Frontier Outlaws: A Coogan Mystery

by Michael Cardwell

Eight months after the showdown with the domestic terrorist group that nearly cost him his life, Danny Coogan, a Montana Fish and Game Officer, faces a new threat to his community—and his career. It starts with a dead steer. Which happens to be near the body of a dead rancher. Both of which are on the Dead Horse Indian Reservation.
Soon, Danny, the Tribal Police, the local Sheriff’s Department, and a US Marshal are pressed into action. Danny’s connections to the Rez draw him into the murder case and plant him firmly in the crosshairs of the killers. Another victim is discovered, tortured, and murdered—but why? What secret painted a target on these locals?
Along with fellow Afghanistan veteran Matt Bringloe from the Tribal Police, Danny is determined to uncover the truth. Then, a connection is made to a decades-old cold case, revealing hidden motives and secret agendas. Now, Danny must pull together the clues before someone else dies.
Cattle rustling, a magic mushroom drug operation, and unsolved murders result in a shoot-out at a remote ranch, a race against time to a ghost town, and a final stand in the most unlikely location.
With the flavor of a down-home yarn and the intensity of a high adventure, FRONTIER OUTLAWS offers Craig Johnson and CJ Box fans a thrilling ride that delivers a bronco-busting punch.
After the best-selling success of his first novel, FRONTIER JUSTICE, Michael Cardwell pulls his fans into another action/adventure. If you like mysteries and crime stories with resilient heroes, slam-bang action, and nail-biting suspense spiked with a splash of wilderness humor, you’ll love this second book in the Coogan Mystery series.

Genres: Mystery

508 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2024

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Coogan Mysteries are real page-turners for me, and I enjoyed this one, though not as much as the first. The reason for this is that even though it is action packed again, it was almost the same as the first one. There are some twists and turns in the beginning, but the culprits are soon revealed and then it is just the why that has to come out. There are also not a lot of character development in this one, and some things out of the story were left unanswered this time around. Still very entertaining and looking forward to the new Coogan Mystery coming out soon.

[Lois H Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Way With Descriptions

Just finished this second ride with Danny Coogan while listening to Chris LeDoux. I particularly liked to wonderful descriptions...like "congregations of dandelions". I googled images of the variety of roan colored horses, maps of Montana, and Native American reservations there. When you are reading Michael Cardwell's mysteries you are completely right there with the action. Bring on number three!

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn good read!

Ahhh hell I see I got one book left. Tell me your not Stopping at three. Cause this is really good stuff. Danny has the makings of one hell of a great Marshall and then some. This story leaves you trusting the wrong person, makes you look over your shoulder and try to put all the pics of the puzzle together before you get shot at again and again. Can't go wrong with series.

[Johny Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner for sure

I like these Coogan mysteries. The story is fast paced and intriguing. The only reason for 4 out of 5 stars is there were several places where the pronouns used were incorrect, especially in using their and them when talking about a singular person. It made me go back and reread parts of the story because I thought maybe I missed the second person. But no, it was a singular attacker. With that said, would I read another Coogan mystery? In a heart beat.

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once or twice in a lifetime one comes across a new mystery writer whose books grab you by the throat, whose characters are well developed and with a fresh and clever plot that ranks in the top ten all round, all whilst chortling with laughter at some very clever repartees.
More so when you follow one Danny Coogan, the Montana game warden, into a new mystery venture that will have you simply chasing whirlwind pages towards a bristling finale.
It started with the discovery of a dead bull and that of it's owner nearby.
Author Michael Cardwell never lets up on the suspense but for some welcome humour slipping in every now and again.
Frontier Outlaws is but the second book in this series and is bound to rock the world of mystery readers with ease.
Enjoy

[Matt Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superbly crafted mystery thriller!

Frontier Outlaws, the second book in the Frontier Series, brings us back into the world of Danny Coogan and the underworld of Montana. The book has great characters, writing quality and will keep you guessing until the epilogue! I'm not usually a big crime thriller reader, but I really enjoyed the first book in the series a while back and was recently recommended this one. A very good recommendation! 5/5 stars, I can highly recommend this book myself to anyone who enjoys thrillers with a good mystery! Even if, like me, crime fiction isn't your general reading preference, this book is good enough that you'll love it anyway!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danny Coogan, a Montana Fish & Game Officer, once again finds himself between a rock and a hard place. A rancher is found dead on his property on the local Reservation. A dead cow is found nearby. As Danny investigates he finds himself once again helping the Tribal Police which puts his own job as a Fish & Game Officer in jeopardy. As Danny begins to investigate along with other police officers he finds there is more to the story than he could ever imagine. And, the man he trusts the most is a not who he seems to be.

Can't wait for more from Michael Cardwell!!!

