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Reckoning
Ty Dawson is a small-town sheriff with big-city problems, in this riveting crime thriller from the award-winning author of Fistful of Rain .
As lawman, rancher, and Korean War veteran, Ty Dawson has his share of problems in the southern Oregon county he calls home. Despite how rural it is, Meriwether can’t keep modernity at bay. The 1970s have changed the United States—and Meriwether won’t be spared.
A standoff looms when the US Fish & Wildlife Service seeks to separate longtime cattleman KC Sheridan from his water supply—ensuring the death of his livestock. If that’s not enough trouble, a Portland detective is found dead in a fly-fishing resort cabin. Though the Portland police, including the victim’s own partner, are eager to write off the tragedy as a suicide, Ty has his own thoughts on the matter—as well as evidence that points to murder. His suspicions soon mire him in a swamp of corruption that threatens nearly everyone around him. Turns out that greed and evil are contagious—and they take down men both great and small . . .
Praise for the Ty Dawson Mysteries
“Combines the mystery and honesty of Craig Johnson’s Longmire with the first-person narration of a fiercely independent Oregon character.” —Sheila Deeth, author of John’s Joy
“A masterful work of a time gone by . . . Ty Dawson is a cowboy, lawman, father and philosopher like none other.” —Neal Griffin, Los Angeles Times –bestselling author of The Burden of Proof
As lawman, rancher, and Korean War veteran, Ty Dawson has his share of problems in the southern Oregon county he calls home. Despite how rural it is, Meriwether can’t keep modernity at bay. The 1970s have changed the United States—and Meriwether won’t be spared.
A standoff looms when the US Fish & Wildlife Service seeks to separate longtime cattleman KC Sheridan from his water supply—ensuring the death of his livestock. If that’s not enough trouble, a Portland detective is found dead in a fly-fishing resort cabin. Though the Portland police, including the victim’s own partner, are eager to write off the tragedy as a suicide, Ty has his own thoughts on the matter—as well as evidence that points to murder. His suspicions soon mire him in a swamp of corruption that threatens nearly everyone around him. Turns out that greed and evil are contagious—and they take down men both great and small . . .
Praise for the Ty Dawson Mysteries
“Combines the mystery and honesty of Craig Johnson’s Longmire with the first-person narration of a fiercely independent Oregon character.” —Sheila Deeth, author of John’s Joy
“A masterful work of a time gone by . . . Ty Dawson is a cowboy, lawman, father and philosopher like none other.” —Neal Griffin, Los Angeles Times –bestselling author of The Burden of Proof
- GenresThriller
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2023
6 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Baron R. Birtcher
10 books180 followersBaron R. Birtcher spent a number of years as a professional musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter and founded an independent record label.
His first two hardboiled mystery novels, Roadhouse Blues and Ruby Tuesday were Los Angeles Times and IMBA Best-Sellers.
Angels Fall, the third installment in the critically-acclaimed Mike Travis series, was nominated for the 2009 Left Coast Crime Award (the “Lefty”) for Best Law Enforcement/ Police Procedural novel of the year.
Rain Dogs is Mr. Birtcher’s first stand-alone novel, and a Claymore Award finalist.
He has also had the honor of serving as a judge for both the Edgar and the Shamus Awards.
Baron currently divides his time between Kona, Hawaii and Portland, Oregon.
His first two hardboiled mystery novels, Roadhouse Blues and Ruby Tuesday were Los Angeles Times and IMBA Best-Sellers.
Angels Fall, the third installment in the critically-acclaimed Mike Travis series, was nominated for the 2009 Left Coast Crime Award (the “Lefty”) for Best Law Enforcement/ Police Procedural novel of the year.
Rain Dogs is Mr. Birtcher’s first stand-alone novel, and a Claymore Award finalist.
He has also had the honor of serving as a judge for both the Edgar and the Shamus Awards.
Baron currently divides his time between Kona, Hawaii and Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 22, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
RECKONING (Ty Dawson Mysteries Book #3) by Baron Birtcher is a twisted suspenseful thriller/historical mystery/police procedural mash-up featuring a rural county Oregon sheriff and rancher set the late 1970’s that kept me reading well into the night. This is the third book in the Ty Dawson series, but I was able to easily read it as a standalone.
Sheriff Ty Dawson is a Korean war veteran, rancher, and rural Meriweather County sheriff in southern Oregon. Ty gets called out to an elderly neighbor’s ranch belonging to KC Sheridan and his wife when the US Fish & Wildlife Service fences off the longtime water supply for his cattle. Sheridan’s wife’s brother lost his ranch to the government and is now instigating his militia friends to make a stand to save KC’s ranch.
At the same time, a Portland detective is found dead in a resort cabin. His partner and the chief of police in Portland all want the death classified as a suicide and the case closed. Ty and the medical examiner know he was murdered, and he is willing to fight against the PPD to discover the truth.
