Bone Rattle Cameron
US Marshal Arliss Cutter is back in another great read by New York Times Bestselling author Marc Cameron. I always find myself not only enjoying Cutter but learning a little bit about the Alaskan frontier and people that Cameron details.
This Cutter adventure starts with the typical non-Clancy Cameron vibe and the bad folks are back in full force. Cameron does an amazing job describing and building the literary tension between local police, Alaskan State Troopers and the US Marshals as they work there way through the violence and death that surround the hunt for Alaskan gold.
The amount of history and factual evidence detailed by Cameron really bring the story to life. The relationship dynamics that are displayed between Cutter and Mim, his brothers widow, continue to build and create awkward but meaningful growth between the two. As Cutter teams with partner Lola Teariki to monitor a high profile court case, one of the US Attorneys is brutally murdered and Cutter is turned into the man hunter that defines his character.
Cameron shines again as the mystery of Arliss Cutter grows with this suspenseful read! His dedicated time in law enforcement as a United States Marshal solidify the narrative and will leave the intrigue dripping. The details are thorough, the locations authentic, and the adversary is unique. This is a great addition to the Cutter series and won’t disappoint.

Bone Rattle is a captivating and gritty crime thriller that puts seasoned Deputy Marshal Arliss Cutter hot on the trail of murderers and corrupt politicians in the heart of Alaska.
Arliss Cutter is brought to the city of Juneau to assist with marshaling criminals tied to a sinister businessman with an inclination towards violence. There is more than meets the eye and Cutter is pitted against killers who are looking to silence a witness who can blow the whistle on a huge conspiracy built on the dead and the wronged. It is up to Cutter to find the truth and save the witness, easier said than done with all the mind-boggling plot twists.
Bone Rattle balances sleuthing and action in the delicate fashion of keeping a realistic tone. The majority of the narrative focuses on investigative deductions of Cutter until the climax where Cutter and a friend are caught in a guns-blazing shootout without proper cover whilst only utilizing a Colt Python and a Glock. It’s an excellent action sequence that is augmented by Marc Cameron’s descriptive environments of the rocks and gravel in the cavernous hills and mines.
Arliss Cutter continues to be a delight to read as a no-nonsense Marshall who tracks his prey without fail and renders justice. Marc Cameron continues to develop Cutter as a complex personality, displaying his ferocity in dealing with his antagonists as well as his warmth when it comes to his family. His thoughts and actions resonate with readers not only when he stands up to bullies and murderers, but also when he struggles to deal with his inner turmoil, especially when it comes to his sister-in-law.
Cameron’s Arliss Cutter books are written with emphatic visuals of the environments to portray the cold and gloomy feelings of crime scenes and isolated locales in Alaska. The heavy environmental descriptions only serve to personify the locations as living breathing personalities, and immerse the readers further into the the trade and tricks of tracking prey as Cutter tracks his.
Bone Rattle continues the charm of the Arliss Cutter books with the confident protagonist, devilish antagonists, chilly descriptions of Alaska, and well-executed action at the opportune moments. The book ends with an eerie cliffhanger that I hope brings an even darker chapter for Cutter next time. Bone Rattle is a superb blend of intellectual and adrenaline stimulation for readers.

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.

Alaska forbids new roads in its designated wilderness area, but upgrading existing roads is OK. Just make sure an archeologist is on site just in case ancient relics turn up. And if they do, count on construction delays.

One particular mine owner ain’t happy when a rare shaman bone rattle is unearthed. Grimsson fancies himself a modern-day Viking, replete with massive full beard and an even bigger temper. And mining isn’t his only interest. Been running drugs in to the Juneau area until the arrest of a couple runners sours his distribution network.

The trial of the two culprits has put the Alaskan law enforcement community on edge. The jury is to be sequestered. The judge and prosecutors have protection courtesy of the US Marshall service. A number of deputies based in Anchorage are sent to Juneau to help babysit the judge and jury.