[Carolyn Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

justice prevails

After reading Frontier Justice, I was hooked. Second book did not disappoint and looking forward to the next one. The author does a good job creating his characters and the story line. Danny has a military background, bonds with his future father-in-law, makes friends on the rez, and deals with solving the mystery. Great story and interesting finding who the bad guy is, but there is an emotional component in the ending. Recommend you check out these books.

[Janet Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Murder Mystery in Montana
This book is the second in a series. Each book is a complete mystery. The story builds some on the past, especially in the lives of the characters involved. These are clean stories. There is little, if any, foul language, no bedroom scenes, no gore, and little violence. Much of each story takes place on Native Reservation land and many of the characters are Native Americans who don't necessarily like whites and do look down on them. In other words, realistic. The book is a real page-turner that I did not want to put down, even for sleep!

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not as good as the first one

There were so many different characters in this book . It's was quite confusing at times on who was who.
But at least we found out what happened to Ruth.
Still, Danny is the main and a very likable character. I'm guessing there'll be many more Danny Coogan stories in the future.

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy contemporary western murder mysteries, Frontier Outlaws is a must! Following Montana Fish and Game Officer, Danny Coogan, as he tries to fit into his role under a boss who sees him as a misfit all the while attempting peaceful coexistence with friends and not friends on the Dead Horse Indian Reservation. Lots of action with well-developed characters. I cannot wait to start book #3.

[Josetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I found this series! Love this modern day Western! Cardwell gives us a good mystery that keeps us thinking and characters that we fall in love with. This second book shows more character development with the ones introduced in the first book. Cardwell's characters seem realistic, and I love their banter. I'm excited for this series to continue!

[Jo Eddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This is the second book in the Danny Coogan series and is a great read. Love the characters and how they have developed over the 2 books currently available. Looking forward to whatever comes next.

[Tom Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe Pickett has company

If you enjoy this story by Micheal then you should try CJ Box. both their characters are a mess. accidents looking for a place to happen seem to find them , but fortunately friends and family are always there to lend a helping hand

[C. Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawmen and Indians in the 21st Century

Very well written sequel of Danny Coogan. Both books were excellent and entertaining. Looking forward to the next installment. Believable characters and excellent prose. Sequels very rarely live up to the first, this one did.

[Mark Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Frontier Outlaws is a well-written modern western. It contains plenty of action and the plot is tightly wound around not just the who’s and what’s of the story but also the why’s.

It is a fun, exciting read.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Good follow-up to the first in the series. Complex plot, great sense of place, well-drawn characters, and respect for First Nation culture. Plus drama and humor. I’ll be reading more in this series.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please

Love these books so much. I want more wonderful books about Danny and Ruth. Really love the character Mike, hope he is in the next ones too. Be great if he taught Danny some SEAL moves. Hope all the Rez people remain too!

[Robert Harm · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a book I increasingly did not want to put down to find out how the plot was held together, I enjoyed this book immensely. I thought that this book was better than his first Coogan mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next Coogan mystery.

[Eddie Hargrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 better than one

At times, I couldn't put it down. Now hoping book 3 will be good.
... Now I am tolded I have to use six more words or I can not enter this review. Will that work?

[Fabian · Rating 1 out of 5]

In Love With the F Word

Too bad you ruined this book with an R rating for bad language. It would have been a great story. Great characters were deprived of good dialogue and were reduced to illiterate speech. What a shame for the Coogan series.

[Susan Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns

Fast moving with lots of action. But who was stealing the cattle? Then they gave the money to the res. Wouldn't the money go back to the insurance company? They didn't catch the cattle rustler kingpin. Is that another story?

[Larry Coons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frontier Outlaws

This was once again another fantastic Novel in this Series by this famous Author Michael Cardwell! I can't wait to read all of his Books! This Book was another 5 Star Rated Storyline unlike any other Books that I have read!

[cynthia l cullison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure

Great read. This is a story of mystery , adventure, hard to put down read.
Very interesting story in an area of Montana.

[karen a. vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read book 1&2 and enjoyed them both. Kept me interested, twists and turns.

[Mike Matteson]

Action Packed

This is one action packed story. There is something going on all the time. You won't be able to put this book down, great read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

This was a very good book. The storyline definitely kept me reading. It was close to being a can’t put down book. I’m ready for more Danny Coogan!

[Steve Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I can only hope that Michael Cardwell continues the Coogan series. I jave now read the first two and hope to read more.

[Bruce A. Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Barn Burner

Danny Coogan is one BAD MFer. None stop action, interesting subject matter and a fun read. It’s worth your time.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book. Very complicated plot. Just as good as the first one in the series. Enjoyable characters. Bad characters are really bad! Recommended