Publication
New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, c2002.
Collection
Call number
Fiction B
Physical description
337 p.; 20 cm
Status
Checked out
Due 2024-05-09
Call number
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett uncovers a conspiracy in this explosive novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. When a massive blast rocks the forests of Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is called to the scene to help investigate the death of a colorful environmental activist. The case is wrapped up quickly, explained as an environmental publicity stunt gone wrong, but Joe isn't convinced. He soon discovers clues that suggest a deadly conspiracy�??one that will test his courage, his survival skills, and his determination to �??do the right thing�?� despite a
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Joycepa
Second in the Joe Pickett series.
Again, the plot revolves around environmental issues--this time, eco-terrorism.
Stewie Woods and his brand-new bride manage to get themselves blown up along with a cow on lands leased in the Big Horn area of Wyoming by lawyer-rancher Jim Finotta, a very nasty piece
But Stewie is NOT dead--and his resurrection inadvertently drags Joe into a dramatic and exciting showdown with Tibbs and the Stockman's Trust, with an excellent chase through a wild area and final confrontation.
The plot is very good, and the climax is really well done. In addition, box handles the environmental issues with a deft light-hearted touch (putting the murders aside, that is). The humor adds immeasurably to the story and to the movement, which could use it.
But Box, through his eco-terrorist Stewie, raises several thought-provoking issues as well--such as the environmental movement's need for public awareness in order to raise funds and promote their agenda and the means to which that need sometimes drives them. He makes several intriguing points about the evolution of organizations from original ideals into self-perpetuating institutions. Yet on the whole, this is a fairly balanced look and there is enough to both please and irritate both sides of the environmental question.
As in the first book, Box gives a good feel for rural Wyoming, both the landscape, the people who live there, and the politics that prevail.
All in all, although the writing from time to time causes some winces, this is a very good read.
Again, the plot revolves around environmental issues--this time, eco-terrorism.
Stewie Woods and his brand-new bride manage to get themselves blown up along with a cow on lands leased in the Big Horn area of Wyoming by lawyer-rancher Jim Finotta, a very nasty piece
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of work. Since at the time, Stewie was also busy spiking trees so that they couldn't be cut down, everyone including Joe assumes that Stewie was trying some other type of eco-terrorism with explosives, which misfired (so to speak), causing the deaths. No one connects these deaths with others around the country, all of whom are connected in some way with environmental action--a Congressman, a lawyer, an author, a wolf restorer. But all are being methodically tracked down and killed by a 2-man team led by Charlie Tibbs, one of the last of the notorious "stock detectives", vigilantes hired by ranchers and a shadowy organization called the Stockman's Trust originally to track down rustlers and other personae non gratas. Now, however, the Stockman's Trust has evolved into a much larger and more formidable organization dedicated to restoring the West to a pre-ecologically aware era. The Trust has supplied Tibbs with the "hit list" and the resources to carrry out his mission.But Stewie is NOT dead--and his resurrection inadvertently drags Joe into a dramatic and exciting showdown with Tibbs and the Stockman's Trust, with an excellent chase through a wild area and final confrontation.
The plot is very good, and the climax is really well done. In addition, box handles the environmental issues with a deft light-hearted touch (putting the murders aside, that is). The humor adds immeasurably to the story and to the movement, which could use it.
But Box, through his eco-terrorist Stewie, raises several thought-provoking issues as well--such as the environmental movement's need for public awareness in order to raise funds and promote their agenda and the means to which that need sometimes drives them. He makes several intriguing points about the evolution of organizations from original ideals into self-perpetuating institutions. Yet on the whole, this is a fairly balanced look and there is enough to both please and irritate both sides of the environmental question.
As in the first book, Box gives a good feel for rural Wyoming, both the landscape, the people who live there, and the politics that prevail.
All in all, although the writing from time to time causes some winces, this is a very good read.
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LibraryThing member Poprockz
This is the 1st book of the series. Borrowed it from a co-worker.
LibraryThing member she_climber
As the second book in this series I continued to be impressed. This was a fast-paced thrill ride as our hero, with some enviromentalists, are running for their lives in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming from a madman hired by big money to kill them in order to make a statement of their own. I'm
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excited to move on to book three. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookswoman
Joe Pickett is still patrolling his wilderness area, checking fishing or hunting licenses, keeping an eye on wildlife, counting baby Elk. When an internationally known environmentalist is blown to bits by an exploding cow (yep, exploding cow) Joe is drawn into a spider web of murders that are
I like Joe and his family, I like what Joe does for a living. I'm a little uncomfortable with the amazing body counts that seem to wreaking havoc in these books. I know it is a murder mystery/thriller but I don't necessarily see the need for more than six/seven bodies, especially when you are talking about a remote area like the northern Rocky Mountains and in Yellowstone National Park. It just is a bit much sometimes.
I'll read the next book to see if things settle down some, I really like his writing style, but if multiple body counts keep mounting up I might have to stop this series.
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seemingly unconnected but something is bothering him about it.I like Joe and his family, I like what Joe does for a living. I'm a little uncomfortable with the amazing body counts that seem to wreaking havoc in these books. I know it is a murder mystery/thriller but I don't necessarily see the need for more than six/seven bodies, especially when you are talking about a remote area like the northern Rocky Mountains and in Yellowstone National Park. It just is a bit much sometimes.
I'll read the next book to see if things settle down some, I really like his writing style, but if multiple body counts keep mounting up I might have to stop this series.
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LibraryThing member gbelik
Environmental activists are dying in seeming accidents but, I'll bet you know, there is really murder involved. Great story and great writing (and rather funny at times, too).
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Book # 2 in the Joe Pickett series starts with the death of an infamous environmentalist. A fire-spotter has noted the explosion, and the Sheriff, expecting some sort of poaching of elk, calls on the Wyoming Game Warden to join him in investigating. The bloody scene of destruction is not what they
I love the Joe Pickett character. He’s an honest-to-God “good guy” – highly principled, and deliberating carefully before acting. However, he does have a tendency to overreach and not consider the political ramifications of his black-and-white thinking. I guess I’d have to say that he is naïve and hasn’t matured into the kind of warden he certainly is capable of becoming – yet. Those missteps are what make the plots of these books so interesting, and make Joe such a likeable character.
Box also is skilled at crafting a fast-paced page-turner. In this novel he moves back and forth between Joe, the killers, and Joe’s wife, Marybeth, giving the reader short vignettes that slowly reveal the big picture. This kind of structure also helps build suspense.
And this book has one of the best opening lines – ever: On the third day of their honeymoon, infamous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his new bride, Annabel Bellotti, were spiking trees in the forest when a cow exploded and blew them up. Until then, their marriage had been happy.
I’ll definitely keep reading this series.
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were expecting and the Sheriff seems particularly angry that Pickett is involved. “But,” Pickett reminds him, “YOU called me to join you.” The case is closed fairly quickly, but Joe isn’t satisfied, and several other deaths among environmentalists increase his suspicions. I love the Joe Pickett character. He’s an honest-to-God “good guy” – highly principled, and deliberating carefully before acting. However, he does have a tendency to overreach and not consider the political ramifications of his black-and-white thinking. I guess I’d have to say that he is naïve and hasn’t matured into the kind of warden he certainly is capable of becoming – yet. Those missteps are what make the plots of these books so interesting, and make Joe such a likeable character.
Box also is skilled at crafting a fast-paced page-turner. In this novel he moves back and forth between Joe, the killers, and Joe’s wife, Marybeth, giving the reader short vignettes that slowly reveal the big picture. This kind of structure also helps build suspense.
And this book has one of the best opening lines – ever: On the third day of their honeymoon, infamous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his new bride, Annabel Bellotti, were spiking trees in the forest when a cow exploded and blew them up. Until then, their marriage had been happy.
I’ll definitely keep reading this series.
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LibraryThing member Becky_McKenna
Well, that's one way to make ground chuck! Seriously though, I really enjoyed this book. The character development was very well done. Our villains are deeply disturbing individuals with an evil plan. Charlie Tibbs ranks up there with my "Best Worse Villains Ever" and the last person I'd want to
The last half of this book was incredibly fast paced. I'm a real sucker for underdogs and suspense, so I was glued to the pages and enjoying the dialogue! The descriptions of Wyoming and the wildlife pulled me right into each scene, like I was a ghostly observer. Love it when a book can do that. The plot wove together nicely, wrapping up enough of the loose strings to make me wonder about Joe's future. I recommend this to any Crime Thriller fan, but just beware that some of the violence is a bit graphic and cringe worthy. If you like the occasional goosebump and shudder in your reading, this is for you!
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tick off. On the upside, I'm really becoming fond of Joe Pickett, who is once again the underdog. He's not the alpha male that is so popular in fiction today, just an average "Joe" who loves his family and has a deep sense of commitment to his job. You really can't help but like the guy, especially after this book. For Joe, right is right and wrong is wrong. Period. It doesn't matter if he's arresting the Governor for fishing without a license, or in this case, up against a crazed killer who is carrying out a politically motivated agenda. It was nice to get to know more about Marybeth, too. They are a great couple and it's obvious that they gain strength from each other. The last half of this book was incredibly fast paced. I'm a real sucker for underdogs and suspense, so I was glued to the pages and enjoying the dialogue! The descriptions of Wyoming and the wildlife pulled me right into each scene, like I was a ghostly observer. Love it when a book can do that. The plot wove together nicely, wrapping up enough of the loose strings to make me wonder about Joe's future. I recommend this to any Crime Thriller fan, but just beware that some of the violence is a bit graphic and cringe worthy. If you like the occasional goosebump and shudder in your reading, this is for you!
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LibraryThing member macygma
Ok. I have to admit my attention was caught when I read the first sentence of this book. Exploding cows? Huh. Having survived Book #1, Joe Pickett and family are working hard to make things right and their lives okay. But here we have exploding cows. One of Mary Beth's childhood friend may have
What's up? The "good" guys hired as assassin to make their lives much easier. This guy is good and he doesn't take prisoners.
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been blown up, maybe not. But there are more deaths - most environmentalists.What's up? The "good" guys hired as assassin to make their lives much easier. This guy is good and he doesn't take prisoners.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
Game Warden Joe Pickett engages the forces of evil on opposing sides of environmentalists and ranchers in modern Wyoming. Both sets of villains were well developed as their evil, but opposing, plans unfolded. Joe Pickett and his family are honestly good guys. I especially liked the exploding cow as
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a murder weapon, but thought the author could come up with another imaginative tool when it was used again. I'll devour book #3. Show Less
LibraryThing member delta61
This was a great story. A little too much on the hero blushing, but still gets a 5 star from me.
LibraryThing member rosalita
The second in the new-to-me series featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett. As Joe promised, this one was an improvement on the debut, with Joe showing some initiative and not just serving as a comedic foil for the bad guys. I especially enjoy the depiction of his family life; his relationship
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with his wife Marybeth and his daughters is nuanced and warm. In this book, Joe stumbles across a conspiracy to assassinate leading environmental activists — a situation that creates some awkwardness at home, since one of the first eco-warriors to be killed is a former flame of Marybeth's. The villains are suitably villainous and their comeuppance is a particular satisfaction this time around. Once again, Wyoming's wild beauty is as much a character as anyone else in the book. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member shelbycassie
Joe Pickett is a really likable character. He is a real "good guy". This particular book dealt some with the environmentalists vs the ranchers and was really interesting to read both sides. There should be some middle ground. It really is making me think about everything comes in shades of gray and
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not black and white. Show Less
LibraryThing member ParadisePorch
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is called to investigate an act of counter-eco-terrorism in the Bighorn Mountains.
This is a sometimes funny, sometimes angry sequel to Open Season which I read and very much liked in April 2015. Reviewer Barry Trinkle says: “Box depicts the spare beauty and cussed
I’m definitely continuing on with this series.
4½ stars
This is a sometimes funny, sometimes angry sequel to Open Season which I read and very much liked in April 2015. Reviewer Barry Trinkle says: “Box depicts the spare beauty and cussed
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individualism of the Intermountain West with the sure hand of a seasoned writer.”I’m definitely continuing on with this series.
4½ stars
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LibraryThing member ckNikka
I've been re-reading some of his books in audio book format and have really enjoyed the format this is a really nice performance and gives you a different perspective of the author and the story
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
In Book 2 of the Joe Pickett series, famous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his wife are blown up by a cow. Since Joe is the local Game Warden, he's called to clean up and investigate. He's often reminded that he once gave the Governor of Wyoming a ticket for fishing without a license, and
In alternate chapters we meet the killers that are responsible for a string of brutal environmentalist murders that follow Stewie's murder. This has the makings of an old-fashioned range war and locals are reminded of stories about famous stock agent, Tom Horn.
C. J. Box creates a hero who is both believable and slightly inept but is always the right man for the job. He is full of self-doubt except for the love of his wife and family. Like in Open Season he stays true to his beliefs and his moral compass.
The action takes place in the rugged land of the Bighorn Mountains and the setting becomes a major character in the book. As one of the assassins pursues him and two companions through the wilderness toward Savage Run, a gorge with no crossing except in a Native American legend, the suspense becomes intense. I was turning the pages so quickly I had to force myself to slow down so I wouldn't miss anything. What a great story and an enjoyable series.
TBR 1518
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that his gun was taken from him by a poacher during a confrontation. Joe thinks that Stewie Woods and his wife were not the victims of an accident but were murdered. In alternate chapters we meet the killers that are responsible for a string of brutal environmentalist murders that follow Stewie's murder. This has the makings of an old-fashioned range war and locals are reminded of stories about famous stock agent, Tom Horn.
C. J. Box creates a hero who is both believable and slightly inept but is always the right man for the job. He is full of self-doubt except for the love of his wife and family. Like in Open Season he stays true to his beliefs and his moral compass.
The action takes place in the rugged land of the Bighorn Mountains and the setting becomes a major character in the book. As one of the assassins pursues him and two companions through the wilderness toward Savage Run, a gorge with no crossing except in a Native American legend, the suspense becomes intense. I was turning the pages so quickly I had to force myself to slow down so I wouldn't miss anything. What a great story and an enjoyable series.
TBR 1518
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LibraryThing member Asheley
JOE PICKETT, YES YES YES.
I'm so excited that I'm still early in this series because I know that I still have a ton of these books to look forward to. I'm such a Pickett fangirl, even after only two books. I hope he stays as cool as he is now.
Joe Pickett is a Wyoming game warden, not super
When ten cows and two people end up dead under suspicious and weirdly violent circumstances, Joe ends up caught between a group of environmentalists and ranchers - or, more accurately: between hardcore ecoterrorist-type environmentalists and big-time, super-wealthy ranchers, the kind that have politicians and law enforcement in their back pocket. Joe's integrity and desire for the truth puts his life at risk and gets him into quite a bit of trouble, and he finds himself on the run through the mountain wilderness with two people he never imagined he would keep in his company.
Savage Run takes place about two years after Open Season. Joe's wife is doing well after what happened to her at the end of the first book (not gonna spoil what happened, but oh my gosh it was crazy), and his daughter Sheridan is too. Sheridan is now ten years old and is every bit as spunky in this book as she was in the first.
I've NEVER read any author that has a command over landscape and setting like CJ Box. He places Joe Pickett into crazy situations out on the land either on foot or on horseback that make me hold my breath out of fear for his life or in awe over his descriptions of the land. When I'm reading, I feel desperate to see the wilderness where Joe is climbing, hiking, hiding out, or catching the bad guys that might be shooting at him from the next mountain over.
This book was a neat chance to look at two different types of extremism with both the environmentalists and the ranchers. These Pickett books are really insightful for someone like me, an east-coaster, someone that doesn't live around huge expanses of land that need protecting like there are out west. I love the way the author includes the issues facing the environment and how people feel on either side, but he remains true to his thriller/modern western story. I feel like I'm learning just a little bit about life in the western US but I'm also super, super entertained.
This series is awesome. Gritty, intense, thrilling, fast-paced, unputdownable. I can't think of anything about it that I don't like. At all.
