Cut and Run

by Ridley Pearson

A spellbinding thriller pitting a U.S. federal marshal against the mob's most resourceful killer--in a race to save the woman he loves

Six years ago, witness protection marshal Roland Larson did the He fell in love with a protected witness, Hope Stevens, whose testimony was to put away prominent members of the Romero crime family. When Hope's plan to "cut and run" is interrupted by both the government and the mob, she disappears into a new identity, taking with her not only her testimony but also a secret never shared with Larson.

Larson, who has been looking for her ever since, is put back on her trail when the Romeros intercept the master WITSEC list from the Justice Department and Hope is believed to be among the first protected witnesses targeted for execution.

In a series of terrifying encounters, Larson matches wits with a brutally ingenious killer whose sole target is Hope Stevens. For Larson, the stakes couldn't be higher--he must find Hope in order to protect her and simultaneously prevent the mob from auctioning off the master witness protection list--an act that will put seven thousand innocent, and not-so-innocent, lives in jeopardy.

Taut and edge-of-the-seat compelling, Cut and Run is a unique thriller that skillfully blends romance and suspense--Ridley Pearson at his heart-pounding best.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Detective, Adult, Romance

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Ridley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.

Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the front cover of this book, the author Harlen Coben wrote: “A totally engrossing, stay-up-all-night, hang-on-by-the-fingernails stunner.”

Hmmm… well, not quite. For me that is. Thank goodness. I do value my sleep.

It does have an interesting premise, i.e.,

What would happen if the list of all persons on the Witness Protection were stolen and put up for bid to the highest bidder?

But…

It is rather violent, and the characters felt a bit stereotyped, and to be quite honest, it was hard to read.

[Ogross · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping to find an author to fulfill my Lee Childs/Connelly/Crais fetish. This didn't cut it.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would happen if the list of all persons on the Witness Protection were stolen and put up for bid to the highest bidder? This is one of the premises of Pearson's book. Suspense is created by a personal relationship between one of the Witness Protection agents and a past protectee who has dropped out of the program, but is high on the crime family's hit list. A child is involved and is a little to precocious for belief, but adds to the suspense. Good Read.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to par for Pearson. The main problem is that the action is only moved by the federal agents for the Witness Protection Program being idiots. One lone man with a knife is able to kill off a half dozen of them with no problem. Also the Witness Protection Program can't even protect it's list of people being protected because they have a mole. Puh-lease. Not up to Boldt or Fleming actioners.

[Carolynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading this book when it got to a blow by blow description of a rape. Also, the reader of this audiobook was pretty bad.

I am beginning to think that books, like movies or videogames, should have warnings about graphic violence or sexuality. I am annoyed at how often I am surprised by scenes of rape or torture, or graphic sex scenes, that nothing in the book description warned me of.

[Danielle]

I picked this up at the library, partly because the main character is a US Marshall who works for WITSEC and falls in love with a witness (shades of In Plain Sight, my latest favorite TV show). I read the first few chapters and scanned through a few others, and it's not bad, but too icky and violent (rape, straight razors, threatening a little girl). Not my cup of tea.

[Jmrathbone · Rating 1 out of 5]

I see I am the minority in rating this book, but CUT AND RUN isn’t up to what I expect from a Ridley Pearson novel. His books featuring Sheriff Walt Fleming, KILLER SUMMER and IN HARM’S WAY, are much better. The characters in CUT AND RUN are stereotyped and you really couldn’t care what happened to any of them.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't care for kidnap stories. While some of this story involves a cunning villain brutally pursuing his prey, too much of this story revolves around innocent victims of both mature and young. 5 of 10 stars

[Cynthia]

A bit harlequin-y. Just ok.

[Dav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cut and Run • by Ridley Pearson (2005)

US Marshal Roland Larson is assigned to protect Hope Stevens while they await her placement in the witness protection program. He's also in love with her and Hope hasn't told him about their baby. Then she's whisked away into the system and Roland has no idea where she is or what name they've assigned her--she's just gone. Some 6 years later the mob is after her and the kid. The Marshal is also trying to recover a stolen list of 7,000 identities; those currently in the witness protection program, which includes the relatives and Hope.

Author Pearson has a bad habit of jumping into dialogue and scenes without explanation, leaving the reader mostly lost, at least for a time. He also seems to enjoy the use of cryptic words and slang, but OK. His analogies can particularly interesting or humorous; Not just a stick-in-the-mud, but a telephone pole and pile driven at that.

He praises his book review staff, but none of them caught the glaring errors in gun facts and technical details. One example: firing a gun does not produce the smell of cordite. The propellant, cordite was used by the British a lifetime ago and it was never used in the US, nor in handgun ammo. He's not alone in imagining the smell of cordite. Many authors, including Stephen King, have equipped their protagonists with guns that use this erroneous and acrid propellant.

I don't know if they are uninformed or they may not employ fact-checkers; maybe they just like the sound of the word.

•

Note to self. This is the story where the protagonist's Glock broke after a short fall--haha. I believe it was the trigger that supposedly broke; ridiculous.

[Randy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this book one star because there is not any stars lower than that. I've never read this Author and probably will never read him again. This book was boring to me, about a psychopathic, sadistic serial killer, a witness and a Federal Marshall. I could almost predict how each chapter would be. The best part about the book was when I finished it.

[Jreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well written. Good characters, story moves well. Once again, how does Pearson weave so many details of not-usual things into his books? This has a lot of detail on witness protection program, the other of his I read was packed with information about construction and security. There are witticisms within the dialogue.

[Debbie Deissler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story line was good but I didn't enjoy the way it was written..... about a witness in a witness protection plan and one of the men guarding her. They fall in love and then are separated for six years when they come together again to protect her and get back their abducted child.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happens lots of places but home seems to be that humid city between the banks of the Missouri and Mississippi. WITSEC, abduction, the mob and high performance computing - what more could I want? A good thriller from a solid writer.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good story well told. Pearson avoided many of the hackneyed story telling tricks - especially those so easy to fall back on when children are in the stories. All of his characters are credible as is his story.

[Dick Ulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and fast paced, this is a story about a woman witness being protected by the federal marshals to testify against a wealthy crime family suddenly becomes unprotected and sought by both the federal government and the criminals. A well written and entertaining book.

[Steve Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often forget Ridley Pearson is a terrific author of action/adventure/thriller books I like. A 25 year old book off my own shelf that I had forgot about until I needed a good read on long flights to-and-from holiday events. A really good, and timeless tale.

[wally · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished 15th january 2026 good read three stars i liked it no less no more kindle library loaner and apparently this is the first from pearson ridley nonstop action just as the description tells it entertaining story and i'll look for more from pearso ridley. onward and upward.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving

This book kept my attention throughout and was fun to read. Only wish there were more books with these characters.

[Missyjohnson1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

suspending belief is a necessity when reading Ridley Pearson books. I visualize a "made for TV" script.

[Mary Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but not his best/

[Kathy Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast paced. Good distraction during quarantine

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not up to snuff for Ridley Pearson. I hope real US Marshals are more competent than these were. I barely made it through this one.

[A. W.]

pretty good

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! Fast-paced thriller

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2005. Edge-of-your-seat compelling.

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it kept me captivated throughout the book

[Tricia Cassavaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Laura E. · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you’re into graphic depictions of violence against women and children, this books for you. I put it down.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop action and a great listen. Loved it!