Joni Parker's Blog - Posts Tagged "c-j-box"
Book Review: Vicious Circle by C.J. Box
Published in 2017. A Joe Pickett novel. Joe is a game warden for the feds, stationed in Wyoming. He patrols a large area of the state along with his fellow game wardens but it’s a constant battle to monitor the hunters and fishermen especially during hunting season. This year, a gang of poachers is on the loose and Joe and his fellow wardens are a step behind them. At the same time, Dallas Cates, a former rodeo champion and local bad boy, has returned to the area after a stint in prison. He’s brought some friends with him and he’s not looking to settle down; he’s looking for revenge. Joe and his family are targets.
I enjoy reading this author’s books. He writes well and clearly. This is his 17th Joe Pickett novel. Joe is one of his favorite characters and I like him too. He’s a man of few words but a lot of action. In addition, he makes Wyoming sound like an interesting place to live even though it gets real cold there. Too cold for me.
I enjoy reading this author’s books. He writes well and clearly. This is his 17th Joe Pickett novel. Joe is one of his favorite characters and I like him too. He’s a man of few words but a lot of action. In addition, he makes Wyoming sound like an interesting place to live even though it gets real cold there. Too cold for me.
Book Review: Badlands by C.J. Box
Published in 2015. A new find in northern North Dakota has led to an oil boom, taking the small town of Grimstad from a town of a few thousand to a hundred thousand. Almost overnight. At least it seems that way to the townsfolk. Many have moved away, having made a fortune in selling their rights to the oil or just tired of the growth spurt in population.
Kyle Westergaard, a twelve-year-old boy, has grown up in the area and to make money, he delivers the morning newspaper in spite of the freezing cold weather. However, he comes across an accident and finds a duffel bag, full of drugs and money, thrown from one of the vehicles. He takes it and leaves when a sheriff’s deputy shows up.
To keep up with the rise in crime, the sheriff’s department has gone from three deputies to over sixty. The newest deputy is Cassie Dewell, a detective from Montana. In her most recent case, she hunted down the Lizard King, a serial murderer, who preys on the young prostitutes in the trucking industry. Now, she’s looking for another murderer, who has left body parts around town as some sort of warning. All she has to do is figure it out.
This was an interesting book but definitely not a middle grade or YA novel, in spite of the main character’s age of twelve. So it's not a good idea to use that as a guide. The North Dakota oil boom has positive and negative affects on the lives of the people there as well as the economy. The author has helped me learn more about them.
Kyle Westergaard, a twelve-year-old boy, has grown up in the area and to make money, he delivers the morning newspaper in spite of the freezing cold weather. However, he comes across an accident and finds a duffel bag, full of drugs and money, thrown from one of the vehicles. He takes it and leaves when a sheriff’s deputy shows up.
To keep up with the rise in crime, the sheriff’s department has gone from three deputies to over sixty. The newest deputy is Cassie Dewell, a detective from Montana. In her most recent case, she hunted down the Lizard King, a serial murderer, who preys on the young prostitutes in the trucking industry. Now, she’s looking for another murderer, who has left body parts around town as some sort of warning. All she has to do is figure it out.
This was an interesting book but definitely not a middle grade or YA novel, in spite of the main character’s age of twelve. So it's not a good idea to use that as a guide. The North Dakota oil boom has positive and negative affects on the lives of the people there as well as the economy. The author has helped me learn more about them.
Book Review: The Bitterroots by C.J. Box
Published in 2019. Cassie Dewell has changed occupation from a law enforcement officer to a private investigator. The change came about during the book between this one and Badlands, which I didn’t read. But that’s okay. I get the picture. Cassie’s returned to Montana and lives with her mother, Isabel, a hippie from the sixties, and her son, Ben, aged fourteen.
Cassie’s been hired by a local law firm to verify the incidents surrounding a rape. Blake Kleinsasser has been accused of raping his niece. He doesn’t think he did it but he can’t remember. He’d been on a drinking binge and can’t remember what he did. Cassie and the attorney think he’s guilty and wants the evidence verified to see if there’s room for a plea deal. Cassie heads north to Lochsa County to begin her investigation. The first problem she runs across is missing evidence. Then, the witnesses are uncooperative—everyone’s out to get Blake.
Really interesting story. At first, the evidence is stacked against Blake and everyone thinks he's guilty as hell. However, the evidence soon crumbles. I like Cassie. She’s intelligent and strong but as a single mother, she’s also stretched thin, like lots of single moms. I’m rooting for her.
By the way, the title refers to the mountain range in Montana where Cassie is investigating. And as her investigation heats up, so do the mountains as a major fire sweeps through the area.
Cassie’s been hired by a local law firm to verify the incidents surrounding a rape. Blake Kleinsasser has been accused of raping his niece. He doesn’t think he did it but he can’t remember. He’d been on a drinking binge and can’t remember what he did. Cassie and the attorney think he’s guilty and wants the evidence verified to see if there’s room for a plea deal. Cassie heads north to Lochsa County to begin her investigation. The first problem she runs across is missing evidence. Then, the witnesses are uncooperative—everyone’s out to get Blake.
Really interesting story. At first, the evidence is stacked against Blake and everyone thinks he's guilty as hell. However, the evidence soon crumbles. I like Cassie. She’s intelligent and strong but as a single mother, she’s also stretched thin, like lots of single moms. I’m rooting for her.
By the way, the title refers to the mountain range in Montana where Cassie is investigating. And as her investigation heats up, so do the mountains as a major fire sweeps through the area.
Book Review: Wolf Pack by C.J. Box
Published in 2019. Joe Pickett has his old job back as Game Warden for the Saddlestring district in Wyoming. After three months off the job, he was only too happy to be back. Meanwhile, in the neighboring district, Game Warden Katelyn Hamm is annoyed when she sees a drone panicking a herd of Elk and deer in her direction, resulting in the deaths of a number of animals. The drone retreats and heads to the Saddlestring district, so she calls her friend, Joe, to help her investigation.
In a seemingly unrelated situation, three people are murdered in Arizona and their bodies taken by the killers and dumped into the mountains, where they’re burned. Their murderers have more targets to hit and head to Wyoming in the Saddlestring district. The three men and one woman are known as the Wolf Pack, a hit squad for the Sinoloa cartel and are headed for a confrontation with Joe and his friend.
I couldn’t put this book down and read it virtually non-stop. I enjoy the author’s writing style and the plots of his story. Very exciting. I know he has published another one, so I’ll be on the lookout for that one as well.
In a seemingly unrelated situation, three people are murdered in Arizona and their bodies taken by the killers and dumped into the mountains, where they’re burned. Their murderers have more targets to hit and head to Wyoming in the Saddlestring district. The three men and one woman are known as the Wolf Pack, a hit squad for the Sinoloa cartel and are headed for a confrontation with Joe and his friend.
I couldn’t put this book down and read it virtually non-stop. I enjoy the author’s writing style and the plots of his story. Very exciting. I know he has published another one, so I’ll be on the lookout for that one as well.
Book Review: Long Range by C.J. Box
Published in 2020. The wife of Judge Hewitt is critically injured when someone tries to kill her husband. The bullet came through a window at the back of the house and was shot from long range. Joe Pickett is called in from another assignment and flown by helicopter to the office of Judge Hewitt in Saddlestring, Wyoming. The Judge wants the assailant found and found now. The newly appointed sheriff takes the lead on the investigation and Joe offers his assistance. However, the sheriff doesn’t want his help even though he locates the shooter’s gun placement position 1600 yards away from the house. Fortunately, Joe’s sense of right and wrong prevails and he continues with his investigation of the incident.
I enjoyed reading this novel. In particular, I liked the opening of the book which began with the trajectory of the bullet, not the main character. It was unique and very dramatic. The plot is easy to follow even though with its twists and turns. He writes clearly and his characters are easy to love. There have been 19 Joe Pickett novels so far and there may be more before it retires.
I enjoyed reading this novel. In particular, I liked the opening of the book which began with the trajectory of the bullet, not the main character. It was unique and very dramatic. The plot is easy to follow even though with its twists and turns. He writes clearly and his characters are easy to love. There have been 19 Joe Pickett novels so far and there may be more before it retires.
Book Review: Paradise Valley by C.J. Box
Published in 2017. Mystery. After four years, Cassie Dewell is close to catching the Lizard King. She finally knows where he is and has lured him to a warehouse not far away in North Dakota. He’s gotten away with murder for too long, and Cassie knows she can stop him this time. But events go awry, and the Lizard King gets away once more. Cassie is fired from her job as investigator for the Sheriff’s department, and so is the local sheriff for supporting her.
As Cassie stops at the office to pick up her belongings, she’s approached by Lottie, an old acquaintance. Lottie reports that her grandson Kyle has been missing for a month, and thus far, the sheriff’s department has done little to find him. She asks Cassie for help. Now a private citizen, Cassie can’t come up with a reason not to, but only offers to gather the information since she’s no longer law enforcement. She will take it to the authorities when she has enough. Lottie agrees and pays her to do the job as an unlicensed private investigator.
This is the book that explains Cassie’s transition from cop to private investigator. And I enjoyed reading it. I’ve read several books by this author, and thus far, have liked them all. He writes well, and none of his plots have been repetitive. His stories take place in the North Dakota-Montana-Wyoming area with lots of great scenery, ornery people, and mystery.
As Cassie stops at the office to pick up her belongings, she’s approached by Lottie, an old acquaintance. Lottie reports that her grandson Kyle has been missing for a month, and thus far, the sheriff’s department has done little to find him. She asks Cassie for help. Now a private citizen, Cassie can’t come up with a reason not to, but only offers to gather the information since she’s no longer law enforcement. She will take it to the authorities when she has enough. Lottie agrees and pays her to do the job as an unlicensed private investigator.
This is the book that explains Cassie’s transition from cop to private investigator. And I enjoyed reading it. I’ve read several books by this author, and thus far, have liked them all. He writes well, and none of his plots have been repetitive. His stories take place in the North Dakota-Montana-Wyoming area with lots of great scenery, ornery people, and mystery.
Book Review: Dark Sky by C.J. Box
Published in 2021. Thriller. Game Warden Joe Pickett is called upon by the Governor, himself, to escort social media billionaire, Steven ‘Steve-2’ Price on an elk hunt. The Governor emphasized the fact that Price may consider Wyoming to be the new location for a server hub for his social media platform, Confab, which would bring hundreds of jobs to the area. Reluctantly, Joe agrees and meets Steve-2 at the airport with his entourage. Brock Boedecker, a local rancher, leads the group into the wild to a campsite to search for elk. The next morning, Joe tracks a herd and slowly urges it toward Price and his bodyguard. He waits to hear a gunshot, but doesn’t hear anything, so he circles back only to find intruders in the campsite, and they are after Price. Earl Thomas wants to revenge for the death of his daughter, Sophia, who was bullied and taunted on Confab’s social media site. But Joe helps Price escape into the woods without food, equipment, or weapons.
An exciting story. The father’s grief was raw, but misplaced, blaming Price for his daughter’s suicide. However, he was determined. He was an experienced tracker and hunter, so finding Joe and Price should be easy. But Joe knew a few tricks after years as a game warden, and takes Steve-2 on an adventure he will never forget.
An exciting story. The father’s grief was raw, but misplaced, blaming Price for his daughter’s suicide. However, he was determined. He was an experienced tracker and hunter, so finding Joe and Price should be easy. But Joe knew a few tricks after years as a game warden, and takes Steve-2 on an adventure he will never forget.
Book Review: Shadows Reel by C.J. Box
Published in 2022. Thriller. Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett investigates the dead body of a moose, only to find out it isn’t a moose. It’s a man’s body. He was tortured, then murdered, and his body was tossed over a fence in a desolate area, left for the scavengers to take over. Joe calls in the local sheriff to investigate and is asked to leave. He aids the sheriff by identifying the man as Bert Kizer, a local fishing guide. But why would anyone want to kill him? Joe steps back from the investigation, but keeps alert for any clues.
Joe’s wife, Marybeth, the town librarian, is concerned bout a man she didn’t recognize hanging around the library. By the time she’s ready to leave for the day, she’s spooked and calls Joe. But by the time he arrives, the man’s gone and all Marybeth finds is a suspicious package on the doorstep of the library. She takes it inside and opens it, finding a photo album with pictures of Nazis from World War II. There’s no note to say who it was from or why it was sent. But she’s fascinated by it.
