UP FROM HELL Echoes of the Past: Crimes in Central Texas, Book One
by Joan Moran
Crime Thriller | 274 Pages | Published April 7, 2026
Book Campaign Highlights
Moran has given us a principled character with pure motivations and a drive for justice who will stop at nothing to clear out the drug syndicate taking over Texas. ~ Ames for the Stars
The kind of story where trauma is not merely backstory, but oxygen itself. ~ TX Lit Chic
Part a character study of someone who’s dealing with so much trauma and part suspense, this is a story that many readers will enjoy. ~ It’s Not All Gravy
Readers who are interested in an emotionally-driven read will surely enjoy this book. ~ Book Fidelity
Perseverance is the trait I would give to Neil. He never gives up no matter what is thrown at him. ~ StoreyBook Reviews
I recommend this book to fans of gritty crime thrillers with emotional depth. ~ Joanne Easley
Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy small-town crime stories, coming of age stories, and all round great reads. ~ The Book’s Delight
Law enforcement in small towns in dusty Central Texas was a whole different beast at that time. Corruption was rife through the little communities, and the bad guys went unpunished while the cops took money to look the other way. Still, Neil pursued his dream, with the ultimate goal of changing the way justice was served, from the inside out. ~ Boys’ Mom Reads
Campaign Schedule
| 5/26/26 | LSLL | Spotlight |
| 5/27/26 | Book Fidelity | Review |
| 5/28/26 | The Book’s Delight | Review |
| 5/29/26 | It’s Not All Gravy | Review |
| 5/30/26 | Rebecca R. Cahill, Author | Spotlight |
| 6/1/26 | The TX Lit Chic | Review |
| 6/3/26 | WM Gunn | Review |
| 6/4/26 | The Page Unbound | Spotlight |
| 6/5/26 | StoreyBook Reviews | Review |
| 6/6/26 | Joanne Easley | Review |
| 6/7/26 | Boys’ Mom Reads | Review |
| 6/10/26 | Ames for the Stars | Review |
Synopsis
Growing up in Las Vegas, Neil Dixon’s future looked bleak. The son of a drug-addicted mother, he didn’t have a lot of options until a police officer, Sergeant Finch, pulled him from danger and sent him to a new life in Texas.
Now, years later, Neil has become the police officer he always wanted to be—steady, principled, and unafraid to stand alone. But Jarrell, Texas, is not the clean slate he hoped for. Corruption in the department is rampant, and traffickers operate across the border.
When Neil’s mother dies, he returns to Las Vegas and meets the father he’s never known. He gets pulled into a deadly game with his father that stretches from Vegas to the police department in Jarrell, to cartel-scarred border towns. To survive, he must decide what kind of man he truly is – and how far he’s willing to go to stop the people who profit from chaos.
The first book in Joan Moran’s series of crime thrillers, UP FROM HELL, is a gripping, character-driven novel about the weight of the past and the cost of justice.
About the Author
Joan Moran holds two master’s degrees: in Theater and in Education. Her desire to teach in the theater department at UNLV led to her position there, where she taught acting and theater history. Five years later, Joan founded and was the artistic director of the Meadows Playhouse, Las Vegas’s first year-round theater. Her interest in film led to her admission to the American Film Institute in Los Angeles as a producing fellow. Joan wrote her first screenplay and continued to write for film in Hollywood for the next 15 years. She produced several films.
Joan also pursued a career as a motivational speaker and blogger. As a keynote speaker, Joan commanded the stage with her delightful humor, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. She spread her knowledge and energy as she combined 15 years of theater experience, as well as over 13 years of experience as a yoga and meditation instructor at UCLA.
Joan began her writing journey with her memoir, 60, Sex & Tango, Confessions of a Beatnik Boomer. Other books followed: I’m the Boss of Me: Stay Sexy, Smart & Strong at Any Age, a compilation of her most popular blogs, and An Accidental Cuban, a thriller that takes place in modern-day Havana. The novel was developed into a streaming series. Her recently published book, Once A Homecoming Queen, is a darkly humorous take on senior alcoholism. Joan also adapted Once A Homecoming Queen into an award-winning screenplay. Her latest book is a historical memoir of her mother: Suddenly, I Was Jewish: The Life and Times of My Jewish Mother. Up From Hell is her seventh novel. She is developing Up From Hell into a trilogy: ECHOES OF THE PAST: CRIMES IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
