I’m a big Marc Cameron fan. Not because he lives in Alaska, is a retired Chief Deputy US Marshall, and can grow a Santa Claus-like winter beard. Those things are cool, but the real reason is because he can write a hell of a thriller. I mean, you don’t get picked to continue the iconic Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series and write four books (and counting?) otherwise. So anytime Mr. Cameron publishes a book, you can expect a good, action-packed time. Which is why any book he writes is an automatic must read. Thankfully, this spring we get Bone Rattle, the third novel in the Arliss Cutter series. Thriller fans, rejoice!
After reading the prior book in this series, Stone Cross, I learned I'm not man enough, or mean enough, to survive the Alaskan bush. Thankfully I didn’t have to relive that shame in Bone Rattle, a small and magnanimous mercy on behalf of Mr. Cameron. However, this book made me question if I’m fearless enough to traverse the dark, damp, claustrophobic world of abandoned mines in search of an informant hiding away from a homicidal trio hellbent on protecting their criminal enterprise. Spoiler Alert: I’m not. Thanks a lot, again, Mr. Cameron for shining a light on my shortcomings :)
Thankfully, I’m safely tucked away in my home office and Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter is the one tasked with saving the day. Which is a good thing if you want justice to prevail. Like the Canadian Mounties, he always gets his man. Although this time he faces more than he bargains for, having to dig (and swim) deep to stop the bad guys from getting away with literal murder.
I’m a fan of Arliss Cutter. He’s stoic, protective, and old school. He doesn’t give a crap what others think of him and is driven by Grumpy’s Man-Rules, a kind of code and way of life his Grandfather passed down to him as a kid. But behind his gruff exterior, he has depth of character. He cares deeply for those around him and even shows a chivalrous streak from time to time. He looks out for his late-brother’s widow, he teaches his nephews to cook and he guides and teaches to his more junior (and kick ass) partner with patience and respect. Taken all together, Arliss Cutter is a character you root for no matter the situation.
Fans of Marc Cameron will be pleased with this latest installment of the Arliss Cutter series. Bone Rattle further develops the characters inside a compelling plot with plenty of action and mayhem. It continues storylines on the home front with resolution not yet in the offering. And it deftly opens the door on additional plotlines that are certain to show up in the next book or two. Which is good news for thriller fans since that means we’re getting more Arliss Cutter novels. And we can all use more Marc Cameron storytelling in our lives.
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