At the same time, the Pickett family is preparing for Thanksgiving. Their three daughters will be home soon, bringing a new dog, a new friend, and lots of laughter into the empty nest.
This was an entertaining read, but the author's done better.
Joe’s wife, Marybeth, the town librarian, is concerned bout a man she didn’t recognize hanging around the library. By the time she’s ready to leave for the day, she’s spooked and calls Joe. But by the time he arrives, the man’s gone and all Marybeth finds is a suspicious package on the doorstep of the library. She takes it inside and opens it, finding a photo album with pictures of Nazis from World War II. There’s no note to say who it was from or why it was sent. But she’s fascinated by it.
At the same time, the Pickett family is preparing for Thanksgiving. Their three daughters will be home soon, bringing a new dog, a new friend, and lots of laughter into the empty nest.
This was an entertaining read, but the author's done better.
Book Review: Treasure State by C.J. Box
Published in 2022. Mystery. Cassie Dewell, a private investigator in Montana, has a new client from Florida who wants her to track down the private investigator she hired. He had been reporting in regularly until a few weeks ago, but since then, nothing. Cassie begins her investigation by picking up the other PI’s tracks, leading her to a small town called Anaconda. At the same time, she receives a interesting phone call challenging her to find out who is behind the latest treasure hunt. As she continues to run into clues for that, she sees Kyle Westergaard, a young man she knows from a previous case in North Dakota. He has been on the treasure hunt for over two years.
Although this isn’t the most challenging case for Cassie, I enjoyed it. I like Cassie—she’s clever and down-to-earth with problems all of us face in life. She’s overweight and a single mom with a business to run. Life is challenging for her, but she loves it.
The author also provides a lot of background information about mining in Montana in the early nineteen hundreds, and the devastation caused by it. The town of Anaconda was created by the mining corporations in Butte, so the bigwigs wouldn’t have the pollution and toxins from mining close to home. They poisoned someplace else instead. People died and no one did anything to stop it. The federal government even sent troops in to suppress the workers and protect the industry.
Although this isn’t the most challenging case for Cassie, I enjoyed it. I like Cassie—she’s clever and down-to-earth with problems all of us face in life. She’s overweight and a single mom with a business to run. Life is challenging for her, but she loves it.
The author also provides a lot of background information about mining in Montana in the early nineteen hundreds, and the devastation caused by it. The town of Anaconda was created by the mining corporations in Butte, so the bigwigs wouldn’t have the pollution and toxins from mining close to home. They poisoned someplace else instead. People died and no one did anything to stop it. The federal government even sent troops in to suppress the workers and protect the industry.
Book Review: Battle Mountain by C.J. Box
Published in 2025. Mystery/Thriller. Game Warden Joe Pickett is called upon by none other than the Governor of Wyoming, and it’s not official business. The Governor’s son-in-law is a tenderfoot and has never been out in the wild. The Governor encourages him to learn from the best, and sends him to Spike Rankin, a hunting guide. But now, the Governor’s son-in-law is missing. No one has heard from him in days, so the Governor asks Joe to find him. All he knows is that the hunting guide works out of the Battle Mountain area in southeastern Wyoming. Joe doesn’t know the area well, but he meets up with the local game warden, Susan Kany.
Meanwhile, Nate Romanowski, the falconer, is on the hunt for Axel Soledad, the man who murdered his wife. He meets up with Geronimo Jones, and together, they hunt down Soledad, only to find him neck deep in a plot to murder the leaders of the military-industrial complex in the United States, who are meeting in Wyoming at a local dude ranch.
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I could hardly put it down. The author has written dozens of books, and this is one of my favorites. I love how he handles the falcons and their handlers.
Meanwhile, Nate Romanowski, the falconer, is on the hunt for Axel Soledad, the man who murdered his wife. He meets up with Geronimo Jones, and together, they hunt down Soledad, only to find him neck deep in a plot to murder the leaders of the military-industrial complex in the United States, who are meeting in Wyoming at a local dude ranch.
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I could hardly put it down. The author has written dozens of books, and this is one of my favorites. I love how he handles the falcons and their handlers.
