The Woodsman

The Jackson Clay & Bear Beauchamp #1

by B.C. Lienesch

"Phenomenal...I highly recommend THE WOODSMAN for anyone who loves suspenseful thrillers. Great for fans of Heather Gudenkauf, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, and Chevy Stevens. Be warned though, once you start reading, you won’t want to put the book down until you’ve reached the last page."-Dawn Hosmer, Author of Bits & Pieces and Mosaic"Someone should pick up the film rights to B.C. Lienesch’s thriller THE WOODSMAN as it would make a great movie or miniseries. Compelling characters, storyline, and terrific pacing pulled me through this story at breakneck speed and had me turning pages late into the night."-Shawn Burgess, Author of The Tear Collector"The story is so compelling, the characters so expertly drawn, I'd swear this was the work of someone who's been writing successfully for decades. Make no mistake, B.C. Lienesch is a name you'll be hearing a lot more of in the very near future."-David Allen Voyles, Author and Creator of the Dark Corners Podcast

"THE WOODSMAN is an astoundingly confident and polished debut by B.C. Lienesch, filled with richly-drawn characters—some that will feel like old friends by the end of the book, some that you’ll love to hate—and brimming with heart-stopping thrills and pulsing action scenes. Jackson Clay is a character to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Jack Reacher. Don’t sleep on this!"-Austin Shirey, Author of The Hound of Oakenhall and Down Along the Yocona

Jackson Clay used to be many things. An Army Ranger. A loving husband. A doting father. But that was a lifetime ago. Now, in the wake of unspeakable tragedy, he's simply the missing's last hope.

When quiet high schooler Sara Beth Parker disappears in the night from her home in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, Detective Angela Cole is assigned the case. A black woman in a department full of white men, she’s made a career for herself working harder and being better than the badges beside her. But when leads begin to dry up and her own peers start to question whether Parker was taken or simply ran away, Cole feels herself being pushed to the edge. And when an old colleague introduces her to Jackson, she’ll break her own rules and place any hope of finding Sara Beth in his hands.

Determined to breathe life into a case that has quickly gone cold, Jackson begins to unravel a tangled web of secrets and lies that put him in the crosshairs of a sociopathic killer and his heavily-armed cult – a group that may be responsible for much, much more than just Sara Beth’s disappearance. But enemies also have enemies, and when Jackson gains the help of a charismatic boor named Bear, together they’ll take the fight to the cult, determined to bring Sara Beth home. THE WOODSMAN is "an unputdownable, suspenseful, and gripping book full of twists and turns." (Dawn Hosmer, author of Bits & Pieces)

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Suspense

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2021

About the author

B. C. Lienesch is a former freelance writer and featured columnist and editor for GuysNation.com but has done everything from owning a bakery to selling fireworks out of a pair of shipping containers. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Northern Virginia, he now lives in the same area with his wife, Meg, their two dogs, Kaia and Aria, and two cats, Luna and Hitchcock. CHASING DEVILS is his third novel. He previously wrote COUNTRY ROADS and THE WOODSMAN.

Reviews

[Tracy P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lienesch's The Woodsman is a solid first book in this continuing series.

It is also encouraging to see (The Jackson Clay & Bear Beauchamp) ratings are even higher in the following editions.

Without a doubt, I plan to move on to book two - Country Roads - and find out where is goes from there.

Recommend this KU gem to all those numerous thriller and suspense enthusiasts out there.

[John (JC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to what appears to be a very interesting series. It was a little predictable but not to the point of feeling like the ending was let down.
I like the characters which are very believable. The action is smooth, the ending satisfying and was an easy read.
It does deal with human trafficking which gives me the willies. I like the alliances and the flash backs that were included.
I recommend this read to my GR friends. This will be one of those novels that go down easy and leaves the reader pleasantly satisfied.

[Jack Hance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a somewhat slow start, and in the middle it had me thinking it was getting bogged down in a stereotypical cult plot line. Odd because it turned out that the ‘cult’ was nothing of the sort, almost like the author changed his mind partway through. The story redeemed itself with a strong finish and the addition of a sidekick protagonist really helped. It felt a bit like the story forgot about the kidnapped girl, and there were too many underdeveloped side characters. On balance, it was an enjoyable book that left me wanting more from Jackson and Bear.