Ty and his deputies work to keep the standoff at the Sheridan ranch from escalating, while also following leads in the murdered detective case. Ty is determined to find the truth, but it will cost him.
I love Ty Dawson and now want to go back and read the first two books in the series. He loves his wife and daughter, still has nightmares from his time in Korea, and has a strong sense of justice that must be satisfied. Set in the late 1970’s, historical references, significant events and lack of current technology are all intertwined throughout the story without slowing the pace. The two investigations are intricately plotted and perfectly paced. I was surprised to learn how the two investigations are tied together at the climax of this story. Greed, political corruption, drugs, and prostitution are all in abundance in this investigation with plenty of twists that keep you guessing. This is a new to me author that I am very happy to have found.
I highly recommend this addition to the series, and I am looking forward to reading more Ty Dawson books in the future.
RECKONING (Ty Dawson Mysteries Book #3) by Baron Birtcher is a twisted suspenseful thriller/historical mystery/police procedural mash-up featuring a rural county Oregon sheriff and rancher set the late 1970’s that kept me reading well into the night. This is the third book in the Ty Dawson series, but I was able to easily read it as a standalone.
Sheriff Ty Dawson is a Korean war veteran, rancher, and rural Meriweather County sheriff in southern Oregon. Ty gets called out to an elderly neighbor’s ranch belonging to KC Sheridan and his wife when the US Fish & Wildlife Service fences off the longtime water supply for his cattle. Sheridan’s wife’s brother lost his ranch to the government and is now instigating his militia friends to make a stand to save KC’s ranch.
At the same time, a Portland detective is found dead in a resort cabin. His partner and the chief of police in Portland all want the death classified as a suicide and the case closed. Ty and the medical examiner know he was murdered, and he is willing to fight against the PPD to discover the truth.
Ty and his deputies work to keep the standoff at the Sheridan ranch from escalating, while also following leads in the murdered detective case. Ty is determined to find the truth, but it will cost him.
I love Ty Dawson and now want to go back and read the first two books in the series. He loves his wife and daughter, still has nightmares from his time in Korea, and has a strong sense of justice that must be satisfied. Set in the late 1970’s, historical references, significant events and lack of current technology are all intertwined throughout the story without slowing the pace. The two investigations are intricately plotted and perfectly paced. I was surprised to learn how the two investigations are tied together at the climax of this story. Greed, political corruption, drugs, and prostitution are all in abundance in this investigation with plenty of twists that keep you guessing. This is a new to me author that I am very happy to have found.
I highly recommend this addition to the series, and I am looking forward to reading more Ty Dawson books in the future.
September 21, 2023
Corruption, murder and a standoff. Reckoning is just what the title says. And local rancher and sheriff Ty Dawson plans to deliver.
Ty did what I call ‘stand tall” against the powers that be that want to take, take, take. His conviction and honesty stood out among the wicked and he was going to make sure the innocent were protected and the guilty would face their comeuppance. Every time he “spoke” in the book I perked up and paid attention. His voice was strong and he stood by what he said.
When a book gets me all riled up and I myself want to see justice done, that’s when I can’t recommend it enough.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Ty did what I call ‘stand tall” against the powers that be that want to take, take, take. His conviction and honesty stood out among the wicked and he was going to make sure the innocent were protected and the guilty would face their comeuppance. Every time he “spoke” in the book I perked up and paid attention. His voice was strong and he stood by what he said.
When a book gets me all riled up and I myself want to see justice done, that’s when I can’t recommend it enough.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
October 16, 2023
This is the third entry in Baron R. Birtcher's excellent series featuring Oregon sheriff Ty Dawson, and both the author and his protagonist are at the top of their respective games.
Dawson is a rancher who is basically conscripted into taking the job of sheriff in Meriwweather County, a fictional setting located in southeastern Oregon, because he's the only one who's really qualified for the job. The series is set in the mid-1970s, and Dawson is a veteran of the Korean War who still sometimes has nightmares about his service there. Dragooned into the job, Dawson in turn "recruits" two of his ranch hands who become his principal deputies.
One would hope that in a tiny. rural county, Ty Dawson could spend most of his time tending to his ranch and that matters requiring his attention as sheriff would be few and far between, but Dawson has no such luck. As this book opens, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attempts to close a road that the agency claims is on federal property. If the road is closed, it will prevent an elderly, long-time rancher from getting his cattle to water. The herd will die and the rancher will be ruined.
The boundary line is in dispute, and it's not clear that the road actually does run on federal land. Dawson tries to mediate a responsible solution to the crisis, but the feds aren't in a mood to stomach any delay, and the crisis will rapidly escalate when the rancher's brother-in-law begins recruiting his militia buddies to come to the rancher's defense.
Meanwhile, a vice detective from Portland is found dead of a gunshot wound in a remote cabin in Meriwether County, far from the detective's home ground. The detective's partner, the detective's boss, and, it would seem, the entire Portland P.D. want to have the death declared a suicide and the case closed ASAP. But Dawson is not convinced that the death was a suicide and he is determined to investigate the case, which threatens to expose a cesspool of corruption.
