What do you think?
Rate this book
Montana Mavericks: Thunder Canyon #4
The Tracker
He sought justice—with a lie
Nick Baron knows it was wrong to buy trust with a falsehood, but there was no other way. His reputation as the most dangerous bounty hunter west of the Rockies terrified even decent folks, not just the outlaws he hunted. So he sure as hell wasn't about to let a spitfire fugitive from a sporting house know he wasn't the US Marshal he claimed to be—no matter how appealing she was.
Especially when she holds the key to his best friend's murder. And particularly when she'd not only shot him—but saved his life right after! Things with Ellie Watson could get complicated.
Nick Baron knows it was wrong to buy trust with a falsehood, but there was no other way. His reputation as the most dangerous bounty hunter west of the Rockies terrified even decent folks, not just the outlaws he hunted. So he sure as hell wasn't about to let a spitfire fugitive from a sporting house know he wasn't the US Marshal he claimed to be—no matter how appealing she was.
Especially when she holds the key to his best friend's murder. And particularly when she'd not only shot him—but saved his life right after! Things with Ellie Watson could get complicated.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2005
About the author
Mary Burton
74 books4,520 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2015
2.5 stars
Nick Baron was The Tracker: a former soldier who was now a bounty hunter. A killer with a reputation. He had recently lost his closest friend to a senseless murder. He intended to find the men who committed the crime and bring them to justice. Then, and only then, would he retire and settle down to his long-dreamed-of peaceful life.
Ellie's home had been the Silver Slipper brothel for as long as she could remember. Her mother, a prostitute, had died years before. She guessed she was nineteen years old but wasn't really sure. What she did know was that her time living at the bordello was coming to an end. She had cooked, cleaned, mended and cared for the other women but she knew Miss Adeline was expecting her to 'make the move upstairs'.
She had just delivered a baby girl when the doxy died; the mother made her swear that she would raise her as her own. She needed to get out of town immediately. In a hurry, she stumbled upon Nick as he was searching for the men. Then she fled with 'her' baby in tow.
Weeks go by and she had made a name for herself. She was now the young widow and mother, Mrs. Ellie Watson: the much-admired cook for her new friend Annie's stagecoach stop. Annie had just left with her fiancee to visit her elderly parents some distance away. They were expected to be gone for about three weeks and had left her in charge. With no other people to assist her. (I know! It was a far-fetched idea.)
Unexpectedly, Nick Baron showed up. He was on the trail of Frank Palmer and looking for the stolen gold. He thought she was hiding something. Scared, she told him to leave. He told her he couldn't until she told him the truth so she shot him. Before he passed out, he told her a little white lie. He claimed to be a lawman; now she had to save him!
Like so many Harlequins, the story took place over a period of days. Though we are never given his age, I believe Nick was somewhere in his mid-thirties. He was a widower with a sad past. He was under the impression that Ellie was one of the Silver Slipper's working girls and she never told him anything different.
The story moved along at a steady pace. Initially, loneliness was what drew the two together. The age spread was another matter; I had some issues with it. That, and those tiny little white lies, that rear their head at the most inopportune times. I have read several of Ms. Burton's other Harlequin historicals and she favors writing 'cabin romances' featuring the relationship of the H and h at a secluded site. This one was no different.
Nick Baron was The Tracker: a former soldier who was now a bounty hunter. A killer with a reputation. He had recently lost his closest friend to a senseless murder. He intended to find the men who committed the crime and bring them to justice. Then, and only then, would he retire and settle down to his long-dreamed-of peaceful life.
Ellie's home had been the Silver Slipper brothel for as long as she could remember. Her mother, a prostitute, had died years before. She guessed she was nineteen years old but wasn't really sure. What she did know was that her time living at the bordello was coming to an end. She had cooked, cleaned, mended and cared for the other women but she knew Miss Adeline was expecting her to 'make the move upstairs'.
She had just delivered a baby girl when the doxy died; the mother made her swear that she would raise her as her own. She needed to get out of town immediately. In a hurry, she stumbled upon Nick as he was searching for the men. Then she fled with 'her' baby in tow.
Weeks go by and she had made a name for herself. She was now the young widow and mother, Mrs. Ellie Watson: the much-admired cook for her new friend Annie's stagecoach stop. Annie had just left with her fiancee to visit her elderly parents some distance away. They were expected to be gone for about three weeks and had left her in charge. With no other people to assist her. (I know! It was a far-fetched idea.)
