Member Reviews

Arliss Cutter is a US Marshall working in Alaska. He is a man of few words and fewer smiles. He finds himself in untenable situations yet always seems to come out on top using his quick wit and extensive library of survival skills. You can't help to love the grump. And always around to make him a little more lovable is his partner, Lola, a woman who does not suffer fools and when not out kicking ass at work is hard at work at the gym.

Cutter and Lola are split up, for what should be a night, when Cutter runs up to the North Slope to bring back a couple of bad dudes who were arrested there and need transporting to Fairbanks. While in the North Slope Cutter ends up arresting a 3rd and has to put them all on a little plane for transport. Suffice it to say the plane runs into a few problems along the way and Cutter and his charges are stranded in the middle of nowhere Alaska. Meanwhile, Lola is helping out on a case with the Alaska State Police when word of Cutter's disappearance comes through. Lola and Brackett, the State Police Detective with personal knowledge of the area in which Cutter is believed to be, head to Fairbanks to join the search.

This story will have you on the edge of your seat and next to the fire for warmth. It did not take me long at all to rip through this book, which isn't hard when you can't put it down. You absolutely could read this as a standalone, but why would you want to deny yourself more Arliss Cutter?

Many thanks to #NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an advanced copy of #ColdSnap in exchange for my honest review. Cold Snap will be released on April 26, 2022.

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US Marshall Arliss Cutter finds himself wrapped into the search for the Tall Man who has been taking, killing, and dismembering women in Anchorage. His niece Constance, deep in the throes of teen rebellion, has a connection to one of them but there's more. What's meant to be a quick in and out of Deadhorse picking up fugitives turns bad quickly when the pilot varies their route to fly over his friend's camp. If you know Arliss (I'm a fan) you know he's not going to be swayed by the conditions (bad) or the criminals (really bad). Back in Anchorage, his deputy Lola has found a new friend in a APD officer and they're determined to find two women they think the Tall Man has taken. Cameron has a way with upping tension and the Alaska atmospherics (all those layers) are great. This will be fine read as a standalone and then you like me will be eagerly awaiting the next one. And there's a recipe! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. What's next for Arliss and what happened to the puppies?

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Cold Snap by Marc Cameron
Arliss Cutter #4

Excellent addition to the series typing up some loose ends while setting the stage for the next book in the series – could not put it down!

What I liked:
* The Prologue that tells us more about Arliss, his brother, and grandfather…and an anchor for the “Grumpy-isms” or laws Cutter mentions and lives by
* Arliss Cutter: Supervisory US Marshal, grew up in Florida, military veteran, experienced, married four times, a man of action – when it is required, there for his brother’s family, a man I would want on my side.
* Lola Teariki: Deputy US Marshall, strong, intelligent, workout fiend, likes a puzzle, intriguing, Arliss’s partner at work, outgoing, forthright, capable, interesting…might be interested in Joe Bill?
* Joe Bill Brackett: police officer, relatively new on the job, intrigued by the serial murderer leaving body parts about, inquisitive, dedicated, is attracted to Lola…eager to see what happens next
* Chief Deputy Jill Phillips: good leader, boss of Arliss and Lola, mother, wife, good leader
* Seeing how Arliss’s sister-in-law, niece, and nephews are doing – wonder how it will all eventually play out – also enjoyed seeing how the niece stepped up when she needed to.
* The setting – Alaska in all of the cold bitterness it has to provide – one of the biggest characters to contend with of all
* Learning about snow caves then looking them up to find out how to make one
* The tie-in to the previous books and continuation of the serial killer case
* The plot, writing, and the way one of the threads from previous books was tied up
* The way the police worked together whether dealing with crimes and criminals or searching for those lost in the wilderness
* Noah and Piper: graduate students in a remote area that ended up playing a big part in the story – liked them both and wouldn’t mind seeing them again.
* Battles, Meeks, Cyril, Hough…and so many more…each character provided something the story needed
* The teaser regarding what the next book’s focus will probably be
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* The criminals Arliss was sent to transport to trial – as well as a few other criminals that were dealt with in the story
* Basically…everyone and everything I was meant not to like ;)

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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This is book 4 of the Arliss Cutter series and takes place in Alaska. Cutter is originally from Port Charlotte, FLA and his partner Lola is a Maori woman from the Cook Islands, both far from Dutch Harbour, Alaska but are called to investigate a confiscated highly unusual banned shipment..
Body parts have been washing ashore and Lola assists Officer Brackett in investigating a possible serial killer in the area. Cutter gets sent to Deadhorse to pick up three violent prisoners and return them to Anchorage by plane. Deadhorse is a pipeline town and filled with pumped up oil pipeline workers who challenge Cutter when the plane lands unexpectedly in a distant off site area This results in an onboard fire and chaos ensues.
This is my first book in the series and I did not have difficulty keeping up. The characters were likeable and engaging, the descriptive scenery enthralling and the story was riveting. I will definitely read more. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Wow, wow, WOW! An amazing thrill ride through the wilds of Alaska and a book I could not put down. I read it every spare minute that I had.

Arliss Cutter is a US Marshall. His partner is Lola Teariki, a Polynesian woman who is very far from home. I absolutely love the dynamic between these two. He is grumpy but a solid guy; she is just as solid but more emotional - it works! Both of them have mad skills, just perfect for the job that they do. They need every bit of them, when it comes to the wilds of Alaska.

Inbetween trying to track down a serial killer who seems to enjoy dismembering bodies all over the shop, Arliss is doing a prisoner escort which goes terribly wrong. I will not spoil anything but mentioning anything more about what goes down, but I do hope that we meet some of these characters in future books, especially young Noah who was particularly impressive in this novel. Poor Arliss is also attempting to piece together what happened to his brother and then there are the strange vibes between him and his sister-in-law........

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

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Thanks to netgalley.com and Kensington Publishing for the advance ARC copy for my honest review.

Nothing better than a modern Western with a U.S. Marshal set in the Alaska Wilderness "The Last Frontier", stranded with a bunch of prisoners, with a Bear, a Wolf pack, trying to survive to get rescued and has the good verse evil element to it.

Easily could be ripped right out of the headlines, did like the plight of the Native Women who are preyed on disappearing and getting killed.

While I do have every book published by Marc Cameron, 'Cold Snap' was my first read from the author, your in for a wild ride, one where you need to strap yourself into your favorite reading chair and hang on for a hellish read.

Do feel the author has the knack to create characters either main or support that are important for the storyline, easy for the reader to relate to and when you can do that. Makes for some absolutely fabulous reading.

Artliss Cutter is larger than life, he's badass tough, had a tough life, molded by his Grampa Grumpy, ends up in Alaska due to the death of his brother and the author puts you right in the pages with him.

Deputy Lola Teariki is Cutter's partner, she's as tough as him, been molded by him, acts and thinks like him. An added plus is her budding relationship with APD Officer Joe Bill Brackett adds to the storyline and their effort too work together to catch a serial killer makes 'Cold Snap' so good.

The Interns at the University research site add to the storyline. Noah is a native from a local tribe, adds to the storyline with his native knowledge on wild animals. Then Piper shows what people can do when they have to fight for their life.

Don't want to give too much a way, but the jest of this one is; you have a prisoner transport out of Dead Horse, with a lovesick married pilot, who detours to check on his mistress and ends up the survivors on the plane having to survive in burnt out research camp, 40 miles off the flight plan and desperate to survive the frigid early spring Alaskan weather.

The only hiccup is ending where one bad guy does something impossible using a ring pull from a can of Spam to pry a floor staple out of the floor, passes to another one and he's able to unlock double handcuffs, that are attached to a belly chain and in writing I call this the James Patterson syndrome.

Where an author gets cute, creates a similar situation that Patterson does with his Alex Cross series, putting his character in unrealistic situations and even Cameron's own words makes you realize, he's trying too make the ending better.

What would be better than just having Piper comeback with the revolver, then shoots Nix, wounds him to save Cutter and especially since Nix is a sick twisted serial killer. Has a partner, who prey on women who are in the shadows of society, prositutes, Native Women, illegals and hitchhikers those that can easily go missing without anyone noticing it.

Definite a worth author too read, you'll end up liking the author Marc Cameron's writing, will end up with all his books and will end up being a favorite author.

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Alaska is the gateway to all things breath-taking and below zero.

Marc Cameron wraps this one in the frigid and the frostbitten. U.S. Marshall Arliss Cutter has been called out to check on a Russian ship near Dutch Harbor. He's accompanied by his partner, Deputy Lola Teariki. To dig a little deeper, Arliss is originally from Port Charles, Florida and Lola is a Maori from Cook Island in the South Pacific. Both are far from the long rays of the hot Sun. But when duty calls, you just adapt........even to the unlikely confiscation of a highly unusual banned shipment.

