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Blue Heaven

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 2,927 ratings · 487 reviews

A twelve-year-old girl and her younger brother go on the run in the woods of North Idaho, pursued by four men they have just watched commit murder---four men who know exactly who William and Annie are, and who know exactly where their desperate mother is waiting for news of her children’s fate. Retired cops from Los Angeles, the killers easily persuade the inexperienced sh...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published January 8th 2008 by Minotaur Books (first published January 1st 2008)

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The Doors of Perception & Heaven and Hell by Aldous Huxley

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Heaven and Hell

55th out of 84 books — 35 voters

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré

Edgar Award Winners

54th out of 75 books — 93 voters

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Mar 27, 2009 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: suspense fans.

Recommended to Gina by: Group Read

Shelves: group-reads, own, action, mystery, suspense, thriller

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My first C.J. Box - won’t be my last!

Their mother’s current beau was still there that morning and walked into the kitchen, finding twelve-year-old Annie and ten-year-old William at the table eating breakfast. Following a quick conversation, Tom promised William he’d take William fishing that afternoon - school was letting out early. Upset with her mother that she’d allow that man into her home, and upset that Tom broke his promise to William, the pair set out on their own to the creek. Neither k...more My first C.J. Box - won’t be my last!

Their mother’s current beau was still there that morning and walked into the kitchen, finding twelve-year-old Annie and ten-year-old William at the table eating breakfast. Following a quick conversation, Tom promised William he’d take William fishing that afternoon - school was letting out early. Upset with her mother that she’d allow that man into her home, and upset that Tom broke his promise to William, the pair set out on their own to the creek. Neither knows how to fish, but Annie is a determined girl; she figures that if Tom knows how to fish, it can’t be all that hard to learn.

But once at the creek, the children witness an execution-style murder and are now on the run from the three men who spotted them. Only, it’s not just the three men: after being rescued, Annie quickly learns that their rescuer is in on it as well. Again on the run, they’ve taken refuge in Jess Rawlins’s barn.

Retired Santa Anita policeman, Eduardo Villatoro, has come to town, wanting to solve a case that still haunts him. A few years back, after the races in Santa Anita, several million dollars was being transfered from the racetrack to the bank. The armored cars were stopped and one of the officers were killed. All this time, the killers were never found, the money still missing. But several of the bills that matched the recorded serial numbers have been deposited lately, most through a bank in Kootenai Bay (Blue Heaven). Villatoro is determined to solve this last case.

Rawlins, an old-school rancher, thinks at first that Annie and William couldn’t have witnessed what they said they did. It didn’t make any sense; especially when the supposed killers turn out to be retired policemen from Los Angeles. But as Jess continues with questions while the children are hiding in his home, he learns that the children were right. Now the four men are heading the search for the missing children, one of them staying with their mother in her house, keeping her away from the public, the media and the phone. And now Jess, divorced with a mentally ill and drug-addicted son, a man about to lose his family’s ranch, is determined to keep the children alive. But what will he do when the killers figure out the children are hiding in his home?

**Fabulously told, rich with descriptions and well-developed characters.

Jess Rawlins doesn’t see himself as a brave savior; he only wants to do what’s right. But he is a strong man with strong beliefs, and he’ll do what he must to protect those children.

Annie - for a twelve-year-old, she’s turning out to be a brave and mature young lady. She does what’s necessary to protect her brother, right down to convincing Jess to teach her how to load and shoot a gun. William believes to be brave, even when scared spitless. I adored the children.

And the killers… they gave me the creeps. Being retired police officers, I think made the creeps worse. Vindictive, manipulative and cunning, I cringed everytime they determined what to do next to find the kids. I hated every single one of them. While they get what they deserve, I still wish more would have happened to them. If you as me, they got the easy way out.

Superb action, intense suspense, well-developed love-to-love and love-to-hate characters, incredible descriptions of what seems like a beautiful and relaxing place on earth, together with a tear-jerker ending, this was my first experience with C.J. Box. I can say with complete honesty it won’t be my last. A huge recommendation!(less)

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Nov 23, 2010 Pauline rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book started off fairly well. The author did a great job in setting the mood and tone in the first chapter, and of course, laying down the groundwork for the story build-up. As the story progressed, the new turn of events had me catching myself at the edge of my seat; not wondering about who is who (that was pretty much a given) but how will the kids, the mother and the farmer survive from the disasterous ordeal that really only lasted a mere 72 hours.

I have no complaints on how the story un...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Cindy Huffman rated it 2 of 5 stars

I ran across a list for book genre award nominations and awards and the Edgar Awards seemed interesting enough to pursue. So the first book I decided to delve into was the Best Novel Winner, Blue Heaven by C.J. Box.

First, I have been disappointed in mystery and horror fiction of late. I haven't found one that truly keeps me interested nor scares the bejeezuz out of me. If you have recommendations for good ones, please send them my way!!