Unexpectedly, Nick Baron showed up. He was on the trail of Frank Palmer and looking for the stolen gold. He thought she was hiding something. Scared, she told him to leave. He told her he couldn't until she told him the truth so she shot him. Before he passed out, he told her a little white lie. He claimed to be a lawman; now she had to save him!
Like so many Harlequins, the story took place over a period of days. Though we are never given his age, I believe Nick was somewhere in his mid-thirties. He was a widower with a sad past. He was under the impression that Ellie was one of the Silver Slipper's working girls and she never told him anything different.
The story moved along at a steady pace. Initially, loneliness was what drew the two together. The age spread was another matter; I had some issues with it. That, and those tiny little white lies, that rear their head at the most inopportune times. I have read several of Ms. Burton's other Harlequin historicals and she favors writing 'cabin romances' featuring the relationship of the H and h at a secluded site. This one was no different.
July 28, 2020
"Save your story for someone who cares. Right now I've had my fill of lying whores."
OMG, Ellie - if a man, especially your BEAU (!), were to speak to me like that, I'd become a ghost and and disappear real quick. Urrrghh.
The book was a four - star read, until page 221, for obvious reasons. The story concluded / wrapped up pretty quick too. Ah well, time to find a new western historical romance to read!
OMG, Ellie - if a man, especially your BEAU (!), were to speak to me like that, I'd become a ghost and and disappear real quick. Urrrghh.
The book was a four - star read, until page 221, for obvious reasons. The story concluded / wrapped up pretty quick too. Ah well, time to find a new western historical romance to read!
January 27, 2023
Nick Baron knew it was wrong to buy trust with a falsehood, but there was no other way. His reputation as the most dangerous bounty hunter west of the Rockies terrified even decent folks, not just the outlaws he hunted. So he sure as hell wasn't about to let a spitfire fugitive from a sporting house know he wasn't the U.S. Marshal he claimed to be -- no matter how appealing she was.
Especially when she held the key to his best friend's murder. And particularly when she'd not only shot him -- but saved his life right after!
Things with Ellie Watson could get complicated!
Especially when she held the key to his best friend's murder. And particularly when she'd not only shot him -- but saved his life right after!
Things with Ellie Watson could get complicated!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2020
Abrupt ending
I took off a star due to the book ending so abruptly. I think it should have gone on just a bit more and wrapped everything up in a nice, complete ending. Now I have to wonder how the story would have ended.
I took off a star due to the book ending so abruptly. I think it should have gone on just a bit more and wrapped everything up in a nice, complete ending. Now I have to wonder how the story would have ended.
November 2, 2019
Enjoy reading the Montana Maverick series. A historical story - really enjoy these.
May 25, 2025
An ok book, quick read.
April 22, 2019
Mary Burton’s books have been a recent addition to my reading pile. This one lacks the depth of the other books I’ve read by this writer. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it; the book seems like very light reading.
Nick Baron is a tortured soul who wreaks vengeance on those who have broken the law. He’s widely known across the West for his ruthless pursuit of wrongdoers. He has been so effective at creating fear that even good folks fear him.
Nick’s grown weary of the constant riding and man-hunting and an old friend offers to partner with him on some land he has bought. Unfortunately, that friend is killed in a train robbery (for $20,000) and Nick is on the trail of the killers.
Ellie Watson is the daughter of a prostitute that died when she was 6. The owner of the brothel kept Ellie as a worker in the kitchen. One day, she is called to help with the birth of a baby girl. The baby’s mother dies – begging Ellie to take the child and raise it as her own. The baby’s father is one of the killers/train robbers.
The next time we see Ellie, she is working at a stagecoach stop. Nick finds her and wants to use her to lure the killer. Things do not go as he planned.
This is a quick book and definitely light reading. The main characters are good people in bad circumstances.
Nick Baron is a tortured soul who wreaks vengeance on those who have broken the law. He’s widely known across the West for his ruthless pursuit of wrongdoers. He has been so effective at creating fear that even good folks fear him.
Nick’s grown weary of the constant riding and man-hunting and an old friend offers to partner with him on some land he has bought. Unfortunately, that friend is killed in a train robbery (for $20,000) and Nick is on the trail of the killers.
Ellie Watson is the daughter of a prostitute that died when she was 6. The owner of the brothel kept Ellie as a worker in the kitchen. One day, she is called to help with the birth of a baby girl. The baby’s mother dies – begging Ellie to take the child and raise it as her own. The baby’s father is one of the killers/train robbers.
The next time we see Ellie, she is working at a stagecoach stop. Nick finds her and wants to use her to lure the killer. Things do not go as he planned.
This is a quick book and definitely light reading. The main characters are good people in bad circumstances.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews