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Backtrack
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26On the deceptively calm waters of Alaska’s Inside Passage, a generations-old vendetta catches up to Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter in New York Times bestselling author and former U.S. Marshal Marc Cameron’s chilling new wilderness thriller for fans of Paul Doiron, CJ Box, Taylor Moore, and William Kent Krueger.
1977. D Wayne Cutter is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, part-time horseshoer, and a full-time Texas deputy sheriff with a second grandchild on the way when a quiet Sunday morning ends in murder and a manhunt. The theft of five million dollars in diamonds from an armored truck leaves two guards dead, one outlaw tracked down and taken out by Cutter, and another, Ricky Lee Pink—two-hundred-forty pounds of teenage rage—sentenced to life. The diamonds were never recovered. And Pinky never forgot that heist gone violently wrong.
2026. Following in the righteous footsteps of his late grandfather, Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter gets word that Pinky has been granted release. Nursing a grudge for decades, Pinky vows to avenge the murder of his criminal mentor and find the whereabouts of the stolen gems that he believes is a buried Cutter family secret. Boarding an Alaskan cruise ship, and joined by two miscreant cellmates and his penpal girlfriend, Pinky aims for Anchorge—home to his ultimate target: everyone Arliss holds near and dear. Arliss must move fast because Pinky has the edge. And he has the mind to make the last living Cutter pay.
1977. D Wayne Cutter is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, part-time horseshoer, and a full-time Texas deputy sheriff with a second grandchild on the way when a quiet Sunday morning ends in murder and a manhunt. The theft of five million dollars in diamonds from an armored truck leaves two guards dead, one outlaw tracked down and taken out by Cutter, and another, Ricky Lee Pink—two-hundred-forty pounds of teenage rage—sentenced to life. The diamonds were never recovered. And Pinky never forgot that heist gone violently wrong.
2026. Following in the righteous footsteps of his late grandfather, Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter gets word that Pinky has been granted release. Nursing a grudge for decades, Pinky vows to avenge the murder of his criminal mentor and find the whereabouts of the stolen gems that he believes is a buried Cutter family secret. Boarding an Alaskan cruise ship, and joined by two miscreant cellmates and his penpal girlfriend, Pinky aims for Anchorge—home to his ultimate target: everyone Arliss holds near and dear. Arliss must move fast because Pinky has the edge. And he has the mind to make the last living Cutter pay.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 28, 2026
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About the author
Marc Cameron
46 books2,056 followersA native of Texas, Marc Cameron is a retired Chief Deputy US Marshal who spent nearly thirty years in law enforcement. His assignments have taken him from rural Alaska to Manhattan, from Canada to Mexico and points in between. A second degree black belt in jujitsu, he often teaches defensive tactics to other law enforcement agencies and civilian groups. Cameron lives in Alaska with his wife and BMW motorcycle.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's Texas, 1977, and a group of lethal men aim to knock off an armored car in a heist that would yield them a fortune in diamonds. It all goes pear-shaped, and a shootout as nightmarish as Mr. Pink's escape in Reservoir Dogs is followed by an intense white-knuckled car chase, culminating in Texas Deputy Sheriff D Wayne Cutter taking down one of the thieves with clever words and even better shooting. His heroic action saves a hostage, but enrages the surviving robbers a new height of fury. In the chaos of burning rubber smoke and blood spray, the location of the diamonds becomes a mystery. The reader is left to mull over if it was an inside job, or perhaps one of the first officers on the scene, even Wayne Cutter himself who grabbed the stones? For all the uncertainty in Backtrack's opening, we know for sure ferocious characters exist on both sides of the law.
Another timeline occurs in present day, as Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter, grandson of D Wayne, receives a call from one of his four ex-wife’s (only half a Liz Taylor's). She’s on a cruise and feels the uncomfortable sensation of being followed. Cutter is in possession of warrants he needs to chase down near Anchorage, the boat’s port of call, so he decides to orbit nearby and observe. Apparently out one of the robbers from 1970’s Texas timeline, a hulking massive psychopath, was just a kid. Now, in his 60's, the deranged con has dreamed of revenge for more than four decades upon anyone with the Cutter name. The family is an unaware target and in incredible danger.
If you're raising an eyebrow at a book with that opening. a shoot-em-up plot synopsis receiving a five-star rating, you're within your rights. But, rest assured, from plotting, pacing, emotional range, characterization, quality of prose, tone, atmosphere, the crossing of two timelines, quite literally all elements in Backtrack, are executed with supreme artistry. I'd not encountered an Arliss Cutter novel before (there are eight previous), but it works wonderfully as a standalone. Wayne Cutter might be the kind of man that does not name his horses or lose sleep over killing other violent men, but the level of tenderness he demonstrates while helping the woman he dearly loves hold onto to dignity as she dies of cancer might crumbled you with emotion.
This is an action novel with amazing action sequences, yes indeed, but our author provides every character, even small ones with authentic humanness and elegant vulnerability. Backtrack is the bar with which “action” novels released in 2026 should be measured. The finale is so good you'll likely read it twice.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a review copy.
Another timeline occurs in present day, as Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter, grandson of D Wayne, receives a call from one of his four ex-wife’s (only half a Liz Taylor's). She’s on a cruise and feels the uncomfortable sensation of being followed. Cutter is in possession of warrants he needs to chase down near Anchorage, the boat’s port of call, so he decides to orbit nearby and observe. Apparently out one of the robbers from 1970’s Texas timeline, a hulking massive psychopath, was just a kid. Now, in his 60's, the deranged con has dreamed of revenge for more than four decades upon anyone with the Cutter name. The family is an unaware target and in incredible danger.