[Jessica Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story and characters were both well done, but there was one inescapable issue

Ok, this might sound petty, but if both of your main characters are going to be intimately familiar with guns, maybe the author or editor should be as well. The mistakes were so bad, they were distracting to the point of ruining the flow. More than once a version of the statement “he reassuringly felt the cold steel of the P320” occurred, and a P320 is a polymer framed handgun. He talked about using an ir laser on a rifle in conjunction with handheld night vision binoculars, which would require a minimum of three hands. Stuff like that just drove me nuts because I hate reading something that makes me feel as if details don’t matter to the author, including my time.

[Merrit Townsend (always1morebook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by B. C. Lienesch and I absolutely loved it. It ia an easy read that I finished in 2 sittings. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy a great suspenseful thriller.

This book follows Angela Cole and Jackson Clay. Cole is a Major Crimes Detective assigned to a case of a possible abduction and Clay is a retired Army Ranger who is the Finder of of missing children. They work together of find Sara Beth Parker, a teenager abducted by an unknown group. Will they find her in time or will they be too late?

This story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I loved all of the characters introduced in this story and fell in love with Bear. He is an amazing addition to the story and can't wait to see him in the next. Clay has had it tough and I am glad he found Bear to help him. Cole was very strong natured and I loved her attitude. She put up with absolutely nothing and was so compassionate. Finding Sara meant everything to her. This book is full of intrigue, action and suspense. I loved it and can't wait for the next in the series. I will be picking it up.

***Content warning: This book deals with child abduction and human trafficking. There is also violence, dialog alluding to rape and issues dealing with a child murder that are unsuitable for younger readers.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book a little hesitant. There were a couple of personal red flags for me in the description for the book, so I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. However, I am very happy to report that I was totally wrong. I couldn't stop reading! I burnt through the audiobook in a matter of days, looking for any and every excuse to put it on while I drove or did housework.

The characters were well-written and very likeable, even the antagonists. As a vet and an outdoorsman myself, I immediately liked Jackson Clay's gruff demeanor and driven need to see the mission to completion. Bear became a favorite character after just two lines, and only became more loveable as the book continued.

The story was the right mix of suspense, action, and just a sprinkling of humor to add a little bit of light to the dark themes of the book. From the very start, The Woodsman is an emotional rollercoaster that will keep you itching for what happens next. The whole book threw me back to years ago when I was binging through the Bob Lee Swagger series by Stephen Hunter, which is high praise from me.

In summary, if you enjoy dark and gritty thrillers, you'll love The Woodsman. Period. Now excuse me while I itch and scratch while waiting for Country Roads, Chasing Devils, and Happyland to be released as audiobooks as well.

[Mary Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it was exciting all through the book. Although I did figure out one of the very bad guys as soon as he showed up, but the twist at the end made up for that.

[Kaitlyn | read_withkaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this read.

Being a VA native I recognized every place that was mentioned and it made the story that much better. Jackson & Bear are two of the best male non official crime fighters I’ve read about.

The storyline of this book was one I loved and kept me on the edge of my seat.

If you love a crime story filled with suspense, this is for you.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great suspense story. It’s one that you don’t want to stop reading.

[Scott Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from my wife, who read and reviewed it. This book was sent free of charge, and I am giving an honest review of the book without compensation.

This is a well written action thriller by first time author B. C. Lienesch. The main protagonist Jackson Clay is a former army special forces operator whose ultimate goal is the finding and retrieval of a teenage girl taken by a human trafficking ring. His unconventional methods are morally gray, but are effective in completing his mission. His back story is equally as interesting as to why he does what he does in "finding" stolen kids. Hopefully the author will continue this on with this series, as I feel it will do well. I am looking forward to future works from this author with Jackson Clay and his partner Bear Beauchamp using more unconventional (and sometimes violent) methods to recover stolen or trafficked children.

[Brian Driver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m typically on the lookout for Sci-Fi books, but after I had the chance to meet Mr. Lienesch at a local book sale, I bought his first novel THE WOODSMAN. At the time I did so not only because his presentation of his novel intrigued me, but also out of consideration for how hard it is for independent authors to make their break.

Whatever my reasons, I made a good decision.

THE WOODSMAN is a solid, good read: a detective novel that also has just the right mixture of suspense, solid drama, violence, and a look at a very seamy side of life. The pacing is very good – the book moves along at a good clip without that “drag” around the middle of the narration to which even accomplished authors can fall prey. But what I thought really ramped up this narration to a higher level was the characterization that began with protagonist Jackson Clay, about whom I suspect we’ve only begun to scratch the surface, and then Bear, a character who appeared in the second half of the book and quickly became a man about whom I always wanted to know more. It wasn’t only the mystery that drove me on; it was also the interplay of these two extremely dogged and heroic characters..

These two characters didn’t lack for heroism. I think many men who read or watch characters like these often do so to test themselves, to decide what they might do if faced with this kind of a situation. And while reading this novel, to be honest, there were several times that I sensed the evil that they were facing and told myself, within my heart of hearts, to RUN. After all, what kind of people feel themselves capable of sneaking into a camp of horrible people who would do horrible things in order to protect their horrible secrets? But Jackson and Bear always plugged ahead and saw things through, at great risk and peril to themselves, and in so doing became characters I will measure myself by when I continue reading. And beyond my simple admiration of them, I enjoyed their interplay: while Jackson Clay was as serious as a heart attack, Bear was a crazy man. And both were admirable people.

The real good news for me was that l will be able to continue learning about tthem: I’ve seen that B. C. Lienesch has already written three more books, so I plan to steel myself and buy some books and let Jackson and Bear cover my back.

[Nova Marcin · Rating 2 out of 5]

So just to start off, I dont want this to come across as harsh. I had a chance to meet him when he was doing a book signing and I picked this up on a whim. But heres why I gave it two stars (and frankly it should really be a one in my opinion). Overall, it felt like I was reading the plot to a two part episode of Law and Order SVU only not as good.

First let me say this. The only reason this book is not a 1 star in my opinion is because of Bear Beauchamp. He is the saving grace that made reading this even somewhat worth it. But even that is a stretch.

1. His writing style just isnt for me at all. He is overly descriptive and at times it really takes away from the story hes writing. The same amount of things can be said in fewer words and not make it sound redundant. He actually writes, not as an inner monologue of someone, "Sarah Beth Parker was somewhere, but she wasnt here." Plus he keeps putting "so and so said" in the book when its just between two people so it isnt necessary. It disrupts the flow.
2. A lot of the specific products made it feel like it was one big advertisement. I dont need to know that someone is eating a subway sandwich, that they can collect footage off of a Ring doorbell, or that hes driving a Ford f-150. It just takes me out of it.
3. He clearly didnt have an editor because I found so many typos and mistakes. Not grammar ones per se (since I'm bad with grammar myself) but things like punctuation in the wrong spot, a missing space, misspelling a word, even putting two S's in Subaru. For someone with an eye for details like that, and the fact that it happened throughout the whole book, was really upsetting.

This next part is a spoiler so read at your own risk.

4. It takes half the book to introduce the best part of the book, Bear as well as start making progress towards tracking down the cult. The problem is that the actual part of the book with the cult was over so quickly it left me extremely disappointed and frankly that was the whole reason I was reading it.
5. Someone else said this in their review but the villain of this book is so painfully obvious, it felt like it was pulled out of your basic TV plot. Anyone with any knowledge about plot points and writing could figure out who the bad guy was as soon as he showed up it only made the reveal feel like a "yeah I knew it" instead of a "no way!" moment.

[Scott Vout · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of my personal reading goals for the last couple of years is to try to make 25% of the books I read be new authors to me. This is one of those.

I saw so much potential with this character. The storyline I liked. Saver of stolen children. Can't get much more righteous then that. The secondary character was supposed to be the comic relief I am guessing. Not a total fail but far from a success. If you have read any of my reviews you will know I dislike too much backstory. Give me what I need and let's move on. What we receive for Clay I am content with. But Bear, who is bear. Redneck in the woods with guns and no job. Even I need a bit more than that.