This is a very complex, densely-layered story, and Birtcher expertly weaves the strands of these two seemingly unrelated stories into a fascinating narrative. This novel is very strongly rooted in place to the point that the setting practically becomes a character unto itself. Ty Dawson is a man with a strong moral center, who lives by his own code and who refuses to bow down to anyone, no matter how powerful and influential they might be. He and all of the other characters in the book are beautifully rendered and very memorable.
Given that the story is set in the 1970s, Dawson has the luxury of investigating the cases the old-fashioned way, using his wits, his ability to judge people, his interview skills, and a lot of shoe leather, or tire tread as the case may be. He's not tied to a desk reviewing surveillance footage from video cameras or waiting breathlessly for DNA evidence to come back from the lab. When the phone rings, its sitting on his desk tied by a cord to the wall, and when Dawson is out in his truck in the middle of nowhere, he is isolated and alone. This makes for a much more interesting investigation than those of many more modern police procedurals and it's fun to see a detective who is dependent almost totally upon himself and not in the service of modern technology.
The story moves swiftly along and Birtcher has a great sense of how to pace a story. All in all, this is a very good book, and I'm looking forward to reading more stories featuring Ty Dawson.
Dawson is a rancher who is basically conscripted into taking the job of sheriff in Meriwweather County, a fictional setting located in southeastern Oregon, because he's the only one who's really qualified for the job. The series is set in the mid-1970s, and Dawson is a veteran of the Korean War who still sometimes has nightmares about his service there. Dragooned into the job, Dawson in turn "recruits" two of his ranch hands who become his principal deputies.
One would hope that in a tiny. rural county, Ty Dawson could spend most of his time tending to his ranch and that matters requiring his attention as sheriff would be few and far between, but Dawson has no such luck. As this book opens, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attempts to close a road that the agency claims is on federal property. If the road is closed, it will prevent an elderly, long-time rancher from getting his cattle to water. The herd will die and the rancher will be ruined.
The boundary line is in dispute, and it's not clear that the road actually does run on federal land. Dawson tries to mediate a responsible solution to the crisis, but the feds aren't in a mood to stomach any delay, and the crisis will rapidly escalate when the rancher's brother-in-law begins recruiting his militia buddies to come to the rancher's defense.
Meanwhile, a vice detective from Portland is found dead of a gunshot wound in a remote cabin in Meriwether County, far from the detective's home ground. The detective's partner, the detective's boss, and, it would seem, the entire Portland P.D. want to have the death declared a suicide and the case closed ASAP. But Dawson is not convinced that the death was a suicide and he is determined to investigate the case, which threatens to expose a cesspool of corruption.
This is a very complex, densely-layered story, and Birtcher expertly weaves the strands of these two seemingly unrelated stories into a fascinating narrative. This novel is very strongly rooted in place to the point that the setting practically becomes a character unto itself. Ty Dawson is a man with a strong moral center, who lives by his own code and who refuses to bow down to anyone, no matter how powerful and influential they might be. He and all of the other characters in the book are beautifully rendered and very memorable.
Given that the story is set in the 1970s, Dawson has the luxury of investigating the cases the old-fashioned way, using his wits, his ability to judge people, his interview skills, and a lot of shoe leather, or tire tread as the case may be. He's not tied to a desk reviewing surveillance footage from video cameras or waiting breathlessly for DNA evidence to come back from the lab. When the phone rings, its sitting on his desk tied by a cord to the wall, and when Dawson is out in his truck in the middle of nowhere, he is isolated and alone. This makes for a much more interesting investigation than those of many more modern police procedurals and it's fun to see a detective who is dependent almost totally upon himself and not in the service of modern technology.
The story moves swiftly along and Birtcher has a great sense of how to pace a story. All in all, this is a very good book, and I'm looking forward to reading more stories featuring Ty Dawson.
February 8, 2024
Since my introduction to Sheriff/rancher Ty Dawson in Southern California Purples, I’ve been awaiting Baron Birtcher’s latest novel, Reckoning. I wished it was another three hundred pages! I’m hoping I don’t have to wait long for the next in the series.
The setting is the early 1970’s and the world is in the paroxysm of social change and turmoil, and the country life in rural Meriwether County, Oregon is not immune. Sheriff Dawson’s case load ain’t fair, and his small department is at its limit tracking low level thugs, investigating “big city” cops on the take, exposing corrupt politicians, and even confronting the full force of the federal government.
The principal plot is how a mismark on a map drawn by a faceless scribe brings down the heavy hand of distant, unyielding, and arrogant Washington bureaucrats taking the watering and grazing land of a fellow rancher whose family has owned the land for generations. The full weight of the federal government, from the FBI to the IRS, is out to crush an innocent man into submission. When he refuses to tap out, and the state police and other law enforcement agencies betray him, a fuse lit three thousand miles away is about to ignite a powder keg in Sheriff Tyler’s backyard. Only Ty has the moral clarity and turpitude to intervene to prevent a potential bloodbath presaging Ruby Ridge and Waco. He may be an anachronism, but we sure could use a few like him today.
