Synopsis

Mirage is a gritty crime thriller set in South Texas, where the desert sun burns the truth into the earth and the shadows hide what official reports never dare to tell. The story plunges readers into the seedy and violent underworld of human smuggling, cartel influence, corrupt government officials, and the hidden systems that allow exploitation to thrive across the U.S.–Mexico border.
this world is populated by people who aren’t heroes—they’re survivors. Damaged. Driven. Dangerous. The heart of the story beats within two unforgettable characters whose unlikely partnership creates a narrative as explosive as it is emotionally deep.

Carrie James has spent her life outrunning demons she never asked for. Traumatized by years of psychological and physical abuse—pain that she blames on her philandering father—Carrie carries scars far deeper than the ones visible to the world. Driven by rage, shaped by trauma, and fueled by the burning need for vengeance, she becomes Bee County’s first female deputy sheriff. But Carrie doesn’t enter law enforcement for justice in the traditional sense. She enters it to expose the truth. To make wrong people hurt. To find answers about the death of her closest childhood friend, Carlos—a tragedy tied to a cross-border smuggling operation that reeks of deception and betrayal. What Carrie uncovers is far worse!

Kevin “DJ Cash” — The Criminal With a Badge
Kevin Cash—often known by his street name DJ Cash—is a hustler with ambition, a man who has always lived one step to the left of the law. When he infiltrates a produce company with cartel ties, he’s seeking money, access, and the illicit adrenaline rush that comes with playing both sides. But Cash isn’t one-dimensional; he’s funny, flawed, reckless, charming, and desperate for validation.
His world becomes further entangled when he falls for a fellow probation officer—and gets ensnared by the dangerously unstable daughter of a trafficking-linked business owner. His choices blur the line between survival and self-destruction, and Burnett paints his spiral with nuance, humor, and tragedy.

A Partnership Built on Pain
Carrie and Cash shouldn’t work together. They don’t trust each other. They don’t even like each other. Their motivations clash—one fueled by revenge, one by profit. Yet in the world Burnett builds, these two broken souls find themselves bound by the same enemy, the same corruption, and the same suffocating system.

Both must go undercover. Both must bend—or break—the law. Both must decide what justice really means when the institutions designed to uphold it are rotting from the inside.
Their missions diverge. Their fates collide. Their choices ignite a storm.

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Thoughts so far

While I haven’t finished reading this book yet, it is very gritty! I’m trying to imagine how this is going to all come together in the end. In a way, I can understand why Carrie is the way she is. She endured a horrific situation that would turn anyone around. There are many horrific scenes, but they all reflect reality. Which is sad that humans treat each other this way.

If you enjoy reading about the seedy underbelly of society, you might enjoy this book.

About the Author

Award-winning poet and songwriter Tony Burnett is the Executive Director of Kallisto Gaia Press. He served as President of the Writers’ League of Texas from 2013 to 2017. His poetry, short fiction, and environmentally focused nonfiction appear in over 70 publications. His previous books include the story collection, Southern Gentlemen and a full-length poetry collection, The Reckless Hope of Scoundrels. He resides in rural central Texas with his trophy wife and several rescue dogs who pay him no mind unless hungry. His hobbies include poking wasp nests with short sticks and wandering aimlessly about. He hopes you enjoy meeting his imaginary friends.

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