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Arliss Cutter #3
Bone Rattle
In the icy heart of Alaska, a series of gruesome murders leads Deputy US Marshal Arliss Cutter into a firestorm of searing corruption, clashing cultures, and bone-chilling fear…
In Juneau, a young Native archeologist is sent to protect the ancient burial sites uncovered by an Alaskan gold mining company. He never returns.
In Anchorage, a female torso—minus head, hands, and feet—is washed ashore near a jogging trail by the airport. It is not the first.
At Alaska’s Fugitive Task Force, Arliss Cutter and deputy Lola Teariki are pulled from their duties and sent to a federal court in Juneau. Instead of tracking dangerous fugitives, Cutter and Lola will be keeping track of sequestered jurors in a high-profile trial. The case involves a massive drug conspiracy with ties to a mining company, a lobbyist, and two state senators. When a prosecuting attorney is murdered—and a reporter viciously attacked—Cutter realizes they’re dealing with something much bigger, and darker, than a simple drug trial. The truth lies deep within the ancient sites and precious mines of this isolated land—and inside the cold hearts of those would kill to hide its secrets…
What’s buried in Alaska stays in Alaska.
In Juneau, a young Native archeologist is sent to protect the ancient burial sites uncovered by an Alaskan gold mining company. He never returns.
In Anchorage, a female torso—minus head, hands, and feet—is washed ashore near a jogging trail by the airport. It is not the first.
At Alaska’s Fugitive Task Force, Arliss Cutter and deputy Lola Teariki are pulled from their duties and sent to a federal court in Juneau. Instead of tracking dangerous fugitives, Cutter and Lola will be keeping track of sequestered jurors in a high-profile trial. The case involves a massive drug conspiracy with ties to a mining company, a lobbyist, and two state senators. When a prosecuting attorney is murdered—and a reporter viciously attacked—Cutter realizes they’re dealing with something much bigger, and darker, than a simple drug trial. The truth lies deep within the ancient sites and precious mines of this isolated land—and inside the cold hearts of those would kill to hide its secrets…
What’s buried in Alaska stays in Alaska.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2021
3168 people are currently reading
13153 people want to read
About the author
Marc Cameron
44 books2,039 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 - 30 of 409 reviews
March 21, 2021
Marc Cameron, an experienced ex-Deputy Marshall himself uses his background to inform and lend authenticity to his Supervisory Deputy Marshall Arliss Cutter of Alaska's Fugitive Task Force led by his boss, Chief Jill Phillips. Originally from Florida, he is a stand up good guy although with little in the way of social skills, mentoring and training his partner, a New Zealand Maori woman, Lola Teariki, and with a past that includes 4 wives, his last wife dying of breast cancer. He is heavily supporting the family of his dead brother, Ethan, the widowed Mim, her 8 year old twin sons, Michael and Matthew, and daughter, 15 year old Constance. Cutter's personal and professional life has been led by his grandfather Grumpy's Man Rules, rules he does not hesitate to pass on, such as a man doesn't play until the chores are done, guidance he offers to the twins.
When Native archaeologist, Isaac Merculief, discovers a rare and valuable bone rattle of a shaman in a grave uncovered by the construction of a road, he naively underestimates how far malign corporate interests will go to ensure that construction continues uninterrupted. In Anchorage, female body parts are being washed up on the coast, including a female torso that Lola is keen to investigate. However, she and Cutter are sent to Juneau to help guard a sequestered jury and protect the judge, Shawna Forsberg, in the trial of gang members, the drug smuggling Hernandez brothers, on conspiracy to distribute heroin. The trial is being covered by 31 year old Lori Maycomb, a native journalist with ambitions of writing a book, who anxiously awaits a call from a informant, only to miss it whilst she is in court. In this story of skullduggery, grisly murders, politicians, lobbyists, and deadly corporate corruption, Cutter is determined to do whatever it takes to protect a young confidential informant hiding out in the Alaskan wilderness of caves and old abandoned gold mines.
This is the first book of the series I have read, and I found it worked reasonably fine as a standalone. I was attracted to the book because of the Alaskan location, Cameron goes into detail with his atmospheric and rich descriptions that make it a magnificent and majestic central character, hand in hand with its history of native people and cultures as can be observed with the find of the bone rattle. One of my highlights were the intricate operational picture provided of the work of Deputy Marshalls, the hazards it might involve, such as Cutter being bitten by a felon's pet scorpion, and its co-operating role with other agencies, such as the APD and the FBI. This is an entertaining, engaging and action packed book that is likely to appeal to many other crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to Kensington Books for an ARC.
When Native archaeologist, Isaac Merculief, discovers a rare and valuable bone rattle of a shaman in a grave uncovered by the construction of a road, he naively underestimates how far malign corporate interests will go to ensure that construction continues uninterrupted. In Anchorage, female body parts are being washed up on the coast, including a female torso that Lola is keen to investigate. However, she and Cutter are sent to Juneau to help guard a sequestered jury and protect the judge, Shawna Forsberg, in the trial of gang members, the drug smuggling Hernandez brothers, on conspiracy to distribute heroin. The trial is being covered by 31 year old Lori Maycomb, a native journalist with ambitions of writing a book, who anxiously awaits a call from a informant, only to miss it whilst she is in court. In this story of skullduggery, grisly murders, politicians, lobbyists, and deadly corporate corruption, Cutter is determined to do whatever it takes to protect a young confidential informant hiding out in the Alaskan wilderness of caves and old abandoned gold mines.
This is the first book of the series I have read, and I found it worked reasonably fine as a standalone. I was attracted to the book because of the Alaskan location, Cameron goes into detail with his atmospheric and rich descriptions that make it a magnificent and majestic central character, hand in hand with its history of native people and cultures as can be observed with the find of the bone rattle. One of my highlights were the intricate operational picture provided of the work of Deputy Marshalls, the hazards it might involve, such as Cutter being bitten by a felon's pet scorpion, and its co-operating role with other agencies, such as the APD and the FBI. This is an entertaining, engaging and action packed book that is likely to appeal to many other crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to Kensington Books for an ARC.
April 12, 2021
Bone Rattle
by Marc Cameron is shocking, suspenseful, action-packed and distressing at times. It’s a crime thriller that also has aspects of an action-adventure thriller and is the third book in the Arliss Cutter series. This author and series are new-to-me, but the novel worked well as a stand-alone.
Normally Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutler and the rest of his Alaska Fugitive Task Force are tracking dangerous fugitives. However, he and Deputy Lola Teariki are pulled to protect jurors in a high-profile trial. When a murder occurs, Cutler knows there is more to the story than a drug trial. But what is really happening behind the scenes and who will survive?
During the course of the novel readers get to see different sides of Arliss. He has flaws and virtues just like everyone else. I got a good sense of how he treats his co-workers as well as his sister-in-law and her children. He is very protective of his team and underdogs, and he doesn’t tolerate bullies, no matter who they are. This can lead to some interesting interactions, to say the least. In this novel, we get to see character development with some of the secondary characters including Lola.
This book is set largely in and around Juneau, Alaska, with some scenes in the Anchorage area. The author does a great job of making the reader feel transported to mud season in Alaska. I felt as though I was living the events alongside the characters.
There are several sub-plots in the novel and not all of them are fully resolved, but the main story line and some of the others are fully resolved. Hopefully, the next book in the series will pick up these threads and bring them to closure. There are a few twists to the story, but some of the actions and deductions are over-the-top. However, it was so full of action and excitement that it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I was kept fully invested in the assignment becoming a success. But is that what happens? My one quibble is that there is some disjointedness that affected flow due to the number of sub-plots. Themes include fugitive tracking, drugs, corruption, jurisdiction games, murder, and much more.
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, and entertaining. If you enjoy action thrillers that have both strong male and female characters, then this may be the series for you. I look forward to reading more of this series. I can’t wait to find out what is next, as well as go back and read the first two books in this series.