I’m tempted to revel too much because the plots and subplots are so intriguing, tangled, and fulfilling, but first-hand is the best way to savor the story.
Reckoning is also a story of family, friendship, dedication, and heartbreak. One of the most poignant scenes in the book is Sherriff Dawson consoling his deputy, Jordan Powell, a recent Viet Nam veteran, suffering from the same PDST that Ty confronted after the Korean War. Before PTSD had a name, many suffered, usually alone, to live with the demons of memory. Powell finally had someone who knew.
I was also moved by Ty’s mixed emotions of letting his daughter, Cricket, test her first taste of freedom in college hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, Jesse, Ty’s wife, sets a straight course for the over-protective dad, and for most of his other encounters.
Birtcher’s characters full, believable, and compelling. His writing is vivid, tight, and often bridging the gap between prose to poetry. I am constantly reminded of McMurtry and Johnson, but, no, it’s Birtcher—a unique and skillful talent.
A highly recommended read. More Baron, please, and faster!
Richard Meredith, author of Maskirovka—The Russian Science of Deception and The Crow’s Nest
The setting is the early 1970’s and the world is in the paroxysm of social change and turmoil, and the country life in rural Meriwether County, Oregon is not immune. Sheriff Dawson’s case load ain’t fair, and his small department is at its limit tracking low level thugs, investigating “big city” cops on the take, exposing corrupt politicians, and even confronting the full force of the federal government.
The principal plot is how a mismark on a map drawn by a faceless scribe brings down the heavy hand of distant, unyielding, and arrogant Washington bureaucrats taking the watering and grazing land of a fellow rancher whose family has owned the land for generations. The full weight of the federal government, from the FBI to the IRS, is out to crush an innocent man into submission. When he refuses to tap out, and the state police and other law enforcement agencies betray him, a fuse lit three thousand miles away is about to ignite a powder keg in Sheriff Tyler’s backyard. Only Ty has the moral clarity and turpitude to intervene to prevent a potential bloodbath presaging Ruby Ridge and Waco. He may be an anachronism, but we sure could use a few like him today.
I’m tempted to revel too much because the plots and subplots are so intriguing, tangled, and fulfilling, but first-hand is the best way to savor the story.
Reckoning is also a story of family, friendship, dedication, and heartbreak. One of the most poignant scenes in the book is Sherriff Dawson consoling his deputy, Jordan Powell, a recent Viet Nam veteran, suffering from the same PDST that Ty confronted after the Korean War. Before PTSD had a name, many suffered, usually alone, to live with the demons of memory. Powell finally had someone who knew.
I was also moved by Ty’s mixed emotions of letting his daughter, Cricket, test her first taste of freedom in college hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, Jesse, Ty’s wife, sets a straight course for the over-protective dad, and for most of his other encounters.
Birtcher’s characters full, believable, and compelling. His writing is vivid, tight, and often bridging the gap between prose to poetry. I am constantly reminded of McMurtry and Johnson, but, no, it’s Birtcher—a unique and skillful talent.
A highly recommended read. More Baron, please, and faster!
Richard Meredith, author of Maskirovka—The Russian Science of Deception and The Crow’s Nest
September 19, 2023
RECKONING is a mystery with a conspiracy thriller subgenre. It’s the 1970s and Portland, OR Detective Clark Wehr is found dead in a fishing cabin, hours from home. Everyone from Wehr’s partner to his commander wants the case closed quickly as a suicide. But Sheriff Ty Dawson has questions that the evidence isn’t satisfying and he’s going to keep digging until he gets the answers.
Bottom line: RECKONING is for you if you like cheering on the underdog and calling out injustices for the sleezy, dirty lies they are.
Strengths of the story. Labeled as a Ty Dawson mystery, this story fits more accurately in a conspiracy thriller genre. A conspiracy thriller is one where the protagonist investigates a crime or anomaly to ultimately find it is a small part of a much bigger story. RECKONING does begin with the discovery of Wehr’s body, but storylines of the attempted cover over by the Portland PD and the woes of an elderly rancher who is being harassed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service get equal screen time. Each of the three storylines are interesting and compelling, leaving the reader wanting to know where it is going.
This is Ty Dawson’s third story. I have not read the previous two and did not have a problem with picking the story up. If there are Easter eggs, they are subtle gifts for fans of the series that do not detract for the new reader. Because this is an established character, Dawson and the Meriweather County cast are refined and well developed.
The pacing is strong and consistent. There wasn’t a section where the story dragged or my attention waned. Dawson is juggling so much, there isn’t time for the mundane.
.