But for this one, it was a good read. Not great but enough t...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-crime

Blue Heaven. Kootenai Bay, the place in Idaho where retired LAPD cops go to retire. Two local kids, Annie and William, decide to go fishing, taking the gear of their mom's boyfriend to a local stream. On route, they witness a cold-blooded murder, and in one fateful moment, one of the shooters sees them. The chase is on. The kids manage to evade their pursuers, and a local rancher, whose own family fell apart years ago, becomes their protector.

Blue Heaven resurrects many of America's cinematic i...more

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Sep 04, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

What a great find! I went to the library looking for the latest book by C.J. Box, but it had just been checked out, so I grabbed this one instead. I really enjoyed it - another "all-nighter!" I was afraid, in the beginning, that it was going to be too detailed with descriptions of the surroundings; as a thriller, I wanted the author to get to the point - well, he sure did! I was hooked immediately and could not put it down. I also ended up liking his descriptions very much, but mostly, I loved t...more

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May 22, 2010 Maddy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007-reads

RATING: 4.5

Twelve-year-old Annie Taylor is pretty fed up with her mother, especially when her latest boyfriend, Tom, appears at breakfast one morning, just like he belongs there. In an effort to win over her 10-year-old brother, William, Tom has promised to take him fishing. When that doesn't happen, Annie decides to take matters in her own hands. Appropriating Tom's fishing rod, she takes William on a trek into the woods so they can fish on their own. Neither of them are prepared for what happe...more RATING: 4.5

Twelve-year-old Annie Taylor is pretty fed up with her mother, especially when her latest boyfriend, Tom, appears at breakfast one morning, just like he belongs there. In an effort to win over her 10-year-old brother, William, Tom has promised to take him fishing. When that doesn't happen, Annie decides to take matters in her own hands. Appropriating Tom's fishing rod, she takes William on a trek into the woods so they can fish on their own. Neither of them are prepared for what happens while they're there. They've stumbled across a group of four men who are in the process of killing another man. The children inadvertently give themselves away and end up going on a run for their lives. And thus, they become "missing children"; fortunately, they've found a place to lay low until they can figure out what to do.

The book takes place in North Idaho, a setting that Box describes in breathtakingly beautiful detail. The area has become a haven where retired cops from Los Angeles are settling down. They get to have a little bit of heaven at an affordable price; at the same time, there are enough of them that they have a sense of community. Considered to be a desirable addition to the neighborhood, it's a shock to realize that the killers are among this group. In an effort to cover up the crime, they volunteer to run the task force searching for the children. Who better to take on such an assignment than a bunch of expert cops? Of course, no one is aware that there is anything amiss with these men.

The children end up on a remote ranch owned by Jess Rawlins that has seen better days. Rawlins is struggling to keep his ranching operation going; he's about to sell out unless he can turn things around. He's a man with a big heart, though, and he immediately protects the children when he finds them in his barn and hears their story. The suspense ratchets to unbearably tense levels when the rogue cops realize that Rawlins has the children in his care.

BLUE HEAVEN is a marvelous book that transcends the thriller genre. The characters are lovingly drawn and feel very real. I cared deeply about the fate of the children and aligned instantly with the principled and brave Rawlins. In many thrillers, the characters are there merely to serve the plot; in BLUE HEAVEN, they are the focus and that's what makes it work so well. At the same time, the plot is well conceived and the pacing excellent.

C. J. Box is best known for his series set in Wyoming featuring Sheriff Joe Pickett. I wouldn't be surprised to find this standalone thriller reaching the best seller lists. I know that it is going to be a top read of the year for me.

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Apr 26, 2010 Nancy Black rated it 5 of 5 stars

Huge Raves for C.J. Box's Blue Heaven. I wasn't sure if I would like it but let me set the record straight....I loved it.

Being a long time follower of his J.D. Pickett novels I decided to try one of his stand alone novels.

Jess Rawlings is a rancher who divorced himself from his adulterous wife and self-serving ways. He also has a son, JJ who managed to totally mess up his young life.

Jess becomes involved when two young children turn up in his barn, hiding from the men that want to kill them.

Will...more

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May 28, 2009 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, suspense

In Kootenai Bay, Idaho, the Tyler siblings, twelve years old Annie and ten years old William Taylor, are playing in the nearby woods when they witness a hideous homicide. The duo flees, but not before the killers spot them. The culprits are retired LAPD officers who left the force eight years ago after getting away with a local heist; they will not allow witnesses to live as happened back in Southern California.

The preadolescent pair knows their lives are in danger from the retired dirty cops....more

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May 01, 2009 L rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Box does great characters. That's all there is to it. Here he give us bad guys, good guys, morally lazy guys, incompetent guys, annoying+ guys & gals . . . essentially all the folks you need to populate a good mystery novel. But it's the kids, Annie & William, and the old-time rancher, Rawlins, who make the book. Oh, there's a plot, of course, the mystery of just who did what and when, the worries about who will come out of it alive (that would be the thriller angle), and a few messed up...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had to suspend belief on a few things, but this one had me sitting on the edge of my seat.
The book is set in northern Idaho.
Annie and William, 12 and 10, took off to go fishing after their mother's latest boyfriend failed to show up as promised. While in the woods near the river, the two witness an execution-style killing and the killer spot them. The kids run for their lives, quite literally.
When they don't turn up at home later that night, the police become involved, and several retired poli...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Kwoomac rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fast-read, reviewed, contemporary-lit, suspense, 2013, unlikely-hero

Ok, so my library is doing this thing forValentines Day called "blind date" where they wrapped up a bunch of books in pretty paper and you don't know what book you checked out til you unwrap it. I figured it's good to read random books once in a while. This was my book. The teaser said there was a plot twist and just like any blind date, this was a bit of an exaggeration. Still it was a fun read and maybe I could go as high as 4 stars but I read another book by this guy and hated it so that has,...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, books-i-own-read, challenges-2012, kindle, family-dysfunction, murder, mystery, mystery-crime, suspense, western, women-of-mystery-club, thriller

This is the first time I have read anything by CJ Box and I was pleasantly surprised. When a group of former LA cops enters the Idaho valley, nothing seems amiss at first glance. But then Annie and William witness a murder and things change dramatically. Nothing is as it seems, which not only poses problems for the children, but for everyone in the town. At this point, trust becomes an underlying theme at nearly every turn. Cleverly evading both the killers and subsequent town-wide search volunt...more

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Jan 29, 2009 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

A good solid thriller with very much a flavor of a western.
Two young children witness three men kill another in the woods.
Unfortunately the killers have also seen them and are now after the kids. The children have an inital encounter with an individual they think they can trust. The man is a retired cop and had dated their mother.Turns out he is also in with the bad guys who are also retired cops and the little girl finds this out by eavesdropping on a conversation. They once again flee but are...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Dorsi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, mystery-thriller

*Spoilers*

This was an enjoyable enough read although unrealistic at times. To make a long story short, two children come up missing. They were going fishing to a remote area in the woods. A busy body postal worker offered them a ride & took them to their destination. She asked them if it was okay with their mom. When they were reported missing, she bragged & boasted that she was the last person to “see them alive.” The mother never even confronted her. If I was their mom, I would have ki...more

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Jul 16, 2010 ICPL Staff Picks added it

Shelves: fiction, kara, staff-picks-blog

Box takes a break from his Joe Pickett novels with a stand-alone book full of action, adventure, suspense and many characters. The book is set in northern Idaho in a place the locals call "Blue Heaven" because of the number of California police officers who retired there. Two kids are mad at their Mom and go on a fishing trip for revenge. On the way they witness an execution-style murder. The killers, crooked LAPD retirees with a big secret, realize there were witnesses and the adventure takes o...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Scott Bagley rated it 1 of 5 stars

My first (and last) try at this author. I'm often shocked at ratings that are lower than I would have rated them, this book is just the opposite. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: I love mysteries and thrillers, and what I love about them is the "OH I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING" moment. This book has none of that. The author tells you straight up who the bad guys are and there are no surprises anywhere in this book. Sorry if that's a sort-of reverse spoiler, but there it is.

I also need...more

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Mar 05, 2009 Christa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

I quickly became engrossed in this book, and I found it to be very compelling. I thought that the story was original, and I enjoyed the characters. After reading this book that I thought was full of suspense, I found the ending to be disappointing. It fell flat for me, and just wasn't up to par with the rest of the book. I am interested in reading more by this author.

Twelve year old Annie and her younger brother, William, inadvertently stumble upon an execution. The killers see the children and...more

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Sep 20, 2010 Shelagh rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been on a mystery kick lately, mostly listening to recorded books that are fun but well written. I chose this based on some very positive Amazon reviews, which I realize is a questionable mode of choosing a book.

While Blue Heaven did pull me in at first, I was really tired of this book by the end. Much too sentimental ("Her eyes filled with tears, but she did not cry... she was a tough old bird"... or something - not an exact quote, but close enough), with such a neatly tied-up ending that...more

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Aug 30, 2009 Quinn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-books, action

I felt the author gave a true portrayal of what life is like in Idaho. The idea that Californian's should stay in California. They move to Idaho to get away from the chaos and then try to change and manipulate things to be more like California. Go figure. I also liked the fact that Box points out that Idaho is known for racists groups. Groups by the way “That we chased out of Idaho several years ago".