Now I am not a military expert by any stretch, but I do know a bit about the reality of firearms. It is nice to see all the big bore weapons and have the ability to throw throw that much lead downrange but I dont think a lot of research was done into these weapons. Not the worst thing in the world as your average reader wont care anyway, they just want the bullets to fly.

Now your about the author said this was your first book. So here is the cutting of the slack. I am presuming there will be more in this series if there is not already. I will be looking for book two down the road, so please, see the mistakes, learn from the mistakes, fix the mistakes. I will always give one second chance.

Like I said, I see some good potential in the Clay character.

[John Rumery · Rating 3 out of 5]

A missed opportunity to write a decent thriller. In this case, the plotting was wack. Two examples.

1. The entire drama of the abducted girl could been solved much earlier if the main character shared what he learned with his buddies from law enforcement. But no. He kept his leads secret for days. It wasn’t deep investigative work even.
2. His partner in crime, a lovable big redneck named Bear. Where do I start. Loveable, comic sidekick… but how does this partnership happen? he meets a random guy in a random dive bar. The random guy turns out to have an incredible arsenal of weapons, multiple vehicles, and has absolutely nothing better to do than partner up with Clay. Please. Give Bear a backstory. Trust fund redneck? Ex military? Vengeful uncle?

Being a funny good guy living in the woods with no life is not good enough.

The author has some skills- is a decent writer but not much of a storyteller.

[Eileen Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Reacher fan? Read this book.

I read “Country Roads” first and immediately knew I needed to read the first book in the series. In this book, a young girl disappears from the small town in which she lives as she sneaks out to meet friends. It turns out that she was not the first person who was taken.

Jackson has made helping people his life’s work since his son disappeared and his marriage crumbled. When he learns of the girl’s disappearance, he knows he must find her. He teams with a jolly hirsute man aptly nicknamed Bear, whom he meets at a bar. Bear has an armory in his house, and they are going to need all of it to rescue the girl and put an end to the group who took her.

Highly recommend this book and its sequel, “Country Roads.”

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with B.C. Lienesch's work, and it was riveting. Once the audiobook started, my attention was so captured by the story, that I had to listen until the end in one sitting. Jackson Clay was once an Army Ranger. Now he has been asked to use his skills to locate a missing teenager. The story had several surprising twists and turns. Jackson Clay was a fascinating and complicated character. I liked Bear Beauchamp has he added some lightness in a very dark and tragic situation. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. P.J. Freebourn's narration was great, and his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which included my opinions.

[John Hinchliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have listened to the Audible version of this book.
This is the first B.C. Lienesch book I have listened to and I certainly hope it will not be the last. It is very well written and action packed from the very first chapter to the last. Jackson is a finder, a father who's son was abducted from a fairground years earlier and he has vowed to find kidnapped children so that other parents should not have to undergo the agonies he and his estranged wife had to. He teams up with Bear Beauchamp, a man who lives up to his name and together they are a force to be reckoned with. PJ Freebourn's narration is excellent and brings the whole gripping story to life. I look forward to hopefully listening to many more in this series. Highly Recommended.

[Rosi Guyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, suspenseful, and intriguing from beginning to end. Very well written and engaging. At times I cursed out author B.C. Lienesch for leaving me hanging at the end of the chapter and super anxious to read ahead to uncover the "reveal" from the previous cliffhanger. I read the book on a train ride from VA to NY and was oddly thrilled when the train was stuck in between states for a while due to mechanical issues. You will not want to put the book down! Two thumbs up, five stars, kudos and all the accolades are very much deserved. Definitely did not disappoint!!! [Im]patiently waiting for book number two.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited
If you enjoy Reacher, you will love Jackson and Bear. They consider themselves 'finders' and are willing to hunt for anything or anyone who needs finding. Southern boys, they are polite, respectful, and loaded for bear. The locale is that of another favorite author of mine, Carolyn Arnold, and encompasses the multi-state area of the south surrounding Washington, DC so lots of roads to roam, lots of well-defined sights to see, and tons of action. This is a series we don't want to miss. I'm sure glad I didn't.
REVIEWED on April 4, 2025, at Goodreads, and AmazonSmile. Not available at B&N, BookBub, or Kobo.

[Sam Spade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action thriller about an ex Army Ranger whose 5 year old son was taken by a pedophile and murdered which also cost the break up of his marriage. He channeled his anguish into finding children who have been taken. Sixteen year old Sara Beth Parker taken by a cult that is involved in sex trafficking. A detective working the case and not having success reaches out to Jackson Clay who has had success before in this type of case.

Clay takes the cult head on with an assist with new found friend Archibald (Bear) Beauchamp. who does not like the term redneck and prefers "rural enthusiast". These two are a formidable team.

This is the first book in a series.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

After getting into the first couple chapters, this book was hard to put down. I'm not the type of person who reads too many books in a year, because typically books don't hook me like The Woodsman did. I got to the point where I was looking forward to diving into the next chapter, staying up late, finding time to take breaks from work to read a chapter or two. The story is well developed, and I liked how the book didn't just meet what I was expecting to happen, Bryan crafted a plot that kept me on my toes a bit. I'm looking forward to more of his work!

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing narration of PJ Freebourn, who brings this story to alive to your ears. You feel the emotions and action.

Jackson is a father who's son was abducted from a fairground years ago. Jackson made a vowed to help find kidnapped children. Making sure that other parents should not have to suffer the pain and agony h e and his estranged wife had to. Teaming up with Bear Beauchamp, who lives up to his name. Jackson and Bear together are a force you do not want to mess with as they hunt for a missing girl .

Excellent, action, suspense and drama

[Lois Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Not normally a book I would pick for myself but it was really good! It kept me on the edge of my seat and played out like one of those Liam Neeson (Taken) movies! I loved the multiple points of view. The short chapters kept the story moving. We had a blizzard here in NY and it was the perfect book to hide in my blankets and read!!! I hope it turns into a whole series 😍! Thank you so much @nbbtours for the opportunity and especially @bclienesch for writing such a great book 📕!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by B. C. Lienesch and I really enjoyed it! Full of action and suspense this book had me at the end of my seat a few times! All of the characters were great. But my favorite was Cole! Jackson Clay is also very interesting, just the back story and the reason why he does what he does is intriguing! It's well written and engaging! The way the author does the mini cliffhangers at the end of some chapters will have you glued to the very end! Happy reading everyone!

[Alan McIlroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very satisfying. The main character is a man on a mission to rescue children who have been abducted (as his son was abducted,but not rescued) and punish the offenders (as he did to his son’s abductor). The appealing thing is his independence from traditional law enforcement but in coordination with them. He’s more of a facilitator than a vigilante. If you like this genre, you’ll sail through this book.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overtakes evil

I like it when a story ends with justice being served. The storyline was relatively good. I enjoyed the action and I didn't have to wade through sewer language. There were one or two places the author mixed the names of the characters up and I had to read the paragraph over a time or two before I figured out what had happened. In any case you want a good, clean action book, I recommend reading it.

[Rose Ann King · Rating 1 out of 5]

A train wreck in slow motion.

I actually stayed with this book just to see how many stereotypes the author would use! He got them all with the exclusion of a jihadist and slain Jew. The story line was all over the map. No word building, just a series of events and random acts of violence that destroyed a plot that could have been interesting and believable. When ATF has to save the hero...well there's just no place else to go.

[Austin Shirey · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WOODSMAN is an astoundingly confident and polished debut by B.C. Lienesch, filled with richly drawn characters - some that will feel like old friends by the end of the book, some that you'll love to hate - and brimming with heart-stopping thrills and pulsing action scenes. Jackson Clay is a character to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Jack Reacher. Don't sleep on this!

[Andi Monhollen-hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a random find on Kindle Unlimited and I am so happy that I found it! This was an excellent book! Sadly, there are only 2 by this author and I am looking forward to reading more from him. The main character is flawed but strong and has a very calming way about him. I was taken in from the beginning and could not put it down!

[Ron Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great one.... Way past good!

This one grabs you by the throat in the first couple of pages and never lets go. I read a lot and this is what I am looking for. I read the whole book in a day, finishing at almost midnight. Already looking forward to the next book in the series.