What do you think?
Rate this book
Tommy Smith High Mountain Noir #4
Trail of the Fallen: A Tommy Smith High Country Noir, Book Four
A suspense-filled western noir thriller set in California's Sierra mountains—for readers of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box.
Tommy Smith, former sniper and Army combat veteran, wants nothing more than to be left alone to raise his young family with his deputy-sheriff wife, Sarah, as they run a wilderness outfitting business in the eastern Sierra ranching country where they grew up.
A mass breakout at Folsom Prison shatters their mountain idyll and brings back the PTSD that Tommy hoped he'd left on the battlefields of Afghanistan. Although Folsom is a hundred fifty miles west, every new atrocity by the convicted killers places them closer and closer to Tommy and his family. The escape follows by some months the theft of prototype high-end sniper rifles from the nearby Marine base, a theft that the Corps was trying to keep as quiet as possible. Soon, Tommy discovers that the list of escapees includes a name he never wanted to hear again—that of Sarah's psychopathic first husband, whom Tommy had helped put in prison. Sidelined by law enforcement because of his closeness to the case, Tommy strikes out horseback and alone in a blizzard, where he must overcome his own demons to fight the all-too-real demon waiting for him up the trail.
Tommy Smith, former sniper and Army combat veteran, wants nothing more than to be left alone to raise his young family with his deputy-sheriff wife, Sarah, as they run a wilderness outfitting business in the eastern Sierra ranching country where they grew up.
A mass breakout at Folsom Prison shatters their mountain idyll and brings back the PTSD that Tommy hoped he'd left on the battlefields of Afghanistan. Although Folsom is a hundred fifty miles west, every new atrocity by the convicted killers places them closer and closer to Tommy and his family. The escape follows by some months the theft of prototype high-end sniper rifles from the nearby Marine base, a theft that the Corps was trying to keep as quiet as possible. Soon, Tommy discovers that the list of escapees includes a name he never wanted to hear again—that of Sarah's psychopathic first husband, whom Tommy had helped put in prison. Sidelined by law enforcement because of his closeness to the case, Tommy strikes out horseback and alone in a blizzard, where he must overcome his own demons to fight the all-too-real demon waiting for him up the trail.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2022
About the author
Bart Paul
5 books37 followersBart Paul is the author of TV documentaries, short stories, the biography Double-Edged Sword: The Many Lives of Hemingway's Friend, the American Matador Sidney Franklin (University of Nebraska Press, 2009), Under Tower Peak (Arcade, 2013), and Cheatgrass (Arcade, 2016). Throughout his school years, he spent summers working on cattle ranches and pack outfits in California's Eastern Sierra. After graduating from U.C. Berkeley and years in southern California, he now divides his time between Bridgeport, California, near Yosemite, and Smith Valley, Nevada - the ranching country of his novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 6, 2022
I stumbled upon this series a few years ago and have never regretted it, these books are great. Trail of the Fallen by Bart Paul is the fourth masterpiece about ex army sniper Tommy Smith. He lives in the sierra mountains on the border between Nevada and California and tries to make a living guiding people with horses in the mountains. In this book there is a prison break that will have devastating effects on this rural setting and will Tommy come out on top? Well do like I did and read the book, you will not regret it. I must thank Simon & Schuster, Arcade Crime, Skyhorse Publishing, Edelweiss and Netgalley for giving me this advance copy out in stores August 23. I also thank Bart Paul for his imagination when writing these books.
June 13, 2022
My thanks to Skyhorse Publishing, and to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Trail of the Fallen.
2.5 Stars
A mass breakout at Folsom Prison shatters the mountain idyll shared by deputy-sheriff Sarah, and her husband, former Army sniper, Tommy. Although Folsom is a hundred fifty miles west, every new atrocity by the convicted killers places them closer and closer to Tommy and his family. Soon, Tommy discovers that the list of escapees includes a name he never wanted to hear again—that of Sarah's psychopathic first husband, whom Tommy had helped put in prison.
There was a lot to like about Trail of the Fallen. I loved the relationship shared between Sarah and Tommy. I very much enjoyed reading about the Eastern Sierra of California and the atmosphere of hunting killers during a blizzard was nerve-wracking! Sadly, I found myself unable to keep track of the massive number of characters and the more I read, the more confused I became.
2.5 Stars
A mass breakout at Folsom Prison shatters the mountain idyll shared by deputy-sheriff Sarah, and her husband, former Army sniper, Tommy. Although Folsom is a hundred fifty miles west, every new atrocity by the convicted killers places them closer and closer to Tommy and his family. Soon, Tommy discovers that the list of escapees includes a name he never wanted to hear again—that of Sarah's psychopathic first husband, whom Tommy had helped put in prison.
There was a lot to like about Trail of the Fallen. I loved the relationship shared between Sarah and Tommy. I very much enjoyed reading about the Eastern Sierra of California and the atmosphere of hunting killers during a blizzard was nerve-wracking! Sadly, I found myself unable to keep track of the massive number of characters and the more I read, the more confused I became.
