HARD TOWN
Amazon. Editor's Pick for April 2025, Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense.

Apple Books. Must Listen Staff Pick for April 2025.

"Once again, Plantinga hits the mark, serving up perfectly paced action and intriguing new wrinkles to Kurt’s psychology. This series has legs."―Publishers Weekly, starred review

Hard Town is the newest Kurt Argento novel, released 4/8/25.

When a plea for help sends retired Detroit cop Kurt Argento to the small desert town of Fenton, Arizona things immediately don’t appear to be as they seem, and he finds himself unraveling secrets that want to stay hidden and questioning his own moral compass.

“Hard Town knocked the breath out of me, in the best way. Gripping, fiercely propulsive, and vividly written, it grabbed me from the first word and never let go.” ―Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Adam Plantinga brings a cop’s gritty authenticity and a poet’s lyricism to Hard Town, elevating this fine novel above the pack. He writes with smarts, street sense, and a tender heart, breathing life and luster into this tale of a Detroit cop who finds himself way out of his element and deep in the thick of one helluva small town mess. We’ll be reading Plantinga for years to come. What a delight."―Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of Nemesis, an Orphan X thriller

"Hard Town packs hard hitting thrills and punches with intriguing moral dilemmas interspersed between suspenseful bits of crime solving and ass-kicking. You’ll be reading this without wanting to take even the smallest of breaks."―Kashif Hussain, The Best Thriller Books

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About Adam Plantinga

Police Sergeant & Author

I've been in law enforcement for twenty-three years, seven with the Milwaukee PD and sixteen with the San Francisco PD. I am the author of two nonfiction books about urban law enforcement. My debut novel The Ascent came out in January of 2024. It was a USA Today bestseller and has been optioned by Universal for television. Some folks have had some nice things to say about it:

“The Ascent is jaw-dropping, authentic, and absolutely gripping.”―Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of I Will Find You

"Damn! I had to hold onto this one for dear life. THE ASCENT is a ferociously propulsive thriller. Plantinga creates a haunted house of horrors that’s utterly convincing, while at the same time keeping the focus on complex, layered, and engaging characters. An outstanding debut crime novel."―Lou Berney, Edgar award-winning author of November Road

“If JD Salinger had been a street cop, he’d have written books like Adam Plantinga’s. This book is the real deal - flesh and blood characters, charming wit, and an insider’s pass to a one-of-a-kind white knuckle ride. Plantinga will soon join the ranks of Child and Connelly.”―Douglas Brunt, New York Times bestselling author and host of Dedicated with Doug Brunt on SiriusXM

“Not since Joseph Wambaugh released The Choirboys has a cop thriller delivered this level of authenticity, and The Ascent wears it like a badge. In his debut novel, Adam Plantinga weaves a jailhouse tale that serves up thrills from the first chapter through the final page. The book’s protagonist, a world-weary Detroit cop, is a revelation. Watch out, Jack Reacher—Kurt Argento has arrived, and he’s putting his rivals in the shade.”―Nancy Allen, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The Ascent is a fantastic thriller that stands apart from the crowd—a high-test, high-stakes action spectacular with true thrills, true grit, and genuine heart. You’ll find the full spectrum from darkness to light between these covers, with a refreshing breeze as the pages fan by. Adam Plantinga is here to stay.”―Sean Doolittle, Thriller award-winning author of Device Free Weekend

"Adam Plantinga's debut novel, THE ASCENT, is a red hot blast of crime and punishment, and crackles with sly wit and a jaded authenticity that has been hard-earned by Plantinga's many years as a street cop. THE ASCENT is so damn good that I will read anything else Plantinga cares to write, including his grocery list."―Nick Petrie, author of The Price You Pay

"THE ASCENT is terrific—a brutal portrait of a tough cop in an unforgiving world. I loved it."―Robert Crais, bestselling author

"Pulse-pounding, cleverly plotted, fast-paced—expertly made entertainment."―Kirkus Reviews, starred

"The knockout first novel... Once readers catch their breath, they’ll be clamoring for more from this rising star."―Publishers Weekly, starred

OTHER BOOKS

400 Things Cops Know

400 Things Cops Know is a collection of facts, anecdotes, and reflections from police work. I've had excellent teachers on the job and I paid attention when they said and did smart things. Figured out a few things myself too, mostly the hard way.

400 Things Cops Know was nominated for an Agatha and a Macavity Award and won the 2015 Silver Falchion award for best nonfiction crime reference.