Lynn M. (officerripley) reviewed Badlands (Cody Hoyt / Cassie Dewell, Bk 3) on + 258 more book reviews
Very, very good book; don't care for his Joe Pickett novels at all (too much outdoorsy stuff for this ol' big city bookworm, lol) but really liked this one a lot. Great characters, gritty (and therefore realistic) setting. Hope to see more of Cassie Dewell; finally: a female cop who's not a cleavage-showing, shampoo commercial bimbo! Thanks for the great book, Mr. Box!
At this rating it has had only one reader and gave it a 5?
I was looking forward to a C. J. Box book but my oh my what a huge disappointment!!!
I guess this is a series? I sure don't remember the characters so it must've been a long time back long enough to forget about them.
For a 'stand alone' story I thought it was terrible and I didn't finish it, just because by page 100 I found it to be so slow with characters I just couldn't like or want to read about. The boy, Kyle, I thought he was made out to be a stupid embicile and I didn't like that along with dragging drugs into it -- again -- is that all there is anymore? drugs? get tired of that!
I guess I just expected something as good as Joe Pickett but this was just a big big disappointment!
I was looking forward to a C. J. Box book but my oh my what a huge disappointment!!!
I guess this is a series? I sure don't remember the characters so it must've been a long time back long enough to forget about them.
For a 'stand alone' story I thought it was terrible and I didn't finish it, just because by page 100 I found it to be so slow with characters I just couldn't like or want to read about. The boy, Kyle, I thought he was made out to be a stupid embicile and I didn't like that along with dragging drugs into it -- again -- is that all there is anymore? drugs? get tired of that!
I guess I just expected something as good as Joe Pickett but this was just a big big disappointment!
Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed Badlands (Cody Hoyt / Cassie Dewell, Bk 3) on + 1223 more book reviews
I'm a big fan of Box's Joe Pickett series - I have read and enjoyed all 15 of the Pickett novels up to Endangered and I would consider these to be among the best crime series novels out there. Badlands is the first non-Pickett book I have read by Box and I was not disappointed. This is actually the second book featuring Cassie Dewell (the first was The Highway) and I hope Box continues with more. This book evidently continues where The Highway left off with Cassie traveling to North Carolina to confront the serial killer from Highway (I have this book and need to read it soon!). However, the law enforcement officials are unable to provide any clear evidence against the accused killer, so Cassie returns to Montana and then to a new job as chief investigator in Grimstad, North Dakota. Grimstad is in the midst of an oil boom through a fracking operation and along with the workers comes crime including drugs and prostitution. Cassie gets in the middle of a case where the Salvadoran gang, MS-13 is trying to take over the drug business in Grimstad. A young special needs boy finds a duffle bag full of drugs and money after a gang-member's car is forced off the road. Of course the drugs wind up in his mother's shady boyfriend's hands who wants to sell them but who is clueless about how ruthless the MS-13 gang is and what they will do to get the drugs back. And of course, blood will be spilt! This was a page-turner with lots of action that I would recommend. I will also be looking forward to reading the other non-Pickett books by Box...
I'm a big fan of this author and his Joe Pickett Series. I like his stand alone books also, and this one has Kyle, a Special Needs boy, witnessing a car deliberately forcing another car into a ravine killing the driver. Kyle finds a bag of cash and drugs and removes them from the scene and takes them home.
I really felt Kyle's pain, and was so angry when his mom made him ride his bike on a paper route in minus zero degree weather and without warm enough clothing and boots. He is the reason I kept reading this book.
It's a good story with lots happening, but you really should read the previous book, The Highway so you know the history of Cassie, the new Special Detective who just took over the new position. Needless to say, she has a lot on her plate, but thankfully, she becomes Kyle's savior.
Good book.
I really felt Kyle's pain, and was so angry when his mom made him ride his bike on a paper route in minus zero degree weather and without warm enough clothing and boots. He is the reason I kept reading this book.
It's a good story with lots happening, but you really should read the previous book, The Highway so you know the history of Cassie, the new Special Detective who just took over the new position. Needless to say, she has a lot on her plate, but thankfully, she becomes Kyle's savior.
Good book.
I really liked this book! Be aware that it is NOT a standalone but book 3 in a continuing series. I wasn't that impressed with the first book in the series, Back of Beyond. but then I was happy to find out that book 2, The Highway is much better, and now Badlands is the best one yet. The story now centers around Cassie Dewell, and it no longer takes place in Montana but in North Dakota. Be sure to read The Highway BEFORE reading Badlands as it gives away a lot of that story in the first few chapters.
