Recommended Reading Order
The Arliss Cutter series is best read in publication order. Each book moves the timeline forward and builds on Cutter's evolving relationships, his partner Lola Teariki's career, and the central mystery of his brother's suspicious death. Starting from the beginning is highly recommended to appreciate the growth of the characters and the recurring subplots.
Arliss Cutter Books in Publication Order
Here is the complete sequence of novels featuring Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter:
- Open Carry (2019) – Arliss Cutter travels to Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, to track down a fugitive, only to get pulled into a hunt for a serial killer.
- Stone Cross (2020) – Sent to protect a federal judge in a remote Native village, Cutter must uncover secrets hidden deep within the community.
- Bone Rattle (2021) – In Juneau, Cutter investigates a series of gruesome murders that lead back to a major drug conspiracy.
- Cold Snap (2022) – A routine prisoner transport in northern Alaska goes awry when a winter plane crash strands Cutter, the pilot, and the inmates in the freezing wilderness.
- Breakneck (2023) – Cutter and his partner Lola are assigned to protect a Supreme Court Justice on a sightseeing train targeted by Russian mobsters.
- Bad River (2024) – Cutter investigates a drug trafficking ring that reaches from the Arctic Circle to South Dakota, bringing him closer to the truth about his brother’s death.
- Dead Line (2025) – A witness protection breach sends Cutter into a brutal polar vortex in search of a witness targeted by a lethal hit squad.
- Backtrack (2026) – A dual-timeline thriller connecting a 1977 Texas heist handled by Arliss's grandfather to a modern-day threat targeting Arliss's family on an Alaskan cruise.
Chronological Caveats and Timeline Structure
Although most books in the series follow a standard chronological order, the eighth book, Backtrack, introduces a significant shift. It features a dual timeline that looks back at a 1977 Texas armored truck heist investigated by Arliss's grandfather, D. Wayne "Grumpy" Cutter, and links it directly to a modern threat against Arliss's family. Despite this historical backstory, readers should still read Backtrack eighth, as the modern storyline depends on Arliss's current life events.
Spin-offs, Crossovers, and Author Context
Marc Cameron is also famous for his Jericho Quinn thriller series and his contributions to Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. While all three series showcase Cameron’s deep law enforcement expertise, they are separate literary universes. There are no official crossover events or shared characters between Arliss Cutter and Cameron’s other series.