Kensington Books and Marc Cameron provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 27, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Normally Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutler and the rest of his Alaska Fugitive Task Force are tracking dangerous fugitives. However, he and Deputy Lola Teariki are pulled to protect jurors in a high-profile trial. When a murder occurs, Cutler knows there is more to the story than a drug trial. But what is really happening behind the scenes and who will survive?
During the course of the novel readers get to see different sides of Arliss. He has flaws and virtues just like everyone else. I got a good sense of how he treats his co-workers as well as his sister-in-law and her children. He is very protective of his team and underdogs, and he doesn’t tolerate bullies, no matter who they are. This can lead to some interesting interactions, to say the least. In this novel, we get to see character development with some of the secondary characters including Lola.
This book is set largely in and around Juneau, Alaska, with some scenes in the Anchorage area. The author does a great job of making the reader feel transported to mud season in Alaska. I felt as though I was living the events alongside the characters.
There are several sub-plots in the novel and not all of them are fully resolved, but the main story line and some of the others are fully resolved. Hopefully, the next book in the series will pick up these threads and bring them to closure. There are a few twists to the story, but some of the actions and deductions are over-the-top. However, it was so full of action and excitement that it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I was kept fully invested in the assignment becoming a success. But is that what happens? My one quibble is that there is some disjointedness that affected flow due to the number of sub-plots. Themes include fugitive tracking, drugs, corruption, jurisdiction games, murder, and much more.
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, and entertaining. If you enjoy action thrillers that have both strong male and female characters, then this may be the series for you. I look forward to reading more of this series. I can’t wait to find out what is next, as well as go back and read the first two books in this series.
Kensington Books and Marc Cameron provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 27, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
August 4, 2023
This is a very good thriller set in the beautiful nature of Alaska.
Undoubtedly, the strong point of this story is a group of interesting and diverse characters. Arliss Cutter reminds me a bit of Jack Reacher from Lee Child's novels. I think Lola makes a good partner for him and balances his character well. Together, they make a duo of partners that work pretty well. I haven't read the previous books in this series, and it's not a big deal, although it probably would have allowed me to get to know the main characters better and know more about them right from the start. But as I said, it wasn't a big problem, and I could still get attached to the character. I am also curious if Lori Maycomb will return in one of the next books; in my opinion, there is potential in this character that can still be explored.
The plot is fast-paced, and there is always something going on, leaving no time to get bored. Several different threads are intertwined with each other, creating a coherent story. The prologue itself is a strong start to this story; I like it when the story begins with such a strong blow. I also appreciate when the plot is strongly related to the place in which it is set. Alaska offers unique opportunities for this, and in my opinion, they have been put to good use.
It usually bothers me when a story is told from too many perspectives. But here the author did such a good job that I had absolutely no problem with following so many POVs, and some of them only for a short while. I found each perspective interesting, and at no point did I have the feeling that one was there just to slow down the main plot. On the contrary, it seemed to me that each one was there to push this story forward, and they did it well.
The book ended in what is probably an introduction to the next book, and it looks really promising and intriguing. Also, if the assumptions of Constance, Mim's daughters, are true, then there are some other interesting things ahead too. This is my first book by this author, but I doubt it's the last. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fast-paced thrillers and, of course, to all Lee Child fans.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Undoubtedly, the strong point of this story is a group of interesting and diverse characters. Arliss Cutter reminds me a bit of Jack Reacher from Lee Child's novels. I think Lola makes a good partner for him and balances his character well. Together, they make a duo of partners that work pretty well. I haven't read the previous books in this series, and it's not a big deal, although it probably would have allowed me to get to know the main characters better and know more about them right from the start. But as I said, it wasn't a big problem, and I could still get attached to the character. I am also curious if Lori Maycomb will return in one of the next books; in my opinion, there is potential in this character that can still be explored.
The plot is fast-paced, and there is always something going on, leaving no time to get bored. Several different threads are intertwined with each other, creating a coherent story. The prologue itself is a strong start to this story; I like it when the story begins with such a strong blow. I also appreciate when the plot is strongly related to the place in which it is set. Alaska offers unique opportunities for this, and in my opinion, they have been put to good use.
It usually bothers me when a story is told from too many perspectives. But here the author did such a good job that I had absolutely no problem with following so many POVs, and some of them only for a short while. I found each perspective interesting, and at no point did I have the feeling that one was there just to slow down the main plot. On the contrary, it seemed to me that each one was there to push this story forward, and they did it well.
The book ended in what is probably an introduction to the next book, and it looks really promising and intriguing. Also, if the assumptions of Constance, Mim's daughters, are true, then there are some other interesting things ahead too. This is my first book by this author, but I doubt it's the last. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fast-paced thrillers and, of course, to all Lee Child fans.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2021
Glaciers and wilderness and awe-striking beauty.
Marc Cameron takes us there to Alaska where steely hearts reside and the adventurous partake in near Heaven. He introduces us to Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter and his partner Deputy Lola Teariki. Both are transplants. Cutter left the heat and humidity of tropical Florida and Lola left the lush greenery of New Zealand. Both are remarkable chameleons with surprising adaptations.
We begin with a road building scenario in which heavy machinery is securing a roadway originally built at the turn of the last century. It's treacherous work through the mud and limited space. But there's an unexpected discovery of an ancient Native grave. The archaeologist on duty is called to inspect the site. The work is halted as the archaeologist takes a boat to report the find. One of the workers is fascinated by a bone rattle found in the rubble. He pockets it without a word. And, by the way, the archaeologist never makes it to the shore.
Switch back to Cutter and Lola who have been assigned by the federal court to provide protection for the judge and jury in a high profile trial involving the Hernandez brothers who are well known drug dealers in Juneau. We'll be involved with gold mines, shifty politicians, and millionaires with an agenda. Cutter and Lola have their work cut out for themselves.
And in the meantime outside of Anchorage, the local police have been called out to a horrendous scene. A female torso has washed ashored. A lot of questions drumming up by the locals with very few answers.
Bone Rattle reads as a well done standalone. I went into it cold and it sizzled throughout. Cameron fills in the backstories nicely and we don't skip a beat. In fact, I'll be running towards Cold Snap which is due out later in 2022. There's nothing like a novel set in the panorama of Alaska after having lived in Palmer, Alaska myself. Cameron keeps the action going page after page. He's definitely a master at his craft. Highly recommend.
Marc Cameron takes us there to Alaska where steely hearts reside and the adventurous partake in near Heaven. He introduces us to Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter and his partner Deputy Lola Teariki. Both are transplants. Cutter left the heat and humidity of tropical Florida and Lola left the lush greenery of New Zealand. Both are remarkable chameleons with surprising adaptations.
We begin with a road building scenario in which heavy machinery is securing a roadway originally built at the turn of the last century. It's treacherous work through the mud and limited space. But there's an unexpected discovery of an ancient Native grave. The archaeologist on duty is called to inspect the site. The work is halted as the archaeologist takes a boat to report the find. One of the workers is fascinated by a bone rattle found in the rubble. He pockets it without a word. And, by the way, the archaeologist never makes it to the shore.
Switch back to Cutter and Lola who have been assigned by the federal court to provide protection for the judge and jury in a high profile trial involving the Hernandez brothers who are well known drug dealers in Juneau. We'll be involved with gold mines, shifty politicians, and millionaires with an agenda. Cutter and Lola have their work cut out for themselves.
And in the meantime outside of Anchorage, the local police have been called out to a horrendous scene. A female torso has washed ashored. A lot of questions drumming up by the locals with very few answers.
Bone Rattle reads as a well done standalone. I went into it cold and it sizzled throughout. Cameron fills in the backstories nicely and we don't skip a beat. In fact, I'll be running towards Cold Snap which is due out later in 2022. There's nothing like a novel set in the panorama of Alaska after having lived in Palmer, Alaska myself. Cameron keeps the action going page after page. He's definitely a master at his craft. Highly recommend.
April 23, 2021
Give it 4.5 stars and call it even!