SIDENOTE: Racist groups whose leaders ironically came from California. (Carl Story and Vincent...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Vannessagrace Vannessagrace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Blue Heaven we find Annie and William, brother and sister, running for their lives. Their mother’s boyfriend had promised to take William fishing after school. When he didn’t show up, Annie decided to take William fishing. While looking for a fishing spot, they heard a gunshot. They ran into the direction of the sound and witnessed several men shooting bullets into a man. One of the men saw them but the kids eluded them. They reached the road and stopped a car. The kids felt safe but soon lea...more

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Nov 25, 2009 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-suspense

Ooh, this was a good one--I read it in a day, it was that good. I lost sleep to finish it! I'd never heard of C.J. Box before, but I heard great things about this book, and it totally lived up to the hype. A brother and sister in North Idaho go fishing one afternoon and are witnesses to 3 men killing a 4th man in the woods. One of the killers sees the kids, and it is ON. What makes this suspense novel a cut above is the well-drawn characters, in particular the kids, their mother, and Jess, the k...more

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Mar 16, 2009 Staci rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 30, 2009 Scilla rated it 3 of 5 stars

A group of retired LA policemen kill one of their group in front of a twelve year old girl, Annie, and her brother William in the woods in Idaho. The children run and the policemen volunteer to run the search for them. Another policeman from Arcadia, California investigating a robbery at the Santa Anita Racetrack comes to town to trace some hundred dollar bills from the robbery which went through the local bank. Jess Rawlins, an old rancher friend of the Bank President, who has big loans at the...more

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Nov 16, 2010 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars

When Annie and William Taylor witness an execution in the woods they run to the safety of the first passing car. But the driver isn’t just a passerby; he is one of the executioners. They escape and are on the run again, this time knowing they can’t trust anybody.

Eduardo Villatoro, a newly retired detective, just happens to be in town following up on some unlikely clues to the only unsolved murder of his career. As Villatoro gets closer to solving the crime, he also gets closer to Annie and Willi...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Don rated it 5 of 5 stars

A twelve-year-old girl and her younger brother are on the run in the Idaho woods, pursued by four men they have just watched commit murder -- four men who know exactly who William and Annie are. And where their mother lives.

Retired policemen from Los Angeles, the killers easily persuade the local sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children. Now there's nowhere left for William and Annie to hide... and no one they can trust. Until they meet Jess Rawlins.

Rawlins, an old-school ran...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Amore rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. I mean, it was real to the point that I could really engage myself in the story, but it wasn't over the top. I realize that this situation could actually happen in real life. I was excited to get a behind the screen look at what goes on in the minds of police officers whom are betrayed by their own people.

I didn't like the scene of the teenagers making fun of the missing children. I thought that the way the story went made all women look like sex machines... Well, not

...more

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Aug 03, 2009 Marvin rated it 2 of 5 stars

I finished this one in just 3 days. It's certainly a page-turner. But, to me, it's a formulaic thriller filled with good guys & bad guys & simplistic commentary on developments in ranching country in North Idaho. Also, there were implausible developments. Most notably, after the 2 kids at the center of the story witness a murder by 3 ex-cops, they are rescued by another coconsipirator, who for some reason shields the kids from discovery, then takes them to his home & calls the guys h...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Sandi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, audiobooks, mystery-thriller

Several years ago, I was visiting Coeur d’Alene, ID shortly after two children were kidnapped and there was a search going on for them. It was really awful seeing the flyers posted requesting any information. C.J. Box uses that true-life scenario as a starting point for Blue Heaven. Other than the disappearance of two children though, this story bears no resemblance to the real-life crime. Box uses a lot of real-life situations that I’m familiar with in this novel. Northern Idaho is a Mecca for...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013

This was not the book I should have read in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep - I still couldn't get back to sleep!

12-year-old Annie and her 10-year-old brother William witness an execution-style murder in the woods, and the murderers see them! They run away, afraid for their lives. The killers are ex-LA police men, who ingratiate themselves with the local sheriff's department to help locate the missing children. Annie and William find shelter and support in an old rancher, who, thou...more

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May 10, 2011 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I have only read Joe Pickett tales. This stand-alone novel takes place in a changing Idaho's ranch and timber land. The tongue-tied cowboy, now 65 years of age, has a chance to save two children who have witnessed a murder and are being chased by the killers. I admired the imagery and the spare writing, but can't rate it higher because I'm getting used to this personality as belonging to Joe Pickett. So in a way this reading has changed my author rating icon of "only 2nd rate writers create book...more

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About C.J. Box

Edgar Award-winning author C.J. Box is the author of eleven novels including the Joe Pickett series. He's also won the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre 38 (France), the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, and the Barry Award. His short stories have been featured in America's Best Mystery Stories of 2006 and limited-edition printings. 2008 novel BLOOD TRAIL was nominated for the International IMPAC Dubli...more

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