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A Sheriff Duke Story

Once. Just once.

Sheriff Hayden Duke would love to get involved in a mess that didn’t blow up into an all-out disaster.

Not this time.

His hunt for clues has led him to more questions and a whole heap of new trouble:

He lost his horse, his newest ally is a wanted man, and the enemy he’s chasing isn’t the enemy he expected.

They’re worse. Much, much worse.

They say no good deed goes unpunished. It's time for Hayden to punish back...

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2019

616 people are currently reading
62 people want to read

About the author

M.R. Forbes

166 books1,009 followers
M.R. Forbes is the author of a growing number of science-fiction series including Rebellion, War Eternal, Chaos of the Covenant, Stars End, and the Forgotten novels. Having spent his childhood trying to read every sci-fi novel he could find (and write his own too), play every sci-fi video game he could get his hands on, and see every sci-fi movie that made it into the theater, he has a true love of the genre across every medium. He works hard to bring that same energy to his own stories, with a continuing goal to entertain, delight, fascinate, and surprise.

He maintains a true appreciation for his readers and is always happy to hear from them.

To learn more about M.R. Forbes or just say hello:

Visit his website:
mrforbes.com

Send him an e-mail:
michael@mrforbes.com

Check out his Facebook page:
facebook.com/mrforbes.author

Join his Facebook fan group:
facebook.com/groups/mrforbes

Follow him on Instagram:
instagram.com/mrforbes_author

Find him on Goodreads:
goodreads.com/mrforbes

Follow him on Bookbub:
bookbub.com/authors/m-r-forbes

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5 stars
500 (63%)
4 stars
232 (29%)
3 stars
49 (6%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Sasch Stormcloak.
152 reviews
June 14, 2019
Another great installment in our favorite Sci-fi western saga. When shit hits the fan; when Earth’s fate depends on a war fought since long before our very existence; when even our own kind looks at us with contempt from their hiding spot among the stars... when everything seems lost to reckless aliens... trust the badass Sheriff.

New enemies, unexpected allies. 250 years of mysteries finally (partially) explained. This saga gets better at every page you turn.

“My commanding officer used to say that if you think you’re crazy, it means you aren’t crazy.”

“Any man who’s fearless is an idiot,”

- “You have my respect, Sheriff.”
+ “You killed innocent people that never did any harm to you. You have none of mine.”
Profile Image for Noodle The Naughty Night Owl.
2,329 reviews38 followers
April 18, 2019
6/10: Good light-weight read, well done

“Can’t you go one year without losing a limb? Do you think we have an endless supply?”

It was good to be back in the Forgotten Universe. And I did enjoy this instalment. However, having just completed a run of excellent sci-fi books in an addictive and well-written series, this one did fall just a little flat in comparison.

“As you ask, so it will be done.”

Still, I am invested in Sheriff Duke and did enjoy aspects of this story. In particular the baddies (the Khoron) as well as the addition of Max...

“Hahahaha. Haha.”

I’ll definitely be reading on as this is a favourite author and world for me. But it was also no The Expanse on this occasion. Fun and easy but not wowing.

3-star read.
Profile Image for Gareth.
274 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2019
Wow

I have enjoyed every single one of the books in the forgotten universe immensely since the very first one, but this one was different. This one finally started to knit all the different books together into something which is going to be epic!

M.R. Forbes is an excellent story teller and author and this book proves it. I don't want to add any spoilers but if you're into post apocalypse and sci fi, you really need to read the forgotten universe from the beginning .

You won't be disappointed
71 reviews
August 11, 2021
Wow!

Fluid and exciting!
The old and new characters,,,, cannot help but feel a bond towards all the "light" bringers ensconced with dark depravity of the worst of what a human being can become when times are tough. Sadly, the truth is, most people would react and enlist their worst selves to survive, creating victims within their wake.

Therefore, Sheriff Duke is a beacon of hope.

I highly recommend the entire "Forgotten" book series!

Thank you for the hours of time spent within my vivid imagination!
Profile Image for Marcus.
764 reviews4 followers
July 19, 2020
Good Fight

Thus continues the saga of Sheriff Duke. The mystery deepens and continues. In this installment the reader is given another piece of the puzzle concerning the aliens, how the earth got into the predicament that its in, the humans on Proxima, and Sheriff Duke's inability to give up.
365 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2021
Most of the book is at the level of Okay. The action might even make it up to 3 star good level. But a lot of the backstory and such is just so damn incredulous that it keeps pulling me out of the story. Some stuff should just be magic. I can accept magic being magic. Divine powers being divine. But when your sci-fi is as or more out there than magic? Yeah. I can't do it.
Profile Image for Paul Daborn.
39 reviews
February 10, 2022
Confusion, clarification and high adventure!

Another emotional rollercoaster of a ride as Forbes puts his characters and readers through the wringer. Things are falling into place, even as the bigger picture becomes more complex. The whole thing just leaves you desperate to ride out again with Sheriff Duke on his next impossible quest.
Profile Image for Bryce White.
12 reviews
April 19, 2019
A saga worth reading

This has been a journey, with so many unexpected turns. The old west feel, mixed with a post apocalyptic setting combined with a massive alien war has drawn me in and wanting to read more.
Profile Image for Will  England.
86 reviews3 followers
September 28, 2020
We meet Max!

Ok, so I'm reading this all out of sequence, but we get to meet the Axon intellect called Max. If you haven't seen him yet, just wait! Excellent apocalyptic future novel, with threads throughout all of the books I've read from M. R. Forbes. Hope there's more to come!
12 reviews
August 7, 2021
Post war world

The sheriff has a lot on his hands, fighting powerful alien monsters that influence the victims minds turning them into his willingly subjects. Sheriff Duke has to get their minds back at the same time save the city.
127 reviews
November 17, 2021
Do bad people run the world

Never expect help from the corrupt government. Trust only your local sheriff, he should be on your side. If you're waiting for the government's experiments to work to save you then you will not make it.
54 reviews
April 27, 2019
Wonderful!

Another great installment to this amazing series. The world of sheriff duke is non stop action packed awsomeness!! Keep up the great work!
32 reviews
May 4, 2019
And...

Good story but after so many semi-connected books and story threads I'm starting to lose interest. Might be time for a Pozz.....
Profile Image for Corlia.
53 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2019
Murphy' Law

Everything that can go wrong will go wrong in this book. The fight against the earthers enemies seems a lost battle.
73 reviews
June 8, 2019
Continues to excite!!!

Story continues to unfold in a manner forcing you to keep up at an speedy rate of excitement!! Next chapter figures to be the best!
Profile Image for Tyler.
101 reviews
July 9, 2019
This Series is unbelievable

I simply can't get enough of the forgotten , there is no other series like it. I hope this becomes a show one day.
Profile Image for Dan Finkelman.
29 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2020
Good escapist sci-fi western. Not heavy and not intellectual. But fun.
1,037 reviews4 followers
May 31, 2020
Great read...

I'm enjoying these books very much! I have read all of the other books in this series! Headed to the next book!
Profile Image for Owen Beattie.
35 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2020
Great Read!

Another exciting instalment from Forbes, more drama, death, destruction, beautifully blended into a great story, I’m getting straight into the next one!
183 reviews1 follower
July 15, 2022
Still looking

I’m so loving this series! The good guys are winning but losing many along the path. Can someone really love so that they let them go into danger in this way? 🤷‍♀️
4 reviews
August 14, 2022
Great series! I haven't put them down

I am really enjoying this series, every book is compelling and seems too short. You won't be disappointed. Original storytelling at its best.
285 reviews
October 24, 2022
A good story with a bittersweet ending. Much better than the first book in the series. This one had a few surprises.
348 reviews
September 11, 2023
This book made me sad

This book made me sad. So many losses, and good people, too. How will UWT members ever come back from that?
On to the next book to find out...
317 reviews
September 29, 2024
I enjoyed the book. It's one mystery after another. I liked all the characters. I think the relationship between Sheriff Duke and Nat is what keeps me reading the books.
5 reviews
March 14, 2025
The saga of Sheriff Duke keeps accelerating!

MR Forbes, I don’t know how you keep making this better and better with each book. Just amazing. Cannot wait to start No Way Back.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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