If you're raising an eyebrow at a book with that opening. a shoot-em-up plot synopsis receiving a five-star rating, you're within your rights. But, rest assured, from plotting, pacing, emotional range, characterization, quality of prose, tone, atmosphere, the crossing of two timelines, quite literally all elements in Backtrack, are executed with supreme artistry. I'd not encountered an Arliss Cutter novel before (there are eight previous), but it works wonderfully as a standalone. Wayne Cutter might be the kind of man that does not name his horses or lose sleep over killing other violent men, but the level of tenderness he demonstrates while helping the woman he dearly loves hold onto to dignity as she dies of cancer might crumbled you with emotion.
This is an action novel with amazing action sequences, yes indeed, but our author provides every character, even small ones with authentic humanness and elegant vulnerability. Backtrack is the bar with which “action” novels released in 2026 should be measured. The finale is so good you'll likely read it twice.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
464 pages
5 stars
Mr. Cameron has surpassed all of my expectations and hopes in penning this book. I cannot praise this novel enough. It is suspenseful, exciting, reads quickly and the characters, although familiar, surpass themselves. It was an especial delight to get to know both D. Wayne “Grumpy” and his lovely wife Lucy. L.J. Johnson was an added bonus. A little shaky at first, he blossomed into a fine man and officer.
Deputy US Marshall Arliss and his partner Lola are still the solid professionals that I’ve come to know and love.
In this installment of the series, in addition to learning about D. Wayne and L.J., we are treated to an awful incident of an armored car robbery. The action is taut and harrowing. The perpetrators are awful people who rampage though the county causing death and mayhem.
Flashing forward, Arliss receives a message from one of his former wives that she is being followed. Arliss and Lola investigate and indeed JoEllen is in danger. The reader is treated the a tour of Alaska, and a huge cruise ship named Polar Star as it travels the coast line of Alaska. (Interestingly enough, my husband was stationed on the Polar Star Icebreaker when he was in the Coast Guard.)
The chase is exciting, interesting and features several colorful locations in coastal Alaska.
I loved this thrilling book. I will definitely read it again. Mr. Cameron’s books are top notch, both in entertainment and writing.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing - Kensington for forwarding this book to me. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
Mr. Cameron has surpassed all of my expectations and hopes in penning this book. I cannot praise this novel enough. It is suspenseful, exciting, reads quickly and the characters, although familiar, surpass themselves. It was an especial delight to get to know both D. Wayne “Grumpy” and his lovely wife Lucy. L.J. Johnson was an added bonus. A little shaky at first, he blossomed into a fine man and officer.
Deputy US Marshall Arliss and his partner Lola are still the solid professionals that I’ve come to know and love.
In this installment of the series, in addition to learning about D. Wayne and L.J., we are treated to an awful incident of an armored car robbery. The action is taut and harrowing. The perpetrators are awful people who rampage though the county causing death and mayhem.
Flashing forward, Arliss receives a message from one of his former wives that she is being followed. Arliss and Lola investigate and indeed JoEllen is in danger. The reader is treated the a tour of Alaska, and a huge cruise ship named Polar Star as it travels the coast line of Alaska. (Interestingly enough, my husband was stationed on the Polar Star Icebreaker when he was in the Coast Guard.)
The chase is exciting, interesting and features several colorful locations in coastal Alaska.
I loved this thrilling book. I will definitely read it again. Mr. Cameron’s books are top notch, both in entertainment and writing.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing - Kensington for forwarding this book to me. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Backtrack is a phenomenally written book filled with action, suspense, emotion and family. A brilliantly crafted tale of past and present. Another home run from the pen of the great Marc Cameron!
For 7 previous books in this series, readers have gotten a glimpse into the man known as Grumpy Cutter, Arliss’ grandfather who raised him. Now in Backtrack, the brilliant usage of dual timelines allows us to see Grumpy in action, learn more about what made him tick, and see the beginnings of his wisdom that he passes down to Arliss. And it’s even more fantastic as fans of this series could have hoped for. Shootouts, manhunting, tracking, showing a young deputy the ropes, going through the emotional situation with his wife, and more is not only a way to provide insight into how Arliss turns out the way he does, but gives us the gift of getting to know Grumpy at a deep level.
The result of these two storylines coming together is one hell of a fun story that advances reader’s understanding and appreciation of these characters. Furthering the depth of connection we have with them. And solidifying this as one of the best law enforcement thriller series in the genre today.
Backtrack is a phenomenally written book filled with action, suspense, emotion and family. A brilliantly crafted tale of past and present. Another home run from the pen of the great Marc Cameron!
For 7 previous books in this series, readers have gotten a glimpse into the man known as Grumpy Cutter, Arliss’ grandfather who raised him. Now in Backtrack, the brilliant usage of dual timelines allows us to see Grumpy in action, learn more about what made him tick, and see the beginnings of his wisdom that he passes down to Arliss. And it’s even more fantastic as fans of this series could have hoped for. Shootouts, manhunting, tracking, showing a young deputy the ropes, going through the emotional situation with his wife, and more is not only a way to provide insight into how Arliss turns out the way he does, but gives us the gift of getting to know Grumpy at a deep level.
The result of these two storylines coming together is one hell of a fun story that advances reader’s understanding and appreciation of these characters. Furthering the depth of connection we have with them. And solidifying this as one of the best law enforcement thriller series in the genre today.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews