Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Grumpy Cutter set the stage for his grandsons’ futures. He gave them the courage and skills necessary to survive the streets as law enforcement officers and the backwoods of Alaska on a drilling rig. He taught them survival skills, how to look for small details, and the value of hard work. But his final case as a Texas sheriff left behind more than a legacy of heroics. A madman is out for vengeance, and there is only one last man in the Cutter line left to face it. U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter will need every lesson Grumpy taught him to track down this criminal before the people he cares about become the next targets.
Best-selling author Marc Cameron brings Arliss Cutter back for an eighth book with a story that explores Cutter’s personal and family history in Backtrack. Blending his signature style of mystery, domestic thriller, and police procedural, Cameron draws readers in by exploring the mysterious patriarch of the Cutter clan as well as one of Arliss’s ex-wives, who had only been mentioned in passing in previous books. Cameron uses his experience as a U.S. Marshal and Alaskan resident to deliver realistic dialogue and immersive scenery, bringing this story to life. Readers who love action-adventure stories filled with pursuit, suspense, and rugged settings will find this novel packed with tension, movement, and real danger from start to finish.
I give Backtrack 5 out of 5 stars. Featuring dual timelines that connect the present-day manhunt with a historical fugitive chase, this novel showcases Cameron’s ability to build dynamic characters across law enforcement communities and eras. For longtime Arliss Cutter fans like me, this book reveals a family side of the lawman that Cameron has only hinted at in the past. I found myself cheering through the first chapter as the story unveiled new landmarks in Cutter’s life, while also feeling frustrated by the overreaching behavior of his ex-wife. I did occasionally have trouble following the motivations of the criminals involved in the story. The initial crime and some of the subsequent crimes committed while they were on the run made sense, but later in the manhunt, I struggled to understand why the criminals made certain decisions. With that said, the layered investigations showcase the realistic fieldwork regimen the Marshals would carry out, and I am eager to see how The Branded Ones storyline resolves in the next installment.
With on-page physical assault and violence against women, this novel may not be suitable for all readers. I would recommend it for audiences ages 16 and up, especially given the death and gun violence depicted on the page. This would make a fantastic book club or group read-along selection, with so much to unpack in both timelines. Readers who have enjoyed Cameron’s other works, including both the Cutter series and his contributions to the Jack Ryan universe, will love this choice. I was first introduced to Cameron through his Jack Ryan books but have quickly become a fan of his other work as well. If you have never had the pleasure of reading a book in this series, this would be a great place to start because of the dual timelines and the look back at Cutter family history. It is also an excellent choice for readers who enjoy Michael Connelly, Brad Thor, and John Sandford.
Backtrack will release on July 28, 2026, and is available for preorder now in our Bookshop.org store.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Pretty Dead Things, Kelsey Cox
- Current audio book: The Mark of Zorro, Johnston McCulley
- Book I’m most looking forward to: God’s Country, William Kent Krueger
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