Cameron heats this one up with various logs of adventure on the fire. Body parts have been washing ashore lately. Identifying the connecting owners is the task at hand. Lola and Officer Joe Bill Brackett of the Anchorage Police have combined their efforts in pursuing a serial killer who moves beyond the banks of a dangerous psychopath. And their leads will flush out more than what they bargained for.

The sparks of that fire will take Arliss to Deadhorse, Alaska. (Cue the visual of that one.) He's to pick up three violent prisoners and return them to Anchorage by plane. Deadhorse is filled with bulked-up oil pipeline workers who tend to drink their share to ward off the cold. These tough characters will test the mighty Arliss when the plane lands unexpectantly in a far off-site area due to pilot error. Add a fire onboard and we have a Welcome to Hell sign on the horizon.

Hunka Munka........Cameron has outdone himself in this fourth edition to the series. Cold Snap does just fine as a standalone read. The action is relentless with a three-prong attack. And no matter how intense it gets, Cameron is a whiz at slippin' in humorous, snarky dialogue with laugh-out-loud moments. You will love Lola and Joe Bill. Arliss is the human nightlight who keeps things under control, but this Deadhorse deal will be one of his greatest trials. Cameron will see to it.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Publishers and to the talented Marc Cameron for the opportunity.

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ARC Book Review – While a lot of crime thrillers can become quite repetitive, Author Marc Cameron has found a way to stand out with his fourth Arliss Cutter series crime thriller, “Cold Snap.” Cameron has mastered telling riveting stories of the US Marshal’s mission of ‘hunting and apprehending lethal criminals.’ His accumulation of the Alaskan backdrop in this series makes the stories come to life. His detailed story lines allow the reader to feel as though they are in the middle of the action. Well-paced and full of action, the narrative moves along well, using well developed characters to keep the story intriguing through the book. Cameron’s development of main character, Deputy US Marshal Arliss Cutter continues to be inspiring. While trying to solve gruesome murders, resolve family problems and transport lethal criminals all at the same time, Arliss Cutter appears to be tough, real, and relatable. He’s become one of my ‘top’ favorite protagonists in the thriller genre. In this tale, Cameron keeps the tension high when Cutter is transporting a group of criminals back to Anchorage only to encounter plane troubles during the flight back. The plane lands in the middle of nowhere in the Alaskan wilderness, leaving Cutter and others trying to survive the ‘wintery’ wilds of Alaska and the ruthless criminals. Also, back in civilization, there is a killer on the loose who dismembers female victims (prostitutes) with ease. Cold Snap has several strong plot lines that move along effectively and permits the reader to remain engaged as Cameron ties the story together slowly, but consistently. I was very impressed with how Cameron connects the brutality of the winter cold along with the story's violent actions – very creative writing. Also, some scenes in the book are not for the squeamish at heart but it’s not horrifyingly graphic either. It’s a crime mystery thriller and Cameron is an excellent enough writer to not make it repulsive. Great story telling combined with vivid descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness and an explosive ending makes Cold Snap a great read! Cameron also seemed to set up the next book, Book Five, with a few hints about Cutter’s brother, Ethan’s death. I’m already looking forward to it! I highly recommend Cold Snap, it’s a great standalone – as the others are too - in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and author Marc Cameron for providing me an Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I don't think there is a better writer than Marc Cameron. The Arliss series is so fun and entertaining, always set in the snowy wilderness. I've enjoyed this whole series and have loved every novel Cameron has written. Cold Snap is fun, entertaining, and as always, thrilling. Highly recommend this one.

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This is the first book I’ve read by Marc Cameron but it won’t be the last. A fast paced thriller that turns into a survival story in the frozen tundra of northern Alaska. Arliiss Cutter is a U.S. Marshall transporting dangerous criminals when the group gets stranded with limited supplies and no means of communication This is the fourth book in the Arliss Cutter series but I never felt lost by not having read the previous books. I’ve already ordered the other three. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for the advanced reader copy.

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Cold Snap makes for a warm read. Not that it isn't really cold in the Alaska wild where most of the story takes place. Author Marc Cameron creates believable characters, puts them in tough surroundings, and then realistically lets the action play. I liked it a lot and will be happy to read more in the Arliss series.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

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After his plane goes up in flames while transporting three prisoners, US Marshal Arliss Cutter is stranded in the Alaskan wilderness in the deadly cold. To make matters worse, he’s unaware he’s with a murderer.

This was my first Marc Cameron book and it won’t be my last! I’m patiently waiting to read the next chapter in the Arliss Cutter series after reading the last line of the book. This book was suspenseful! At first I thought it would be confusing because there were so many characters to keep track of, but the author did a great job of tying everything together and telling everybody’s story. I was flipping page after page so quickly and excitedly so I could see what happened next. I really got lost in this story and felt like I was right there with these characters.

I also loved the backdrop for the story. Wild Alaska. I like how the author told you about Alaska to give you a sense of real life Alaska and how it can eat you alive, which made the fact that they were stranded so far out that much more suspenseful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

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One of the best of the Arliss series. This book showed Alaska as the cold and unforgiving environment that it is and the wilderness, aloneness and the beauty of the environment has been very well captured in this book. We have Cutter & Arliss working on separate cases, one where Arliss is helping out in arranging prisoners handover and Lola is teaming up with her new friend and looking more closely into tracking a serial killer.
This book is a must-read for thriller lovers and definitely one for the long night.
Recommended read.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me an advance copy for my unbiased feedback.

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4.5 Stars 🌟

This is the 4th book in this series and it is a little bit different from the first three. In this book we have Arliss and Lola each working on separate things during the course of the book so there are two separate story arcs at the beginning. I have enjoyed watching the relationship develop between the two - it's a mentor/mentee relationship - and it is moving to see how involved she gets trying to get Arliss home safely.

There is also the continuation of the Constance story that started in the last book. Without going into spoilers, Constance seemed to do a 180 in terms of behavior. I was a bit disappointed in her actions, especially towards her mother...but she is a teenager, so there is that.

The saga up in the wilds was actually set up in a way that I wasn't expecting so it really kept me on my toes. The action was suspenseful and full of drama. There were times when I thought Cutter had the patience of a saint when it came to the Professor, but then again, that's just me.....

All in all I like this series. So far, each book has kept my attention and we have gotten to see a little bit more each time into a man who is an enigma to everyone else. There is also the set up for the next book regarding the death of Ethan - Arliss' brother.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

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First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Marc Cameron, and Kensington Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always a fan of Marc Cameron’s writing, I was pleased to get my hands on his latest in the Arliss Cutter series, set up in Alaska. When random body parts begin to appear on the shore, there is talk that a serial killer may be lurking in the shadows. While working as a US Marshal up in Alaska, Arliss Cutter agrees to help with the case, only to be pulled away for a random prisoner transport up in a rural part of the state. What follows is a harrowing hunt for a killer, and a transport that goes horribly wrong. Cameron dazzles again with his writing and keeps the reader on their toes throughout.

The move from Florida to Alaska is one that Arliss Cutter has never regretted, particularly as it has helped his family out a great deal. Still, there are days that he cannot help but wonder if the cold climate is worth the risk. As a US Marshal, he’s never bored, as the work is ever-evolving and he never knows what to expect.

When body parts begin to turn up on the shore, Cutter is stymied, as well as the local Anchorage Police. Alongside his partner, Lola Teariki, Cutter tries to lend a hand while the locals follow up on some leads. It would seem that the killer is targeting women who work as prostitutes, capturing them when no one would notice. Still, some others cannot help but mention the siting of a ‘Tall Man’, but the information appears to lead nowhere at all.

While Lola works closely with the Anchorage Police, Cutter is called away on a prisoner transport in the northern part of the state. Ready and armed for most anything, he heads out to bring a group of men back to Anchorage. During the flight back, the plane encounters some trouble and lands in the middle of nowhere, leaving Cutter and a few others to try surviving with some ruthless criminals. As temperatures drop and the wildlife in the region come out to scavenge, Cutter and the others will have to survive long enough for someone to rescue them, whenever that might be. A killer on the loose who dismembers victims with ease, a plane stranded in the middle of nowhere... there’s no telling what might happen. Marc Cameron keeps the tension high throughout this fourth novel in the series.

Marc Cameron has always impressed with his writing, mixing grit and determination with the uniqueness of rural Alaska. Using the US Marshals angle, Cameron is able to effectively explore the excitement of prisoner hunts with usual criminal activity that requires daily attention. A strong narrative and great characters, with some building sub-plots, Cameron impresses series fans with this piece, which pushes the story to a new level of excitement. By the end, there is a definite push for how the series might conclude, or move in new directions.