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Marc Cameron, and Kensington Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Marc Cameron is back with the third in his Arliss Cutter series, a collection of novels that get better with each new addition. Cameron’s background as a former Deputy Marshall serves him well in this piece, where the action is ever-mounting and the reader is pulled into the middle of a sensational story from the opening pages. Arliss Cutter enjoys his work on the Fugitive Task Force, but has no interest in any management position. When he and his team are sent to Juneau to help with a high-profile trial, things go south soon enough. Cutter is pulled into a situation and must find a young woman who is the target of a crooked businessman, all in rural Alaska. It’s a story that will keep the reader flipping pages well into the night. Another winner from Marc Cameron for sure!
Arliss Cutter loves his job as Supervisory Deputy Marshall up in Anchorage, though there are surely times he misses his native Florida. Working hard all day, capturing those who have tried to evade the law, Cutter and his team within Alaska’s Fugitive Task Force do all they can to help balance the scales of justice. There are bumps and scrapes along the way, but it’s all in a day’s work. When he returns home, it’s to help take care of his twin nephews and teenage niece, a handful on their own. Still, he would not have it any other way.
While there are some odd goings-on in Anchorage, Cutter and his partner, Lola Teariki, are sent to Juneau to help in a high-profile trial. The jury is about to be sequestered and the judge is in need of protection, as the defendants are part of a gang that prefer to take justice into their own hands. With the trial being covered by a sharp reporter, everyone is wondering where she’s getting her scoop. Lori Maycomb is not prepared to say much of anything, as she wants to keep her information under wraps and her informant out of the limelight.
When things at the trial go sideways, Cutter knows that he will be put to work hunting rather than simply protecting. There’s more to the story than a simple confidential informant, but a crooked business owner has plans of his own for the local territory and he’s not prepared to let anyone stand in his way. Even when a valuable artifact is found that might impede a money-making transportation venture, it’s no impediment to progress, as long as the right people can be silenced, permanently.
With a young woman in hiding up in the Alaskan hills, Cutter will have to work quickly to get to her, or at least keep those with a mission to scrub her out from arriving first. It’s a race against time and through a series of hurdles, including a mining area. Cutter knows it won’t be easy, but he’s not prepared to simply let a young girl’s life be silenced to pad the pockets of a corrupt individual. Justice must be done, no matter the cost!
I have long had an appreciation for Marc Cameron and his work, which pushes the reader to think outside the box. Not only is the Alaskan setting unique, but the writing delivers something that is not entirely in line with many novels in the genre. It is a different type of gritty, one that leaves the reader wanting to know more. So much is going on in this book, though it never feels overwhelming. This is definitely a series for those who love trillers and quasi-procedurals. While some applaud this as a decent standalone, I cannot think why anyone would not want to grab the previous two books to have the full context of this sensational series and its protagonist.
Arliss Cutter has grown on me over this trio of novels and there is nothing like seeing how his progression has developed. I love a mix of personal and professional growth in a character, something that Cameron offers in spades throughout. Cutter may be a saviour to his family, after the death of his brother, but he is also one who allows his sister-in-law to take on the primary role, while injecting some of his own familial life lessons when they are needed. On a professional front, Cutter works well with his partner, Lola Teariki, but does not force her to conform to what he does at every turn. The richness of the Cutter character develops well throughout this book and in the previous two novels, making him one that many readers can admire, given the time.
Marc Cameron has done well in this piece to really add some standout supporting characters. From those who recur throughout the series to the people who are one-offs to add depth to the story, there are few who do not make an impact. I thoroughly enjoy how Cameron crafts those who appear on each page, honing their personalities to flavour the narrative and enrich the plot where needed. There is something to love or hate with each person the reader encounters and this is precisely what I needed after reading some novels where things are brushed over too swiftly. While not a dense read, the book is by no means superficial and the characters help add some weight to the final product.
This is the second of Marc Cameron’s series that I have read, neither of which have left me feeling disappointed. The writing is strong and there is something that makes me want to keep reading every time I pick up one of his books. The narrative flows well, offering wonderful twists throughout, without tying the reader up in knots. The characters have depth and prove to be intriguing no matter what they have going on in their lives. Cameron teases the reader with shorter chapters at times, as if to coax them into settling down for the longer and more detailed parts of the book, which allow plot development. I enjoyed the banter through dialogue, which added something to the book and helped me imagine things playing out on the screen with ease. I cannot wait to see what’s next with Arliss Cutter, as there were a few threads left loose, which is another of Cameron’s great abilities, as the reader begs to understand what’s to come!
Kudos, Mr. Cameron, on another stellar piece. I cannot get enough of your writing and hope Arliss Cutter will be back soon!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Marc Cameron, and Kensington Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Marc Cameron is back with the third in his Arliss Cutter series, a collection of novels that get better with each new addition. Cameron’s background as a former Deputy Marshall serves him well in this piece, where the action is ever-mounting and the reader is pulled into the middle of a sensational story from the opening pages. Arliss Cutter enjoys his work on the Fugitive Task Force, but has no interest in any management position. When he and his team are sent to Juneau to help with a high-profile trial, things go south soon enough. Cutter is pulled into a situation and must find a young woman who is the target of a crooked businessman, all in rural Alaska. It’s a story that will keep the reader flipping pages well into the night. Another winner from Marc Cameron for sure!
Arliss Cutter loves his job as Supervisory Deputy Marshall up in Anchorage, though there are surely times he misses his native Florida. Working hard all day, capturing those who have tried to evade the law, Cutter and his team within Alaska’s Fugitive Task Force do all they can to help balance the scales of justice. There are bumps and scrapes along the way, but it’s all in a day’s work. When he returns home, it’s to help take care of his twin nephews and teenage niece, a handful on their own. Still, he would not have it any other way.
While there are some odd goings-on in Anchorage, Cutter and his partner, Lola Teariki, are sent to Juneau to help in a high-profile trial. The jury is about to be sequestered and the judge is in need of protection, as the defendants are part of a gang that prefer to take justice into their own hands. With the trial being covered by a sharp reporter, everyone is wondering where she’s getting her scoop. Lori Maycomb is not prepared to say much of anything, as she wants to keep her information under wraps and her informant out of the limelight.
When things at the trial go sideways, Cutter knows that he will be put to work hunting rather than simply protecting. There’s more to the story than a simple confidential informant, but a crooked business owner has plans of his own for the local territory and he’s not prepared to let anyone stand in his way. Even when a valuable artifact is found that might impede a money-making transportation venture, it’s no impediment to progress, as long as the right people can be silenced, permanently.
With a young woman in hiding up in the Alaskan hills, Cutter will have to work quickly to get to her, or at least keep those with a mission to scrub her out from arriving first. It’s a race against time and through a series of hurdles, including a mining area. Cutter knows it won’t be easy, but he’s not prepared to simply let a young girl’s life be silenced to pad the pockets of a corrupt individual. Justice must be done, no matter the cost!
I have long had an appreciation for Marc Cameron and his work, which pushes the reader to think outside the box. Not only is the Alaskan setting unique, but the writing delivers something that is not entirely in line with many novels in the genre. It is a different type of gritty, one that leaves the reader wanting to know more. So much is going on in this book, though it never feels overwhelming. This is definitely a series for those who love trillers and quasi-procedurals. While some applaud this as a decent standalone, I cannot think why anyone would not want to grab the previous two books to have the full context of this sensational series and its protagonist.
Arliss Cutter has grown on me over this trio of novels and there is nothing like seeing how his progression has developed. I love a mix of personal and professional growth in a character, something that Cameron offers in spades throughout. Cutter may be a saviour to his family, after the death of his brother, but he is also one who allows his sister-in-law to take on the primary role, while injecting some of his own familial life lessons when they are needed. On a professional front, Cutter works well with his partner, Lola Teariki, but does not force her to conform to what he does at every turn. The richness of the Cutter character develops well throughout this book and in the previous two novels, making him one that many readers can admire, given the time.
