Breaking Point by C. J. Box - 5 stars

[Ellen]

Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett has been casual friends with Butch Roberson for years so when they meet unexpectedly deep in the woods Joe believes Butch is hunting elk. Only later does Joe learn that Butch was instead fleeing the scene of a bloody crime: the murder of two EPA agents. The plot of land recently purchased by Butch to build a home for himself, his wife Pam and their young teen daughter Hannah, had been certified as an endangered wetland. Fines and fees accumulated until Butch was literally millions of dollars in debt. The Roberson's tried continually to contact the EPA to explain there was absolutely no water on their land, but their calls were never returned. Now it appears that when two federal agents approached Butch, he shot them both.

Joe is summoned by an autocratic EPA director, Batista, to aid in their search for Butch. Against his better judgement, Joe accompanies a small band of agents into the wilderness hoping that he can act as a mediator to keep Butch safe once he is found. Meanwhile, Batista has offered a large reward for Roberson's capture and a disgruntled ex-sheriff has his own small group searching for the fugitive. As Joe gets deeper into the mission he realizes that he is rethinking his job and all that it entails. Several desperate measures at the hand of Batista cause unimaginable danger to all involved. If Joe can make it out of the wilderness alive, it may just be his last job as a game warden.

This is the most exciting of the series for me to date. Joe finds himself at the mercy of a dangerous leader who will stop at nothing to win. Joe also knows that the government has targeted Butch Roberson's property for some reason and they have been unfair and secretive in their case against him. The last third of the book is non-stop suspense that I just couldn't put down.

[Bill]

How does this start a discussion by posting your review here? Glad you liked the book.

[NancyJ]

Great review Ellen. I have the first book in this series on my TBR. I almost read it this month for our team challenge (the letter C), but I might save it for a long car ride with Kevin. He loves this kind of setting (once upon a time he wanted to be a forest ranger). His first job out of college was mapping wetlands, so when I read the description I wondered if the guy killed some young scientist who came out to survey the area. (They look at the type of vegetation, among other things.) I showed my husband the description. He laughed at the scenario (especially the $), but then proceeded to give me other examples of idiotic overreach by agencies. He wants to read the book.

[Ellen]

@Nancy: I just love this entire series so I hope your husband will enjoy this book.

@Bill: I'm not sure I understand the question but people will join in a discussion, as did Nancy, when something about the review raises their interest.