Arliss Cutter has evolved a great deal throughout the series, though much of it is in the form of character development, rather than backstory. Having moved to Alaska to help his sister-in-law after the death of his brother, Arliss plays a dual role as US Marshal and quasi-parent, though he does not wish to accentuate the latter. Convinced that he can find out what happened to his brother, who appears to have committed suicide, Arliss works hard to represent the Marshals and liaise with some of the local law enforcement entities around the state. Where things will go in the coming novels is anyone’s guess, but I am eager to see what Cameron has in store for his protagonist.

While crime thrillers can become quite repetitive, Marc Cameron has found the recipe to stand out. It could be the way he handles the ‘hunt for the killer’, or even that the Alaskan backdrop makes the story come to life, but whatever it is, Cameron has mastered it. His detailed narrative allows the reader to feel as though they are in the middle of the action, which takes things into the coldest parts of the state as well. Well-paced and full of action, the narrative pushes things along well, using characters to keep the story intriguing at evert page turn. A few strong plot lines push the story along effectively and permits the reader to remain engaged as truths come to light slowly, but consistently. While I am unsure where things are headed with this series, Cameron offers some breadcrumbs in the final chapter of the book, which could move the novels in a different ‘hunt for the truth’ direction.

Kudos, Mr. Cameron, for another winner. I hope others discover this series and find the same engaging nature in your writing.

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Oh my! What an amazing story! At first, the book seemed to overwhelm me with so many characters in the beginning, but then it picked up speed and only a few characters continued: Arliss Cutter, Lola, Brackett! The story gave me chills (literally), after all, they were in Alaska! Very descriptive settings and great characters. I did learn one thing from this book and that is that I don't ever, ever want to live in snow country. Story made me feel like I was part of the story! Once I was done reading, I still felt cold, and I couldn't warm up!

Tense moments, heavy action! I want more! Thank you #NetGalley #Kensington Publishing for AC!

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US Marshal Arliss Cutter is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Great story telling combined with vivid descriptions of the wilds of Alaska make for a great book. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this novel.

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Arliss Cutter is back for his fourth installment in Cold Snap. The plot has Arliss heading out for a prisoner transfer early in the novel while his partner, Lola Teariki, is working the serial killer case that was teased in the last novel, Bone Rattle. As the plot moves forward, it seems that there might be a connection. The prisoner transfer takes a turn for the worse that sees Arliss and his prisoners stranded in the wilderness. Arliss is left to fight for survive against not only the prisoners, but the elements too.

Another five star in the series as Mr. Cameron seems to be hitting his stride in this series. Ariliss is a very likable character as his partner, Lola Teariki. There is plenty of suspense and action in the book, so it is an engaging read. The setting is amazing. You can’t really go wrong with the setting of the beautiful but harsh Alaskan Winter. While the serial killer aspect of the story is mentioned in Bone Rattle, you don’t need to have read that book to enjoy this one. Mr. Cameron also seems to set up the next book with a few hints about Arliss’s brother. There wasn’t really anything I didn’t enjoy about this book. It was an easy five star rating.

Thank you to @Kensingtonbooks @Netgalley and @MarcCameron1 for a free Arc for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend picking up a copy when it comes out April 26th.

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Marshal Arliss Cutter is called to transport prisoners from a town in the far north of Alaska during the small window before a fierce storm cuts off air travel. What could possibly go wrong, besides everything? Meanwhile, Deputy Lola Teariki is left behind in Anchorage—with a new friend—to pursue a serial killer the higher-ups assume is already in custody. As body parts keep showing up, Mim’s daughter, Constance, sees some of the evidence and fears the worst for one of her acquaintances. Arliss and Lola, working separately towards what they don’t yet realize is a common goal, fight both nature (blinding snow, hungry bears, and circling wolves) and the bad guys in this suspenseful and thrilling story. As the story lines converge, everyone is tested to the limit in this combination thriller and extreme survival adventure.
I’ve read all the other books in this series, and now that everyone is fully established it’s a pleasure to come back and watch them in action again.

Revelations made to Arliss during his brief visit to the remote northern town suggest that questions remain about his brother Ethan’s death and leave secrets to be unraveled in the next novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for a digital advance review copy.

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The cold wilds of Alaska made for a perfect setting for this high tension novel featuring US Marshal, Arliss Cutter. A serial killer is chopping up young marginalized women, mainly prostitutes. Cutter volunteers for transport duty of 3 criminals, unaware of how dangerous one of them really is. The violence of the winter cold matches the plot's violent actions. Not for the squeamish but not horrifyingly graphic.

Set-up for next investigation in book 5 is one I look forward to as Arliss investigates the death of his brother Ethan.

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