Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Officers always say the toughest outlaws to catch are former law enforcement officers – they know all the investigative techniques and ways to avoid detection. That holds true for Deputy US Marshall Arliss Cutter and his team on their latest manhunt. Just a few months after solving his brother’s murder, Arliss is back on the job looking to teach his partner the tricks that have made him a success tracker while still keeping her safe. Will they be able to find this cold-blooded killer before Lola gets seriously injured or someone else ends up dead?

Dead Line is the 7th book in Marc Cameron’s Arliss Cutter series focused on law enforcement in the Alaskan tundra. Cameron, himself a retired Chief Deputy US Marshall currently living in Alaska, expertly weaves in professional knowledge and local facts to develop scenes that leap off the page and pull readers in. This novel delivers the suspense, family drama, and mystery I have grown to love in all of Cameron’s work.

I give Dead Line 5 out of 5 stars. I loved seeing the continuation of the storyline around Mim and the kids after the challenges they faced in Bad River. It was also interesting to learn more about the Cutter’s backstory and family. The fugitive chases and auxiliary characters give the novel a genuine feel. I am a huge fan of Marc Cameron’s works and this book is no different. Coming in at 336 pages, I finished this book in just one day – I couldn’t put it down!

If you have loved Cameron’s other works in the Cutter series or his works in the Jericho Quinn and John Ryan series, you will love this book. Given it is a domestic thriller with a degree of violence, this book would be best directed to mature audiences over 16. I would recommend this book to readers who love thrillers, mysteries, and law enforcement novels – especially if you have enjoyed works by John Sandford or William Kent Krueger.

I was excited to see a release date for this novel – I’ve been waiting for it since I finished the previous book! These characters and Cameron’s writing have me hooked on this story line and I can’t wait for more. As with every book in the Arliss Cutter series, I love the cover art for Dead Line, too – the sun just over the mountains is gorgeous!

Dead Line is the 7th book in the Arliss Cutter series, and it finds Deputy Marshal Cutter and his partner Lola Teariki on the hunt for a contract killer in brutally cold conditions. The record breaking cold temperatures, reaching 50 below zero in Fairbanks, Alaska are pivotal to the plot in this tense drama, which features two main storylines - the hunt for a fugitive killer and the person who hired him, as well as a developing plot line featuring mob figures searching for a relocated witness who testified against a mob boss years earlier. The plot lines converge as our protagonists battle the elements as well as their prey in this action packed thriller. Although there’s some resolution, there’s more to come with these storylines as the hunt is not over. Another great book in this series, looking forward to the next edition. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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

Always eager to get my hands on Marc Cameron’s latest in the Arliss Cutter series, I was not disappointed. Cameron delivers a strong story on the Alaskan tundra, where US Marshal Cutter and his partner are trying to locate another fugitive. While he is focused on work, Arliss cannot shake the surprise guest and their request of him. This will stir up old pains and develop new ones for a man who has never turned away from adversity. Marc Cameron delivers another stunning story that is sure to keep series fans impressed.

Deputy U.S. Marshals Arliss Cutter and Lola Teariki find themselves on a mission in the frigid part of Alaska, as if there is any other part. They are hunting for Butch Pritchard, who is wanted for murdering a pregnant woman back in Missouri. Pritchard has been on the lam and using the isolated nature of Alaska to shield authorities from finding him. All the while, someone has put a hit out on Butch, making this a dual race to find the killer, where end results are anything but predictable.

While nothing is quite as it seems, both Arliss and Lola soon realise that this will take all their concentration and patience, trying to stay one step ahead of a contract killer while trying to capture the man who has killed before. Working every angle they can, the Marshals make a play to find their fugitive before any more blood can be shed.

If this were not enough, the woman who birthed Arliss and abandoned him decades ago has randomly reappeared to make good and is full of excuses. Arliss wants none of it, particularly when he learns that there is a reason she has darkened his door, other than to plead for his forgiveness. It is sure to be a distraction Arliss does not need while he tries to battle the cold on his most intense case yet. Marc Cameron spins a tale that is sure to impress series fans and readers new to the collection alike!

Marc Cameron has a knack for pulling me in with his stories from the opening pages. Not only does he use a great recipe to pull the reader in with a strong story, but Cameron's use of Alaska as a setting proves unique and effective in equal measure. The narrative sets the scene and provides a strong foundation that is only bettered the further the reader progresses into the book. Characters, both recurring and the new ones who appear, help to shape things effecrtively while also complementing the larger story. Plot points work well, with the intensity of fugitive chasing and some of the Arliss Cutter backstory that never seems to get old. I quite enjoyed the surprises that keep the story from being too predictable. I am eager to see where Marc Cameron hopes to take Arliss in the next novel, as the series never seem to wane.

Kudos, Mr. Cameron, for another great book in the series.

4.5 Stars 🌟

I have truly enjoyed this series and it is only getting better. It wasn't until reading the author's note at the end of this book that I finally put two and two together and realized that Mr. Cameron actually wrote another series that I loved - the Jericho Quinn series. Maybe I knew that before, but for some reason, I didn't put it together. Why am I mentioning that? Just because Mr. Cameron has a way of writing these thrillers that make you feel like you are right there in the middle of the action, and with both of these series, the "right there" happens to be in the great state of Alaska. Talk about amazing scenes and locations.....

In this book, Arliss and Lola are dealing with crazy - and I mean CRAZY - temperatures. When you get down to 50 below zero, my brain ceases to function and I have a very hard time even trying to imagine that. But it was done so well, that the weather ended up being another 'bad guy" that was against them.

In this 7th book, there have been a couple of overarching storylines that continue onward, and we did get to see some progression on two of them - Arliss and Mim's relationship and Arliss' returning mother situation. Both of these scenarios are things that I have been waiting to see develop so that was a good thing.

And as always, there is non stop action, drama, intense build up and major bad guys. For me, the actual case and bad guys this time wasn't up to what I normally have come to expect (but saying that doesn't mean that it was bad, just not as good as some in the past) but because we had progression on those other areas, I was definitely satisfied. AND....he even set up the next book.

So, now the wait for book 8 begins.....

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on July 29, 2025.

I’ve enjoyed this series from the first book. This was an incredible story of extreme weather. I like how the characters have evolved through the series

Another good Arliss Cutter read.
In the sub zero Alaska wild lands, US Marshall armies cutter is on the hunt again, chasing down a couple of
murderers and a Witness Protection client, who made a poor decision to keep in touch with his mother.
Continued suspense and action as he searches with his partner and tries to maintains a sane home balance at
the same time.
Goid character developments as is usual with Cameron's books and a story that moves right along,
tying up some loose ends, and presenting a few new dangling threads, at the same time.

Young Sam Lujan was living a life of quiet desperation being a valet parking attendant when he is swept up into the world of the underground mobster life. Sleeping with the mob boss’s daughter and then testifying against the boss he is placed in witness protection and sent to live in Alaska. His whereabouts are supposed to be secret. Secret until he tells his mother where he is living and makes arrangements to have her sit him. The late mob boss has been replaced by his daughter and she is hell bent on tracking Sam down and killing him slowly.
The mob sends a squad of deranged killers into the wilds of Alaska to hunt down Sam while Arliss and Lola are dispatched to find out where their witness wandered off to.
Before you know it all of the parties are out in the minus 50 degree weather and the intentions are all bad. Things are deadly cold and deadly hot at the same time for Arliss, Lola, and young Sam Lujan.

