ I'm from Texas and love hearing about the Rangers.
January 20, 2026
Fantastic
I would recommend this series to anyone that likes suspense filled thillers. Very good characters and a great story line
I would recommend this series to anyone that likes suspense filled thillers. Very good characters and a great story line
January 3, 2020
Caitlin Strong, what an amazing series this was. I binge read 9 books over the course of a month and loved every minute of it. A strong female protagonist with a Strong history and amusing side characters, I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun western set in today’s timeline.
November 8, 2019
Can’t make my way through this series fast enough. Strong Justice is just as good as Strong Enough to Die, the first book in the series. Caitlin Strong is as tough and as fascinating as ever. Relationships and characters introduced in the first book are continued or satisfactorily wrapped up with enough hints to whet your appetite for future books. Crimes and investigations are topical, fast-paced, and often downright scary. I great series that I will continue to read.
March 6, 2017
Pleasantly surprised with this one. A novel that I picked up on a whim, looking for something different. Fifth generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong and her sometimes boyfriend and former outlaw Cort Wesley are a likeable pair and I enjoyed the frequent flashbacks to Caitlin's grandfather and his life as a Texas Ranger. There's a convoluted plot, with a lot of subplots and jumps back in time, but it all pays off nicely in the final 1/4 of the novel. The whole thing has a modern Western feel and I really enjoyed it. Lots of action, intrigue, and likeable characters that despite the numerous plot threads I was able to be breeze through it. Looking forward to reading future adventures in this Texas Ranger series!
May 31, 2010
Jon Land, by far one of the greatest thriller writers of our time, returns to the shelves with the second novel in the Caitlin Strong series, STRONG JUSTICE. These days, with seemingly everybody writing thriller novels, Jon Land has set himself apart from all the rest with a novel that is so different that none of them can compare to his genius.
Caitlin Strong is a fifth generation Texas Ranger who has teamed up with one of the greatest bad guys of her time to take you on the ride of your life. The story sweeps back and forth though between the lives and legends of her father and grandfather, two of the greatest Rangers who ever lived. They inspire her to be the very best of the best and to always do the right thing no matter what the outcome or cost.
Written well before the headlines of today, Land prophetically includes all that is happening along the Mexico border today, and reveals that these are not new headlines at all, but actually go back to the very time when the Texas Rangers were formed. She remains involved with Cort Wesley Masters, the most notorious outlaw in modern Texas history, and his sons who she has taken on as her own, the older of which finds himself targeted by a serial killer with over 400 victims to his deadly credit. Caitlin and Cort Wesley chase that serial killer and drug lords back and forth across the border in a nonstop, no-holds-barred trill ride that will keep the lights on till you finish this amazing novel. Land throws a few surprises into the mix just to make sure you never think of putting the book down. And anyone who does will miss out on the return of the prequel’s most fascinating character, a former Venezuelan assassin who is now the protector of the poor Mexicans he sees as his redemption. But Guillermo Paz has his own agenda as well, which includes uncovering secrets in Caitlin’s past that were never supposed to come to light.
This is by far the best book I have read this year, an amazing thing since I said the very same thing about the first entry in the series, STRONG ENOUGH TO DIE. But Land has outdone himself and then some, going way over the top with this one. I loved the way the past and the present converge to tell a story that is the ultimate page-turner. STRONG JUSTICE begins with a gunfight and ends in one of the greatest shootouts you will ever read. And through it all, you will feel you’re right there in the middle of the action, watching the whole thing unfold right before your eyes.
This isn’t a globetrotting novel with international spies and world ending viruses and villains that need to be stop before they end the world. Instead it remains rooted in settings immediately north and south of the border. STRONG JUSTICE is utterly unforgettable, so thrilling that I’m already losing asleep while awaiting publication of Caitlin’s next adventure. So preorder your copy now or, then see where Jon Land’s tour travels will take him and meet the author behind the greatest thriller of the year.
Caitlin Strong is a fifth generation Texas Ranger who has teamed up with one of the greatest bad guys of her time to take you on the ride of your life. The story sweeps back and forth though between the lives and legends of her father and grandfather, two of the greatest Rangers who ever lived. They inspire her to be the very best of the best and to always do the right thing no matter what the outcome or cost.
Written well before the headlines of today, Land prophetically includes all that is happening along the Mexico border today, and reveals that these are not new headlines at all, but actually go back to the very time when the Texas Rangers were formed. She remains involved with Cort Wesley Masters, the most notorious outlaw in modern Texas history, and his sons who she has taken on as her own, the older of which finds himself targeted by a serial killer with over 400 victims to his deadly credit. Caitlin and Cort Wesley chase that serial killer and drug lords back and forth across the border in a nonstop, no-holds-barred trill ride that will keep the lights on till you finish this amazing novel. Land throws a few surprises into the mix just to make sure you never think of putting the book down. And anyone who does will miss out on the return of the prequel’s most fascinating character, a former Venezuelan assassin who is now the protector of the poor Mexicans he sees as his redemption. But Guillermo Paz has his own agenda as well, which includes uncovering secrets in Caitlin’s past that were never supposed to come to light.
This is by far the best book I have read this year, an amazing thing since I said the very same thing about the first entry in the series, STRONG ENOUGH TO DIE. But Land has outdone himself and then some, going way over the top with this one. I loved the way the past and the present converge to tell a story that is the ultimate page-turner. STRONG JUSTICE begins with a gunfight and ends in one of the greatest shootouts you will ever read. And through it all, you will feel you’re right there in the middle of the action, watching the whole thing unfold right before your eyes.
This isn’t a globetrotting novel with international spies and world ending viruses and villains that need to be stop before they end the world. Instead it remains rooted in settings immediately north and south of the border. STRONG JUSTICE is utterly unforgettable, so thrilling that I’m already losing asleep while awaiting publication of Caitlin’s next adventure. So preorder your copy now or, then see where Jon Land’s tour travels will take him and meet the author behind the greatest thriller of the year.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews