Helpful Score: 6
I have to admit that I read Endangered as a sort of experiment. You see, I haven't read past book five in C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series, and book five was a long time ago. Even though I enjoyed those five books, I had to ask myself if I was ever going to get the chance to catch up. Since I didn't believe I could, short of shoving everything else to the side and reading the series straight through, I decided to jump in here at book fifteen. A lot of things have happened to Joe and his family in those ten books I didn't read, but Box gave me enough information to fill in the blanks so I didn't feel hopelessly lost. In fact, I almost felt as if I'd never left-- and that's got a lot to do with the author's creation of such a strong character.
There are three storylines on the move in Endangered. There's what happened to all those sage grouse for starters. Most people probably don't think of the ramifications of placing animals on the endangered species list, but Box makes it quite clear what could happen if those birds are, and he weaves the information into the narrative seamlessly. This storyline also adds a lot of tension and stress to Joe's life at a time when he certainly doesn't need it. The "sage grouse twins" Annie Hatch of the Bureau of Land Management and Revis Wentworth of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seem to go out of their way to push Joe over the edge.
The second storyline involves Nate Romanowski, who just might be released from federal custody as along as he agrees to jump through all the hoops that FBI agent Dudley has set up for him. Dudley ranks right up there with the sage grouse twins in being adept at making people lose their tempers. This storyline is a quiet one, but longtime readers know Nate will make his presence known.
The third storyline is the most important: the identity of the person responsible for what happened to April Pickett. It has Joe treading the fine line between being a father and being a law enforcement officer. Box has created one of the best dysfunctional families in fiction with the Cates. From the quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Eminem at the very beginning of the book to warnings given to Joe by the sheriff, readers know from the start that Brenda Cates is the Ma Barker of Wyoming. She is the one person in that violent family that Joe has to be most careful of. Knowing that, does it mean that there are no surprises in this storyline? Don't believe that for a second!
I'm so glad I decided to head back to Wyoming to visit a spell with Joe Pickett. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Box's intricately woven plots, fast pacing, and well-drawn characters. As the chapters flew by, I became convinced of one thing: no way am I going to let another ten books go by before I read another one. Joe Pickett's simply too good to neglect. Shame on me!
There are three storylines on the move in Endangered. There's what happened to all those sage grouse for starters. Most people probably don't think of the ramifications of placing animals on the endangered species list, but Box makes it quite clear what could happen if those birds are, and he weaves the information into the narrative seamlessly. This storyline also adds a lot of tension and stress to Joe's life at a time when he certainly doesn't need it. The "sage grouse twins" Annie Hatch of the Bureau of Land Management and Revis Wentworth of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seem to go out of their way to push Joe over the edge.
The second storyline involves Nate Romanowski, who just might be released from federal custody as along as he agrees to jump through all the hoops that FBI agent Dudley has set up for him. Dudley ranks right up there with the sage grouse twins in being adept at making people lose their tempers. This storyline is a quiet one, but longtime readers know Nate will make his presence known.
The third storyline is the most important: the identity of the person responsible for what happened to April Pickett. It has Joe treading the fine line between being a father and being a law enforcement officer. Box has created one of the best dysfunctional families in fiction with the Cates. From the quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Eminem at the very beginning of the book to warnings given to Joe by the sheriff, readers know from the start that Brenda Cates is the Ma Barker of Wyoming. She is the one person in that violent family that Joe has to be most careful of. Knowing that, does it mean that there are no surprises in this storyline? Don't believe that for a second!
I'm so glad I decided to head back to Wyoming to visit a spell with Joe Pickett. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Box's intricately woven plots, fast pacing, and well-drawn characters. As the chapters flew by, I became convinced of one thing: no way am I going to let another ten books go by before I read another one. Joe Pickett's simply too good to neglect. Shame on me!
Really good, a thriller From beginning to end. Good to have Joe with someone on his side in the police department! And glad to have Nate back!
Excellent series. Terrific writer
Suspenseful story; the Joe Pickett stories seem to be evolving; his best yet.
Great series, great characters in C.J. Box's creation of Joe Pickett and his family. His wife,is an ex-cop and his private detective plus three daughters, one adopted after being abandoned by her mother. I never connected with April, she just doesn't fit into his family. She is obnoxious, breaks the rules and is always getting in trouble.
Joe is a Game Warden and has quite a few problems to solve in this storyline. He found a flock of slaughtered endangered birds, April is found beaten up, near death on a lonely road after she ran away with her rodeo cowboy boyfriend and his best friend Nate was shot and nearly killed after making a deal to get out of jail.
I highly recommend this series, it is one of my favorites.
Joe is a Game Warden and has quite a few problems to solve in this storyline. He found a flock of slaughtered endangered birds, April is found beaten up, near death on a lonely road after she ran away with her rodeo cowboy boyfriend and his best friend Nate was shot and nearly killed after making a deal to get out of jail.
I highly recommend this series, it is one of my favorites.
I have been re-reading this series in order, this is the last one before I get into new territory. I can't actually think of anything new to say about the series. I remember when I read them for the first time, with a year or so in between each book, it bothered me that they were so formulaic. I thought that would be worse this time around but I'm not finding it so although I can't tell you why. I like these books for the setting, for the action, and especially for Joe Pickett. Very fast reading, I finished it in about 2 hours.
I love this series! always so well written you just can't put them down!
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
The publisher posted an offer on social media: To enter a random draw for a free copy of C.J. Box's new novel, Endangered, simply tell us your favorite novel in the Joe Pickett series. I was lucky enough to win with my reference to Open Season, which was the first book in the series. Now that I've finished Endangered, I'm thinking of changing my vote.
Mr. Box mentioned in an interview that he wrote that first Joe Pickett novel so that he could tell a tale of a protagonist in a mystery novel who was a happily married family man the type of guy who is common in real life but rare in the world of fictional sleuths. This deviation from the norm perhaps it is a return to the norm? is one of the things I love about the series, in addition to the rural setting in some of the most beautiful country in North America. On the other hand, while I enjoy the counter-balance that Nate Romanowski has brought to the series since his introduction, I'm also frustrated when the plot succumbs to the easy temptation to let Nate take care of it. I bring this up because that's NOT the case in this novel; Romanowski's role in this book is limited. Most of the novel involves Joe Pickett having to resolve his own issue. In addition, the main focus on this book is on family ties, both the yin and the yang of family dynamics. It's almost as though Mr. Box ASKED me what to feature and what not to, and then went out and wrote his tale based on my preferences! (NOTE: For the record, I have never met nor corresponded with him.)
Regular readers are aware of the Pickett's adopted daughter, April. They would certainly guess that if any of the Pickett daughters would run off to wander the pro rodeo circuit with professional bull rider Dallas Cates, it would be April. And if any of Joe's daughters would ever be found unconscious, beaten along the side of the road, the first guess would also be April. The book centers on whether April will survive, and on who is responsible for this violent crime (as well as for another act of violence which will not be divulged in this review to prevent spoilers.) Oh, and there's one additional crime of violence that is a part of the plot a lek (breeding colony) of endangered grouse has been wiped out, courtesy of an anonymous person or persons who brought their shotgun to the site. This event hovers around the book, as well occasionally brushing tangentially against the plot and occasionally intersecting with it.
There are many themes that run throughout the book that cannot be discussed in a review without divulging far too much of the plot. Endangered is one of the few books that I have read that I would eagerly take part in a concluding panel discussion to thrash out.
I very recently praised Betty Webb's Desert Rage as being my favorite read of 2015 to date. Sorry Ms. Webb, but C.J. Box has equally caught my fancy if I had to vote for my favorite book read in 2015, it would be a tie at this point.
RATING: 5 stars.
DISCLOSURE: As stated, this book was provided free of charge by the publisher in a random draw, without condition. This prompt and favorable review is entirely voluntary.
Mr. Box mentioned in an interview that he wrote that first Joe Pickett novel so that he could tell a tale of a protagonist in a mystery novel who was a happily married family man the type of guy who is common in real life but rare in the world of fictional sleuths. This deviation from the norm perhaps it is a return to the norm? is one of the things I love about the series, in addition to the rural setting in some of the most beautiful country in North America. On the other hand, while I enjoy the counter-balance that Nate Romanowski has brought to the series since his introduction, I'm also frustrated when the plot succumbs to the easy temptation to let Nate take care of it. I bring this up because that's NOT the case in this novel; Romanowski's role in this book is limited. Most of the novel involves Joe Pickett having to resolve his own issue. In addition, the main focus on this book is on family ties, both the yin and the yang of family dynamics. It's almost as though Mr. Box ASKED me what to feature and what not to, and then went out and wrote his tale based on my preferences! (NOTE: For the record, I have never met nor corresponded with him.)
Regular readers are aware of the Pickett's adopted daughter, April. They would certainly guess that if any of the Pickett daughters would run off to wander the pro rodeo circuit with professional bull rider Dallas Cates, it would be April. And if any of Joe's daughters would ever be found unconscious, beaten along the side of the road, the first guess would also be April. The book centers on whether April will survive, and on who is responsible for this violent crime (as well as for another act of violence which will not be divulged in this review to prevent spoilers.) Oh, and there's one additional crime of violence that is a part of the plot a lek (breeding colony) of endangered grouse has been wiped out, courtesy of an anonymous person or persons who brought their shotgun to the site. This event hovers around the book, as well occasionally brushing tangentially against the plot and occasionally intersecting with it.
There are many themes that run throughout the book that cannot be discussed in a review without divulging far too much of the plot. Endangered is one of the few books that I have read that I would eagerly take part in a concluding panel discussion to thrash out.
I very recently praised Betty Webb's Desert Rage as being my favorite read of 2015 to date. Sorry Ms. Webb, but C.J. Box has equally caught my fancy if I had to vote for my favorite book read in 2015, it would be a tie at this point.
RATING: 5 stars.
DISCLOSURE: As stated, this book was provided free of charge by the publisher in a random draw, without condition. This prompt and favorable review is entirely voluntary.
oe Pickett had good reason to dislike Dallas Cates, and now he has even moreâJoe's eighteen-year-old daughter, April, has run off with him. And then comes even worse news: She has been found in a ditch along the highwayâalive, but just barely, the victim of blunt force trauma. Cates denies having anything to do with it, but Joe knows in his gut who's responsible. What he doesn't know is the kind of danger he's about to encounter. Cates is bad enough, but Cates's family is like none Joe has ever met.