This book definitely makes me appreciate those that live in Alaska and glad I don't. Great action book! Arliss and Lola are tracking down a former cop from St Louis that had his wife killed. Every person they connect with they learn more of the story and the fact that everyone is terrified of someone else but no one will say who. In the mean time there is a parallel story of a guy in witness protection and his Mom and the bad guys that want to find him. In the meantime Mim is holding down the fort with a surprise visit from Arliss Mom whose visit is complicated because everything with her is. Love hanging out with Arliss and Lola for a bit. This book is part of a series but can stand for the most part on it's own.

This 7th novel in the Arliss Cutter series is great. Story begins with two young boys being raised by a grandfather in the Florida swamps. Their mother had abandoned them but grandpas Grumpy had provided a strong male role model.

They had an overall good childhood but the boys when grown went in different directions. One became a petroleum engineer, got married and had three kids. He was later murdered. The younger brother joined the Army, became a Ranger and served in several war zones. He mustered out and eventually became a US Marshal.

Fast forward a few years and Arliss is assigned to Alaska where his brother and sister-in-law live. After his older brother is murdered he becomes a surrogate father to his niece and nephews and rekindles a puppy love with his sister-in-law.

This adventure focuses on a witness protection client being pursued by some extremely vicious people. Murder for hire goes after the WitSec person. It is up to Arliss and his partner Lola to prevent a murder. There is a lot of killing due to some pretty vicious Polish mobsters. And the hired killers.

Alaska is also featured in the story and has a big role to play. This includes windchill chases of -139° F.

Definitely recommend a read of this novel. I’ve found myself looking for other books focusing on Arliss Cutter.

Book #7 in one of my favorite series. Each book will provide readers an awesome thriller as a stand alone, but the series as a whole stands along the Joe Pickett or Longmire series. If you've ever wondered what real life in Alaska is like, Marc Cameron's descriptions are as true as it gets. Every day life is 100% different once the temperatures hit -40.
US Deputy Marshal Arliss Cutter is a dangerous man. He will protect his family, friends, and coworkers with his life. He can be counted on to do his duty to the best of his abilities, and his abilities are unlimited. His sworn duty is to track and return criminals to justice. Arliss is the supervisory marshal for the Alaska district, where his team faces the worst man and nature can throw at them. DEAD LINE finds them chasing several warrants while the temperatures move lower with brutal winds and darkness, adding extreme risks to their already deadly assignments. Several story lines weave through this book, all coming to a head when the weather is at its worst. When Cameron describes conditions at -70 degrees, it's tough to paint an accurate picture, but his is as close as I've seen to the real thing. I've been in -70 and it's something to be avoided at all costs.
Several new characters have been added to the last few books, which I see as storylines for the next book. 5 easy stars and a recommendation to read all 7 books.

This book had me holding my breath and rooting for the good guys. The crew in Alaska keeps me on my toes and shocked at times. This book was just as good as I expected.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Intense action and extreme weather fill the pages of Dead Line, a thriller you feel as much as you read. Marc Cameron has crafted a high-stakes novel that’s chilling in more ways than one.

Deputy US Marshals Arliss Cutter and Lola Teariki are pursuing a dangerous fugitive and his associates across Alaska, with the goal of arresting him and sending him back to Missouri to stand trial for the capital murder of his pregnant wife. Simultaneously, a vicious mob boss hellbent on revenge has sent a team of killers into the frigid Alaskan wilderness to track down and kill the witness – and her former lover – who put her father in prison. Cutter and Teariki are tasked with checking in on the witness, who hasn’t reported in as scheduled. Which they quickly discover is not a breach in protocol, but a deadly serious situation with the man in witness protection at risk of being found and killed. Leading to a race against the clock through ungodly freezing temperatures to stop the hit squad, resulting in an explosion of lethal violence. And if the bullets don’t kill you, exposure to the elements surely will.

Cutter’s manhunting and tactical brilliance are again on display as he thrusts himself and his law enforcement partners into the middle of treacherous operations with the single objective of bringing criminals to justice. But his emotional side is explored more in Dead Line than perhaps any other book in the series due to his emerging romantic relationship with his brother’s widow Mim, as well as having to reconcile his feelings about his long-lost mother who finally returns to his life. It’s this exploration of his emotions and psyche that takes this superhuman hero and gives him a soft, relatable side that connects with the reader.

But make no mistake, the star of this show is the Alaskan weather. Tracking down killers in the middle of the wilderness during winter is hard enough. Try doing it when it’s possibly too cold for an airplane to transport you without the fuel freezing solid midair. Or while riding a snowmobile when the temperature is -72 degrees Fahrenheit. And that’s before the wind chill puts the real feel closer to -130 degrees. Yes, the Alaskan landscape and unimaginably flesh-freezing elements take center stage and impact every action taken by every character.

It's another exciting and bone-chilling adventure in the great Arliss Cutter Series. But maybe read it on a warm, sunny day to take the edge off. Because you will definitely feel the cold in your bones as you immerse yourself in this frosty story.

I was biting my nails when I got close to the end of Dead Line, the latest chilling adventure with Arliss Cutter from master storyteller Marc Cameron. So many things going on at once that my mind had to really work, but told in a way that it was really hard to put down. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it. Cameron told stuff about cold that I haven't come across before and that's saying alot since I have read many books set both in Canada and Alaska. I would say that the author has made it hard for himself when it comes to writing the next adventure, this book will be hard to beat. I will send a big thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for letting me read this advance copy.

Book #7 in the series can easily be read as a standalone, but why miss out on all the other great adventures. Hero U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter stays busy chasing bad guys, protecting witnesses, and supporting his mom and his girlfriend/sister-in-law. In unbelievably cold, dark, winter Alaska, Cutter and his team chase some some really bad guys.

“Alaska is … well, it’s just magical, ya know.”

If you haven’t heard of Marc Cameron or his series featuring Deputy U.S. Marshals Arliss Cutter and you love well-written Alaskan-set mysteries, you’ll want to do some investigating!

I love Cameron's work because he’s actually lived elements of his stories. He’s an Alaskan writing about a setting he knows well; he’s lived and worked there as a U.S. Marshal for most of his career.

Cameron is a master at showing, not telling. For those of us who cringe at over-explained scenarios and dislike being spoon-fed facts, Cameron offers us something exciting. For example, rather than telling us that Cutter’s partner tossed and turned at night, he writes “Lola Teariki must have slept like a crocodile doing death rolls.” I love the invitation to create Cameron’s narrative in my mind!

Cameron is a master at subtle humor. In this case, the names he gives his characters and inanimate objects made me smile. I smirked at a pot-bellied woodstove being named Nebuchadnezzar and about a bad guy on the run being named Pewee Halverson (sounds like Herman, right?).

Cameron is a master at recurring themes. Dead Line spotlights motherhood and how different woman approach their role. Mim, Ursula and Josie are so different in their outlook and in the value they place in caring for the young. Despite not liking the choices Ursula made, She was my favourite female character in this book and I was glad Cameron gave us more insight into her family.

Cameron is a master at making criminal justice and the extreme weather the focus of his narrative. Cameron knows how weather drives action because he lives it each day in Alaska. He knows about scheduling flights, checking out wind chill calculators, and why he would need to take the batteries from his electronic devices and place them next to his skin. He’ll tell you about how the freezing weather affects aviation, skiing, clothing choices/layering (and what FSO means), vehicle rubber tires, and our skin. He continually reminds readers that they are in ‘the Bush’ in Alaska. Setting is important to his stories and he makes sure you remember that fact.

Cameron always leaves readers with sound advice. This time it isn’t from Gumpy, but it’s worthy of copying into my journal.

“When we take a test and fail, the thing we think is the test isn’t the real test. The actual test is the way we handle the failure.”

I ALWAYS eagerly anticipate a Marc Cameron book. I hope you get to experience the same feeling one day soon.

I was gifted this copy by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.