Where the story fell short of ideal: Having finished the book days ago, I continue to think through the storylines and their resolutions – a testament to how into the story I was. For the most part, I was satisfied with the solutions but as is often the case for me with thrillers, I have questions.
Bottom line: RECKONING is for you if you like cheering on the underdog and calling out injustices for the sleezy, dirty lies they are.
Strengths of the story. Labeled as a Ty Dawson mystery, this story fits more accurately in a conspiracy thriller genre. A conspiracy thriller is one where the protagonist investigates a crime or anomaly to ultimately find it is a small part of a much bigger story. RECKONING does begin with the discovery of Wehr’s body, but storylines of the attempted cover over by the Portland PD and the woes of an elderly rancher who is being harassed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service get equal screen time. Each of the three storylines are interesting and compelling, leaving the reader wanting to know where it is going.
This is Ty Dawson’s third story. I have not read the previous two and did not have a problem with picking the story up. If there are Easter eggs, they are subtle gifts for fans of the series that do not detract for the new reader. Because this is an established character, Dawson and the Meriweather County cast are refined and well developed.
The pacing is strong and consistent. There wasn’t a section where the story dragged or my attention waned. Dawson is juggling so much, there isn’t time for the mundane.
.
Where the story fell short of ideal: Having finished the book days ago, I continue to think through the storylines and their resolutions – a testament to how into the story I was. For the most part, I was satisfied with the solutions but as is often the case for me with thrillers, I have questions.
September 23, 2023
I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
My first introduction to Ty Dawson, sheriff of Meriwether County, basically a podunk town in Oregon. The thing about Ty is he doesn’t take kindly to strangers, even if those strangers are from another part of law enforcement, messing with folks he cares about. Such is the case with KC and Irene Sheridan. This tale surrounds property lines and rights.
KC Sheridan - he’s the old-timer of this tale. He and Irene are pretty tough, with all they have been through in their lifetimes. They just want to ensure their cattle are safe, so KC decides to do what he thinks is right, which makes him a stand-up guy in my book. Irene, quiet though she is, is tough as nails. You can tell that by the way her character is written.
Of course, there are Ty’s opponents, some he thinks he can trust, others he knows he can’t. Ty tries to see the best in most folks, but at heart he is a downhome cowboy, with his own ranch, and believes in justice. Jesse, Ty’s wife, has elicited the respect of not only their ranch hands but the young officers Ty works with as well.
Being from Oregon myself, this tale called to mind some of the towns in the surrounding area. This tale also mentions some things of the past - dial phones, not one mention of a cell phone or an internet search, just good old-fashioned detective footwork. I would classify this tale as part western/part mystery. There are two cases involved in this story that made for an entertaining read and how two of the bad guys intertwined with the more pressing case that Ty was working on, finding out just how deep his opponents were involved. I really enjoyed how the author painted pictures with his descriptions of certain scenes. If you like a good western coupled with a couple mysteries thrown in, try this one.
My first introduction to Ty Dawson, sheriff of Meriwether County, basically a podunk town in Oregon. The thing about Ty is he doesn’t take kindly to strangers, even if those strangers are from another part of law enforcement, messing with folks he cares about. Such is the case with KC and Irene Sheridan. This tale surrounds property lines and rights.
KC Sheridan - he’s the old-timer of this tale. He and Irene are pretty tough, with all they have been through in their lifetimes. They just want to ensure their cattle are safe, so KC decides to do what he thinks is right, which makes him a stand-up guy in my book. Irene, quiet though she is, is tough as nails. You can tell that by the way her character is written.
Of course, there are Ty’s opponents, some he thinks he can trust, others he knows he can’t. Ty tries to see the best in most folks, but at heart he is a downhome cowboy, with his own ranch, and believes in justice. Jesse, Ty’s wife, has elicited the respect of not only their ranch hands but the young officers Ty works with as well.
Being from Oregon myself, this tale called to mind some of the towns in the surrounding area. This tale also mentions some things of the past - dial phones, not one mention of a cell phone or an internet search, just good old-fashioned detective footwork. I would classify this tale as part western/part mystery. There are two cases involved in this story that made for an entertaining read and how two of the bad guys intertwined with the more pressing case that Ty was working on, finding out just how deep his opponents were involved. I really enjoyed how the author painted pictures with his descriptions of certain scenes. If you like a good western coupled with a couple mysteries thrown in, try this one.
September 28, 2023
"In my line of work," I said, "there are far fewer coincidences than there are secrets." This statement, uttered by Ty Dawson, the book's fair-minded protagonist, speaks volumes. He's squared off to support a fellow rancher, a longtime friend who is noble to the core. That the bad guys may be the federal government disturbs both men. A theme of this book is the crumbling of ideals and the hostile blur between right and wrong is another, both of which settle into vague, restive feelings for the Sheriff.
The author writes evocative descriptive prose so that readers can be readily aware of his deep love of ranching in his home state. All five senses are tapped. The wilderness beauty of his area of Oregon is as much a character as the angry, the clueless, and the outright mean dudes that populate the Sheriff's domain. Here's a description of one: "a man in possession of the interpersonal skills of a campsite raccoon." Another character has the "restive nature of a housecat."
Of course, Ty Dawson is smarter, surrounded by loyal men, and a dead shot. He saves the day, and his self-respect, and nourishes his relationship with his wife and his friends. He is the archetype cowboy hero in the current American West.
Baron R. Birtcher is one of my favorite writers and I highly recommend this entry in his Ty Dawson series.
The author writes evocative descriptive prose so that readers can be readily aware of his deep love of ranching in his home state. All five senses are tapped. The wilderness beauty of his area of Oregon is as much a character as the angry, the clueless, and the outright mean dudes that populate the Sheriff's domain. Here's a description of one: "a man in possession of the interpersonal skills of a campsite raccoon." Another character has the "restive nature of a housecat."
Of course, Ty Dawson is smarter, surrounded by loyal men, and a dead shot. He saves the day, and his self-respect, and nourishes his relationship with his wife and his friends. He is the archetype cowboy hero in the current American West.
Baron R. Birtcher is one of my favorite writers and I highly recommend this entry in his Ty Dawson series.
September 10, 2023
This novel explores events like the recent standoff between ranchers and federal agents over land use. Dawson is a tough hero who reminds me of Longmire. He is a complex man with a history. He has a ranch himself so he knows what is at stake when the federal government wants to cut off the water supply of another rancher. I admire Dawson's attempts to defuse a potentially deadly situation. The corruption at the root of those attacking the rancher goes deep. I am not sure I understand all of Dawson's efforts at uncovering the villains but he certainly was tenacious.
This is a good novel for readers who like contemporary westerns with a tough and unforgiving lawman. Dawson is up against a formidable foe and he doesn't back down. He is not shy at taking the law into his own hands when those responsible fail at the task. If you like a tough lawman who won't pull any punches, you'll like Dawson.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This is a good novel for readers who like contemporary westerns with a tough and unforgiving lawman. Dawson is up against a formidable foe and he doesn't back down. He is not shy at taking the law into his own hands when those responsible fail at the task. If you like a tough lawman who won't pull any punches, you'll like Dawson.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
September 20, 2023
Reckoning by Baron Birtcher is a western thriller that packs a punch. I was not sure about reading a western type book but Mr. Birtcher mixes murder, mystery and the thriller theme along with with some historical fiction to make this a must read story. Western ranchers fighting the law for their land and what’s on it, sounds a little bit like Yellowstone to me!! This one is a fast paced and grabs you from the start. The characters are well developed and very likable. Greed, corruption, political intrigue and murder will keep the pages turning. I was hooked from the start and want to go back and read the first two books by this captivating author. Highly recommend this one.
Thank you Partners in Crime Book Tours, Open Road Integrated Media and Baron Birtcher for the opportunity to be a part this fascinating tour. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#partnersincrimebooktours. #openroadintegratedmedia
#baronbirtcher. #reckoning. #arc #westernthriller
Thank you Partners in Crime Book Tours, Open Road Integrated Media and Baron Birtcher for the opportunity to be a part this fascinating tour. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#partnersincrimebooktours. #openroadintegratedmedia
#baronbirtcher. #reckoning. #arc #westernthriller
July 5, 2023
Reckoning by Baron Birtcher is a super thriller. It has all the right elements that make crime fiction shine. The Reckoning is much more than just a case of murder. When both the local citizens and the government intertwine then that's where things get sticky and very interesting really fast. The pacing was great. The lead character, Sheriff Ty, is one of the best. He reminds me a bit of the Endeavor detective from Masterpiece. Always getting to the bottom of murder and crime investigations, this character made the book. If you love The Murder She Wrote, Endeavor, and a fan of Sandra Brown then this is the perfect read! I cannot wait to read more by Baron Birtcher.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
August 10, 2024
This is a well-written thriller that slowly builds to a riveting climax. Ty Dawson is a Korean War veteran in the 1970s. He is a sheriff in a small Oregon town with big-city problems. The federal government is cutting off the water supply for the cattle belonging to his good friend. And there is also a murder in a fly-fishing cabin. The connections reveal a trail of deceit, corruption, and ruthlessness. Ty is a deeply moral character who takes personal responsibility to fight for what’s right, no matter what the odds, and is not afraid to call out anyone for their evil ways. Baron Birtcher has succeeded in doing something very difficult—making his protagonist a hard man who is also sympathetic. He writes very vividly and the descriptions of the country were breathtaking.
April 26, 2025
This book had me thinking about it long after I turned the last page. Ty Dawson is a sheriff, yes, but he’s also a veteran, a father, and a reluctant symbol of resistance in a town that’s being strong-armed into compliance. The death of the detective was chilling and unexpected, but what really pulled me in was how all the different strands politics, greed, environmental issues, and personal loyalty came together so seamlessly. Birtcher doesn’t just tell a story, he lays bare a whole ecosystem of power and consequence. It’s like Longmire meets Chinatown. Highly recommended for crime fiction lovers who want more than just a whodunit.