Deputies Arliss Cutter (a Florida native) and Lori Teariki (a Cook Island native) are assigned to the judge. Arliss has been around. From Florida, Army Ranger, master human tracker, stationed in multiple US Marshall offices now in Anchorage. Not much of a conversationalist. Veteran of four marriages. Quick tempered when he sees an underprivileged is wronged. His rep is ‘does the right thing, right now.’ Sounds a bit like Jack Reacher. Lori is a new deputy who like to butt right in . . . anything. Particularly interested in learning how to track bad guys on the run in the bush.

Protection is the bread and butter of deputies and all is going reasonably well. Until the federal prosecutor goes off to get a tip from a informer and gets cut down by a skilled sniper. Word is the druggies are ready to cut a deal and Grimsson issued the kill order. Not a good idea to kill a federal prosecutor with a town full of deputies on hand. And the influx of FBI in response.

The hunt is on. Find the informer. Find the shooter. Find any accomplices. Find who gave the order. Find any friends who might be protecting the top of this particular food chain. And do so in the mine-dotted mountains that lay to the east of Juneau.

For some, the name Marc Cameron might be familiar. He is one of the authors who was selected to pick up the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan/Campus series. He also is the author of a 10-book series of political thrillers featuring one Jericho Quinn. Bone Rattle is the 3rd Arliss Cutter book. Kind of surprised I hadn’t read any of the Quinn books as the titles seem right in my wheelhouse.

And while the Quinn books sound more like cousins to Brad Thor or Alex Berensen, this Arliss Cutter book is more akin to CJ Box (Joe Pickett) or Craig Johnson (Walt Longmire). The introverted western law enforcement officer whose main credo is doing the right thing. With Pickett and Longmire as favorites, I’m betting that Cutter will join that short list.

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.

Let me start by saying that I am big fan of Marc Cameron. I have also enjoyed the first two books of the Arliss Cutter series. This book however, was not my favorite.

I felt like there were many things going on at the same time. Things involving Arliss, and Mim and the kids, and Constance, and Lori (the reporter). Not to mention a couple of plot lines with the bad guys as well. Then there is the archaeologist and the bone rattle (the book IS named after that rattle).

While that is not necessarily a bad thing, Mr. Cameron usually does a great job of walking the reader (and that would be me) down the pathway - even though there might be various detours along the way - but walking down the pathway that helps the reader tie up all of the various happenings to create an "AHA" moment when all is revealed. I'm not sure there was ever an AHA moment. In fact, after the book was done, I think I had more questions than before.

Without giving away spoilers, the reader is given a clear look from the beginning to see what the "bad guys" are doing. Then we get to see Cutter becoming involved and things take off from there. Unfortunately, when all is said and done - there are many things that are not "clear" or "resolved" to me. Then, there are a couple of these pathways that were introduced to the reader, and then basically left right there. We do not have resolution, in fact a couple of them aren't even given more than a passing comment (the archeologist is one example with the passing reference to his mother).

So, even with all of that, I did enjoy the book, just not as much as I was hoping to. I think it is a good thing to say that my expectations from Mr. Cameron are pretty high, because he has always delivered. That is truly huge praise. If I had to give an honest opinion about this entry to the series though, it would be that it felt like a chapter or two was missing at the end. I did get the setup for the next book with the nail polish info in the epilogue, but there were still so many things that were not wrapped up that it gave the impression of being incomplete.

Am I still going to continue with this series? Absolutely! I enjoy his books immensely.

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.

Thank you to @Netgallery and @Kensingtonbooks for an ARC for a honest review. Number three in the Arliss Cutter series. Arliss is called, along with his deputy Lola Teariki, to help with a sequestered jury on a drug trial. Meanwhile, a mining company is reconstructing an old road, and a Native American burial site is uncovered. The archaeologist, required by law to oversee the reconstruction, mysteriously disappears as parts of human bodies begin to wash up on the shore.

Mr. Cameron has hit his stride with The Bone Rattler. I’ve always enjoyed the Alaskan setting for these novels, and Mr. Cameron does an excellent job painting the picture making you feel like you are there. While the first two novels in the series were fine, The Bone Rattler really set a new high in the series. There is much less of Grumpy’s (Arliss’ Grandpa) man rules in this story making it a much more enjoyable read. Arliss’ adversaries are well thought out, and in some cases downright sinister. I loved how Mr. Cameron tied the story together. He also used a few characters and chapters that seemed out of place with the current story to set up the next novel. (I can’t wait!) When he tied them together at the end it all made sense.

