Robber Barons: A Gritt Family Novel Book 3

by Rodger Carlyle

In 1865, as the U.S. acquires Alaska from Russia, powerful industrialists move in—crushing small traders, seizing fisheries, and starving Native communities. The Gritt brothers, one running steamboats on the Yukon and the other trading vessels in southern Alaska, refuse to stand by, but their resistance makes them targets.
They’re soon joined by two a determined young attorney escaping the good-old-boy system and a Native teacher and lay minister. Together they confront a ruthless Canadian mastermind whose brutal operatives, veterans of the Boer War, will stop at nothing.
As violence spreads from Alaska to Washington, Boston, and Montreal, the Gritts struggle against corruption and intimidation. But when their enemies underestimate the women—brilliant organizers who can also shoot—the balance of power begins to shift.

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

RODGER CARLYLE is a pilot, adventurer, political strategist, ghostwriter and novelist who writes both thrillers and historical fiction. He likes to find historic events that are ignored or covered up by the powerful when some strategy or plan goes completely to hell, and from there creates a passionate adventure that often tells a more complete story than traditional history…one that the reader just has to finish. Rodger’s thrillers are drawn from current events and conflicts such as the rekindled Cold War or US-Iranian hostilities. From there he develops a story that shows just how brutal unfinished business can be.

The heroes in his stories are ordinary people pushed to do extraordinary things that some writers would hand off to a superhero. Like in Rodger’s life, that includes a heightened passion that comes with life threatening events and periods of conflict.

Rodger is comfortable in black tie urban settings but is never happier than in the wilderness. As a world traveler, he’s faced down muggers in San Francisco, intimidation by Russian Mafia, and charging grizzly bears. Most of his stories take readers to places they will never visit. He likes to think that he is there with them. More at rodgercarlyle.com.

Reviews

[Mark Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely blessed to receive an early copy of Robber Barons by Rodger Carlyle. Action, intrigue, and adventure fill this book from start to finish. Rodger has a way of pulling you into his stories and transporting you across time with his historical fiction stories.

Robber Barons: In 1865, as industrialists exploit Alaska post-U.S. acquisition, the Gritt brothers resist a ruthless Canadian mastermind and his Boer War veteran operatives. Joined by a sharp female attorney and a Native teacher, they fight corruption and violence across Alaska, Washington, Boston, and Montreal, with the women’s strategic and sharpshooting skills tipping the scales.

I would highly recommend Rodger Carlyle’s Gritt series to all fans of historical fiction and all of his other books to anyone looking for a great read!

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must confess to not having read the first books about the Gritt family, but after reading this I need to go and get them and catch up. Robber Barons by Rodger Carlyle was a pleasant surprise for me. I have tried some of his other work previously and they are good. This one though ticks several boxes for me. I love a good western (Maybe this should be a "Northern") and I love a good mystery and I really like adventures set in harsh climate. I got a surprise request from the folks behind this book if I would like to read it and why not. I am so glad I did. The story is mostly set in Alaska and deals with all the diffe5rent kind of people who went there to get rich or just make a living and the ones who where already there. I have through the years read many books about both Alaska and Canada during this timeperiod and I love them. This book is very well written and it actually deals with a lot that most books don't and then we add all the characters that passes through, both good and bad and we also get a dynasty in the making. What's not to love. I must thank the author and publisher for letting me read this advance copy and I recommend that you all get a copy when it releases in early February 2026.