November 25, 2024
Good read
September 28, 2022
This was a really good read. I like the fact there was so much action in this novel. I love westerns books like this one that have you the pages turning fast to find out what was going to happen next. I loved the fact that this ft like a more modern western and there was a prison break that led to an exciting series of events. I thought the author did a great job at creating such a wonderful sense of atmosphere and tension. This made for an exciting roller coaster ride of a story. I loved the characters they were very exciting and well developed but there was a fair few characters and I sometimes had to seriously think who was who. The book followed well despite the confusion with characters. I can't wait to read more books from this series. I recommend reading this book especially if you love those fast paced westerns novels.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating a very thrilling story with plenty of action. I will be looking out for more books by this author. Hopefully with a few less characters.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating a very thrilling story with plenty of action. I will be looking out for more books by this author. Hopefully with a few less characters.
December 13, 2022
good read
I really like these Bart Paul books. He has good characters in Tommy, Sarah, Aaron, etc. good story with constantly changing scenes and action. Highly recommend this book series.
I really like these Bart Paul books. He has good characters in Tommy, Sarah, Aaron, etc. good story with constantly changing scenes and action. Highly recommend this book series.
June 20, 2022
Kinda Far Fetched!
Tommy Smith is a legend in Northern California and Nevada where he lives. He is a combat veteran who was wounded multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan before returning home to help his former girlfriend escape her brutally abusive husband, and to help her father run his cattle ranch. Tommy occasionally hallucinates about his combat days in Afghanistan, although it isn’t clear just how that fact contributes to the story. He has now become a modern-day cowboy, riding horses, fixing fences, and herding cattle. He is also an expert tracker, hunter, and shooter.
There has been a massive prison breakout at Folsom Prison in California. The escapees are some of the baddest of the bad: murderers, rapists, and pedophiles. Tommy is convinced that they are being led by the man who was once married to Deputy Sheriff Sarah Cathcart, who is now married to Tommy. His name is Kip Isringhausen, and he was shot four times by Tommy a year and a half earlier but survived with a badly injured foot that has left him with a limp. He has vowed revenge against Tommy, and against Sheriff Mitch Mendenhall, who is running for reelection.
The US Marshal’s service has taken over the hunt for the escapees, who are leaving a trail of violence and death across California and into Nevada. The sheriff wants Tommy to be a part of the hunt, but the chief marshal does not agree. Tension and friction ensue. Tommy is convinced that the cons will travel to where he and Sarah live and work to exact revenge. The marshals do not believe this, so naturally the crooks head their way.
Complicating the plot is a Marine base where a number of advanced high-tech sniper rifles have been stolen, but never recovered. The Russians and the Chinese, among others, would pay dearly to get their hands on the rifles, so the cons, who know where they have been hidden, want to recover them before law enforcement or the Marines find them first.
It soon becomes apparent that the escapees are thinning their own ranks, murdering their fellow convicts to reduce the number of shares of the proceeds from the sale of the rifles. In the meantime, Winter is arriving, and some of the mountain passes have been snowed in, while some of the wilderness areas are only accessible by horse or snowmobile. Naturally, Tommy can track down the fugitives and he soon confronts them in the woods.
Amazingly, even though these ruthless, murderous thugs are heavily armed and greatly outnumber Tommy, they fail to kill him when they get the chance. This allows him to continue tracking them. Then they fail to kill him again. And then again. Ultimately, of course, all of them must die while Tommy must survive to continue his idyllic life with Sarah. It just isn’t believable. The character development is thin. The plot is way too complicated. There are too many characters. People behave irrationally, loose ends are left dangling at the conclusion of the story, and that conclusion is ragged.
The story is fast paced and detailed, but it is too far-fetched for me. Simplify the plot, reduce the number of characters, tell us more about Tommy’s family members, tie up the loose ends, and smooth out the ending. Only then will this be a four- or five-star novel. Feeling generous, I award three stars.
Tommy Smith is a legend in Northern California and Nevada where he lives. He is a combat veteran who was wounded multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan before returning home to help his former girlfriend escape her brutally abusive husband, and to help her father run his cattle ranch. Tommy occasionally hallucinates about his combat days in Afghanistan, although it isn’t clear just how that fact contributes to the story. He has now become a modern-day cowboy, riding horses, fixing fences, and herding cattle. He is also an expert tracker, hunter, and shooter.
There has been a massive prison breakout at Folsom Prison in California. The escapees are some of the baddest of the bad: murderers, rapists, and pedophiles. Tommy is convinced that they are being led by the man who was once married to Deputy Sheriff Sarah Cathcart, who is now married to Tommy. His name is Kip Isringhausen, and he was shot four times by Tommy a year and a half earlier but survived with a badly injured foot that has left him with a limp. He has vowed revenge against Tommy, and against Sheriff Mitch Mendenhall, who is running for reelection.
The US Marshal’s service has taken over the hunt for the escapees, who are leaving a trail of violence and death across California and into Nevada. The sheriff wants Tommy to be a part of the hunt, but the chief marshal does not agree. Tension and friction ensue. Tommy is convinced that the cons will travel to where he and Sarah live and work to exact revenge. The marshals do not believe this, so naturally the crooks head their way.
