"The novel combines the mystery and honesty of Craig Johnson's Longmire with the first-person narration of a fiercely independent Oregon character." -Sheila Deeth, author of John's Joy

Winner of the 2018 Killer Nashville Readers' Choice Award

2017 Foreword Indies Finalist for Historical

A Korean War veteran, Ty Dawson finds refuge running his family's cattle ranch, the Diamond D, one of the largest in Oregon-and there's no place he'd rather be. But in 1973, the country falls into turmoil with the last soldiers returning from Vietnam, the stand-off at Wounded Knee, and the ongoing Watergate scandal. And it isn't long before Ty finds his own peace and quiet shattered by outside forces.

A string of mysterious cattle deaths leads to the murder of a cowhand, but that's just the beginning. News leaks that the Bureau of Land Management plans on a wild horse slaughter, which brings protestors and news cameras to the area, not to mention a violent biker gang known as the Charlatans. Overwhelmed, the sheriff appoints Ty as undersheriff. And as events spiral out of control, Ty must take matters into his own hands to protect his family, his land, and his way of life . . .

"A masterful work of a time gone by. Birtcher possesses a rare skill that is the envy of many a writer. He deftly employs literary prose to reveal the life of a hard-driven man. Ty Dawson is a cowboy, lawman, father and philosopher like none other." -Neal Griffin, Los Angeles Times-bestselling author of The Burden of Proof

"[A] fast-moving series launch . . . Birtcher takes readers on an exciting ride." -Publishers Weekly