Marc Cameron has done well in this piece to really add some standout supporting characters. From those who recur throughout the series to the people who are one-offs to add depth to the story, there are few who do not make an impact. I thoroughly enjoy how Cameron crafts those who appear on each page, honing their personalities to flavour the narrative and enrich the plot where needed. There is something to love or hate with each person the reader encounters and this is precisely what I needed after reading some novels where things are brushed over too swiftly. While not a dense read, the book is by no means superficial and the characters help add some weight to the final product.
This is the second of Marc Cameron’s series that I have read, neither of which have left me feeling disappointed. The writing is strong and there is something that makes me want to keep reading every time I pick up one of his books. The narrative flows well, offering wonderful twists throughout, without tying the reader up in knots. The characters have depth and prove to be intriguing no matter what they have going on in their lives. Cameron teases the reader with shorter chapters at times, as if to coax them into settling down for the longer and more detailed parts of the book, which allow plot development. I enjoyed the banter through dialogue, which added something to the book and helped me imagine things playing out on the screen with ease. I cannot wait to see what’s next with Arliss Cutter, as there were a few threads left loose, which is another of Cameron’s great abilities, as the reader begs to understand what’s to come!
Kudos, Mr. Cameron, on another stellar piece. I cannot get enough of your writing and hope Arliss Cutter will be back soon!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 18, 2024
Each time I’m in Alaska, I purchase another of Marc Cameron’s books. I like supporting Alaskan authors by buying their books in Alaskan bookshops. One of my favourites is Hearthside Books at Merchants Wharf in Juneau! I got smart this time, and bought one to read (book 3) and one to take home (book 4). This way I have one in my suitcase to read on the way up to Alaska when we return in August!
I’ve read many books set in Alaska, but this is the first that I’ve been aware of the Alaskan term for spring. Cameron reminds readers that “Spring in Alaska wasn’t all kite flying and daffodils.” The process of the ice breaking up and the snow melting and turning into slush creates a messy and muddy shoulder season for Alaskans. Author Marc Cameron was able to place me in ‘breakup’ season and see how this affects solving crimes.
Cameron’s third novel in his ‘Arliss Cutter’crime series features Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter tracking down murderers and corrupt politicians in Juneau, Alaska.
There are multiple plotlines:
✔️Archaeologist Isaac Merculief halts road construction into a new mine near Juneau, Alaska when a digger unearths a skeleton and an ancient bone rattle. His decision causes disagreements between the workers and then Merculief suddenly disappears. This was my favourite plot.
✔️Body washed ashore in Anchorage
✔️Two drug traffickers on trial and DUSM Cutter and Deputy Lola Teariki (his Polynesian partner) are responsible for their protection detail for this high-profile trial
✔️Murder of the prosecuting attorney on the drug trafficker trial
Sprinkled in with these intense plotlines, Cameron reveals Cutter’s personality as he deals with everyone from his superiors to his family and his romantic interest. As Cutter’s involvement in each case changes, readers see the juxtaposition of the chilly Juneau spring and the isolation of the Alaskan wilderness. This time I was thrilled at having a significant part of the book take place underground. I really enjoy these books because Cameron relies on his experience as a U.S. Marshall to place me alongside Cutter as he’s tracking and finding fugitives. It’s as much a learning experience for me as it is reading for enjoyment.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Gumpy’s recipes!
I’ve read many books set in Alaska, but this is the first that I’ve been aware of the Alaskan term for spring. Cameron reminds readers that “Spring in Alaska wasn’t all kite flying and daffodils.” The process of the ice breaking up and the snow melting and turning into slush creates a messy and muddy shoulder season for Alaskans. Author Marc Cameron was able to place me in ‘breakup’ season and see how this affects solving crimes.
Cameron’s third novel in his ‘Arliss Cutter’crime series features Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter tracking down murderers and corrupt politicians in Juneau, Alaska.
There are multiple plotlines:
✔️Archaeologist Isaac Merculief halts road construction into a new mine near Juneau, Alaska when a digger unearths a skeleton and an ancient bone rattle. His decision causes disagreements between the workers and then Merculief suddenly disappears. This was my favourite plot.
✔️Body washed ashore in Anchorage
✔️Two drug traffickers on trial and DUSM Cutter and Deputy Lola Teariki (his Polynesian partner) are responsible for their protection detail for this high-profile trial
✔️Murder of the prosecuting attorney on the drug trafficker trial
Sprinkled in with these intense plotlines, Cameron reveals Cutter’s personality as he deals with everyone from his superiors to his family and his romantic interest. As Cutter’s involvement in each case changes, readers see the juxtaposition of the chilly Juneau spring and the isolation of the Alaskan wilderness. This time I was thrilled at having a significant part of the book take place underground. I really enjoy these books because Cameron relies on his experience as a U.S. Marshall to place me alongside Cutter as he’s tracking and finding fugitives. It’s as much a learning experience for me as it is reading for enjoyment.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Gumpy’s recipes!
March 5, 2021
This is the third book in the Arliss Cutter series where Arliss is sent together with his deputy Lola Teariki to protect a sequestered jury on a drug trial.
The book starts slow and I wasn't hooked from the beginning. The story was a bit too messy for me but as the story progressed, it became better and better and the final part was really good. It's well written and Cameron makes a fantastic job describing the cold and brisk scenery and developing interesting characters. Overall a solid thriller from a great writer.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance and to share my honest review.
The book starts slow and I wasn't hooked from the beginning. The story was a bit too messy for me but as the story progressed, it became better and better and the final part was really good. It's well written and Cameron makes a fantastic job describing the cold and brisk scenery and developing interesting characters. Overall a solid thriller from a great writer.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance and to share my honest review.
March 5, 2021
This is the third book in the Arliss Cutter series where Arliss is sent together with his deputy Lola Teariki to protect a sequestered jury on a drug trial.
The book starts slow and I wasn't hooked from the beginning. The story was a bit too messy for me but as the story progressed, it became better and better and the final part was really good. It's well written and Cameron makes a fantastic job describing the cold and brisk scenery and developing interesting characters. Overall a solid thriller from a great writer.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance and to share my honest review.
The book starts slow and I wasn't hooked from the beginning. The story was a bit too messy for me but as the story progressed, it became better and better and the final part was really good. It's well written and Cameron makes a fantastic job describing the cold and brisk scenery and developing interesting characters. Overall a solid thriller from a great writer.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance and to share my honest review.
June 20, 2021
The plot is set in Alaska, a vast and beautiful area. The team, Arliss Cutter and deputy Lola Teariki are on a big case. They need to protect the jurors in a high profile case.
I think it was bad timing because I couldn't connect with the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
I think it was bad timing because I couldn't connect with the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
March 30, 2021
Bone Rattle, my first Marc Cameron book was an interesting delve into police procedure in the enormous, unknown state of Alaska. While I found the story interesting, the police procedural action and acronyms did get a little tiresome at times. The main character, Arliss Cutter, Deputy US Marshall, is a good man, but a tough one. He’s been married four times, and his last wife died of cancer. Formerly from Florida, he is living in Alaska helping to raise his dead brother’s children with his brother’s widow Mim who he is secretly in love with.
This is the third book in the series and there is a lot more that can be fleshed out and covered in this series. Arliss and Mim and also his sidekick Lola have a lot to offer in future books. I gave this book three stars, but I am eager to read the first two books and look forward to more from this author in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for the opportunity to read this awesome book.
This is the third book in the series and there is a lot more that can be fleshed out and covered in this series. Arliss and Mim and also his sidekick Lola have a lot to offer in future books. I gave this book three stars, but I am eager to read the first two books and look forward to more from this author in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for the opportunity to read this awesome book.
November 19, 2021
I won this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program - thank you, Goodreads!
A very 'mannish' novel, masculine in the way of the 1960's or 70's with lots of action, adventure, tough guys who know their stuff, bad guys who are terribly bad and wait...
Women who are just as tough.
Yes, I was a young woman in the 60's-70's and fully recall the kind of books my grandfather, born in 1904 liked to read. John Wayne on the page. Gary Cooper, too. Men who were quiet, tough, could do just about anything with a gun, a horse, a boat, a car, a truck, a hammer, some rope, etc... Hard cover or paperback, he loved them all. So did my father-in-law, born 1911. I digress, it's just that this book reminded me of that time period.