This is an extremely well written thriller that I highly recommend. After not being sure about the series after two novels, I am now all in after reading The Bone Rattler. The Alaskan setting draws you to the novels, but the characters and story make it an excellent read.

Arliss Cutter, Deputy US Marshal, is working on securing a jury involved in a case against a pair of drug smugglers, though why they are so feared, I seem to have missed it. Add to this our man has his home life playing a significant role in this period and the author has handled this two parts very well. As expected there are lots of colourful characters with the plots and twists which Cameron excels in and which is enjoyable.
Overall another good series set against the beautiful and wild Alaska landscape and I hope more to come. Recommended read for good action thriller.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

Arliss Cutter, a Deputy US Marshall, and his partner Lola Teariki are sent to guard sequestered jurors. This should be a piece of cake, but then the US Assistant Attorney and his assistant get killed, and from there the plot twists and turns. Once again you are glued to the pages and travel the Alaskan wilderness, this time you get introduced to abandoned mines, confined places, more of Grumpy Cutter’s wisdom … and a glimpse of the next adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the privilege of pre reading this book for my honest opinion

Good to read still another Arliss. Cutter adventure. When this U.S. Marshall and his partner get ahold of a case, therefore no letting go. A variety of characters make the story interesting and full of obstacles for our protagonist..

The star of Marc Cameron's Bone Rattle (Kensington Books 2021), Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter, operates out of the frigid beauty of desolate Alaska. He is clever, hard working and impossible to stop once he has his teeth into a crime. This one starts with an ancient Native American gravesite that ends up in the way of a developer's project, an archaeologist who sees it for its historic importance, a worker who steals a valuable bone rattle rather than hide it after the archaeologist disappears, and doesn't end until Cutter has unraveled all of the sordid details.

Cameron, author of a slew of Tom Clancy novels, brings his storytelling skill to this story also. Read these excerpts:

"If they’re cornered, just about anybody on earth would jam a pencil into your eye."

"She was not a particularly large woman—but her personality sprawled across the inside of the vehicle and took up a lot of space."

"Some sourdoughs joked that there were only two seasons—winter and July."

"Anchorage was a city of over 60,000 dogs."

The plot is fast, the action clever and intricate, and the characters fascinating. This depth of understanding for what's behind the characters' actions is one trait I love about Cameron's writing but in this case, it became somewhat distracting. Cameron takes a sentence or more to describe every character that pops up in the book:

"A mixture of Tlingit, Portuguese, and Russian, Isaac Merculief had grown up in Petersburg..."

"Alaskans knew that cotton killed in the cold and damp. Merculief preferred layered wool and a waterproof rain suit."

Merculief is the archaeologist and only appears in the earliest part of the book. Reading this now, it doesn't sound as distracting as it was while reading. The problem was there were a lot of these asides, so many it slowed the flow of the story and at times, the dramatic action. I wanted to be in the action not mulling over the scent or the motivations or listening to interior monologue.

If this doesn't bother you, you are going to love this book. It's smart, human, and satisfying. Let me know what you think.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. US Marshall Alissa Cutter is trying to solve several murderes in Alaska with the suspect list growing. This book was gripping and kept me interested from the start.

Deputy US Marshal Arliss Cutter is back in Bone Rattle, the third in this series, as Cutter and his partner Lola Teariki are tasked with guarding sequestered jurors. They then get intricately involved in a much deeper and more sinister investigation as the Asst US Attorney prosecuting the case is murdered. Once again, author Marc Cameron has you immersed in Alaskan lore in this seat-of-your-pants thriller. Very few authors can make you feel just as entrenched in the settings as the characters are like Cameron can, and this book is no exception. From tracking suspects in the wild to searching blindly in dark caves, you get the unsettling feeling that you’re right beside the Marshals throughout this entertaining and enlightening story. The ending also mysteriously sets up the next novel. Another winner. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.