Audiobook Notes: I decided that I would continue this series on audio after I loved the first book so much. David Chandler IS Joe Pickett, and I can't imagine hearing him any other way. Not super-macho sounding, but just a regular guy, and I love that. He also did this really great, gravelly voice for the environmentalist Stewie Woods. It was so different than any of the other voices that he used, and I just loved it when it was one of Stewie's scenes. Not necessarily that Stewie was particularly pleasing to listen to, but because I knew immediately who was talking and because it stood-out to me so well. Long after I'm done with the audio, I can still remember what he sounded like. Well done!
I still have plans to continue listening to this series via audiobook.
Title: Savage Run by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #2
Narrated by: David Chandler
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 8 hours, 48 minutes, Unabridged
I'm so excited that I'm still early in this series because I know that I still have a ton of these books to look forward to. I'm such a Pickett fangirl, even after only two books. I hope he stays as cool as he is now.
Joe Pickett is a Wyoming game warden, not super
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experienced, with a slowly growing reputation in his area. He's known for being inaccurate with his gun and for being a stickler for the rules. He doesn't do drama, he doesn't have baggage, he loves his family, he loves the job and the land.When ten cows and two people end up dead under suspicious and weirdly violent circumstances, Joe ends up caught between a group of environmentalists and ranchers - or, more accurately: between hardcore ecoterrorist-type environmentalists and big-time, super-wealthy ranchers, the kind that have politicians and law enforcement in their back pocket. Joe's integrity and desire for the truth puts his life at risk and gets him into quite a bit of trouble, and he finds himself on the run through the mountain wilderness with two people he never imagined he would keep in his company.
Savage Run takes place about two years after Open Season. Joe's wife is doing well after what happened to her at the end of the first book (not gonna spoil what happened, but oh my gosh it was crazy), and his daughter Sheridan is too. Sheridan is now ten years old and is every bit as spunky in this book as she was in the first.
I've NEVER read any author that has a command over landscape and setting like CJ Box. He places Joe Pickett into crazy situations out on the land either on foot or on horseback that make me hold my breath out of fear for his life or in awe over his descriptions of the land. When I'm reading, I feel desperate to see the wilderness where Joe is climbing, hiking, hiding out, or catching the bad guys that might be shooting at him from the next mountain over.
This book was a neat chance to look at two different types of extremism with both the environmentalists and the ranchers. These Pickett books are really insightful for someone like me, an east-coaster, someone that doesn't live around huge expanses of land that need protecting like there are out west. I love the way the author includes the issues facing the environment and how people feel on either side, but he remains true to his thriller/modern western story. I feel like I'm learning just a little bit about life in the western US but I'm also super, super entertained.
This series is awesome. Gritty, intense, thrilling, fast-paced, unputdownable. I can't think of anything about it that I don't like. At all.
Audiobook Notes: I decided that I would continue this series on audio after I loved the first book so much. David Chandler IS Joe Pickett, and I can't imagine hearing him any other way. Not super-macho sounding, but just a regular guy, and I love that. He also did this really great, gravelly voice for the environmentalist Stewie Woods. It was so different than any of the other voices that he used, and I just loved it when it was one of Stewie's scenes. Not necessarily that Stewie was particularly pleasing to listen to, but because I knew immediately who was talking and because it stood-out to me so well. Long after I'm done with the audio, I can still remember what he sounded like. Well done!
I still have plans to continue listening to this series via audiobook.
Title: Savage Run by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #2
Narrated by: David Chandler
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 8 hours, 48 minutes, Unabridged
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LibraryThing member infjsarah
Short easy read. There's no real mystery - it's more a thriller in the great wild US outdoors.
LibraryThing member debs4jc
I love the Joe Pickett series. Always exciting as he struggles to figure out they mystery and the family drama is also extremely interesting.
LibraryThing member fierce_bunny
Another solid B. Very similar to the first installment in tone and contents, but with a bit more humor. Exploding cows always start things off with a bang. Joe Pickett is an uncomplicated character, which is good, and not like all of the other amateur gumshoes in the genre in that he is not (and
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doesn't want to be) Sherlock Holmes reincarnated. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2002-05-30
ISBN
9780399575693