Complicating the plot is a Marine base where a number of advanced high-tech sniper rifles have been stolen, but never recovered. The Russians and the Chinese, among others, would pay dearly to get their hands on the rifles, so the cons, who know where they have been hidden, want to recover them before law enforcement or the Marines find them first.
It soon becomes apparent that the escapees are thinning their own ranks, murdering their fellow convicts to reduce the number of shares of the proceeds from the sale of the rifles. In the meantime, Winter is arriving, and some of the mountain passes have been snowed in, while some of the wilderness areas are only accessible by horse or snowmobile. Naturally, Tommy can track down the fugitives and he soon confronts them in the woods.
Amazingly, even though these ruthless, murderous thugs are heavily armed and greatly outnumber Tommy, they fail to kill him when they get the chance. This allows him to continue tracking them. Then they fail to kill him again. And then again. Ultimately, of course, all of them must die while Tommy must survive to continue his idyllic life with Sarah. It just isn’t believable. The character development is thin. The plot is way too complicated. There are too many characters. People behave irrationally, loose ends are left dangling at the conclusion of the story, and that conclusion is ragged.
The story is fast paced and detailed, but it is too far-fetched for me. Simplify the plot, reduce the number of characters, tell us more about Tommy’s family members, tie up the loose ends, and smooth out the ending. Only then will this be a four- or five-star novel. Feeling generous, I award three stars.
January 19, 2023
I liked the first three novels in the Tommy Smith series, so I anxiously looked forward to book five, which was published in 2022. In this update a large amount of weapons and ammunition are stolen from the marines and stashed somewhere in the eastern Sierra Nevadas. Early in the book we learn that thirteen nasty convicts escaped from the Folsom prison, and the group includes Sarah's ex-husband. Valuable weapons and revenge on Tommy become the theme. Tommy and Sarah are living on the ranch of Sarah's dad along with their one year old daughter and a ten year old foster child that carried over from the previous book. Of course the fears ramp up and Tommy joins forces with a host of federal agencies, and the chase is on. Unlike the earlier books, the writing style in this one seem short and choppy; there was minimal character development other than, Audi, the foster daughter; and the plot seemed very linear. I would probably sign on to number five should Paul create one, in spite of these negatives.
June 26, 2022
Tommy is a great character, and his backstory provides so many opportunities for great adventures. The stereotypes portrayed in this story as the adventure begins bring down the credibility factor to make the story less than it could have been. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
October 16, 2022
This was a lot of blood, pain, and senseless slaughter to wade through in two days of reading, but I ...stuck with it due to B P's writing. The man has enough talents in his mind to create a story that keeps you engaged. (I hope Tommy doesn't always have to get so beat up, maybe gets more of a life with his family? Just a hope.)
August 13, 2023
Hard trials
It appears that our lives just keep repeating both good and bad decisions we have made . if we get good at something,even at something we don't want to do, someone will come calling for help that only we might give. Same with Tommy Smith, its so hard to lay down a former life.
It appears that our lives just keep repeating both good and bad decisions we have made . if we get good at something,even at something we don't want to do, someone will come calling for help that only we might give. Same with Tommy Smith, its so hard to lay down a former life.
January 31, 2026
another enjoyable read by Paul Bart
I am a horsewoman and thoroughly enjoy the backcountry riding aspect in Bart’s books. He is obviously a horseman himself; it is hard to find a good author that writes a modern criminal/mystery western. Murder mystery meets suspense meets western but we’ll written and keeps the reader hooked.
I am a horsewoman and thoroughly enjoy the backcountry riding aspect in Bart’s books. He is obviously a horseman himself; it is hard to find a good author that writes a modern criminal/mystery western. Murder mystery meets suspense meets western but we’ll written and keeps the reader hooked.
September 10, 2022
Very suspenseful. But I thought the hero made some bad decisions (not using backup) and people died because of it.
I also don't like when villains "come back" when they were defeated in earlier books.
I also don't like when villains "come back" when they were defeated in earlier books.
March 5, 2023
A prison break sets free about a dozen hardcore prisoners, one of whom has a grudge against Tommy and his wife, a deputy sheriff. The search for the escaped prisoners is intense and complicated by a massive early snowstorm. Intense reading.
September 26, 2023
Feels like you are there
Outstanding writing and I can actually picture the scenery as it is described. Feels like I am actually there in the present. Please give us more!
Outstanding writing and I can actually picture the scenery as it is described. Feels like I am actually there in the present. Please give us more!
January 8, 2024
Good story but not as well written as the first book in the series which I loved.
February 8, 2025
This is my first of this author and I intend to scoop up more
March 3, 2023
Horses and guns
Just a few good guys with white hats chasing a bunch of very bad guys that should of had black hats on. The cowboy creed of always trying to do the right thing, protecting the women and children is the guiding theme of this book. A soldier fighting his enemies, both real and in his dreams. This is another good high country adventure.
Just a few good guys with white hats chasing a bunch of very bad guys that should of had black hats on. The cowboy creed of always trying to do the right thing, protecting the women and children is the guiding theme of this book. A soldier fighting his enemies, both real and in his dreams. This is another good high country adventure.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews