Summary

Knife River provides a strong main character who takes his duty seriously, even if it means confronting a secret from the past.

5-STAR REVIEW: KNIFE RIVER by Baron Birtcher

About The Book

The Sheriff Ty Dawson Crime Thriller Series
Publication Date: April 23, 2024

A sheriff fighting to keep the peace in 1970s Oregon faces a shocking secret from his town’s past, in this crime thriller from the author of Reckoning.

There are rules in the West no matter what era you were born in, and it’s up to lawman Ty Dawson to make sure they’re followed in the valley he calls home. The people living on this unforgiving land keep to themselves and are wary of the modern world’s encroachment into their quiet lives.

So it’s not without some suspicion that Dawson confronts a newcomer to the region: a record producer who has built a music studio in an isolated compound. His latest project is a collaboration with a famous young rock star named Ian Swann, recording and filming his sessions for a movie. An amphitheater for a live show is being built on the land, giving Dawson flashbacks to the violent Altamont concert. Not on his watch.

But even beefed up security can’t stop a disaster that’s been over a decade in the making. All it takes is one horrific case bleeding its way into the present to prove that the good ol’ days spawned a brand of evil no one wants to revisit . . .

Excerpt

PDF-imgThe Review

Sheriff Ty Dawson must dig into the past in order to find answers to a mystery that rocks his small town in 1976.

Author Baron Birtcher delivers a fascinating story in Knife River. As an installment in the Ty Dawson Mystery series, it works well as a standalone.

From the beginning, it is evident that Birtcher is an experienced writer who elevates the storyline by using rich details and a well-spoken main character. These are qualities typically associated with more prominent named authors with extensive backlists, so it was quite impressive to discover a new-to-me author through this book.

The time period proves key as the community hosts a concert, which is not an everyday type of event. In investigating the shooting of an eagle, Ty finds himself at the gates of a secluded resort recruiting studio.

He meets musician Ian Swann, who is recording and filming sessions for a movie. When tragedy strikes, Ty must unravel a community secret from 1964 that has been festering.

The author uses flashbacks to tease readers about the events from that fateful year, slowly creating a stunning conclusion. Told from Ty’s perspective, the story embodies his firm sense of right and wrong.

Knife River provides a strong main character who takes his duty seriously, even if it means confronting a secret from the past.Buy Links

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About The Author

Baron Birtcher is the LA TIMES and IMBA BESTSELLING author of the hardboiled Mike Travis series (Roadhouse Blues, Ruby Tuesday, Angels Fall, and Hard Latitudes), the award-winning Ty Dawson series (South California Purples, Fistful Of Rain, Reckoning, and Knife River), as well as the critically-lauded stand-alone, RAIN DOGS.

Baron is a winner of the SILVER FALCHION AWARD, and the WINNER of 2018’s Killer Nashville READERS CHOICE AWARD, as well as 2019’s BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR for Fistful Of Rain

He has also had the honor of having been named a finalist for the NERO AWARD, the LEFTY AWARD, the FOREWORD INDIE AWARD, the 2016 BEST BOOK AWARD, the Pacific Northwest’s regional SPOTTED OWL AWARD, and the CLAYMORE AWARD.

Baron‘s writing has been hailed as “The real deal” by Publishers Weekly; “Fast Paced and Engaging” by Booklist; and “Solid, Fluent and Thrilling” by Kirkus.

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Blog Tour Schedule

04/17 Showcase @ Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense
04/18 Review @ Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting
04/19 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
04/21 Showcase @ The Mystery Section
04/23 Book Talk with Fran Lewis Radio Interview
04/23 Review @ Just Reviews
04/24 Showcase @ Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
04/30 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
05/01 Guest post @ The Mystery of Writing
05/01 Review @ Avonna Loves Genres
05/02 Review @ Novels Alive
05/02 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
05/05 Review @ Elicias Book Haven
05/06 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
05/07 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
05/08 Review @ fuonlyknew
05/08 Review @ Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews
05/09 Review @ aratecla_the_bookrat
05/09 Review @ Pat Fayo reviews
05/10 Review @ Melissa As Blog
05/10 Showcase @ Teatime and Books
08/23 Mysteries to Die For: Toe Tags Podcast

REVIEW AUTHOR

Amy Wilson
Amy Wilson
My name is Amy W., and I am a book addict. I will never forget the day I came home from junior high school to find my mom waiting for me with one of the Harlequin novels from my stash. As she was gearing up for the "you shouldn't be reading this" lecture, I told her the characters get married in the end. I'm just glad she didn't find the Bertrice Small book hidden in my closet. I have diverse reading tastes, evident by the wide array of genres on my Kindle. As I made the transition to an e-reader, I found myself worrying that something could happen to it. As a result, I am now the proud owner of four Kindles -- all different kinds, but plenty of back-ups! "Fifty Shades of Grey" gets high marks on my favorites list -- not for character development or dialogue (definitely not!), but because it blazed new ground for those of us who believe provocative fiction is more than just an explicit cover. Sylvia Day, Lexie Blake, and Kristin Hannah are some of my favorite authors. Speaking of diverse tastes, I also enjoy Dean Koontz, Iris Johansen, and J.A. Konrath. I’m always ready to discover new-to-me authors, especially when I toss in a palate cleanser that is much different than what I would normally read. Give me something with a well-defined storyline, add some suspense (or spice), and I am a happy reader. Give me a happily ever after, and I am downright giddy.

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Knife River provides a strong main character who takes his duty seriously, even if it means confronting a secret from the past.5-STAR REVIEW: KNIFE RIVER by Baron Birtcher