But this one is a bit updated, with plenty of roles for women to play. Arliss Cutter has a background, he's a US Marshal and he doesn't mess around. He does his job, does it well, and takes very little crap - my mother's definition of crap which is 'nonsense' - from anyone. He doesn't tolerate those who think they know more than him - esp. when they don't. Assigned to guard two men on trial for their involvement for bringing black tar, or heroin, into Alaska, things quickly get out of hand, esp. when the big bad guy - deliciously described and incredibly evil - mine owner Harold Grissom gets involved. There's shootings and murder; there's mayhem and action. (An AWFUL lot of action; Cutter hardly gets a day off.) There's twists and turns and scenes that take place in a church, in a mine, in a deep cave, on the water and in trails and scenes set in woods, on mountains, and you name it. (Well, it's Alaska!)
And the overall theme, taken from the title: the bone rattle is a rattle found with the body of a long-deceased shaman, buried near a potentially lucrative gold mine. The whole story begins when an archaeologist discovers said rattle (and body) but the mine owner just sees it as a way to delay or prolong the building of a road to said mine.
It gets kind of convoluted at times. There's A LOT of characters, and at the beginning, it would have helped had I kept a kind of cue card of who's who, including job title, who they work for, who their superiors are, and so on. There's a lot of law enforcement and various agencies at work here as they try to sort things out, including the murder of two people.
Mr. Cameron knows his stuff though. This book is highly detailed when it comes to clothing - more important than it might sound in this environment. (Wet, cold, damp, dry, mountainous, rough brush, temperature changes, all of it.) He also goes into detail when it comes to weaponry, or climbing equipment, or types of water craft, as well as the environment that the MC moves through. (Plants, insects, weather, geography, topography, history etc.)
Anyhow, a good, and in many ways old-fashioned mystery/thriller, but one in which both men and women play prominent roles. They're all pretty diverse, too, covering several different backgrounds and ethnicities, yet never feels forced or contrived. This IS the way the world works today where skill, talent, experience and work ethic become more important than a person's gender or the color of their skin. In that way, the book has a very modern feel.
Anyhow, overall, a very good read.
Four stars.
A very 'mannish' novel, masculine in the way of the 1960's or 70's with lots of action, adventure, tough guys who know their stuff, bad guys who are terribly bad and wait...
Women who are just as tough.
Yes, I was a young woman in the 60's-70's and fully recall the kind of books my grandfather, born in 1904 liked to read. John Wayne on the page. Gary Cooper, too. Men who were quiet, tough, could do just about anything with a gun, a horse, a boat, a car, a truck, a hammer, some rope, etc... Hard cover or paperback, he loved them all. So did my father-in-law, born 1911. I digress, it's just that this book reminded me of that time period.
But this one is a bit updated, with plenty of roles for women to play. Arliss Cutter has a background, he's a US Marshal and he doesn't mess around. He does his job, does it well, and takes very little crap - my mother's definition of crap which is 'nonsense' - from anyone. He doesn't tolerate those who think they know more than him - esp. when they don't. Assigned to guard two men on trial for their involvement for bringing black tar, or heroin, into Alaska, things quickly get out of hand, esp. when the big bad guy - deliciously described and incredibly evil - mine owner Harold Grissom gets involved. There's shootings and murder; there's mayhem and action. (An AWFUL lot of action; Cutter hardly gets a day off.) There's twists and turns and scenes that take place in a church, in a mine, in a deep cave, on the water and in trails and scenes set in woods, on mountains, and you name it. (Well, it's Alaska!)
And the overall theme, taken from the title: the bone rattle is a rattle found with the body of a long-deceased shaman, buried near a potentially lucrative gold mine. The whole story begins when an archaeologist discovers said rattle (and body) but the mine owner just sees it as a way to delay or prolong the building of a road to said mine.
It gets kind of convoluted at times. There's A LOT of characters, and at the beginning, it would have helped had I kept a kind of cue card of who's who, including job title, who they work for, who their superiors are, and so on. There's a lot of law enforcement and various agencies at work here as they try to sort things out, including the murder of two people.
Mr. Cameron knows his stuff though. This book is highly detailed when it comes to clothing - more important than it might sound in this environment. (Wet, cold, damp, dry, mountainous, rough brush, temperature changes, all of it.) He also goes into detail when it comes to weaponry, or climbing equipment, or types of water craft, as well as the environment that the MC moves through. (Plants, insects, weather, geography, topography, history etc.)
Anyhow, a good, and in many ways old-fashioned mystery/thriller, but one in which both men and women play prominent roles. They're all pretty diverse, too, covering several different backgrounds and ethnicities, yet never feels forced or contrived. This IS the way the world works today where skill, talent, experience and work ethic become more important than a person's gender or the color of their skin. In that way, the book has a very modern feel.
Anyhow, overall, a very good read.
Four stars.
April 26, 2021
This is book 3 in a very good thriller series set in Alaska, featuring Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter and his partner, Deputy Lola Teariki. The story starts out with the discovery of a native burial site while workers are bulldozing to create a road into a mining area. But the wealthy mine owner, Harold Grimsson, won't let a little thing like that stand in his way, not when witnesses can so easily be made to disappear.
Arliss has a reputation for doing 'the right thing, right now' with no thought for his own safety. Will his current job assignment in Juneau pit him against Grimsson and his hired muscle while trying to protect the innocent?
Once again in this third outing, there's loads of action, terrific descriptions of the wild Alaskan territory and well-drawn characters. That combination makes for an exciting, page-turning read.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That led me to discover this author and his books, totally new to me, for which I'm very grateful!
Arliss has a reputation for doing 'the right thing, right now' with no thought for his own safety. Will his current job assignment in Juneau pit him against Grimsson and his hired muscle while trying to protect the innocent?
Once again in this third outing, there's loads of action, terrific descriptions of the wild Alaskan territory and well-drawn characters. That combination makes for an exciting, page-turning read.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That led me to discover this author and his books, totally new to me, for which I'm very grateful!
May 31, 2021
Deputy US Marshal Arlisss Cutter and his deputy, Lola Teariki, are pulled from their normal duties and ordered to keep track of sequestered jurors in a high-profile case. The case involves a huge drug conspiracy with ties to several well-known wealthy businessmen and politicians.
When a series of horrifying murders occur, Cutter realizes that more is at stake. Ancient burial sites are discovered by a gold mining company. A female is found washed ashore... without her head, hands, and feet. A prosecuting attorney is killed, a reporter attacked.
That these events are connected is not in dispute. But it has gone well beyond just a drug trial. Someone has secrets and will do whatever it takes to keep those secrets from seeing the light of day.
BONE RATTLE showcases the beauty of Alaska and its culture. As the author, himself, is a retired US Marshal who worked in Alaska, I expected a great deal of credibility .. and I was not disappointed.
Suspense starts on the very first page and maintains throughout this action-packed conspiracy thriller. It's compelling, it's riveting. The characters are finely drawn and lead the way through this page-turner. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I recommend reading in order to gain all those gold nuggets that make this series an exciting one.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
When a series of horrifying murders occur, Cutter realizes that more is at stake. Ancient burial sites are discovered by a gold mining company. A female is found washed ashore... without her head, hands, and feet. A prosecuting attorney is killed, a reporter attacked.
That these events are connected is not in dispute. But it has gone well beyond just a drug trial. Someone has secrets and will do whatever it takes to keep those secrets from seeing the light of day.
BONE RATTLE showcases the beauty of Alaska and its culture. As the author, himself, is a retired US Marshal who worked in Alaska, I expected a great deal of credibility .. and I was not disappointed.
Suspense starts on the very first page and maintains throughout this action-packed conspiracy thriller. It's compelling, it's riveting. The characters are finely drawn and lead the way through this page-turner. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I recommend reading in order to gain all those gold nuggets that make this series an exciting one.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 19, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and to Marc Cameron for an ARC copy for an honest review.
