Robber Barons

by Rodger Carlyle

In 1865, the U.S. acquires Alaska from Russia. Over the next thirty years, 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 women: Danielle Post, a newly minted attorney who comes to Alaska where she won’t have to fight the good old boy network and Belle Medev, an Alaska Native lay minister and teacher. Together they confront a ruthless Canadian mastermind whose brutal operatives will stop at nothing to destroy the Alaska they love.
As violence spreads from Alaska to Washington, Boston, and Montreal, the Gritt brothers struggle against corruption and intimidation. But when their enemies underestimate Danielle and Belle—brilliant organizers who can also shoot—the balance of power begins to shift.

416 pages, Paperback

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

[Teresa Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every book Rodger Carlyle has written and had the chance to meet and interview him, so I can tell you firsthand that his passion for storytelling runs deep. You can feel it in the pages, in the care he takes with research and historical accuracy, and in the vivid sense of time and place that he brings to life. Whether he is writing about the Gritt family or another era entirely, his love for history and the people who shaped it shines through.

Set in 1865, as the United States takes possession of Alaska, this story unfolds against a backdrop of unchecked greed and corruption. The Gritt brothers stand in stark contrast to the ruthless industrialists who descend on the territory to strip it of its riches, crushing small traders and exploiting Native communities. One brother runs steamboats on the Yukon while the other trades along Alaska’s southern coast, and both refuse to yield to men who would destroy everything for profit. The attention to real locations, historical context, and even the inclusion of a tribute to a true Alaskan, Old Joe, give the book an authenticity that pulls you completely into the frontier world.

What elevates this story even more are the people who fight beside the brothers; those you root for and trust. Danielle Post, a young attorney with grit and grace, and Belle Medev, an Alaskan native whose quiet strength and faith ground the story, bring balance and hope to a brutal time. The novel captures the heart of what made America’s expansion both inspiring and devastating. It reads like Ken Follett’s sweeping historical drama laced with the rugged soul of Louis L’Amour. From Alaska to Washington and beyond, this is a journey through courage, greed, and the enduring power of integrity

[Gene Koon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robber Barons is epic and immersive. Rodger Carlyle blends history, action, and romance into a high-stakes thriller, painting a detailed, cinematic world that comes alive. You don’t simply observe events—you experience them through a superb cast of characters.
The historical backdrop isn’t just expertly researched—it lives and breathes through the Gritt brothers. The action is sharp, the romance adds real depth, and the tension is relentless.
When the book ends, it doesn’t release you. It stays with you, making you think about America then and now, and how little separates the two.

[Steve Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger Carlyle is an amazing novelist that you don't want to miss.

Growing up with a love for historical fiction, I was captivated by Rodger Carlyle’s Robber Barons, the third frontier epic in the Gritt Family series. Set in the rugged landscape of 1865, the novel is a superbly written, historically accurate thriller that captures the volatile era following the U.S. acquisition of Alaska.

See my complete review here: https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/ste...

[Scott Haakenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest in the Gritt family books. Mr. Carlyle has done an excellent job of combining the Gritt family and locals Danielle & Belle in defending the land of the natives and their way of life. Set in Alaska, prior to statehood, they fight the large conglomerations eager to make a profit in the new frontier. I felt like I was a part of their fight. Excellent read!!! I highly recommend it.

[Linda Swick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s great