The Dark Sunrise

Sheriff Aaron Mackey #4

by Terrence McCauley, Terrence P. McCauley

The sun has finally set on the violent hellstorm that fell on Dover Station, Montana, like a scourge. But when disaster returns, it falls to a lawman armed with a fistful of vengeance to make things right once more . . .THE BURDEN OF THE BADGE At long last, U.S. Marshal Aaron Mackey and Deputy Billy Sunday will see crime baron James Grant and his kill-crazy cronies stand trial for the mayhem and suffering they unleashed on the people of Dover Station. But as Montana Territory’s statehood is approaching, murdering devils like Grant can no longer be tolerated in positions of political power. Or can they? Montana’s capital of Helena follows its own set of laws—laws that not only set Grant free, but give peacekeeping authority to a sadistic murdering gunslinger like Colonel Nathan Rigg, Mackey’s commanding officer during the war. The city’s leaders prefer keeping killers like Grant and Rigg under their thumbs. Mackey knows there’s no controlling these bloodthirsty madmen. And if they think they’re above the law, then Mackey and Billy will just have to appoint themselves judge, jury, and executioners . . .“The pace, from the opening pages to the final satisfying end, is unrelenting. An exceptional western novel.”—Historical Novels Review on Where the Bullets Fly“A captivating western . . . the setting is harsh and evocative; the villain is sufficiently slimy and scheming; and even the violence is gratifying.”—Booklist, STARRED review on Dark Territory  

Genres: Westerns

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Also writes as Terrence P. McCauley

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows “Get Out Of Town” by the same author. Marshall Mackey and Deputy Billy Sunday return to Dover Station, Montana to seek vengeance and justice for the murder of Mackey’s father. It has action in spades and will hold your attention until the last page. Who would have thought a New York author could write page turning, full of action westerns that are page turners but he has and I look forward to more similar stories from him.

[Richard Harral · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many killings and a little far fetched for me. I like westerns but I think they don’t need this much gun play. I would rather read a western with a Zane Grey style story. It seems todays readers want their books to be like an electronic game with super heroes and mass violence.

[papasteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, OK.

[Ray Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Michelle M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good finale.

[David Gilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrence McCauley does it again in his The Dark Sunrise. What a great western. So very good. Five stars.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western novels are not everyone's favorite genre but I'm not sure why they are not enjoyed by more readers. When you have skilled authors like Terrence McCauley writing stories that are rich with western history and detailed backgrounds that let you see how life was lived when the law was not always the good guys. Keeping the peace when there were more people interested in taking what they wanted instead of earning it, was enough to keep the real good guys riding hard with guns blazing.

When US Marshall Mackey finally gets the worst of the local crime barons locked up and waiting for trial, he feels as if his hard work is paying off. he can face his new bride with hope for a bright future in a town he loves. But he will have to put that future on hold for awhile when the town council not only sets these criminals free, they hire a man Marshall Mackey knows is a criminal to be the town lawman. Can you feel the excitement building? There will be blood and bullets before the day is out. Spoiler alert....the good guys win in the end. Another great western to add to my growing collection.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrence McCauley may be fairly new to the Western genre, but he seems to have quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. At least to me.
Each installment of the Aaron Mackey series has improved upon itself. Bringing the series more and more to the top of my reading list as they come out.
As a sheriff turned Marshall, Mackey has withstood his fair share of storms. The Dark Sunrise was the worst storm of the series.Things that happen in this book can’t be undone and no one escapes unscathed.
This book has a lot going on. Family drama, political machinations and outright gunfights.
There are quiet moments in this book, but when the action gets going, it’s hellbent for leather.
If you haven’t read any of these books, do yourself a favor and dive on in.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next one!

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Terrence McCauley's The Dark Sunrise (Pinnacle 2020), U.S. Marshall Aaron Mackey's life seems to be finally working out. He’s cleaned up his hometown, Dover Station. He’s getting married to the woman of his dreams. His father (who he hasn't always been close to but finally is) is elected Mayor of Dover Station. That--of course--is when everything goes wrong, and horrifically. But the worst is when an old nemesis he thought he'd put away manages to escape incarceration and comes back to take vengeance on Mackey. Luckily, Mackey has a moral center that never wavers, a core that is as strong as a continent's craton, and friends who stand by him.

This is another entry in the Aaron Mackey Western series, each book better than the last. While they can be read in order, they easily stand alone. Highly recommended for those who love this genre.