Apologies for the delay, with many books sent to me Net Galley, publishers and authors.
Marc Cameron, an experienced ex-Deputy Marshall himself uses his background to inform and lend authenticity to his Supervisory Deputy Marshall Arliss Cutter of Alaska's Fugitive Task Force led by his boss, Chief Jill Phillips.
U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter is a born tracker. After enlisting in the military and fighting in the Middle East, Cutter is sent to the icy wastelands of southeast Alaska.
Originally from Florida, he is a stand up good guy although with little in the way of social skills, mentoring and training his partner, a New Zealand Maori woman, Lola Teariki, and with a past that includes 4 wives, his last wife dying of breast cancer. He is heavily supporting and very close to the family of his dead brother, Ethan, the widowed Mim, her 8 year old twin sons, Michael and Matthew, and daughter, 15 year old Constance.
Three people have disappeared on Prince of Wales Island. Two are crew members of the reality TV show, Alaska Adventure Jobs. The other is a Tlingit Indian girl who had the misfortune of witnessing their murders.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter becomes involved in the hunt for the murderers of a Native American archeologist, a state senator's son, and an assistant district attorney and his secretary.
Cutter’s job is to find the bodies, examine the crew’s footage for clues, and track down the men who killed them. Easier said than done. Especially when the whole town is hiding secrets, the trail leads to a dead end – and the hunter becomes the prey.
Although the story did not flow as other books I have read of his, sometimes a little slow, chatty, but the last third of the book the pace quickened, the suspense was good and the action was good, just took a while to build up the tension.
Also first book I have read where I read food recipes at the end of the book !!
Four stars
Apologies for the delay, with many books sent to me Net Galley, publishers and authors.
Marc Cameron, an experienced ex-Deputy Marshall himself uses his background to inform and lend authenticity to his Supervisory Deputy Marshall Arliss Cutter of Alaska's Fugitive Task Force led by his boss, Chief Jill Phillips.
U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter is a born tracker. After enlisting in the military and fighting in the Middle East, Cutter is sent to the icy wastelands of southeast Alaska.
Originally from Florida, he is a stand up good guy although with little in the way of social skills, mentoring and training his partner, a New Zealand Maori woman, Lola Teariki, and with a past that includes 4 wives, his last wife dying of breast cancer. He is heavily supporting and very close to the family of his dead brother, Ethan, the widowed Mim, her 8 year old twin sons, Michael and Matthew, and daughter, 15 year old Constance.
Three people have disappeared on Prince of Wales Island. Two are crew members of the reality TV show, Alaska Adventure Jobs. The other is a Tlingit Indian girl who had the misfortune of witnessing their murders.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter becomes involved in the hunt for the murderers of a Native American archeologist, a state senator's son, and an assistant district attorney and his secretary.
Cutter’s job is to find the bodies, examine the crew’s footage for clues, and track down the men who killed them. Easier said than done. Especially when the whole town is hiding secrets, the trail leads to a dead end – and the hunter becomes the prey.
Although the story did not flow as other books I have read of his, sometimes a little slow, chatty, but the last third of the book the pace quickened, the suspense was good and the action was good, just took a while to build up the tension.
Also first book I have read where I read food recipes at the end of the book !!
Four stars
Read
October 4, 2021DNF
March 15, 2021
I have read Bone Rattle, it's the latest Arliss Cutter adventure by Marc Cameron. I have always found Alaska interesting but with this murder rate I am not so sure about a visit... As usual Cameron delivers a really well written story, I actually think it's the best one yet in this series. In this book we get some more information on the background when it come to the Cutter family history and we get to learn a lot more about Alaska as well. I have always liked it when an author incorporates history in books. I know this is fiction but you get the feel that the author has some experience on the subject, wait, that's right he has. When I read Camerons books I wonder if he uses stuff he encountered while working as an US marshall. I bet he does. For those that haven't started on this series GET STARTED. It's great. I have to thank @marccameronbooks @Netgalley and @kensingtonbooks
March 15, 2025
4 Stars. Another solid outing for Cutter. Cameron is always pretty good, although I’m not sure why he stopped writing Jericho Quinn.
This one was interesting. We Lower 48 residents really have no clue what Alaska is all about. Never thought about the fact that it was a gold mining thing, probably more than the stories of the ones out west. Typical bad guys. Cutter’s crew is getting more interesting though. On to the next.
This one was interesting. We Lower 48 residents really have no clue what Alaska is all about. Never thought about the fact that it was a gold mining thing, probably more than the stories of the ones out west. Typical bad guys. Cutter’s crew is getting more interesting though. On to the next.
May 10, 2021
4.5 stars.
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter continues to serve in Alaska so he can be near his widowed sister in law and her children. He and partner Lola are assigned to guard and protect jurors in a trial of gangbangers in Juneau. Worse men are associated with the gangbangers and will murder everyone who might find out about them. There's an informant out there who knows everything. Arliss needs to find this person before someone else does.
I read book one and thoroughly enjoyed it, as I did this one. Not sure how I missed book two but my library has it and I'll be checking it out when I have time.
The story contains exciting scenes over the first 5 chapters of pursuing and arresting suspects. It ends with more excitement in a mine. The author made mine owner Grimsson a good character to hate.
I really like Arliss and his partner Lola. I admire Arliss because he wants to save helpless people and is always willing to do what's right (my favorite type of character).
There are recipes at the end. Watch the middle of the book for a secret to be revealed. I wondered if this is a fact or just speculation.
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter continues to serve in Alaska so he can be near his widowed sister in law and her children. He and partner Lola are assigned to guard and protect jurors in a trial of gangbangers in Juneau. Worse men are associated with the gangbangers and will murder everyone who might find out about them. There's an informant out there who knows everything. Arliss needs to find this person before someone else does.
I read book one and thoroughly enjoyed it, as I did this one. Not sure how I missed book two but my library has it and I'll be checking it out when I have time.
The story contains exciting scenes over the first 5 chapters of pursuing and arresting suspects. It ends with more excitement in a mine. The author made mine owner Grimsson a good character to hate.
I really like Arliss and his partner Lola. I admire Arliss because he wants to save helpless people and is always willing to do what's right (my favorite type of character).
There are recipes at the end. Watch the middle of the book for a secret to be revealed. I wondered if this is a fact or just speculation.
July 20, 2021
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Bone Rattle is everything we’ve come to expect from one of the best authors in the genre. Marc Cameron has created one hell of a protagonist. Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter is one of those characters that is easy to admire, sympathize with, and root for every step of the way. With the ‘Grumpy’s Man Rules’ as his guide, Arliss is a no nonsense, old school type of guy who says what he means and does what he says. It’s easy to understand why he’s a thriller fan favorite.
If you haven’t read either of the previous two Arliss Cutter books and you’re a fan of Walt Longmire, Joe Pickett, and the like… you will absolutely love this series.
Make sure to check out the full review
Bone Rattle is everything we’ve come to expect from one of the best authors in the genre. Marc Cameron has created one hell of a protagonist. Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter is one of those characters that is easy to admire, sympathize with, and root for every step of the way. With the ‘Grumpy’s Man Rules’ as his guide, Arliss is a no nonsense, old school type of guy who says what he means and does what he says. It’s easy to understand why he’s a thriller fan favorite.
If you haven’t read either of the previous two Arliss Cutter books and you’re a fan of Walt Longmire, Joe Pickett, and the like… you will absolutely love this series.
Make sure to check out the full review
April 29, 2021
This is the third in a series about US Marshall Arliss Cutter, a former Army Ranger from Florida who’s now based in Anchorage, Alaska. Cutter and his partner Lola Teariki are sent to Juneau to assist with a protection detail on a trial of two mob brothers, a trial derailed almost immediately when the prosecuting attorney is murdered. The hunt for a witness the attorney was supposed to be meeting takes Cutter and a young freelance journalist into dangerous country, the abandoned mineshafts about Juneau, with a killer on the loose who will stop at nothing to silence the whistleblower.
Although this is the third book in the series, I felt like it gave me a pretty good handle on Cutter and his friends and family. He’s a tough, extremely competent character with some deep psychological flaws he somehow manages to keep from interfering with his work, though it seems evident from a stinger at the very end of the book that his personal and work life are going to collide sooner rather than later.
There’s a secondary case going on, of body parts of young women washing up from the ocean, that doesn’t seem to have any link to the case Cutter is working or indeed any link to the rest of the story, but that stinger does make it seem like it might tie in to something in the next book, so I’m not quite as annoyed by it as I might have been otherwise. I can appreciate an author playing the long game with Easter eggs that won’t come to fruition until much later, as long as it doesn’t overwhelm the major story, and since it was really only a few scenes I’m okay with it.
What did get to me a bit was that the villain was pretty much a caricature, and a stupid one at that. Very rich men don’t do their own dirty work, and while throughout the book that was the case, I couldn’t understand why the villain threw caution to the winds at the end. It seemed contrived in order to engineer a confrontation.
The bone rattle of the title is a Native artefact found during mining works, and although its potential great value on the black market motivates several shady characters to behave unethically, I don’t think it was really a great driver of or central to the plot, so… it was a bit of an odd choice as a title. I actually wanted to learn more about it, but it did appear lost by the end of the book so I guess that’s the end of it.
I enjoyed a lot of this; while Cutter is the stoic and silent type, there are several great characters around him - mostly women, and several women of colour - who were much more forthcoming and definitely held my interest. The villain was, however, a bit too one-dimensional for my taste. Overall a good read and I think I’d read the next in the series, as the stinger caught my interest. I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Although this is the third book in the series, I felt like it gave me a pretty good handle on Cutter and his friends and family. He’s a tough, extremely competent character with some deep psychological flaws he somehow manages to keep from interfering with his work, though it seems evident from a stinger at the very end of the book that his personal and work life are going to collide sooner rather than later.
There’s a secondary case going on, of body parts of young women washing up from the ocean, that doesn’t seem to have any link to the case Cutter is working or indeed any link to the rest of the story, but that stinger does make it seem like it might tie in to something in the next book, so I’m not quite as annoyed by it as I might have been otherwise. I can appreciate an author playing the long game with Easter eggs that won’t come to fruition until much later, as long as it doesn’t overwhelm the major story, and since it was really only a few scenes I’m okay with it.
What did get to me a bit was that the villain was pretty much a caricature, and a stupid one at that. Very rich men don’t do their own dirty work, and while throughout the book that was the case, I couldn’t understand why the villain threw caution to the winds at the end. It seemed contrived in order to engineer a confrontation.
The bone rattle of the title is a Native artefact found during mining works, and although its potential great value on the black market motivates several shady characters to behave unethically, I don’t think it was really a great driver of or central to the plot, so… it was a bit of an odd choice as a title. I actually wanted to learn more about it, but it did appear lost by the end of the book so I guess that’s the end of it.
I enjoyed a lot of this; while Cutter is the stoic and silent type, there are several great characters around him - mostly women, and several women of colour - who were much more forthcoming and definitely held my interest. The villain was, however, a bit too one-dimensional for my taste. Overall a good read and I think I’d read the next in the series, as the stinger caught my interest. I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
December 17, 2023
Only complaint I have about this one from the author is that there so many characters it’s hard to remember who they they are and what they’re doing, save for the main characters.
February 26, 2021
Bone Rattle is the third book in Marc Cameron's Arliss Cutter series about a Federal Marshall set in Alaska. Cutter lives by a set of rules developed by his grandfather and is also beseeched by demons which have shaped his life and actions nearly as much.
The main problem with Bone Rattle was the plot was fairly convoluted until the last third of the book. But, that final third more than makes up for it including an ending that sets up the next book incredibly well.
The thing Cameron does as well as anyone is he creates supporting characters that are supremely likeable who are complimentary to the main character. Overall, Bone Rattle was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing Bone Rattle.
The main problem with Bone Rattle was the plot was fairly convoluted until the last third of the book. But, that final third more than makes up for it including an ending that sets up the next book incredibly well.
The thing Cameron does as well as anyone is he creates supporting characters that are supremely likeable who are complimentary to the main character. Overall, Bone Rattle was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing Bone Rattle.
April 16, 2021
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Bone Rattle is everything we’ve come to expect from one of the best authors in the genre. Marc Cameron has created one hell of a protagonist. Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter is one of those characters that is easy to admire, sympathize with, and root for every step of the way. With the ‘Grumpy’s Man Rules’ as his guide, Arliss is a no nonsense, old school type of guy who says what he means and does what he says. It’s easy to understand why he’s a thriller fan favorite.
If you haven’t read either of the previous two Arliss Cutter books and you’re a fan of Walt Longmire, Joe Pickett, and the like… you will absolutely love this series.
Make sure to check out the full review
Bone Rattle is everything we’ve come to expect from one of the best authors in the genre. Marc Cameron has created one hell of a protagonist. Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter is one of those characters that is easy to admire, sympathize with, and root for every step of the way. With the ‘Grumpy’s Man Rules’ as his guide, Arliss is a no nonsense, old school type of guy who says what he means and does what he says. It’s easy to understand why he’s a thriller fan favorite.
If you haven’t read either of the previous two Arliss Cutter books and you’re a fan of Walt Longmire, Joe Pickett, and the like… you will absolutely love this series.
Make sure to check out the full review
June 5, 2025
This book is far from perfect but that isn’t my requirement for five stars. This wasn’t the first Arliss Cutter book but it was mine. Not a bad premise, the big US Marshall, man of few words, who carries a huge heirloom hand cannon on his hip, and his tenacious Polynesian sidekick who adores him. I don’t feel I understand Arliss any better after finishing the book but I guess I’m not supposed to. The book had a decent amount of action, though with no real plot twists or surprises. It was entertaining and held my attention until the end, meeting my personal standard for a top rating.
January 19, 2025
3.5
Lots of action as US Marshals work with the FBI and various Alaskan law enforcement agencies when murders start to pile up around the case of 2 drug dealers. The bad guys were a little over the top and I hope the author gets some cash for his product placement, as he loves to mention the brand names of everything!😁 The story moves quickly and characters are ok. This is the first book I’ve read but it’s #3 in the series. There is also a serial killer lurking for #4! I might try that one!
Lots of action as US Marshals work with the FBI and various Alaskan law enforcement agencies when murders start to pile up around the case of 2 drug dealers. The bad guys were a little over the top and I hope the author gets some cash for his product placement, as he loves to mention the brand names of everything!😁 The story moves quickly and characters are ok. This is the first book I’ve read but it’s #3 in the series. There is also a serial killer lurking for #4! I might try that one!
February 8, 2024
Fantastic characters and action, suspense, guns, knives, issues and drama.
Fast paced and very enjoyable.
Fast paced and very enjoyable.
May 15, 2021
I note that this is book 3 in a series and I have to confess that I have not read the first two books, but I think this book can easily be read as a standalone.
Arliss Cutter and his partner, Lola get involved in an unusual case. People are disappearing and it is up to them, and native woman Lori (a journalist) to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
I liked the setting - Alaska has long had a fascination for me and one day I will get there - and I liked the various personalities of Arliss, Lola and Lori and their different approaches to the case, and life in general.
There was much to like about this book. It was interesting in terms of archeology and the landscape and it was thrilling when criminals clashed with law enforcement. At times, I held my breath and wondered how it was all going to end.
Loved it!
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington.
Arliss Cutter and his partner, Lola get involved in an unusual case. People are disappearing and it is up to them, and native woman Lori (a journalist) to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
I liked the setting - Alaska has long had a fascination for me and one day I will get there - and I liked the various personalities of Arliss, Lola and Lori and their different approaches to the case, and life in general.
There was much to like about this book. It was interesting in terms of archeology and the landscape and it was thrilling when criminals clashed with law enforcement. At times, I held my breath and wondered how it was all going to end.
Loved it!
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington.
May 3, 2021
Bone Rattle by Marc Cameron
Arliss Cutter #3
Another late night up past my bedtime as I swiped pages quickly to find out what Arliss Cutter would be dealing with in book three of this marvelous series. I still like him better than Jack Reacher, find him a man I want to get to know better, and can’t wait to find out more about him.
What I liked:
* Arliss Cutter: Deputy US Marshall, uncle, brother-in-law, tracker, teacher, protector, dead-shot, ex-military, swimmer and scuba diver, lethal on land and water, quiet man, wise, sharer of Grumpy Wisdom, admirable – I really like him.
* Lola Teariki: Arliss’s work partner: mid-twenties, Maori, focused, eager, bright, physically fit, lethal, attractive, capable, good, someone I like and want to watch grow.
* Watching Arliss at work – I learned more about tracking, better ways of processing information, and positive ways he interacts with people.
* The way the story was told…and how I was lead toward the conclusion
* Meeting new characters that will play a part in the future stories while catching up with characters met before.
* Arliss’s brother’s family: Mim/sister-in-law, Connie/niece, and twins Matthew and Michael – they are characters that impact Arliss and will no doubt continue to do so in future books of the series.
* Being made too think, care, root for characters, and become invested in the story.
* The eventual outsmarting of bad guys
* Learning more about Alaska
* Being inspired to look up rattles. That said, I did look up bone rattles-shaman-Tlingit and what came up was this book…still did learn about more and will no doubt do some more sleuthing on the subject.
* Finding out how Raven came to be…while sleuthing
* Knowing that there will be a book four and that it will probably include the murderer/serial killer whose victims parts showed up in this book.
* all of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* What I was meant not to like…criminals and the crimes they committed.
* Having to wait for book four.
Did I like this book? Definitely!
Will I read more in this series? As soon as I can!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Arliss Cutter #3
Another late night up past my bedtime as I swiped pages quickly to find out what Arliss Cutter would be dealing with in book three of this marvelous series. I still like him better than Jack Reacher, find him a man I want to get to know better, and can’t wait to find out more about him.
What I liked:
* Arliss Cutter: Deputy US Marshall, uncle, brother-in-law, tracker, teacher, protector, dead-shot, ex-military, swimmer and scuba diver, lethal on land and water, quiet man, wise, sharer of Grumpy Wisdom, admirable – I really like him.
* Lola Teariki: Arliss’s work partner: mid-twenties, Maori, focused, eager, bright, physically fit, lethal, attractive, capable, good, someone I like and want to watch grow.
* Watching Arliss at work – I learned more about tracking, better ways of processing information, and positive ways he interacts with people.
* The way the story was told…and how I was lead toward the conclusion
* Meeting new characters that will play a part in the future stories while catching up with characters met before.
* Arliss’s brother’s family: Mim/sister-in-law, Connie/niece, and twins Matthew and Michael – they are characters that impact Arliss and will no doubt continue to do so in future books of the series.
* Being made too think, care, root for characters, and become invested in the story.
* The eventual outsmarting of bad guys
* Learning more about Alaska
* Being inspired to look up rattles. That said, I did look up bone rattles-shaman-Tlingit and what came up was this book…still did learn about more and will no doubt do some more sleuthing on the subject.
* Finding out how Raven came to be…while sleuthing
* Knowing that there will be a book four and that it will probably include the murderer/serial killer whose victims parts showed up in this book.
* all of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* What I was meant not to like…criminals and the crimes they committed.
* Having to wait for book four.
Did I like this book? Definitely!
Will I read more in this series? As soon as I can!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
January 4, 2022
338 pages
5 stars
Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter and his partner Deputy Lola Teariki of the Alaska Fugitive Task Force are in for an exciting and somewhat terrifying investigation in this latest book in the Arliss Cutter series. Marc Cameron does a remarkable job of setting the scene and meticulously following his characters through this adventure. I don’t know how he consistently does this, but it’s great reading!
Cutter, Lola and the team are joined by the Alaska State Patrol, local Juneau police, FBI and others in their search.
Arliss’ sister-in-law Mim, her twin boys and daughter Constance all play roles in this story as well. Of course, there is always Grumpy Cutter’s endearing advice sprinkled in as well.
Cutter and Lola are tasked with guarding/watching the jury and the suspects as the contentious Hernandez brothers go on trial in Juneau for smuggling black tar heroin into Alaska. So far they have been tight lipped about for whom they are working. The book also features evil businessman Harold Grimsson (who fancies himself a Viking - so humorous), Grimsson’s son, Grissom’s henchmen Dollarhyde and Childers and a couple of crooked state senators. Lastly, I should mention a plucky Native news reporter.
Don’t forget the enigmatic bone rattle.
There is much going on in this book. There are several subplots that tie in with the main story in some manner.
Cameron builds the tension slowly in this novel. Hardly before the reader is aware, it turns into a nail-biter. Assassinations, snipers, deceptions, lies, drugs and treachery all play a part in this story. It is delicious. Brilliantly written and plotted, this book is a winner. I can hardly wait for the next one.
5 stars
Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter and his partner Deputy Lola Teariki of the Alaska Fugitive Task Force are in for an exciting and somewhat terrifying investigation in this latest book in the Arliss Cutter series. Marc Cameron does a remarkable job of setting the scene and meticulously following his characters through this adventure. I don’t know how he consistently does this, but it’s great reading!
Cutter, Lola and the team are joined by the Alaska State Patrol, local Juneau police, FBI and others in their search.
Arliss’ sister-in-law Mim, her twin boys and daughter Constance all play roles in this story as well. Of course, there is always Grumpy Cutter’s endearing advice sprinkled in as well.
Cutter and Lola are tasked with guarding/watching the jury and the suspects as the contentious Hernandez brothers go on trial in Juneau for smuggling black tar heroin into Alaska. So far they have been tight lipped about for whom they are working. The book also features evil businessman Harold Grimsson (who fancies himself a Viking - so humorous), Grimsson’s son, Grissom’s henchmen Dollarhyde and Childers and a couple of crooked state senators. Lastly, I should mention a plucky Native news reporter.
Don’t forget the enigmatic bone rattle.
There is much going on in this book. There are several subplots that tie in with the main story in some manner.
Cameron builds the tension slowly in this novel. Hardly before the reader is aware, it turns into a nail-biter. Assassinations, snipers, deceptions, lies, drugs and treachery all play a part in this story. It is delicious. Brilliantly written and plotted, this book is a winner. I can hardly wait for the next one.
January 23, 2024
A corrupt mining company seeks gold in the Alaskan wilderness near Juneau, greasing the palms of government officials to grant rights to drill on protected Native land while leaving a trail of bodies when anyone tries to get in their way. Stoic deputy US Marshal Arliss Cutter and his trusted up and coming partner Lola arrive in Juneau from Anchorage to provide additional protection for a sequestered jury and the situation devolves rapidly as the mining company continues to cover its tracks through increasingly extreme and violent means. The epic conclusion of this adventure tails winds up in an old mine where a desperate surviving witness hides, scared to ask for help when she can’t know who the mining company keeps on the payroll.
This book reads quickly and it’s fun. I enjoyed Alaska as a backdrop, a truly wild and naturally beautiful place with interesting culture and history. Cutter is a smart character who takes initiative and it’s interesting to follow his thought process in highly stressful situations where time is of the essence. The suspense genre is not one I am addicted to by any means and I wasn’t especially attached to any of the characters but I enjoyed reading it quite a bit. I recommend this book to folks who want action and may be stuck in a reading rut.
This book reads quickly and it’s fun. I enjoyed Alaska as a backdrop, a truly wild and naturally beautiful place with interesting culture and history. Cutter is a smart character who takes initiative and it’s interesting to follow his thought process in highly stressful situations where time is of the essence. The suspense genre is not one I am addicted to by any means and I wasn’t especially attached to any of the characters but I enjoyed reading it quite a bit. I recommend this book to folks who want action and may be stuck in a reading rut.
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