The feminist side in me must be getting stronger the older I get. C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series is one that I've read in the past and enjoyed, but for some reason, I'm just not passionate about keeping current with it. It's as though I know it can wait patiently until I'm ready to read it again. However, when I found out that Box was starting a new series with a female lead, I perked right up. When I did a little research, I discovered that Cassie Dewell isn't a new character but one that's been in Box's Highway Quartet books. Lo and behold, the last book in that quartet went on sale, and I snapped it up so I could see whether or not Cassie is my type of character. She most certainly is.

I didn't feel at a disadvantage beginning with the last book in the Highway Quartet. On the contrary, Box's fantastic opening scenes and pedal-to-the-metal pacing grabbed me right at the start and kept me reading. Several characters made me sit up and take notice. Yes, Cassie is relentless and just the type of person that I want to read more about. The Lizard King is appropriately creepy, young Kyle can break your heart while impressing you all at the same time, and that crusty old guy known as Bull reminded me of my grandfather.

When you put this high-octane story in a setting that stretches from the oil fields of North Dakota to Yellowstone National Park, you've got a winner. Now that I've been formally introduced to Cassie Dewell, I'm ready for The Bitterroots. Bring it on!

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Won't continue this series, I don't like any of the characters in it especially the main ones, maybe if Box would've left Cassie as the next sheriff of Grimstad and bickering with the prosecutor (kind of like Jessie Stone) it might've made the book more interesting but alas that doesn't happen

At first I thought it started out good but as each page went by it just got slow, draggy and boring

I tried to move forward but when each page offers nothing but just boring words that go nowhere with the story again it is slow, draggy and boring

There is so much description in this book it just wasn't interesting but slow, draggy and boring

Slow, draggy and boring is not my cup of tea when reading a book

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Another superior thriller from Box... Box is one of my favorite authors. I have read and enjoyed all of his Joe Pickett series as well as his Cody Hoyt and Cassie Dewell novels. This one is the fourth in the The Highway Quartet which feature both Hoyt and Dewell. In this one, Cassie is still on the hunt for the Lizard King, the vile serial killer who got away from her in THE HIGHWAY. While working as an investigator for the Bakken County, North Dakota sheriff's department, she has worked out a trap for the Lizard King but it ends up going terribly wrong with several in the sheriff's department getting killed including Cassie's fiance. Because of this, she loses her job and an inquiry is put into motion on her role in the debacle. In the meantime, Cassie's son's friend Kyle, sets out on a river trip and seems to disappear. Cassie ends up resigning from the force and with nothing else to do agrees to try and find Kyle. Little did she know that her quest would soon intertwine with The Lizard King. Will he be brought to justice this time?

This was a great followup to THE HIGHWAY, and BADLANDS. I hope Box writes more novels featuring Cassie along with his Joe Pickett series. These continue to be some of the best mystery/thriller novels out there and I highly recommend everything Box has written!

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C.J. Box is one of my must read authors. His Joe Pickett series has everything going for it. His best friend Nate, an enigma, teaming up with Joe, makes for a thrilling escapade every time.

This series starring Cassie Dewell, an Investigator after a serial killer, has a personal reason for hunting him since she is the only one who got away. He is a heinous killer and does monstrous acts to the young girls he picks up at truck stops.

This book may be the conclusion of this series, I wonder if Cassie will be back with another adventure.

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C.J. Box NEVER fails to amaze and captivate his readers. The story although complex just rolled on easily and hair raising at times to a rapid fire unexpected conclusion

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