I needed to figure out a way to start reading series where I am not current or the series is finished but haven’t read them yet. So it’s a way to commit myself to read my backlist, particularly series.
I have been wanting to read the Joe Pickett series for awhile after reading the first one. The initial books I read in ebook format because the narrator David Chandler was in my head for another series. There is a similarity in the two author’s work with a law enforcement main character in a gorgeous natural area.
Free Fire by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #7
Published by Recorded Books on June 16, 2010
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours, 5 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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Joe Pickett’s been hired to investigate one of the most cold-blooded mass killings in Wyoming history. Attorney Clay McCann admitted to slaughtering four campers in a back-country corner of Yellowstone National Park—a “free-fire” zone with no residents or jurisdiction. In this remote fifty-square-mile stretch a man can literally get away with murder. Now McCann’s a free man, and Pickett’s about to discover his motive—one buried in Yellowstone’s rugged terrain, and as dangerous as the man who wants to keep it hidden.
Joe is not like my urban fantasy series stars; he does not build a group of misfit allies. He just has Nate who has law enforcement after him. He is eager to take a new job with the governor which gets him back in the Game warden service doing the kind of work he enjoys in an environment he loves.
I do not like how he is out there on his own and the governor will deny he knows about him. He has no support and no backup. This is a situation where Park service employees are being murdered. But no one in either Park service or the Game Wardens want him there. He has a Park service partner of sorts but she is really there to report back on his activities. She is a nice person and does try to help solve the mystery about the murders. They know who but the critical part is why.
Joe has the complication of having been to Yellowstone as a child with his family and things went downhill from that trip. He has shut down his feelings about his family and now they all come back full force. It is interesting to get more of his family history as this is the first we’ve heard about it much.
Joe, with Nate at his back, figures out the why which indicates the who. It’s a dangerous situation with plenty willing to kill to coverup their greed and business exploitations. Joe goes to an old adversary to bring down the villains but that has some disadvantages. I needed to go right from Free Fire into Blood Trial to see what happens next.
Blood Trail by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #8
Published by Recorded Books on June 6, 2008
Genres: Mystery
Length: 9 hours, 5 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Game wardens have found a man dead at a mountain camp—strung up, gutted, and flayed as if he were the elk he'd been hunting. Is the murder the work of a deranged anti-hunting activist or of a lone psychopath with a personal vendetta? Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is the man to track the murderer and stop him, before someone declares open season on humans...
I was worried about Nate and Joe for the start of Blood Trail. Someone is killing hunters. An activist arrives in town who is against hunting. The governor and Joe’s rotten boss, Pope, want to find the killer immediately. Pope brings in a famous tracker. He sends Joe and the tracker out to hunt the killer, leaving Pope’s friend and a lawyer friend of Joe’s at the car. Pope goes back to the hotel claiming he has calls and can’t be out of cell range. Joe calls for backup even though Pope doesn’t think they need it. Things go very badly.
Nate is still in prison and Joe is sure he can help find the killer. He finally gets them to agree to spring Nate. I was so happy but Nate takes off and leaves Joe without help. The FBI has an informant with the activist group and Joe wants to meet him to find out if the activists are involved. That goes very badly. With more ideas from Nate, Joe visits his old boss Vern in prison and it seems it all goes back to Vern and his corrupt ways. He’s the one who shot Mary Beth.
The sheriff, an Iraq veteran who is the nephew of one of the victim’s and the game warden who took over Joe’s district are out looking for the killer. They, of course, have a friendly fire incident. Joe sets up a situation to draw the killer. The end has me wanting to read the next book NOW. I continue to be worried about Joe and Nate.
Narration:
David Chandler is a favorite narrator. He is totally the voice for the Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger. I wasn’t sure I could listen to these because the voice is so much the other series to me. Now I am comfortable with him for these characters in this world. I seem to be able to enjoy him in multiple series without getting him stuck in my head as just one character. I was able to listen comfortably at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip HERE
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
Sounds like this series is still going strong. These both sound outstanding!
They are good stories but are there this many corrupt politicians and law enforcement? If it’s realistic, it’s sad.
I find it hard lately to get caught up on any of the series I’m in the middle of reading. Good luck getting caught up on all of these!
Thank you. I find it takes focus and scheduling. Some of these end with circumstances that really make me want to know what happens next though.
I loved the first book, even started the TV series. Just haven’t been able to squeeze it back in. Glad to see it’s still a great series and you can listen to it now.
I’m really enjoying them. I like them better than Longmire which has a few similar themes. Neither is exactly realistic but this one does a bit better with reality.
Sounds like some dangerous situations! Nice to hear you’re enjoying the series and you got used to the narrator for these characters. It’s so much easier to get through a series when you can listen to the audios!
I really am enjoying this series with the outdoor settings. The characters and their personal relationships are sort of realistic but the criminals are sometimes over the top. And there’s so many criminals, many in law enforcement!
Love it
I’m enjoying the series.