August 23, 2023
RECKONING is a hard-hitting whodunnit that conjures up old west lawmen and their values, modern day David & Goliath themes, and tomorrow’s fears. Sheriff Ty Dawson takes on the worst of the worst—those hiding behind power, corruption, and the law—and drives a stake through their hearts. RECKONING will grab you right out of the gate and take you on a gallop chasing everything that’s wrong with our country today. A hell of a ride—hold tight. Move over, Longmire, there’s a new sheriff in town. If you’re not reading Baron Birtcher, you should be.
September 21, 2023
I reckon it's no Wounded Knee, but they're gearing up for a big confrontation.
It really makes one look unfavorably on politically motivated individuals.
Not sure why they want to deny KC's right to water his cattle. They certainly brought out the big guns. Everyone from the local LEO's up to the FBI ended up in the middle of this mess.
Some of the happenings are reminiscent of this country's relatively recent history.
Thank you, Mr Birtcher. I look forward to more of your Ty Dawson series.
***Book received as a gift from PICT.***
It really makes one look unfavorably on politically motivated individuals.
Not sure why they want to deny KC's right to water his cattle. They certainly brought out the big guns. Everyone from the local LEO's up to the FBI ended up in the middle of this mess.
Some of the happenings are reminiscent of this country's relatively recent history.
Thank you, Mr Birtcher. I look forward to more of your Ty Dawson series.
***Book received as a gift from PICT.***
April 15, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
A small town, cowboy sheriff crime mystery.
Sheriff Ty Dawson is faced with several cases - a fellow officer murdered, a fellow rancher’s livelihood threatened and a barrage of political corruption.
Whose playing whom and who can be trusted.
I got a wee bit lost amongst the plethora of players and the legalities surrounding land claims and who governs what and where unfortunately. But I really enjoyed sheriff Dawson’s character, reminiscent of Longmire, and his wife Jesse.
I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review.
A small town, cowboy sheriff crime mystery.
Sheriff Ty Dawson is faced with several cases - a fellow officer murdered, a fellow rancher’s livelihood threatened and a barrage of political corruption.
Whose playing whom and who can be trusted.
I got a wee bit lost amongst the plethora of players and the legalities surrounding land claims and who governs what and where unfortunately. But I really enjoyed sheriff Dawson’s character, reminiscent of Longmire, and his wife Jesse.
I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2025
Knife River is a gritty, character-driven crime thriller that hooked me from page one. Ty Dawson, the central character, is the kind of hero you don’t forget tough, principled, and worn by the times. Birtcher writes with the raw authenticity of someone who understands the clash between old ways and a rapidly changing America. The 1970s setting isn’t just background. it breathes tension into every scene. From the environmental standoff to a suspicious suicide, the stakes are high and deeply personal. If you love well drawn rural settings and morally complex heroes, this book is for you.
April 24, 2025
Birtcher’s storytelling is cinematic. each chapter of Reckoning unfolds like a well directed Western noir. I couldn’t stop thinking about the implications of Ty’s choices, how justice in a small town sometimes means doing what’s right, not what’s legal. The depiction of 1970s Oregon was so immersive, and I was drawn to the authenticity in the way characters spoke and interacted. There's a real sense of loss beneath the tension loss of land, tradition, trust. A beautifully written, hard hitting book.
April 24, 2025
There’s something about Birtcher’s style that’s so atmospheric. it’s like reading Cormac McCarthy with a clearer moral compass. Reckoning doesn’t rush. It builds tension steadily, giving you time to sit with the weight of what’s happening. Ty Dawson is a beautifully drawn character brave but haunted, trying to do right in a world that’s getting harder to read. The political backdrop added richness, though I did have to re read some sections to fully grasp the federal/local tension. Still, a compelling ride.
April 24, 2025
I picked up Reckoning expecting a gritty crime tale, and it delivered, but it also surprised me with how emotionally resonant it was. There’s a quiet sadness to Ty Dawson, a man who’s lost friends, seen war, and still chooses to believe in justice. That belief is tested at every turn in this novel.
Birtcher balances action with introspection in a way that kept me hooked. The writing is tight and deliberate, and the supporting cast is just as compelling as Ty. While the pacing might not be for everyone, I found it meditative and rewarding.
Birtcher balances action with introspection in a way that kept me hooked. The writing is tight and deliberate, and the supporting cast is just as compelling as Ty. While the pacing might not be for everyone, I found it meditative and rewarding.
September 11, 2023
The reckoning.
Baron Birtcher.
Historical mystery.
There's a new sheriff in town., He's not gonna stop until he takes down every last bad guy..
There are more bad guys in this situation. You've got the government wrapped up in more ways than one.
This book was enthralling.. From the very beginning.
One man fighting for what's his, water live stock and so much..
This book will draw you in from that first page.
Because wow just the things that the government tries.. A gripping story.
This book will take you on one heck of a ride..
Ty Dawson, one heck of a lawman.
Baron Birtcher.
Historical mystery.
There's a new sheriff in town., He's not gonna stop until he takes down every last bad guy..
There are more bad guys in this situation. You've got the government wrapped up in more ways than one.
This book was enthralling.. From the very beginning.
One man fighting for what's his, water live stock and so much..
This book will draw you in from that first page.
Because wow just the things that the government tries.. A gripping story.
This book will take you on one heck of a ride..
Ty Dawson, one heck of a lawman.
November 4, 2023
I found this story following an Oregon sheriff/rancher in the 1970’s quite engaging. He is smart and thoughtful but struggles from his time in the military. The characters throughout are engaging and feel real. The story is somewhat complicated, which makes it that much more interesting. Birtcher had included land issues, water issues, corruption and murder that will be familiar to those who live in the west. This is the third in the Ty Dawson series and I will have to read the others.
January 30, 2024
Reckoning
Baron did a spectacular job with his plot, characters, settings and language. Ty is a cowboy, rancher Sheriff and is also a veteran. His dialogue was woven perfectly from all those roles he has and does play. The bad guys are super bad and they include many prominent citizens I law enforcement as well as politicians. I couldn’t have predicted the wrap up at the end. Well done, Baron Birtcher.
Baron did a spectacular job with his plot, characters, settings and language. Ty is a cowboy, rancher Sheriff and is also a veteran. His dialogue was woven perfectly from all those roles he has and does play. The bad guys are super bad and they include many prominent citizens I law enforcement as well as politicians. I couldn’t have predicted the wrap up at the end. Well done, Baron Birtcher.
April 24, 2025
Baron R. Birtcher crafts a slow burning, atmospheric mystery that feels like a Western noir. Ty Dawson is a fascinating mix of cowboy, philosopher, and reluctant hero. The way he navigates loyalty, justice, and the looming shadow of political corruption kept me turning pages late into the night. This isn’t just a murder mystery. it’s a meditation on change, loss, and the weight of doing what’s right when it’s inconvenient. Fans of Craig Johnson and James Lee Burke will feel right at home.
April 24, 2025
Wow. This book surprised me in the best way. It’s not just a murder mystery. Reckoning explores themes of power, loyalty, and the cost of integrity. I fell for Ty Dawson immediately. He’s old school in the best way honest, tough, and driven by a sense of duty that’s rare in both fiction and real life. The mystery was tightly plotted, and I did not see the twist coming. Birtcher’s writing is both poetic and raw, capturing the soul of a fading way of life. One of my top reads this year.
April 24, 2025
I’m a sucker for a good sheriff story, and Reckoning hit the mark in every way. Birtcher doesn’t just write a whodunit. he paints a vivid picture of a town on the brink of change, with a hero who refuses to be swept away. Ty Dawson’s internal conflict upholding the law while navigating corruption is powerful stuff. And the way the murder investigation unfolds? Classic slow-burn brilliance. If you're into complex characters, rural settings, and morally gray dilemmas, this one’s for you.
April 24, 2025
Absolutely riveting. From the first page, I was hooked by Ty Dawson’s voice rough, steady, and brutally honest. The murder mystery kept me guessing, but what really stood out was the emotional weight of the story. There’s a melancholy in this book that hit me hard like watching the end of an era. Birtcher doesn’t hold your hand he lets the world unfold in a way that feels authentic and raw. The ending was bittersweet, but perfect for the kind of man Ty is.
April 24, 2025
There’s blood in the soil of Reckoning, and Birtcher makes sure you feel it. This isn’t just a murder mystery. it’s a descent into a system so rotten you can smell the decay. Ty Dawson is trying to be the last good man in a town that has made peace with compromise. The twist? The true villains aren’t just killers they’re the ones wearing suits, holding power, making backroom deals. It’s haunting and disturbingly real. I needed a stiff drink when I finished.
December 30, 2024
I really like Birtcher's writing style and characters, but when compared with the most recent in this series, Knife River, this one comes up a little short ... The story arc is a bit convoluted and the main theme too political ... Still, finding Birtcher was a groovy happenstance on my 2024 reading journey
April 24, 2025
I came for the crime story, but I stayed for the atmosphere. Birtcher’s depiction of rural Oregon is pitch perfect: rugged, beautiful, and haunted by change. Ty Dawson’s voice is compelling and authentic every decision he makes feels earned. And the mystery? Layered, realistic, and ultimately devastating. I’ll definitely be reading more from this series.
April 26, 2025
The way Birtcher describes Meriwether County makes it feel almost like a character itself rugged, worn, and fighting against the tides of change. I loved Ty Dawson’s steady, no nonsense approach to law enforcement. The mystery had enough twists to keep me guessing, though it was the atmosphere that truly sucked me in. A solid, absorbing read.
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